Archangel

History

Origin

Soon after God established and constructed the foundation of Heaven itself, he created these winged creatures known as Archangels. Soon after the creation of mankind, these brothers began to bicker and they started arguing over whether or not they should continue to follow God's commands. They soon learned that Dean and Sam Winchester were going to be the Vessels of Michael and Lucifer.

They are mysteriously connected to prophets - Castiel told Dean that every prophet has an archangel tethered to them, thus making protecting a prophet an archangel's responsibility - If a prophet is in the same room as a Demon, than Archangel will appear to destroy that Demon. Archangels also seem to appear when others try to interfere with prophecy.

Castiel: Archangels are fierce. They're absolute. They're heaven's most terrifying weapon. – Castiel, 4.18 The Monster At The End Of This Book

Michael

Michael was the Commander of God's army and older brother of Lucifer, Gabriel and Raphael. He is more powerful than Gabriel and Raphael. Michael can be summoned to Earth via a summoning ritual. Even when Michael is in his true form, he is able to call upon some of his angel powers, like he did when he teleported himself along with Adam in 5.18 Point Of No Return.

Michael's true Vessel is Dean Winchester, but is able to occupy any member of the Winchester bloodline. This includes both John Winchester and Adam Milligan, whom he eventually chooses over Dean. It was discovered that as of 5.21 Two Minutes To Midnight, Michael chose Adam as his Vessel. Michael was fated to confront Lucifer at Stull Cemetery for their final confrontation. Michael is presumed alive but trapped inside Lucifer's Cage.

Lucifer

Lucifer was expelled from Heaven and cast into Hell by Michael for disobeying God's orders to love humans more than him. He is the younger brother of Michael and the older brother of Gabriel and Raphael. He is more powerful than his two younger brothers, Gabriel and Raphael, but his comparison to Michael is unknown (though it is assumed they are about equal; in the same way Sam and Dean are about equal in strength and ability). Lucifer's true Vessel is Sam Winchester because Ruby prepared him for Lucifer by telling him that drinking Demon Blood is for the "greater good". Although Lucifer used Nick as a Plan B Vessel, but Nick slowly burned up from the stress of containing Lucifer's essence. Lucifer was fated to confront Michael at Stull Cemetery for their final confrontation. Lucifer's mere angelic essence can cause catastrophic catastrophes by creating weather disruptions. The scope of this power is unknown. Following Lucifer's release, Sam is revealed to be Lucifer's Vessel, and Dean Michael's. Possession is likely to lead to a conflict that will devastate the Earth.

After Sam consented to Lucifer, Lucifer/Sam made the temperature drop in Detroit (20 degrees in a five-block radius in downtown Motown). Shortly after Lucifer took over Sam's body, major tornado storms erupted in Tampa; wildfires were mysteriously started in Los Angeles. Lucifer made a magnitude 7.6 earthquake touch down near Portland and another earthquake settled in Boston. Lucifer is presumed alive but trapped inside his Cage.

Gabriel

Gabriel is the younger brother of Michael, Lucifer and the older brother of Raphael.

Gabriel loves his family (God, Michael, Lucifer and Raphael) deeply. Tired of the conflict between Lucifer, the other angels, and God, Gabriel decided to leave Heaven so that he would not have to witness further strife. He goes to Earth and disguises himself as a Trickster. In this role he goes about giving people their "just desserts" - punishing people in a way that ironically fits what he sees as their 'crime'. He likes the good life - wine, women and food.

Like Michael, Gabriel continues to profess love for Lucifer even after what he's done.

Finally Gabriel chooses to fight for humanity against Lucifer, claiming that God was right: humans are better than angels. He dies providing Sam and Dean the chance to escape. He also reveals the potential of the Horsemen's Rings to imprison Lucifer and stop the apocalypse.

It is unknown as to whether or not Gabriel needs a Vessel - Gabriel could have created his body. Gabriel seems to have an angelic form that's not as intense as Micheal and Lucifer's, this may be the reason he didn't seem to have difficulty in acquiring his vessel.

Gabriel is weaker than Michael and Lucifer, but he's still more powerful than angels and cherubs. Raphael might be identical to Gabriel in the aspect of angelic capabilities. Lucifer killed Gabriel with an archangel killing blade.

Raphael

Raphael is the youngest brother of Michael, Lucifer and Gabriel. While manifesting on Earth, Raphael causes the Eastern Seaboard to black-out. Raphael tells Dean that he can bring him to Michael. It is uncertain as to whether Raphael is the Archangel assigned to protect the Prophet Chuck Shurley, but he finds and destroys Castiel, who is in Chuck's presence. Castiel and Dean Winchester trap Raphael in a circle of Holy Oil, but he denies knowing the whereabouts of God. Raphael later escapes the trap and gathers some loyal followers who support his plan, which was to restart the apocalypse by bringing Michael and Lucifer back to Earth.

Angelic Appearance and Characteristics

Their true forms and true voices are very overwhelming to humans. Their angelic essence can also be overwhelming for standard vessels, but this seems to be adequate for only Michael and Lucifer, although Raphael's angelic essence did damage the vessel he was using after he left Donnie Finnerman's body.

Michael's angelic spirit can slowly destroy any vessel that is not of the Winchester bloodline.

Lucifer's angelic spirit can slowly destroy any vessel that hasn't been prepared and who hasn't consumed an efficent amount of Demon Blood.

Raphael's angelic spirit is so strong that it can leave vessels in a catatonic state after possession.

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Wings of an Archangel

Powers and Abilities

Castiel described archangels as being far more powerful than Tricksters, which makes them extremely powerful and very dangerous. Their powers defy logic; Gabriel can create virtually anything out of thin air, Lucifer's power defies description, and Raphael destroyed Castiel and his Vessel while in his true form. They have been proven to be more powerful than: angels, cherubs, pagan gods and humans.

• Apparently archangels are powerful enough to claim an angel's heart, which allows the archangel to manipulate the angel's thoughts and actions.

• An Archangel's true form and voice is so overwhelming that it can cause humans to lose their sight and hearing. Also, an archangel's true form is powerful enough to oblitherate any angel as well as the angel's vessel.

• Michael and Lucifer's true form can emit a frequency-pulse that can bring humans to their knees.

• Archangels can incinerate lesser angels just by touching them. They also can easily over-power angels, pagan gods and humans. According to Castiel, they are far more powerful than Tricksters.

• Archangels like Lucifer can perceive the true forms of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as he demonstrated when he saw Death's true form^{5.10 Abandon All Hope}

• Archangels can manipulate/change the temperature under the Earth's atmosphere - they can alter the normal temperature pattern.

• Archangels seem to negatively affect the entire area around them when they land.

• Archangels can create things out of thin air.

• Archangels can morph their bodies to match any human appearance - Lucifer proved this in 5.03 Free To Be You And Me (as Jess) and again in 5.10 Abandon All Hope (as a Reaper). Gabriel proved this in 3.11 Mystery Spot (as a Man) and again in 5.08 Changing Channels (as Dr. Sexy)

• Archangels can see the future - Gabriel told Dean and Sam that when God "flipped on the lights" (made humans) that he along with his brothers, Michael, Lucifer and Raphael knew that they were the Vessels. Gabriel also told them that he skipped ahead and saw the future, stating that "it’s going to end bloody for all of us." Lucifer knew that Sam would say "yes" to him in Detroit; Lucifer was correct, Sam did assent to him in Detroit.

• Archangels can revive the deceased - Lucifer told Sam if he ever killed himself that he would only bring him back to life. Sam also wanted Lucifer to bring his and Dean's parents back from the dead before he said yes to Lucifer. Gabriel raised Dean from the dead in 3.11 Mystery Spot. Michael raised Sam from the dead in 5.13 The Song Remains The Same.

• It appears that archangels are unaffected by time. In 5.04 The End, Lucifer tells Dean that Sam will always say "yes" in Detroit. He later confirms this in 5.22 Swan Song "...I told you...always in Detroit". Similarly, Michael has been wanting to talk with Dean for a while, but only converses with him in the past.

When Castiel and Dean captured Raphael in 5.03 Free To Be You And Me, Dean jokingly asked, "I thought you were supposed to be impressive. All you do is black out the room?" to which Raphael replied, "And the Eastern Seaboard."

When Lucifer enters the world from Hell he brings massive earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, diseases (including swine flu) and probably more. When Lucifer appears in 5.04 The End a storm erupts and when he teleports behind Dean there is the sound of thunder.

Vulnerabilities

Despite archangels being all-powerful creatures, there are certain weapons that can harm an archangel.

• Archangel Killing Sword can kill a Archangel.
• The Colt can penetrate through an archangel's invulnerability. It cannot kill Lucifer, however, as he is one of five beings the Colt cannot kill.
• Lot's Salt can turn an archangel’s vessel to a pile of salt.
• Holy Fire can restrain an archangel from living the circle; Holy Fire can also be used to banish an archangel for a short period of time.
• Castiel carved Enochian Sigils on Dean and Sam's ribs, which hid them from all angels, including archangels.

Trvia

• God made them in this particular order: Michael, Lucifer, Gabriel and Raphael.
• These brothers all seem to love one another deeply, but in different ways.
• They have seen God's true likeness, meaning that they have seen him face to face.

• Archangels on Wikipedia