Today I start to digging into those big shot angels from the Bible, you know, the archangels. Kept hearing names like Michael tossed around but honestly, I wasn't real clear who did what. Needed a proper list for my own head.
First thing I did
Grabbed my regular Bible translation first. Figured it'd be straightforward. Started flipping pages, searching words like "angel" and "heavenly host". Took longer than I expected. Found lots of angels doing stuff – delivering messages, fighting, guarding things – but the actual title "archangel"? Yeah, barely showed up. Felt like searching for a specific needle in a stack of slightly different needles.
Hit a bit of a wall there. Remembered Michael was called out specifically in the book of Daniel and Revelation. Jotted his name down. Felt good to have at least one definite. But where were the others? Knew there had to be more famous ones.
Got curious about Gabriel and Raphael
Switched gears. Remembered Gabriel from the Christmas story, telling Mary about baby Jesus. Looked that up in Luke – bang! There he was, clear as day, called an angel standing right in front of God. Felt like a win. Added Gabriel to my list alongside Michael. Two down.
Then Raphael. Knew he was big in Tobit, had that whole healing and protecting journey with Tobias. Went straight to the Book of Tobit. Raphael talks about himself right there in chapter 12, verse 15: "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints." Boom! Third name secured: Raphael. Interesting he mentions being one of seven. That got me thinking, who are the other four? Bible doesn't name them directly, leaves it kinda mysterious. Wanted names, but the book clammed up.
Checked Revelation again, remembering something about seven angels before God's throne. Found it in chapter 8, verse 2. Says there are seven angels standing before God. Exactly what Raphael said! But... still no names. Just "the seven angels". Frustrating! My list felt incomplete.
Stuck with the classics
So after all that digging and page-flipping, I ended up with only three archangels the Bible outright names:
- Michael: The fighter, leader of the heavenly army against Satan. Showed up in Daniel and Revelation loud and clear.
- Gabriel: The big messenger, explaining visions to Daniel and announcing Jesus to Mary. Found him solidly in Daniel and Luke.
- Raphael: The healer and guide in Tobit, who finally names himself and drops the hint about being one of seven.
Kinda surprised Uriel didn't get a shout-out in the main Protestant books I was using. Heard his name elsewhere, but the Bible itself? Nope, not popping up for me this time.
Wrapping it up
So yeah, my deep dive ended up shorter than I thought it would be. Bible mentions "archangel" specifically only for Michael in Jude, but places Gabriel and Raphael firmly in major roles, and the seven thing pops up too, just without the names. Makes you wonder about those other four!
Feels good to finally have these three straight in my head: Michael fights, Gabriel talks, Raphael heals. Simple enough to remember now that I’ve wrestled the books myself.
