 Gabriel,
angel of high eminence in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim tradition. He is
one of the four most often noted archangels (see Archangel) in Judaism
and Christianity, the others being Michael, Raphael, and Uriel. Gabriel
is the heavenly messenger who appears in order to reveal God's will. In
the Old Testament, Gabriel interprets the prophet's vision of the ram and
the he-goat (see Daniel 8:15-26) and explains the prediction of the 70
weeks of years (or 490 years) for the duration of the exile from Jerusalem
(see Daniel 9:21-27). In the New Testament, he announces to Zacharias the
birth of Zacharias's son (see Luke 1:11-20), who is destined to become
known as John the Baptist, and to Mary that she is to be the mother of
Jesus Christ (see Luke 1:26-31). Among Muslims, Gabriel is believed to
be the spirit who revealed the sacred writings to the Prophet Muhammad.
Gabriel is the prince of fire and the spirit who presides over thunder
and the ripening of fruits. He is an accomplished linguist, having taught
Joseph the 70 languages spoken at Babel. In art he is generally represented
carrying either a lily, Mary's flower, at the annunciation, or the trumpet
he will blow to announce the second coming."Gabriel," Microsoft(R)
Encarta(R) 97 |
TEMPLE
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