Who Were the Archangels?
Posted by Knowledge Guy in Arts and Entertainment, tags: archangel, Archangel Michael, archangel statue, archangel statues, archangels, Artists Of The Renaissance, Book Of Daniel, Book Of Tobit, Catholic Faith, Christian Faiths, Christian Judaism, Dead Sea Scrolls, Fourth Angel, Michael Archangel, Michael Gabriel, New Testament, Old Testment, Prince Of Light, Religious Writings, Renaissance Period, Roman Catholic Church, Sons Of Light, st. gabriel, st. michael, st. raphael, st. uriel, Teachings Of JudaismWith the recent release of the motion picture, Legions, there is renewed interest in the Archangels. But who and what exactly were these Archangels?
{An Archangel is viewed as a high ranking angel. The predominant religions of Christian, Judaism and Islam all recognize some form of archangel and it is generally accepted that there were four archangels. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are recognized by both Hebrew and Christian faiths as Archangels, though Michael is the only Archangel mention by name in the Bible. Gabriel and Raphael are subjects within the Book of Tobit and the Book of Luke, respectively – religious writings held in high regard within the Catholic faith, but less so for Protestants. While Christians view Uriel as the final and fourth angel, Islam gives this distinction to Azrael.
These faiths all recognize the concept of an archangel, but more emhasis is given to the Archangel in the teachings of Judaism and in particular the Roman Catholic Church. Judaism and Catholicism both recognize eight archangels, though Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel are regarded with an elevated status. Protestants recognize Michael as an Archangel of significance, but do not put emphasis on the others. Angels were first written about in the Old Testment but their visibility and role increased significantly in the New Testament. Artists of the Renaissance period favored the Archangel as subjects, creating Archangel statues and paintings in abundance. This likely has contributed to their popularity and enduring importance over the past several centuries.
Archangel Michael
Michael is described as the Prince of Light in the Dead Sea Scrolls as one of the “Sons of Light” who will battle the “Sons of Darkness.” The Book of Daniel foretells of Michael’s return when the world is once again in trouble to lift the world from darkness. Michael was regarded as the Chief of the Order of Virtues, Prince of the Presence, Chief of Archangels, the Angel of Repentance, Righteousness, Mercy, and Sanctification. He is also Ruler of the 4th Heaven and Conqueror of Satan. In Revelations (20:1), it is Michael who descends from Heaven with a “key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.” In this passage, it is Archangel Michael who leads an Army of Angels to seize the devil who appears in the form of a dragon and bind him for a thousand years.
Michael is considered the patron saint of soliders and law enforcement offers. This is because of his role as the Field Commander of the Army of God.
Archangel Gabriel
Gabriel is the Angel of annunciation, resurrection, mercy, vengeance, death and revelation. The Archangel Gabriel first appears in the book of Daniel at the time Babylonian captivity, a time of Jewish exile. Gabriel takes on human form to help Daniel understand the meaning of his visions foretelling the End of Days. In the Gospel of Luke, it is Gabriel who serves as the messenger of God and shares with Mary that she will give birth to a son of God and directs her to name him Jesus, a moment captured frequently in paintings as the Annunciation.
While Gabriel is often seen holding a horn which he will blow to announce the start of the End of Days and again to initiate the Resurrection, this is not told in any version of the Bible. The first image of Gabriel with Trumpet is found in an Armenian text from the mid 1400s. Gabriel’s Horn first appears in English language text in Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost from 1667. The horn has become closely associated with Gabriel and is now part of the modern identity.
Archangel Raphael
Archangel Raphael is mentioned in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit, a religious writing recognized by the Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches though not in the Hebrew Bible. The Archangel Raphael is considered the angel or “god” of healing. In the Book of Tobit, he is sent by God to heal Tobit of his blindness and act as Tobias protector in human form during a journey on foot. Raphael is one of the six Angels of Repentance, Angel of Prayer, Love, Joy and Light. In the Catholic Church, he is Michael, the patron saint of the medical workers and those who are traveling.
Archangel Uriel
Uriel is described as the protector of the Gate of Eden and the angel who watches over thunder and terror. He is found mostly in pseudepigraphical and Apocalyptic literature often depicted holding a fiery sword and the keys to the gates of Hell. Though not mentioned in the Bible, he is the Archangel most often considered the “fourth” to represent the four cardinal points along with Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
Urield holds the titles Angel of Presence, Angel of the Face, Prince of Presence, Angel of Glory and Angel of Sanctification. Along with Suriel, Jehol, Zagagel, Akatriel, Metatron, Yefefiah, Satanel, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Nathanel – as an Angel of Presence he is given the honor of entering the presence of God. He is often shown holding a scroll representing wisdom and is the patron saint of the Arts.}
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