Answering Questions About Judaic Angelology

(1) A Dictionary of Angels (Gustav Davidson) reports that the belief in seven archangels is derived from various sources and authorities, including 1 Enoch, 3 Enoch, Testament of Solomon and Gregory the Great (et al.).

(2) Later Judaism also interpreted the plural pronoun "us" in Gen. 1:26 as a reference to the heavenly angelic council mentioned elsewhere in Scripture (1 Kings 22:19). Of course, Irenaeus tried to combat this idea in Adversus Haereses, as did later writers in the Greek Orthodox tradition (as documented in the second volume of Jaroslav Pelikan's The Christian Tradition).

(3) I do not believe it is possible for us lowly humans to answer questions about how seraphs or messenger angels differ in appearance compared to cherubs. As the apostle John wrote, what "we" (anointed Christians) are going to be has not yet been made manifest (1 Jn. 3:1-3). Therefore, if the intricate details of heavenly or celestial realities have not been revealed to those who will one day attend the throne of God in heaven (Rev 4:1-11), is it even possible to talk meaningfully about how the angels truly appear metaphysically? The Bible does not provide a definitive answer to such questions.