Archangel

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

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 tells Dean that this protection is quite general, meaning Archangels will even intercede and appear when a Prophet is close to or experiencing danger of any form or type. They also appear when one tries to manipulate or change prophecy.

Michael

Soon after God established and constructed the foundation of Heaven itself, he created an Archangel named Michael. Following soon after Michael's creation, three other Archangels named Lucifer, Raphael and Gabriel came into being, and from then on they represented and served as Michael's younger siblings. Following the creation of the four archangels, a strong and healthy relationship was formed between Michael and Lucifer. After the creation of Heaven, Archangels, Angels and Cupids, God articulated and designed Earth to which he gave life by creating humans. Soon after the fundamentals of humanity were presented and established, God commanded his all of his Angels to bow before Man. Lucifer questioned this command, then Lucifer retreated to Michael for support but Michael wouldn't listen. Then God told Michael to exile Lucifer, and Michael reluctantly obeyed which formed a forever wedge between them. Lucifer was thrown into a Cage in which 600 Seals where attached to the mouth of the prison. Only 66 of the 600 had to break for him to be released.

Some time after Lucifer's banishment and God's departure, Michael constructed a plan concerning the marriage of John and Mary Winchester. He then told a Cupid angel to orchestrate and intervene on Earth by marking John and Mary so that they will fall in love, which would result in the birth of The Vessels, Dean and Sam.

Sometime later, Michael organized and devised a 'plan' in which its sole purpose was to allow the 66 Seals to break. The sole caretakers of this plan appeared to have been Michael, Zachariah and Raphael. This angelic plan involved demons and angels. The Demons wanted them to break so that they could meet their maker, and Michael and the executive members of the Host wanted them to break so that Lucifer could walk free which would allow Michael to destroy him using Dean Winchester as his Vessel. We later learn that not all Angels possessed knowledge of this angelic plan, and Castiel, a normal angel, found out the true intention of the plan and told Dean in which he was later found and destroyed by Raphael the Archangel.

The 66 Seals eventually break and Lucifer is released. Soon after Lucifer's rising, Michael instructs Zachariah to get Dean's permission to possess him. Due to Dean's constant and repetitive refusals to angelic-possession, Michael stays in Heaven for a while, but monitors the situation, and he eventually gets to speak with Dean while Dean is experiencing time travel in the year of 1978. Dean eventually assents to Michael but he manipulated Zachariah and he kills him due to Zachariah's self pride. He then claims Adam Milligan's body and he meets Lucifer on the chosen field but Sam is able to regain control over his body and temporarily manages Lucifer, and he and Adam, and Lucifer and Sam fumble into Lucifer's Cage.

His true Vessel is Dean Winchester because Dean's role mirrors that of Michael's role which mainly consists of them both being an "older brother". Although anyone within the Winchester bloodline possesses the suitability of being an "alternate true Vessel" for him, such as John Winchester or even Adam Milligan.

He was the primary authority in Heaven in which his reign immediately ended when he fell into Lucifer's Cage, which left Heaven in complete disorder, and the entire faction of Heaven was split into smaller sections in which Castiel is currently trying to replenish peace and order.

Lucifer

Lucifer is the older brother of Gabriel and Raphael but is still younger than Michael. He was eventually expelled from Heaven due to his prideful nature and was also banished for defying God's direct order which was to bow before the humans in which God had created. His true Vessel is Sam Winchester because he had consumed an amplified amount of Demon Blood which makes one a suitable Vessel for him; although Gabriel informs Dean and Sam that they were both destined to be The Vessels from the start of humanity.

Gabriel

Gabriel, like Raphael, is a younger sibling of Michael and Lucifer. But his age in comparison to Raphael's is as of now unknown.

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, like Gabriel, is a younger sibling of Michael and Lucifer. But his age in comparison to Gabriel's is as of now unknown. Following soon after the breaking of The 66 Seals and Lucifer's release, Raphael arrives on Earth in his chosen Vessel Donnie Finnerman to which he seeks out a demon-related crisis occurring near a Pump n Go gas station in Maine. After he resolved the demon conflict he abandoned his Vessel and retreated back to Heaven. Later, Castiel and Dean summon him back to his Vessel for answers concerning God's whereabouts.

While manifesting on Earth for the second time, he informs Dean that the Eastern Seaboard experienced a blackout through him manifesting. 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.

Powers and Abilities

Archangels possesses all abilities inherent in all Angels but to an enhanced degree. They also possess other powers not native to normal angels.

Castiel describes Archangels as Heaven's most powerful weapon, and he also states that they're precise and absolute^{4.18 The Monster At The End Of This Book} Zachariah states that Lucifer is powerful ways that defies description^{5.01 Sympathy For The Devil} Castiel indirectly states that Archangels are far more powerful than Tricksters^{5.08 Changing Channels}

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

• Their true voices and forms prove fatal to humans when heard or perceived. Michael and Lucifer's true forms can emit a frequency-pulse that can bring humans to their knees. Raphael's angelic form can completely destroy and obliterate angels and their human host.

• Archangels can incinerate lesser angels just by touching them. They also can easily overpower angels and cherubs, Gods and humans.

• 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 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 and a police officer)

• 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.

Angelic Appearance and Traits

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 brother to Lucifer's vessel, possible only meaning in the Winchester bloodline but also possibly including the Campbell's via a hypothetical offspring of Mary and another male.

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.

File:5x19 01484.jpg

Wings of an Archangel

Notes

• God made Michael and Lucifer before he made the other two, but there is no current evidence which supports Raphael being older than Gabriel and vice-versa.
• 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.
• According to Gabriel, God loved Lucifer more than the other three.

Archangels in Lore

• Archangels on Wikipedia