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 1 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 chapter 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

...