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

The Archangels, Michael, Lucifer, Raphael and Gabriel are four powerful, angelic beings created by God before other Angels. They were imbued with immense power that far eclipses that of lesser angels, demons and other supernatural beings. Castiel describes them as "fierce and absolute". They appear to be the four angels that Anna described as having personally seen God.

Angered that God demanded they bow before humanity, Lucifer started arguing with his brothers, primarily Michael, who followed God's word as law. Lucifer unsuccessfully led a rebellion in Heaven which caused him to be cast out, and subsequently imprisoned in Lucifer's Cage by Michael. Gabriel was disgusted with his brothers' behavior and refrained from choosing a side by retreating to Earth; he made himself appear as a common Trickster to remove himself from the fight. In the absence of God, Michael headed the entire Host of Heaven and Raphael continued his responsibilities as an archangel, which included protecting the prophet Chuck Shurley.

The Archangels

Michael

Michael is the oldest of the archangels. Before his imprisonment in Lucifer's Cage, he managed and ruled Heaven in God's absence.

Following the creation of the four archangels, a strong relationship formed between Michael and Lucifer. After the creation of Heaven, archangels, and angels, God created Earth, and later humans. God commanded all of his Angels to bow before Man. Lucifer questioned this command and retreated to Michael for support, but Michael would not listen. God then told Michael to exile Lucifer, and Michael obeyed which forever formed a wedge between them. Lucifer was thrown into a Cage and bound with 600 Seals.

Sometime later, Michael constructed a plan which involved allowing The 66 Seals to break. Participants included Michael, Zachariah and Raphael. Michael wanted the seals broken so that Lucifer could be released from the Cage, giving Michael the opportunity to finally destroy him. It is later revealed that Senior Management of Heaven did not share this plan with other angels to avoid rebellion. Castiel was oblivious to this plan at first; he later found out Heaven's true intention and told Dean, but he was soon found and destroyed by Raphael.

The 66 Seals are eventually broken and Lucifer is released. Soon after Lucifer's rising, Michael instructed Zachariah to get Dean's permission for Michael to possess him. Due to Dean's repeated refusal to serve as a vessel, Michael stayed in Heaven monitoring the situation, and when Dean was transported to the year 1978, Michael spoke to him through his father John. After months of fighting, Dean wavered in his determination and nearly assented to Michael. However, Dean and Sam escaped and Michael claimed Adam Milligan's body instead. Michael met Lucifer at Stull Cemetery, where they were interrupted by Dean. Michael threatened Dean, and was temporarily banished by a molotov cocktail of Holy Oil. Michael returned as Sam temporarily managed to regain control over his body from Lucifer. Michael tried to stop Sam from throwing himself, and therefore Lucifer, into the Cage, and was himself pulled inside.

It is speculated that following his imprisonment and Lucifer's re-imprisonment in the Cage, Michael and his brother abused and tortured Sam's soul, which was left behind during Sam's resurrection. Death eventually travels to Hell rescues Sam's soul.

Lucifer

Lucifer's emergence from the Cage.

Lucifer is the second archangel, and refers to Michael as his older brother. After the creation of mankind, Lucifer disputed their place in creation with his brothers and with God. These arguments annoyed Gabriel, and became so severe that he voluntarily exiled himself from Heaven. Lucifer's disobedience caused him to be cast out of Heaven. As an act of defiance, Lucifer twisted a human being's soul to create the first demon, Lilith. He was then confined against his will to a Cage. Sometime after Lucifer's incarceration, started referring to him as Satan and the Devil, while demons came to revere him as their creator.

In 1972, Azazel possessed a priest at St. Mary's Convent, and sacrificed eight nuns to speak to the imprisoned Lucifer. Lucifer tells Azazel that Lilith is needed to break The 66 Seals that hold him captive in the Cage and that he needs to find a very special child.

Lucifer is freed when 66 of the 600 Seals that imprisoned him broke - the final seal was inadvertently broken by Sam when he killed Lilith. While on Earth, Lucifer, with the help of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, caused chaos and natural disasters, with the goal of destroying humanity. Essential to Lucifer's plan is the possession of his destined vessel - Sam Winchester. He contacts Sam, playing on their shared experience as younger brothers, and 'freaks'.

Sam and Dean try to kill Lucifer with the Colt, but fail. Sam comes up with a plan in which he will allow Lucifer to posses him, and then force him into the Cage. Sam consents, but cannot take control of his own body. Later when Lucifer confronts Michael at Stull Cemetery, Castiel temporarily dispatches Michael and is killed by Lucifer, but his act gives Dean time to talk to Lucifer. Dean cannot bring Sam to the surface and Lucifer savagely beats him. Then Lucifer caught a glimpse of a toy soldier shoved into a side tray of the Impala, and a flood of emotional memories allowed Sam to take over. Sam managed to take Lucifer and Michael with him.

Raphael

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Raphael manifesting in his Vessel on Earth

Raphael is first referenced when Sam and Dean investigate a case where people claim angels ordered them to kill. Father Reynolds, while administering Last Rites to Father Gregory's spirit, says "I call upon the archangel Raphael, master of the air, to make open the way. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit now descend, that this being might be awakened to the world beyond."

Raphael was the protector of the Prophet Chuck Shurley, and killed Castiel for attempting to stop the Apocalypse. Shortly after the breaking of The 66 Seals and Lucifer's release from the Cage, Raphael arrived on Earth inhabiting his vessel, Donnie Finnerman, and ended a conflict between angels and demons near a Pump 'n Go gas station in Maine. After he finished with the demons he immediately abandoned his vessel, leaving him catatonic, and ascended back to Heaven. The resurrected Castiel believed Raphael knew God's location, so with Dean's help he summoned Raphael and trapped him in a circle of holy fire. However, Raphael e denies knowing where God is and speculates that he's dead. Castiel and Dean leave him in the circle of flames.

At some point, Raphael manages to escape from the circle, and when the Apocalypse is stopped, he is prepared to restart it at all costs by releasing Michael and Lucifer. Castiel opposes him, and they find themselves in the midst of a civil war. During a skirmish Donnie Finnerman's body was destroyed by Balthazar using Lot's Salt, leaving Raphael in search of a new suitable vessel. Raphael then sends an angel named Virgil to kill Balthazar and anyone else who allied with Castiel. He eventually claims a woman as his new vessel. After being threatened with Heaven's Weapons by Castiel, Raphael flees.

Raphael is later destroyed by Castiel with a snap of his finger after Castiel absorbs the power of all the souls of Purgatory.

Gabriel

After being created by God, Gabriel dwelt in Heaven with the other archangels, but fed up with Michael and Lucifer's constant bickering and the direction it was headed, he sacrificed his position in the Host as God's greatest messenger and retreated to Earth in self-exile.

Dean and Sam Winchester first encountered him while he was posing on earth as an immortal demi-god known as a Trickster. As the Trickster , Gabriel went around giving people what he judged to be their 'just desserts', punishments which ironically matched their original crime. The brothers believe they killed him with a wooden stake dipped in the blood of one of his victims, he tricked them, and survived.

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Wings of Gabriel

A year later the Trickster trapped them both in a time loop where Dean died every Tuesday in different ways that proved unavoidable by any means. Around Dean's hundredth death, Sam realized who is responsible for everything and confronted the Trickster. Sam demanded that the 'demi-god' free them from the loop. He reluctantly obliged. While in the real world, Dean died again, this time for good. Sam spent six months tracking the Trickster. The Trickster assumed the form of Bobby Singer and lured Sam to him. Upon realizing that it was the Trickster, Sam pleaded with him to resurrect Dean, and he agreed.

Two years later, when the brothers investigate the case of an abusive husband killed by the Incredible Hulk, the Trickster traps them in an alternate reality of TV Shows. He tells them they need to "learn to play their roles", referring to their destiny as vessels for Michael and Lucifer. Sam and Dean start to suspect that the Trickster is more than he appears to be, and when they trap him in a ring of burning Holy Oil, he reveals himself to be the Archangel Gabriel. He claims that he "skipped out of Heaven, had a face transplant", and is berated by Dean for refusing to stand up to his family.

Later Gabriel comes to the aid of the Winchesters and a group of Gods, trying to prevent a confrontation between them and Lucifer. When Lucifer arrives, Gabriel gives the few survivors an opportunity to escape while he faces his brother. Gabriel proclaims that God was right in declaring that humans are better than angels, and that Gabriel has chosen their side in the conflict. He tries to attack Lucifer from behind through trickery, but Lucifer stabs him with his own Archangel Sword.

Characteristics

According to Castiel, they're known in Heaven as absolute, precise and wrathful creatures. Like all angels, their true forms are very intense, and have proven not only harmful but possibly fatal to humans. Their presence outside a vessel is often visualized as a blinding white light, and their arrival can cause minor tremors, as shown by Lucifer when when the Chapel shook as he escaped the Cage, and by Raphael while intervening to protect Chuck. They may also emit a piercing sound, which has proven to be excruciating to humans. During a subsequent appearance, Raphael causes the entire Eastern Sea Board to experience a black out. Shortly before his defeat, Lucifer's presence causes the temperature to drop drastically in Detroit.

It has been stated that Michael and Raphael are tethered to prophets, and Gabriel served as God's greatest messenger. As mentioned previously, Raphael seemed to be the one who monitored and protected Prophet Chuck Shurley. Before his fall, Lucifer was God's most beloved angel; he was considered beautiful, and was well respected in Heaven.

Archangels view themselves as the highest authority over Earth since God's departure from Heaven. As leaders in Heaven, Michael and Raphael commanded the Host of Heaven, issuing orders to the "Senior Management" who were responsible for deploying angels to Earth. They did not share all their plans, especially their intention to allow Lucifer to be freed, to avoid rebellion in the lower ranks. Most of them show little respect while interacting with humans, although Gabriel eventually confesses his appreciation of humanity.

True Forms

Before his re-imprisonment in the Cage, Lucifer maintained a prideful but sympathetic nature towards others, Sam in particular, as he was Lucifer's true vessel.

Raphael's true form is very powerful. It is so strong that it can leave vessels in a catatonic state after possession.

Like Angels, Michael, Lucifer and Gabriel can materialize using the same or a different vessel during time travel.

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

Powers and Abilities

All Archangels possess all powers and abilities that are inherent in all angels but are greatly elevated because they're God's oldest and most powerful celestials.

Both Michael and Gabriel can create fire out of thin air. Michael demonstrates this when he kills Anna by heating her human host by touch, which turns her vessel into ash, effectively killing Anna. Gabriel snaps his fingers and flames appear on two candles. Raphael claims that he can deliver a human soul to Heaven without actually killing the human in the process. He also possesses a refined skill in using telekinesis, and by utilizing this ability, he can also manipulate electricity. Lucifer can freeze objects and people with his breath, and in extension, he can manipulate ice.

Gabriel while posing as the Trickster, heals stabs wounds inflicted on his vessel by wooden stakes. While using his vessel, Lucifer heals Nick's body after Dean shoots him in the forehead with the Colt gun, and the scar instantly disappears. Michael tells Dean after he defeats and kills Lucifer, he'll heal all of the wounds his body received during possession. Michael heals Sam completely after he was impaled with a pipe. Gabriel and Lucifer can resurrect organisms like humans, as demonstrated by Gabriel while posing as The Trickster when he places Dean and Sam in time loops, killing Dean every Tuesday and reviving him every time, then he eventually kills him in real life but eventually resurrects him on Sam's request. Lucifer tells Sam that if he killed himself he would resurrect him, and Castiel also states that if Anna killed Sam that Lucifer would only resurrect him and Lucifer brings back enemies from Sam's past back to life to kill them in revenge.

All Archangels can overpower lesser angels easily, as shown by Gabriel when he snaps his fingers, banishing Castiel to another location, and by Michael when he banishes a young Uriel by snapping his fingers and when he destroys Anna and her human body, and by Lucifer when he, in retaliation, causes Castiel's vessel to explode by snapping his fingers, and again by Raphael when he battles Castiel, easily overpowering him. Raphael can protect demons from the killing ability used by other angels.

According to Gabriel, after God created humans, he and his brothers possessed knowledge of Dean and Sam being the vessels of Michael and Lucifer. Lucifer appears to be somewhat omniscient, as demonstrated when he reveals to Sam that he, despite Gabriel's word, knows that his Cage can be reopened via the four rings belonging to the Four Horsemen, or he may just possess a wide knowledge of the Universe. Michael can incinerate lesser angels by physically touching his or her vessel. According to Castiel, killing Lucifer is an impossible task, although the only things known that can in fact kill him are God and Michael. Kali assumes that Lucifer can also be killed with Archangel Killing Sword because this weapon can kill Gabriel. This assumption seems accurate, as Lucifer took great caution while Gabriel was holding the weapon. He eventually gets the upper-hand and uses it to kill Gabriel.

Lucifer can seemingly manifest in his Vessel more than once without leaving the human's body, this process can result in the freezing of things or objects. Like Castiel, Uriel and Zachariah, Lucifer seems to be able to invade peoples' mind while sleeping, as it appeared as if he invaded Sam's mind while he was perceiving a dead Jessica, and again while Nick was "sleeping" Lucifer also invaded but he told Nick that what he saw was real.

Lucifer appears to be unaffected by time. Lucifer can also perceive the true forms of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as he demonstrated when he saw Death's true form. Lucifer can also overpower gods (whom he referred to as "pagan gods"). While occupying a vessel, Lucifer (even while invading minds) and Gabriel can morph into or revert from their vessel's physical appearance, changing its shape and form. Gabriel can construct alternate realities and time loops, controlling who is aware of the repetition, and he can create things out of thin air. He also can send himself to the future. Gabriel can also make objects appear in a variety of different forms, as he proved when he made a can of diet Orange Slice look like his Archangel Sword. According to Lucifer, he taught Gabriel how to warp reality, implying that Lucifer can too. Soon after the imprisonment of Lucifer and Sam, Michael and Adam, Crowley after assuming leadership over Hell resurrects Sam, raising his body but leaving his soul in the Cage. While in the Cage, Michael and Lucifer torture and abuse Sam's soul in their angelic forms.

Every Archangel apparently possess knowledge on The Cage and how it works - Michael understands the prison very well because he cast Lucifer there, and Lucifer understands almost everything about it; knowing how it can be opened and shut, Raphael knew of another means to open it, and Gabriel knew that the Cage can reopened with the Horsemen's Rings.

Gabriel may have owned an angelic weapon called Gabriel's Horn of Truth.

Suitability of Vessels

The suitability of being a vessel for an archangel is defined by their bloodline and lineage. Only a true vessel can effectively contain the sheer power of an archangel on Earth. Most humans while serving as host, including Nick (Lucifer's temporary host) and Donnie Finnerman (Raphael's first host), have endured intense physical pain and damage. Lucifer's mere essence caused Nick's body to slowly decompose. There are still consequences for a true vessel to host an archangel, as Donnie Finnerman is left in a catatonic state after Raphael leaves his body.

For further information concerning the true physical complexion of Angels and Archangels alike, see Angel Lore.

Vulnerabilities

• An Archangel Killing Sword can kill an Archangel.
• The Weapons of Heaven can harm and possibly kill an Archangel. Lot's Salt, one of the weapons, turned Raphael's vessel into a pillar of salt, which made it uninhabitable.
• 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.
• Archangels can harm one another greatly. However, angels seem to be incapable of damaging or harming Archangels with their own strength.
• Despite the fact that angels, under normal circumstances, can't harm an Archangel, with the aid of many souls, they can harm them.
• Kali bound Gabriel to her presence by gaining a blood sample from his human vessel.
• Proving to be extremely powerful, vast quanities of souls can harm an Archangel. Imbuing all the souls of Purgatory inside his vessel, Castiel dispatches Raphael by snapping his fingers.
• Holy Fire can restrain an archangel from leaving the circle; Holy Fire can also be used to banish an archangel for a short period of time.
• Enochian Sigils carved into ones ribs can hide a person from archangels.
• When closed, Lucifer's Cage is strong and dense enough to secure or restrict Archangels within its bowels, as seen with Michael and Lucifer.

Notes

• According to Gabriel, God loved Lucifer more than the other three.
• As of now, Canon suggests that God only created four archangels. Although there may be more in existence.
• As of now, no one has ever tried to banish an archangel with an Angel Banishing Sigil, so it remains unclear as to whether or not it would even work on one.

Archangels in Lore

• Archangels on Wikipedia