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Show Who Was Raphael? gether to Jerusalem to worship and ' offered the first born and the tenths of the fruits; and they were not I seduced with error of our brethcrn: f My Brother, thou art of a good stock." (Tobit 5:10-13-21) also (Esdras 1:9). In summarizing the evidence we have in Scripture and Tradition, we End: First, that Raphael before his earth life was associated with Michael and Gabriel in the healing of Abraham Abra-ham and as a "watcher" and "healer" of mankind, and according to the book "Zohar", Raphael conveyed to Adam a book, containing 72 kinds of wisdom or learning in C70 writings. So he was one of the leading spirits before he came here. And concerning, concern-ing, second, whom he was in this Earthlife, he himself answers this question. He says, "I am Azarias, the son of Ananias, the great, and one of thy brethren". (Tobit 5:12) and will satisfied in regard to his ancestors, Tobit answered: "Thou art my brother o an honest and good stock: for I know Anonias and Jona-thas, Jona-thas, sons of that Samaias, etc." (Tobit 5:13) And according to Esdras, Es-dras, both he, Azarias and his Father, Fath-er, Ananias, and his grandfather, Samaias, belong to a company of Priests, who returned with Esdras from the Babylonian Captivity, and whom helped Esdras to teach and explain ex-plain the law and to again restore the Church,, the Temple service, and the worship of God. (Esdras 1:9 and also Chapt. 9 43-50) Some have identified ident-ified Azarias with Seraiah, a High Priest in the reign of Zedikia, king of Judah. Third, after the death or translation (like Enoch, Elijah, or the three Nephite Apostles, as Kes-urrection Kes-urrection was not brought about be- I I and when thou didst bury the dead, I was with thee. And now God hath sent me to heal thee and Sarah, thy daughter-in-law. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present pre-sent the prayers of the Saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One." (Tobit 12:10-19) According to the book of Enoch (also an apocryphal book). Ho was aj j;uanliun angel or one of the "watchers" "watch-ers" of "tiio spirits of men". (Enoch 20: 3-5) lie is true to his name, "the healer", not only according to the Story of Tobit, but also according to Enoch 10:7, where he is ordered to bind Azazel, the powerful spirit or demon supposed to inhabit the wilderness, wild-erness, and to whom one of the two goats wore sent, laden with the sins of the people, in ritual of the day of Atonement. (Lev. 16 Chapter). Also to "heal the earth, which the angels have defiled." (Enoch 40:5), and where ho is "Set over the diseases and wounds of the children of men". His mission also includes as "a guide in Shed" and "Paradise". Enoch 22 and 32). He is also mentioned as being among the angels who have visited the earth in our age, and given their keys and dispensations to the Church Of Jesus Christ in our day. In Section Sec-tion 128: 21 verse we read: "and the voice of Michael,, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and ?els from Michael or Introduction In the absence of direct Revelation, theso few suggestions are respectfully respect-fully offered, and based on the Information Infor-mation given us by the I'rophet Joseph Smith that Raphael was as a real being and one of those Angels who belong to this earth who has lived here in inoi Uil ity and was bring- I Ing to the I'rophet some of those ! keys and powers he was endowed ' with when here in the flesh, j I WHO WAS ltAPHEAL? The name "Raphael means: "Healer" "Heal-er" or "God has healed". Ho was Bent to heal Tobit, by restoring his : sight, (Tobit 3:25). To give Sarah, daughter of his kinsman, Raciuel, to his son Tobias for wife; and to prevent pre-vent the demon Asmodaeus from adding Tobias to tho seven husbands bo had already killed. In the fifth chapter of Tobit, ho appears as "brother Asarias" to accompany Tobias on his journey to Media. Tobit despatches them with the parting part-ing "Go thou with this man, and God which dwellcth In Heaven prosper your journey and tho angel of God, keop you company"; and they started out with their dog. (A favorite sub-joct sub-joct with the great painters). He directs Tobias to take the heart, liver and gall of a fish, manages the marriage, mar-riage, binds the demon, fethes money from Rages and heals Tobit. As an Angel and his work as such, In revealing himself to Tobit he says: "Now therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sarah, thy daughter-in-law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One; Adam down to the present time all declaring their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their Priesthood." And in Section 130 verse 5, the Prophet Joseph Smith says: "But there are no Angels An-gels who minister to this earth, but those who do belong or have belonged belong-ed to it". In the light of this information, infor-mation, we may ask the question "whn did Ralphael live? Was his name, a real name while he lived here or a new name indicating his mission or Power, or what race or people did he belong to? What were his own statement and answer to those questions?" Then Tobit said unto him, "Brother, shew me of what tribe and family thou art. To whom he said, Doest thou seek for a tribe fore Christ), he was a guardian Angel to Tobias, and! as his name means "healer", he was not only sent to heal Tobit and. his daughter-in-law, but according to the Book of Enoch (Chapt. 40:5) "he is set over the diseases and wounds of men". And according to the same book, he was one of the "Watchers" of "the spirits of men", as well as their "Guide in Sheol" and "Paradise". (Enoch 20:3, 22,32,50 Ch.). He was ordered to bind the powerful Demon Azazal and also to purify of "heal" the Earth. (Ibid 10: 7; 40: 5). He also became of his exalted and glorified position among the mighty ones of God, says of himself: "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which presents the Prayers of the Saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holv One". (Tobit 12:15) And what or family or a hired man, to go with thy son? Then Tobit said unto him. I would know, brother, thy kindred and name. Then he said "I am Azarias, the son of Ananias, the great and of thy brethren. Then Tobit said, "Thou art welcome, brother; be not now angry with me, because I have inquired to know thy tribe and thy family; for thou art my brother of an honest and good stock; for I know Ananias and Jonathas's sons . of that great Samajas as we went to- a consolation and comfort to the Prophet and the Saints to receive a visit of this mighty being, and the assurance that their prayers would be safe in reaching the throne of God, and would it be unreasonable to believe be-lieve that the keys and powers he possessed, be undoubtedly committed to the Prophet Joseph Smith and to the Church; of healing the sick and binding the Evil One, cleansing and purifying the Earth! and a.gain helping help-ing to restore the Temple Service, the true order of the Priesthood and the true worship of God. ADOLPH NIELSEN. |