The Bible speaks of different types of angels, such as archangels, cherubs, and seraphs. They had different positions — so what is the hierarchy of angels?
When the Bible mentions angels, it sometimes specifies types of angels, such as archangels, cherubs, and seraphs. The Bible does not refer to these categories of angels often, though they seem to hold exalted offices that may indicate a hierarchy among angels. The Apocrypha provides much more insight into angels in writings like the Book of Enoch. This book details another type of angel not mentioned in the Bible, the Watchers. So, the question that begs asking is, what is the hierarchy of angels?
Top in the Hierarchy of Angels: The Archangels
Archangel is a composite word where the Greek “archon” (chief) and “angelos” (messenger/angel) are combined to create a word that refers to a chief angel. The word appears twice in the Bible, and only in the New Testament (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 9). In the first instance, it refers to the sound accompanying Jesus‘ return. In the second, it mentions that Michael, who engaged Satan about the body of Moses, is an Archangel. So, in the Bible, only one angel is identified as an archangel.
The apocryphal sources present more information on the archangels. The Apocryphal book 2 Esdras also identifies only one archangel, but he is not Michael. 2 Esdras 4:36 identifies Jeremiel as an archangel. The Apocalypse of Moses lists five archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, and Joel. These are examples of extra-biblical sources that frustrate and contradict the biblical claim of Michael as the one archangel (Revelation 12:7) who heads the heavenly host of angels as their chief.
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