Fallen angel

A fallen angel is, in Judeo-Christian tradition, an angel that has been exiled or banished from Heaven for disobeying God's mandate or for rebelling against God.

The best-known fallen angel is Satan, who is also known as Lucifer, and The Devil--Lucifer is believed in most Christian denominations to be God's first and perfect angel, and first fallen angel. After Lucifer fell, he took over the throne of Satan and litterally merged with him.^{[citation needed]}--For internal Wikipedia ((facts)), refer to Beelzebub, where it explains the counterpart trinity and commisioning of Hell. According to some Christian traditions, fallen angels roam the Earth until Judgment Day, and are then banished to Hell.

Reasons for their fall

There are a number of hypotheses and beliefs regarding the fall of angels, most of them having free will, lust, pride, or an incomprehensible understanding of the acts of God as their main theme.

The different sides of God

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This hypothesis deals with the concept of God as having two opposite sides — a divine or bright side, and a shadow or dark side. It is believed that if mortals were to see God's bright side, his radiance would incinerate them instantaneously. As such, a shadow side was needed for him to communicate with mortals. As Judaism evolved, so did the two sides of God. The Shadow became "God's Word", then the "Voice", and eventually became its own separate being, with its own free will. Once the Dark Side of God was removed from the Bright Side, it began to take on some aspects that mortals were familiar with: destruction, betrayal, temptation, etc. Eventually, the Dark Side of God became Satan. The word "Satan" is a version of the Hebrew word "satan" or "ShTN", meaning "adversary".

Consequences of free will

These hypotheses or beliefs deal with free will and problems ensuing from its possession.

God's aura

This hypothesis was first put forth by Origen of Alexandria, one of the most distinguished Fathers of the early Christian Church. Origen believed God had created all angels to be equal and free. However, possessing the power of free will, some of them began to move further away from God by their own volition. Origen maintained that those who drifted the least remained in the regions closest to God, while those who moved further out fell into lower air, and became what we know as "angels." This is the lowest order of the angels' hierarchy. Those who moved still further away became humans, and finally those who moved the furthest away from God became the "Fallen Ones", or "demons" who reside in Hell.

Origen states metaphorically that, although some angels fell and became humans or demons, all hope is not lost. By practicing virtue, men and demons can become angels. The contrary is also asserted. Angels can also fall to become men, and if depraved enough, demons.

Lust

This hypothesis comes from a series of non-canonical books called "The Three Books of Enoch," a set of books found in the Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament. According to the hypothesis, God asked the "Watchers," a select group of angels (the Grigori), to assist the Archangels in the creation of Eden. Those Grigori who descended to earth saw the daughters of men and became enchanted with them. Consequently, the Grigori began to reveal to man some of the secrets of Heaven, such as the movement of the heavenly bodies (astrology), the art of making weapons (armory), and also the enhancement of the face and body with perfumes and make-up (vanity). The Grigori fell in love with human women; some of the Grigori even took wives and created offspring, giants, known as the Nephilim. This made God so angry that he cursed those Grigori who had betrayed him, threw them out of Heaven, and made them mortal or transformed them into demons. God sent the Great Flood to cleanse the earth of the wanton killing and destruction perpetrated by the Nephilim. Some notable angels who fell in this account are Semyazza, Samael, and Azazel. A single verse from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament also alludes to this event, but nothing more is said about it in the Bible:

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:1-8)

Pride

This belief involves Lucifer's rebellion against God, well known among Christians. Lucifer was the first and mightiest angel to be created. With unmatched intelligence, radiance, beauty and power among angels in Heaven, Lucifer was second only to God himself. Unfortunately, Lucifer became ambitious and self-centered, eventually deciding to prove his power by raising his throne to the height of God's throne. However, other angels did not approve of Lucifer's plan; they did not want a lower being trying to equal God. When Lucifer enacted his plan, he was instantly hurled out of Heaven.

It should be noted that this account of the rebellion might come from ancient Canaanite manuscripts that deal with Shahar, one of their own deities. Shahar was thrown out of heaven due to pride, the same shortcoming attributed to Lucifer.

Catholic theologians have speculated that the incarnation of Christ was revealed to the angels. The idea that all of heaven must bow before Christ, formed in part from the lesser nature of humanity, supposedly motivated the pride of Lucifer (cf. Suarez, De Angelis, lib. VII, xiii).

Sin

This hypothesis asserts that God created the angels with free will, but he observed that they were fallible. God thought that his creation might give in to sin too easily. His solution was to strengthen some of his angels in a pursuit of goodness by an act of Grace. He then created another group of angels without giving them his grace and waited to see what happened. As God had thought, this second group of angels gave in to sin. War erupted in heaven and ended with a legion of pure angels casting out the sinners.

The "Sin" hypothesis is often linked with the "Pride" hypothesis. In these variations, Lucifer is supported by an army of angels. The First War in Heaven erupts when other angels oppose Lucifer's plan to assert his dominance.

Bowing to mankind

This hypothesis deals with God's mandate that angels bow before men. It is said that when God created man, He wanted his angels to acknowledge man by bowing down to him, but the angels did not obey the mandate. The origin of this idea is most likely the "Book of Adam and Eve", an apocryphal text which most scholars agree was written somewhere near the end of the 1st century AD.

XIII: The devil replied, 'Adam, what dost thou tell me? It is for thy sake that I have been hurled from that place. When thou wast formed, I was hurled out of the presence of God and banished from the company of the angels. When God blew into thee the breath of life and thy face and likeness was made in the image of God, Michael also brought thee and made (us) worship thee in the sight of God; and God the Lord spake: Here is Adam. I have made thee in our image and likeness.'

XIV: And Michael went out and called all the angels saying: 'Worship the image of God as the Lord God hath commanded.' And Michael himself worshipped first; then he called me and said: 'Worship the image of God the Lord.' And I answered, 'I have no (need) to worship Adam.' And since Michael kept urging me to worship, I said to him, 'Why dost thou urge me? I will not worship an inferior and younger being (than I). I am his senior in the Creation, before he was made was I already made. It is his duty to worship me.'

XV: When the angels who were under me heard this, they refused to worship him. And Michael saith, 'Worship the image of God, but if thou wilt not worship him, the Lord God will be wrath with thee.' And I said, 'If He be wrath with me, I will set my seat above the stars of heaven and will be like the Highest.'

Anon. Book of Adam and Eve, 13–15. [1]

Disobedience and pride

In John Milton's epic poem, "Paradise Lost", Azazel is the standard-bearer of the infernal host. According to the Quran, when God commanded the angels to worship Adam, Azazel replied: "Why should the son of fire fall down before a son of clay?" and God cast him out of heaven. His name was then changed to Eblis, which means "despair".

Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound

Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared

His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed

Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall:

Milton: Paradise Lost, Book I, vv530–533. [2]

Though this myth appears in the Quran, and later in Milton's work, it is clear that the Quran offers only a slightly modified version of the account, contained in the "Book of Adam and Eve". Most likely, the presence of this myth in both the Muslim and Christian religions can be traced back to the first century AD and the "Book of Adam and Eve", which was popular reading among early Christians, and would have certainly found its way into secular life as well.

Obedience to God

There is a Sufi version of the story that states that Lucifer was the angel who loved God the most. At the time of the angels' creation, God told them to bow to no one but him. However, God created mankind, whom he considered superior to the angels, and commanded the angels to bow before the new figure, forgetting his previous commandment. Lucifer refused, partly because he could not forget the first commandment, but also because he would bow to his beloved God only. The other angels saw Lucifer as insubordinate, and expelled him from Heaven. They saw God's mandate as unquestionable, regardless of what he had said in the past. Those who believe in this myth do not consider Lucifer or the Fallen Angels to be demons, since they did not rebel against God by refusing his mandate, but rather believed that creatures should bow before only God, and no one else.

Fallen angels by rank

First Sphere

Seraphim

Cherubim

Thrones

Second Sphere

Dominions

Virtues

Powers

Third Sphere

Principalities

Archangels

Angels

Others

References

Ashley, Leonard. The Complete Book of Devils and Demons Barricade Books. ISBN 1569800774
Goldwin, Malcom. Angels: An Endangered Species Gill & Macmillan Ltd. ISBN 0752205706
Davidson, Gustaav. A Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels. Free Press. ISBN 002907052X

External links

Buddha's Land of Enlightenment: Fallen Angels — Personal homepage of C. Benton, with a detailed explanation of the myths, hypotheses, and theories involving Fallen Angels.
Catholic Encyclopedia Devil