This subject has been much misunderstood by many, especially because of some prevalent erroneous teachings in the nominal church. Because of the trinity doctrine and other errors, many do not identify Michael and archangel with the Word, or Logos, the pre-human Jesus. We will examine evidence from the Scriptures, reason and facts, showing that they are the same grand and mighty person.
The term archangel is compounded from the Greek words arche, meaning chief, or first, and aggelos (pronounced angelos) meaning messenger. Thus the word archangel means chief messenger. It occurs but twice in the Bible (Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16), and both times it is properly not plural, but singular, for the derivation of the word shows that there can be only one chief, or first, angel, i.e., the Archangel, the Chief Messenger.
Billy Graham suggests impossibility when in his book Angels, (pg. 59) he says, and "Along with Michael he [Lucifer] may have been one of the two archangels."
In Jude 9 the Archangel is identified as Michael; and Michael is mentioned also in Dan. 10:13,21; 12:1; Rev. 12:7.
As we study the matter in the light of the Scriptures, it becomes very evident that Michael the Archangel was none other than God’s Chief Messenger - our Lord Jesus in His pre-human existence, the mighty Word, or Logos, through whom the Father brought into existence all other creatures and things (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17).
This mighty One, "though being in God's form, yet did not mediate a usurpation to be like God, but divested himself, taking a bondsman's form, having been made in the likeness of men; and being in condition as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:6-8 - Diaglott). And God as a consequence raised Him from the dead, highly exalted Him and gave Him "a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (vs. 10,11).
Jesus is called "the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in" (Mal. 3:1). The Hebrew word maloch, translated messenger here, is the word corresponding to the Greek word aggelos, and is usually translated angel. And, among other things from the Scriptures (e.g., Prov. 8:22-30; John 1:1-3; 3:13; 8:14,23,42-58; 10:36; 16:28; 17:5; 2 Cor. 8:9) teach concerning Jesus' pre-human glory, we conclude that He was indeed the Archangel, the Chief Messenger.
Jesus is called "the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in" (Mal. 3:1). The Hebrew word Maloch, translated messenger here, is the word corresponding to the Greek word aggelos, and is usually translated angel. And, among other things, from what the Scriptures (e.g. Prov. 8:22,30; John 1:1-3; 3:13; 8:14,23,42-58; 10:36; 16:28; 17:5; 2 Cor. 8:9) teach concerning Jesus' pre-human glory, we conclude that He was indeed the Archangel, the Chief Messenger.
Surely God's firstborn (Psa. 89:27), "the first born of every creature" (Col. 1:15), "the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev. 3:14), would under him be the chief One, the Archangel, the Chief Messenger. And He is "the only begotten of the Father" (John 1:14) "his only begotten Son" (3:16) - the only being whom God directly created (Jesus' creation was a figurative begettal); and in this sense He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 21:6; 22:13) the beginning and ending, the first and the last, of God's direct creation, "who was before all things, and by whom [as God's agent] all things consist" (Col. 1:16,17). "Without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3).
In Phil. 2:6, the apostle Paul contrasts the course of the pre-existent Jesus with that of Lucifer, who became Satan - the rebel-angel - the chief of "the angels [messengers] which kept not their own estate" (Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4). Isa. 14:12-15 shows how Lucifer (Satan) did mediate a usurpation of God's honor and power, saying in his heart, "I will ascend into the heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God ... I will be like the most High."
In His pre-human condition, Jesus, the firstborn of God, the Archangel, or Chief Messenger, outranked Lucifer (Satan), whose rebellion must have been directed against His authority, as well as that of God. Thus Paul's language implies that exaltation, which Lucifer (Satan) sought by pride and rebellion, but failed to reach, was obtained by Jesus, the Chief Messenger, who humbles Himself and consequently was exalted to the divine nature.
One Scripture which may seem to some to conflict with Jesus being Michael the Archangel is Heb. 1:13; "But to which of the angels said he [God] at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" Unto none of the subordinate angels was this highest honor given, but to Him who was superior to and chief over all the subordinate angels, or messengers, "the first begotten" of the Father (vs. 5,6), (mal. 3:1). Tus seen, Heb. 1:13 not only does not oppose but supports the teachings that Jesus and Michael are the same person.
The term archangel is compounded from the Greek words arche, meaning chief, or first, and aggelos (pronounced angelos) meaning messenger. Thus the word archangel means chief messenger. It occurs but twice in the Bible (Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16), and both times it is properly not plural, but singular, for the derivation of the word shows that there can be only one chief, or first, angel, i.e., the Archangel, the Chief Messenger.
Billy Graham suggests impossibility when in his book Angels, (pg. 59) he says, and "Along with Michael he [Lucifer] may have been one of the two archangels."
In Jude 9 the Archangel is identified as Michael; and Michael is mentioned also in Dan. 10:13,21; 12:1; Rev. 12:7.
As we study the matter in the light of the Scriptures, it becomes very evident that Michael the Archangel was none other than God’s Chief Messenger - our Lord Jesus in His pre-human existence, the mighty Word, or Logos, through whom the Father brought into existence all other creatures and things (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17).
This mighty One, "though being in God's form, yet did not mediate a usurpation to be like God, but divested himself, taking a bondsman's form, having been made in the likeness of men; and being in condition as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:6-8 - Diaglott). And God as a consequence raised Him from the dead, highly exalted Him and gave Him "a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (vs. 10,11).
Jesus is called "the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in" (Mal. 3:1). The Hebrew word maloch, translated messenger here, is the word corresponding to the Greek word aggelos, and is usually translated angel. And, among other things from the Scriptures (e.g., Prov. 8:22-30; John 1:1-3; 3:13; 8:14,23,42-58; 10:36; 16:28; 17:5; 2 Cor. 8:9) teach concerning Jesus' pre-human glory, we conclude that He was indeed the Archangel, the Chief Messenger.
Jesus is called "the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in" (Mal. 3:1). The Hebrew word Maloch, translated messenger here, is the word corresponding to the Greek word aggelos, and is usually translated angel. And, among other things, from what the Scriptures (e.g. Prov. 8:22,30; John 1:1-3; 3:13; 8:14,23,42-58; 10:36; 16:28; 17:5; 2 Cor. 8:9) teach concerning Jesus' pre-human glory, we conclude that He was indeed the Archangel, the Chief Messenger.
Surely God's firstborn (Psa. 89:27), "the first born of every creature" (Col. 1:15), "the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev. 3:14), would under him be the chief One, the Archangel, the Chief Messenger. And He is "the only begotten of the Father" (John 1:14) "his only begotten Son" (3:16) - the only being whom God directly created (Jesus' creation was a figurative begettal); and in this sense He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 21:6; 22:13) the beginning and ending, the first and the last, of God's direct creation, "who was before all things, and by whom [as God's agent] all things consist" (Col. 1:16,17). "Without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3).
In Phil. 2:6, the apostle Paul contrasts the course of the pre-existent Jesus with that of Lucifer, who became Satan - the rebel-angel - the chief of "the angels [messengers] which kept not their own estate" (Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4). Isa. 14:12-15 shows how Lucifer (Satan) did mediate a usurpation of God's honor and power, saying in his heart, "I will ascend into the heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God ... I will be like the most High."
In His pre-human condition, Jesus, the firstborn of God, the Archangel, or Chief Messenger, outranked Lucifer (Satan), whose rebellion must have been directed against His authority, as well as that of God. Thus Paul's language implies that exaltation, which Lucifer (Satan) sought by pride and rebellion, but failed to reach, was obtained by Jesus, the Chief Messenger, who humbles Himself and consequently was exalted to the divine nature.
One Scripture which may seem to some to conflict with Jesus being Michael the Archangel is Heb. 1:13; "But to which of the angels said he [God] at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" Unto none of the subordinate angels was this highest honor given, but to Him who was superior to and chief over all the subordinate angels, or messengers, "the first begotten" of the Father (vs. 5,6), (mal. 3:1). Tus seen, Heb. 1:13 not only does not oppose but supports the teachings that Jesus and Michael are the same person.
