Archangels
ARCHANGELS : DIVINE MESSENGERS AND GUARDIANS
In the Pseudo-Dionysian hierarchy, archangels are ranked as the second-lowest order of angels, yet they are among the most active in relation to humanity. The word “archangel” comes from the Greek archangelos, meaning “chief messenger” or “eminent messenger.” Also known as the Holy Ones, archangels serve as vital liaisons between the divine and the mortal world. They are the commanders of Heaven’s armies in the eternal battle against Hell, and they serve as supervisors of guardian angels. Archangels often act as guardian spirits to notable individuals, such as prophets, religious leaders, and rulers. They are entrusted with carrying out God’s decrees and intervening on divine behalf.
In some mystical writings, archangels are equated with the Bene Elohim, the “sons of God.” While figures understood to be archangels appear in the Old Testament, the term “archangel” is not used in its original Hebrew or Greek versions. However, the term does appear in later Greek translations of pseudepigraphical texts, including the Enochian writings, which classify various ranks and roles among angels.
The term “archangel” appears only twice in the New Testament:
- In Jude 1:9, the angel Michael is directly referred to as “the archangel.”
- In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, a nameless archangel is mentioned as heralding the second coming and the resurrection of the dead: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.”
Archangels also appear in Judeo-Christian magical and apocalyptic texts. For example, Joshua 5:13–15 describes a heavenly figure—likely an archangel—who presents himself as the commander of the army of the Lord. In Daniel, two important angelic figures—Michael and Gabriel—are named, though they are not specifically referred to as archangels. Still, because of their significant roles and proximity to divine matters, they have often been interpreted as holding archangel status.
Ancient and apocryphal texts refer to archangels in groups of four, six, and seven. For instance:
- Revelation 8:2 speaks of “seven angels who stand before God.”
- Ezekiel 9:2 describes seven angels: six armed with swords for judgment and a seventh who carries a writing case.
- In Tobit 12:15, the angel Raphael identifies himself as “one of seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.”
The Book of 1 Enoch expands further on the angelic hierarchy:
- In 1 Enoch 9, Michael, Sariel, and Gabriel (and in some versions, Raphael) are named as key angels watching from heaven.
- In 1 Enoch 20:1–7, six “holy angels who watch” are named: Sariel (or Uriel), Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Gabriel, and Saraqael.
- 1 Enoch 40:1–10 identifies four angels who stand before the glory of the Lord: Michael, Gabriel, Sariel, and Phanuel.
Beyond the most commonly known names, other angels described as archangels include:
- Oriphiel
- Zadkiel
- Anael
- Jehudiel
- Sealtiel
- Barachiel
In Roman Catholic tradition, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are canonized as saints and archangels, with Michael being the most prominent. He is the prince of the heavenly host, charged with defending the Church against evil. Michael is the only angel explicitly called “archangel” in the Bible (Jude 1:9). In Daniel 10:13, 21, he is referred to as “one of the chief princes” and “your prince,” while in Revelation 12:7, he is identified simply as an angel who leads God’s armies against the dragon.
Gabriel is typically recognized as the divine messenger who announces holy births, including the conceptions of John the Baptist and Jesus, appearing to both Elizabeth and Mary in the New Testament.
Raphael, who calls himself “one of seven” angels in the Book of Tobit, is often regarded as the prince of archangels and is best known for healing, protection, and guidance. While the Book of Tobit is part of the Catholic canon, it is considered apocryphal in most Protestant traditions.
In Islam, the Qur’an refers to four primary archangels:
- Jibril (Gabriel), the angel of revelation who brought the Qur’an to Muhammad.
- Mikail (Michael), the angel of mercy and sustenance.
- The other two, though unnamed in the Qur’an, are traditionally believed to be:
- Azrael, the angel of death, who collects souls.
- Israfil, the angel who will blow the trumpet at the End of Days to announce the Resurrection.
Thus, the archangels occupy an essential role across monotheistic religions and mystical traditions—as messengers, protectors, judges, and warriors of light. Whether viewed through the lens of scripture, apocrypha, or mystical teachings, the archangels remain central figures of spiritual power, celestial order, and divine intervention.
FURTHER READING:
- Charlesworth, James H., ed. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. Vols. 1 and 2 New York: Doubleday, 1983, 1985.
- van der Toorn, Karl, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst, eds. Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. 2d ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 1999.
