Why do Jehovah Witnesses believe 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is proof that Jesus is Michael the Archangel?

Question

1 Thessalonians 4:16 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:

If Jehovah Witnesses believe the words "with the voice of the Archangel" is referring to the voice of Jesus, why don't they also believe "with the trump of God" refers to Jesus as God? Both references are made in the same sentence, and preceded by the word "with".

I personally believe that Jesus and Michael are not the same.

But based on the way Jehovah Witnesses are rationalizing this scripture, using the wording within the verse, I could understand why they might incorrectly assume Jesus, Michael the Archangel, and God are seperate, but I can not understand how they would reach the conclusion that Jesus is Michael?

Maybe someone can explain the logic behind this for me? Thanks.

Answer 1

The JW's have rewritten God's Word to fit with the lies that their founder dreamed up. They do not believe in the Trinity even tho the bible clearly teaches the Trinity. They have gone thru the bible and changed certain words. They do believe that the Archangel Michael is Jesus. They also believe that Jesus has already returned in 1914, 1925 and a few other times.

This is from their bible compare it to the KJV

1 In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the word was a god. 2 This one was in [the] beginning with God. 3 All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.

This is KJV

John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.



Now compare them. Look at the first line. They have changed from and "the Word was God" to and "the word was a god".

Here is the link to their bible
http://www.watchtower.org/

Answer 2

While there is no statement in the Bible that categorically identifies Michael the archangel as Jesus, there is one scripture that links Jesus with the office of archangel. In his letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul prophesied: “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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) In this scripture Jesus is described as having assumed his power as God’s Messianic King. Yet, he speaks with “an archangel’s voice.” Note, too, that he has the power to raise the dead.

While on earth as a human, Jesus performed several resurrections. In doing so, he used his voice to utter commanding calls. For example, when resurrecting the dead son of a widow in the city of Nain, he said: “Young man, I say to you, Get up!” (Luke 7:14, 15) Later, just before resurrecting his friend Lazarus, Jesus “cried out with a loud voice: ‘Lazarus, come on out!’” (John 11:43) But on these occasions, Jesus’ voice was the voice of a perfect man.

After his own resurrection, Jesus was raised to a “superior position” in heaven as a spirit creature. (Philippians 2:9) No longer a human, he has the voice of an archangel. So when God’s trumpet sounded the call for “those who are dead in union with Christ” to be raised to heaven, Jesus issued “a commanding call,” this time “with an archangel’s voice.” It is reasonable to conclude that only an archangel would call “with an archangel’s voice.”

Yes, there are other angelic creatures of high rank, such as seraphs and cherubs. (Genesis 3:24; Isaiah 6:2) Yet, the Scriptures point to the resurrected Jesus Christ as the chief of all angels—Michael the archangel.

Answer 3

There is no disharmony. The Bible plainly teaches that Jesus Christ is himself a god, so of course he has a trumpet of a god.

(John 1:1) ...the Word was a god

(Isaiah 9:6) For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called ...Mighty God

(John 1:18) No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him.

(Philippians 2:5,6) Christ Jesus...was existing in God’s form


Thanks again for the opportunity to show that Jesus Christ the Son is a distinct person from Jehovah God the Father!

Answer 4

There is more history then just the 1 Thessolonians scripture.
Like somewhere in the old testament there is some violence and/or destruction committed by Micheal the archangel and they assume this also to be Jesus.

I don't believe it at all, but I am often surrounded by JW's and have gathered that info.

Sorry, no specific data handy.

Answer 5

As I understand it, their founder decided to follow God using the bible only and nothing else. So, they reject everyone since then who had anything wise to say about it and they invalidate any other revelation since then (when the bible was written). Maybe I'm wrong, but then again, I think that people who don't take care of their spiritual life will fall into whatever one is convenient at the time when they need spiritual help. At least they are getting something, though. They've changed their policy alot since their religion began. If you don't want them at your door, you can phone them up now and tell them not to come around, and they'll put you on a list. Before, they didn't do that. I remember one of my school chums (she was 14 at the time) brandishing a kitchen knife at them in order to get them to leave her house (she was home alone, and they actually put their foot in her door and came into her house and started preaching to her.) I will never forget that.

Answer 6

I have the same problem understanding the same thing except it's with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit...how could they be one?

Answer 7

They change the Word of GOD to suit their doctrine instead of changing their doctrine to suit the Word of GOD

Answer 8

(Mi´cha·el) [Who Is Like God?].

1. The only holy angel other than Gabriel named in the Bible, and the only one called “archangel.” (Jude 9) The first occurrence of the name is in the tenth chapter of Daniel, where Michael is described as “one of the foremost princes”; he came to the aid of a lesser angel who was opposed by “the prince of the royal realm of Persia.” Michael was called “the prince of [Daniel’s] people,” “the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people.” (Da 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1) This points to Michael as the angel who led the Israelites through the wilderness. (Ex 23:20, 21, 23; 32:34; 33:2) Lending support to this conclusion is the fact that “Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body.”—Jude 9.

Scriptural evidence indicates that the name Michael applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return. Michael is the only one said to be “the archangel,” meaning “chief angel,” or “principal angel.” The term occurs in the Bible only in the singular. This seems to imply that there is but one whom God has designated chief, or head, of the angelic host. At 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the voice of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is described as being that of an archangel, suggesting that he is, in fact, himself the archangel. This text depicts him as descending from heaven with “a commanding call.” It is only logical, therefore, that the voice expressing this commanding call be described by a word that would not diminish or detract from the great authority that Christ Jesus now has as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Mt 28:18; Re 17:14) If the designation “archangel” applied, not to Jesus Christ, but to other angels, then the reference to “an archangel’s voice” would not be appropriate. In that case it would be describing a voice of lesser authority than that of the Son of God.

There are also other correspondencies establishing that Michael is actually the Son of God. Daniel, after making the first reference to Michael (Da 10:13), recorded a prophecy reaching down to “the time of the end” (Da 11:40) and then stated: “And during that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people.” (Da 12:1) Michael’s ‘standing up’ was to be associated with “a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time.” (Da 12:1) In Daniel’s prophecy, ‘standing up’ frequently refers to the action of a king, either taking up his royal power or acting effectively in his capacity as king. (Da 11:2-4, 7, 16b, 20, 21) This supports the conclusion that Michael is Jesus Christ, since Jesus is Jehovah’s appointed King, commissioned to destroy all the nations at Har–Magedon.—Re 11:15; 16:14-16.

The book of Revelation (12:7, 10, 12) specifically mentions Michael in connection with the establishment of God’s Kingdom and links this event with trouble for the earth: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled. And I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down . . . On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea.’” Jesus Christ is later depicted as leading the heavenly armies in war against the nations of the earth. (Re 19:11-16) This would mean a period of distress for them, which would logically be included in the “time of distress” that is associated with Michael’s standing up. (Da 12:1) Since the Son of God is to fight the nations, it is only reasonable that he was the one who with his angels earlier battled against the superhuman dragon, Satan the Devil, and his angels.

In his prehuman existence Jesus was called “the Word.” (Joh 1:1) He also had the personal name Michael. By retaining the name Jesus after his resurrection (Ac 9:5), “the Word” shows that he is identical with the Son of God on earth. His resuming his heavenly name Michael and his title (or name) “The Word of God” (Re 19:13) ties him in with his prehuman existence. The very name Michael, asking as it does, “Who Is Like God?” points to the fact that Jehovah God is without like, or equal, and that Michael his archangel is his great Champion or Vindicator.

Answer 9

try this www.bible.ca

It refers to all error everywhere

Answer 10

You're incorrect. That's not their position at all.