Angels, Archangels, Michael himself and the Winchester Brothers’ Heavenly Connection to Cain and Abel
Many religions speak of angels – beings at the side of God or Gods, messengers, protective spirits. The term angel derives from the Latin angelus, ancient Greek angelos, a translation of the Hebrew word for messengermal’ach.
Through all civilisations, cultures and across all centuries the function of angelic spirits has barely changed – they are employed whenever an intermediary between God and humans is required, and in particular when protection is essential.
Ancient peoples believed in winged creatures conveying the will of the gods to the humans, and early depictions have been found in Mesopotamia from 2250 B.C.. Later, about 1500 B.C, so historians assume, Egypt expanded her power to that region which might have been the reason for the appearance of winged gods or protectors in Egyptian art and religion – the main difference from oriental portrayals is to be found in the sex of the winged beings. Egyptian winged deities are female – like Isis or Selket (as opposed to most angels – male – within mainly patriarchal religions).
The ancient Greeks’ access to Egypt (about 600 B.C.) acquainted them with monumental architecture and depictions of angel-like beings, and they were the first culture to create sculptures of angels or winged gods, like the Nike of Samothrake (should you ever get to the Parisian Louvre, make sure to look her up, and she can not be overlooked indeed, standing high on a flight of stairs – her beauty will blow you away. I have never seen, ever, a sculpture that moved me so much. You just know that this is a goddess of victory, strong and yet fragile, like made from air and very much alive when she is cold marble…forgive me).
Early Jewish beliefs were influenced by the ancient Persian Zoroastrians who already believed in angels. Judaism speaks of messengers of God, the mal’ach Elohim, and the first biblical figure to refer to individual angels is Daniel. He mentions Michael, who serves as an advocate for Israel and as a warrior.
In Genesis 6 ‘sons of God’ are depicted who had relations with mortal women and thus fathered giants and ‘nephilim’ which is deriving from a Hebrew expression, meaning ‘fallen ones’, sometimes described to by hybrid offspring of fallen angels and human women or descendants of Cain.
The apocryphal book of Enoch speaks of spiritual beings, but refers particularly to fallen guardians (under Azazel’s command) who turned away from God (and that, I’m afraid, kind readers, is a topic for another article).
Early Christians were influenced in an extraordinary manner by Jewish mythology, and Christianity’s concept of angels varied – angels were messengers of the Savior, creatures of God, spirits to bring love – before it developed distinctive characteristics:
According to Christian belief, angels are part of a strong hierachic structure, but the ranks actually vary according to the time in which these structures were formed, highly influenced by historical traditions.
Among others, Dionysius designed a classification with three spheres in his De Coelesti Hierarchia, about 500 A.D.:
Within the first sphere, the highest rank of angels are the so-called Seraphim, whom Isaiah described as six-winged (for the six days of creation): ‘with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew’ (Isaiah 6:2-7)
They are surrounding the throne of God, singing his praises (in particular mentioned in the visions of Enoch, who also describes them as fierce and awe-inspiring: ‘the fiery seraphim fixed their gaze on me, I shrank back trembling and fell down stunned by the radiant appearance of their eyes and the bright vision of their faces’. Enoch also claims that there were four Seraphim, one for each of the winds of the world.
Second in rank are the Cherubim, and their origin is disputed, as they are mentioned in various cultures. Assyrian art shows them as winged guardian spirits, with faces of a lion or a human and bodies of eagles or bulls. In Islam they are named the el-karubiyan, ‘those who are brought near to God’.
The Old Testament’s Ezekiel, however, calls them ‘living beings’. Early Hebrew writings depict them as protectors, guarding the eastern gate of paradise with a flaming sword to prevent Mankind’s return to Eden (Genesis 3:24). The Cherubim were also placed, as solid gold figures, on either side of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 37:8-9) – well, we know now who the beautiful angels were we admired while watching Indiana Jones searching for the Lost Ark.
Third in line are the Thrones, not to be traced in early Jewish texts (as Judaism only recognizes Seraphim and Cherubim), but found in the New Testament, and highly popular during the Middle Ages. Thrones are mentioned in Colossians as part of God’s creation in Christ (Col 1:16).
In the second sphere are we find Dominions (or Dominations, from Latin dominatio – to rule, to reign) (fourth in rank) who regulate angels’ duties. They have two wings, in contrast to the earlier mentioned that have four or six wings – probably the home of Zachariah.
They are followed by Powers (virtutes, from Latin virtus – virtue) who thwart the efforts of demons to overthrow the world. They preside over demons. In Ephesians (6:12) they are described as dangerous, being under the devil’s control, perhaps, ‘the cosmic powers of this present darkness’.
The third sphere introduces us to those angels who actually interact with humans – the highest rank here hold the Princes or Principalities: a choir of angels that protect religion as such and embody the divine lead.
Since we have learned that the angel Anna was superior to Uriel (as you will find in the following chapter down, he is supposedly an archangel, though not explicitly described as such in the show), just as she was to Castiel, who is, simply, an angel. Therefore I assume that Anna was one of the Princes here, as they are superior to archangels, who are next – the heavenly host. They are the messengers who bear divine decrees.
They are followed by – simply – angels, the furthest from God in the surrounding choirs and thus the ones who can most easily interact with man.
It’s quite logical to believe that Castiel and his fellows never saw God, as they are, according to Dionysius’ definition, nowhere near Him.
The role of archangels and angels is quite similar in various religions. The idea of them being messengers can be found in Islam, as in Christian and Hebrew writings.
‘Archangels are fierce. They’re absolute. They’re Heaven’s most terrifying weapon’
Castiel, MonsterAtTheEndOfThisBook
Castiel’s description of the archangels follows in part the Islamic depiction – their angels, the al-mala’ika (which includes archangels) are not exactly compassionate creatures, but – quite similar to early biblical lore – powerful, mighty and terrifying beings of light, of sometimes colossal size, entrusted with specific tasks.
The Koran speaks of four archangels:
Michael (in Arabic called Mikhail or Mikaaiyl), often described as the archangel of justice, mercy, and being responsible for bringing thunder and rain to Earth.
Gabriel (Jibril/Gibril or Jibraaiyl/Jibrail) was the one who dictated the Koran to Mohammed. Furthermore, he was the one who accompanied the prophet to Heaven on a winged horse, the Buraq. They travelled to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem where Mohammed joined all prophets (from Adam to Jesus) in ritual prayer and was delivered, afterwards, to God by Gabriel. He is the angel who communicates with prophets and delivers divine wisdom.
Raphael (Israfil or Israafiyl) will be the one signalling the coming of Judgment Day by sending out a Blast of Truth and blowing a horn.
And Azrael or Izrail, the angel of death, is in charge of parting the soul from the body. Some legend expects him to sound the last trumpet. He, in particular, is described as being of vast size. It is said, if all the water of the world were to be poured on his head, not a drop would reach the earth.
Wow Jas. This is a really interesting article! Got all kinds of crazy possibilities (regarding our Show) running through my mind… You’re right, there are SO many ways that this mytharch can go down. I’m so excited!!
I’ve never researched the angel lore… Ofcourse I’ve heard of them, I’ve read of the Bible (well not the whole thing naturally lol) in school many years back. I used to go to sunday school as a kid and I had a lot of story books of biblical tales. But since my school days my touch on religion has dimished quite a bit…
Hmm… Actually, I had one optional course in upper secondary school that had some discussion about the Apocalypse, but since it’s been “a while” I’ve forgotten alot *grin* But I faintly remember conversations about angels and their ranks, and their role in the end of days. I recall being a little spooked at the time (end of days don’t sound like a dance party), but it sparked some amazing debates in my class. I’m not that much of a religious type but I like talking about it sometimes, people have so many different angles and definitions of their own religion.
But that course way back was basically just from Christianitys POV. You’ve got here Hebrew and Muslim too, truly an interesting read my dear 🙂
Good stuff, Jas, big things (literally!), good stuff. This is where my pragmatic, snarky American brain gets in the way of cosmically apocalyptic poetry and storytelling: it had to be these two nondescript humans right now to bring this all about? Not very powerful, are ye, O heaven. 😎
Of course, since we in the audience only have access to the tourist version of the Bible (I’d really love a copy of the Real® one) flush with myriad inconsistencies (even Ned Flanders knows this) we’ll just have to hope Kripke & Co. know what they’re doing, because there are about 52 billion different ways this can play out. Out, damned destiny, out I say!
But you don’t think the show needs more tragedy? If the hills are alive with the sound of AC/DC, who wants to watch that? Muah.
Great stuff Jas, a very well worked through text with lots of meat on it. Thanks for sharing your finds! And Nike of Samothrace is my all-time favourite statue and my number one reason to want to visit the Louvre. I got my parents to make a pretty big detour on our road trip in Italy just so I could spend some time with David in Florence. The things you do for good art…
Great article, Jas. Again 🙂 Love reading your stuff, thanks for your time and effort!
This whole angels thing can be pretty confusing – who is who and where do they come from and go to. But for me one thing’s for sure: I’ll never look at angels the same way, surely no more fluffy winged Cate-Blanchett-like angel christmas cards for me. What an illusion to picture them like that, when they’ve always been described as warriors. F* commercials.
One thing I’m still confused about, and maybe it’s just a language thing: the Heavenly Host. Who or what is that? I used to think it’s God, but now I’m not sure. Anyone can help me out?
Cheers!
Lara
Supernarttu, Randal, Kaffeklubben and Freebird, thanks for reading my ramblings here, guys!
Supernarttu, I was equally amazed about the lore you can actually find on angels, from good old heathen concepts to strict Christian… I’m so looking forward to see what will go on on Supernatural. That celebrity death match will surely be epic.
I’ve often detected problems when you bring the topic of religion on the table. You just need one fundamentalist and suddenly you’re somewhat at war.
Randal, of course this show needs more tragedy! I haven’t cried my eyes out enough.
Kaffeeklubben, hey, you wouldn’t be another Scandianvian in our midst? I feel just like you about the Nike. And I wish to see David one time, too. I have a beautiful book about him, though, that shows him from all angles, beautifully photographed, like a nude portrait. Wow.
Lara, hey, you wouldn’t believe how many angels there are, I have one of the smaller dictionaries, and you can hardly get them all… If I got it right, the Heavenly Host means simply the armies of Heaven. Somebody correct me please, if I’m wrong.
Thanks again , y’all, take care love Jas
Hey Jasminka – a great article but I’m going to disagree on the Cain and Abel thing. 😀 Cain and Abel is one of those stories that seems a perfect fit for Supernatural, since it’s about two brothers, but I think if it’s looked at in terms of how the story is told in the Bible, it’s actually not a good fit to the mythology. (Unless they’re going down a really obvious story telling myth arc and then I’m just going to be disappointed. Heh.)
If Dean or Sam are descended from Cain’s bloodline then the only conclusion is that one of them will try to kill the other in a fit of jealousy. God warns Cain before the killing that sin is crouching at the door and that it’s eager to control him if he can’t do what’s right. But it just seems such a clunky and obvious thing to play out over the mythology of the show. Mainly because as a story, it doesn’t really go anywhere. Good guy dies, and becomes a martyr and bad guy is doomed (but not that doomed since he marries and has kids. Mind you, his descendants appear to have their own problems).
God appears not to favor Cain’s bloodline since there’s no mention of Cain again after Genesis. God actually seems to favor Seth (Adam and Eve’s third son) since this line eventually results in Noah. (Mind you, it appears that the rest of the flock is annoying God quite a lot by then.) Anyway, in Dean’s case it would make more sense for someone who is (presumably) going to stop the Apocalypse to be descended from Seth (and therefore, Noah).
Okay, I’ll stop waffling now. My argument could be as confused as some passages in the Bible. Heh. Great article!
B.
Hey Jas..this article looks awesome. I’ve only read halfway, but I want to mention something before I forget. The name of the Angel of Death is never mentioned in the Quran. I’m not sure where or why people started thinking that his name is Izrail, but it is a mistaken belief. Even some Muslims have the impression that his name is Izrail. However it came about though, that is not his name. We simply refer to him as the Angel of Death.
And strangely enough, even though I am a Muslim, I’ve never heard the story about him being the one who took the clay from earth. Sounds interesting…I think I better go look it up. And finish reading this article as well 🙂
B. and Narcissus, thanks for your enlightening remarks!
B., a corner of my cortex also finds the Cain and Abel connotation a bit far fetched. Almost every story of conflicting brothers is being compared to the first pair of brothers. I felt I’d tackle the subject, as the writers decided to have the Winchester blood line go back to the first people.
I do appreciate your objection! We will probably have to wait for the writers to explain that connection (then again – they have been known to throw in elements that were not explained as of yet, like Dean’s bleeding eyes in BloodyMary. I know, I know, but I just can’t leave it alone. That one bugs me.) Thanks so much for putting a finger to that inconsistency!
Narcissus, this is really interesting! I did not find that in the Koran, either, but I have to admit I haven’t read it thoroughly. I’m not a Muslim, but I read some of it in the past to understand that religion better, just like I read about Judaism or Buddhism and others. I believe the Angel-of-Death concept here comes from some Sufi interpretations (though for the life of me I cannot remember who it is attributed to, forgive me, and I can’t find my notes). I hope I haven’t hurt any Muslim feelings.
Thanks so much. Please, should you find more inconsistencies, let me know. Chance for me to learn more….
Love Jas
Oh not at all Jas…I’ve always loved having a go at this sort of subject every now and then. And then you come along with your articles and tie it all in with the show..I love it 🙂 I’ve learned a lot from you too..I’ve looked into Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism before, but I don’t think I ever dredged out as much detailed info as you have, unless it’s for an assignment, which means that whatever I’ve learned somehow gets erased from my brain the moment I hit ‘print’ :roll::
Holy Comparative Religions, Batman! Very impressed, Jas–just wanted to let you know 😀 This was fascinating.
Happy to hear that, Narcissus, *sigh of relief*. I’ve always loved details. You should see my lectures… 😉
I can only hope to not overcook the recipients… Thanks, dear. Jas
Thank you, ElenaM, I’m glad you liked this. Makes my job here even better.
Cheers, Jas
Great article Jas. Didn’t know all the different levels of the angels. Guess Kripke is keeping those the same. Don’t know about the stories ties to Cain and Able though. Not that it hasn’t come up in the past, but remember what Castiel said “Your bible gets more wrong than it does right.”
Thanks Sablegreen for your comment. I guess Kripke will give us the ‘real’ Bible version as opposed to the tourist version we normal people use… Hate him. Love him. Can’t wait to see how all will go down… 😉 Jas
This is in response to Dany’s post (and anyone else who is interested). Hope this helps!
First off, I have to admit to a sideline hobby of reading books about early Christianity (100 to 400CE). Back then, the beliefs were all over the place. The ‘official’ version of the Bible is a result of the First Council of Nicaea. An untold number of ‘books’ were dumped during this council. So I’ve always considered the ‘real’ Bible to also be the books that were judged to be heretical. Some of them, quite frankly, read like the writer was taking a serious amounts of hallucinogenics. Have a crack at reading the ‘Pistis Sophia’ and tell me it doesn’t read like a plot line from Dr. Who. Heh.
If you (and any other readers) would like to read some of the funky stuff that was circulating at the time, you can plug the term ‘Nag Hammadi’ into Google. The Nag Hammadi Library refers to texts that were discovered in 1945 that relate directly to the New Testament. Many of the books are in fragments but there are plenty of almost complete texts including The Gospel of Thomas.
What’s interesting about many of these books is that there is a heavy emphasis on the independence of women and that they had equal rights in the church. (So you can see why they might have been considered to be heretical). In the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Jesus conveys secret teachings to Mary. Upon learning of this his males disciples are less than impressed that he’s seen fit to say these things to a woman. There is also the Acts of Paul and Thecla. Thecla is a young roman women about to be married when she meets Paul. She is converted, and then refuses to marry, causing much consternation for her Roman family. She also becomes a devoted companion of Paul, which causes even more outrage.
Finally, there’s no official (tourist) versions of the Bible even now… There are variants in the books included in each ‘version’, depending on the church. For example, the Book of Tobit (Old Testament) is not included in protestant version of the Bible.
It’s a very interesting subject and I think provides a much better understanding of Christianity than the view that thinks the Old and New Testament have somehow existed as exactly as they have, since Day One. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Dany and B., thank you for your comments and thanks B. for our additions!
I’ve always been somewhat irritated about the fact that some people who considered themselves worthy went and decided which chapters the bible should contain and which not (back at Nicaea), but I reckon is has always been a matter of politics. Some chapters obviously were too dangerous for the ruling class of the time. When I find time I will most definitely check out the online library you mention, thank you.
I believe the tourist version the show refers to might be simply the standard bible the regular person might own or have access to.
I agree with you that taking only Old and New Testament as an account of Christianity would be too narrow a view. After all, religion is what people make of it.
It is a comforting thought, though, that most religions evolve around one simpe rule: love, kindness, respect.
Cheers. Jas