angels (Jesus, Earth, paradise, myths, Revelation)

[whereismynotecard]

Hmmm... I'll ask my mom if she really believes that my grandfather is an angel...

[Hope]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Righty ho, i'll give you a super short summary.

In Judaism there was originally only one angel the Malach Elohim, essentially G-d manifesting himself on Earth as a sort of ghosty-type bloke.
During the exile the Jews acquired the concept of multiple subservient beings from the Zoroastrians, which became the angels in plural - leading to such unforgettable characters as Metatron and Ha-Satan - Satan being the adversary of man, not G-d, his role being the tester of mankind's faithfulness (see the Book of Job).

Hmmm....I keep hearing about these Zoroastrians as being responsible for influencing Jewish and Christian beliefs. How factual is that?

[Alex_G]

Big boss man with his cronies. Essentially a grand anthropamorphic image of human life if you ask me :P.

[Seyorni]

Originally Posted by whereismynotecard

Does everyone who dies become an angel? Or only some people? Or does no one... When I was 7 and my grandfather died, my mom said that he was an angel now... I don't believe that anymore, but I was just wondering what you guys believe about who becomes an angel, and I didn't think I should make a separate thread about it...

I think the notion that a human can turn into an angel is just popular folklore, notecard. I may be wrong, but I don't think there's any support for this pretty fable in either the Bible or Quran. I think that in Christian and Islamic theology people are people, angels, angels, and no switching back and forth -- entirely different species.

[whereismynotecard]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

I think the notion that a human can turn into an angel is just popular folklore, notecard. I may be wrong, but I don't think there's any support for this pretty fable in either the Bible or Quran. I think that in Christian and Islamic theology people are people, angels, angels, and no switching back and forth -- entirely different species.

Okay...

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Hope

Hmmm....I keep hearing about these Zoroastrians as being responsible for influencing Jewish and Christian beliefs. How factual is that?

That would be for you to decide through your own research I'm afraid.

All I know is that the Jews left their land when the Babylonians invaded with the concept of the Malach Elohim, and when they came back they had a concept of an angelic intermediary host between G-d and man remarkably similar to the concept of Zoroastrian Amesha Spentas, so we have the Voice of God, the Wisdom of God etc. It seems too much of a coincidence to have a cause other than Zoroastrian influence, to me anyway.

Wikipedia has a summery under their "Angels" article, if you trust that. Otherwise if you do a google search for "zoroastrian influences on judaism" you'll have plenty of reading material.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

I think the notion that a human can turn into an angel is just popular folklore, notecard. I may be wrong, but I don't think there's any support for this pretty fable in either the Bible or Quran. I think that in Christian and Islamic theology people are people, angels, angels, and no switching back and forth -- entirely different species.

That's my understanding also.

[Sola'lor]

Originally Posted by 305265

confused about angels.so i have some rambling questions
did they exist prior to the earth? if so does that mean that God made them? because therefore it seems that if He did then he made another imperfect being (lucifer). and surely angels should be perfect . ??????????????????
if they didnt exist prior to man then where they originally men?
i know this thread will probably show my ignorence but it baffles me.

Angels weren't created, none of us were created. We all have existed in some form or another throught eternity. God formed us into His spirit children. THose spirits who ahve not yet been born on the Earth can be Angels. Those beings who have been lived on the Earth and then died can be Angels. Those who have died and then been ressurected can also be Angels.

Basically Angel is more of title or calling, rather than a specific being.

[justifyothers]

Originally Posted by 305265

confused about angels.so i have some rambling questions
did they exist prior to the earth? if so does that mean that God made them? because therefore it seems that if He did then he made another imperfect being (lucifer). and surely angels should be perfect . ??????????????????
if they didnt exist prior to man then where they originally men?
i know this thread will probably show my ignorence but it baffles me.

You must read the Book of Enoch!! Fabulous tales of angels and all kinds of chaos involving them.
I do believe in God, so the idea of angels doesn't really throw me. But I couldn't begin to tell you anything other than what I've read. Although I'd love to think I had my very own looking out for me and kickin butt when needed :-)
Nothing nicer than the thought of a beautiful winged creature sailing above us, unseen. I hope it's true............