Gabriel is an angelic messenger, known for giving significant messages to God’s faithful people four times in Scripture. Gabriel, whose name means, ‘God is great,” is best known for his appearing to the Mother Mary, announcing the future birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. You may have seen a Christmas play that shows the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary with the wonderful news that she will be giving birth to the Messiah!

Though he is not specified as being an archangel, it is evident that because he is named in the Bible, he holds a high position among the angels. He makes appearances to Daniel the prophet, Zechariah the priest, and Mother Mary.

Although the angel Raphael is not named in the canonical Bible, he is mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Tobit, a book included in the Catholic and some Episcopal and Lutheran Bibles. The term ‘apocryphal’ means ‘hidden’. Such books are thought to have been written during the 400 years or so between the composition of the Old and New Testament books, also known as the intertestamental period. There are between 12 to 15 books comprising the Apocrypha, with Tobit being one.

When it comes to angels, archangel Michael is considered the leader of all angels. As ‘Prince of the Heavenly Host’, he is above all others in rank. The Hebrew meaning for his name is, ‘Who is like God?’. Oftentimes you’ll see Michael portrayed in images as a muscular angel holding a sword in one hand and pinning down a demon with his foot. Many report seeing the color blue surrounding him.