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Ezekiel provides one of the first symbolic portrayals of angels. His description of angelic creatures could be misinterpreted as a depiction of some aliens in a science-fiction novel or movie. He described angels in his vision as having four heads: a man, an ox, an eagle and a lion. Their feet were like hoofs and each angel had four wings a piece. He states: "… I was among the captives [in Babylon] by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of Elohim (God). … The word of Yahweh (the LORD) came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh (the LORD) was there upon him. And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass .… As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle (Ezk. 1:1-10)." No one understood the meaning of these four creatures until the Apostle John had his vision.more here
the Dogon African tribe has a myth of creation, which they believe that androgyny is a sign of perfection (Vol. 5, p. 240).
The Greeks concept of the hermaphrodite and how the sexes were created and separated is described in Plato's writing "Symposium." In it, the character Aristophanes describes two humans joined as one, which Zeus decides to split in half. Each of these beings was globular in shape, with rounded back and sides, four arms and four legs, and two faces, both the same, on a cylindrical neck, and one head, with one face on side and one the other, and four ears, and two lots of privates, and all the other parts to match same source
many cultures' gods were androgynous. For example, the Hindu god Shiva is often depicted as half man and woman. In addition, both male and female hormones are found in both sexes same source
Originally posted by Thurisaz
What do we really have in the way of credible information about Angels?
It seems that the Bible is the only source of information. I just wonder if there is any other information?
Angels are a central to Christianity, Judaism and Islamic religions.
Ezekiel provides one of the first symbolic portrayals of angels. (...) He described angels in his vision as having four heads: a man, an ox, an eagle and a lion. Their feet were like hoofs and each angel had four wings a piece.
I believe Angels are androgynous.
the Dogon African tribe has a myth of creation, which they believe that androgyny is a sign of perfection.
The Greeks concept of the hermaphrodite and how the sexes were created and separated is described in Plato's writing "Symposium."
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Also, since you want to bring the bible into the equation, the bible clearly states that angels are of a "terrifying appearance." They are nothing like the cute little cuddly cherubims we see in valentine's pictures or on Christmas cards.
The powers and characteristics that angels possess are probably their most misunderstood feature. If modern day Christians understood these things, they would not think that the Messiah resurrected a physical body just because he ate the disciples’ food (Lk. 24:30, 41-43) and let them touch the wounds of His crucifixion (Jn. 20:24-29). An examination of the Old Testament accounts of angels appearing to humans show that they demonstrated the same powers as the Messiah did at His resurrection.
• Angels can appear to eat (Gn. 18:8) as when Abraham prepared food for three angels that visited him before they destroyed Sodom. No one understands whether they ingest the food and convert it into energy, or dematerialize each bite as they appear to put it in their mouths. When the Messiah resurrected from the grave, he appeared to His disciples and ate bread and fish with them just as the angels did with Abraham.
• Angels can appear in human form to men (Gn. 18:2, 16, 22; 13:6; Ezk. 40:3-4; Dn. 10:16-18). It seems that only righteous angels have the power to "put on" a physical body. No where in the canonized or non-canonized scriptures, such as the Book of Enoch, is there evidence that support fallen angels "putting on" a physical body. Fallen angels seem to have to incarnate into already existing human bodies.
When angels appear as men, a human cannot discern an angelic being simply by using physical sight. Neither can a human determine whether an angelic creature has put on an actual fleshy body or has mimicked flesh ‘to appear human’ to our senses. This is what happened when the Messiah resurrected from the grave. His angelic body appeared as flesh and blood to His disciples.
• Angels and spirit beings appear wearing non-physical clothes (Ezk. 9:2; Dn. 10:5). Humans have seen their dead relatives appear to them in the clothes they wore when they were buried or killed. Now it is quite obvious that an immaterial human soul is not wearing physical clothes. Clearly, this is the projection of the soul. For example, when King Saul went to the witch of Endor, He asked her to bring up Samuel’s soul in a seance. When Samuel’s soul appeared, she described him as an old man with a mantle (1 Sam. 28:14). Clearly, this shows that spirits can project an image similar to their physical appearance.
• Angels are normally invisible to humans, but they can reveal themselves to whomever they will. Angels can reveal themselves to a group of people or just one individual in the whole group (Psa. 104:4; Jg. 13:20; 2 Kgs. 6:17; Dn. 10:6). The Messiah revealed himself in the angelic form to Paul and his companions on the road to Damasus, but only Paul saw His form (Acts 9:3-7).
• Angels can be seen in visions and dreams in human form (Gn. 19:1; Jos. 5:3; Jd. 6:11; Dan. 8:15)
• Angels have super human powers (Psa. 103:20; Gn. 19:10-11; Jg. 6:20-21). This was demonstrated by their destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorra, and Egypt. Their might was also manifest when they killed the Assyrian army (2 Kgs. 19:35).
• Angels can ride incorporeal horses (Zec. 1:8; 6:1). This implies that there are animal spirits in the angelic creation.
• Angels can brandish weapons that are not physical (Num. 22:23; Jos. 5:13; 1 Ch. 21:16, 30; Ezk. 9:2). These weapons can kill humans just as physical swords can.
• Angels can depart wisdom unto humans (Dn. 10:10-12; 2 Sam. 14:17, 20) as in the case of Daniel and David.
• Angels can protect nations. The scriptures, especially in the Old Testament, tend to support that nations have guardian angels. Yahweh told Moses in the wilderness that He would send an angel to lead Israel throughout their journey to the promised land (Ex. 23:20, 23). An angel told Daniel that he had to go and fight with the king of Persia (Dn. 10:20). Clearly, this shows that angels aid warring nations, as angels aided Israel many times. Angels cannot only protect nations, but have been alleged to have sexual relations with women. [url=http://www.plim.org/1Angelsjune96.htm]source
Originally posted by queenannie38
And the animal and man faces are arranged as would be an astrological circular chart of someone who's ascendant is in Scorpio. Because that is at '9' o'clock on the circle and so Taurus is at 3 and Aquarius at the bottom at 6 and Leo at the top - the crown.
Scorpio was a phoenix bird in antiquity - or sometimes more like an eagle but either one represents regeneration - life - and Scorpio is the symbol of mortal death.
Those are all representations of that particular archetypal facet of GOD – and with 13 in the cosmic display of deity, there is, essentially, the same story around us all – no matter who we are or where we live or what we believe – it is the same story, at the root.
The Greeks concept of the hermaphrodite and how the sexes were created and separated is described in Plato's writing "Symposium."
In it, the character Aristophanes describes two humans joined as one, which Zeus decides to split in half.
Each of these beings was globular in shape, with rounded back and sides, four arms and four legs, and two faces, both the same, on a cylindrical neck, and one head, with one face on side and one the other, and four ears, and two lots of privates, and all the other parts to match same source
Originally posted by Thurisaz
Theistic astrology is interesting. How then would this theory explain John's vision in Revelations?
Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
~Ezekiel 1:9
And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
~Ezekiel 1:12
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are the mutable signs; the adaptable and interchangeable signs capable of molding and modifying circumstances and conditions in life. These are the 'winds of change!' - the four angels who are holding back the winds, in Revelation 7:1, from the four corners of the Earth - which is a metaphorical way of describing the 4 cardinal directions: N, S, E, & W.
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Why would the angels be trying to hold back change? Change is good, right?
Originally posted by Thurisaz
well I understand it even if know one else knows what the lorry I am on about!!!!
Originally posted by queenannie38
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Why would the angels be trying to hold back change? Change is good, right?
Holding it back only until it's time!