Angelology: Part Four (Specific Names Given for Angels)

Specific Names Given for Angels
· Michael
° Meaning: ‘Who is like God?’
° Biblical references to Michael
· Daniel 10:13 – Michael as a “chief prince” of heaven
· Jude 9 – called the archangel, disputes with Satan over the body of Moses
· Rev 12:7 – military leader of God’s army, “Michael and his angels” fought the dragon
· Daniel 10:13-21 – fights “Prince of Persia” to get to Daniel, Michael is the only one who stands firm with Daniel against the spiritual forces
· Daniel 12:1 – great prince, protector of God’s people
° Contemporary / Theological issues
· Some later Jewish scholars associate Michael with the Shechinah
· The Jehovah Witnesses claim Michael is a preincarnate Christ
· Gabriel
° Meaning: ‘Mighty one of God’
° Biblical references to Gabriel
· Appears as a man
° Daniel 9:21 – ‘the man Gabriel’
° Daniel 10 – ‘the one [who appeared to me] in human form’
° Luke 1:26 – ‘the angel Gabriel’
· Undoubtedly an angelic being
° Luke 1:19 –he proclaims, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God’
· Interactions with man
° Daniel 9:21 – talked with and gave instruction to Daniel
° Daniel 10:18 – touched and strengthened Daniel
° Luke 1:19 – appears to Zacharias, tells of John’s birth, and then silences Zacharias because of his unbelief
° Luke 1:26 – appears to Mary, tells her she will bear the Christ, tells her of his purpose, tells her that Elizabeth is pregnant
· Human actions
° Daniel 10:17-20 – spoke with a human voice
° Daniel 8:18, 10:18 – power of touch, like a man’s
° Luke 1:11-12 – stands in a particular location