Columns share an author’s personal perspective.
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Dear Pastor,
I heard there are more archangels than the three mentioned in the Bible. Is this true?
A: Yes, it is true. Ancient Jewish manuscripts, oral traditions and scrolls tell us there are at least seven Seraphim (archangels). However, the belief in them follows several religious traditions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam, who name many more angelic hosts included in their special rank. Christianity addresses the three Seraphim working for our team (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael) - and one working in darkness (Lucifer.)
In the book of Revelation, there is an important passage providing a vital clue to the Seraphim rank: “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:4, 5, NASB) .
This passage is debated among theologians and is divided into two main schools of thought: One, that these seven spirits are the attributes of the prophesied Christ mentioned in Isaiah chapter eleven. The other, that these spirits surrounding the throne of God are the sacred members of the highest angelic rank, the Seraphim, or archangels.
Close attention to the biblical wording of Isaiah’s prophecy points us to the Seraphim and not to the attributes of Jesus, since Isaiah’s text mentions only six applicable spirits, not seven. Let us examine: “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1, 2). We see the seven attributes of Christ: 1) the Spirit of the Lord, 2) wisdom, 3) understanding, 4) counsel, 5) strength, 6) knowledge and 7) fear of the Lord. However, the “spirit of the Lord” is one of the Holy Spirit’s names. If John is greeting his audience with greetings from God, as well as, himself and these special spirits, he is in essence telling us that the Trinity on the throne is bearing witness to this greeting. If Father, Son and Holy Spirit are on the throne, the Holy Spirit then, cannot be one of the seven spirits who are before the throne. The only conclusion is that these spirits surrounding God are the Seraphim, due to their physical proximity to the Lord God Almighty ... a place reserved only for the elite.
The number of these Seraphim also lines up with Jewish tradition. In Jewish history, they have names: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Jeremiel, Raguel, Zerachiel and Remiel. We also know that Lucifer was once included among them, but lost his rank and position when he sinned and was thrown down to earth. Now there are seven, whose job it is to guard the throne, worship the Lord and carry out assignments for Father God. We know the latter because Michael is listed as the retriever of the body of Moses in Jude 9:9. This job was one of Michael’s assigned tasks, since God decided he would bury Moses himself (Deuteronomy 34:6).
Please note: there is a distinct uptick in angelic activity in our post-pandemic world. Our Lord has deployed enormous angelic hordes to assist and defeat the demonic assignments on steady attack these days: angelic sightings are up; dreams and encounters are being reported more frequently inside the prophetic community. It is understandable that curiosity of the heavenly hosts is increasing also. Your question is right in line with our times.
But let us keep our focus on the Lord and not upon his servants, the angels (Colossians 2:18). Unfortunately, the demonic Church (representing namely Wicca, New Age, pagan and satanism) are all consumed by the mystery of angelic power and seek it readily in their evil practices and worship. I highly recommend that you abstain from delving into the study of the archangels, save the two mighty beings our Bible talks most about: Michael and Gabriel. Seeking out the other Seraphim will bring you into contact, as I have experienced, with numerous websites, books and magazines designed to draw you down pathways of darkness. Let us seek the Lord only, and simply thank him for his marvelous, spiritual creations.
Do you have a question or comment for Pastor Adrienne? Send your inquiries to: [email protected] or write to P.O. Box 214, Harrison, OH 45030. For more information, please visit www.adriennewgreene.com or tune into the “Ask Pastor Adrienne” YouTube channel.
