Azrael : the Angel of Death

Stories about the Angel of Death have appeared repeatedly throughout history. In some stories, this being is perceived as evil, in others, he is presented as a servant simply accomplishing the task that has been entrusted to him. Let’s take a closer look at the many interpretations about this mysterious character.

Many cultures and religions around the world have their own variations of the Angel of Death or Grim Reaper. The term “Angel of Death” is found in almost every culture in various forms. Among others, we hear about the Grim Reaper.

1) The Grim Reaper : the Angel of Death in Europe

In Western culture, the Grim Reaper is the first version of the Angel of Death. Covered in a long black cloak, the Grim Reaper appears as a skeletal figure holding a scythe and his skull covered by a black, sinister hood. When your time has finally come, the Grim Reaper will come for you and take you to the other side, to the afterlife. It is his job to collect the souls that pass from one world to the next. This depiction of the Grim Reaper first appeared in the book of Revelation 6:1-8 as the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse, Death itself.

2) The Angel of Death in Christianity and the Bible

There are many accounts of angels, both good and bad, found specifically in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

The book of Isaiah in the Bible includes an account of how 185,000 Assyrians were slaughtered by an angel of God.

The book of Genesis tells the story of how the first born in Egypt died. In fact, many people believe that the death of the firstborn was also delivered by an angel under the direction of God. However, others may believe that it was God himself who actually performed this act.

3) Does the Angel of Death Embody Evil ?

These two stories fit the general description of an Angel of Death. Indeed, there does not seem to be a single angel who officially bears such a title. The idea of an angel bringing death is indeed sinister. Of course, it is not surprising that such a figure would be associated with an evil nature. Just consider many people’s fears about what happens after the end of life.

This has led some people to believe that there is a close connection between the Angel of Death and the figure of Satan. However, there is no Christian biblical reference that Satan and this figure are one and the same person. Rather, the Angel of Death is described as a servant who does God’s work to help people reach the afterlife after their life course.

4) The Archangel in Fiction

The Angel of Death is represented in many forms in both classic and modern novels. The best known version of this angel is in the form of the Grim Reaper in novels such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, where the last spirit to appear to Scrooge is the terrifying masked figure of the Grim Reaper. Today, this dark being remains one of the most popular subjects of modern fiction, as the following examples show:

• The Angel of Death by Charlotte Lamb
• Death Angel by Martha Powers
• The Goddess of Love and the Angel of Death by Tom Slattery
• Angel of Death by James Anderson
• The Angel of Death by P.C. Doherty

5) The Representation of Death in TV Series

The Angel of Death is represented in a variety of forms in media such as television and film. The American television series Touched By An Angel featured a character named Andrew who was the one who pronounced a fatal sentence: death. His character had a good heart, and his role was simple: to escort the spirit of the condemned person to the afterlife after death. Other evil characters representing death have appeared in television shows such as Charmed, or as a dark, foggy, foreboding creature in the video game The Sims 2.

There are also humorous examples of the Grim Reaper, such as in Bill &Ted’s Bogus Journey, or in South Park, and Family Guy. Regardless of the medium, it is clear that the mythology of the Grim Reaper representing Death has permeated all aspects of modern society. This particular angel is recognized in almost every country and culture.

6) Paranormal Encounters

Many people admit that they often claim visits from guardian angels, or sometimes demonic spirit possessions. A less common story told by witnesses is that of a visit from a dark entity. However, these stories do exist and are often told by people who have witnessed someone else’s death. The following examples are small samples of true stories told by people who have witnessed what many would consider to be a visit from the Angel of Death himself.

A. Messenger of Death

Angels & Ghosts presents the story of a man named Jeff who, through astral projection, came to believe that he was his own “messenger of death” when his own father died.

B. The Woman in Black

This paranormal story site published the story of an assisted living professional at a private senior citizens’ facility. This assistant reportedly saw a dying man talking to a woman dressed all in black asking her to accompany him. The man died shortly after this disturbing experience.

C. The Bone Finger

Another site that records testimonies of paranormal experiences published in 1997 the story of an Israeli man who claimed to have been awakened by the touch of a bony finger on his lips, and who, upon awakening, had in fact seen this angel that represents death.

D. The Silhouette of the Shadow

Another demonic tale comes from a visitor to YourGhostStories. He is said to be convinced that the shadowy figure that visited him when his grandmother died in her sleep was a demon.

7) Who is the Angel of Death ?

Given the variety of themes and characterizations of death, this particular angel does not represent the same figure for everyone. For some, this entity represents an evil or demonic force. For others, it is a good being who is charged with the painful but necessary task of escorting human souls to the other side. Still others see death as the classic figure we know with bony fingers and a dark profile with a black hood.

No matter how you look at the Angel of Death, the only thing that is certain is that he is one of the few angels that has captured the imagination of so many people around the world, both religious and non-religious.

The Angel of Death reflects the ambivalent nature of man in the face of death, for death is very difficult for many of us to bear. The Angel of Death, or the Grim Reaper as it is sometimes called, allows us to equate the concept of death with a concrete creature. The idea of the Angel of Death is thousands of years old. The Angel of Death was once identified with Satan, and it is said that when Eve touched the forbidden fruit, she caught a glimpse of the Angel of Death, and then said to herself, “Now I will die, and God will create another woman for Adam.”

In the Bible, different names are given to angelic beings. For example, the Greek word “angelos” means messenger, either human or divine. In Jewish thought and tradition, angels were called “bnei elohim” or “bnei elim,” literally “children of God.” They were endowed with limited powers depending on the Lord’s decrees and orders.

In 1 Chronicles 21:16, the angel of the Lord is described as standing between heaven and earth with a drawn sword in his hand: “David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with a drawn sword in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces to the ground,” says Isaiah 37:36, “The angel of the LORD went out and killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!”.

Still, it is comforting to know that even in the verses of the Bible where death is personified, there is no reference to the permanent responsibility of an angel to end life on earth. 2 Samuel 24:16 says: “When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved at the calamity and said to the angel who afflicted the people, ‘Enough! Withdraw your hand…”

8) The Angel of Death Azrael : Religions & Cultures

The Islamic and Jewish religions are more precise about the designation of an angel of death. Islam speaks of “Malak al Mawt“, while Judaism has no less than 14 angels of death.

• In Muslim and Islamic theology, “Malak al Mawt” is the Angel of Death. He is described as writing eternally in a huge book and then always erasing what he writes. Indeed, what he writes is the moment of man’s birth and his name, and what he erases is the name of man at the moment of his death.
• In the Judeo-Christian tradition, Michael, Gabriel, Sammael and Sariel are all named as Angels of Death.
• In Zoroastrianism, the angel of death is Mairya.
• In Babylon, it is Mot.
• In the rabbinic tradition, there are 14 angels of death: Yetzerhara, Adriel, Yehudiam, Abaddon, Sammael, Azrael, Metatron, Gabriel, Mashhit, Hemah, Malach ha-mavet, Kafziel, Kesef and Leviathan.
• In the Falasha tradition, it is Suriel.

Now that you have learned a little more about the Angel of Death and some of his variations, you are advised not to take any chances of upsetting him. To do so, get our Angel of Death leather jacket.

To stay in the reapers of souls, discover a god well from home in the person of the Catrina. Are you passionate about these articles? Great, so are we! That’s why we have a dedicated blog category on the gods of death! Hope to see you soon.