What separates the Archangels from the Other Angels



Posted: Sunday, October 11, 2009

by Rob Mabry
Your Museum Store

An Archangel at its most basic definition is 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 Archangel Michael is the only one explicitly named in the Bible. Gabriel and Raphael are subjects within the Book of Tobit and the Book of Luke, respectively - canonical writings of the Roman Catholic Church not officially recognized by 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 emphasis 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 considered the four cardinal Archangels. Protestants recognize Michael as an Archangel of significance, but place less importance on the others. Angels were first written about in the Old Testament but their visibility and role increased substantially in the New Testament. The Renaissance masters favored the Archangel as subjects creating Archangel Statues and paintings in abundance. It's like that this has furthered the Archangel's popularity and enduring importance over the past several centuries.

Archangel Michael

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 that appears in the form of a dragon and bind him for a thousand years. 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.

Much of the persona of the Archangel Michael evolved through medieval Christianity and interpretations of the Book of Enoch. He is also referred to as Saint Michael or the Archangel Saint Michael. As the Commander of the Army of God, Michael is the patron saint of the warrior and law enforcement, held in high regard by paratroopers and fighter pilots.

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 the visions he is experiencing. In the Gospel of Luke, the Archangel Gabriel serves as the messenger of God and announces to 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 appears in English language works in 1667, as part of Milton's poem Paradise Lost. 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 but not in the Hebrew Bible. The Archangel Raphael is considered the angel or "god" of healing. Sent by God as told in the Book of Tobit to heal Tobit of his blindness and act as Tobias protector in human form during his travels to recover money his father had hidden. Raphael is one of the six Angels of Repentance, Angel of Prayer, Love, Joy and Light. Catholic teachings venerate him as Saint Michael, the patron saint of the medical field 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. While he is not found in the bible, he is part of a number of apocryphal works and is seen as the "fourth" to represent the four cardinal points along with Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

Uriel 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 - Uriel is allowed to enter the presence of God. Uriel is frequently depicted holding a scroll representing wisdom and is the patron angel of the Arts.

Archangels were a popular subject of artists from the Renaissance period who captured the angels in both paintings and Archangel Statues.Rob Mabry is a former military journalist living in San Antonio. He writes about travel, technology, history and film.

He is the owner of Your Museum Store where you can find reproductions of famous museum artifacts and art from every ancient culture.
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