The World of Archangels by Religion

While angels are often viewed as personal guardians, some religions believe that some are higher ranking angels than others. These higher ranking angels are known as archangels. Many different religions make references to archangels, and each religion has a different view of them.

In Christianity, the Bible specifically mentions two archangels, Archangel Gabriel and Archangel Michael. While some people believe that Raphael is also an archangel, Protestants do not support that belief. Perhaps the most interesting reference to an archangel is made when the voice of the Archangel Michael is heard when Christ returns. There are many varying beliefs regarding these archangels, however, and Michael in particular. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Michael is one of the names which Jesus goes by in heaven, while some Protestants go so far as to suggest that Michael is the Son of God. It is also of interest to note that some scholars in the field of Bible studies believe that Satan was once an archangel, but who has since fallen to his present position.

Both Michael and Gabriel appear in the religion of Islam as archangels as well, although Michael is often referred to as the archangel of sustenance, Mikail, and Gabriel, as the archangel of revelation, Jibril. It is taught in Islam that the Qur'an was brought to the prophet Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel. Another angel that is referred to in Islam is the Angel of Death. There is no reference to the proper name of the Angel of Death, however, although there are several incarnations. Radwan, keeper of the heavens, and Israfel, who will blow the horn on Judgement Day, are both examples of this.

The Jews have their own views regarding these higher ranking angels, who are not directly referred to in the Hebrew Bible, which is identical to the Old Testament. In the stories of Jacob, however, Jacob is believed to have contended with an angel who might have been one of the archangels. Until the sixth century BC, during the days of the Babylonian captivity, there was little interest in angels among the Jewish people.

The three archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel are commonly referred to throughout Judaism. There are names commonly cited as being the names of archangels as well, however, are these are Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, Haniel, Zadkiel, And Jophiel. The scholars of this religion do not always agree that these figures are truly archangels.

Archangels appear in many different forms across many different religions, and these higher ranking angels are always portrayed in different ways. While Michael and Gabriel consistently appear in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the way in which each religion portrays them is completely different from the other two.