Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael


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Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael are named in Sacred Scripture about the work God gave them to do - to Protect, Communicate and Guide.
Each of the three Archangels names end in “el", a Hebrew ending referring to “God".
The Greek word, "arkhangelos", is made up of arkh, "first or chief," and angelos, "angel" meaning they are the most important in the Angelic Hierarchy of power.
Archangels guide us through life so we will “inherit salvation” to the ultimate, Heavenly Kigdom of God.
They also have command over the other Angels of God, who serve as Guardian Angels for humanity.
We honor Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael as Saints because they remind us that God is always with us.


Angels

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Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
In the Old and New Testaments, Angels are supernatural spiritual beings of knowledge and love who serve as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God and humanity.
The word “angel” in the Bible is translated from the Hebrew word "malach" and the Greek word "angelos" which both meaning “Divine Messenger ” to awaken our conscience and guide us - in the New Testament the word "angelos" is usually accompanied by a phrase, e.g. “Angels of Heaven” (Matthew 24:36).
Guardian Angels
Belief in a Guardian Angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group or nation. can be traced throughout antiquity.
As children of God, each one of us has a guardian angel that never leaves us.
The Bible indicates that our Guardian Angel is the "gatekeeper of our soul” and when a believer dies, the angels will escort them safely into Heaven.
In ancient Judaism, the belief that Angels can be guides and intercessors for humanity can be found in Job 33:23-26.
In Christianity, the Hierarchy of Angels was thoroughly developed in the 5th century AD by Dionysius the Areopagite (Greek: Διονύσιος ὁ Ἀρεοπαγίτης) an Athenian judge at the Areopagus Court in Athens, who lived in the first century AD and was converted to Christianity by Saint Paul and became the first bishop of Athens.
Dionysius wrote a series of Greek treatises and letters for the purpose of uniting Neoplatonic philosophy (“mind precedes matter”) with Christian theology and mystical experience.


Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael

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Michael (name means “who is like God”) leads all of the Holy Angels as a Warrior to protect and strengthen people's faith.
We pray to Michael when we face temptation against the powers of evil.
Gabriel (name means “hero of God”) is a Messenger who communicates God's most important announcements to humans so they will apply them to their lives.
Archangel Gabriel is known as the "Left Hand of God" and is remembered for announcing to Mary that she will be the Mother of God’s only Son.
Raphael (name means “Divine Healer”) is a guardian who in the Bible is known as a healer.
We pray to Raphael when we are ill or know someone who is in need of healing.

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Angelic Interactions

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Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
Angelic interactions occurred with the birth of John the Baptist.
It also happened with the Birth of Jesus - in Luke 1:26, Archangel Gabriel visits Mary to foretell the Birth of Jesus.
Angels also proclaimed the Birth of Jesus in the Adoration of the Shepherds in Luke 2:10.
Matthew 4:11 states that after Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, Angels came and Ministered to Him after the devil left Him.
In Luke 22:43 an Angel comforts Jesus during the Agony in the Garden of Gesthemane which occurred after the Last Supper and before His betrayal and arrest that led to His Crucifixion, Death and ultimate Resurrection.
In Matthew 28:5 an Angel speaks at the empty tomb following the Resurrection of Jesus.
Birth of John the Baptist
Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael
God sent the Archangel Gabriel Luke (1:11–13) to tell Zechariah, a high priest of the synagogue that his elderly and barren wife Elizabeth, will give birth to a son who will be named John.
Elizabeth (Hebrew: ʾĔlîšéḇaʿ; Greek: Ἐλισάβετ Elisabet) was the mother of John the Baptist and maternal aunt of Mary, mother of Jesus.
God chose John the Baptist to tell people their Messiah was coming.
Birth of Jesus
Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael
Mary, a young Jewish girl from Nazareth in the region of Galilee, was chosen by God to give Birth to the Son of God.
God delivered His Message through His Archangel Gabriel who greeted her with the words "Rejoice O Blessed One, the Lord is with Thee! Blessed are Thou amongst women"!
Mary answered, "Let it be according to the Will of God".
Jesus is the Name given to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel (Luke 1:31).
Birth of Jesus Marked the Beginning of the Christian Era
Angels proclaimed the joyous Birth of Jesus to shepherds keeping watch over their flock that first Christmas Eve.
“The glory of the Lord shone round about them and said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord".
(Luke 2:10, 11)
Humble shepherds and farm animals surrounded the Baby Jesus in that humble Stable.
The Three gentile (non-Jewish), Wise Men came from the east following the bright Star of Bethlehem.
They bowed before Him to acknowledge His Deity and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Birth Of Jesus Gave The World A Savior
Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael
"God loved the world so much, that He gave His One and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who came to shepherd God's people to greener pastures so we can inherit the Kingdom of God.
Baptism of Jesus
Archangels Michael Gabriel and Raphael
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13, 16–17).

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Transfiguration of Jesus Christ

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Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ is a major event described in the New Testament, where Jesus is elevated at the highest point on Mount Tabor in the presence of three of His Disciples - Peter, James and John.
In Christian tradition, Mount Tabor (Hebrew: Har Tavor, the "Holy Mount" - 2 Peter 1:18) located in Lower Galilee, Israel, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of the Sea of Galilee has now become a site of pilgrimage.
Christian theology presents the Transfiguration as a pivotal moment for the temporal (worldly) and the eternal (spiritual), with Jesus as the connecting point between Heaven and earth.
The Miracle of the Transfiguration is unique in the Canonical Gospels because it happened to Jesus Himself.
Jesus becomes radiant with golden shafts of light as He was joined by the Old Testament figures of Elijah on His Right and Moses on His Left, confirming His Divinity that Jesus is indeed the promised Christ (Messiah).
The Three Disciples were in awe by the Splendor of Jesus' Glory in the midst of the two pre-eminent figures of Judaism who embodied "the Law and the Prophets."
Then, God proclaimed Jesus saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him." 
"Listen to Him", identifies Jesus Christ as the Messenger and Mouth-Piece of God - the Baptism of Jesus Christ and the Transfiguration both support the Identity of Jesus as the Son of God.


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