"ARCHANGEL AZRAEL, Angel of Death and Comfort ~ is a powerful celestial being whose name means, ‘Whom God Helps.’ Azrael is called the angel of death because he has been known to part the soul from the body at the time of death. This has caused a negative association with his angelic duties for some; they fear that the angel of death will come to strike them down. This is unfortunate, since his frequency is powerfully focused to be a comfort to those he attends. So, at the time of greatest need in your lives, which includes the time of transition out of the body and onward to other planes, allow this angel to help you. As his real mission is to help souls transition to the plane of existence that will serve them best for the next step of their journey.
The Koran which calls the angle of death “Malak al-Maut” tells us that the angel of death isn’t aware when it’s time for a person to die until God reveals that information to him. The Talmud (central text of Rabbinic Judaism) says the angel of death was equated with Satan, and thus became the legend that the angel of death was evil, rather than the good angel he is. However, the Zohar (the holy book of the branch of Judaism called Kabalah) presents a pleasant depiction of Azrael. The Zohar says that Azrael receives the prayers of faithful people when they reach heaven, and also commands legions of heavenly angels. I truly believe that you can call on this angel at times of grief from the loss of a loved one and he will comfort you. For part of his mission is indeed comfort.
Azrael, the Judeo-Christian Angel of Death, originated as a descendant of the powerful priests of Aaron, Moses' older brother. Azrael began his existence in the Jewish mind in Babylon sometime after 597 BCE, when the Jews were held captive from their homeland by King Nebuchadnezzar, who had sacked Jerusalem and sent high priests and royalty to prison. In Babylon, the angel who became Azrael was called Azra. Azrael came into the world in a troubled time when the Jews needed help. The name Azra means ‘help,’ and El means lord or God. So his name can mean ‘one who helps God,’ or ‘who God helps.’
Azrael is often depicted with a heavenly book in which it is said he is writing the name of a person when they’re born and erasing their names when they die. Azrael is considered the patron angel of clergy and grief counselors who help people make peace before dying and minister to grieving people who are left behind.
In my research I have found almost as much or more information on Azrael than on the Arch-angel Michael. This amazed me, so if you are interested there is an enormous amount of information about Azrael, beginning with Christian thought and Hebrew writing’s that teach this angel was a man named Azra and is remembered as the Father of Judaism. His book (Azra/Ezra) appears in the Old Testament of the bible. His name is translated differently, most notable are: Ezra (Hebrew to English,) Uzayr (Hebrew to Arabic,) and Esdras (Hebrew to Greek.)
There are very long stories telling of how Azra became Azrael the angel. I will make it short and sweet, because as I said, if you want more information, it is everywhere. Here goes- King Artaxerxes of the Persian Empire took a liking to Azra and even granted him some money from the royal coffers to use when he returned to his homeland, (he had been exiled.) Once he returned to his homeland King Artaxerxes gave him the power of Judgment over ALL the people of Israel. Azra was horrified to see that the people were practicing the same wicked behavior that he believed had gotten the Jews punished by God in the first place. The ‘Am Ha'Aretz,’(common Jews) were intermarrying with royalty and the priesthood, or the ‘Zerah Kodesh’ which means ‘holy seed.’ Azra wrote a decree stipulating that all those who were involved in interclass marriages had to get divorced right away. Centuries later, the Christians remembered Azra for having ‘the power of life and death’ since he had made a decree that literally controlled who was born into what bloodline. Associating judgment with death Christians made Azra into Azrael, the Angel of Death. That’s the short version"
