Daniel’s Angelic Visions

Also known as: Daniel’s Heavenly Visions, Daniel’s Angelic Revelations, The Visions of Daniel, Gabriel and Daniel, Michael and Daniel

The sustained cycle of revelations in the Book of Daniel (chiefly chapters 7–12), which gives the Old Testament its most detailed unveiling of the angelic world. Here the Archangel Gabriel appears by name to interpret Daniel’s visions (Daniel 8–9), and the Archangel Michael is named as “one of the chief princes” and “the great prince who stands watch over your people” (Daniel 10; 12). Daniel also beholds the Ancient of Days enthroned amid myriads of heavenly attendants, the radiant messenger of Daniel 10, the “watchers” who announce God’s judgment, and the angelic “princes” set over the nations. The book named Michael and Gabriel long before their appearances in the Gospel and the Apocalypse, and became a wellspring of Orthodox angelology, iconography, and eschatology.