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Tag: Not in the Bible

Angel Phanuel

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons, What’s new?.

Is there an angel named Phanuel in the Bible?

The Bible gives the names of two of God’s holy angels: Gabriel and Michael. We have no other names beyond those two. There is a man named Phanuel (Luke 2:36), but no angel named Phanuel in the Bible. We can attribute the idea that an angel named Phanuel exists to his mention in the apocryphal Book of Enoch.

A good portion of the Book of Enoch deals with angelology and demonology. According to the Book of Enoch, Phanuel is one of four angels who stand before the throne of God—the other three being Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Phanuel is “the fourth, who presides over repentance, and the hope of those who will inherit eternal life” (Enoch 40:9). He is also said to have the task of “expelling the impious angels and prohibiting them from entering into presence of the Lord of spirits” (Enoch 40:7).

The mythology goes on to name Phanuel as the ruler of the Ophanim, angels in the throne room of God who never sleep. And he is one of the angels involved in the judgment of the wicked angels: “Phanuel shall be strengthened in that day and shall then cast [the demons] into a furnace of blazing fire, that the Lord of spirits may be avenged of them for their crimes; because they became ministers of Satan and seduced those who dwell upon earth” (Enoch 53:6).

The Bible does not give us much information about any of the angels, holy or otherwise. The Book of Enoch is a strange and sensationalistic work of non-canonical literature. We have no reason to accept the Book of Enoch as truth, with the exception of the portion of the Book of Enoch quoted in Jude 1:14–15. There’s no way to know if an angel named Phanuel actually exists, and investigations into mythology are ultimately unprofitable.

Angel Moroni

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons, What’s new?.

Who is the angel Moroni?

The angel Moroni does not appear in the Bible, but he is a featured character in the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), or Mormonism. According to LDS teaching, Moroni is the angel that appeared to Joseph Smith on several occasions, beginning in 1823. A bronze statue of the angel Moroni blowing a trumpet stands atop the Mormon temple in Salt Lake City, and an image of Moroni is often found in Mormon literature.

According to LDS theology, Moroni started out as a human being. He was the son of the prophet Mormon (for whom the Book of Mormon is named). Mormon began writing his message on golden tablets, and after his death his son Moroni finished the work and buried the tablets in what would become western New York. (All of this was said to happen prior to any European contact with the Americas.) After Moroni’s death, he became an angel and eventually appeared to Joseph Smith, telling him the location of the tablets and giving him the ability to translate them. Smith published his alleged translation as the Book of Mormon. Moroni also allegedly appeared to several other witnesses who would vouch for the veracity of Smith’s claims.

Initially, Joseph Smith simply referred to an angel, without giving his name. Later, he identified the angel as Moroni. There is some contradiction, as in other documents the angel is named Nephi, another character in the Book of Mormon. The official LDS explanation is that the identification as Nephi is simply an editorial error made by one of the later editors of Smith’s works—Moroni is the correct identification of the angel.

According to LDS teaching, the angel Moroni is also identified as the angel in Revelation 14:6: “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.” The angel Moroni figures prominently in Mormon architecture, most notably as the figure perched atop the spires of many Mormon temples.

The question remains as to whether or not an angel actually did appear to Joseph Smith or if he simply invented the stories. Those who believe the angel Moroni is an invention point out that Moroni is the name of the capital city of the Comoro Islands off the coast of Madagascar. One of the islands is itself named Camora, and Smith named the hill in which he supposedly discovered the golden tablets “Cumorah.” Prior to his “revelation,” Smith had been involved in treasure hunting and might have been drawn to the stories of Captain Kidd, who mapped the Coromo Islands.

On the other hand, it is entirely possible that an angel did appear to Joseph Smith and identify himself as Moroni. Paul explains what the response should be when an angel approaches anyone with a gospel message that differs from what is revealed in the New Testament: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:8). The “gospel” of Mormonism is “a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people . . . are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6–7). Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and it is entirely possible that other evil spirits could do the same. If a being calling itself “Moroni” exists, it is not a heavenly angel.

Metatron

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons.

Who or what is Metatron?

Metatron is a mythical angel mentioned in some Jewish writings. One version of the myth says that Metatron was created by God as a high-level angel with many responsibilities. A second myth claims that Metatron was originally a human named Enoch, a man who ascended to heaven a few times and was eventually transformed into a powerful angel.

According to the legend, Metatron is part of a select group of angels that is permitted to look upon God’s countenance, an honor most angels, like the seraphim, do not share (Isaiah 6:2). Metatron is sometimes referred to as the “Prince of the Countenance.”

Metatron is presented as having immense power and wisdom. According to mythology, Metatron is second only to God Himself in glory, wisdom, and strength. All the other angels must obey him. Among his heavenly tasks are to act as God’s scribe and to be an advocate or heavenly priest for the nation of Israel. One legend says Metatron was the angel that led Israel through the wilderness.

It is important to state that Metatron is never mentioned in the Bible. He is mentioned three times in the Babylonian Talmud, in some mystical texts from the Middle Ages, and in some occult books.

There is no reason to believe that Metatron exists. In fact, some of the legends concerning Metatron are decidedly unbiblical. There is only “one mediator between God and men,” and it is not an angel. It is “the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Bible says that such myths and legends are unprofitable. “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7; see also Colossians 2:18-19).

Angel Gadreel

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons, What’s new?.

Is there an angel named Gadreel?

There is no angel named Gadreel in the Bible. The idea of an angel named Gadreel comes from the mythical and apocryphal Book of Enoch.

Much of the content of the Book of Enoch deals with angelology and demonology, and a large portion of the book is devoted to filling in the backstory of Genesis 6:1–4. The Book of Enoch thus goes into great detail explaining the origin of the Nephilim, mentioned in Genesis 6:4, and the identity of the “sons of God,” mentioned in verses 2 and 4. The result is a strange and sensationalistic work of non-canonical literature.

According to the mythology contained in the Book of Enoch, Gadreel was one of 200 Grigori, or watchers, who rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven along with Satan. Gadreel was the third of five leaders of the Grigori. He and other angelic leaders were instigators of a vile sin, prompting other fallen angels to indulge their lust and have sexual relations with human women. The result of these unnatural unions was the Nephilim, a race of evil giants who terrorized the antediluvian world. A judgment was then pronounced upon Gadreel and the other demonic watchers.

According to Jewish mythology, another of the Grigori besides Gadreel involved in fornicating with human women and producing a race of giants was Azazel, a goat-like demon associated with the wilderness and desert places.

The Book of Enoch describes some of Gadreel’s other supposed activities: “And the third was named Gâdreêl: he it is who showed the children of men all the blows of death, and he led astray Eve, and showed [the weapons of death to the sons of men] the shield and the coat of mail, and the sword for battle, and all the weapons of death to the children of men. And from his hand they have proceeded against those who dwell on the earth from that day and for evermore” (Chapter LXIX, verses 6–7, trans. by Charles, R. H., 1917).

So, according to the legend of the Book of Enoch, all warfare can be traced back to Gadreel, who taught mankind how to kill and helped them develop weaponry. On top of that, he is the serpent who tempted Eve and caused her to fall into sin.

The Bible does not give us much information about the holy angels, and even less about the fallen angels. Besides Satan, few names of fallen angels are revealed to us. We know next to nothing of demonic rankings, names, or abilities. Elaborate and complicated stories about spirit beings supposedly named Gadreel, Azazel, Penemue, etc., are nothing more than the products of human imagination. The only reliable source for information about angels and demons is inspired Scripture.

Angel Raguel

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons, What’s new?.

Is there an angel named Raguel in the Bible?

There is no angel named Raguel in the Bible. The idea of an angel named Raguel comes from the Book of Enoch and not from sacred Scripture.

Much of the content of the Book of Enoch deals with angelology and demonology. According to the mythology contained in the Book of Enoch, there are seven “angels who watch” (Enoch 20:1). The fourth one listed is “Raguel, one of the holy angels, who inflicts punishment on the world and the luminaries” (Enoch 20:4).

In Chapter 23 of the Book of Enoch, the writer claims to have traveled to “the extremities of the earth” (verse 1), where he sees a blazing, unending fire. When asked about the fire, “Raguel, one of the holy angels who were with me, answered, And said, This blazing fire, which thou beholdest running towards the west, is that of all the luminaries of heaven” (verses 4–5). The “luminaries” Raguel mentions are fallen angels who are being judged for their sin against God.

Based on Enoch 23, a mythology has built up around Raguel, giving him the title of archangel and attributing to him the power to mete out justice, establish fairness, and rein in the demons when necessary. The Roman Catholic Church had considered Raguel the patron of the sacrament of holy orders. However, since the Council of Rome in AD 745, during the time of Pope Zachary, the Catholic Church only recognizes three archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

The Bible gives scant information about the angels, elect or fallen. Besides Gabriel and Michael, we don’t know the names of any holy angels. God did not see fit to provide that information, so we don’t need to know. People have always enjoyed creating elaborate and complicated stories about spirit beings supposedly named Gadreel, Raphael, Phanuel, etc., but there is no reason to accept those stories as true. The only reliable information about angels and demons comes from the pages of inspired Scripture.

Angel Ariel

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons, What’s new?.

Is there an angel named Ariel in the Bible?

The only angels named in the Bible are Gabriel and Michael (Daniel 8:16; 9:21; 10:13; 12:1). Nowhere in the Bible is there an angel named Ariel.

The book of Tobit, one of the apocryphal books not included in the Hebrew Bible or the Protestant canon of Scripture, contains a heroic angel named Raphael. Another extrabiblical text, the book of Enoch, names seven archangels: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel, and Jerahmeel.

The notion of Ariel as the angel of nature traces back to Gnostic lore and the ancient Jewish tradition of mystical or “occult” interpretations of the Bible known as Kabbalah. In Kabbalistic, apocryphal, and occult writings, Ariel is often confused with Uriel from the book of Enoch. One apocryphal text depicts Ariel as an angel who punishes demons. The Gnostic text Pistis Sophia associates Ariel with punishment of the wicked. In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Ariel is a sprite. Ariel was also the name of a minor angel in John Milton’s seventeenth-century poem, Paradise Lost.

While an angel named Ariel is absent from Scripture, the word Ariel is used in four different contexts in the Bible. One instance is found in two Old Testament passages: “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen” (2 Samuel 23:20, ESV; see also 1 Chronicles 11:22). The exact meaning of ariel here is unclear. Some Bible translations treat it as a proper name, labeling Benaiah’s victims as two “sons of Ariel.” Other translations treat ariel here as a common noun, as if to say Benaiah struck down “two champions of Moab” (NLT) or “Moab’s two mightiest warriors” (NIV).

The original meaning of the term ariel is also uncertain. It may have meant “lion (or lioness) of God,” “victorious under God,” or “altar hearth.”

When Ezra returned to Jerusalem, he summoned a group of trusted Levites to minister in the temple. Ariel is the name of one of those human leaders: “So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning” (Ezra 8:16).

The third use of ariel in the Bible is found in the book of Ezekiel. Ariel is the Hebrew term translated “altar hearth” in Ezekiel 43:15–16: “Above that, the altar hearth is four cubits high, and four horns project upward from the hearth. The altar hearth is square, twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide.” This altar hearth is where burnt offerings were made, a place associated with the secret of Israel’s lion-like strength.

Finally, the book of Isaiah contains a prophecy concerning both the siege and the preservation of the city of Jerusalem. Ariel is applied to Jerusalem symbolically four times: “Woe to you, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David settled! Add year to year and let your cycle of festivals go on” (Isaiah 29:1; see verses 2 and 7 also). The meaning of this title is “victorious under God.” Since Israel’s main altar was in Jerusalem, this could be the reason for the designation.

Angel Uriel

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons, What’s new?.

Is there an archangel (or angel) named Uriel?

Archangels are created beings that appear to be the leaders of other angels and creatures in the heavens. The canonical Bible, the one read by most Christians and Protestants, names only one archangel: Michael (Revelation 12:7). Many scholars suggest that Lucifer was also an archangel before being thrown out of heaven (Ezekiel 28: 17). Uriel is called an archangel in the apocryphal books of 2 Esdras and Enoch and in some ancient Jewish writings. John Milton also includes Uriel as a character in Paradise Lost. But Uriel is never named as an angel in any book that we know as the complete Bible.

The name Uriel means “fire of God” or “light of God.” Some stories involving Uriel identify him as the angel that guarded Eden (Genesis 3:24), one of the angels in charge of Tartarus, or the angel that slaughtered the Assyrians encamped against Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35). Jewish tradition lists Uriel as one of four angels overseeing the four quarters of the earth (see Revelation 7:1)—the other angels being Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

God’s Word does not reveal much about angels, and no archangel named Uriel is ever mentioned. We know little of the angels’ rankings, names, or abilities. If God had given us more details about angels, the temptation to focus our hearts on them rather than on God would be even more pronounced. People naturally tend to worship the creatures rather than their Creator (Colossians 2:18; Romans 1:25). We are never told to speak to an angel, pray to an angel, or in any way attempt to have angels mediate for us. That is idolatry (see 2 Kings 21:3; Revelation 22:8–9).

From a study of the Bible, it appears that angels do have personal names, and two angels are named in Scripture. While there are many factual errors in non-canonical books such as First and Second Esdras, such books may still contain some accurate information. It is not outside the realm of possibility that Uriel is actually the name of an archangel. Psalm 147:4 implies that God names every star, so we can logically assume that He also names the angels He creates. Does God have an archangel named Uriel? Maybe. What we can know for certain is that, if knowing the name of another archangel were important, God would have included that name in inspired Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21).

Angel Raphael

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Basics on Angels and Demons, What’s new?.

Is there an angel named Raphael in the Bible?

No, the Bible nowhere mentions an angel named Raphael. Only two holy angels are named in Scripture—Gabriel (Luke 1:26) and Michael (Daniel 12:1), the latter designated as an “archangel” in Jude 9. The angel Raphael does appear in the apocryphal book of Tobit (or Tobias), which is considered inspired by the Catholic Church. In that account, Raphael disguises himself as a human, keeps the younger Tobias safe on a journey, chases away a demon, and heals the elder Tobias of his blindness. Because of these actions, Raphael is considered by Catholics as the patron of the blind, of travelers, and of physicians.

In the book of Tobias, Raphael identifies himself as one of seven archangels “who stand before the Lord” (Tobit 12:15). Raphael also offers prayers on Tobias’ behalf, and Tobias, in turn, thanks the angel because he is “filled with all good things through him” (Tobit 12:3).

John sheds some light on the religious notions in the time of Christ. “A great multitude of sick people” are sitting beside a pool in Jerusalem, waiting for “the moving of the water.” They believed that an angel would descend from heaven and stir the water, making the pool a place of healing for them. Jesus approaches a man who had been infirm for 38 years and asks him if he wants to be healed. The man’s sad, superstitious reply is that he cannot be healed, because he cannot get into the pool quickly enough. Jesus then bypasses all superstition and shows His power to immediately heal the man (John 5:3-9).

Although the Book of Tobias was not included in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Septuagint did include it; therefore, the story of Raphael would have been familiar to almost everyone in Jesus’ day. It is quite possible that the “angel of the pool” the sick man was waiting for was, in his mind, Raphael. It is interesting that Raphael never shows up in John 5. It is Jesus, not an angel, who “heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3).