Angels: name, rank and serial no.

[ladylove]

Just got thru reading a thread about angel names. And John McCarther from "Grace to You" is doing a series on "God, Satan and Angels" on Christian radio currently.

From what I understand, there are at least three named angels in the Bible. They are: Lucifer (k/n/a Satan), Michael and Gabriel. Others (mainly Catholics) say that Raphel is named in Scripture, but that must be in the Apocryphal books and not the Cannonized Scripture as Protestants understand it.

At any rate, there are at least two rankings of angels mentioned in the Bible, Seraphim and Cheribum. I am going from memory, but I believe it is the Cheribum who stood at the entrance to the Garden of Eden with flaming swords to prevent Adam and Eve from reentering the Garden after the "fall."

Cheribum are fewer in number and included in the Cherub ranks are Michael, Gabriel and the fallen Lucifer. Michael is a "Super Angel" and the General of the "armies of God" who are the other rank and file angels created by God. Michael is very busy and needs to be "Super Angel" as he is the Guardian Angel of the nation of Israel and the one who restrains the Evil One from destroying Israel, God's covenant people.

Gabriel is another Cherub who delivers and interprets God's purpose to man and is the "Super Messenger" of God. Gabriel was the angel dispatched from the presence of God to both Daniel, the Prophet, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Seraphim is also another rank of angels. Apparently, Seraphim will oversee the administration of the purification of the Church during the Tribulation preparing her to be holy and made ready for the bridegroom.

Hope you enjoyed the post. Any additional comments?

 

[straightforward]

Great post...and glad to meet another Grace to You listener (I listen everyday on the internet)! Greg Laurie also did a couple of shows on angels a year or so ago (they're in the Day7 archives on Harvest.org). I hadn't heard of the arch (sp?you know what I mean right???) angels being grouped in with Cherubs. We get a really cool picture of the Seraphim in Isaiah 6. Got to love that song! Now I have to go dig up my notes on the subject...I know I have them somewhere!
BTW...which date was this show on? Since I've been on the boards I've only been listening with one ear and not always catching what's being said (I really have to stop that!). Thanks!

 

[azblazor]

Great post, very interesting summary. Thanks

Mark

 

[ladylove]

Thanks straightforward!

John McCarther is such a wonderful Bible teacher and such practical application. He will resume his series of "God, Satan and angels" tomorrow where I live. It was prempted for a couple of days as he gave a sermon on "What is a just war?"

I will look for Greg Laury as you suggested.

I wish the Bible would have been more explanatory about God's angels for it is fascinating, but I guess we are as fascinated with them as they are with us. But right now they have the advantage, since God is pretty silent about revealing them to us.

 

[Didymus]

i think it is because satan masquerades as an angel of light and God does not want us to be decieved by hhim. also almost everyon in the bible who saw an angel treid to worship it and that is a nono too. I have always been uncomfortable with the angel fasicination that has swept the states the past few years especially those books/popels who advocate praying to angels, talking to your guardian angel, etc. there is something evil about them like satan trying to trick us. i realize a lot of you won t agree with me but that is how i feel.

 

[straightforward]

I agree completely Didymus! I was actually just thinking along those lines since I just started re-reading The Silmarillion by Tolkien. Alot of the names that are meantioned in the other books are taken to be like gods to the elves and men...re-reading they are actually more along the lines of angels.
I think the main thing is, like you said, the angels in the bible always point to God...not to themselves. All the Glory to God! Don't see this alot in the popular angel stuff now adays. We need to be careful because the enemy likes to take good things and twist them just enough so they look good but on the inside there's not too much truth left.

 

[Didymus]

wow !! someone who agrees with me !! you won t believe how many times i ve been told i am nuts for thinking angels can be anything but good creatures.