Raguel (angel)

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Raguel (Raguil, Rasuil, Rufael, Suryan, Akrasiel) is one of the seven archangels mainly of the Judaic and Islamic traditions. His name's meaning is considered to be "Friend of God".
Raguel is referred to as the archangel of justice, fairness and harmony. In the Book of Enoch Raguel is one of the seven archangels whose function is to take vengeance on the world of the luminaries who have transgressed God's laws. Raguel brings a course of fire which persecutes all the fallen luminaries. Raguel also shows Enoch The Seven Mountains and in the midst of it- the high mountain which is the throne of God where the Lord of Glory will sit along with the tree of wisdom. Raguel watches over other angels to make sure they are working well together with mortals in a harmonious and orderly fashion according to Divine order (Rev 3:7 - 13) and will. Raguel brings all the other archangels and angels to account for their improper deeds.
Raguel is not mentioned in the canonical writings of the Bible. His name is listed as one of the seven archangels in the Book of Enoch. While not mentioned by name in the Bible, interpreters of these texts believe they refer to him in several places. When the patriarch Enoch visited heaven as a mortal, it was Raguel who carried him to and from the mortal world. Most of the Biblical references, however, come from Revelation of John. Raguel is found in the Revelation of John as the angel of the church in Philadelphia (Rev 3:7). This angel can also be attributed to the sixth angel (Rev 9:14).
Possible historical references to a similar figure from other cultures can be found in Babylonian culture as "Rag" (some translations say Ragumu), and in Sumerian as "Rig" which means to talk or speech. Thus, these similar characters represented balance in those cultures as well.
==In popular culture==
In 1990, Raguel has a cameo in The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman. During his travels through the occult side of the DC Universe, magician-in-training Timothy Hunter meets the Spectre. It is later implied that the Spectre is actually Raguel, an archangel who metes out punishments for God as the Spirit of Vengeance.
Raguel also features prominently in the Neil Gaiman short story "Murder Mysteries" which appears in his collection Smoke and Mirrors. In the audio drama adaptation, Two Plays for Voices, Raguel is voiced by Brian Dennehy.
Raguel appears in Issue 7 of Crimson as one of the seven archangels who come to earth to decide the fate of young vampire Alex Elder. 
Category:Archangels
Category:Individual angels