Dominions
dominions (dominations, lords, lordships) In the Pseudo-Dionysian hierarchy, the fourth highest order of angels, who regulate the duties of other angels and make known the commands of God. Dominions also are channels of mercy. The term dominion refers to âlordship,â ârule,â or âspecial meaning.â Use of the term dominions as a class of angels occurs in apocryphal writings inïŹuenced by the New Testament passages that suggest designations of heavenly powers. For example, Ephesians 1:21 states that God has raised Christ far above âall rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is namedâ and Colossians 1:16 states that in Jesus Christ all things visible and invisible in heaven and earth are created, âwhether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers.â
The Testament of ADAM describes dominions as rulers over earthly kingdoms who decide the outcome of wars; in battles they are angels riding on red horses. 2 ENOCH states that when Enoch is taken to the seventh HEAVEN, he sees âan exceptionally great light, and all the ïŹery armies of the great archangels, and the incorporeal forces and the dominions and the ORIGINS and the AUTHORITIES, the CHERUBIM and the SERAPHIM and the many-eyed THRONES.â (20:1).
The Ethiopic translation of 1 Enoch refers to âangels of dominions.â The Apocalypse of ZEPHANIAH sees âangels who are called lordsâ when he is taken to the ïŹfth heaven. In RUDOLPH STEINERâs three-tiered structure of the angelic realm, the kyriotates may equate with dominions. St. AUGUSTINE agreed with St. PAUL that there exist seats (THRONES), dominions, PRINCIPALITIES, and POWERS in the heavens, but he did not know speciïŹcally what they are or the differences between them.
According to AGRIPPA, dominions are associated with the air element. They help humans overcome their enemies. In Kabbalistic lore, dominionsâalong with Powers and VIRTUESâform one of four triplicities of intelligible hierarchies. They are one of the ruling angelic orders of Hesed (Mercy), the fourth sephirah of the TREE OF LIFE. Dominions are sometimes equated with HASMALIM.
FURTHER READING:
- van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst, eds. Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. 2d ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 1999.
