Thank you for this very good question my dear friend! Well, in short, an archangel is an angel of high rank, perhaps a “chief” angel,” and this term is usually associated with Michael, who I believe to be the only one given that title in the Bible. Actually, there are only two angels who are named for us in the Scriptures, so far as I know, and these would be Michael and Gabriel.

So, what do we know of Michael, who is the only one called an archangel?   We read in Jude verse 9, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee”. Then, in Revelation 12:7-9 we read again of Michael: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”. The only other reference that I am aware of speaking of the archangel is in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 where we read, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first…”. I will say that Michael is also referenced in Daniel 10:13 where we read of a slightly different title for Michael. The speaker appears to be an angel who was delayed in delivering his message by, I assume, Satan for a time, but helped by Michael: “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia”. Now in Daniel 12:1 we read of Michael: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book”. Thus, Michael is called the archangel, and also the prince of Daniel’s people, which I assume refers to Israel in one sense, and perhaps to all the children of God who have trusted the Lord Jesus for salvation (recall from above in 1 Thessalonians that it is the voice of the archangel which is heard at the rapture.) The archangel appears to be the leader of the “good angels,” and is seen in conflict with the devil and his fallen angels, defending God’s people, and ultimately will cast the great Dragon (Satan) and his angels out of heaven after a great battle.

Now, the only other angel who is named for us is Gabriel, and he is not referred to as an archangel, but appears to be one who delivers some very important messages from God. In Daniel 8:15-17 we read, “And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision”. Again, in Daniel 9:21-23 we read of Gabriel, “Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision”. In Luke 1, Gabriel again comes to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, and also to Mary who would be the earthly mother of Jesus.

As to angels in general, I will quote from the Morrish Bible Dictionary: “Though we are unconscious of the presence of angels we know that they are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall inherit salvation, Hebrews 1: 14: compare Psalm 34:7; and we read also that they ministered to the Lord when He was here. (Matthew. 4: 11; Mark 1: 13; Luke 22: 43).

As “ministering spirits,” angels are not to be worshipped. In modern American culture, there seems to me to be an exaggerated interest in and regard for angels, without any consideration for the Lord Jesus, who is the Lord and master of the angels, and our Savior, and the very Son of God. These created beings are, as we read in Hebrews 1:14, “…all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”. The Lord Jesus alone is the One to be worshipped, and never angels. And now, my dear friend, are you an “heir of salvation?” If you have believed on the Lord Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you too will hear the voice of the archangel and will be taken up to be with the Lord as we read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 above. On the other hand, if you have not yet believed on the Lord Jesus for salvation, your first need is to repent of your sins and believe on Him, that His shed blood on Calvary alone saves you from judgment. Then you too will be a child of God, and an heir of salvation. In Romans 3:23-26 we read, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus”.  (484.2)  (SF)