Angels are known as the ‘army of heaven’. They are powerful spiritual beings who pay their loyalty to God and serve as guidance for human beings.
Angels are common to almost all religions in the world. They help and guide human beings in a wide variety of ways.
The word ‘angel’ is derived from the Greek word “Angelos,” which translates to “messenger.” People who believe in angels recognize them as messengers of God. They are believed to perform tasks on Earth that are assigned to them by God.
If you want to know about angels in different religions, you are in the right place. In this post, we are going to discuss angels in different religions.
- Christianity
Angels in Christianity are believed to be intermediaries between God and humans. They not only serve as messengers and servants of God but also attendants to God’s throne.
According to Catholic theology, nine choirs of angels are divided into three groups including Cherubim, Seraphim, and Thrones; Powers, Dominations, and Virtues; Archangels, Principalities, and Angels.
Angels are known to play a crucial role in Christian history. They played a part in announcing the birth of Jesus, protecting Him in the wilderness, and battling Satan in the Book of Revelation.
Angels are pure spirits and therefore, they don’t have corporeal forms. According to traditional Catholicism, angels speak “within” a person, and not “to” them. This is how they maintain their spiritual nature.
In Christianity, it is believed that every person has his or her guardian angel who possesses the power to intervene in human affairs. Not just that, but they can also influence people’s imaginations and senses.
There are three chief angels in Christian angelology: Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael. They are also called archangels.
Gabriel was the one to inform Mary that she would give birth to the son of God. Raphael is the angel who helped Tobiah cure his father’s blindness in the book of Tobit. Michael fights Satan and helps rescue the souls of the faithful at the hour of death. It is believed that he will be present at the time of the end of the world and when the antichrist is born.
Lucifer, the fallen archangel who was cast out of heaven for rebelling against God. He is the ruler of hell and seeks to tempt mankind to sin.
- Hinduism
In Hinduism, there are no different types of spirit beings. They have devas or minor gods, who inhabit the higher astral plane.
Devas, Gods, and planets like Sani play a protective role for human beings. Hinduism also has apsaras, who preside over sacrifices. Although devas and apsaras are spiritual beings, they have a physical form.
- Islam
Angels or malaikah in Islam play a crucial role as intermediaries and messengers from Allah to the world. The most important angel is Jabrai’il (Gabriel).
Angels in Islam don’t have a physical form. To put it differently, their true form is incomprehensible to humans.
It is believed that every person has two guardian angels to watch over them and record everything they do.
The most important messenger of Allah is Gabriel, who Muslims believe revealed the Qur’an from Allah to Prophet Muhammad. The other Islamic archangels include Mika’il (Michael), who guards the Israelites, Izra’il, the angel of death, and Israfil, who will play the trumpet on the last day.
Nakir and Munkar are two other angels who test the faith of the recently deceased.
Angels are mentioned in all world religions. They may differ from religion to religion, but they all have the same responsibilities. As spiritual beings, angels act as messengers from God.
