Welcome again to Things Unseen, where this week, in the run-up to Christmas, we're actually

thinking about angels and their ministry. Of course, there's much we don't know about angels,

but that shouldn't prevent us from reflecting

on what we do know.

And here's something we do know.

There seem to be different orders of angels, and perhaps even different kinds of angels.

We know that there's at least one archangel, because he's referred to in that way in First Thessalonians

chapter 4 in connection with the Lord's return, when the Lord Jesus will overwhelm his enemies

and destroy death itself. And we know his name. He's called Michael in Jude verse 9, where he's

said to have contended with Satan over the body of Moses.

He appears again in Revelation 12, verse 7, as the one who fought against the dragon.

And in Daniel 10, he's described as the prince.

He always seems to appear in a kind of military context, appearing on behalf of God's kingdom,

as the guardian and protector of God's people like a general among the hosts of heaven.

And then we also know the name of another angel, Gabriel, from Daniel chapter 8 and chapter 9. Since Michael is referred to as

one of the chief princes in Daniel 10, perhaps Gabriel is another. I wonder if there are more.

Gabriel's honored position is underlined by the fact that he is the one who appears to

Zachariah and to Mary announcing John's and Jesus' births.

And he seems to be less of a military leader and more of a kind of royal herald,

a communicator and interpreter of the divine will.

So these two chief princes, archangels, express God's purposes in deeds and in words.

One guards the people of God, and the other communicates God's will to them at crucial moments.

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