Angels Worldwide
"69% of the people we interviewed believe they have a guardian angel..."
TIME Magazine
Babylonian Religion
8th - 6th Century B.C.
The Babylonians are probably the oldest civilization to have akcnowledge the presence of good spirits or angels. They believed in supernatural beings, who ruled certain parts of the universe such as the earth, sun, moon , and the stars. They are in control of these planets constellation; as in sunrise and sunset of the sun, the brightness of the moon, or the vegetation on the earth. This unseen, but powerful spirits govern and maintain the mountains, the water, the atmosphere, and all the animals. They also recognize a certain spiritual entity in everything they do.
The Babylonians believe they have a guardian spirit who can help them with their personal intention or a way to communicate to their God.
Zoroastrianism
A religion founded in the 6th Century B.C. by Persian prophet Zoroaster. Faith of Zoroastrianism is largely based on their scripture, the Avesta. The main principle is to adhere to what is good and beneficial and to repulse evil and what is harmful. Advocating the truth against lie, form a great part of Zoroastrianism. Their primary priest was called Magi, where the term magic originated, who are well respected within their society. They are very wise and known to perform certain wonders.
Adept on planetary existence, they believed that there are good and evil spirits on every plane. Their belief evolves on two supreme beings; Ahura Mazda, the good Lord, the Wise and the Creator of all things, who was served by celestial beings (later to be recognized by different religions as angels) with seven hierarchy and Ahriman, the evil lord and the cause of all misery to mankind.
The seven hierarchy of angels were known as Amesha Spentas of Ahura Mazda:
Spenta Mainyu, (Holy Spirit),
Vohu Mana (Good Mind),
Asha (Truth),
Armaiti (Power),
Khshathra (Devotion),
Haurvatat (Health), and
Amiretat (Life).
This seven hierarchy of angels in Zoroastrianism were later to be recognized as:
Archangel Michael,
Archangel Raphael,
Archangel Gabriel,
Archangel Uriel,
Archangel Raquel,
Archangel Sariel, and
Archangel Remiel
Zoroastrianism's faith in good and evil (angels of light and the fallen angels) was later adopted by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Judaism
Influenced by Zoroastrianism, the study on angels intensified during the 5th Century B.C. They also believed in good and evil spirits, wherein they protect themselves by wearing amulets and talismans against evil entities, misery and sickness.
Angels were mentioned throughout the Old Testament; the angels of the Lord fought against the rebellious angels, guarded the gates of Eden, protecting or rescuing the righteous, and deliverer of the Divine will of God.
Archangels are mentioned in the Old Testament by name: Michael, the "heavenly hosts", Gabriel, the "holy messenger", Raphael, God's healer, and Uriel, the Fire of God. Other angels were mentioned, although not by name in the Old Testament. Orders of angels were also familiar to Judaism, some of them are the Seraphim and the Cherubim.
Zoroastrianism in origin, they believe in demons (which is most likely due to the cosmic law of balance, where good must meet evil) such as Satan (the ruler of the underworld), Azazel (a goat like demon), Lilith (a female demon encountered in dreams).
Angels became a great part of their belief to counter all these evil entities.
Christianity
Influenced by the Jewish Pharisees and the Essenes belief on angels was adopted by Christianity. The angels were group into seven ranks: Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangls, and Angels. Seraphim and Cherubim was later added to form the nine choirs of angels.
The belief that God assigns to every man an angel to guard him was very common to their faith. They acknowledge that the just and righteous has a protecting spirit. The function of guardian angels is the protection of body and soul and the presentation of prayers to God.
Declared by Pope Pius XII in 1950, angels well known to Christianity are
Archangel Michael, patron angel of policeman, military, fireman, etc., Archangel Gabriel, patron angel of messengers and telecommunication, such as the internet and Archangel Raphael, the patron angel of doctors, dentist, nurse, etc.
Belief in demons are also familiar to Christianity. Early Christian priest were said to travel to a deserted land, contemplate, and praise God. During this peiod they recall being tempted by a beautiful woman (probably Lilith, the seductive female demon), who is said to seduce them to renounce their faith. Jesus mentioned Satan, Lucifer, and Beelzebub as all fallen angels. The term devil originated from Zoroastrian word deavas.
Similarity between the stories of the fallen angel on modern Christianity and Zoroastrianism is very clear. Ahura Mazda and the Holy Spirit (Spenta Mainyu) were allied with each other. The adversary of Spenta Mainyu was called Angra Mainyu an evil entity who later became Ahriman, modern interpretation of Satan.
St. Ambrose believed that the faithful were deprived of guardian angel in order that, having a harder struggle against evil, they might attain greater glory.
St. Jerome and St. Basil state that mortal sin drives a persons guardian angel away.
St. Thomas Aquinas, a great theologian and the angelic doctor in Midieval times, held that only the guardian angels are the lowest order of the angels.
Although Christianity lessened their angels on 745 AD by Pope Zachary and his council, the fact remains that they are angel believers.
Islam
Islam, the Muslim religion, has similar doctrines in Judaism and Christianity. The Muslims view angels as God's serveants and guardians to man.
Well known angels to their faith is: Jibril (Gabriel), who is said to have dictated their Holy book Quoran (Koran) to Mohammed in one night; Mikail (Michael), who was described as having hairs of saffron, wings of green topaz, a million faces, each with million eyes sheding tears for the faithful. It is said that from these tears an angel is formed; Israfil, the angel in charge of placing the soul in the body to the unborn; Izra'il (Azrael), the angel of Death, who questions the dead from its tomb and decide if they are worthy to see Allah, the Muslim God and Creator.
Fallen angels such as, Saytan (Satan) and Iblis (The Devil with the head of a goat) are also part of their belief.
They also believe in Jinn (Geni) who have great supernatural powers but inferior to angels. The well know Geni from the lamp in "Aladdin and the Magic Carpet" and "Kazzam" illustrate this belief.
Sounding the trumpet for the Last Judgment by the angel Israfil is also one of their faith.
