Archangel

An Archangel is a superior or higher-ranking angel. They are to be found in a number of religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

The word 'archangel' derives from the Greek arche (ruler or source) and angelos (messenger). According to medieval Christian theologians, the Angels are organized into several orders, or Angelic Choirs. The most influential of these classifications was that put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the Fourth or Fifth century, in his book The Celestial Hierarchy.

In this work, the author drew on passages from the New Testament, specifically Ephesians 6:12 and Colossians 1:16, to construct a schema of three Hierarchies, Spheres or Triads of angels, with each Hierarchy containing three Orders or Choirs. In descending order of power, these were:

• First Hierarchy:
  • Seraphim
  • Cherubim
  • Thrones or Ophanim
• Second Hierarchy:
  • Principalities
  • Virtues
  • Powers
• Third Hierarchy:
  • Dominions
  • Archangels
  • Angels

During the Middle Ages, many other schema were proposed, some drawing on and expanding on Pseudo-Dionysius, others suggesting completely different classifications. Here is another example, which is expanded in the rest of this article:

• First Hierarchy:
  • Seraphim
  • Cherubim
  • Archangels
• Second Hierarchy:
  • Dominions
  • Virtues
  • Principalities
  • Rulers
  • Authorities
  • Powers
  • Thrones
• Third Hierarchy:
  • Angels

Some authors limited the number of Choirs to seven.

First Sphere

The angels of the first sphere were thought to serve as heavenly counselors.

Seraphim

The Seraphim (singular "Seraph") are the highest order of angels, serving as the caretakers of God's throne and continuously singing his praises: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. All the earth is filled with His Glory." It is said that they surround the throne of God, singing the music of the spheres and regulating the movement of the heavens as it emanates from God. It is also said that such a bright light emanates from them that nothing, not even other divine beings, can look upon them. There are four of them surrounding God's throne, where they burn eternally from love and zeal for God.

Many Christians believe that the Devil is a fallen angel that was among the Seraphim prior to his fall from Heaven. He was believed to be second in power to God. They believe that the Devil was considered as the angel of light before his sin against God. Unlike other Seraphim who had six wings, Satan was featured to have twelve wings.^{[citation needed]}

The Seraphim are mentioned in Isaiah 6:1–7 [1]

Cherubim

The Cherubim (singular "Cherub") are beyond the throne of God; they are the guardians of light and of the stars. It is believed that, although they are removed from man's plane of reality, the divine light that they filter down from Heaven still touches human lives.

They have four wings. They also have four faces, one of man, ox, lion, and eagle. Through the four faces, they may also anticipate what God would do to bring salvation to man through His Son: (a) The face of the man suggests wisdom, compassion, intelligence and pictures Christ’s humanity as the Son of man, the special focus found in the gospel of Luke; (b) the face of a lion speaks of kingly appearance and pictures Christ as King which is Matthew’s emphasis; (c) the face of a bull or ox portrays a servant, the emphasis seen in Mark; and (d) the face of an eagle speaks of heavenly action and portrays the deity Christ, which is John’s emphasis. Cherubim are considered the elect beings for the purpose of protection. Cherubim guard Eden and the throne of God.

Their rank among angels is uncertain but they are always categorized in the First Sphere. Some believe them to be an order or class of angels; others hold them to be a class of heavenly beings higher than angels. Cherubim have perfect knowledge of God, surpassed only by the love of the Seraphim.

The Cherubim are mentioned in Genesis 3:24 [2]; Ezekiel 10:17–20 [3]; and 1 Kings 6:23–28 [4].

Thrones

The Thrones or Ophanim are angelic beings shaped like shiny orbs of shifting colors. Their duty is to carry the throne of God around in paradise, hence their name.They are the companion angels of the planets.

Also, they have been described as a wheel intersected by another wheel, one to move forward and back, the other to move side to side. These wheels are then dotted with innumerable eyes. This image is found in the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet Ezekiel describes a vision of Heaven. The prophet does not explicitly describe these wheels as angels, but as objects in which the spirits of "living creatures" were contained.

Thrones are fully equal in authority and power in comparison to the Powers. However, Thrones are politically, militarily and economically oriented, and their main concerns revolve around people and world events. Thrones have authority over major divisions of the world.

Paul used the term thrones in Colossians 1:16 [5] but he may have used it to refer to the thrones of the kings of nations, instead of referring to angels.

Second Sphere

Angels of the Second Sphere work as heavenly governors.

Dominions

The Dominions, also known as the Hashmallim, hold the task of regulating the duties of lower angels. They receive their orders from the Seraphim, the Cherubim, or God Himself, and are responsible for ensuring that the cosmos remains in order. It is only with extreme rarity that the dominions make themselves physically known to mortals. Instead, they quietly concern themselves with the details of existence.

It should be noted that although the term dominions was used by Paul in Colossians 1:16 [6] and Ephesians 1:21 [7] he may have used it to refer to the dominions of nations and men, instead of referring to angels.

Powers

The Powers are angelic beings shaped like brightly colored, hazy fumes. They are the bearers of conscience and the keepers of history. The angels of birth and death are Powers. They are academically driven and are concerned with ideology, philosophy, theology, religion, and documents pertaining to those studies. Powers are the brain trusts: a group of experts who serve as advisers and policy planners. Their duty is to oversee the distribution of power among mankind, hence their name.

Paul used the term powers in Colossians 1:16 [8] and Ephesians 1:21 [9] but he may have used it to refer to the powers of nations, societies or individuals, instead of referring to angels.

Rulers & Authorities

These two types of angels are equal in power and authority. Rulers develop ideologies whereas Authorities write the documents and doctrines.

Both Powers and Rulers are involved in formulating ideologies. However, Powers are all-encompassing whereas Rulers are more focused on specific lines of thought.

Authorities specialize in putting those ideas into print and in producing actual documents.

Paul used the term rule and authority in Ephesians 1:21 [10], and rulers and authorities in Ephesians 3:10 [11]. He may have been referring to the rulers and authorities of men or societies, instead of referring to angels.

Virtues / Fortresses / Strongholds

The Virtues, also called Fortresses or Strongholds, lie beyond the Thrones and are equal to the Principalities. Their task is to oversee groups of people. They are shaped like sparks of light that inspire humanity to many things such as art or science.

It is unclear from where the name of this order originated.

Third Sphere

Angels who function as heavenly messengers.

Principalities

The Principalities are angelic beings shaped like rays of light. They lie beyond the group of archangels. They are the guardian angels of nations and countries, and are concerned with the issues and events surrounding these, including politics, military matters, commerce and trade. One of their duties is to choose who among humanity will rule.

Paul used the term principalities in Colossians 1:16 [12] and Ephesians 1:21 [13] & 3:10 [14] but he may have used it to refer to the principalities of the world, a nation, a country or a society, instead of referring to angels.

Archangels

The Archangels are usually considered the second lowest order of the First Sphere; these angels tend the larger arenas of human endeavor and act as the administrative leaders of the Heavenly beings. An archangel is usually given a task of great importance to men. According to Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite's Angelology, however, the Archangels lie just above the lowest of the angel orders, the common Angels.

The word archangel is used only twice in the canonical Scripture (but several times in the Septuagint): once to refer to Michael the archangel [15] and the other to refer to a being believed to be Gabriel during the return of the Lord (Gabriel is preferred over Michael since he is the messenger angel). [16]

The belief that Satan was a cherub before his fall from heaven is a more modern development. This belief is based on the facts that (a) the cherub that fell was a King on earth; and (b) the matchup in Revelation against the archangel Michael seems to show that he was an archangel [17]

Some insist that archangels aren't a separate order but that the traditional Catholic archangels (Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and sometimes Uriel) are either cherubim or seraphim in addition to being archangels. However, even in this case, being an archangel clearly implies being a part of the first sphere of the angels. Sometimes, Lucifer is also considered to have been an archangel before his Fall. As God's "second in command," he was likely not below the Seraphim.

Angels

The Angels are the lowest order of the angels, and the most familiar to men. They are the ones most concerned with human affairs. Within the category of angels, there are many different kinds, with different functions. The angels are sent as messengers to men.

In Zoroastrianism

In Zoroastrianism, Aməša Spənta are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. Some interpreters, however, think that Zarathustra originally saw them as more like aspects of God, rather like the persons of the Christian Trinity. The Aməša Spəntas are:

• Khshathra (Vairya), translated as "Desirable Power" or "Desirable Dominion,"
• Haurvatat, translated as "Wholeness,"
• (Spenta) Armaiti, translated as "(Holy) Piety," "Devotion," or "Serenity,"
• Ameretat, translated as "Immortality,"
• Vohu Manah, translated as "Good Thought" or "Good Purpose,"
• Spənta Mainyu, translated as "Holy Spirit" or "Creative Energy," and
• Aša (Vahišta), translated as "Justice and Truth" or "(Best) Truth."

These are the names of the spirits in Avestan. In Pahlavi, Khshathra is called Shāhrevar, Haurvatat is called Hordad, Spenta Armaiti is called Spendarmad, Ameretat is called Amurdad, Vohu Manah is called Vahman, Spenta Mainyu is called Spenag Mēnōg and Asha Vahistha is called Ašwahišt, Ardwahišt or "Ardebehišt". The names are naturally spelled in countless different ways in different English transcriptions, but this is one common way of writing them.

Though Spənta Mainyu (Spenag Mēnōg) is counted among the Aməša Spentas, he is often identified with Ahura Mazda (Ohrmazd, Modern Persian Hormæzd), the creator of the remaining six Aməša Spentas and essentially above them.

Each of the Aməša Spentas helped to create a particular part of creation and now presides over it or is represented by it. Khshathra Vairya helped to create the stony firmament and presides over it as well as stone tools such as the stone pestle and the flint knife. Haurvatat helped to create and presides over water. Spənta Armaiti helped to create and presides over earth. Amərətāt helped to create and presides over plants. Vōhu Mānah helped to create and presides over cattle. Spənta Mainyu helped to create and presides over the just man and Aša helped to create and presides over fire.

In Judaism

There are no explicit references to archangels in the canonical texts of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Indeed even angels are uncommon except in later works like Daniel. The earliest references to archangels are in the literature of the intertestamental period (e.g. 4 Esdras 4.36).

It is therefore widely speculated that Jewish interest in angels was learned during the Babylonian captivity. According to Rabbi Simeon ben Lakish of Tiberias (230–270 C.E.), all the specific names for the angels were brought back by the Jews from Babylon, and some modern commentators would argue that the details of the angelic hierarchy were largely Zoroastrian in origin.

Within the rabbinic tradition and the Kabbalah, the usual number given is at least seven: Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, Sariel, Raguel, and Remiel (possibly the Ramiel of the Apocalypse of Baruch, said to preside over true visions). Zadkiel, Jophiel, Haniel and Chamuel are also listed as archangels.

In Christianity

Gabriel, traditionaly named as an archangel, delivering the Annunciation. Painting by El Greco (1575)

The New Testament rarely speaks of angels, and makes only two references to archangels, Michael in Jude 1.9, (which is referring in passing to a Jewish legend) and I Thessalonians 4:16, where the "voice of an archangel" will be heard at the return of Christ. Contrary to popular belief Gabriel is never called 'archangel' in the Gospels.

In later Christian tradition, however, there are three Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael (and sometimes Uriel is given as a fourth). Eastern Orthodox tradition mentions Seven Archangels. Uriel is included, and the other three are most often cited as Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel.

Sometimes Satan is considered a fallen Archangel whose original name was Lucifer.

Some Protestants view Michael as the sole Archangel, as the only one explicitly mentioned as such in the Bible.

The Protestant Bible actually never mentions a "Raphael", and is therefore not recognized by many. Raphael, however, is mentioned in the Book of Tobit, one of the deuterocanonical books. In the story, Raphael comes to the aid of Tobit, healing him of blindness, and his son Tobias, driving away a demon that would have killed him.

Orthodox icon of the seven archangels. From left to right: Jegudiel, Gabriel, Selaphiel, Michael, Uriel, Raphiel, Barachiel. Beneath the mandorla of Christ are representations of Cherubim and Seraphim.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was actually the Archangel Michael in incarnate form. In this view, Michael is the first and greatest of all God's creatures.

This is in contrast to certain Protestants, such as the Baptist evangelist Charles Spurgeon and the Presbyterian Commentary author Matthew Henry, who believe that the Archangel Michael is not an angel but is instead the uncreated, divine Son of God. In this view "Archangel" means "head of the angels" rather than "head angel," and is a title similar to "Prince of the host" (Daniel 8:11).

In Islam

In Islam, the archangels are Michael or Mikael (Archangel of the Weather), Gabriel or Jibril (who brought the Koran to Muhammad), Azrael (Angel of Death), Israfil or Isra'afeel (Archangel who is to blow the horn on Judgement Day), Malik (Keeper of Hell) and Munkar and Nakir (Angels of Interrogation that will question deceased souls on their life before their death). Neither Israfel nor Azrael are mentioned in the Qu'ran.

It is emphasised in Islamic texts that angels are genderless.

Other traditions

Occultists sometimes associate archangels in Kabbalistic fashion with various seasons or elements, or even colors. In some Kabbalah-based systems of ceremonial magic, all four of the main archangels (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel) are invoked as guarding the four quarters, or directions, and their corresponding colors are associated with magical properties.

Among the Tarish, the four archangels are Michael, Gabriel, Tariel (aka Raphael), and Lucifer.

In art, archangels are usually depicted with larger wings and many eyes. The most often represented archangels are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

See also

• The Hierarchy of angels
• Seven archangels
• John Dee
• Angels in Islam
• Angels in art
• Olympian spirits
• Yazata
• Angels

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• britannica.com
• Mary Boyce (1984). Textual Sources for the Study of Zoroastrianism. Manchester University Press.

1. Copeland, Mark. Ministering Spirits: Angels In The Old Testament. Executable Outlines. 2004.
2. Copeland, Mark. Terms And Descriptions Of Angels. Executable Outlines. 2004.
3. Fares, Aymen. Angelics and the Angelic Realm. Spiritual.com.au Pty. Ltd. 2000.
4. Tatum, Johnny. The Hierarchy of Angels: Hierarchical Chart of Angels. Worldnet Grace Ministries.
5. Tatum, Johnny. The Hierarchy of Angels: Distinguishing the Higher Ranked. Worldnet Grace Ministries.
6. The Bible (Searchable online version)

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