The devil
is often considered an antonym to the word angel. However, did you know that the devil is
technically an angel too?
Yes, biblical
terminology can often get confusing, and you may find yourself asking all kinds
of questions about angels, archangels and saints.
This
article aims to simplify the answers to these questions. In particular, we will
take an in-depth look at what is an archangel and how they differ from angels
in general.
Let's get
straight to it!
Who Are Angels?
Angels
are intermediates between God (or a supreme heavenly being) and humans. They
serve as attendants to God and messengers who convey God's words and intentions
to human beings.
They are
generally presumed to possess high degrees of intelligence and are also
immortal. As described in the Bible, they were created by God and exist for
him.
This
brings us to the next question.
What Is an Archangel?
The word
archangel is derived from the Greek language, which loosely translates to mean
chief of angels. It is believed that God created angels and established a
hierarchy in heaven. Archangels are at the top of this hierarchy, being
assigned tasks of supreme importance.
Various
texts differ on the number of archangels there
are. For example, the Canonical Bible recognizes two angels - Michael and
Gabriel. The Book of Enoch, however, mentions seven, including Raphael, Urial,
Raguel, Zerachiel and Remiel.
Some
faiths consider Michael to be the one and only archangel.
The Role of an Archangel
Each of
the archangels is assigned different roles. Here is a brief description of some
of their roles as described by various texts.
St. Michael
Michael
defends those who love God. His role is to fight and ward off Satan, promote
and protect the Church and bring all those who are faithful to God to heaven
upon death.
St. Gabriel
Gabriel
stands for what is right and aims to provide protection to anyone who needs it.
He can also help heal you from various diseases, illnesses and injuries. He can
accompany on your journey of self-exploration, providing you with the support
you need.
St. Raphael
Raphael
is the healer. He is deeply compassionate and works towards bringing everyone
closer to God. He will offer limitless compassion during times of mental,
physical or spiritual distress.
He is
also depicted as having a close relationship with nature.
Exploring Your Faith
So, what
is an archangel? In a nutshell, archangels are simply the most supreme of all
the angels in heaven. While faiths vary on who they recognize as true
archangels, most acknowledge the existence of at least one - St. Michael.
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