War of the Angels

Uriel.

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by Angels, their relationship with God and with humankind and the role they have played in history.

In particular, I've been extremely interested in the Angelic war in heaven, the casting out of Lucifer and the role this has played in terms of sin, the creation of heaven etc...

I'm at am advanced stage of reading (for the first time) 'paradise Lost". I find it very enjoyable, if a little heavy (in terms of language)

I was wondering if Christian regulars in this forum could recommend other texts/books/scriptures in relation to this topic. Te traditional Gospels don't appear to cover the matter I'm great detail.

As a starting point I'd prefer to stick to academic/scholarly material but I would be happy to read fiction pieces/interpretations on the subject. Material doesn't necessarily have to be blindly of Christian origin either.

I am just wondering then also what people make of Angels generally, their role in Christian and Godly history and their ongoing and potential role in the future of humankind.

Baggio1

there's an excellent book by the TAN company called - ST.Michael and The Angels, great read, lots of details and prayers dedicated to him, st.Gabriel and St.Raphael and Guardian angels too.

I have always had the same fascination, and found after reading this and a couple more similar, that i got a better insight in their roles, its interesting to note in Bible scripture that S.Michael is spoken of the "the great prince that will stand up in the time of trouble" ie - in the end times we are now in, and i recently noted that on a couple of what I consider genuine prophecies sites that it has been said to visionaries that the church in Ireland will know noooo peace untill ST.Michael is reinstalled back into churces everywhere and honoured as he should be and always used to be untill vatican 2's aftermath when all the fr.trendies appeared and all statues/paintings of Michael were nearly all removed.
People/clergy forget he is given the task of being Guardian of the faith and the eucharist and warrior again evil aswell as leader of the Angels and prince of paradise under the blessed trinity and The Blessed Mother, ,, again many will say sure God can do all that and yes he can - but as we see so many times in history,, God uses others to do these things too... otherwise why bother even creating Angels? or choosing Moses or Abraham or all the spiritual leaders down the centuries.

Anyway a strong devotion to ST.Michaels help is badly needed by all christians and all we need to do to get it - is goood ol' free will just ask/pray for it.

ps - as previously mentioned, going into vatican2 the masons that had gotten in amongst the bishops had specific designs to remove all mention of ST.Michael from mass's, and statues/paintings etc of him from churches etc THEY knew his role veryyy well as does of course ol' hornhead and his mates!... well they seem to have done a pretty good job with the help of course of the trendies from 60's up this day...

PatricaMcKay

http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/areopagite_13_heavenly_hierarchy.htm

This is considered the most important work on Angels, it was written in the early 6 th century according to scholars, but it claims to be have been written by Dionysius the Areopagite who is mentioned in Acts.

Asry

I'd be interested in picking up the mentioned texts as well Although to be honest, I really, really cannot read Paradise Lost. I just can't get past the first section, the argument section. I'm well used to that kind of lanaguage and read an awful lot and always have done but...it's SO DULL. Seeing as you're pretty far into the book, would you know if it would make any difference if I just skipped over it?

strobe

Uriel. wrote: »

As a starting point I'd prefer to stick to academic/scholarly material but I would be happy to read fiction pieces/interpretations on the subject. Material doesn't necessarily have to be blindly of Christian origin either

This may not be exactly what you are looking for Uriel but one of my favourite novels (well top twenty anyway) is Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaimann that features the demon (former angel) that tempted Eve in Eden and several other angels and former angels (demons) from the rebellion as fictional characters. Lighthearted fare but if you need a break from the more serious stuff after a while I'd recommend it.

Uriel.

Asry wrote: »

I'd be interested in picking up the mentioned texts as well Although to be honest, I really, really cannot read Paradise Lost. I just can't get past the first section, the argument section. I'm well used to that kind of lanaguage and read an awful lot and always have done but...it's SO DULL. Seeing as you're pretty far into the book, would you know if it would make any difference if I just skipped over it?

I wouldn't see any great loss for you in skipping the "Argument" section, although each of the books (so far) start with a similar section (almost like an introduction). You don't necessarily need them though.

The only thing is, if you find the argument section difficult, the actual poem will probably be of equal struggle. Although, the poem's lines are short and not as bundled together as the Argument section so that might make it an easier affair and bit more exciting though.

Uriel.

strobe wrote: »

This may not be exactly what you are looking for Uriel but one of my favourite novels (well top twenty anyway) is Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaimann that features the demon (former angel) that tempted Eve in Eden and several other angels and former angels (demons) from the rebellion as fictional characters. Lighthearted fare but if you need a break from the more serious stuff after a while I'd recommend it.

Thanks Strobe, I will check that out. I am happy to read anything on the subject to be honest and I think lighthearted would be a nice change to the "heaviness" of Paradise Lost.

Thanks.

Doctor DooM

Another interesting aside- from wiki:

Superman's Kryptonian name, "Kal-El", resembles the Hebrew words קל-אל, which can be taken to mean "voice of God".[45][46] The suffix "el", meaning "(of) God"[47] is also found in the name of angels (e.g. Gabriel, Ariel), who are flying humanoid agents of good with superhuman powers. Jewish legends of the Golem have been cited as worthy of comparison,[48] a Golem being a mythical being created to protect and serve the persecuted Jews of 16th century Prague and later revived in popular culture in reference to their suffering at the hands of the Nazis in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.

UB Dude

You might find these links instructive
I haven't read anything better on the subject. This link is to rather long book, that is highly controversial in content and nature - it has the curious distinction of not being banned by the Catholic Church!

http://www.truthbook.org/index.cfm?linkID=5

THE LUCIFER REBELLION
http://www.truthbook.org/index.cfm?linkID=1300

PROBLEMS OF THE LUCIFER REBELLION
http://www.truthbook.org/index.cfm?linkID=1301

MINISTERING SPIRITS OF THE LOCAL UNIVERSE
http://www.truthbook.org/index.cfm?linkID=1285


THE SERAPHIC HOSTS
http://www.truthbook.org/index.cfm?linkID=1286

It really is a great book, if you can suspend disbelief for a while!

Soul Winner

I'd recomend the following:

The Invisible War by Donald Grey Barnhouse



The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis



The Book of Enoch

smokingman

I'd recommend the "Preacher" graphic novels by Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon if you want a different take on the whole angels/heaven thing.

Deals a lot with the anger of angels against a god who "works in mysterious ways" and has the best ending of any story I know.

Also, it's got an Irish drug addict vampire who "fought" in the 1916 rising :cool:

strobe

To add another one here, just finished 'I, Lucifer' by Glen Duncan there today. Worth checking out, written autobiography style 'by Lucifer' and He reminisces on the Fall (both of the angels from heaven and of man in the garden of Eden) quite a bit.

Doctor DooM

smokingman wrote: »

I'd recommend the "Preacher" graphic novels by Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon if you want a different take on the whole angels/heaven thing.

Deals a lot with the anger of angels against a god who "works in mysterious ways" and has the best ending of any story I know.

Also, it's got an Irish drug addict vampire who "fought" in the 1916 rising :cool:

Em, having read all of Preacher and thinking ultimately it's quite heartwarming and a good old fashioned wild west story mixed in with some interesting religious ideas, I don't think some of the gentler or more fundamental posters here would enjoy it.