<P> The "Thrones" (Greek: thronoi, pl. of thronos), or Elders, are a class of celestial beings mentioned by Paul the Apostle in Colossians 1: 16 (New Testament). They are living symbols of God's justice and authority, and have as one of their symbols the throne . </P> <P> It is not unusual to find that the Thrones are associated, by some, with the Ophanim or Erelim from the Jewish angelic hierarchy . However there is very little evidence, if any, to sustain this idea . The Ophanim (Heb . ofanim: Wheels, from the vision of Daniel 7: 9) are unusual looking, even compared to the other celestial beings, plus they are said to be moved by the spirit of other beings . Which then raises the question if the Ophanim are spiritual beings at all or if they are purely material beings . They appear as a beryl - coloured wheel - within - a-wheel, their rims covered with hundreds of eyes . They are closely connected with the Cherubim instead: "When they moved, the others moved; when they stopped, the others stopped; and when they rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures (Cherubim) was in the wheels ." Ezekiel 10: 17 NRSV . </P> <P> Christian theologians that include the Thrones as one of the choirs don't describe them as wheels, describing them as adoring elder men who listen to the will of God and present the prayers of men . The Twenty Four Elders in the Book of Revelation are usually thought to be part of this group of angels . </P> <P> Angels of the Second Sphere work as heavenly governors of the creation by subjecting matter and guiding and ruling the spirits . </P>

How many types of angles are in heaven