Are there classes of angels?
Yes. Michael
the archangel is very powerful and
the angel Gabriel is a high-ranking
angel, a messenger. Jude 1:9 shows
that Michael has always possessed
great power and influence. According
to Strong's Concordance #743,
the word archangel comes from
the Greek word archaggelos
and means a chief angel. The
archangel Michael powerfully
leads good angels in battle against
evil:
"And war broke
out in heaven: Michael and his
angels fought with the dragon; and
the dragon and his angels fought,
but they did not prevail, nor was a
place found for them in heaven any
longer" (Revelation 12:7-8).
The angel Gabriel undertook
important tasks. He
appeared to the prophet Daniel to
interpret a vision (Daniel 8:15). He
gave Daniel a prophecy recorded in
Daniel 9:20 and Luke 1:19. Gabriel
announced the birth of John the
Baptist to Zechariah. In Luke 1:26,
God sent Gabriel to Nazareth in
Galilee to Mary to tell her that she
is with child by the Holy Spirit. He
also announced the birth of Jesus.
There are
cherubim, but we do not know their
names or their ranking. We only know
that the four living creatures are
cherubim (Ezekiel 10:19-20).
