Angel

In his late work Conjugal Love he describes, that a soul of a man and a soul of a woman are united by the marriage in heaven to become an angel. This allows them to be trained to behave in a way that is not specifically the most natural to their breed; nevertheless, the accumulated experience of thousands of years shows that some combinations of nature and nurture are quite daunting, for instance, training whippets to guard flocks of sheep. The Christian mystic Emanuel Swedenborg has a similar imagination. Of course, dogs in general possess a significant ability to modify their behavior according to experience, including adapting to the behavior of their "pack leaders"—again, humans. The Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi wrote in his poem Masnavi:. The example of canine neoteny goes even further, in that the various breeds are differently neotenized according to the type of behavior that was selected. When the human body dies, a soul could become an angel. Compared to wolves, many adult dog breeds retain such juvenile characteristics as soft fuzzy fur, round torsos, large heads and eyes, ears that hang down rather than stand erect, etc.; characteristics which are shared by most juvenile mammals, and therefore generally elicit some degree of protective and nurturing behavior cross-species from most adult mammals, including humans, who term such characteristics "cute" or "appealing".

Some mystics believe, that a soul is growing in steps from minerals, plants and animals to men. This paedomorphic selection naturally results in a retention of juvenile physical characteristics as well. Crowley felt that attaining Knowledge and Conversation was so important, that he staked the claim that any other magical operation was, in a sense, evil. This is true of many domesticated animals, including human beings themselves, who have many characteristics similar to young bonobo. For Crowley, this event was the single most important goal of any adept:. As with many species, the young wolves are more social and less dominant than adults; therefore, the selection for these characteristics, whether deliberate or inadvertent, is more likely to result in a simple retention of juvenile characteristics into adulthood than to generate a complex of independent new changes in behavior. According to most Thelemites, the single most important goal is to consciously connect with one’s HGA, a process termed “Knowledge and Conversation.” By doing so, the magician becomes fully aware of his own True Will. This rapid evolution of dogs from wolves is an example of neoteny or paedomorphism.

Citing Crowley, people have linked the term with the Genius of the Golden Dawn, the Augoeides of Iamblichus, the Atman of Hinduism, and the Daemon of the gnostics.Guardian Angel. Deliberately crossing two or more breeds is also a manner of establishing new breeds. Within the system of Thelema, the Holy Guardian Angel is representative of one’s truest divine nature. However, without genetic testing of the parents, the crosses can sometimes end up inheriting genetic defects that occur in both parental breeds. Aleister Crowley, tried to teach people to attain what he called "the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel". Such deliberate crosses may display hybrid vigor and other desirable traits, but can also lack one or more of the desired traits of their parents, such as temperament or a particular color or coat. Note that if a particular deva has a widespread cult, like Vishnu or Shiva, he is believed not to be an ordinary deva but equated to Ishvara by his followers. Sometimes mixed-breed dogs are deliberately bred, for example, the Cockapoo, a mixture of Cocker Spaniel and Miniature Poodle.

Examples of such devas are Indra, Mitra, Ashvins, Varuna, etc. Mixed breeds, or dogs with no purebred ancestry, are not inherently "better" or "worse" than purebred dogs as companions, pets, working dogs, or competitors in dog sports. Buddhism and Jainism also believe in the existance of such devas. Mixed-breed dogs or Mongrels are dogs that do not belong to specific breeds, being mixtures of two or more in variant percentages. They grant material benefits to humans upon praying and sacrificing to them, though they don't carry the message of Ishvara to the humans as in Abrahamic religions (a category of such beings also exit, called "devaduta" or "duta"). In February 2004, the Canine Studies Institute in Aurora, Ohio, arranged recognized breeds of dogs into ten categories. They are celestial beings with supernatural powers, but also weaknesses. The behavior and appearance of a dog of a particular breed can be predicted fairly accurately, while mixed-breed dogs show a broader range of innovative appearance and behavior.

The Devas may be better translated as angels or demigods. These problems are not limited to purebred dogs and can affect mixed-breed populations. Many Hindus now say that this is a poor practice, because the best word for God in Sanskrit is Ishvara (the Supreme Lord). Even prize-winning purebred dogs sometimes possess crippling genetic defects due to inbreeding. In English, the Sanskrit word Deva is exclusively translated as "god", which certainly gives a polytheistic appearance to Hinduism. These considerations come into play among breeders who enter their dogs in dog shows. Also, angel-like beings called Tennin and Tenshi appear in Japanese mythology. Other organizations define a breed more loosely, such that an individual may be considered of one breed as long as 75% of its parentage is of that breed.

In Zoroastrianism, the Amesha Spentas have often been regarded as angels, but this is not strictly correct since they don´t convey messages, but are rather emanations of Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord", God); they appear in an abstract fashion in the religious thought of Zarathustra and then later (during the Achaemenid period of Zoroastrianism) became personalized, associated with an aspect of the divine creation (fire, plants, water...). Dogs that are bred in this manner often end up with severe health or behavioural problems. Angels are also a part of New Age beliefs. Some groups use a definition that ultimately requires extreme inbreeding to qualify due to the low gene pool. Michael the archangel was Adam (the first man) when he was mortal, and Gabriel lived on the earth as Noah (the one who built the ark). The definition of a dog breed is a matter of some controversy. Names of some known angels who appeared are Moroni, Nephi, Peter, James, John, John the Baptist. Despite these differences, dogs are able to distinguish dogs from other kinds of animal.

Although Cowdery, Whitmer, and Harris all eventually became disaffected with Smith and left the church, none of them retracted their statement that they had seen and conversed with an angel of the Lord, and indeed, even defended their claim of angelic visitation to their deaths. Because of this, some breeds are highly specialized, and there is extraordinary morphological diversity across different breeds. People who claimed to have received a visit by an angel include Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris. Many of these are the product of a deliberate process of artificial selection. described his first angelic encounter thus (Joseph Smith History 1:31-33):. A few basic breed types have evolved gradually during the domesticated dog's relationship with man over the last 10,000 or more years, but most modern breeds are of relatively recent derivation. Joseph Smith, Jr. Many dogs, especially outside the United States and Western Europe, belong to no recognized breed.

According to the official doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, (Bible Dictionary entry on "Angels"):. As all dog breeds have been derived from mixed-breed dog populations, the term "purebred" has meaning only with respect to a certain number of generations. Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism), and several of his associates, claimed that they were visited by angels on multiple occasions and for a variety of purposes in conjunction with the restoration of the gospel of Jesus. There are numerous dog breeds, over 800 being recognized by various kennel clubs worldwide. Humans do not turn into angels upon death, rather they are physically ressurected in body and soul and judged by God on judgement day (and that should they end up in Jannah (heaven), they are given perfect bodies). In a number of countries around the world, apart from being kept as pets, certain breeds of dogs are slaughtered as a source of meat and specifically raised on farms for that purpose. Every human being is assigned two angels to scribe a record of all actions done by the individual throughout their life, which will be used in evidence for or against the person by Allah on the day of judgement. The relationship is theorized to have developed in this way.

There are eight massive angels that support the Throne of God (Surat Al-Haaqqa, 69:17). With their sharp senses, they would also be valuable as an alarm against marauding predators. The angels Nakir and Munkar are assigned to interrogate the dead before judgement day; and there are nineteen angels over-seeing the punishments of hell unflinchingly (Surat Al-Muddaththir, 74:30). Canines would have been beneficial by chasing away other vermin or scavengers. Other angels include Michael (Mikaeel) who discharges control of vegetation and rain, Sarafiel (Israfil) who will blow the trumpet on Yaum al Qiyamah (the day of resurrection), and Azrael (Izra'il), the angel of death. Canines who attacked people or their children were likely killed or driven away, while those more friendly animals survived. The archangel Jibril is attributed with sending the message of Allah to all the Prophets (including the Psalms, Torah, Bible and Qur'an. Wild canines who scavenged around human habitations received more food than their more skittish or fearful counterparts.

Angels, unlike the fiery nature of jinn, are beings of goodness and cannot choose to disobey God, nor do they possess the ability to do evil. It is also now generally believed that initial domestication was through mutual desire. He was one of the jinn..." (Surat Al-Kahf, 18:50). Domestication of a wild dog may occur within one or two human generations with deliberate selective breeding. Scholars cite the following Quranic ayat (verse), "And when We said to the Angels; "Prostrate yourselves unto Adam." So they prostrated themselves except Iblis. Current research indicates that domestication, or the attributes of a domesticated animal, can occur much more quickly than previously believed. According to the majority of Islamic scholars, angels are incapable of commiting sin, and therefore cannot fall from grace, excluding Iblis who chose to do evil because he had free-will and is not considered as a fallen angel, but a separate entity made of fire called jinn. While some dog breeds possess one of these characteristics, they rarely possess both.

As such, angels do not eat, procreate or commit sin as humans do. Wolves typically have a "brush tail" and erect ears. They can take on human form, but only in appearance. The phenotypic characteristic that distinguish a wolf from a dog are tenuous. Angels are described as being excessively beautiful and have different numbers of wings (for example, Gabriel is attributed as having six-hundred wings in his natural form). The general reproductive isolation which is required to define dogs and wolves as separate species is purely a result of lack of opportunity, stemming from a general mutual unfamiliarity, suspicion, mistrust, and fear. They are completely devoted to the worship of God (Allah) and carry out certain functions on His command, such as recording every human being's actions, placing a soul in a newborn child, maintaining certain environmental conditions of the planet (such as nurturing vegetation and distributing the rain) and taking the soul at the time of death. Additionally, unintentional crossbreeding occurs simply because dogs and wolves live in the same environment.

In Islam, angels are benevolent beings created from light and do not possess free will. This interbreeding still occurs with dogs living in the Arctic region, where the attributes of the wolf that enable survival in a hostile environment are valued by humans. Angels are thus the ministers of God, as well as the agents of revelation in Islam. The Eastern Timber Wolf is a direct ancestor to most, if not all, of the North American northern sled dog types. The belief in angels is central to the religion of Islam, beginning with the belief that the Qur'an was dictated to the Prophet Muhammad by the chief of all angels, the archangel Jibril (Gabriel). The Chinese wolf is probably ancestor to the Pekingese and toy spaniels, although it is also probable that descendants of the Chinese and European wolves encountered each other over the millennia, contributing to many of the oriental toy breeds. Official doctrines of most Christian churches teach that the virtuous are resurrected in the end of times, having a physical body again, unlike angels (see Swedenborgianism for a church that does officially and systematically teach that people enter heaven immediately after death). The European wolf, in turn, may have contributed many of its attributes to the Spitz dog types, most terriers, and many of today's sheepdogs.

The statement of 1Cor 11:10 could be interpreted, as if male angels could be vulnerable to the female attractiveness of worshipping woman. The Tibetan Mastiff is an example of an ancient breed. (Zechariah 5,9) could be interpreted, that there are also female angels. The Indian wolf is also thought to have bred with descendants of the European wolf to create the Mastiffs and eventually leading to the development of such diverse breeds as the Pug, the Saint Bernard, and the Bloodhound. male and female. Many of today's wild dogs, such as the dingo, the dhole and pariah dogs, are descended from this wolf. Flavius Josephus (Discourse to the Greeks concerning Hades, VI) teaches of ressurected men and woman, i.e. The Indian Wolf is thought to have contributed to the development of more breeds of dogs than other subspecies.

The Bible does state that at the resurrection, people will be like the angels with regard to marriage and immortality (Luke 20:35-36), and teaches such a transformation for instance at 1Cor 15:51; it states that the saints (all believers) will judge angels (1 Cor 6:3). For example, the Japanese wolf and the Eastern Timber Wolf posses different distinctive colouration, hunting and social structures. In many informal folk beliefs among Christians concerning the afterlife, the souls of the virtuous dead ascend into Heaven to be converted into angels. Although all wolves belong to the species Canis lupus, there are (or were) many subspecies that had developed a distinctive appearance, social structure, and other traits. Satan and the demons are thought by Christians to be angels who rebelled against God and were expelled from Heaven. The detailed history remains unexplored and until further evidence is available, the following section on wolf ancestors must be considered purely speculative. However, for all practical purposes most Christian lay people know little or nothing of these views, and do not accept them. Their results indicate multiple independent origins of dogs and/or of frequent interbreeding between early proto-dogs and wolves throughout a vast geographic range.

Today, these views of angels are still technically acceptable within many mainstream Christian denominations. Verginelli examined ancient DNA evidence from five prehistoric Italian canids carbon-dated to between 15,000 and 3,000 years old, 341 wolves from several populations worldwide, and 547 purebred dogs. Some medieval Christian philosophers were influenced by the views of Maimonides, and accepted his view of angels. On balance, and in agreement with the archaeological evidence, 15,000 years ago is the most likely time for the wolf-dog divergence. Certain Christian traditions, especially the Reformed tradition within Protestantism hold that references to the "Angel of the Lord" are references to pre-Incarnation appearances of Jesus. (2005), however, suggest both sets of dates must be reevaluated in light of recent findings showing that poorly calibrated molecular clocks have systematically overestimated the age of geologically recent events. In the story of the 40 martyrs of Sebaste, in which 40 Christian Roman soldiers were made to stand naked on a frozen lake in the snow until they renounced their faith, angels were seen descending from Heaven placing the crowns of martyrs on their heads. Verginelli et al.

Each consecrated altar has at least one angel always present offering up prayers, and a number of angels join the congregation when they meet to pray. (2002) indicated a "common origin from a single gene pool for all dog populations" between 40,000 and 15,000 years ago in East Asia. For instance, each Christian may be assigned a guardian angel at their baptism (although never defined by the Catholic or Orthodox churches, nevertheless it is personally held by many church members and most theologians). Vilà, Savolainen, and colleagues (1997) concluded that dogs split off from wolves between 75,000 and 135,000 years ago, while a subsequent analysis by Savolainen et al. Some Christian traditions also hold that angels play a variety of specific roles in the lives of believers. Genetic analyses have so far yielded divergent results. For example the verse in Paul "our struggle is not with earthly things but with principalities and powers" (meaning according to most theologians the fallen angels of those choirs, used as an example of all the fallen angels). Dog burials at the Mesolithic cemetery of Svaerdborg in Denmark suggest that in ancient Europe dogs were valued companions.

Many of these names come from verses in the bible which would appear at first to be referencing a literal thing, although retroactively suggesting that they really mention angels can also make sense in the context. Rock art and skeletal remains indicate that by 14,000 years ago, dogs were present from North Africa across Eurasia to North America. In this hierarchy, the Cherubim and Seraphim are typically closest to God, while the Angels and Archangels are most active in human affairs. Remains of smaller dogs from Mesolithic (Natufian) cave deposits in the Middle East, dated to around 12,000 years ago, have been interpreted as descendants of a lighter Southwest Asian wolf, Canis lupus arabs. The Celestial Hierarchy is the source of the names that have become part of tradition: Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim. Their likely ancestor is the large northern Holarctic wolf, Canis lupus lupus. Some Christian traditions hold that angels are organized into three major hierarchies which are subdivided into orders called "Choirs", and list as many as ten orders of angels. The earliest dog fossils, two crania from Russia and a mandible from Germany, date from 13,000 to 17,000 years ago.

The principle of continuity, however, seems to require the existence of beings intermediate between man and God. Domesticated dogs may have interbred with local populations of wild wolves on several occasions (so-called introgression). The creeds and confessions do not formulate any authoritative doctrine of angels; and modern rationalism has tended to deny the existence of such beings, or to regard the subject as one on which we can have no certain knowledge. Fossil bone morphologies and genetic analysis of current and ancient dog and wolf populations have not yet been able to conclusively determine whether all dogs descend from a single domestication event, or whether dogs were domesticated independently in more than one location. Religious thought about the angels during the middle ages was much influenced by the theory of the angelic hierarchy set forth in The Celestial Hierarchy, a work of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, an unknown 5th century author or authors writing in the style of Dionysius the Areopagite. Converging archaeological and genetic evidence indicate a time of domestication in the late Upper Paleolithic close to the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary, between 17,000 and 14,000 years ago. Furthermore, there are more angels than there are anything else in the universe (although when first written this would have probably not included atoms since atomic structure was not known). Wolf remains have been found in association with hominid remains dating from 400,000 years ago.

Angels possess the beatific vision, or the unencumbered understanding of God (the essence of the pleasure of heaven). The relationship between man and canine has deep roots. They also teach that angels are intermediaries to some forces that would otherwise be natural forces of the universe, such as the rotation of planets and the motion of stars. As reflected in the nomenclature, dogs are a subspecies of wolf and are thus still able to interbreed. Scholastic theologians teach that angels are able to reason instantly, and to move instantly. Molecular systematics indicate that the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) descends from one or more populations of wild wolves (Canis lupus). Starting with the end of the 4th century, angels were depicted with wings, presumably to give an easy explanation for them travelling to and from heaven. In the UK, it is illegal to kill dogs, even if they are on your private land; you are required to contact your local Police Force, DogsTrust, or the local branch of the RSPCA, who will arrange its collection.

(Hence the frequently recounted tale of Scholastics arguing about how many angels could fit on a pinhead; if angels possess physical bodies, the answer is "at most a finite number", if they do not, then we rule out any finite number greater than zero as the answer.) Seraphim are often depicted as six wings radiating from a center — either concealing a body, or without a body. Feral dogs often form predatory packs that attack livestock and occasionally also prove dangerous to humans. Angels are frequently depicted as human in appearance, though many theologians have argued that they have no physical existence. Abandoned domestic dogs who become feral are particularly dangerous; they lack the survival skills of wild canines, as well as the genetic and learned fear of the humans' world. Indeed, the term "angel" frequently appears to describe not beings of power, but simply announcers of events. Bodies are sometimes tied to fences as warning to other dogs, especially in rural United States and Canada. An interpretation of the angels in the gospels is that angels are simply humans carrying a divine message. Wild dogs are shot by farmers in an effort to protect livestock.

Among other things, they are seen gathered around the Throne of God singing the thrice-holy hymn. The same creatures that wolves, coyotes, and foxes attack as prey, especially sheep and poultry, are similarly attractive prey to dogs. Angels fill a number of different roles in the Book of Revelation. In most jurisdictions, dogs are destroyed for killing other creatures, so dogs should be prevented from any encounter with livestock or wildlife that might lead to a predatory response. When Peter was imprisoned, an angel put his guards to sleep, released him from his chains, and led him out of the prison. With formidable skills and weapons as hunters as well as large and unfussy appetites, dogs often menace livestock and wildlife. Two angels witnessed Jesus' ascent into Heaven and prophesied his return. Canine aggression upon humans is ordinarily not tolerated, but any human aggression against an animal having formidable means of self-defense is foolhardy in the extreme.

Alternately, in Mark 16:5 the angel is not seen until the women enter the already-opened tomb, and he is described simply as "a young man." In Luke's version of the resurrection tale (Luke 24:4), two angels suddenly apparate next to the women within the tomb; they are described as being clothed in "dazzling apparel." This is most similar to the version in John 20:12, where Mary alone speaks to "two angels in white" within the tomb of Jesus. There are hundreds of shades of provocation that may or may not lead to an attack upon a human. 28:2, an angel appeared at Jesus' tomb, frightened the Roman guards, rolled away the stone from the tomb, and later told the myrrh-bearing women of Jesus' resurrection. Provocation can range from something as seemingly innocuous as a toddler pulling a dog's tail, in which case the dog might nip to discourage the behavior, to something completely inobvious to humans, such as an odor or a movement that sets a dog off, to blatant human aggression or violence towards a dog, causing it to defend itself. In Matt. However, their sharp teeth and claws can inflict injury in an attack; a large dog can knock a human down. The archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary in the traditional role of messenger to inform her that her child would be the Messiah, and other angels were present to herald his birth. After thousands of years of domestication and selective breeding for dogs whose aggression towards humans goes no further than a ferocious bark that strongly indicates dislike of a human behavior, most dogs are unlikely to attack people.

There seems, however, no parallel to such a use of "angel", and it is doubtful whether the monarchical government of churches was fully developed when the Apocalypse was written. Animals are often given attributes such as "loyal", "cute", and "guardian", but these all have the potential to lure people into a false sense of security. A less likely view is that the "angels" are the human representatives of the churches, the bishops or chief presbyters. Humans have a tendency to anthropomorphize animals, particularly pets such as dogs, which are generally portrayed as being "man's best friend". These are probably guardian angels, standing to the churches in the same relation that the "princes" in Daniel stand to the nations; practically the "angels" are personifications of the churches. More research is needed to determine the intelligence level of dogs, and the motivations behind their responses to their masters. we meet with the "Angels" of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Despite understandably positive interpretations by dog owners, it is questionable whether these animals are truly capable of feeling emotions on a human level.

1-3. Nevertheless, it is often unwise to anthropomorphize the responses of dogs. In Rev. Some research demonstrates that dogs are able to convey a depth of emotion not seen to the same extent in any other animal; this is purportedly due to their closely-knit development with modern man, and the survival-benefits of such communication as dogs became more dependent on humans for sustenance. Angels occur in groups of four or seven (Rev 7:1). Many dogs are reported to have separation anxiety if their owner is away for an extended period of time. 2:10), thrones and dominions (Col 1:16). Empirically, dogs are quite dependent on human companionship and may suffer poor health in its absence.

8:38; Col. Many dog owners consider having unconditional acceptance from a friend who is always happy to see them to be quite utilitarian, particularly if the dog also leads them to regular exercise. 9:11); ranks are implied, archangels (Michael, Jude 9), principalities and powers (Rom. Consequently, dogs are popular as pets and companions, independent of any utilitarian considerations. The distinction of good and bad angels is recognized; we have names, Gabriel (Luke 1:19), and Michael (Daniel 12:1), and the evil angels Beelzebub, (Mark 3:22) and Satan (Mark 1:13); while the allegiance of some angels are more ambiguous, such as Abaddon or Apollyon (Rev. Relationships between humans and dogs are often characterized by strong emotional bonds. The New Testament takes little interest in the idea of the angelic hierarchy, but there are traces of the doctrine. Excitement is evident as they see the hunters load weapons, take to the field, and begin the hunt.

Naturally angels are most prominent in the Apocalypse. Hunters with dogs report the satisfaction that the dogs seem to exhibit. (to Jesus), Luke 1:26 (to Mary), Acts 12:7 (to Peter)); and Jesus speaks of angels as fulfilling such functions (E.g. Mark 8:38, 13:27), implying in one saying that they neither marry nor are given in marriage (Mark 12:25). Many hound breeds are excellent at treeing raccoons during hunting season. In the New Testament angels appear frequently as the ministers of God and the agents of revelation (E.g. Matthew 1:20 (to Joseph), 4:11. When trained, beagles are particularly adept at chasing through thick briars and brush after rabbits. Others might perhaps view Maimonides's statements as being perfectly in keeping with the continued evolvement of Jewish thought over a period of several millennia. They typically have large, gentle muzzles to mitigate any potential damage to the game.

One can perhaps say that Maimonides thus presents a virtual rejection of the "classical" Jewish view of miracles; he and others substitute a rationalism that seems more appropriate for 20th and 21st century religious rationalists. They can follow hand, verbal, and whistle commands at great distance as the hunter directs them to the downed bird. This is explained in his Guide of the Perplexed II:4 and II:6. At command, they dive into the icy water, swim out and retrieve the birds one by one. Instead, he says, the wise man sees that what the Bible and Talmud refer to as "angels" are actually metaphors for the various laws of nature, or the principles by which the physical universe operates, or kinds of platonic eternal forms. They can spend long hours in a duck blind and, after the hunter has fired at multiple ducks or geese, they can visually spot and remember the location of downed birds. Even this can be highly misleading: Maimonides harshly states that the average person's understanding of the term "angel" is ignorant in the extreme. As water dogs, the retrievers are unsurpassed.

Rather, all such interactions are by way of angels. Once the hunter approaches, at his command they will flush the birds to fly and for the hunter to shoot at. The rationalist view of angels, as held by Maimonides, Gersonides, Samuel Ibn Tibbon, etc., states that God's actions are never mediated by a violation of the laws of nature. They have a native ability to discover and "hold" upland game birds; to freeze them momentarily on the ground with their silent, elongated pointing stance. In the Middle Ages, some Jews developed a rationalist view of angels that is still accepted by many Jews today. Setters in particular have a long history as upland gun dogs. Gabriel and Michael are mentioned in the book of Daniel, Raphael in the book of Tobit (from the Protestant Apocrypha or Catholic and Orthodox Deuterocanon) and the remaining four in the book of Enoch from the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha (considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox). This often strengthens the bond between human and dog, since they must trust one another in a variety of environments and must learn how the other works and thinks.

The archangels named in post-exile Judaism are Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, and Jerahmeel. Many people compete with their dogs in a variety of dog sports, including agility, flyball, and many others. Such a differing perspective on angels is discovered in the Book of Ezekiel, where these angels bear no relation whatsoever to the former understanding of what an angel was. Dogs are also used for searching for or rescuing people and animals, such as in avalanches, at disaster sites, and for missing people or pets. Later biblical books in the Tanakh present a stunningly different view of angels, as the Jewish beliefs about such things developed over the many years covered in the Bible. Most modern working dogs are put in positions which capitalize on their sensory or strength and endurance advantages over normal humans. The earliest Biblical books present angels as heavenly beings created by God, some of whom apparently are endowed with free will. Dogs have served as guides for the blind, as commandos, and have flown into outer space.

Traditional Jewish biblical commentators have a variety of ways of explaining what an angel is. There are service dogs, guard dogs, hunting dogs, and herding dogs. Many Bible chapters mention an "angry God" who sends His angel to smite the enemies of the Israelites. Many breeds of dogs, but not least German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, and Border Collie are commonly used as working dogs. These include the warning to Lot of the imminent destruction of Sodom. An assertive dog may consider itself the alpha animal, considering its human master to be subordinate. Angels appear in several Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) stories, in addition to the ones previously mentioned above. The dog is always aware of its rank relative to other individuals in the group.

2). Dogs thrive in human society because their relationships with humans mimic their natural social patterns. ix. Dog society can be thought of as dog packs characterized by a companionate hierarchy, in which each individual has a rank, and in which there is intense loyalty within the group. 10) may have been affected by the representation of the seven archangels and also possibly by the seven amesha spentas of Zoroastrianism (compare Ezek. Dogs thrive in small social groups or packs which, from their viewpoint, can include humans. 9, iv. The relationship between dogs and humans is rooted in history and dogs coexist with humans in a variety of ways.

iii. Most dog owners have a large collection of stories about their dogs recognizing individuals by their footsteps outside the door, and so on. The notion of the seven eyes (Zech. This ability to read and deliver nonverbal cues makes dogs expert at reading human beings, as well, often even more so than other humans are, who rely on language. More than three hundred years before the Book of Daniel was written, Zechariah graded the angels according to their rank, but did not name them. Physiologically, this correlates with such features as a large number of nerves innervating the facial muscles of dogs, allowing subtle control of a wide variety of facial expressions; in contrast to cats, for instance, who have many fewer nerves governing their facial muscles, resulting in a smaller repertoire or "vocabulary" of expressions. Michael is Israel's representative in Heaven, where other nations—the Persians, for instance—were also represented by angelic princes. The requirements of coordinating complex social behavior requires that canines have the ability to sense and deliver a wide variety of cues via body language, more so than for even humans, who can use language for the same purpose.

In Daniel, however, there occur the names Michael and Gabriel. All dogs have a tremendous capacity to learn complex social behavior and to interpret varied body language and sounds, and, like many predators, can react to and learn from novel situations. 30, the angels, when questioned, refuse to give their names. Gastric torsion and bloat is a dangerous problem in some large-chested breeds. xxxii. Dogs are also susceptible to the same ailments that humans are, including diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, and arthritis. 18, and Gen. Some breeds of dogs are also prone to certain genetic ailments, such as hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, cleft palate, blindness, or deafness.

Consequently, they did not individualize or denominate them; and in Judges, xiii. Internal parasites include hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and heartworms. The earlier Biblical writings did not speculate about them; simply regarding them, in their relations to man, as God's agents. Common external parasites are various species of fleas, ticks, and mites. 7). Diseases commonly associated with dogs include rabies (hydrophobia), canine parvovirus, and canine distemper, and pulmonic stenosis, although there are many others. 26; Job, xxxviii. Dogs are susceptible to various diseases, ailments, and poisons, some of which affect humans in the same way, others of which are unique to dogs.

i. It is said that the animals, not just dogs, could sense the tsunami and could therefore flee for life. In some places, it is implied that angels existed before the Creation (Gen. For example, during the tsunami in Southern Asia recently, many animals were seen days before fleeing to the hills. 18, an angel brought the divine word to the prophet. The evolutionary ability of sensing weather can be traced back to when wolves used it to move the pack into proper shelter before a dangerous storm. It is noteworthy that in I Kings, xiii. This is due to their keen ability to detect fluctuations in barometric pressure and can explain a dog's anxiety before and during a storm.

Thus the prophet Haggai was called God's messenger (angel); and it is known that "Malachi" is not a real name, but means "messenger" or "angel". Dogs also have the ability to sense inclement weather (mainly thunderstorms) many miles away. In the prophetic books, angels appear as representatives of the prophetic spirit, and bring to the prophets God's word. It has been observed that a lost dog can often find its way home, sometimes traveling over long distances. 7). An intensive search for a scent, for instance searching a ship for contraband, can actually be very fatiguing for a dog, and the dog must be motivated to continue this hard work for a long period of time. vi. In any event, it is established by those who train tracking dogs that it is impossible to teach the dog how to track any better than it does naturally; the object instead is to motivate it properly, and teach it to maintain focus on a single track and ignore any others that might otherwise seem of greater interest to an untrained dog.

This conception was developed after the Exile; and in the Zechariah, angels of various shapes are delegated "to walk to and fro through the earth" in order to find out and report what happens (Zech. The characteristics and behavior of these two types of scent trail would seem, after some thought, to be quite different, the air scent being intermittent but perhaps less obscured by competing scents, whereas the ground scent would be relatively permanent with respect to careful and repetitive search by the dog, but would seem to be much more contaminated with other scents. 7). What information a dog actually detects when he is scenting is not perfectly understood; although once a matter of debate, it now seems to be well established that dogs can distinguish two different types of scents when trailing, an air scent from some person or thing that has recently passed by, as well as a ground scent that remains detectable for a much longer period. 2; Job, xxxviii. Some breeds have been selectively bred for excellence in detecting scents, even compared to their canine brethren. xxxiii. Dogs have nearly 220 million smell-sensitive cells over an area about the size of a pocket handkerchief (compared to 5 million over an area the size of a postage stamp for humans).

They accompany God as His attendants, when He appears to man (Deut. They can identify a sound's location much faster than a human can, and they can hear sounds up to four times the distance that humans can. "assembly of the saints"). Dogs detect sounds as low as the 16 to 20 Hz frequency range (compared to 20 to 70 Hz for humans) and as high as 70,000 to 100,000 Hz (compared to 20,000 Hz for humans)², and in addition have a degree of ear mobility that helps them to rapidly pinpoint the exact location of a sound. V. Some breeds, particularly the best sighthounds, have a field of vision up to 270° (compared to 100° to 120° for humans), although broad-headed breeds with their eyes set forward have a much narrower field of vision, as low as 180°.^{1, 2}. V.; A. Because the lenses of dogs' eyes are flatter than humans', they cannot see as much detail; on the other hand, their eyes are more sensitive to light and motion than humans' eyes.

7, R. It has also been suggested that dogs see in varieties of purple/violet and yellow shades. lxxxix. Dogs were thought to be dichromats and thus, by human standards, color blind.^{1, 2} New research is now being explored that suggests that dogs may actually see some colour, but not to the extent that humans do. 1); hence they are called His "council of the holy ones" (Ps. Dogs are predators and scavengers, possessing sharp teeth and strong jaws for attacking, holding, and tearing their food. 6, ii. Within the range of extremes, dogs generally share attributes with their wild ancestors, the wolves.

19; Job, i. Modern dog breeds show more variation in size, appearance, and behavior than any other domestic animal. They constitute God's court, sitting in council with Him (I Kings, xxii. Many veterinarians recommend that owners neuter/spay their pets around the age of 5 months. 2 et seq.). A female dog can become pregnant on her first heat cycle (which can take place as early as six months), and should be kept away from intact male dogs, including littermates, over the age of 4 months. vi. Contrary to myth, it is not required for a female dog to either experience a heat cycle or have puppies before spaying, and likewise, a male dog does not need the experience of mating before neutering; these myths are responsible for numerous unnecessary health problems and unwanted puppies.

2; compare Isa. The hormonal changes involved are sure to change the animal's personality somewhat, and some object to this angle as the sterilization in itself could be carried out without the excision of organs. 20, cxlviii. Spaying and neutering can also help prevent hormone-driven diseases such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, as well as undesired hormone-driven behaviors. 1, ciii. It is also common for adult stray dogs who are placed in animal shelters to be euthanized due to lack of space and resources. xxix. Unwanted puppies are abandoned, eaten, or sometimes disposed of in an inhumane fashion.

They glorify God, whence the term "glorifying angels" comes (Ps. Dog experts advise that dogs not intended for further breeding should be spayed or neutered so that they do not have undesired puppies. "Evil" is here to be taken in the causative sense, as "producing evil"; for, as stated above, angels are generally considered to be by nature beneficent to man. Spaying or neutering refers to the removal of the male testicles or the female ovaries and uterus, in order to remove the capability to procreate, and to kill the libido. 49 are to be regarded as personifications of this kind. For example, the Bulldog often requires artificial insemination and almost always requires cesarean section for giving birth. lxxviii. Some breeds have been developed to emphasize certain physical traits beyond the point at which they can safely bear litters on their own.

It would seem that the pestilence was personified, and that the "evil angels" mentioned in Ps. Since a mother can only provide nutrients and care to a limited number of offspring, humans must assist in the care and feeding when the litter exceeds approximately eight puppies. 15, who annihilates thousands. An average litter consists of about six puppies, though this number may vary widely based on the breed of dog. xxiv. Dogs bear their litters roughly 9 weeks after fertilization. Avenging angels are mentioned, such as the one in II Sam. This rule is altered in domesticated animals since larger litters are often favoured for economic reasons.

5, 6). A general rule of thumb is that a mammal will produce half as many offspring as the number of teats on the mother. xxxv. The different rates of maturation are responsible for the menarche, not the chronological age. 9); the enemy is scattered before the angel like chaff (Ps. Like most mammals, the age that a bitch first comes into season is mostly a function of her current body weight as a proportion of her body weight when fully mature. xxx. Most bitches come into season for the first time between 6 and 12 months, although some larger breeds delay until as late as 2 years.

35); messengers go forth from God "in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid" (Ezek. Conversely, undomesticated canine species experience estrus once a year, typically in late winter. There are angels militant, one of whom smites in one night the whole Assyrian army of 185,000 men (II Kings, xix. This is also called in season or in heat. 11). The amount of time between cycles varies greatly among different dogs, but a particular dog's cycle tends to be consistent through her life. 7, xci. The ability of female domestic dog to come into estrus at any time of the year and usually twice a year is also valued.

xxxiv. In domestic dogs, one of the behaviours that is noted is the abolition of the pair bond seen in wild canines. 5); and as God watched over Jacob, so is every pious person protected by an angel, who cares for him in all his ways (Ps. As with most domesticated species, one of the first and strongest effects seen from selective breeding is selection for cooperation with the breeding process as directed by humans. An angel brought Elijah meat and drink (I Kings, xix. Dog owners may accidentally allow their pets to breed without regard to bloodlines. 1), a human messenger of God is meant—addressed the whole people, swearing to bring them to the promised land. Dog breeders also have accurate information on the complexities of the reproductive process for the breed of dog that they are accustomed to handling.

iii. Dog breeders have access to records which allow them to accurately guess which characteristics will "breed true" in a particular dog. 13, Mal. Breeders who do this are usually experienced in this process. i. Sometimes dogs are bred to create puppies to sell, or sometimes to carry on an award-winning purebred line. 19, Ḥag. Among professional breeders, dogs are only allowed to mate for a specific purpose.

xlii. Dogs also may find some poisons attractive, including antifreeze and snail bait. 1) an angel of the Lord—unless here and in the preceding instances (compare Isa. Alcoholic beverages pose much the same temptation and hazard to dogs as to humans. In Judges (ii. Some human medications, such as acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol), are highly toxic to dogs. 20.16). Some foods commonly enjoyed by humans are dangerous to dogs, including chocolate (Theobromine poisoning), onions, grapes and raisins, Macadamia nuts, and hops.

23.20, Num. For a discussion on one use of treats in training, see clicker training. God sent an angel to protect the Hebrew people after their exodus from Egypt, to lead them to the promised land, and to destroy the hostile tribes in their way (Ex. Such dogs might consider anything dropped by humans, including small but indigestible objects (such as marbles, coins, rings, etc.), to be treats as well, which could be dangerous to the dogs when ingested. Guardian angels were mentioned, but not, as was later the case, as guardian spirits of individuals and nations. Many dogs consider anything given to them directly by hand to be a treat, even the food they are accustomed to at meal time. Angels foretold to Abraham the birth of Isaac, to Manoah the birth of Samson, and to Abraham the destruction of Sodom. Eating grass might make the dog vomit, so one explanation is that dogs eat grass to remove unwanted content from their stomachs.

Angels reveal themselves to individuals as well as to the whole nation, in order to announce events, either good or bad, affecting humans. Explanations abound, but rationales such as that it neutralizes acid are just guesses. In the Bible, angels are a medium of God's power; they exist to execute God's will. Dogs sometimes eat grass, a harmless activity. 10]; certainly in Daniel), and there came to be various kinds of angels; some even being provided with names, as will be shown below. This research is also true of other mammals. 9, iv. It has also been noted that extremely stressful conditions, such as the Iditarod race and scientific studies of similar conditions, suggest that high-protein diets including meat help prevent damage to muscle tissue.

In post-Biblical times, the heavenly hosts became more highly organized (possibly as early as Zechariah [iii. In the wild these diets are typically pursued in the absence of available meat. 5 et seq.) and ofanim as heavenly beings who carry God's throne. Some sources suggest that a dog fed on a stict vegetarian diet may develop dilated cardiomyopathy since it lacks L-carnitine.^[3]. i. Domestic dogs can survive healthily on a reasonable and carefully designed vegetarian diet, particularly if eggs and milk products are included. 2) as having six wings; and Ezekiel describes the ḥayyot (Ezek. Wild canines not only eat available plants to obtain key amino acids, but may also obtain nutrients from vegetable matter from the stomach contents of their herbivorous prey.

The seraphim are described by Isaiah (vi. Dogs are able to healthily digest a variety of foods including vegetables and grains, and in fact can consume a large proportion of these in their diet. 24). Unlike an obligate carnivore, such as a cat, a dog is not dependent on meat protein in order to fulfill its dietary requirements. iii. The classification in the Order Carnivora does not necessarily mean that a dog's diet must be restricted to meat. 2, Gen. Presently, there is academic discussion as to whether domestic dogs are omnivores or carnivores.

lxxx. For a detailed discussion on what dog intelligence is, see dog intelligence. 4, Ps. Anecdotal evidence suggests that dogs have a reasonably high intelligence. iv. Among dog lovers, dogs are generally valued for their intelligence. God is described as riding on the cherubim and as "the Lord of hosts, who dwelleth between the cherubim"; while the latter guard the way of the Tree of Life (I Sam. They have small, tight feet, and walk on their toes.

When, however, the heavenly host is regarded in its most comprehensive aspect, a distinction may be made between cherubim, seraphim, ḥayyot ("living creatures"), ofanim ("wheels"), and arelim (another name for Thrones). Its skeleton provides the ability to run and leap. V.). Like most other predatory mammals, the dog has powerful muscles, a cardiovascular system that supports both sprinting and endurance, and teeth for catching, holding, and tearing. 49, R. Although selective breeding has changed the appearance of many breeds, all dogs retain the basic ingredients from their distant ancestors. lxxviii. Many additional terms are used for dogs that are not purebred; see Terms for mixed-breed dogs.

9; Ps. The word is sometimes used to refer collectively to any mammal belonging to the family Canidae (as in "the dog family"), such as wolves, foxes and coyotes. lxiii. Dog, in common usage, refers to the domestic pet dog, Canis lupus familiaris (originally classified as Canis familiaris by Linnaeus in 1758, but reclassified as a subspecies of the wolf, Canis lupus, by the Smithsonian Institution and the American Society of Mammalogists in 1993). 1; Isa. . iii. In other cultures, some dogs are used as food.

16; Mal. Dogs have lived with and worked with humans in so many roles that their loyalty has earned them the sobriquet "man's best friend." Conversely, some cultures consider dogs to be unclean. xxiv. In many countries, the most common and perhaps most important role of dogs is as companions. 23; II Sam. For dogs that do not have traditional jobs, a wide range of dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit their natural skills. 16; Job, xxxiii. Dogs fill a variety of roles in human society and are often trained as working dogs.

xlviii. Dogs, like humans, are highly social animals and pack hunters; this similarity in their overall behavioral pattern accounts for their trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human households and social situations. Angels are referred to in connection with their special missions as, for instance, the "angel which hath redeemed," "an interpreter," "the angel that destroyed," "messenger of the covenant," "angel of his presence," and "a band of angels of evil" (Gen. For example, heights at the withers range from just a few inches (such as the Chihuahua) to roughly three feet (such as the Irish Wolfhound), and colors range from white to black, with reds, grays (usually called blue), and browns occurring in a tremendous variation of patterns. The inference, however, is not to be drawn that God Himself or one particular angel was designated: the expression was given simply to God's power to accomplish through but one angel any deed, however wonderful. In this time, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great degree of variation. Though the older writings usually mention one angel of the Lord, embassies to men as a rule comprised several messengers. Dogs were first domesticated from wolves at least 15000 years ago[1] but perhaps as long as 150,000 years ago based on recent genetic fossil evidence and DNA evidence^[2].

3): "Is there any number of his armies?" In the book of Revelation, the number is "a thousand thousands, and many tens of thousands". The dog is a canine mammal of the Order Carnivora. The general conception is the one of Job (xxv. It too has the body plan of an adult canine predator. 23). The least paedomorphic behavior pattern may be that of the basenji, bred in Africa to hunt alongside humans almost on a peer basis; this breed is often described as highly independent, neither needing nor appreciating a great deal of human attention or nurturing, often described as "catlike" in its behavior. 6; Job, xxxiii. Terriers similarly have adult aggressive behavior, famously coupled with a lack of juvenile submission, and display correspondingly adult physical features such as erect ears, although many breeds have also been selected for size and sometimes dwarfed legs to enable them to pursue prey in their burrows.

lxxxix. This contrasts with sighthounds, who pursue and attack perceived prey on sight, and who maintain the mature canine body type with erect ears, lean bodies, and adult coats. 1; Ps. Scenthounds maintain an intermediate body type and behavior pattern that causes them to actually pursue prey by tracking their scent, but tend to refrain from actual individual attacks in favor of vocally summoning the pack leaders (in this case, humans) to do the job. 6, ii. Their physical characteristics are closer to that of the mature wild canine than the sheepdog breeds, but they typically do not have erect ears, etc. 19; Job, i. Similarly, they seize dead or wounded prey and bring it back to the "pack", even though they did not attack it themselves, that is, "retrieving" behavior.

14, 15; I Kings, xxii. They identify potential prey and freeze into immobility, for instance, but refrain from then stalking the prey as an adult predator would do next; this results in the "pointing" behavior for which such dogs are bred. v. Gun dog breeds used in hunting—that is, pointers, setters, spaniels, and retrievers—have an intermediate degree of paedomorphism; they are at the point where they share in the pack's hunting behavior, but are still in a junior role, not participating in the actual attack. 2; Josh. (Compare to the physical appearance of the border collie, a sheep herding dog, whose physical configuration is closer to that of an adult wild canine and who therefore has a greater capacity to frighten sheep into a desired pattern of movement, along with the more adult aggressive temperament to do so). xxxii. In addition, they retain very juvenile physical characteristics such as round bodies and heads, soft coats, ears that hang down, and so on, which do not elicit fear responses from the sheep in the way that an appearance similar to that of an adult wolf would.

Jacob meets a host of angels; Joshua sees the "captain of the host of the Lord"; God sits on His throne, "all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on his left"; the sons of God come "to present themselves before the Lord" (Gen. Livestock guardian dogs retain the most juvenile characteristics: they stay close to home with their foster "litter" (which might include a flock of sheep), rather than going out hunting, they have almost no predatory behavior (which would be disastrous in the vicinity of such a natural prey stimulus as sheep), they respond to perceived threats with a lot of vocalization and attempts to alert and engage the dominant individuals in their "pack" (i.e. humans) whenever possible, engaging in actual combat only as a last resort. The number of angels is enormous. Canine in common usage is a synonym for dog or an adjective meaning dog; for example, in the common expression "canine companion". 2). Pooch, Poochie, Pup, Puppy, Doggy, Doggie are all informal and affectionate terms for a dog often used by children. 18, xxv. Puppy is a juvenile dog.

5; Job, iv. Pack is used to denote a group of dogs. xiv. Bitch is a female dog. 28; Zech. Dog is also a term used by breeders to specifically denote a male domestic dog. 17, 20, xix.

xiv. 25; II Sam. 20, lxxviii. ciii.

When their duties are not punitive, angels are beneficent to man (Ps. Angels are portrayed as powerful and dreadful, endowed with wisdom and with knowledge of all earthly events, correct in their judgment, holy, but not infallible: they strive against each other, and God has to make peace between them. The use of wings suggests an original artistic convention merely intended to denote the figure as a spirit. Images of angels in Christian art are identical to prior depictions of gods such as Zeus, Eos, Eros, Thanatos and Nike, in pre-Christian classical art, and some divine beings in Mesopotamian art.

They are commonly depicted with halos. 21), as they are described in the Bible, and depicted in Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian art. ix. Angels are thought to possess wings (Dan.

This imagery is very similar to the description of Jesus in the book of Revelation. 5, 6). x. In the Book of Daniel, reference is made to an angel "clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude" (Dan.

16, 30, as standing "between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand". xxi. A terrible angel is the one mentioned in I Chron. It is worth noting that these angels carry items that are contempory to the time in which they visit (perhaps angels are bound by the technology which humans have achieved).

8 et seq.). i. 2, Zech. ix.

13, Ezek. v. 23, Josh. xxii.

Angels bear drawn swords or other destroying weapons in their hands—one carries an ink-horn by his side—and ride on horses (Num. Gradually, and especially in post-Biblical times, angels came to be bodied forth in a form corresponding to the nature of the mission to be fulfilled—generally, however, the human form. Though superhuman, angels can assume human form; this is the earliest conception. V.): "Who makes winds his messengers; his ministers a flaming fire." Some verses in the Apographya depict angels wearing blue or red robes but no such refrence occurs in the Protestant books.

4, R. civ. 15), as the Psalmist said (Ps. They are described as pure and bright as Heaven; consequently, they are said to be formed of fire, and encompassed by light (Job, xv.

2). iii. 11; Ex. 21, 22; II Kings, ii.

13; Judges, vi. xvi. Angels, or the Angel, appeared in the flames of the thorn bush (Gen. 9); some fly through the air; some become invisible; sacrifices touched by them are consumed by fire; and they may disappear in sacrificial fire, like Elijah, who rode to heaven in a fiery chariot.

xxix. 6; II Sam. 17, xiii. 5; Judges, vi.

2, xix. xviii. In the Hebrew Bible, angels often appear to people in the shape of humans of extraordinary beauty, and often are not immediately recognized as angels (Gen. In Jewish apocalypses especially, the imagination ran riot on the rank, classes and names of angels; and such works as the various books of Enoch and the Ascension of Isaiah supply much information on this subject.

100. The development of the doctrine of an organized hierarchy of angels belongs to the Jewish literature of the period 200 BC to A.D. The guardian angels of the nations in Daniel probably represent the gods of the heathen, and we have there the first step of the process by which these gods became evil angels, an idea expanded by Milton in Paradise Lost. above), but they belong to a different order of thought from the angels of Judaism and of Christian doctrine; and the passage in no way suggests that the bne Elohim suffered any loss of status through their act.

It is true that the bnē Elohim of that chapter are subordinate superhuman beings (cf. 6:2, as interpreted by the Book of Enoch. The Fall of the Angels is not properly a scriptural doctrine, though it is based on Gen. But in Tobit, we find Asmodeus the evil demon, τὸ πονηρὸν δαιμόνιον, who strangles Sarah's husbands, and also a general reference to "a devil or evil spirit", πνεῦμα (Tobit 3:8, 17; 6:7).

In Daniel, the princes, or guardian angels, of the heathen nations oppose Michael, the guardian angel of Judah. The statement (Job 4:18) that God "charged his angels with folly" applies to all angels. In the canonical Hebrew/Aramaic scriptures, angels may inflict suffering as ministers of God, and Satan may act as accuser or tempter; but they appear as subordinates to God, fulfilling His will, and not as independent, morally evil agents. In Tobit, too, we find the idea of the demon or evil angel.

12:15.). (Tob. Again in Tobit a leading part is played by Raphael, "one of the seven holy angels". 8:16; 10:13, 20-21), he is the guardian of Israel's leading Kingdom of Judah.

160 BC, 71 angels, usually spoken of as "men" or "Angel-princes", appear as guardians or champions of the individual nations, defending them as God sits in council with them over the world; grades are implied, there are "princes" and "chief" or "great princes"; and the names of some angels are known, Gabriel, Michael; the latter is pre-eminent (Dan. In Daniel, c. During the Persian and Greek periods, the doctrine of angels underwent a great development, partly, at any rate, under foreign influences. 400 BC, there is no reference to angels, apart from the possible suggestion in the plural in Genesis 1:26.

In the Priestly Code, c. The latter have been connected by Ewald and others with the later doctrine of seven chief angels (Tobit 12:15; Revelations 8:2), parallel to and influenced by the Ameshaspentas (Amesha Spenta), or seven great spirits of the Persian mythology. The seven angels of Ezekiel may be compared with the seven eyes of Yahweh in Zecharias 3:9, 4:10. In Psalms 78:49 the "evil angels" of the Authorized Version conveys a false impression; it should be "angels of evil", i.e. angels who inflict chastisement as ministers of God.

91:11, 103:20 &c.); they appear as ministers of God. Occasional references to "angels" occur in the Psalter (Pss. I Chronicles 21:1). Cf.

Similarly in the Job the bne Elohim, sons of God, appear as attendants of God, and amongst them, Satan (Hebrew ha satan), again in the role of public prosecutor, the defendant being Job (Job 1, 2. The Satan also appears to prosecute (so to speak) the High Priest before the divine tribunal (Zecharias 3:1). Somewhat later, in the visions of Zechariah, angels play a great part; they are sometimes spoken of as "men", sometimes as mal'akh, and the Mal'akh Yahweh seems to hold a certain primacy among them (Zecharias 1:11). As in Genesis, they are styled "men"; mal'akh, for "angel", does not occur in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 9 gives elaborate descriptions of cherubim (a class, or type of angels); and in one of his visions, he sees seven angels execute the judgment of God upon Jerusalem. Ezekiel, as a prophet of the Exile, may have been influenced by the hierarchy of supernatural beings in the Babylonian religion, and perhaps even by the angelology of Zoroastrianism (it is not, however, certain that these doctrines of Zoroastrianism were developed at so early a date). Once the doctrine of monotheism was formally expressed, in the period immediately before and during the Exile (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Isaiah 43:10), we find angels prominent in the Book of Ezekiel. Nevertheless we may well suppose that polytheists in ancient Israel believed in superhuman beings other than Yahweh, but that the inspired writers have mostly suppressed references to them as unedifying.

7, or the passage, at any rate in its present form, may be exilic or post-exilic. An angel of I Kings 13:18 might be the Mal'akh Yahweh, as in 19:5, cf. Thus, the pre-exilic literature rarely mentions angels, or other superhuman beings other than Yahweh and manifestations of Yahweh; the pre-exilic prophets hardly mention angels. In Isaiah 6 the seraphim, superhuman beings with six wings, appear as the attendants of Yahweh.

Similarly the "man" who wrestles with Jacob at Peniel is identified with God (Genesis 32:24, 30). In all these cases the angels, like the Mal'akh Yahweh, are connected with or represent a theophany. At Bethel, Jacob sees the angels of God on the ladder (Genesis 28:12), and later on they appear to him at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1). 18:1 with 18:2, and note change of number in 19:17).

(J) the appearance of Yahweh to Abraham and Lot is connected with three, afterwards two, men or messengers; but possibly in the original form of the story Yahweh appeared alone (Cf. In Genesis 18, 19. There are the cherubim who guard Garden of Eden. However, there are a few passages which speak of subordinate superhuman beings other than the Mal'akh Yahweh or Elohim.

In earlier literature the Mal'akh Yahweh or Elohim is almost the only angel mentioned. Christians think that this foreshadows the doctrine of the Trinity, whereas Kabbalist Jews would show how it developed into kabbalistic theological thought and imagery. The identification of the Mal'akh Yahweh with the Logos, or Second Person of the Trinity, is not indicated by the references in the Hebrew scriptures; but the idea of a Being partly identified with God, and yet in some sense distinct from him, illustrates a tendency of Jewish religious thought to distinguish persons within the unity of the deity. The phrase Mal'akh Yahweh may have been originally a courtly circumlocution for the Divine King; but it readily became a means of avoiding anthropomorphism, and later on, when angels were classified, the Mal'akh Yahweh meant an angel of distinguished rank.

The Mal'akh Yahweh (or Elohim) appears to Abraham, Hagar, Moses, Gideon, &c., and leads the Israelites in the Pillar of Cloud (Exodus 3:2). Those who see the Mal'akh Yahweh say they have seen God (Genesis 32:30; Judges 13:22). Exodus 3:2, with 3:4; 13:21 with 14:19). The Mal'akh Yahweh is an appearance or manifestation of Yahweh in the form of a man, and the term Mal'akh Yahweh is used interchangeably with Yahweh (cf.

Prior to the emergence of monotheism in Israel the idea of an angel was the Mal'akh Yahweh, Angel of the Lord, or Mal'akh Elohim, Angel of God. The New Testament often speaks of "spirits," πνεύματα (Revelation 1:4). It is probable that the "hosts" were also identified with the armies of Israel, whether this army is human, or angelic. However, YHWH is very jealous of the distinction between Himself and angels, and consequently, the Hebrews were forbidden by Moses to worship the "host of heaven".

The identification of the "hosts" with the stars comes to the same thing; the stars were thought of as being closely connected with angels. The "hosts," צבאות Sebaoth in the title Yahweh Sebaoth (alternatively, Adonai Tzivo'ot), Lord of Hosts, were probably at one time identified with the angels. They are spoken of as the "host of heaven" (Deuteronomy 17:3) or of "Yahweh" (Joshua 5:14). Angels are referred to as "holy ones" (Zechariah 14:5) and "watchers" (Daniel 4:13).

See also: Names of God in Judaism. Genesis 6:2; Job 1:6; Psalms 8:5). Hence they came to be used collectively of super-human beings, distinct from Yahweh and, therefore, inferior and ultimately subordinate (e.g. judges or alternately, some kind of super powerful human beings).

members of the class of divine beings) were general terms for beings with great power (i.e. According to Jewish interpretation, 'Elohim is almost entirely reserved for the one true God; but at times 'Elohim (powers), bnē 'Elohim, bnē Elim (sons of gods)(i.e. 6, 8). 1]) and "the Holy Ones" (Psalms lxxxix.

v. V. 6 [R. 4; Job, i.

Other appellations are "Sons of God", (Genesis vi. 8). xii. The Biblical name for angel, מלאך ('malakh"), obtained the further signification of "angel" only through the addition of God's name, as "angel of the Lord," or "angel of God" (Zech.

"Angel" is also used in the English Version of the Bible for the following three Hebrew words:. The closest Hebrew word for angel is מלאך, mal'ach Hebrew word #4397 in Strong's, also meaning "messenger". The English word originated from Latin, angelus, which is itself derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, ángelos, meaning "messenger" (double gamma "γγ" is pronounced "ng" in Greek). .

An angel is an ethereal being found in many religions, whose duties are to assist and serve God or the gods. the obscure שנאן, shin'an Hebrew word #8136 in Strong's, in Psalms 68:17. אלהים, Elohim Hebrew word #430 in Strong's, Psalms 8:5. "mighty").

אביר, abbir Hebrew word #47 in Strong's, Psalms 78:25 (lit.