Angels are spiritual beings with great abilities, power, and influence over human beings. They exist in heaven but appear on the earth either in human form or in the spiritual realm. They are often referred to as spirits. Angels are also God’s creations but in the time past before the earth was created. God created them through Jesus, whom the word of God calls “the Firstborn of all creation.”
We confirm this from the statement of God to Job.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? “Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb;”( Job 38 verses 4 to 8)
The morning stars mentioned in the verse above referred to the angels. They are probably the ones who understood God the most. I believe God created them to serve Him and to partner with Him to serve us. Their name also speaks about who they are. The word angel was coined from a Greek word, Angelos which means messenger.
The 9 Archangels
Archangels are special angels that specifically care for humans. They are often referred to as Watchers. They maintained their stand and purpose of creation with God, no wonder God placed them higher than other Angels. On the other hand, we have other types of angels that rebel against God.
This group of angels was ripped off their rank and sent out from heaven. They are called the fallen angels.
There was a nine-level hierarchy of the heavenly host according to the, De Coelesti Hierarchia of Pseudo-Dionysius, which was written in the 4th to 5th century CE.
These are:
- Angels
- Archangels
- Principalities
- Powers
- Virtues
- Dominions
- Thrones
- Cherubim
- Seraphim.
The angels are the lowest of these, but the Archangels were just above them.
There are a large number of Archangels with different names but seven of them are mentioned in the ancient history of the Judeo-Christian bible while only two of them, Michael and Gabriel are the only angels named in the canonical Bible.
Archangel Michael was mentioned when the prophecy of the end time was revealed to Daniel in Daniel 12:1,
“At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.”
Archangel Gabriel was also sent when our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth was announced to Mary in Luke 1 verse 26.
“Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.”
This is the reason some people call Angel Gabriel the carrier of good news.
We need to note that other names were removed during the 4th century when the bible was configured.
Names of Archangels and their meanings?
The seven archangels are Archangel Michael, Archangel Raphael, Archangel Gabriel, Archangel Uriel, Archangel Raguel, Archangel Zerachiel, and Archangel Remiel.
- Michael: Who is like God? Or He who is like God
- Raphael: God heals
- Gabriel: Strength of God, or hero of God
- Uriel: The Fire of God
- Raguel: A Friend of God
- Zerachiel: God’s command
- Remiel: Mercy of God
Archangels and their functions?
Archangels have important roles and specific purposes they play in our individual lives and daily in the natural world. They are principally the front liners that lead the other angels.
Let us look deeply into the specific role played by specific archangels.
Archangel Michael
Michael was mentioned in the Old and the New Testament. He is the first and the most important among the seven archangels in the ranks of angels. His major role is to protect the people, using the instrumentality of courage and strength. His account of protection was mentioned several times in the bible, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. ( Daniel 12:1 and Jude 9)
The Bible says in 1 Samuel 2:9, “He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.”
“For by strength, no man shall prevail.”
His name (Who is like God) is a reference to the war between the fallen angels and the archangels in heaven. Michael stood as the main opposition during the battle. God chose him to lead the army of angels that defeat the devil. He is commonly called the leader or a warrior and appears in the New Testament, the Tanakh, and the Quran. He is the patron saint of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
The Roman Catholic Church often refers to him as Saint Michael popularly written as St Michael. According to their doctrine, Archangel Michael performs four basic functions.
They see him first as the leader of God’s army who he is. What other forces will be as strong as the army of the devil? Michael led the army that defeated the strongest army that could ever exist.
They also see him as the one who would carry the souls of the deceased to heaven. They believe that, irrespective of people’s actions while they are alive, everyone will be given one last chance to reinstate themselves, the last chance to battle the devil and their sin.
According to their teaching, Michael weighs the scales. If the scales remained perfectly balanced, he would then carry them to heaven.
Michael’s final role is to guide the church. He is linked to Sunday and the sun in the occult literature.
Archangel Raphael
Raphael is considered the angel of healing. This is not limited to the physical body or medical healing. It also involves mental health and emotional healing. Bible scholars believed he was the angel that always came to trouble the water at the pool of Bethesda.
John chapter 5:2-5 gave the account of the activity.
“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.”
He is patron of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and is associated with Mercury and Tuesday.
Archangel Gabriel
All archangels are messengers of God but Archangel Gabriel is the one directly in charge of communication. He is the angel of wisdom, prophecy, and revelation. I believe that is why some people call him the carrier of good news.
He appeared to Zacharias to deliver the good news of the promised child, John the Baptist.
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” (Luke 1 verses 11 to 14)
He also appeared to Mary to foretell the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,
“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; [e]blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” (Luke 1 verses 26 to 31)
This archangel always proclaims news that will affect the future of the people.
Archangel Gabriel is associated with Monday and the moon in the occult sects.
Archangel Uriel
Uriel is linked with the sun, light, knowledge, and wisdom. The picture of him reveals showing of him carrying a large book, and holding a flaming sword. He is the fourth angel in Christian belief systems. His name translates to the fire of God.
Uriel is the fourth angel to be named in the Book of Enoch and is mentioned with Tartarus. Gabriel and Raphael were the Angels who observed the fall of the watchers and presented the case for God to intervene and save humanity.
Archangel Uriel was the specific watcher assigned to watch over Hades, the patron of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Some bible scholars also attributed Uriel to be the angel who guarded the Garden of Eden.
Uriel appears to Enoch all through the book of Enoch and guides him to interpret his vision.
Leonardo Da Vinci in his painting ‘Virgin of the Rocks’ captured a story when Herod the Great gave a decree about male children. All male children in Bethlehem, that are two years old or younger, were to be executed. Archangel Uriel carried the little John the Baptist and his mother to preserve them.
Uriel is associated with Venus and Wednesday in the occult sects.
Archangel Raguel
Raguel is also referred to as Sealtiel. He is the Archangel of Justice and patron of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. His name connotes A friend of God. Raguel is connected with Mars and Friday in the occult literature.
Archangel Zerachiel
Zerachiel is also referred to as Saraqael, Baruchel, Selaphiel, or Sariel. He is the archangel of God’s judgment and the patron of the Sacrament of Matrimony. His name connotes God’s command. He is associated with Jupiter and Saturday by the occult literature.
Archangel Remiel
Remiel is also referred to as Jerahmeel, Jehudial, or Jeremiel.
He is the archangel of faith and dreams. His name connotes the Mercy Of God. He is therefore referred to as the angel of mercy. The occult literature associates him with Saturn and Thursday.
How many are the Angels?
The Bible did not specify the exact number of angels but we have several religious texts that reveal they are numerous.
For instance, Jesus talked about legions of angels in Matthew 26:53,
“Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? ”
A legion of the army is about three to six thousand in number. You can imagine how many twelve legions will be.
The revelations of John in Revelations 5:11-12 speak about millions of them.
“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
In Hebrews 12:22, the bible also referred to them as innumerable,
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,”
This shows we cannot number the angels.
Conclusion
God’s plan and true purpose for our lives stand and they are real. Some Christians lose their faith during difficult situations, trials, challenges, and difficult times. They quickly forget who they are and what God says about them.
It is not unspiritual to be challenged but it is un-scriptural to be defeated.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
In Joshua 5:13-15, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua in Jericho in the form of a man but in an angelic realm.
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
Archangels are one of the principal agents that God uses to rescue his children in the midst of challenges. God has positioned these angels to protect and preserve us against any physical or spiritual harm. Let us, therefore, take advantage of them. Remember even Jesus was about to call them in Matthew 26:54.
In prophecies concerning Persia and Greece revealed to Daniel. He also mentioned in Daniel 10 verses 13 to 14,
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
They cover all aspects of human lives and they are at our beck and call. If you need healing, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, just call on them and the right one will answer.
Your relationship with God is a vital requirement for access to the Archangels. Jesus said I know my sheep and my sheep hears my voice. Archangels are messengers from God, they only yield to the command of the children of God for their positive changes.
Remember the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18:10-14,
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
God in His unconditional love takes delight in His people and will not watch any harm caused to them in times of need but rather give them inner peace by His divine intervention.