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Multiple Archangels in Scripture & SoP, but only 1 Uncreated Michael Archangel/Jesus

Shiny Gospel Shoes

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Multiple Archangels in Scripture & SoP, but only 1 Uncreated Michael Archangel/Jesus

Angelic Orders and Multiple Archangels?

1. Sketches from the Life of Paul, p. 332.2

"... God. He hears angels and archangels magnifying that glorious name. His ... "

2. The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3, p. 440.2

"... God. He hears angels and archangels magnifying that glorious name. His ... "

3. Sons and Daughters of God, p. 295.5

"Angels and archangels wonder at this great plan of redemption; they admire and love the Father and the Son as they behold the mercy and love of God.36Letter 31, 1892. "

4. Maranatha, p. 329.4

"... the angelic host, angels and archangels, covering cherub and glorious seraph ..."

5. In Heavenly Places, p. 371.4

"... the angelic host, angels and archangels, covering cherub and glorious seraph ... "

6. Manuscript Releases Volume Three [Nos. 162-209], p. 19.3

"Angels and archangels wonder at this great plan ... "

7. Sermons and Talks Volume One, p. 241.1

"Cherubims and seraphims, angels and archangels, are watching the battle that ... "

8. The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1036.2

"... answer that prayer. Angels and archangels are looking upon God’s ..."


As they say, “Oh, yeah, prove it from scripture…" OK :)

Of course there are multiple 'arch-angels', and 'angels of the Lord', but there is only one uncreated, Creator - Michael Archangel [Who is as God, the Highest Messenger [of the Father], iow the Son], and this present post is not referring to Him specifically, for that is for another time.

There is order in heaven, for God is not the author of Confusion [1 Corinthians 14:33], and thus there is perfect order in the angelic congregation above. The scripture speaks of these things, and even delineates some of them for us:

"Cherub": Exodus 25:19, 37:8; 2 Samuel 22:11; 1 Kings 6:24,25,26,27; 2 Chronicles 3:11,12; Ezra 2:59; Nehemiah 7:61; Psalms 18:10; Ezra 9:3, 10:2,4,7,9, 28:14,16, 41:18.

"Cherubims": Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:18,19,20,22, 26:1,31, 36:8,35, 37:7,8,9; Numbers 7:89; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 1 Kings 6:23,25,27,28,29,32,35, 7:29,36, 8:6,7; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 13:6, 28:18; 2 Chronicles 3:7,10,11,13,14, 5:7,8; Psalms 80:1, 99:1; Isaiah 37:16; Ezekiel 10:1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,15,16,18,19,20, 11:22, 41:18,20,25; Hebrews 9:5.

"Seraphims": Isaiah 6:2,6.

"Living Creatures"
: Ezekiel 1:5,13,14,15,19, 3:13, see also these in “Ezekiel 10:1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,15,16,18,19,20, 11:22”; see also "four beasts": Revelation 4:6,8, 5:6,8,11,14, 6:1,6, 7:11, 14:3, 15:7, 19:4.

"Four and Twenty Elders" [not human, rulers/representatives of other unfallen worlds]: Revelation 4:4,10, 5:5,6,8,11,14, 7:11,13, 11:16, 14:3, 19:4; see also “ancients”: Isaiah 24:23

"Angels, that excel in strength": Psalms 103:20 [like Gabriel, which means the Strength of God]

"Angels": throughout scripture

various other terms like "Sons of God" [in Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7], etc referring in that instance, to representatives of the unfallen worlds.

Also in Heavan are "thrones" [Daniel 7:9; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 20:4], "dominions" [Colossians 1:16], "principalities" [Ephesians 3:10, 6:12; Colossians 1:16], "powers" [Ephesians 3:10, 6:12; Colossians 1:16], "rulers of..." [Ephesians 6:12] and so on.

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:10

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Ephesians 6:12

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Colossians 1:16

Thus we see even further, "thrones", "dominions", "principalities", and "powers" of heaven...

The word for "principalities" Ephesians 3:10, 6:12, Colossians 1:6 is "archē", and this is speaking of angels in heaven. Therefore there is of course leading and or ruling angels [created beings, like Gabriel, or as Lucifer was, etc] over, ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens [even as it was on earth in the Camp - Exodus 18:21,25, and were even to be in proper order, by tribe, etc around the very Sanctuary [Numbers 2, etc], which was the pattern of the Heavenly - Exodus 25:9,40, Numbers 8:4, etc]

There are even angels that "excel in strength":

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Psalms 103:20

There are angels with different ministries/functions or "estates"/positions of office:

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 1:6

That word "first" [Jude 1:6] is also "archē". Satan/Lucifer himself was/is an Archangel, holding at one point the Arch Office over many others, even as the covering cherub [Ezekiel 28:14]. In fact, I believe he had many of the higher leaders, holding the Arch Offices follow him… he always seems to work that way, going after the leaders to get many to follow them and thus himself…

...does that sound familiar to us, anyone? Ok, moving onward.

Gabriel himself is one of the very covering Cherubs, as Lucifer had been before he fell [Ezekiel 28:14; Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:9].

The Bible also speaks of the "chief princes" [rishown sar, chief [of first of] rulers]:

"...one of the chief princes..." [Daniel 10:13]

We can see further in Revelation that there is an order around God's Throne... Covering Cherubim, then 4 Living Creatures, then 24 Elders, then throngs of angelic hosts, etc, etc...

Even Satan has order among those which followed him [Matthew 25:41; Mark 5:9,15; Luke 8:30; Revelation 12:7,9], even as Jesus/Michael [Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Matthew 26:53; Jude 1:14; Revelation 5:11, 12:7,9, 19:14].

Even Gabriel is called "an angel of the Lord" [Matthew 1:20,24, 2:13,19, 28:2; Luke 1:11,19,26 2:9; etc] and other angels are mentioned also [Acts 5:19, 7:30, 8:26, 12:7,23; etc], but these are all created beings as the context declares.

None of these other "arch angels" [Gabriel, Lucifer or other] are as the Uncreated Creator - Michael Archangel/Jesus, God, the Son, He being the Ruler over them all [Psalms 68:17; Revelation 5:11, 12:7,9, 19:14].

There may be other examples given in Scripture, let me know if you think of such examples in the 66 books of Scripture only [not apocryphal, etc material], or patterns of earthly from Heavenly therein. I could think of a few more examples of type, like King David over many thousands, and captains, etc. Or even of the structure of Jesus' own councils here on earth, using Apostles, Prophets, Elders, Deacons, Teachers, and so on under the GC, various conferences, like in Acts 15, and the NT which is modeled after the Heavenly.
 
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Shiny Gospel Shoes

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But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. Matthew 9:34

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. Matthew 12:24

And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. Mark 3:22

But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. Luke 11:15

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. John 14:30

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. John 16:11

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:2

Referring to satan, this word "prince" or "chief" in the Greek is "archon", which comes from the Greek "arche", and so again we see satan as an arch-angel.

Revelation 1:5 utilizes the word "prince/archon" for Jesus, as "prince of the kings of the earth [Christians]":

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5

Other references may also include:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Romans 8:38

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15

as the word "principalities" is the Greek "arche".

In the LXX [Septuagint], we see Michael/Jesus listed as first/chief Arch Angel [again, He is not a created being, but uncreated God, the Son over all creation, the for Who is as God, the Highest Messenger of the Father], even above Gabriel...

"... Μιχαηλ εἷς τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πρώτων ἦλθεν βοηθῆσαί μοι ..." - Daniel 10:13 LXX

As always, if any more references are found, let me know, especially if found in the LXX, I haven't yet looked at all the references for arche or archon, etc there.
 
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