Do Jehovah's Witness teach that Jesus is the same person as Michael the Archangel?

Answer 1

More precisely, Jehovah's Witnesses believe the bible to teach that "Michael" is simply another name for Jesus.

Clearly, an "archangel" is not the peer of mere angels. Christendom has pretended that Gabriel is also an archangel, and that Satan had been one; both ideas have no foundation in Scripture. Some religions invent names for four or five additional supposed "archangels"; those invented names have no foundation in Scripture. "Archangel" actually means "Chief of the Angels"; the fact remains that the bible itself speaks of only one single solitary archangel. The Scriptures never use the term "archangel" in the plural, but only in the singular.

Who is a better person than Jesus to be the single "Chief" of all faithful angels? Of whom can it be said that faithful angels belong to him, or are "his"?
2 Thes 1:7 Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels
Rev 12:7 Michael and his angels battled


The bible certainly teaches that the archangel Michael is the same person as Jesus.


Note that Jesus the Lord calls with an archangel's voice:
1 Thes 4:14-16 Jesus died and rose again, so, too... the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice


Do two different persons present themselves during a time of "distress" such as has "not occurred" before?

Dan 12:1 And during that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of your people. And there will certainly occur a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time.

Matt 24:3-21 Disciples [asked Jesus] what will be the sign of your presence...?" And in answer Jesus said to them: "...All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. ...for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now


Do two different persons both lead the heavenly armies?

Rev 19:13,14 [Jesus] is The Word of God. Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him

Rev 12:7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled


Once you study it, the bible really teaches that Michael is another name for Jesus. Though the term may confuse some, Jesus can properly be called an "archangel" or an "angel" (though not a mere angel) or a "son of God" or a "morning star" (though not a mere 'morning star'). Interestingly, the Scriptures refer to *ALL* angelic spirit creatures as "morning stars" (not just Jesus or Lucifer). Note that the archangel Jesus is uniquely elevated above mere angels by the title "the BRIGHT morning star".

Job 38:4,7 When [Jehovah] founded the earth... When the morning stars [or "angels"] joyfully cried out together, And all the sons of God began shouting in applause

Rev 22:16 I, Jesus... I am the root and the offspring of David, and the BRIGHT morning star. [caps added]

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20050422/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/19951101/article_02.htm

Answer 2

What Some Commentators Have Said
Many who criticise Jehovah's Witnesses for their views don't realise that a number of Protestant sources agree with the Witness position.

“As we stated yesterday, Michael may mean an angel; but I embrace the opinion of those who refer this to the person of Christ, because it suits the subject best to represent him as standing forward for the defense of his elect people.” - John Calvin. (See Calvin's writings online at http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol25/htm/vii.htm)

“Michael - Christ alone is the protector of his church, when all the princes of the earth desert or oppose it.” - John Wesley's commentary on Daniel 10:21. (See Wesley's writings online at http://wesley.nnu.edu/john_wesley/notes/daniel.htm)

“a) The angel here notes two things: first that the Church will be in great affliction and trouble at Christ's coming, and next that God will send his angel to deliver it, whom he here calls Michael, meaning Christ, who is proclaimed by the preaching of the Gospel.” - Geneva Bible Commentary. (See http://www.ccel.org/g/geneva/notes/Daniel/12.html)

Jesus will “descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). As Hal Flemings commented: “If Jesus is not the archangel in this event and he is superior to the archangel, then why would he perform this act as though he was someone of lower rank? Wouldn't he be using an archangel's voice because he is an archangel?”

When the archangel's voice is heard, “the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). But John 5:28, 29 tells us: “all that are in the graves shall hear his [Christ's, not just any angel's] voice and shall come forth.” Both verses use the Greek word φωνη phone - once for the archangel's voice, once for the Son of Man's voice, following which the resurrection takes place. One voice, not two, is heard. Logically, then, we must conclude that there is one voice because there is one person.



What can we know about Michael?
He is “one of the chief princes”. (Hebrew: sarim)

He helped an angel stand against the 'prince of the kingdom of Persia'.

He is referred to as “Michael your Prince” (the 'your' being plural in Hebrew)

He will be 'standing for the children of [Daniel's] people.

He will 'stand up' just before the greatest ever 'time of trouble'.

He is called 'the archangel'

He contended with the devil.

He did not dare bring about a 'railing accusation'.

He left it to God to rebuke the devil.

He has 'his angels'.

He battled against the devil.

He threw the devil and his angels out of heaven.


What other references are there to an archangel in the Bible?

1 Thessalonians 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: (This is the only other reference to an archangel in the Bible.)

Michael is “the great Prince” (Daniel 12:1) or “your [Israel's] Prince” (Daniel 10:21); also “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13). The Hebrew term sar, prince, is used prophetically of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, 7.


The objection that Christ can not be called an angel, because Hebrews 1:4 says that he was “made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” is unfounded. Note that he inherited, obtained the name, not that he always had it. When Hebrews chapter 1 refers to the angels, it means the angels in general. It does not necessarily have to imply that Christ can't be called an angel. When Luke 21:29 refers to “the fig tree and all the trees”, it doesn't mean that the fig tree isn't a tree too. Likewise, when the Bible refers to Christ and the angels, it doesn't have to imply that he's not an angel.


Clearly, although Jesus is called an angel in the Bible, he is far from being like the other angels. The Watchtower commented: “The basic meaning of “angel” (Hebrew, mal·'akh´; Greek, ag´ge·los) is “messenger.” As the “Word” (Greek, lo´gos), Jesus is God's messenger par excellence.” (15/12/1984, page 29.)

Answer 3

It was the Angel of the Lord - The Messenger Of The Lord.

Exo 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

Zechariah 1:7-9 refers to JESUS as both "the word of Jehovah" and as "the angel who was speaking"

1 Th 4:16 - "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel."

Answer 4

Yes we do. Here is our reasoning from the scriptures:

Michael means "Who is like God". The name appears five times in the bible. The name evidently designates Michael as the one who takes the lead in upoholding Jehovah's sovereighty and destroying his enemies.

At 1 Thess 4: 16, the command of Jesus Christ for the resurrection to begin is described as "the archangel's call", and Jude 9 says that the archangel is Michael. Would it be appropriate to liken Jesus commanding call to that of someone lesser in authority? Reasonably, then, the archangel Michael is Jesus Christ. Interestingly, the expression "archangel" is never found in the plural in the scriptures, thus implying that there is only one.

Revelations 12: 7-12 says that Michael and his angels would war against Satan and hurl him and his wicked angels out of heaven in connection with the conferring of kingly authority on Christ. Jesus is later depicted as leading the armies of heaven in war against the nations of the world. (Rev. 19: 11-16) Is it not reasonable that Jesus would also be the one to take action against the one he described as "ruler of this world," Satan the Devil? (John 12:31)

Daniel 12: 1 associates the "standing up of Michael" to act with authority with "a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time." That would certainly fit the experience of the nations when Christ as heavenly executioner takes action against them. So the evidence indicates that the Son of God ws known as Michael before he came to earth and is known also by that name since his return to heaven where he resides as the glorified spirit Son of God.

Answer 5

Why is it that people do not like the fact that Jesus is also Michael the archangel?

Is it because if he in an angel then he can't be God?

Thus the question is based on a false premise.

The true fact is that the word angel means messenger as Jesus, as the Logos is a messenger from God to man.

Answer 6

Yes. The name of this Michael appears only five times in the Bible. The glorious spirit person who bears the name is referred to as “one of the chief princes,” “the great prince who has charge of your [Daniel’s] people,” and as “the archangel.” (Dan. 10:13; 12:1; Jude 9, RS) Michael means “Who Is Like God?” The name evidently designates Michael as the one who takes the lead in upholding Jehovah’s sovereignty and destroying God’s enemies.

At 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (RS), the command of Jesus Christ for the resurrection to begin is described as “the archangel’s call,” and Jude 9 says that the archangel is Michael. Would it be appropriate to liken Jesus’ commanding call to that of someone lesser in authority? Reasonably, then, the archangel Michael is Jesus Christ. (Interestingly, the expression “archangel” is never found in the plural in the Scriptures, thus implying that there is only one.)

Revelation 12:7-12 says that Michael and his angels would war against Satan and hurl him and his wicked angels out of heaven in connection with the conferring of kingly authority on Christ. Jesus is later depicted as leading the armies of heaven in war against the nations of the world. (Rev. 19:11-16) Is it not reasonable that Jesus would also be the one to take action against the one he described as “ruler of this world,” Satan the Devil? (John 12:31) Daniel 12:1 (RS) associates the ‘standing up of Michael’ to act with authority with “a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.” That would certainly fit the experience of the nations when Christ as heavenly executioner takes action against them. So the evidence indicates that the Son of God was known as Michael before he came to earth and is known also by that name since his return to heaven where he resides as the glorified spirit Son of God.

Answer 7

Yes they do and they are wrong.