Why do JW's believe Jesus is Michael the Archangel?

Question

Now while I don't quite believe the whole trinity thing myself I have a hard time figuring out where you get Jesus is Michael.

Scriptual proofs only - I won't accept extra-biblical sources for this one.

Here is one that shows he isn't any kind of angel:

Hebrews 1:4-6 (NASB)
1:4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"? And again, "I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?
1:6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."

From their bible (NWT)

Hebrews 1:4-6

4 So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs.
5 For example, to which one of the angels did he ever say: “You are my son; I, today, I have become your father”? And again: “I myself shall become his father, and he himself will become my son”?
6 But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.”

I think they have some good ideas but I don't agree with all of their doctrine.

Answer 1

According to the book of Hebrews,

Who is Jesus and what is his Relationship with God?

1:1 God speaks to us,

1:2 by means of His Son (a male offspring / progeny = ‘a result of creative effort, product’

The American Heritage Dictionary (TAHD))

who He (God) appointed, (Lit. He put)

through (#1223 channel) whom He made the world (Jesus is not the source of creation but the channel, or master worker, (Prov. 8:30, My NASB cross references Prov. 8:22 with Jesus at Rev 3:14) also see Jn 1:3 (#1223 channel))

1:3 Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. (Jesus is not the source of God’s glory, but is the visible manifestation, why? Because Jesus is)

the exact representation of God’s nature
(Representation (N-W) ‘a : an artistic likeness or
image’ of God’s nature,
(2 Cor 4:4 if we believe Jesus is more than an image; we have been blinded by Satan)

Nature (TAHD) = ‘character of an individual’, Jesus is an image of God’s nature or character
Jn 8: 28, 29; 14:10;) What Jesus sees his Father do, Jesus imitates his Father.

Interesting side point Representation can also means:
(TAHD) = ‘serving as an official delegate, agent or spokesman’ (see 1:2 ‘appointed’)
Jesus serves as Jehovah’s appointed spokesman (Jn 1:1, 2);

sat down at the right hand of God (an important position but is lesser than God
(N-W) b : an indispensable person 2 b : a place of honor 3 : chiefly relied on)

The true meaning of the following verses become evident when you understand

Job 1: 6 “Now it came to be the day when the sons* of the [true] God entered to take their station before Jehovah,” *“Sons of.” Heb., beneh´; LXX, “angels.” This book was written to “Hebrews” who had this understanding.

1:4 became better than the angels (How and why did he become better? Because he is God,
NO, because he

inherited a more excellent name than they (Vs 4 starts off showing how Jesus is better than his angelic brothers, How? Because Jesus inherits or is given a better name than the other sons of God)

1:5 which of the angels (or other sons) did (God) say “You are my Son?
(To Jesus His Firstborn (see 1:2 & 6)

BLB: blueletterbible.org - strongs= #4416

#4416, 1) the firstborn
a) of man or beast
b) of Christ, the first born of all creation

Firstborn = (N-W) first brought forth : eldest
Jesus is Jehovah’s oldest or eldest Son.

today I begotten you (NASB)
(Begotten (TAHD) = ‘to cause to exist, produced’ (Prov. 8:21, 22; see 3:1))

1:6 brings the firstborn into the world. (Because Jesus was the channel that Jehovah used to create the world (1:2), Jesus had to have been begotten prior to the creation. (Col 1:15,16) Long before being born on earth, - long before being anointed in 29 C.E.)

angel (or other sons) “worship” or “do obeisance” to Jesus?

(As we’ve seen thus far – Jesus is a creation and as such is not to be worshiped.
As firstborn, appointed by God, he is entitled to Homage)

(BLB #4352 1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence
2) among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence
3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication
a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank
.
side point: To honor is NOT the same as worship.
(Something else you keep misapplying)

(2 Kings 2:15 footnote NWT Bible “They . . . bowed down (to Elisha).”
Gr., pro•se•ky´ne•san. Compare Heb 1:6 ftn. Gr., pro•sky•ne•sa´to•san;)

By honoring a human judge we are also honoring Jehovah, but we are not worshiping the human judge. (Matt 15:3-6; Rom 13:7)

If we are ordered to honor humans, how much more so should we honor Jesus?

In 1611 KJV, worship meant “to a physical bowing ” today it means “a mental state of reverence.” Truth in Translation (TIT)

Homage (TAHD) = ‘special honor or respect shown publicly’


1:7 Contrasts angels with the role God has given Jesus (1:2,4)

1:8 The understanding of this verse has to agree with verse 1:9

1:9 “Your God” has anointed you. (The God of Jesus. = christ = messiah = a person set
apart for high office, especially a priest or a king. Harper’s Bible Dictionary (HBD) According to the basic meaning – all anointed Christians are “christs, persons set apart for high office, as priests and kings reigning with Jesus. (Rev 5:9, 10))

above your companions or partners
(1 Chron 29:23) These companions can’t be God, Himself, because Jesus’ God anointed him. (Ps 110:3) In Ps 45:7 it is David, being compared to Solomon, and the other Kings of Israel. In Heb 1:9, the context shows that Jesus’ companions or partners are Jehovah’s other sons, the angels. (Job 1:6))

1:10 Christ lays foundation of the earth. (master worker)

1:11 Including vs 12, Hyperbole, (N-W): extravagant exaggeration

1:13 to which one of the angels / sons? sit at God’s right hand ?
(again His Firstborn, the only begotten (1:2, 6))

1:14 are not all spirits (including Jesus (1 Cor 15:45)) sent forth ? (Gal 4:4)

inherit salvation, (Why must Christians inherit salvation? Because it is something we do not possess, and we receive it from our Father, Just as Jesus inherited a better name.

2:4 while God joined in bearing witness (according to the law witnesses had to be two separate individuals to prove a point (Matt 3:17; Jn 8:17,18))

2:5 not to angels (Jehovah did not subject all creation to just any son, but again to His Firstborn, eldest Son)

2:9 God can never be ‘lower’ than his sons the angels,
Jesus suffered & tasted death, (also something God can never do.)

2:11 Christians become brothers to Christ (does this make man equal to God? In Israel (Hebrews) brothers are equal except for the firstborn, who received double honor in the inheritance. Christians are adopted as sons making them ‘brothers’ to Christ receiving the same reward that Jesus received.)

2:12 Who’s name does Jesus declare in the middle of the congregation?
(quote of Ps 22:22,23, Jehovah)

2:13 Jesus only has what God gives him.

2:14 As God’s representative (1:2) and eldest Son (1:6) Jesus left heaven and became a man.
-17 Equal to God ? (NO equal to Adam (Rom 5:19; 1 Cor 15:21,22, 45))

2:17 If God died for us, then the sacrifice would have been greater than the Law required, becoming ‘a soul for an eye’. (If only the ‘man’ Jesus died, and only the ‘man’ Jesus was resurrected, then the ‘man’ Jesus is in heaven equal to God. (Heb 13:8))

2:18 What test did God have to do? Would God remain loyal, faithful, and obedient to himself?
What would have happened if God had failed that test (see 3:2, 6)

3:1 Jesus is an apostle = Ambassador, envoy, one who represent the sender (see #652)
Jesus is also the High Priest or Chief Priest, when did a priest become equal to the God the priest worship?

All of Jesus’ titles show he is inferior and subject to Jehovah; Son, Firstborn, High Priest, apostle, mediator (12:24). Even Jesus’ Kingship is based on sitting, on the throne at God’s right hand (8:1)

Even Logos (The Word), the personification of the means in which God used to communicate to men, the same as the personification of the Wisdom (Prov. 8), and the personification of The Way (HBD).

(This is the second witness that applies Prov. 8 to Jesus (NASB & HBD) See 1:5)

(Proverbs 8:22-23) . . .“Jehovah himself produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago. 23 From time indefinite I was installed, from the start, from times earlier than the earth.) (vs 23 is the cross reference to Heb 7:3 in the NWT)

4:14 Great High Priest – The Son of God.

5:4 Jesus’ honor is that Jehovah choose him to be High Priest (5:4-6)

5:7 Jesus while on earth had only the powers God gave him,
(which did not include the power to save himself.)

Jesus had “Godly Fear” why would he be afraid of himself?

5:8 Are you telling me that Jehovah had to learn something?

That Jehovah learned something from Satan, the source of Jesus’ sufferings?

Since the lesson was obedience; - Who does Jehovah have to be obedient to?

These references are symbolic and not literal, even Jesus’ role of High Priest comes to an end. (1 Cor 15:27, 28)

7:14 Jesus genealogy is the line of Judah

8:1 Right hand of the throne of God

8:2- Why Jesus is a better High Priest than Aaron. (Jesus is better than Aaron, but this does not
9:10 make him equal to God.)

9:11- Jesus is in the heavens offering his sacrifice to God, and not to himself.
9:22

9:24 Jesus enters into the presence of God (Lit. “to the face of The God”)

10:7- Christ came ‘not to do his will’ but God’s
10 (Will = mental faculty which one uses to choose a course of action of choice (TAHD)

Even if ‘Sam’ is a Grandfather, Father, and Son, Sam still has only one will, unless he is mentally disturbed or Sam is three different individuals. Sam Sr., Sam Jr., & Sam III.

It is by God’s will we have salvation.

12:2 Jesus is rewarded for his faith, for passing the test (2:18)
(Rewarded = (win) from one of your first emails that must mean Jesus earned salvation)

If you cannot fail a test it is not a test !

Just as all those in Heb. ch. 11 proved faithful, Jesus proved faithful to his heavenly Father and his God. (Rom 15:5, 6; Rev. 1:6; & 3:12, testimony by Paul, John, and Jesus himself)

12:23 Mediator between God & man,

13:8 Jesus may have many titles, but he is always submissive to Jehovah.

Before coming to the earth, while on the earth, and after returning to heaven.
(Prov. 8:22; Matt 27:46; John 20:17; & Rev 3:12)

13:9 The trinity is a Catholic teaching, not a Bible teaching.
Even the Catholic Church is honest enough to admit it.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.

(How is it you know something the writers of the bible didn’t know?
Do you have a different, more powerful, holy spirit than they did?
Have you received a new revelation?)

If any book of the bible that would make Jesus’ god ship clear it should be this book, because it would be the Jews / Hebrew Christians that would have the hardest time changing their thinking.
Yet by comparing all the verses pertaining to the relationship of Jesus to God, in this book we find the truth.

Jesus is the Son of God, the Firstborn, the High Priest and The Mediator, sitting at God’s right hand.

If you teach anything else from the book of Hebrews you have gone beyond the things written.

(Isaiah 42:8) . . .“I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images. (Compare Jn 17:5, 22; 2 Cor. 4:4)

Answer 2

The spirit creature called Michael is not mentioned often in the Bible. However, when he is referred to, he is in action. In the book of Daniel, Michael is battling wicked angels; in the letter of Jude, he is disputing with Satan; and in Revelation, he is waging war with the Devil and his demons. By defending Jehovah’s rulership and fighting God’s enemies, Michael lives up to the meaning of his name—“Who Is Like God?” But who is Michael the Archangel?

At times, individuals are known by more than one name. For example, the patriarch Jacob is also known as Israel, and the apostle Peter, as Simon. (Genesis 49:1, 2; Matthew 10:2) Likewise, the Bible indicates that Michael is another name for Jesus Christ, before and after his life on earth. Let us consider Scriptural reasons for drawing that conclusion.

Archangel. God’s Word refers to Michael “the archangel.” (Jude 9) This term means “chief angel.” Notice that Michael is called the archangel. This suggests that there is only one such angel. In fact, the term “archangel” occurs in the Bible only in the singular, never in the plural. Moreover, Jesus is linked with the office of archangel. Regarding the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 states: “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice.” Thus the voice of Jesus is described as being that of an archangel. This scripture therefore suggests that Jesus himself is the archangel Michael.

Army Leader. The Bible states that “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon . . . and its angels.” (Revelation 12:7) Thus, Michael is the Leader of an army of faithful angels. Revelation also describes Jesus as the Leader of an army of faithful angels. (Revelation 19:14-16.) And the apostle Paul specifically mentions “the Lord Jesus” and “his powerful angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7; Matthew 16:27; 24:31; 1 Peter 3:22) So the Bible speaks of both Michael and “his angels” and Jesus and “his angels.” (Matthew 13:41) Since God’s Word nowhere indicates that there are two armies of faithful angels in heaven—one headed by Michael and one headed by Jesus—it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role.

If you would like further information or a free home Bible study, please get in touch with Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit their official web site - http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 3

The spirit creature spoke of as Michael isn't reported often in the Bible. although, while he's spoke of, he's in action. in the e book of Daniel, Michael is scuffling with depraved angels; in the letter of Jude, he's disputing with devil; and in Revelation, he's waging conflict with the devil and his demons. with the aid of protecting Jehovah’s rulership and combating God’s enemies, Michael lives as much as the which ability of his call—“who's Like God?” yet who's Michael? at situations, anybody is prevalent with the aid of extra advantageous than one call. for instance, the patriarch Jacob is likewise prevalent as Israel, and the apostle Peter, as Simon. (Genesis 40 9:a million, 2; Matthew 10:2) Likewise, the Bible shows that Michael is yet another call for Jesus Christ, previously and after his existence in the international. enable us to evaluate Scriptural reasons for drawing that end. Archangel. God’s be conscious refers to Michael “the archangel.” (Jude 9) This term ability “chief angel.” word that Michael is spoke of as the archangel. this means that there is merely one such angel. in actuality, the term “archangel” happens in the Bible merely in the singular, never in the plural. besides, Jesus is ideal with the workplace of archangel. on the subject of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, a million Thessalonians 4:sixteen states: “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice.” to that end the voice of Jesus is defined as being that of an archangel. This scripture for this reason ability that Jesus himself is the archangel Michael. military chief. The Bible states that “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon . . . and its angels.” (Revelation 12:7) to that end, Michael is the chief of a protection tension of dedicated angels. Revelation additionally describes Jesus because of the fact the chief of a protection tension of dedicated angels. (Revelation 19:14-sixteen) And the apostle Paul specifically mentions “the Lord Jesus” and “his efficient angels.” (2 Thessalonians a million:7) So the Bible speaks of the two Michael and “his angels” and Jesus and “his angels.” (Matthew 13:40-one; sixteen:27; 24:31; a million Peter 3:22) because of the fact God’s be conscious nowhere shows that there are 2 armies of dedicated angels in heaven—one headed with the aid of Michael and one headed with the aid of Jesus—it is logical to end that Michael is none different than Jesus Christ in his heavenly function.

Answer 4

my grandmother is a witness, and jsut by what i have learnedform her, i have formed the conclusion that it is a grossly mislead religion....... for one, they dont even study the same bible christians do... i knwo because they like to knock on my door, and my husbad debates them about what they believe and my hub usually wins, because they have no scripture to back up some of the things they believe...... their religion is a very new one... that was created by a man a lil over a hundred years ago..... he went thru and changed the bible to suit him..... seriously, take a look at the "bible" they study.

Answer 5

Its a pitty they had to make that up.