|
DIRECTORY
Home
General LDS Information
Basic LDS Beliefs
LDS Videos
Critics' Questions
Submitted Questions
Scriptures/LDS Literature
Genealogy/Family
LDS Temples
Missionary
Music and Arts
LDS Online Stores
Priesthood, Humor, Miscel.
Site Map
Suggest a Site
Now accepting banner ads!
|
|
KIRK - i just would like to ask who were the 7 angels mentioned in the book of Revelation and who were they while they were yet in their mortal lives.
JOEL - Revelation 8 talks about seven angels who were given 7 trumpets to open the seven seals (Rev 8). The Apocrypha names them as as Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Saraqael, Gabriel, and Remiel (1 Enoch 20:1-8). Three of these angels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are found in the Bible and in latter-day revelation. (Jude 1: 9; Luke 1: 19; D.& C. 128:21.)
The apocryphal book of Tobit also mentiones Rafael (Tobit 12:15):
There are not many cannonized scriptures that speak of these angels, but a few of them are mentioned in some scriptures and other sources.
Michael is designated as an archangel (D&C 107:54). He is the head angel of all angels that have ever existed. His part in the creation of the earth was second only to that of Christ. (Abraham 3:22-24).
When Satan rebelled against the Father in our pre-earth life, and there was war in heaven, it was Michael who led the hosts of the faithful in casting Satan out (see Revelation 12:7-9).
When the time came for the earth to be peopled, the spirit Michael was assigned to become the first mortal man, and he became known as Adam. He is thus
referred to in the book of Daniel as the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7: 9, 13, 22 and D&C 27: 11).
The Prophet Joseph continued, "Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael. . . "He (Adam) is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men" (TPJS, 157.)
Three years before he died, Adam called together his family in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. "And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel" (D&C 107:54
). Michael was given "the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One" (D&C 78:16). That is, he holds the keys of salvation for all men associated with this earth, under Jesus only.
As the seventh angel mentioned in Revelation (Rev 16: 17) He will lead the armies of heaven against the hosts of hell in the final great battle when Lucifer is cast out eternally. (D&C 88:110-116.)
Gabriel is ranked second in priesthood heirarchy among all other angels. The Prophet Joseph Smith says simply: "Gabriel . . . stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood" (TPJS, 157). That is, in rank and precedent, Gabriel stands next to Michael the archangel.
Incident to his preeminent position in priestly authority we know that Gabriel was among the spirit children of God shown to Abraham in a vision of pre-earth life, and described as one of "the noble and great ones" who "wast chosen before . . . [he] wast born," and of whom the Lord said, "I will make my rulers" (Abraham 3:22-23). He was given the Melchizedek Priesthood there (see Alma 13:3-7).
When Gabriel was assigned to come to this earth, as his probationary estate, and take upon himself a mortal tabernacle, he was called Noah. For this insight into the eternal scheme of things we are once again indebted to the Prophet Joseph Smith, who wrote, "Noah, . . . is Gabriel" (TPJS, 157).
We know him as the angel who visited both Zacharias and Mary to help them understand the importance of the coming of Jesus Christ (Luke 1)
Raphael appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in modern times and conferred the keys of his dispensation. He was thus a principal participant in the restoration. His part is recorded in modern scripture.
"And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places . . . the voice . . . of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope! (D&C 128:21.)
And in the Aprochropha:
"I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, . . .which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One" (Tobit 12:15).
Nothing is known about the other angels although the Doctrine and Covenants hints that they were at sometime human beings associated with this earth:
"But there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it." (D&C 130: 5)
There is mention of seven angels of in Revelation 15 who bring about the seven plagues, but it is not certain if these are the same angels spoken of in Rev 8.
|
|
|
