Jesus Christ Is NOT Michael The Archangel

Source: https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/who-is-michael-the-archangel.htm

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 wrongly 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 the archangel

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 argumentations 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).

Was Jesus Michael the Archangel 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 1:1,14). 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).

Was Jesus Michael the Archangel AFTER His Return To 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)

QUESTION: So WHY didn't he say he was Michael instead of Jesus? It's because he isn't Michael and never has been. Likewise, 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!

What Is The Real Gospel Of Jesus Christ

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 who is 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.] Clearly what the Jehovah's Witnesses teach, that is, Jesus is Michael the archangel, is mythical. (See image to the right.):

... Michael is no one else but the Lord Jesus Christ .... [Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand!, 1988 ed. p. 181.]

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 But Jesus Is

Moreover, if Jesus was Michael the archangel, he should NOT be worshiped and prayed to, but Jesus 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)!

Is God's Name Jehovah?

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. Others in the early church also prayed TO Jesus (Acts 9:14; 1 Cor. 1:2; etc.), but Jehovah's Witnesses won't do that.

The Angel of Rev. 1:1 is NOT Jesus

On rare occasions Jehovah's Witnesses will even try to make Rev. 1:1 teach Jesus is an angel. That verse says:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He [Jesus] made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, (Rev 1:1)

Rev. 22:16 is the answer for the Jehovah's Witnesses who MISuse Rev. 1:1 to WRONGLY say Jesus is merely an "angel." Jesus is NOT an "angel" and therefore NOT that "angel" of Rev. 1:1. Jesus sent his "angel" to communicate to the churches:

"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)

Jesus Was WORSHIPED and Can't be Michael The Archangel

And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." (Heb 1:6)

Since all of God's angels worship Jesus, then Michael the archangel worships Jesus. Therefore Jesus can't be Michael the archangel. Also, the Greek word for worship in Heb. 1:6 is also found in Luke 4:8 and is what is given to God (but also to Jesus by the angels of God as commanded). Jesus did repeatedly receive worship (Mt. 14:33; 28:9, 17; etc.). Therefore, Jesus is shown, again, to not be an angel. Again, Jesus is worshiped by God's angels and Christians, unlike the angels of God who do not receive worship (Rev. 19;9,10; 22:8,9). Besides all of that, Jesus receives equal praise and worship with the Father from every creature in heaven:

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Rev 5:13,14)

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.

See image to the right, as written in the 1879 Zion's Watch Tower by Charles Taze Russell. Jehovah's Witnesses of our day have no idea he taught like that!

Nothing in Scripture Pointedly Says
Jesus is Michael The Archangel

There is nothing in the bible which pointedly states Jesus is Michael the archangel. Such a belief is only inferred by a misuse of scripture and logic. Jesus is never called Michael either before or after coming to earth. Before coming to earth he was the Word (Jn. 1:1; 1:14) and after Jesus (Rev. 22:16). Jesus is never called Michael, even though Jesus has 100+ names and titles throughout the NT. For anyone to teach Jesus is Michael is to do so in error, 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)!