Heavenly host

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Heavenly host refers in the Bible to an 'army' (Luk.2:13; Rev.19:19) of good angels in Heaven.

It is comparable and directly contrasts with the legions of Hell.

Most descriptions of angels in the Bible describe them in military terms. For example in terms such as encampment (Gen.32:1-2), command structure/orders (Ps.91:11-12; Matt.13:41; Rev.7:2), and combat (Jdg.5:20; Job 19:12; Rev.12:7).

Its specific hierarchy differs slightly from the Hierarchy of Angels as it surrounds more military services, whereas the Hierarchy of angels is a division of angels into non-military services to God.

1 Organization of the Heavenly Host
2 Angelic Combat
3 Lord of the Hosts
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Organization of the Heavenly Host

Visions of John the Evangelist, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. Four cherubim surround the throne and twenty-four elders sit to the left and right.

[edit] Cherubim

Main article: Cherub

Cherubs, Seraphs and "living creatures" refer to the angelic creature(Is.6:3; Rev.4:8b), a type of Imperial Guard. Originally they guarded God's chariot-throne (Ps.80:1 or a Cherub carried God (Psalm 17 describes the sudden descent of Jehovah to rescue a soul: "He bowed the heavens and came down, and darkness was under His feet. He rode upon a cherub and flew upon the wings of the wind." The idea of cherubim as the chariot of God seems indicated in I Paralip. 18, where David gives gold for the Temple cherubim, who are described as "the Chariot", not, probably, because they had the outward shape of a vehicle, but because the Temple cherubim symbolized the swift-winged living thrones upon which the Almighty journeys through the heavens);Ex.25:22), but as well as that duty they are now also posted in a variety of locations including the gates of Eden (Gen.3:24).

Some medieval writings split the Seraphim and Cherubim into separate orders, but nowhere in the New or Old testament or apocrypha is this definition made, especially in reference to military services.

[edit] Elders

Ranking below the Cherubs are the Elders who are usually associated with royal paraphernalia such as crowns and thrones (Rev. 4:4; 4:10; 5:8; 11:16).

There are said to be 24 Elders, but it is uncertain as to their origins. Some suggest they could be the 12 diciples of Jesus and the 12 elders/chiefs of the 12 tribes of Israel protecting Tabernacle.

[edit] Archangels

Main article: Archangel

This angelic designation can be given to angels of various ranks, although normally those of high rank. An example would be Raphael who is a Cherub and Archangel. This suggests that Archangels are angels in commanding positions or positions of great authority (Eph.3:10)

[edit] Angels

Main article: Angel

The vast majority of Angels in military service fall into this category. A rank and file position. They are however no less significant in God's eyes, and no less important to His Plan (1Cor.12:12).

Originally there would have been 9 corps (Ezek.28:13-21) in the heavenly host, but Satan took one third of all of the angels during his Rebellion (Rev.12:4) so now there are 6 corps.

It is not known how many angels there are but one figure given in Revelations 5:11 for the number of "many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders" was "ten thousand times ten thousand", which would be 100 million.

[edit] Angelic Combat

Guido Reni's archangel Michael.

During the Rebellion, Satan's forces were defeated by the Heavenly Host lead by Archangel Michael (Rev.12:7-9). Michael was given this commanding position after being the first to refuse Satan in the pre-rebellion build up when Satan was tempting the other angels to follow him.

At present there is an uneasy truce in the heavenly realms. Satan and his followers are in fact even allowed access to the throne of God, a freedom that the devil takes full advantage of in his constant accusations of believers to God (Zech.3:1; Job 1 & 2; Rev.12:10). Open warfare is not predicted to break out in heaven until the tribulational period (Rev.19:11-21) when the heavenly host will be commanded by Christ. Christ will ride from Heaven on a white horse, his eyes like fiery flame, wearing clothes dipped in blood (Rev.19:11-14) The mysterious phrase "he has a name written that no one knows except himself" is also included in the description. Then later "He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”"

However Earth is a current battlefield where angels and fallen angels are locked in constant invisible combat (2Kng.6:17).

A rank and file angel is apparently posted at each church to provide protection, according to Revelation chapters 2-3, in the context of the seven churches.

It is also told of an angel who smites, in one night, the whole Assyrian army of 185,000 men (2Kng.17).

[edit] Lord of the Hosts

This title describes God as the master of the 'legions' (army) of angels. Christ is sometimes referred to as the "Angel of the Lord" in the Bible, but in this sense it means angel as it's translated form "messenger" (Greek ἄγγελος, ángelos), not Angel in the sense of an Angelic being. So here it is not saying Christ is an Angel, but is saying he is the messenger of God, or the Word of God (Rev.19:13).

The term is also used in the Bahá'í Faith as a title of God [1]. Bahá'u'lláh, claiming to be the mouthpiece of God, wrote letters to kings and is published as Summons of the Lord of Hosts.