# What angels and demons are (Angelology, Demonology)

There are intelligent beings beyond humanity, which we broadly call "angels".

- There are multiple classifications of angels (Cherubim, Seraphim, etc.).
- These angels are unseen, likely traveling along a parallel dimension to our standard three-dimensional perspective.

God's design for angels, unlike our design for relationship, was for [utilitarian purposes](purpose.md).

- While humanity has a "multi-tool" design that permits all forms of action without constraint, angels are designed to do one task *really* well.

Being intelligent, God gave them the freedom of [decision](mind-decisions.md), and some of them have rebelled against what God wants.

- The Satan, led by Lucifer and his followers, are constantly trying to destroy what God has made and subvert His purposes.
- The dominant way they work is through creating more [inner conflicts](people-conflicts-inner.md) over our decisions.
  - It almost always involves magnifying our [imagination](mind-imagination.md) of bad things to subdue what we [believe](understanding.md) through [fear](mind-feelings-fear.md) or false [certainty](understanding-certainty.md).
  - For non-believers, he distracts people from broad thinking about our spiritual state, then sends any variety of [religious doctrine](religion.md) or [philosophy](glossary-philosophy.md) to hide the truth.

[Additional exposition about spiritual warfare](spiritual-warfare.md) (with [additional list of the devil's tricks](spiritual-warfare-tricks.md))

## Classifications

The Bible refers to four classifications of these celestial beings, which can't be human or beasts:

- Angels
- Seraphim
- Cherubim
- There are also fallen angels, referred to as [demons](spiritual-warfare.md).

These beings have the term "elohim", which is confusing because it's also used as a term for God.

- In fact, some of these beings are *likely* "gods" of a lesser sort, with God having authority over them.
  - Most of the dispute about this context is highly contingent on how we define the word "god".

Given [God's nature](theology-god.md), there are likely more that have not been mentioned in the Bible.

An "angel" is a "messenger".

- It's simply a role, and doesn't indicate *what* the being actually is.

The "seraphim" is a throne room guardian spirit.

- The word "seraph" is connected to Hebrew for "burn" and "serpent", so they're often portrayed as fiery winged serpents.
- [Isaiah 6:2](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/6-2.htm)

The "cherubim" are also divine throne guardians.

- They have a very strange appearance that lends itself to a LOT of [symbolic](symbols.md) speculation.
- [Ezekiel 1:5-10](https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/1.htm)

Thomas Aquinas grouped the heavenly beings into 3 orders:

1. Those closest to God, serving in His immediate presence.
2. Rulers of the heavens, shaping the events on Earth.
3. Those who walk among humanity as messengers and guides.

While some spiritual beings blend in [Hebrews 13:2](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/13-2.htm), many of the others would be legitimately terrifying if encountered on Earth.