![]() ![]() But there are some that think it may be referring to Isaiah 11:2. My guess has always been that it’s referring to the seven chief-messengers in Enoch (as you listed). There is another series of angels in Revelation 15-16 as the final seven bowl judgements are poured out on the earth. However, in Revelation 8:2 the angels are not named nor are them described as special in any way except they are given the honor of announcing the judgements by blowing on trumpets. They are, Michael, Gabriel, Šatqiʾel, Šaḥaqiʾel, Baradiʾel, Baraqiʾel, and Sidriʾel.: Gabriel, one of the holy angels who oversee the garden of Eden, and the serpents, and the cherubim.ģ Enoch 17 says “There are seven great, beautiful, wonderful, and honored princes who are in charge of the seven heavens.Saraqaʾel, one of the holy angels who are (set) over the spirits of mankind who sin in the spirit.Michael, one of the holy angels, for (he is) obedient in his benevolence over the people and the nations.Raguel, one of the holy angels who take vengeance for the world and for the luminaries.Raphael, one of the holy angels, for (he is) of the spirits of man.Suruʾel, one of the holy angels-for (he is) of eternity and of trembling.In 1 Enoch 20, the Greek text has seven angels: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel, and Remeiel (missing in the Ethiopic text, see OTP 1:23–24). In Testament of Levi 8, Levi sees seven men clothed in white who prepare him to be a priest. The tradition of seven archangels is present in the apocryphal book of Tobit. For example, in Tobit 12:15, the angel Raphael says, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One” (RSV). Other Second Temple Period literature refer to seven archangels, Michael and Gabriel being among them. John may have intended these seven angels standing before God to be the seven spirits which were before the throne of God in Revelation 1:4 and 4:5. On the other hand, Beale finds it “tempting to identify them with the seven guardian angels of the seven churches” (Beale 454). Are these the “seven archangels who occupy a very particular role in the angelic hierarchy,” as David Aune suggests? (2:509). ![]() This is based on Ezekiel 1:7 (cherubim with straight legs). According to Jewish tradition the angels must be standing because they did not have knees. “Standing before” someone is an idiomatic expression for serving, so this could be translated as “served” the Lord. After the seventh seal is opened, John sees these seven angels who stand before God. Revelation 8 introduce seven angels who will sound their trumpets in Revelation 8-9.
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