Archangels

Marlene wrote to ask: Who are the 7 Ark Angels?

I am going to assume you are referring to Archangels.

The interesting thing is, it depends upon your religion as to how many they are, let alone what their names are.

Only one Archangel is actually mentioned in the Bible.

?et Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (Jude 9)

One reference stated that since he is referred to as THE Archangel, there must be only one. I, personally, am willing to accept there are more simply because the Bible is one book that has been translated, edited, retranslated, until basing a hard and fast rule on the presence of one word ("the") is probably not sensible.

Most Christian religions do consider Michael an Archangel - so there's one.

In later Christian tradition, there are three. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Sometimes Uriel or Phanuel is given as a fourth.

The number of seven Archangels may come from Eastern Orthodox tradition, which says there are thousands of Archangels, but names only seven of them. This includes Uriel (but not Phanuel), Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel, as well as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

Some traditions also describe the devil as a fallen Archangel, whose name was Lucifer.

Other religions, including Judaism, Islam, and even some of the "occult" religions venerate more or fewer Archangels, including those named above and others.

Posted: Saturday 15th March 2008, 10:31 AM