Lesson 24 Explore 1: The Archangel Michael—Who Is He?
The Bible’s answer
Michael, referred to by some religions as “Saint Michael,” is evidently a name given to Jesus before and after his life on earth. Michael disputed with Satan after the death of Moses and helped an angel deliver God’s message to the prophet Daniel.
(Daniel 10.13: But the prince of the royal realm of Persia stood in opposition to me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I remained there beside the kings of Persia.)
(Daniel 10.21: However, I will tell you the things recorded in the writings of truth. There is no one strongly supporting me in these things but Michael, your prince.)
(Jude 9: But when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: “May Jehovah rebuke you.”)
Michael lives up to the meaning of his name-“Who Is Like God?”-by defending God’s rulership and fighting God’s enemies.-
(Daniel 12.1: “During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book.)
(Revelation 12.7: And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled)
Consider why it is reasonable to conclude that Jesus is the archangel Michael.
• Michael is “the archangel.”
(Jude 9: But when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: “May Jehovah rebuke you.”)
The title “archangel,” meaning “chief of the angels,” appears in only two Bible verses. In both cases, the word is singular, suggesting that only one angel bears that title. One of those verses states that the resurrected Lord Jesus “will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice.”
(1 Thessalonians 4.16: because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first.)
Jesus has “an archangel’s voice” because he is the archangel, Michael.
• Michael commands an angelic army. “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon,” Satan.
(Revelation 12.7: And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled)
Michael has great authority in the spirit realm, for he is called “one of the foremost princes” and “the great prince.”
(Daniel 10.13: But the prince of the royal realm of Persia stood in opposition to me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I remained there beside the kings of Persia.)
(Daniel 10.21: However, I will tell you the things recorded in the writings of truth. There is no one strongly supporting me in these things but Michael, your prince.)
(Daniel 12.1: “During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book.)
These titles designate Michael as “the commander-in-chief of the angelic forces,” as New Testament scholar David E. Aune puts it. The Bible mentions only one other name of someone having authority over an army of angels. It describes “the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance.”
(2 Thessalonians 1.7, 8: But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.)
(Matthew 16.27: For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each one according to his behavior.)
Jesus “went to heaven, and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him.”
(1 Peter 3.21, 22: Baptism, which corresponds to this, is also now saving you (not by the removing of the filth of the flesh, but by the request to God for a good conscience), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is at God’s right hand, for he went to heaven, and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him.)
It would not make sense for God to set up Jesus and Michael as rival commanders of the holy angels. Rather, it is more reasonable to conclude that both names, Jesus and Michael, refer to the same person.
• Michael “will stand up” during an unprecedented “time of distress.”
(Daniel 12.1: “During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book.)
In the book of Daniel, the expression “stand up” is often used to refer to a king who rises up to take special action.
(Daniel 11.2-4: What I will tell you now is the truth: “Look! Three more kings will stand up for Persia, and the fourth one will amass greater riches than all others. And when he becomes strong by means of his riches, he will rouse up everything against the kingdom of Greece. “And a mighty king will stand up and rule with extensive dominion and do as he pleases. But when he has stood up, his kingdom will be broken and be divided toward the four winds of the heavens, but not to his descendants and not like the dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom will be uprooted and go to others besides these.)
(Daniel 11.21: “And there will stand up in his position a despised one, and they will not give him the majesty of the kingdom; and he will come in during a time of security and take hold of the kingdom by means of smoothness.)
Jesus Christ, identified as “The Word of God,” will take special action as the “King of kings” to strike down all of God’s enemies and protect God’s people.
(Revelation 19.11-16: I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse. And the one seated on it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. His eyes are a fiery flame, and on his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, and he is clothed with an outer garment stained with blood, and he is called by the name The Word of God. Also, the armies in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. And out of his mouth protrudes a sharp, long sword with which to strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. Moreover, he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his outer garment, yes, on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.)
He will do so during a time of “great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning.”-
(Matthew 24.21: for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.)
(Matthew 24.42: Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.)
[End of article.]