According to Rudolf Steiner in The Archangel Michael His Mission and Ours 1994 Anthroposophic press, NewYork:

"A certain spiritual stream began to flow in the year 1250 and reached it's height in 1459, when Christian Rosenkreutz was raised to the rank of Knight of the Rose-Cross. In 1510, the age known in occultism as The Age of Gabriel began. The Age of Michael began in 1879. After that comes the Age of Oriphiel, when great conflicts will rage among human beings. Therefore a tiny handful of human beings is now being prepared to keep the torch of spiritual knowledge alight in that sombre epoch".

"The story of Christ's cracking his whip at the money-changers in the Temple has deep meaning in it. At this darkest of times in human history, Christ appeared to save humanity. Oriphiel's reign ended 104 years later and was replaced by Aneal's. Then came Zachariel, then Raphael. Raphael reigned at the time of the Renaissance; Gabriel from the sixteenth century to 1879. Then Michael assumed the leadership. Around 2400, it will be Oriphiel's turn again. And, just as the last time, the spiritual light will shine radiantly in the darkness. Christ will appear again on earth, but in a different form. Our vocation is to receive Him, to serve Him".