Jesus Christ Is NOT Michael The Archangel
To learn who the real Michael the archangel is, is very important to millions of people! Why? Because the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists both believe Michael the archangel is Jesus Christ! While the Seventh Day Adventists believe Michael is deity, the Jehovah’s Witnesses adamantly oppose that concept, even to the point of denying Jesus was ever prayed to or worshiped! SHOCKING and sad, but true!
So, is Jesus Michael the archangel, based on scripture or not? If Jesus isn’t Michael the archangel, why do some teach that he is and how can Christians help them with this serious error?
There Are Only Five Biblical References to Michael
Michael the archangel is only referred to on five different occasions throughout the entire Bible. They are:
But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (Dan 10:13)
but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. (Dan 10:21)
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book --will be delivered. (Dan 12:1)
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9)
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. (Rev 12:7)
NOTE: Michael is NOT the only archangel (Dan 10:13)! Michael is only one of the chief princes! That truth automatically refutes the Jehovah’s Witness belief that Jesus is Michael the archangel and Jehovah’s greatest creation. How does it do that? Because there are other archangels and not just one, even though Michael is the only one specifically named. The other archangels are equal to Michael and Michael can’t, therefore, be the greatest. Michael the archangel was the protecting archangel over Israel in Daniel’s time. Michael is always shown as a warring angel. Those are the details from those five passages, but NONE can be correctly connected to the Lord Jesus Christ as you can see. Jude 9 shows how differently Michael the archangel dealt with the devil, saying “The Lord rebuke you” to how the Lord Jesus dealt with him quoting scripture and commanding him to leave. (Mt. 4:3-11).
ONLY Two Times Archangel Is Found in the Bible
The only times archangel is used are here:
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Th 4:16)
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9)
Similarly, in neither of those two verses is the Lord Jesus shown to be Michael the archangel! While those verses have been used to teach that fallacious interpretation, it has been done wrongly to the detriment of others. 1 Thess. 4:16 states the Lord (Jesus) will come from heaven WITH the voice of the archangel. Which archangel will be coming with Jesus when he returns? We don’t know, since there are more than one (Dan 10:13). NOTE: Jesus will return with angels (Mt. 24:30,31), but we don’t know if Michael will be there at all! Jesus is also coming WITH the trumpet call of God (1 Thess. 4:16). If Jesus coming WITH the voice of an archangel (1 Thess. 4:16) makes him an archangel, then he is also a TRUMPET, because he is also coming with the trumpet call of God! Can you see how baseless and inconsistent such augmentations from the Jehovah’s Witnesses and or the Seventh Day Adventists are? That is all they have! There are no other verses citing Michael or the word archangel! Those scriptures are being misused and read into to teach Jesus is Michael the archangel to the harm of SOULS. Only a preconceived indoctrination of such a belief could possibly interpret any of the aforementioned verses that way. Jesus is not identified as Michael in any of those verses (or in any other way). For anyone to teach Jesus is Michael is to do so without any backing, even though non-related scripture references may be cited and read into for such a faulty conclusion! Remember, even the devil can misapply scripture (Lk. 4:10,11)!
Who was Jesus BEFORE coming to Earth?
The answer to that question is important, because if Jesus was not Michael before coming to earth, then millions of people have a dangerous view of the Savior! The apostle John told us Jesus was the “Word” before he came to earth (John 1:1). John didn’t say he was “Michael.” John also told us the “Word” is God (John 1:1). Since the Word is “God” (John 1:1) and God is not an archangel, then Jesus (the Word) can’t be Michael the archangel. That is basic reasoning from the scriptures. Again, NEVER is Jesus shown to be Michael, before (or after) coming to earth! In fact, Jesus created everything visible and invisible (that is all archangels) in heaven and earth. The archangels were created by Jesus and for Jesus (Col. 1:16).
Who Was Jesus AFTER His Ascension into Heaven?
Jesus identifies himself as Jesus (and other names and titles) but NEVER Michael. Notice what Jesus wanted us to believe about himself:
Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:5,6)
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." (Rev 22:16)
Furthermore, various New Testament writers identified the ascended Lord by many different names and titles, but NEVER as Michael. Jesus' many names and titles reflect his vital significance in all spiritual matters, but of the one hundred plus, NONE are ever Michael!
It is IMPOSSIBLE For Jesus to Be Michael The Archangel
Besides lacking clear evidence for the Jesus Michael doctrine, Hebrews chapter 1 categorically shows Jesus as someone superior and better than any of the angels in eight different ways!That forever clinches it! It is impossible for Jesus to be Michael the archangel, according to God’s word. The Jesus Michael belief is not only baseless it is a direct strike against Hebrews chapter 1 to teach like that. It also conflicts with many other verses revealing Jesus’ deity. [The humanity of Jesus Christ does NOT cancel out his deity anymore than him being the good shepherd cancels out him being the Lamb of God. See The Humanity Of Christ.]
Who Is Jesus Christ Really?
To answer the question who is Jesus Christ, we must consider the whole bible and especially Jesus’ voluminous names and titles, with none mentioning him as Michael or an archangel.
Angels are NOT Prayed To or Worshiped
Moreover, if Jesus was Michael the archangel, he should NOT be worshiped and prayed to, but he was! That is a double edged sword showing indirectly he couldn’t be Michael the archangel, but instead someone much more important who is worshiped and prayed to. Jesus was also trusted in exclusively for salvation by early Christians (Mt. 11:28-30; Acts 16:30,31; 7:59; John 3:16; etc.), he is the one they followed (John 10:27) and they got eternal life because they personally had him (1 John 5:12). In fact, Jesus is eternal life (1 John 1:2)!
Jesus Was PRAYED TO
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59)
(NOTE: Stephen was in the truth, and clearly prayed TO Jesus, as Jesus taught in John 14:14 for his disciples to pray to him.)
Jesus Was WORSHIPED
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." (Heb 1:6)
The Greek word for “worship” in Heb. 1:6 is also found in Luke 4:8 and is what is given to God! Jesus is worshiped by God’s angels and Christians. The conclusion is clear and overwhelming. Though Jesus is taught as being Michael the archangel by the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists, they have done so in violation and neglect of the scriptural evidence. So, who is Michael the archangel? He is a warring angel, a chief angel and one of the angelic princes. Michael the archangel was created by and for Jesus Christ (Col. 1:16).Michael the archangel is not Jesus Christ, based on scripture. To teach Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel is to downgrade the Lord Jesus as well as be in dangerous error.
EvangelicalOutreach.org
EternalLifeBlog.com
Great article on Jesus not being Michael.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dan.
Thad