Question:
How many archangels are mentioned in the Bible?
The word “Archangel” is used twice in the Bible and both times it is a singular noun. One of the two is mentioned in I Thessalonians 4:16 when the author writes about the rapture of the Church:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
The second mentioning is Jude 1:9 when the author writes about the Archangel Michael:
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
In Daniel, Michael is presented to us as a warrior, a great prince who stands guard over the sons of Israel:
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time ; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. (Daniel 12:1)
In Daniel chapters 10-12, the person speaking with Daniel explains how he fought with the prince of the kingdom of Persia (the kingdom that dominated Israel at the time of Daniel’s writings) and that the kingdom of Greece was about to rise (the next kingdom to dominate Israel). During this conversation, he reveals to Daniel that no one helped him in this battle except for Michael, one of the chief princes.
Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia ; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince. (Daniel 10:20-21)
We find more written about Michael in Revelation chapter 12. Chapter 12 is about a war in heaven where Michael and his angels battle against Satan and his angels. Satan is defeated and cast down to the earth together with his angels (Revelation 12:7-9). The context of this battle is God protecting the nation of Israel (the woman with a crown of 12 stars on her head).
Translation by: Erik Brewer