Archangels

The Archangel Michael, whose name means 'who is as God', is generally considered to be the foremost of the seven archangels and the leader of the Host of Heaven. He derives originally from the Chaldeans by who he was worshiped as something of a god. He is the chief of the order of virtues, Prince of the presence, angel of repentance, righteousness, mercy and sanctification: also ruler of the 4th Heaven, tutelary sar (angelic prince). He is the prince who defended the Israelites and later, it was claimed, the Christian Church, when as guardian he may be called on (sometimes with Gabriel) to defend church doors against the evil angels. According to the Book of Revelations, Michael and his angels' are described as fighting the dragon and his angels. Hence Michael is often shown fighting or overcoming a dragon armed with spear or sword as God's Warrior.

The Archangel Gabriel, whose name means 'God is my strength', explained to Daniel his vision of a ram and a billy-goat foretelling Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia and a prophecy foretelling the freeing of the Israelites. In both these cases the archangel is mentioned by name but it has also been suggested that Gabriel is the angel who wrestles with Jacob in the form of a man and that he was involved in the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah. Enoch says that Gabriel was sent to destroy the giant children of the fallen 'watchers' and did so by turning them against each other In 'Paradise Lost'.

The archangel Raphael, In Hebrew this means 'God Heals'. Raphael is not named in the canonical books of the bible but only in the apocryphal Book of Tobit as the companion and guide of young Tobiasto whom he eventually reveals himself as one of the 'seven holy angels'.In the Book of Euocb he is the guide toSheol, the Judaic underworld and it was he who was sent to bind the fallen 'watcher' Azazel, burying him under rocks in a desert place on earth.