Michael, one of the holy angels, for (he is) obedient in his benevolence over the people and the nations.Raguel, one of the holy angels who take vengeance for the world and for the luminaries.Raphael, one of the holy angels, for (he is) of the spirits of man.Suruʾel, one of the holy angels-for (he is) of eternity and of trembling.In 1 Enoch 20, the Greek text has seven angels: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel, and Remeiel (missing in the Ethiopic text, see OTP 1:23–24). In Testament of Levi 8, Levi sees seven men clothed in white who prepare him to be a priest. The tradition of seven archangels is present in the apocryphal book of Tobit. For example, in Tobit 12:15, the angel Raphael says, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One” (RSV). Other Second Temple Period literature refer to seven archangels, Michael and Gabriel being among them. John may have intended these seven angels standing before God to be the seven spirits which were before the throne of God in Revelation 1:4 and 4:5. On the other hand, Beale finds it “tempting to identify them with the seven guardian angels of the seven churches” (Beale 454).

Are these the “seven archangels who occupy a very particular role in the angelic hierarchy,” as David Aune suggests? (2:509). This is based on Ezekiel 1:7 (cherubim with straight legs). According to Jewish tradition the angels must be standing because they did not have knees. “Standing before” someone is an idiomatic expression for serving, so this could be translated as “served” the Lord.

After the seventh seal is opened, John sees these seven angels who stand before God. Revelation 8 introduce seven angels who will sound their trumpets in Revelation 8-9.

Seven spirits of god scripture