Refuting SDA web page on Michael being Jesus
www.crossbearer.net
The Seventh Day Adventists have a web page where they attempt to prove that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. In this study, I will deal with each portion and dismantle this heresy which was promoted by E.G. White, taught by the SDA church, and adopted by the Jehovah's Witnesses!
I will use this color for the material I copied and pasted from the SDA web page and will write my own notes in Black, to respond to their ill intent to humiliate Jesus Christ, the Great Son of God to a lesser position than being the Great God!
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
These are the ONLY facts in scripture known about Michael:
Dan. 10:13 - A chief Angel who helps another angel get through to Daniel
Dan. 10:21 - Michael the prince is in agreement with this angel who spoke to Daniel
Dan. 12:1 - He is the great prince who stands up for the children of Israel
Jude 1:9 - He is the archangel who contended with the devil over the body of Moses
Rev. 12:7 - Michael and his angels fight against the devil and his angels in heaven
Not a single scripture verse says that Jesus is "Michael!"
I have to ask, if not a single verse of scripture declares that Michael is Jesus, WHY is it so important for the SDA church to prove that he IS? What is their hidden motive? While early church fathers, as well as the scriptures, taught that Michael is "one of" the chief angels under the authority of Jesus Christ, why attempt to forcibly identify Michael to be Jesus without a single verse of scripture outright declaring him to be Jesus? I trust that this error was generated by the SDA founders to support their "investigative Judgment" heresy they received by "revelation" to cover up their embarrassment by the absence of the return of Jesus Christ in 1844! This new "revelation" claims that Jesus stood outside of the Holy of Holies (which is the very presence of God) until 1844 when he finally entered in! Heb. 10:12 declares that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God the Father the day he ascended into heaven, not 1844! I contend that this heresy, had the sole purpose of reducing Jesus to a lower position in the Godhead so they can place him outside of the "Holiest of All" for 1800 years, and deceive the students who follow this doctrine. The fruit of this error can be found in the offspring of the SDA church, the Jehovah's Witnesses , who rebelliously refuse to bow their knee to Jesus and worship him as God as commanded by the scriptures (Phil. 2:6-11). Believing that Jesus is only an angel, J.W.'s refuse to bow their knee in worship and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as God the Son. This disobedience by J.W.'s leaves the follower of this cult in a state of sin, disobedience, and leaves them on the "broad road" that leads to destruction, thanks to the SDA teachers who propagated this error!
Whereas the SDA church has determined to undermine the truth and forcibly identify Michael and Jesus as one and the same person, I shall attempt to prove the orthodox position of the early church father's that they are two separate persons, glorifying Jesus Christ in his exalted position as the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" as well as the "Prince of princes", while maintaining that Michael the archangel is "one of the chief princes" under the Lordship of Jesus Christ!"
Early Church Fathers' comments:
"But He is not on this account to be regarded as an angel, as a Gabriel or a Michael….He…is verily God, and the Son of God[.]” (Tertullian 230 A.D. On the Flesh of Christ, Chapter 14)
“It was not angels, therefore, who made us, nor who formed us, neither had angels power to make an image of God, nor any one else, except the Word of the Lord, nor any Power remotely distant from the Father of all things. For God did not stand in need of these [beings], in order to the accomplishing of what He had Himself determined with Himself beforehand should be done, as if He did not possess His own hands. For with Him were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit, by whom and in whom, freely and spontaneously, He made all things, to whom also He speaks, saying, `Let Us make man after Our image and likeness….'” (Irenaeus 200 A.D. Against Heresies 4:20:1)
Some articles of interest about the named angels
Vincent's Word Studies
Marvin R. Vincent, D.D.
Baldwin Professor of Sacred Literature in Union Theological Seminary New York.
Archangel
Only here and Jud_1:9. Not in O.T. The Pauline angelology shows traces of Rabbinical teachings in the idea of orders of angels. See Eph_1:21; Col_1:16; Rom_8:38. The archangels appear in the apocryphal literature. In the Book of Enoch (see on Jud_1:14) four are named, Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel. In Tob. 12:15, Raphael appears as one of the seven holy angels. Comp. Rev_8:2. See also on Jud_1:9, and comp. Dan_12:1. ( Vincent's Word Studies - 1 Thess. 4:16)
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible 1798-1870
With the voice of the archangel
Seven angels, however, are referred to in the Scriptures as having an eminence above others, and these are commonly regarded as archangels. Rev_8:2, “and I saw the seven angels which stood before God.” One of these is supposed to be referred to in the Book of Tobit, 12:15, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.” The names of three only, of the seven are mentioned in the Jewish writings: Michael, the patron of the Jewish nation, Dan_10:13, Dan_10:21; Dan_12:1. Gabriel, Dan_8:16; Dan_9:21; compare Luk_1:19, Luk_1:26. Raphael, Tobit 3:17; 5:4; 8:2; 9:1, 5; 12:15. The Book of Enoch adds that of Uriel, pp. 187, 190, 191, 193. Michael is mentioned as one “of the chief princes,” Dan_10:13; and as “the great prince,” Dan_12:1; ( Albert Barnes' Notes - 1 Thess. 4:16)
Refutation of SDA web page
The SDA page writes:
The Michael Enigma
Questions frequently arise in Christian circles about the true identity of the biblical Michael, sometimes called "Michael the great Prince" or "Michael the archangel." Some claim that Michael is the highest of the heavenly angels, one of the covering cherubs, or a special messenger like Gabriel, and as such is a created being.
The first three of these references are in the apocalyptic Old Testament book of Daniel. The last two are in the New Testament books of Jude and Revelation. During an honest study and comparison of these verses and others, clues emerge that lead us to an inescapable conclusion that the identity of Michael is none other than Jesus, God the Son, and that He is not a created angel, but God's eternal Son!
Although I can agree that Jesus is not a created angel, and that Jesus is God the Son, I cannot agree that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. Unlike the Jehovah's Witnesses, the SDA web page declares that they believe that Jesus is God and uncreated (E.G. White denied that Jesus is the "Lord God Almighty" SDA Commentary vol 5 p 1129)!
However, this does not pardon them for teaching the heresy that Jesus is Michael the Archangel by pointing to a few similarities even though, not a single scripture declares that they are one and the same person! An inescapable conclusion which has been enforced by the J.W. teachers, is that Jesus is a "lesser" being, or a "smaller" god, than God the Father. This teaching, that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, throws the student of the Bible into confusion as to the true identity of the second person of the godhead, Jesus Christ, who is shown to have been equal to the Father in Phil. 2:6 and John 5:18, and fully God in John 20:28-29!
Once again, I trust that the "Michael is Jesus" heresy was created to find a way to reduce the diety and position of Jesus and place him outside of the Holy of Holies until 1844, since the Holy of Holies IS the very presence and residence of God himself! How they escape the scripture that declares that Jesus, when he ascended, sat down at the right hand of the Father, placing him inside of the Holy of Holies, is a question that demands an answer (Heb. 10:12)!
It's in the Name
First, let's consider the meaning of some words and names. In the Greek New Testament, as compared to the Old Testament, the word "angel" means "messenger," and "arch" means "chief, principle, greatest, or highest." So "archangel" simply means "highest or greatest messenger." The Hebrew name "Michael" means "who is like God" or "Who is like God?" Whether this name is a question, statement, or a challenge will be clear by further study. One angel did profess to be like God. That fallen being is Lucifer, the covering cherub in the heavenly courts who became the devil, Satan, by claiming to "be like the most High" (Isaiah 14:14). In Revelation 12:7 Satan is opposed by "Michael and his angels" and is cast out of heaven.
H4317 Michael = “who is like God”
Question! Is Jesus “like God?” Or is he actually "God" himself? The name “Michael” nullifies itself as being another name of Jesus simply by definition!
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
By the way, the Hebrew name of Jesus is H3091 Joshua or Jehoshua = “Jehovah is salvation.” But that doesn't make Joshua (the assistant of Moses), Jesus!
Hagar
After Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham, she and the barren Sarah could no longer coexist peacefully. Sarah mistreated her now haughty handmaid until Hagar fled into the desert. "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness" (Genesis 16:7). The angel told Hagar to go back and submit to Sarah, and promised that her son, Ishmael, would be the father of a great nation. When the "angel" disappeared, Hagar, "called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me" (verse 13). It appears Hagar recognized that the "angel" who had spoken to her was really God.
There is no contest here! The writer of this web page identifies that the one who spoke to Hagar, is God himself, and to this, I agree! No doubt, this is a “Theophany,” which is defined as a visible manifestation of God, which is also known to be Jesus Christ. On the topic of Angels, I would like to make several notes:
1. You might note that the name of Michael is not used to identify the “Angel of the Lord” who appeared to Hagar nor any other scripture that speaks of the "Angel of the Lord!" Trying to link the “Angel of the Lord” with Michael is out of context and cannot be found in any scripture verse!
2. In the mind of most students, the understanding of the word “angel” gives the impression that these are created beings that serve God. Although this is partly true, the word angel is also used to identify a messenger, someone who brings a message from God, or even a message from God Himself such as from God the Son who is giving the message from God the Father.
H4397 mal'ak BDB Definition: 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel
The word "theophany" is described as an "appearance of God! " The Link will show you the scriptures where "theophonic" manifestations occurred!
The term "Lord of Hosts" in Hebrew is "Jehovah Tsaba" which is defined as "Jehovah of Armies!" The SDA web page declares, with my agreement that Jesus is the “Lord of Hosts" as confirmed in the following excerpt:
SDA web page author writes:
"The phrase "Lord of hosts" is found 245 times in the Bible and refers to the "commander of God's angelic army." So the "captain of the Lord's host" that Joshua saw was not an angel, but Jesus Himself."
Therefore I am in full agreement that Jesus is the “Lord of Hosts” and "Angel of the Lord" but refute the implication that Michael is also the “Lord of Hosts." Any effort to forcably equate "Michael" with the "Lord of Hosts" or "the Angel of the Lord" cannot be proven by any of the 5 verses that refer to Michael. He is only identified as a chief prince, an "archangel" - a highly exalted angel, but he is not God - "Jehovah Tsaba," nor does any scripture declare that he is God and therefore, Jesus!
The SDA web page continues the same arguement with Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Balaam, Gideon, Manoah,
Each of these points used by the web page author, are repeating the point used in Hagar above. These are all “Theophanies” of the “Angel of the Lord” which is a visible appearing of Jesus Christ and not a single one of them uses the name of Michael to link Michael as being the “Angel of the Lord!”
No One Has Seen the Father
Suddenly we have more leads than we can follow at once. The "angel of the Lord" is clearly shown to be God. But the Bible states, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). John 6:46 tells us, "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father." Obviously, since no man has seen God the Father, all of these Old Testament sightings of God as the "angel of the Lord" must have been Jesus, God the Son, veiling His glory so they could endure His presence without being consumed.
I am in full agreement with this!
Rebuking the Accuser
There is one more important reference where the angel of the Lord appears in the Old Testament. The prophet Zechariah was given a vision of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan is standing at his right hand to resist him. Here we see two adversaries contending over a sinful human being. In this case the sin is represented by Joshua's filthy garments (Zechariah 3:3).
In this narrative the name changes quickly from "the angel of the Lord" (verse 1) to "the Lord" (verse 2), indicating again that they are one and the same. Then the Lord makes an interesting statement. "And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan" (Zechariah 3:2) There is only one other place in Scripture, Jude verse nine, where this sentence is found, and it is spoken by Michael the archangel!
In the small New Testament epistle of Jude we see a vignette similar to Joshua and the angel in the book of Zechariah. "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 1:9). The situations are amazingly parallel. Christ and Satan are contending over a sinner. A live one in the case of Joshua, and a dead one in the case of Moses. The debate is ended abruptly when Jesus says, "The Lord rebuke thee." Jesus also rebuked the devil when He was tempted in the wilderness. "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan" (Luke 4:8).
Conclusion: Anyone who says “The Lord Rebuke Thee, Satan” is Jesus Christ!??? Nice parallel, but this is a real stretch to conclude that, because Michael the archangel spoke the same words as God did, that Michael the archangel is Jesus Christ!
Using Jude 1:9 as a proof text must be disqualified by the simple fact that the Book of Enoch whom Jude quotes in verses 14-15, clearly depicts Michael as "one of the angels!" Rabbinical teachings in the days of Christ, clearly identified Michael as one of the 7 archangels and never identifies him as the "Messiah." Knowning this, if it was the purpose of Jude to identify that Michael was Jesus, Jude would have made a special effort to clearly identify him as such. Such a point is never made!
Note here, that in Jude 1:9, Michael is identified as the "archangel" NOT as the "Son of God," "Messiah," "Christ," "Lamb of God," "the Lord" or any other identifying links that clearly make him .... Jesus Christ! In fact, the insertion of the word "the archangel" instead of key words such as "the Lord, the Messiah ..." etc. is, in itself, proof that Jude was making a distinct identification of the person of Michael as a "chief angel," not Jesus Christ. Please also note that Jesus Christ is mentioned by name in verses 1,4,17 & 21! Never once, does Jude identify that Michael is Jesus, although he speaks of both persons in his letter.
Michael the Prince
Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah (Isaiah 9:6) reveals a key word that bears investigating. One of the names he says that would apply to the Messiah is "Prince of Peace." This immediately reminds us of the three verses in Daniel in which Michael is called a "prince."
There is another verse in Daniel where the "Prince of princes" is mentioned. Again the cosmic conflict is being played out with Christ on one side and the devil on the other, with humanity serving as the battlefield. Symbolic names identify the two arch foes. Both struggle to gain control, Satan against our will and Christ only with our willingness.
"Prince of princes" is actually the same term that is translated "prince of the host" in verse 11. This is similar to "Lord of lords" (Psalm 136:3), "God of gods" (Deuteronomy 10:17), and "King of kings" (Revelation 19:16). All these are titles of deity. He is even referred to as "Messiah the Prince" (Daniel 9:25).
I contend that the two persons, Jesus the Messiah, and Michael the Archangel, are BOTH spoken of in the book of Daniel, and that they are BOTH separate persons!
The author of the web page, gets very crafty here! First of all, he plays on the word “Prince!” While the author tries to tie Jesus together with Michael as being the same “prince,” I might point out that there are a lot of princes' noted in scripture. There are 3 princes' mentioned in Daniel 10:20 alone - the Prince of Persia, the Prince of Grecia, and, of course, Michael, who is Prince of Israel (12:1). You will also find "the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" in Ez. 38:2, which obviously is not Jesus, and the Prince of Tyre in Ez. 28:2 is Satan himself! Yes, there are ranking rulers in the heavenlies and each territory has its assigned ruler, of which Michael is assigned over the people of Israel. Jesus is the ruler of rulers and King of the Universe!
Linking Jesus, who is the “Prince of princes,” “Prince of the Host” and "Messiah the Prince" with Micheal, who is identified as "one of the chief princes" cannot be proven! Please note the term "Prince of princes" which would mean that Jesus is "The Prince" over the other "princes" including Michael, "one of the chief princes!" Please note that Michael is not mentioned in any of these following verses which identify the Messiah:
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince ….
The author of the web page makes a big deal over the term “Prince of princes” and “Prince of Host” in chapter 8 and makes it appear that these were used to identify Michael since he is "one of the chief princes" in chapter 10. But please note, that the two verses where these terms are used (chapter 8 vss. 11 & 25), that Michael is not mentioned and can clearly be identified as a separate person other than Michael.
The FIRST time we see Michael being mentioned, is in 10:13, when he comes onto the scene to help as Daniel is fasting. An angel who came to the aid of Daniel, was hindered by the prince of Persia, by which Michael comes to help this angel to get through. There is no point made here that makes Michael “God the Son” in this verse.
One, or First?
Daniel 10:13 is probably the most difficult verse regarding Michael: "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me." It appears at first glance that Michael is only "one of" the chief princes. This is an unfortunate translation in the King James Version. The word "one" comes from the Hebrew word "echad" which also means "first," as in "first day" (Genesis 1:5). This changes the whole meaning of the verse to Michael being first of, or highest of, the chief princes. Again, a reference to Jesus.
The word "echad" in Genesis 1:5 is also translated as "one day" without changing the meaning of the text! And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (ASV, JPS, DRB, WEB) But this is NOT the case with Daniel 10:13!
Please note how the author makes this statement on Daniel 10:13 by changing the meaning of the word "echad" " This changes the whole meaning of the verse...." Obviously, the SDA teachers are hoping to " change the whole meaning of the verse!" I have counted 23 translations ( see footnote at bottom of this page for details), including 3 Spanish versions, and two of the oldest Translations, the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint ( a 200 B.C. Greek translation of the O.T. Hebrew scriptures used by the early church Christians and Jews in the days of Christ) that says “ One of the chief princes", and I am confident I can find more! I found only one translation that renders it as "First"! So the KJV is not the lone ranger of an " unfortunate translation" as the writer charges!
The weight of evidence against the SDA's attempt to " change the whole meaning of the verse" is great, including the voice of the 70 Jewish scholars of the 200 B.C. Septuagint who translated this verse into Greek as "one," as well as the ancient Book of Enoch from which Jude quoted from:
XX. 5. Michael, one of the holy angels, ...
XXIV 6. Then answered Michael, one of the holy [and honored] angels
XL. 9. And he said to me: This first is Michael,... and the second, ... is Raphael: and the third … is Gabriel, …and the fourth, is Phanuel 10. And these are the four angels of the Lord of Spirits
LXXI. 3. And the angel Michael [one of the archangels] seized me by my right hand … 8. …And Michael, and Raphael, and Gabriel, and Phenuel, and the holy angels who are above the heavens, go in and out of that house.
Even IF we should compromise and translate the word "one" into the word "first," there is no conclusive evidence here that Michael is Jesus! The question here would be "Is Michael also Jesus Christ," as the SDA group has concluded, or "Is Michael the highest ranking angel under the authority and dominion of Jesus Christ" which is how the early church fathers understood and taught! "But He is not on this account to be regarded as an angel, as a Gabriel or a Michael….He…is verily God, and the Son of God[.]” (Tertullian 230 A.D. On the Flesh of Christ, Chapter 14)
Scholar Albert Barnes writes: (4) The phrase “one of the chief princes” sustains this interpretation. It implies that he was one of those who held an exalted rank among those who are called “princes,” and if this word in this connection denotes angels, then Michael was an angel, and one of the most exalted of the angels. This accords with the appellation given to him by Jude - “the archangel.” Albert Barnes' Commentary
As a side note, I find it interesting that the SDA self proclaimed prophet, E.G. White, didn't use the word "First" when she quoted the verse in the following quote:
"And before the context closed Christ Himself came to Gabriel's aid---Gabriel declares 'But lo, Michael, one of the Chief Princes came to help me" (Dan 10:13, Prophets & Kings, p.572)
It is clear that the transition to "first" is a recent argument of the SDA heretics who will do any form of trickery to force scripture to conform to E.G. Whites false teachings. Instead of testing the profit BY the scriptures, like other cultic groups, they twist the scriptures to conform to their self appointed prophet to forcably make them a "True Prophet!"
The Voice of Michael
If we take the term "Michael the archangel" and examine the word "archangel," we see another interesting match. The only other passage in the Bible that uses the word "archangel" is 1 Thessalonians 4:16. But look at its context. "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." It is the voice of the archangel that raises the dead in Christ, and the Lord Himself who shouts it. This indicates that they are one and the same. Jesus is the one who shouts with the voice of the archangel, or "greatest Messenger," to raise the dead!
Obviously, angels don't have the power to resurrect the dead. Only God who gives life has the power to restore it. "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. … Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth" (John 5:26, 28, 29).
The error of the SDA teaching, is that it does NOT say that Jesus IS the "Archangel" anymore than it says that Jesus is the "trump of God"! When the Trumpet blows, an archangel, which is a seperate entity, comes out of the Temple and cries out to Jesus to reap the harvest! I will prove this with another scripture verse in a few moments!
The SDA's have confused the reading of this verse in 1 Thess. 4:16 as the question is asked, ... "does this scripture say that Jesus is the one who shouts as he is coming", or "is this scripture saying that Jesus is coming at the moment of time when an archangel shouts to Him that it is time to harvest the earth???" To answer this question, I should point out that the Father alone knows the time of the harvest. When that time is at hand, the Father sends an angel, who comes out of the temple, to give the shout of command to Jesus to reap the harvest!!! (ref. Mark 13:32 & Rev. 14:15) Jesus doesn't know the time of the harvest, only the Father knows! He is waiting for the command to come from the Father! 1 Thess. 4:16 shows the point of time the command is given by the Father, to the angel, and harmonizes with Rev. 14:15 as the angel comes out from the temple to give the command!
Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Rev. 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
1 Thes. 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:
So the voice of the archangel, is not Jesus Christ himself, but rather it is the angel whom is sent by the Father, to give the command to Jesus to reap the harvest!
In Rev. 14, we will see the actual account of the above event, and here, we see the angel, shouting to Jesus to reap the harvest! Both the angel and Jesus are shown as two separate persons!
Rev. 14:14-16
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. [15] And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. [16] And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
The SDA church has misread the scripture in 1 Thess. 4:16 transforming Jesus into the archangel who "shouts," whereas Rev. 14:14-16, shows that this angel as a separate person whom is sent to give the shout of command to Jesus!
Although an angel shouts to Jesus to reap the harvest, there is nothing here that should nullify a following voice of Christ by which he speaks to the dead to arise as written in (John 5:26, 28, 29). I simply contend that the voice of 1 Thess. 4:16 is the voice of an angel whom is sent to command Jesus to reap the harvest!
In Jude we see the archangel contending with the devil for the body of Moses, who, incidentally, was resurrected and taken to heaven from whence he appeared on the mount of transfiguration to encourage Christ (Mark 9). In 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul describes the resurrection as happening in response to the voice of the archangel. Again we see the parallel between these two verses; both describe the archangel in the act of resurrecting.
Once again, the book of Jude MUST be eliminated as grounds to support this heresy by reason of the Book of Enoch! You cannot use Jude's writings for proof as he so thoroughly trusted Enoch's writings to be scripture that he quoted from it in verses 14-15. Yet the Book of Enoch clearly wrote that Michael was "one of the angels" not the Messiah! " The book, apparently as a Greek language text, was known to and quoted by nearly all Church Fathers." (Wikipedia Encyclopedia) If Jude had disagreed with the content of the Book of Enoch, he would have made a strong effort to correct its writings and clarify that Jesus and Michael were the same person, a point of fact that is obviously lacking in Jude's letter:
Book of Enoch quotes:
XX. 5. Michael, one of the holy angels, ...
XXIV 6. Then answered Michael, one of the holy [and honored] angels who was with me, and was their leader, XXV. I., 3. And he (Michael) said unto me … This high mountain which thou hast seen, whose summit is like the throne of God, is His throne, where the Holy Great One, the Lord of Glory, the Eternal King will sit, when He shall come down to visit the earth with goodness.
XL. 9. And he said to me: This first is Michael,... and the second, ... is Raphael: and the third … is Gabriel, …and the fourth, is Phanuel 10. And these are the four angels of the Lord of Spirits and the four voices I heard in those days.
LIV. 6. And Michael, and Gabriel, and Raphael, and Phanuel shall take hold of them on that great day, and cast them on that day into the burning furnace, that the Lord of Spirits may take vengeance on them for their unrighteousness in becoming subject to Satan and leading astray those who dwell on the earth.
LXVIII. 4. And it came to pass when he stood before the Lord of Spirits, Michael said to Raphael: “I will not take their part under the eye of the Lord; for the Lord of Spirits has been angry with them…
LXXI. 3. And the angel Michael [one of the archangels] seized me by my right hand … 8. …And Michael, and Raphael, and Gabriel, and Phenuel, and the holy angels who are above the heavens, go in and out of that house.
I would like to point out that Jude mentions the name of "Jesus" 5 times in his book. You don't find it suspect that Jude would then change the name of Jesus to Michael in verse 9 without informing the reader that Michael and Jesus are the same person? No doubt, the two persons spoken of in Jude, "The Lord Jesus Christ" (1:4) and "Michael the archangel" (1:9), are two very separate individuals and Jude makes no attempt to claim that they are the same person because he had no intent to proclaim them as the same person!
Returning to the SDA comment above, the voice of the archangel in 1 Thess. 4:16 is shown in the previous response to be a separate angelic person who commands Jesus to reap the harvest!
The SDA writer attempts to link to the resurrection of Moses to point to Michael as being Jesus. Although it could be argued that Michael took the body to Jesus who then resurrected him, no scripture verse, here or elsewhere, says that Moses has been resurrected! Since the "First resurrection", promised in Rev. 20:4-5 has not yet occurred, Moses' appearing on the mount must have been a spiritual appearing even in like manner as Jesus appeared in the Old Testament without a physical body as “the angel of the Lord!” (obviously this idea conflicts with another SDA false teaching, the State of the Dead! An appearing of Moses prior to the resurrection of his dead body would conflict with the SDA doctrine of "soul sleep" or "non-existence" of the souls of dead people. This false teaching immediately throws the student into confusion with only one reasonable conclusion, that Moses must have been resurrected in order to visit Jesus on the mount! However, other scriptures make a premature resurrection impossible since the 1st resurrection, Rev. 20:4-5, has not yet occurred, but will occur at the return of Christ and the rapture of the saints. )
The scripture only says that Michael contended for the body of Moses! That is ALL the scripture in Jude says! It does NOT say that Michael resurrected Moses from the dead nor that Moses has been raised from the dead, a teaching that cannot be found in any scripture in the Bible!
While the scripture ONLY says that Michael argued with the Devil over the body of Moses, I am simply amazed at how the SDA church could build a doctrine that Michael resurrected Moses from the dead which cannot be found in any scripture! Adding anything more to the event than what is clearly written is heresy!
When Michael stands up in Daniel chapter 12, there also follows a resurrection, and he is described as the one who, "standeth for the children of thy people" (verse 1).
I will quote several Bible scholars to reply to this:
The great prince which standeth for the children of thy people - The meaning is, that he had the affairs of the Hebrew people, or the people of God, especially under his protection, or he was appointed to watch over them. This doctrine is in accordance with the notions that prevailed at that time; and no one can demonstrate that it is not true. There is no authority for applying this to the Messiah, as many have done, for the term Michael is not elsewhere given to him, and all that the language fairly conveys is met by the other supposition. The simple meaning is, that he who was the guardian angel of that nation, or who was appointed to watch over its interests, would at that time of great trouble interpose and render aid. (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible 1798-1870)
Michael--the guardian angel of Israel ("thy people"), (Dan_10:13). The transactions on earth affecting God's people have their correspondences in heaven, in the conflict between good and bad angels; so at the last great contest on earth which shall decide the ascendency of Christianity (Rev_12:7-10). An archangel, not the Lord Jesus; for he is distinguished from "the Lord" in Jud_1:9. (Jamieson, Faussett and Brown Commentary)
Worshiping the Commander
In Revelation, Michael is portrayed as leading the heavenly hosts, or armies, in the war against the rebellious Lucifer that took place there. "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels" (Revelation 12:7). Here the term "dragon" is a symbolic name for Satan, the leader of evil (verse 9), so it is very safe to assume that Michael is another name for Jesus, the embodiment and leader of good. But there is more evidence.
I must counter that it is NOT "very safe to assume that Michael is another name for Jesus" The scripture doesn't say that! You might take note that John clearly revealed who the Dragon is, with absolutely no question! "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, ... " With 3 other terms, he clearly, without question, reveals the identity of the "dragon!" He repeats this multiple identification of the devil in Rev. 20:2! Yet, John the revelator makes absolutely NO attempt to identify the person of Michael with ANY term such as Messiah, King of Kings, Word of God, the Son of God etc., that would link him to Jesus! I contend that is because Jesus and Michael are NOT the same person and John had no intent to identify them as the same!
WHY does John use the name of Michael in verse 7, and THEN speak of Jesus Christ in verse 17 without making any attempt to link the two together as being the same person as he did with the Dragon and Satan? Of the 14 times in the book of Revelation that the name of Jesus is spoken of, why didn't John write: “Jesus also called Michael and his angels fought against the dragon?” Furthermore, Michael is never mentioned again in the entire book of Revelation! As I mentioned in the book of Jude, you don't find it suspect that the author, having spoken of Jesus on various occasions in the same book, would not have identified Jesus and Michael as the same person with indisputable words so that the reader of his prophecy would have no question about the two being the same person?
While Michael and his angels fought against the Devil, there is another battle described in Revelation in which the leader leads both men and angels. In Rev. 19:11-16, there is absolutely NO question who the leader of this army is! This army is comprised of both the angels of heaven as well as the resurrected saints and Jesus is the leader of this great army! He is clearly identified by several indisputable terms to show this to be Jesus! There is NO doubt that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, (1 Tim 6:15, Rev. 17:14)! There is no doubt that Jesus is the Word of God, (John chapter 1). Yet, NOT a single scripture clearly says that Jesus is Michael the archangel, except by forced reasoning from the 5 scriptures where Michael's name is mentioned, which only declares that Michael is either the highest ranking angel having charge over an army of angels, or "one of" the highest ranking angels who is the prince who stands up for Israel and fights, with his angels, against the devil! Is it not possible for Jesus Christ, God the Son, to have a chief angel that fits this description?
Although the US President is the Commander in Chief and has final authority over the entire military staff such as the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, each department has its own "Chief!" I contend that, although Michael is the Chief of one of the heavenly departments, that Jesus is Chief over ALL the departments, including the resurrected saints which are not "angels!"
Just as Israel was preparing for its first battle after crossing into the Promised Land, Joshua had an encounter with an unusual warrior. "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so" (Joshua 5:13-15).
Not only did Joshua worship this being, but the heavenly captain received his worship. If he had been a mere angel, he would have rebuked Joshua just like the angel rebuked John for trying to worship him (see Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9).
In all the cases where the angel of the Lord accepts worship, it is clearly the Son of God. But where regular created angels are worshiped, they refuse it. Even Jesus reminded Satan in the wilderness, "For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Luke 4:8).
In fact, all the created angels are commanded to worship Jesus as they did during His first advent. "And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him" (Hebrews 1:6). The devil is infuriated because he knows that someday even he will be compelled to acknowledge Jesus as king and worship Him. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10, 11).
The phrase "Lord of hosts" is found 245 times in the Bible and refers to the "commander of God's angelic army." So the "captain of the Lord's host" that Joshua saw was not an angel, but Jesus Himself. That explains why He demanded that Joshua remove his shoes. The place was holy because Jesus was there, just as Jesus' presence at the burning bush made that ground holy for Moses. So Michael, the captain of the Lord's host, or army, is another title for Jesus.
I agree with all of the above 5 paragraphs, UNTIL the writer makes his concluding remark that Michael is the “captain of the Lord's Host,” which cannot be found in any scripture, and then makes the leaping statement that he is Jesus! In all of the above statements, we return to the false assumption that the “Lord of Hosts” equates with “Michael and his angels!” While Jesus IS identified as both “Lord of Hosts” and “The angel of the Lord” not a single scripture says that Michael is identified as either one! Michael and his angels are undisputedly a part of the army of God, but nowhere does it say that ALL the angels in heaven are subject to Michael, or that Michael is the “Lord” of all the armies of heaven as Jesus is identified to be!
Jesus is no more Michael than he is Gabriel, another archangel that is mentioned in scripture:
H1403 Gabriel = “warrior of God” or “man of God”
1) an archangel; the angel God used to send messages of great importance to man; sent to Daniel, to Zacharias, and to Mary
Who Is as God!
When Phillip asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, Christ responded: "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9).
Some think that God's Son waited 4,000 years to personally intervene in the affairs of man. Not so! Though it is true that the incarnation occurred 4,000 years after man's fall, God the Son has been personally involved in the history and affairs of His people.
What a wonderful truth that Jesus, God's eternal Son, has ever been actively occupied in watching over, providing for, and protecting His children! He spoke face to face with Abraham and Moses and wrestled with Jacob. He led the Israelites through the wilderness, providing food and water and victory against their enemies.
Remember that the title "Michael the archangel" means "The greatest messenger who is as God." It was Jesus, "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), who brought the greatest message of hope, the gospel, to our perishing world!
Once again, as noted in the beginning of this study, the question is repeated, is Jesus "The greatest messenger who is as God" as this writer claims? Or is he GOD !
No doubt the “angel of the Lord” has manifested himself throughout history and that this person is Jesus Christ himself! Michael is never seen or mentioned in scripture until the book of Daniel! Not a single verse identifies that they are the same person. Personally, I believe that Michael the Archangel is a separate person from Jesus Christ, and that Michael is one of Jesus' chief angels, and might even be the chief angel over the heavenly angels! I do NOT agree that Jesus is the same person as Michael the Archangel as not a single scripture declares such a conclusion except by showing similarities between the two. Might I reason, that is the very reason why Michael's name means “Like unto God?” Might I finish by saying that Michael is "Like unto Jesus," although he is NOT Jesus?
"But He is not on this account to be regarded as an angel, as a Gabriel or a Michael….He…is verily God, and the Son of God[.]” (Tertullian 230 A.D. On the Flesh of Christ, Chapter 14)
Study on the deity of Jesus
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Footnote
Daniel 10:13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
List of translations that show Daniel 10:13 as "one of the chief princes" - ASV, BBE, Bishops, Geneva, CEV, Darby, DRB, GNB, GW, JPS, KJV, LITV, MKJV, NLT, NKJV, WEB, Webster, NIV
Spanish versions - LBLA, SRV, SSE These versions used the word "uno - one" instead of "primero - first"
Latin Vulgate - Once the most recognized translation in the Christian world, used the word "unus - one" instead of "prima - first"
Greek Septuagint - 200 years before Christ, the Greek speaking Jews had 70 Jewish elders translate the Hebrew scriptures into the common language of that day, Greek. This Greek translation was read in the Greek speaking Jewish synagogues and later became the Key Old Testament Bible used by the early Christian church in the Greek speaking empire in the days of Christ! The Greek word used in the Septuagint for Daniel 10:13 is "heis" meaning "one" (Strongs #1520) and is translated by the Greek scholars to English, in the Septuagint, as "one"! To learn more about the Septuagint see notes below!
The only translation in my Bible collection that translates this verse as "first of the chief heads" is the YLT
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Additional notes about the Septuagint
A Jewish community had existed in Alexandria almost from its foundation by Alexander the Great in 331 b.c. In two or three generations this community had forgotten its native Palestinian language. These Jews realized they needed the Hebrew Scriptures rendered into the only language they knew—Greek. The first section of the Hebrew Bible to be translated into Greek was the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Old Testament, some time before 200 b.c. Other parts were translated during the next century. This version is commonly called the Septuagint, from septuaginta, the Latin word for 70 (LXX). This name was selected because of a tradition that the Pentateuch was translated into Greek by about 70 elders of Israel who were brought to Alexandria especially for this purpose. (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
The following are some introductory notes in the front pages of the Septuagint:
"At Alexandria the Hellenistic Jews used the Septuagint, and gradually attached it to the greatest possible authority: from Alexandria it spread amongst the Jews of the dispersion, so that at the time of our Lord's birth it was the common form in which the Old Testament Scriptures had been diffused.
The Septuagint version having been current for about three centuries before the time when the books of the New Testament were written, it is not surprising that the Apostles should have used it more often than not in making citations from the Old Testament.
After the diffusion of Christianity, copies of the Septuagint became widely dispersed amongst the new communities that were formed; so that before many years had elapsed this version must have been as much in the hands of the Gentiles as of the Jews.
We find amongst the members of the Eastern Churches who use the Greek language, that the Septuagint has been and still is so thoroughly received as authentic scripture ...."
The Septuagint with the Apocrypha: Greek and English by Sir Lancelot C.L. Brenton, Regency Reference Library, Zondervan Publishing House.
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