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What is the Hierarchy of Angels? Live Q&A for January 23, 2025

What is the Hierarchy of Angels? LIVE Q&A for January 23, 2025

What is the Hierarchy of Angels?

Janet Amati asks:

What is the hierarchy of angels? the seraphim, cherubim, watchers etc.

  1. The Bible uses the Hebrew word malak and the Greek word aggelos to describe angels; these words have the idea of a messenger.
  2. The terms can be applied to human messengers (1 Kings 19:2, Luke 7:24), but usually refer to heavenly messengers.

1 Kings 19:2: Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah…

Luke 7:24: When the messengers of John had departed…

  1. There is an order of being commonly called “angels” or “angelic beings.” I believe this to be a third order of being (Divine Being, human being, angelic being).
  • Demons, unclean spirits, our spiritual adversaries – these are fallen, or unfaithful angels.
  • Angelic beings can sin (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6).
  • Satan drew a third of the stars of heaven with him in his fall (Revelation 12:3-4).
  • Some people think that demons or unclean spirits have a different origin, but the simplest explanation is that they are fallen angels.
  1. The Old Testament calls angels Sons of God (Genesis 6:2-4; Job 1:6, 2:1 and 38:7)
  • Job 1:6: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
  • Job 2:1: Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
  • Job 38:7: When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
  1. 4. The terms cherubim (Genesis 3:24, Exodus 25:18-20; 1 Samuel 4:4; Ezekiel 10:1-22), seraphim (Isaiah 6:1-7), and the living creatures (Revelation 4:6-8) all seem to refer to the same beings. These are exalted angelic beings that are associated with the presence of God or the throne of God.
  2. The New Testament tells us of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Jude 1:9), a high-ranking angel; the angel who is “first in line.”
  3. Daniel 4:17 mentions the watchers, and these are likely some kind of angelic being.

Daniel 4:17

This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know

  1. The Bible speaks of angelic beings in categories such as thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, authorities (Romans 8:38; Ephesians 3:10, 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22).

Looking at these passages:

Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:10

To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Colossians 1:16

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Colossians 2:15

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

1 Peter 3:22

[Jesus Christ], who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him

In four of the five references to “angelic ranks” in the New Testament, principalities and powers are listed first. The exception is in Colossians 1:16, which puts throne and dominions before principalities and powers. Colossians 1:16 seems to be the only place where angelic entities are called thrones, and they are called dominions in one other place (Daniel 7:27).

Daniel 7:27

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him

If there is a hierarchy, perhaps it goes like this:

1a. Cherubim

1b. Archangel

  1. Thrones
  2. Dominions
  3. Principalities
  4. Powers
  5. Rulers of the darkness
  6. Spiritual hosts of wickedness

I would include “watchers” (Daniel 4:17) not as a specific rank, but as a general description of angelic beings, because we are told that they are interested in humanity, and they “watch” us (1 Corinthians 11:10, 1 Peter 1:12, 1 Timothy 5:21).

For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels (1 Corinthians 11:10).

The things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; things which angels desire to look into (1 Peter 1:12).

I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality (1 Timothy 5:21).

Some principles:

  1. There is a hierarchy of angelic beings, both of faithful and fallen angelic beings. This means that both faithful and fallen angelic beings are organized and organized intelligently. Spiritual attack, spiritual warfare is not haphazard. It is organized, determined, with both tactic and strategy against God’s people and the work of His kingdom.
  2. Jesus is greater than all angelic entities, both faithful and fallen. That’s the whole point of many of the passages that refer to these “ranks” in the New Testament.
  • Romans 8:38 tells us that principalities cannot keep us from God’s love. Therefore, there is a limit to their power.
  • Ephesians 1:20-21 tells us that Jesus is enthroned in heaven, far above all principalities and powers.
  • Colossians 1:16 tells us that Jesus created principalities and powers.
  • Colossians 2:10 tells us that Jesus is head over all principalities and power. Therefore, Jesus is not the opposite of Satan or principalities.
  • Colossians 2:15 tells us that Jesus disarmed principalities and powers at the cross.
  1. Angels are a fascinating subject, and we wish the Bible told us more about these remarkable beings. However, don’t let them be a distraction, allowing them to be of more interest or importance than Jesus Himself. The New Testament warns against this in one specific place, and this is a major theme through Hebrews.

Colossians 2:18

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels.