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Ophanim
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<h2 id="function">Function</h2> <p>It is said that they were the actual wheels of the Lord's Heavenly Chariot (<a href="/facts/Merkabah/E1yhrlcG">Merkabah</a>).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> "The four wheels had rims and they had spokes, and their rims were full of eyes round about." They are also frequently referred to as "many-eyed ones".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="ophanim-in-specific-spiritual-traditions">Ophanim in specific spiritual traditions</h2> <h3>Ophanim in Judaism</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Maimonides/fGyQDPC8">Maimonides</a> lists Ophanim as the second to closest of angels to God in his exposition of the <a href="/facts/Jewish_angelic_hierarchy/a0HF5sRp">Jewish angelic hierarchy</a>. </p> <h4>In prayer</h4> <p>The <a href="/facts/Kedushah_(prayer)/g8daAYT4">kedusha</a> section in the <a href="/facts/Shacharit/25B0lAwM">morning prayer</a> (in the blessings preceding the recitation of the <a href="/facts/Shema/I4xSByHx">Shema</a>) includes the phrase, "The <i>ophanim</i> and the holy living creatures with great uproar raise themselves up; facing the <i>seraphim</i> they offer praise, saying, 'Blessed be God's glory from His place." The inspiration behind this particular passage is <a href="/facts/Ezekiel/sTnnPCh0">Ezekiel</a>'s <a href="/facts/Vision_(spirituality)/zKd4jmwe">vision</a> (ch. i.). The theme of angels praising God was inserted into the passage by <a href="/facts/Piyyut/6pthBxms">paytanim</a> (Jewish liturgical poets).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>Ophanim are mentioned in the <i><a href="/facts/El_Adon/cM5HHTAo">El Adon</a></i> prayer, often sung by the congregation, as part of the traditional <a href="/facts/Shabbat/pp5wb0JM">Shabbat</a> <a href="/facts/Shacharit/25B0lAwM">morning</a> service. </p><p>In the Jewish angelic hierarchy thrones and wheels are different. This is also true in the <a href="/facts/Kabbalistic_angelic_hierarchy/a0HF5sRp">Kabbalistic angelic hierarchy</a>. </p> <h3>Thrones in the Orthodox Church</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Throne_(angel)/Yek0DNIt">Throne (angel)</a></p> <p><i><a href="/facts/De_Coelesti_Hierarchia/8VPwQgPv">De Coelesti Hierarchia</a></i> refers to the <a href="/facts/Throne_(angel)/Yek0DNIt">Thrones</a> from the <a href="/facts/Old_Testament/YFNzQVcK">Old Testament</a> description as the third Order of the first sphere, the other two superior orders being the Cherubim and Seraphim. </p> <blockquote><p>The name of the most glorious and exalted Thrones denotes that which is exempt from and untainted by any base and earthly thing, and the super mundane ascent up the steep. For these have no part in that which is lowest, but dwell in fullest power, immovably and perfectly established in the Most High, and receive the Divine Immanence above all passion and matter, and manifest God, being attentively open to divine participations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></p></blockquote> <p>This view was also accepted by the <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Catholic Church</a> and by <a href="/facts/Thomas_Aquinas/h2vN2VkX">Thomas Aquinas</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h3>Lord of the Flame in the Western Wisdom Teachings</h3> <p><i><a href="/facts/The_Rosicrucian_Cosmo-Conception/0LPv7rz7">The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception</a></i> refers that the "Lord of the Flame", the Hierarchy of <a href="/facts/Elohim_(gods)/z8fTYSI2">Elohim</a> astrologically assigned to <a href="/facts/Leo_(astrology)/ufP2Gov3">Leo</a>, are the Thrones (from the Old Testament description, "because of the brilliant luminosity of their bodies and their great spiritual powers."); the other two superior hierarchies being also the Cherubim and Seraphim. According to this conception, the heavenly Seraphim and Cherubim as well as the Ophanim continue to aid humans in spiritual evolution; as do the heavenly Archangels and Angels. </p> <h3>Connection to machine elves</h3> <p>Several users of <a href="/facts/DMT/Gu3mAxh9">dimethyltryptamine</a> (DMT) have reported encountering similar beings often referred to as "Machine Elves" leading some to speculate that Dimethyltryptamine has been involved in Abrahamic Religions in the past.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Throne_(angel)/Yek0DNIt">Throne (angel)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Chalkydri/QW138VnJ">Chalkydri</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Seven_archangels/APr8WTLU">Seven archangels</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_angels_in_theology/ReVCfytU">List of angels in theology</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"The Book of Enoch: Chapter LXXI". www.sacred-texts.com. <a href="https://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/boe074.htm" target="_blank">https://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/boe074.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Kaplan, Aaron (2009). Deep Analysis: Frightening Conclusion. Xlibris US. p. 176. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Orlov, Andrei (2007). From Apocalypticism to Merkabah Mysticism. Brill. p. 411. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Deutsch, Gotthard. "OFAN (OFANNIM)". The Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 7, 2011. <a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11666-ofan-ofannim" target="_blank">http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11666-ofan-ofannim</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Online, Catholic. "The Nine Choirs of Angels - Angels - Saints & Angels". Catholic Online. <a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/angelchoir.php" target="_blank">https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/angelchoir.php</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"What are the categories of Angels (archangels, thrones, dominions, seraphim)?". Catholic Straight Answers. October 24, 2013. <a href="https://catholicstraightanswers.com/categories-angels-archangels-thrones-dominions-seraphim/" target="_blank">https://catholicstraightanswers.com/categories-angels-archangels-thrones-dominions-seraphim/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"The Nine Choirs of Angels – Angels – Saints & Angels". Catholic Online. <a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/angelchoir.php" target="_blank">https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/angelchoir.php</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"What are the categories of Angels (archangels, thrones, dominions, seraphim)?". Catholic Straight Answers. October 24, 2013. <a href="https://catholicstraightanswers.com/categories-angels-archangels-thrones-dominions-seraphim/" target="_blank">https://catholicstraightanswers.com/categories-angels-archangels-thrones-dominions-seraphim/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Woolfe, Sam. "Israeli Scholar Benny Shannon Claims Judaism Was Influenced by DMT". Sam Woolfe. Retrieved July 1, 2013. <a href="https://www.samwoolfe.com/2013/07/is-judaism-based-on-use-of-ayahuasca.html" target="_blank">https://www.samwoolfe.com/2013/07/is-judaism-based-on-use-of-ayahuasca.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>