What The Bible Says About Angels (Part Three On Michael The Archangel)
Who is Michael the Archangel? Five times this personage is mentioned in the Bible. Three of those times in the book of Daniel, once in Jude and once in Revelation. First, let us deal with the words “angel” and “archangel.” The word “angel” literally means “messenger” while the word “arch” means “chief.” An “archangel” can therefore be a “chief angel” or a “chief messenger.” Add to that the fact that the name “Michael’ means “Who is like God” with or without a question mark. To many people Michael is another name for Jesus. To others he is the chief angel. Which is it? Let us examine the five verses where Michael the archangel is mentioned.
(1) Daniel 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one [FIRST/CHIEF] of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”
Note that the word “one” in “one of the chief princes” used there can also mean “first or chief” in Hebrew. If we take that reading Michael can be said to be the foremost prince. After all, Dan. 12:1 calls Him “the great prince.” Let us not base anything on this verse alone. Let us go to the next verse.
(2) Daniel 10:21 “But I [Gabriel] will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.”
The verse above proves the pre-eminence of Michael. He is called “your prince.” Note the context of that verse. Just one chapter before in Dan. 9:25 the Messiah was called the Prince and now we are told that Michael is Daniel’s Prince. That means that Michael the Prince is the same person as Jesus the Messiah who is the Prince.
(3) In Jude 1:9 we are told:
“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.”
Note who rebukes the Devil, Michael the Lord. Compare the above verse with this one from Zechariah:
Zechariah 3:2 “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?”
Obviously Michael is the Lord Jesus, and ‘archangel’ simply means “chief messenger” not “chief angel.’
(4) Revelation 12:7 says that the angels are said to be michael’s angels:
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.”
The angels do not belong to another angel high up and would Jesus stand back and do nothing while there is a war in Heaven? No, the contrast is clear. It is Michael vs the Devil. In other words it is Jesus vs the Devil. Michael is Jesus.
(5) 1 Thessalonians 4:16 helps put closure to this topic.
It says “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.”
This text clearly states that Jesus is coming with the “voice of the archangel.” We have seen that that “archangel’ is Michael. It is clear therefore that Michael and Jesus are the same person. Just as the Devil has many names so does Jesus.
Who then is the highest angel in Heaven in terms of rank?
Judging from the Bible alone that title goes to Gabriel whose name incidentally and ironically means “man of God.” His name is mentioned twice in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament. We have no other name of any other angel in the Protestant Bible which says nothing about a Raphael, Uriel or the like. Those names come from the Apocrypha. It is Gabriel that was sent to make Daniel understand the visions God gave him. (See Dan. 8:16; 9:21). It was Gabriel that was sent to Zacharias to tell him about the child [John the Baptist] that he was to have that would prepare the way for Jesus. It was Gabriel that was sent again to Mary to tell her that she was chosen to bear Jesus, the Redeemer of the world. (See Luke 1:26).
Note well that Gabriel implies that no other angel understood the prophecies as well as him. (See Dan. 10:21). He also refers to himself as Gabriel that stands in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). He would not say this unless he was implying that he is closer to Jesus than the rest of angels.
Dear reader, what will you do with this information from this three-part series? This information was not just to fill your head with facts and leave your heart empty. It was not to merely satisfy your curiosity. This was to make you aware of the great controversy between good and evil, God and the Devil, the help afforded us by God and billions of angels, the danger of the Devil’s lies that look like glowing truths but are doctrines of devils, and the need to prepare for the great test, the battle for the mind. No one can serve two masters. If you do not choose God you automatically choose the Devil for Matthew 12:30 says “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” I pray that you will accept Jesus’ gift on Calvary and His work on the cross that can cross out your sins. Are you willing to live His way? Are you at least willing to be made willing? Talk to God now. Accept His sacrifice today. He has already gotten the victory and will triumph but we must ensure that we triumph with Him and not grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
(1) Daniel 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one [FIRST/CHIEF] of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”
Note that the word “one” in “one of the chief princes” used there can also mean “first or chief” in Hebrew. If we take that reading Michael can be said to be the foremost prince. After all, Dan. 12:1 calls Him “the great prince.” Let us not base anything on this verse alone. Let us go to the next verse.
(2) Daniel 10:21 “But I [Gabriel] will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.”
The verse above proves the pre-eminence of Michael. He is called “your prince.” Note the context of that verse. Just one chapter before in Dan. 9:25 the Messiah was called the Prince and now we are told that Michael is Daniel’s Prince. That means that Michael the Prince is the same person as Jesus the Messiah who is the Prince.
(3) In Jude 1:9 we are told:
“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.”
Note who rebukes the Devil, Michael the Lord. Compare the above verse with this one from Zechariah:
Zechariah 3:2 “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?”
Obviously Michael is the Lord Jesus, and ‘archangel’ simply means “chief messenger” not “chief angel.’
(4) Revelation 12:7 says that the angels are said to be michael’s angels:
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.”
The angels do not belong to another angel high up and would Jesus stand back and do nothing while there is a war in Heaven? No, the contrast is clear. It is Michael vs the Devil. In other words it is Jesus vs the Devil. Michael is Jesus.
(5) 1 Thessalonians 4:16 helps put closure to this topic.
It says “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.”
This text clearly states that Jesus is coming with the “voice of the archangel.” We have seen that that “archangel’ is Michael. It is clear therefore that Michael and Jesus are the same person. Just as the Devil has many names so does Jesus.
Who then is the highest angel in Heaven in terms of rank?
Judging from the Bible alone that title goes to Gabriel whose name incidentally and ironically means “man of God.” His name is mentioned twice in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament. We have no other name of any other angel in the Protestant Bible which says nothing about a Raphael, Uriel or the like. Those names come from the Apocrypha. It is Gabriel that was sent to make Daniel understand the visions God gave him. (See Dan. 8:16; 9:21). It was Gabriel that was sent to Zacharias to tell him about the child [John the Baptist] that he was to have that would prepare the way for Jesus. It was Gabriel that was sent again to Mary to tell her that she was chosen to bear Jesus, the Redeemer of the world. (See Luke 1:26).
Note well that Gabriel implies that no other angel understood the prophecies as well as him. (See Dan. 10:21). He also refers to himself as Gabriel that stands in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). He would not say this unless he was implying that he is closer to Jesus than the rest of angels.
Dear reader, what will you do with this information from this three-part series? This information was not just to fill your head with facts and leave your heart empty. It was not to merely satisfy your curiosity. This was to make you aware of the great controversy between good and evil, God and the Devil, the help afforded us by God and billions of angels, the danger of the Devil’s lies that look like glowing truths but are doctrines of devils, and the need to prepare for the great test, the battle for the mind. No one can serve two masters. If you do not choose God you automatically choose the Devil for Matthew 12:30 says “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” I pray that you will accept Jesus’ gift on Calvary and His work on the cross that can cross out your sins. Are you willing to live His way? Are you at least willing to be made willing? Talk to God now. Accept His sacrifice today. He has already gotten the victory and will triumph but we must ensure that we triumph with Him and not grab defeat from the jaws of victory.