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"Angels are an entirely separate type of creature from humans. People do not become angels after death, and angels do not become humans. They are different from us as we are from the animals. Angels are intelligent beings."
-Matthew 8:29;2 Corinthains 11:3)
What the hell are Angels then?!
You have to read this within the context of human history to understand.
Many of the world's ancient stories and artwork tell of gods who dwell in and traverse the sky. They command weapons and instruments that can govern nature, itself.
You also have to read the Bible not as a "religion" per se... but as a story of something far, far more importance.
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Interpretations run amok - because you are looking at pre-human history as recorded by humans following countless centuries of oral tradition.
" -+ Quick Notes concerning the war of the angels as noted in other religions. -+
In the Kena Upanishad, you will find that the Divine Mother shed wisdom on Indra and the gods and said that the gods were able to defeat the demons only with the help of the power of the Supreme Lord.
There is mention of a similiar being in Hindu literature by the name of Nahusa who was a being of great power who was Lord of the Earth but wanted to become the Lord of Heaven but fell from grace and was sent back to earth in the form of a snake*. "
When you look at many of the earliest religions, you can see many common themes amongst them - particularly those stemming from the regions near Sumeria.
Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. [3] 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."
Revelation 12 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Revelations is a fascinating read - but atypical in that it is not arranged chronologically, but thematically. Events, as described, are not necessarily happening in sequence - but may be describing overall concepts that span pre-history into the future.
Here, it is speaking of the Dragon - or Lucifer. The stars in the sky are a metaphor for angels in heaven - just as the woman is the metaphor for Israel and the man-child a metaphor for Christ. You can see what I mean by things being arranged thematically as opposed to chronologically. This passage spans pre-history to a time that I can only interpret as having yet to come - yet is embedded within many other passages about different scenes.
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I view much of this through a lens of science and technology.
I suspect angels are beings that predate humanity - likely highly advanced by our standards in terms of technology.
Lucifer, perhaps, represents a specific race or perhaps an individual/collective entity that was among the most knowledgeable of the universe. God, even to the angels, is something of a mystical concept in and of itself - it is a sort of 'last question' of existence that all highly advanced beings understand exists yet are no closer to answering.
Lucifer pulled a Sasuke. He came to the conclusion that he could create a better world than the one God had created and that he was more deserving of the title of God. The ways of the universe be damned.
Perhaps this coincided with the discovery of humans - some revelation that occurred to him that made us particularly unique. This would explain the ancient descriptions of wars in the sky as a sort of alien battle over who would have 'say' in what happened to us.
Though that is a largely geocentric viewpoint that should be cautioned against.
The 'temptation in the garden' is where everything changes. While many people seem to think it was a 'bad' thing - I am leaning on the idea that we are a catch-22.
The fruit from the 'tree of life' is knowledge - the domain of Lucifer. We are also created in God's image - something not said of the angels.
We have a perspective that Lucifer could never have - and we to replace him in the role that he originally filled as the guardians of God's sanctity. In other words - we are to inherit both God's being and God's knowledge - allowing us to justly use the authority that was originally given to Lucifer and to finally bring order amongst the angels.
Of course - that's how I interpret the scriptural meaning.
I'm not so sure about the prophecy of peace - but the prophecy of the duty, I can believe. If that makes any sense.
Probably lost a few people way back there... but I've been reading scripture for quite some time and dabbling in the areas the preachers never touch since a kid. So I have always been an oddball amongst the frozen chosen.
(sarcasm)
