Angels joined with Michael in his war on the dragon and the demons at the birth of God s Kingdom in heaven. Then there is the great body of angelic messengers who serve as a means of communication between God and man. However, they do more than simply relay messages. As agents and deputies of the Most High God, they serve as responsible executioners of the divine purpose, be it protection and deliverance of God s people or destruction of the wicked. Some may deny distinct personality of individual angels, claiming they are impersonal forces of energy dispatched to accomplish the will of God, but the Bible teaches otherwise.
Individual names imply individuality.
The fact that two of their names, Michael and Gabriel, are given establishes the point sufficiently. The lack of more names was a safeguard against giving undue honor and worship to these creatures. Angels were dispatched by God as agents to act in his name, not in their own name. Hence, when Jacob asked an angel for his name, he refused to give it. The angel that approached Joshua, when asked to identify himself, replied only that he was prince of the army of Jehovah.