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This whole study started the day I visited this particular web site. Let me give you the address http://www.creation-science-prophecy.com/michael.htm. The archangel Michael was the topic of discussion. Some things were stated on this site that caused me to do some research of my own. I did not want just the quick veiw of a pastor or a friend to see what they thought about the subject and then just walk away. Opinion research is not very thorough nor is it wise to let everyone else do all the research for you. We all need to study the word of God as a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

The web site states Jesus is not an angel and that every reference to Michael the archangel is really a reference to Jesus the Son of God. Could Michael the archangel really be another name and position for the Lord Jesus Christ? I want to know! What does scripture have to say about such a claim? I will attempt to simplify this study by breaking it down to seven main points and explanation. Here we GO!

1) There is no clear scripture stating that the archangel Michael is Jesus:

There is no clear scripture stating that Jesus and Michael are the same person. Hear me out now. We have scripture explaining that Sari became Sarah, Abram became Abraham, Saul was known as Paul, Peter was known as Cephus. Still we have no clear scripture stating that Jesus is also known as Michael. This is a big problem and it is only going to get worse. Does the truth matter? I believe it does matter to you. This is why I am going to share with you today the other side of the coin.

2) Scripture does define who Michael is:

A) Jude 9 states clearly that Michael is an archangel.

(So, Michael the Archangel must be the chief of the angels, the captain of the host of the Lord! And also, we find that Michael is also God!) From the web site.

Question: Does the Bible portray Michael the archangel as God? I want to know.

The web site in question defines Michael the archangel as (the chief of the angels), this is an often made, but incorrect definition. The conclusion is then made that Michael is (the chief of the angels, the captain of the host of the Lord!...Michael is also God!). Once an incorrect definition is used it will only lead to further incorrect conclusions. There must be a solid foundation in which to build on or the whole structure will collapse.

Here is Strong's definition of archangel...."a chief angel: - archangel".

Here is Websters definition: 1. An angel of the highest order; an angel occupying the eighth rank in the celestiai hierarchy.

If someone wants to take on Strong's and Webster, that is their business, but the definition "THE CHIEF OF THE ANGELS" is not found here. Strong's gives a completely different outlook. Michael is "a" chief angel and not "the" chief angel. An archangel has more authority than angels under his leadership. The archangel is a ruler, a leader, but still this does not make him the Captain of the host of the Lord. It is imperative that we get our definitions correct!

(The computer lexicon describes Michael as: one of, the chief, or the first archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel.) From the web Page.

When I read the definition of Michael as described above I see some problems with the usage of said definition. Even here the lexicon makes no such claim that Michael is the chief of the angels, the captain of the host of the Lord….God!

The first definition "one of", clearly indicates that there are more archangels than just Michael. Sentence structure will not allow the term "one of" used if there is only one item. There has to be at least two of something before you can use the term “one of”.

Question: Is there only one Messiah who is the Son of God or are there more? Can you see the problem here?

Let's go further...

If Michael is "one of" the archangels or the first archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel, then Michael is the highest ranking angel guarding Israel. There is still no evidence to suggest that Michael is the Son of God nor is there support for such an idea. In reading the whole web page I found no solid evidence to suggest the position of archangel is equivalent with Deity.

The middle definition...

The middle lexicon definition above "the chief" is where the web page will build it's strongest case for Michael being God (Jesus). With a preconceived idea that Michael is also another name for Jesus will only lead to such a conclusion. The connection is most obvious, but failure to weigh in the ramifications of all definitions is sadly overlooked.
Failure to recognized the Strong's definition of archangel only adds to the problem.

Strongs defines archangel as "a chief" and not "the chief". Instead of fighting over which one is correct may I suggest they both are correct if properly understood. The lexicon is not really trying to prove Diety with the definition "the chief". If it was it would not be using the term "one of" in the definition also. The term "the chief" is not synonymous with "Captain of the host of Lord" a title of Deity. The lexicon is making no such connection. Read the next sentence very carefully and it should help in understanding what I am trying to say.

The web page uses the term "the chief" as "the One and Only Chief", "the Captain of the host of Lord" when the lexicon only allows for a "one of" definition that excludes Diety. Michael is a one of, but Jesus is a one and only.

With all the evidence weighed, the following would be a better understanding...

The lexicon is saying Michael is one of the archangels who was first chosen, the chief angel in charge of defending Israel. With this understanding there is no conflict with the definition found in the Strongs concordance.

NOTE: Some point out that Michael is the only one referred to as an archangel and that the word archangel is always in the singular and never in the plural, concluding there is only one archangel. This conclusion assumes the Bible is exhaustive and contains all revelation. The Bible is only the part God has chosen to share with us and we should not assume full knowledge of things not revealed. This conclusion is also ignorant of the fact that the archangel Michael in the Old Testament is said to be "one of the chief princes", indicating there is more than one such ruling prince called an archangel.

B) Daniel 12:1 states that Michael is..." the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people".

King James says Michael is the great prince who has been put in charge of defending the nation of Israel. The definition of prince is ruler, other translations use the word "ruler" instead of "prince". This still fits with Jude 9 as a chief "ruling" angel which would be an archangel. Michael is an angel according to scripture.

C) Daniel 10:13 (KJV) states that Michael is..."One of the chief princes".

This statement clearly shows Michael as one of the chief princes and not the "One and only Chief Prince". Jesus is the Son of God. There is only One Jesus who was in on creation, died on the cross and rose again. There is only One who is able to open the seven seals of the scroll in the book of Revelation. Jesus is not one of the chief princes, but Michael is. Daniel 10:13 shows clearly there is more than one chief prince. The New Testament does not use the term "Chief prince or Great prince", but rather "archangel". The New Testament only lists one archangel, but Daniel 10:13 shows there are more than one. This alone would remove the possibility of Michael ever being Jesus. But there is more......

3) There is no scripture showing Michael receiving worship:

If we had even one scripture where Michael is worshiped, it would help to show Michael as Deity, but there is no such proof anywhere. There is a scripture where Michael is called "your prince" to Daniel in the Old Testament.

Daniel 10:21B (KJV) and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

A) First off, who is speaking?

Answer: A certain man in linen (Daniel 10:5). After reading the whole account of this "man", I believe the man in linen is an angel.

B) Who is being spoken to in this verse?

Answer: Daniel was on the bank of the Tigris river (Dan 10:4), when he saw the man in linen (Dan 10:5). Daniel is still speaking in (Dan 10:9) when he says "I heard his voice". The conclusion is that Daniel is the one being spoken to.

C) Background:
Daniel is fasting and mourning for three weeks to understand a vision he had that was troubling his soul. He then sees a "man in linen" (angel) come to speak with him. The angel explains that from the very first day of his fast his words were heard, but the prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood this angel for twenty one days. Michael, one of the great princes, came and helped this angel to withstand against the prince of Persia so he could leave and get through to Daniel with the message.

D) Important points:

E) The term "your prince" does not give Michael the position of Deity.
The context will establish how the word "prince" is used. There is nothing here to indicate Deity. The word prince was commonly used in those days as a ruler. Michael is a chief "ruler" angel, an angel in leadership, an archangel and nothing more.

4) Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, therefore is not leading angels into battle disguised as Michael.

Heb 10:12 KJV But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 1:13 KJV But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Rev 12:5 KJV And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Joh 14:2-6 MKJV In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also. (4) And where I go you know, and the way you know. (5) Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You go, and how can we know the way? (6) Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.

When Christ went up to heaven, there are five things clearly noted concerning His functions while in heaven during this time.

1) Offered the final sacrifice in the heavenly temple (to prepare a place for us)

2) Joined His Father on the Throne

3) Is waiting till His enemies be made His footstool

4) His intercession for His people on this earth

5) Jesus shows us the way and is the way to go to the place He has prepared

The picture that is painted before us in scripture is not of an angel named Michael/Jesus doing war with the devil and his angels, but of one who is waiting for the Father's command to go back to earth and set up His kingdom. Instead of a warring Jesus we see an interceding Jesus, we see a praying Jesus. God has said that His house is to be a house of prayer, and so it is.

When Stephen was being stoned we are shown another glimpse into heaven to further back the purpose and function of Jesus at this time.

Act 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

This is the only time we see Jesus standing and not sitting at the right hand of the Father. What an honor it must have been for Stephen to actually see the Son of God rise up from the throne just to receive him into glory.

Mat 26:63-65 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. (64) Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (65) Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?...

At the mock trial of Jesus, His own words of testimony were that He would be sitting at the right hand of power and they would also see His coming in the clouds of Heaven. His second coming has not yet happened so He is still up there waiting and interceding. His purpose and function are stated very clear. As you can see the Bible is far from silent as to our Lord's ministry in this present age. He very much wants His people to know that they have not been abandoned and everything is going just as the Father has planned.

Much to do has been made of the scripture below to make it look as if Jesus is really the one leading the angels in this war with the dragon.

Rev 12:7 KJV And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

If we go by scripture, Michael and not Jesus is leading some angels (not all angels). There are a number of different kinds of angels with different purposes listed in scripture. Not all angels are the same or even do the same things. There also is no authority given to change the wording or the meaning of Rev. 12:7. In fact we are all warned that we are not to change the scripture by adding or taking away from the words of this prophecy. Let the reader beware!

We have established in Daniel 10:13 that Michael is one of the chief princes. Follow this thought through to the end. Scripture can not lie, therefore there is at least one more chief prince and he too would be in charge of some angels. With this in mind, the Bible is establishing just who is fighting in this battle very clearly and very precisely.

Example from this world:

The president is the chief and commander of all the army. Yet when a battle is fought we read of general So-and-So and his men winning or losing a battle. Just because we say the soldiers are general So-and-So's men does not negate the fact that they are still under the authority of the president. We need to give credit to each general for what he has accomplished in his leadership role. Michael is one of God’s generals.

The Bible is recording Michael (not Jesus) and the angels under his leadership in Rev 12:7 in a battle that will take place with Satan and his angels. I for one am not going to take God to task and suggest that Jesus leave the right hand of the Father to personally lead these angels when God is trusting Michael to handle the battle. When God empowers a man or an angel with a task, the ones empowered, do not go forth in their own strength, but the strength and power of Almighty God!

QUESTION TAKEN FROM THE WEB PAGE:

( Why are the angels described as being Michael's angels and not God's or Christ's angels?) From web page

The answer is very simple.... To be a chief angel one would need ordinary angels to be in charge of. God has Michael leading a group of angels at this time, not Jesus. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father.

Jesus has already won the battle at the cross, it is finished and Satan was defeated, but he has not yet been cast down. There is still a battle for the souls of men and the kingdom of darkness is still ruling where men allow. God has and does use angels in battling against this evil kingdom. The enemy is real, but he is losing because he does not have the power or the love of God. God uses angels to fight for and protect his own, Psalm 91:11-12.

Angels are the ministering spirits sent from the presence of God for those who shall be heirs of salvation and not Jesus (Heb 1:14). In fact a single unnamed angel (not Jesus) will chain up Satan and cast him into the bottomless pit for one thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3). God uses angels for many things, this should not be a mystery. Everyone in heaven has a part in this big and wonderful plan of God.

SAMPLE ANGEL SCRIPTURE:

Matthew 8:10 (KJV) "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Here we have angels described as "their angels". Whose angels are they? We are talking about little children in this text. So the angels here would be the little children's angels. Yet no one tries to say that little children are Deity. Let us not make this mistake with Michael the archangel either.

5) The position of "archangel" and the title "Angel of the Lord" are not synonymous.

A) Angel of the Lord, Angel of God, Angel of God's Presence.... are titles and not the personal name(s) of any being. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in Exodus 3 out of the burning bush. The Angel of the Lord tells Moses who He is, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We can now conclude that the Angel of the Lord is Deity. In the Old Testament when God manifested Himself to men He somehow used an angelic form. I do not pretend to know why He did this, I just know that this is what He did. An angel is a created being and yet the usage in this title is a title of Deity and not a created being. This is the exception to the rule when it comes to angels. The conclusion of our point (A) is that the "Angel of the Lord" is Deity and not a true angel.

B) When the Angel of the Lord says He is God we still do not have a complete picture, because God expresses Himself in three different ways, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Can we know which part of Jehovah is being expressed here? I believe we can. Look at the following verses.

Isa 63:8-9 KJV For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. (9) In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Jesus is Savior, the one who redeems His people, who is from the Father. Jesus was the Angel of God's Presence in this earth before the virgin birth. Jesus has always done the will of the Father, Jesus and the Father are one. There is more... look at Exodus 23:20+21 to further back this thought...

Exo 23:20-21 KJV Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. (21) Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

This is further evidence that the Angel of the Lord was Jesus Christ. There is only one name given whereby we must be saved, there has never been another. There is only one who forgives sin and He shed His own blood to do it, and the Father's name is in Him because they are one. If the people provoked this Angel and would not obey Him, He would not pardon their transgressions. Notice it says that He "would not", not that He "could not". There is a big difference here.

No man after the fall can look on God's face and glory, and live. Our sinful flesh cannot behold the face of God and live. Notice how Adam and Eve hid themselves from God after the fall, and yet God did let Moses see His backside from the cleft in the rock.

Exo 33:20 KJV And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Ponder this: Only dead men can look on the face of the Father and survive. Sinful flesh can not withstand the face of the Father. Yet we find examples of people who saw the face of the Angel of the Lord and still lived.

Jdg 6:22-23 AMP And when Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face! (23) The Lord said to him, Peace be to you, do not fear; you shall not die.

One more scripture to ponder:

Zec 3:1-2 KJV And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. (2) And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

In verse one it is established that the Angel of the Lord will be the one who is speaking in verse two. Verse two then says " And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan". How could God the Father refer to a higher authority than Himself? There is none. But if the Angel of the Lord were Jesus He then could refer to a higher authority and that would be the Father.

Still another scripture in our pondering:

Remember this statement made by Jesus in His discussion with the Jews about their father Abraham?

Joh 8:58 KJV Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

The Jews were so offended that they picked up rocks to stone Jesus for blasphemy and that without a trial. Why? Because they knew the scriptures of what the Angel of the Lord said out of the burning bush.

Exo 3:14 KJV And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

One last scripture relating to our topic:

Joh 1:1-3 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

I felt I needed to establish the fact that Jesus was involved in the Old Testament to establish a Biblical basis for such an idea. God (Jesus) created all things and He did it before He was sent to this earth as the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the Word that the Father spoke forth that created everything. Jesus and the Father are one and they have always been. Jesus has always been an active part of God. Jesus has always obeyed the commands of the Father.

C) Because the term "Angel of the Lord" expresses Deity in the Old Testament, gives us no authority to include the title "archangel" in the same category.

Neither are we to assume that the term "angel" can be interchanged with the attributes of Deity when dealing with created beings called angels, even if they are an archangel (a chief prince). An angel with higher authority does not qualify him as Deity, no more than a king or prince on this earth could claim Deity.

6) Jesus did not ascend into heaven as an angel nor will He return as one.

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples as a man. Hear His words...

Luk 24:39-43 KJV Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (40) And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. (41) And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? (42) And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. (43) And he took it, and did eat before them.

Jesus did not go to or come back from the grave in angelic form, but as a man who came back with a resurrected body. Notice this new body is not described as flesh and blood, but rather flesh and bone. This body carries the marks of the cross....

Joh 20:27-28 KJV Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (28) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Finally, this same Jesus who ascended into heaven will be the same one who will return some day.

Act 1:11 KJV Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Now we have a scriptural foundation in which we can draw these conclusions...

A) Jesus is a resurrected man who is also Deity

B) The same Jesus who went into heaven will be the same one who comes back

C) The resurrected Jesus is not in an angelic form

D) Jesus made much effort to prove that He was not a spirit being, but a flesh and bone man

E) There is no evidence of Jesus acting with duel citizenship who changes back and forth between angelic form and human form similar to a Clark Kent/Superman scenario.

F) There are no scriptures that indicate Jesus will ever be anything different than the Son of God who as Savior became a man, for mankind, and that for all eternity. Jesus is a man and not an archangel!

Heb 10:12 KJV But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

What about the Angel of the Lord in the New Testament setting?

In the New Testament "the Angel of the Lord" is an angel from God. This should not be confused with "the Angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament who has been proved Deity.

Act 12:7-8A KJV And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. (8) And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals....

Act 12:11 KJV And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

If one would do a word study on "the Angel of the Lord" in the New Testament you will find that this angel was never worshiped nor did this angel ever claim Deity. If Jesus was the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, then once He came to earth as a man would further explain why we never see this angelic form expressed as Deity ever again.

Conclusion of point #6:

Jesus is a resurrected man, the Savior of mankind and is not expressed in any angelic form in the New Testament. For eternity this same Jesus will be our Savior and we will look upon the marks of the cross as proof of purchase of the price that was paid. No one will ever forget or ever be able to deny this act of love.

Zec 12:10 KJV And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

7) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout :

My seventh and final point is directly dealing with one item brought up on the web page... But first let's read the scripture for our subject.

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

(In Thessalonians we see that the Lord is descending from heaven and He is shouting with the voice of the archangel. Most people seem to think that it is the archangel that is shouting and not Jesus. Actually there are two possible meanings to the text: (1) the archangel could be shouting for Jesus; or (2) Jesus could be doing the shouting Himself and he is using the voice of an archangel because He is the Archangel.) Taken from the web page.

There is a third explanation… so this logic is very much incomplete....Let us read the text carefully to see what is says.

For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
This time the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. (John 5:25,28) This is no angel, the Lord will shout. This is what we just read did we not? Up to this time He has been sitting at the right hand of the Father, but now Jesus personally is leading a host of heaven.

With a shout.... "It does not mean here, that the Lord would himself make such a shout, but that he would be attended with it; that is, with a multitude who would lift up the voice like that of an army rushing to the conflict." (Albert Barnes Commentary)

Yes this mighty shout of the host of heaven who are shouting with Jesus does bring to mind an account in the Old Testament.

Jos 6:4-5 KJV And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. (5) And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

The priests were blowing horns and not shouting and the people were shouting and not blowing horns. This should help us understand 1Thessalonians 4:16 better. Jesus is shouting with the host of heaven, with an archangel while another blows the trumpet.