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Heavenly Christmas Angels History. No figures in the Bible are as delightful as the Christmas angels. The heavenly angels are described as messengers of god. The word angels is Greek in origin and means messenger or one who is sent. Angels are supposed to be immortal spirits. Angels are said to live in Heaven and are thought to be intermediaries of God and our link to the mystical kingdom of heaven. Angel pictures are traditionally pictures that portray angels with human bodies and wings. Poets and artists have portrayed the angel with wings as symbols of innocence or virtue. They also symbolize purity, peace and love. The concept of angels with a human body and angel wings began in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament of Christianity. The New Testament says that they rejoice when people on earth are sorry for their sins. Christianity has developed the most elaborate doctrines about angels. Christianity recognizes an order of beings in which they rank above humans beings but under God. In the Bible nine ranks of angels have been counted. Seraphim angles and Cherubim angels are thought to be the highest order of angels. The Archangel is a chief angel or a leader among the angels. Saint Michael is known as an Archangel. Guardian angels or angel guardians represent a comforting presence for all of us. Christian doctrine regarding angels reached full development during the A.D. 1100's and 1200's, especially in the teachings of Saint Thomas Aquinas. He believed that they were necessary to fill the gap between God and mankind. Aquinas taught that countless numbers of angels existed and that the they were immortal. Saint Thomas Aquinas believed angels knew everything except what depended on human choice and what was known only to God. The heavenly angels play an important role in the Christmas celebration. It is said that they brought us news of peace through the coming of the Christ child, an angel gift from God for all people on earth. Gabriel is the heavenly angel of Christmas that brought this news to Mary. Gabriel revealed to Mary that she would have a son. An angel also visited Joseph. They told Joseph of the upcoming birth of the Christ child and also asked him not to be afraid to marry Mary. A story tells us that God gave a small group of tiny angels a special assignment to watch over this couple on their journey to Bethlehem. These angels were pretty new, and still learning ‘angel ways.’ But, the tiny angels took their jobs very seriously. Guiding the young couple over rugged terrain at the beginning of a cold winter, the angels did what they could to prepare the way. But even the tiny angels best efforts were of no avail when it came to finding shelter for the two in the crowded town. The tiny angels sang sweetly and used their collective efforts on behalf of Mary and Joseph but in the end, the couple was forced to occupy makeshift lodgings in the stable of a Bethlehem inn. As the night’s stillness settled over the land, an exciting moment came to pass inside the inn’s stable. The tiny Christmas angels assigned to care for Mary and Joseph flew closer to earth than ever before to observe the miracle of Christ's berth. The fastest angel of the group swept over the little stable, catching sight of the newborn child through the stable’s shabby, patched roof. And in an instant, the angels’ mission became clear: The little band of angels had been chosen by God to herald the birth! With great excitement and joy, the leading angel of the little band broke into a glorious song that flowed out into the cobalt heavens and wrapped around the clouds. It was a song of thanksgiving for all mankind to share. And their melody was heard to all the ends of the earth. Click here to view the Gloria Heavenly Angels.
Christmas Angels come in a multitude of Styles. An angel in the form of a star warned the three kings to return directly to their homelands after seeing Jesus. After the visit of the wise men an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream suggesting that he take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt. When it was safe for the family to return, they would again appear. Since the nativity, angels have been prominent in the art and music of Christmas. Graphically, angel pictures have also served in the popular and domestic arts. There is a special church festival for the archangel Michael. They have long been a symbol of Christmas in the form of Christmas ornaments, angel figurines, pictures, angel guardians jewelry, and Christmas angel gifts. Click here to see our angel figurine selection. Angels have been portrayed in Christmas cards as angel pictures. They usually hover over the Christmas nativity stable. Angels have been the subject of Christmas music throughout the world. A few examples are;
Medieval dramas centering on the Nativity made good use of angels. They are found in the classic and modern movies. Angels are usually portrayed as an intervener in the lives of the movie characters. Christmas pageantry would not be nearly so
colorful without angels. Countless girls and boys have been
dressed in white angel robes to play the part of angels
in the seasonal Christmas dramas. In Europe the angels are a part of the Star
Boy groups, which go from door to door. Angels also accompany the
gift bringer and they advises which children have been
naughty or nice. Today angels, like the heavenly angel figurines, are displayed in many homes. Angel ornaments adorn the Christmas trees and angel gifts are given to those we care about and love. Angel pictures can be seen hanging on the walls of homes through out the world. Gold and silver guardian angel jewelry is warn on clothing and lapel's. Click here to view our angel ornaments. God has charged his angels with watching and safeguarding every one of his creatures. Kingdoms have their angels assigned to them, and along with man. Man is who religion designates the Holy Guardian Angels to. Jesus says in the Gospel, "Beware lest ye scandalize any of these little ones, for their angels in heaven see the face of my father." The existence of angel guardians that watch over humans is an established belief of the Christian faith. The wearing of a angel guardian is a custom that reminds us all that an angel is watching and safeguarding us. Click here to see our selection of angel Christmas decorations. Angels are wise in God’s ways and gentle in their speech and actions. They burst upon events with a joy and understanding of man that brings us closer to God every day. Perhaps this happens because only they are given special tasks by God that require the angels to associate with men and women on earth. Guardian angels bring a touch of the divine to all those hearing their messages and they are given responsibility for making all of the world’s greatest announcements. Christmas Angels Watch Over Us! |