Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - 7 ANGELS

 7 ANGELS

And I saw the seven angels who stand before God… 

(Revelation 8:2)

If you believe in angelic beings, in what way do you picture them? There is no indication in the Bible that they are as portrayed in cards and pictures as cherubic little beings, lazing about on clouds and playing miniature harps. In Scripture, they are said to be of different types and sizes. The first mention of an angel, other than Satan, is in Genesis 3:24 when: 

…[God] drove out the man; and He placed cherubim 

at the east of the garden of eden.

Cherubim are mentioned in Ezekiel as being those angelic beings under the throne of God and 

each one had four faces and…four wings, 

and the likeness of the hands of a man under their wings.

(Ezekiel 10:21)

A second type of angel is mentioned in Isaiah and they are also in association with the throne of God. In this case, Isaiah is referring to a place above the throne of God.

…I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, 

and train of His robe filled the temple.

Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: 

with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, 

and with two he flew. 

(Isaiah 6:1-2)

So this tells us what beings are above and below the throne of God but not those angels who stand before God. These are, according to Jewish literature and tradition, the seven majestic archangels who surround God’s throne. Only two are mentioned in the Bible but all are apparently strong and majestic creatures who ask:

 

“Who is worthy to open the scroll?”

(Revelation 5:2) 

Also, John saw:

…[F]our angels standing at the four corners of the earth, 

holding the four winds of the earth… 

(Revelation 7:1)

The two mentioned include Michael who fought with the prince of the kingdom of Persia in the book of Daniel (10:13), contended with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9), and also fought with the dragon and his angels (Revelation 12:7). The name Michael apparently means ‘Who is like our God?’

The other named archangel is Gabriel whose name apparently means ‘Strength of God’ and is primarily a messenger of God. It was, after all, Gabriel who brought the message to Daniel regarding the understanding of the vision (Daniel 8) and also the message to Mary about her bearing the Son of God (Luke 1:26-30). Gabriel also took the message to Zacharias concerning his wife bearing a son (Luke 1:13).

The other five angels are not mentioned in our Scripture but are mentioned in the Scriptures of the Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian and Roman Catholic churches, and in well established Jewish teachings. They include:

• Raphael whose name apparently means ‘God Heals’ and who deals with Temperance, Justice, and Humility and
• Uriel ‘God is my light’ who apparently deals with Wisdom, Retribution and Chasity.

The remaining three archangels, whose names differ in various sources, are not as well defined and are given different duties depending on which source is utilized. 

• Raguel ‘Friend of God’ apparently helps with relationships and the healing of such.
• Sandelpon ‘Prayer of God’ again helps with healing and relationships and lastly there is
• Zadkiel ‘Righteousness of God’. 

These last two are also supposed to be the Angels of the Resurrection who appeared at Christ’s tomb.

As mentioned, the names, duties, and functions of these last three vary depending on the source used but at least it does give some picture of what is said in Scripture when it is stated in Revelation:

I saw the seven angels who stand before God (8:2)

I saw another sign in heaven…seven angels having seven plagues (15:1)

…out of the temple came the seven angels… (15:6)

Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels 

seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God… (15:7)

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came… (17:1)

Seven angels stand before God; certainly something to think about.