Jehovah's Witnesses, please provide proof that Jesus is Michael the archangel?

Question

How can He be the Archangel Michael when:

1) Dan. 10:13 says Michael is "one of the foremost princes," (i.e. of equal rank with the other Archangels) yet Rev. 17:14 describes Jesus as "Lord of lords and King of kings"?

2) Jude 9 tells us that "when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: “May Jehovah rebuke you.” " Yet, Jesus took authority over the Devil and commanded "Go away, Satan!" (Matt. 4:10)

The Bible mentions Michael's name only 5 times. None of these equate Michael with Jesus. In fact, as I pointed out above, Dan. 10:13 PROVES Michael is only one of SEVERAL powerful angels -- the OPPOSITE of the "Chief Archangel" the WBTS concludes he is.

Perhaps you will point to 1 Thes. 4:16. However, the expression "with an archangels voice" simply means that the archangel, like God's trumpet, will herald the coming of the Lord, not that he IS Jesus.

I would argue that the archangel mentioned here is actually the angel GABRIEL, who is repeatedly mentioned within the New Testament as being God's voice. But this, too, is a supposition.

Ruth -- then you are choosing to IGNORE the plain meaning of Daniel 10:13. Again, Michael is described as "ONE OF the chief princes [archangels]."

Correction, Actung Heiss: the Bible only NAMES one of these Archangels. As I showed you above, Daniel 10:13 proves Michael is NOT the only one.

I wonder whether any of you have considered the FACT that the word "Archangel" IS NOT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT! In fact, it only appears in the New Testament. Try as you might, you cannot worm out of this: Daniel tells us that Michael IS NOT UNIQUE IN HIS POWER.

Moises, I haven't hidden anything. Michael is *A* great Prince. But Daniel 10:13 tells us he's only ONE of SEVERAL great Princes. Stop being stubborn and trust what the Bible is saying.

Answer 1

Hi there.

Jesus CANNOT be an archangel, because WORSHIP is reserved ONLY for God, yet the Bible clearly shows that Jesus receives such.

Revelation 5:13 & 14 -

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits upon the throne AND TO THE LAMB be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever." And the four living creatures fell down and WORSHIPPED.

Please, where in the English text (even of the NWT) or in the original Greek is there ANY indication that there is a distinction between the worship rendered to the one on the throne and to that given to the Lamb ?

Is not the situation described in this passage confirmation of the Father's will that the Son shall receive THE SAME "honor" as Himself (John 5:22 & 23), an "honor" (Greek - "timao" to prize, to fix a valuation upon, STRONG'S) which includes worship ?

What does the Lord Jesus say of those who REFUSE to "honor the Son EVEN AS THEY HONOR THE FATHER" (John 5:23)?

The answer, in the same verse -

"He who does not honor the Son (i.e. "even as they honor the Father") DOES NOT HONOR THE FATHER WHO SENT HIM". (all caps for emphasis, inserts mine).

Therefore, in the light of these Bible verses, we can conclude that the correct rendering of "proskuneo" in Hebrews 1:6 OUGHT to be "WORSHIP".

As in the 1961 edition of the New World Translation, "But when he again brings his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says: 'And let all God's angels worship him.'" Pg. 1293.

You are quite right, Suzanne, to point out that Daniel 10:13 plainly shows that Michael is "ONE of the foremost princes". Actually, Jewish tradition teaches that there are SEVEN archangels. Of course, we cannot rely upon non-biblical sources to prove the plurality of archangels, but it is interesting to note that the book of Revelation speaks of "..the SEVEN angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them." Is it possible that these correspond with the aforementioned group, known traditionally as "The Angels of God's Presence" ?

In regard to 1 Thessalonians 4:16 -

Indeed, the archangel's voice which is heard at the return of Christ is that of an angelic herald and not Christ Himself.

In a gospel parable which pertains to the Lord's second advent - the Parable of the Virgins - the returning Christ is referred to as a "bridegroom" (see also John 3:29). If we pay careful attention to verse 6 of Matthew 25, we read,

"But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Go forth to meet him!'"

Surely, THIS is the cry heard in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. We can clearly see that in Matthew 25:6, the bridegroom - the Lord Jesus - does not announce His own return, but rather, He is ANNOUNCED. As befits ROYALTY, I should add.

In addition, the trumpet sounded in 1 Thess. 4:16 is ALSO sounded by the archangel, corresponding with the sounding of the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15 by one of the seven who stand before God, I believe.

In regard to the gentleman who quoted from Proverbs 8 - as is often the case with JW's - to "prove" that Jesus is a created being: Your argument is invalid. You (and the Watchtower) have distorted this poetic personification of the quality of wisdom in order to support your theological bias. There is NO indication either in the Old or New Testament to suggest that it is proper to dogmatically apply this passage to the Lord Jesus.

As for the erroneous Watchtower teaching that after His ascension, Jesus resumed the name of Michael, chapter & verse, please ? As I understand it, Revelation is the FINAL book of the Bible, yet not once is the Word of God referred to (or does He refer to Himself) as Michael. Actually, the name of Michael is only mentioned ONCE in the entire book, and only the most distorted kind of "exegesis" could conclude from the scriptural evidence present that he and Jesus are the same.

Please consider -

"The revelation of JESUS CHRIST which God gave Him..." (Rev. 1:1).

"And from JESUS CHRIST, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth." (Rev. 1:5).

"I, JESUS have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches." (Rev. 22:16).

No mention of Michael there. If he had "resumed his heavenly name" as the WT teach, why no revelation of that to the first-century church ?

But on the contrary...

"I am the Root and Offspring of David.."

If Jesus is now an archangel, how can He still claim humanity ("Offspring") post-resurrection and ascension ?

If Jesus is now an archangel, and no longer a man, how can He claim to be "..the living one; and I BECAME DEAD, and behold, I am living forever and ever..". Who died on the cross / torture stake, an angel or a MAN ? A man, of course. Hence, the glorified God-man in Heaven can make such a claim.

John 20:28 -

"Thomas answered and said to Him (Jesus), 'My Lord and my God!'" - In the Greek, literally, 'The Lord of me and THE God of me'. The definite article is present, Linedancer, hence Jesus is NOT just a representative of Jehovah.

May God be gracious to JW's.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

- EDIT -

Achtung heiss & Moises 3702 -

Satan was defeated AT THE CROSS by Christ (Colossians 2:15, 1 John 3:8), long before Revelation 12:7-9 was even written.

Achtung heiss - Orthodox Christians actually DO believe that Jesus is distinct from the Father, but not separate.

"I am the First and I am the Last" Isaiah 44:6.

"I am the First and the Last" Revelation 1:17.

In regard to Here I Am's reference to Suzanne being a "pot stirrer" - She is no more a "pot stirrer" than the many JW's who submit questions on YA such as, "Is the Trinity a biblical teaching ?", etc. Are those users REALLY interested in answers from Christians, or just looking for a platform on which to present their beliefs ?

Thank you Keiichi for being honest enough at least to admit that, "The Bible does not specifically say that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel". Doesn't the silence of the Bible speak VOLUMES, here ?

I wonder, would anyone reading Revelation (or indeed, the whole Bible) come to the conclusion that Jesus is Michael just by reading the text ALONE ?

Answer 2

This term "archangel" 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.

Dan. 10:13 does not say "that Michael is one of the foremost archangels. It says he is "one of the foremost princes." There is a difference, you know. Are you aware that even Jehovah is called a prince? At Dan. 8:11, he is called the "Prince of the host (KJB)." At Dan. 8:25, he is called "Prince of the princes." Michael is one of the foremost princes. He is also THE archangel.

Let's face the truth now, shall we? You are not really after answers from Jehovah's Witnesses. You target them with questions, and then you give the Best Answer to those who are NOT Witnesses. By her own words, disgruntled ex-witness Unsilenced Lamb, loves to see Jehovah's Witnesses embarassed in this forum by questions like yours. I assure you that will never happen. So why not give the Best Answer now to one of your admirers so you can think up another question about Jehovah's Witnesses to thrill ex- and anti-witnesses? Unsilenced Lamb would be very pleased.

You don't want proof concerning Jesus being the archangel or not. By all that you have already said, it is very apparent that your mind is already made up. So what can JW's tell you that will satisfy you? Nothing!

Answer 3

Why don´t you mention Daniel 12:1? why you hide that verse?
that call him "GREAT PRINCE"?

or why don´t you mention the voice of Archangel that Jesus have in Thessal. 4:16?

Why don´t you mention the description of a Powerful angel of Revelation 10:1 that match in every single detail with Jesus?

Why don´t you mention the angel or messengerr of covenant of malachi 3, that God promise that he will send?

Why you hide that all angels are called sons of God in the bible and the same bible says that God sent his son, the first one.
Why you hide that Michael the archangel is the one that we see in the bible that defeat Satan when the bible says that roles belong to the promise´s seed?

NOT because you refuse to read that verse and more that proof that Jesus is the first angel or son of God, that doesn´t mean it is going to change the information, all angels are sons of God and gods (psalms 80:1-6), read it or not it is there.

Answer 4

1) A prince is a son of a king. Jesus is merely one of many princely sons of Jehovah. Michael could rightly be called one of the foremost princes before he came to earth because it was simply not God's time then to reveal and distinguish his special son and prince.

2)It is AFTER his baptism all authority was given to Jesus. That's why Jesus could order the demons around and even they recognized his power and position as the king of Jehovah's kingdom. What the Trinitarians fail to take into consideration is the obvious fact that Michael also gained a great amount of authority over Satan and his demons.

What accounts for the fact that before the Christian era Michael deferred to Jehovah and told the Devil, "May Jehovah rebuke you," and yet in the 12th chapter of Revelation we have Michael leading all of God's angels in a no-holds barred, knock-down, drag-out fight with Satan and all his demons, so that Michael is credited with a victory that rightly belongs to Christ?

The obvious answer is that Michael only wields authority over Satan after Jesus' return to heaven. That being the case, it is yet another indication that Michael and Jesus are indeed one and the same.


The Bible does not specifically say that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel. However, all the places where Michael or an unnamed archangel is mentioned in the Scriptures they are doing something that is elsewhere revealed as Jesus' exclusive prerogative.

For example, Jesus said that he was the resurrection and life, meaning that God has empowered him to perform both the resurrection of the saints as well as mankind in general. But, in describing the actual resurrection of the saints, at 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Paul said that "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." So, Paul identifies Jesus with an archangel.

As another example, the 12th chapter of Revelation depicts Michael leading all of God's angels in warfare against Satan and his demons. Why isn't Christ even pictured in that scene? His apparent absence is particularly glaring since the 19th chapter of Revelation pictures Christ leading Jehovah's heavenly cavalry into battle at Armageddon.

Furthermore, why does Revelation 20:1 says that an angel out of heaven seizes the Devil and throws him into the abyss. Even the demons recognized that when Jesus was on the earth he was the one destined by prophecy to trounce the Devil. The demons even asked Jesus if he had come to send them to the abyss before their time. Since Jesus was put to death by the serpent Devil, God's perfect justice demands that the glorified Jesus personally destroy the Devil. It should therefore be evident that Michael is actually Christ Jesus and that the angel that is depicted in Revelation seizing the Devil is also Jesus.

Daniel 12:1 refers to Michael as the great prince "who is standing in behalf of the sons of you people," during the time of the great tribulation. Elsewhere in Scripture, namely Isaiah 9:6, the Messiah is called the Prince of Peace. Since Daniel 12:1 is fulfilled during the climax to Armageddon, the sons referred to can not be the fleshly Jews, but are instead Christians.

Therefore Michael the great prince, who stands up to save Jehovah's people during the tribulation, must be the Messianic Prince of Peace. That's because Jesus is personally responsible for leading God's people through the great tribulation to salvation.

Answer 5

Sometimes I wonder, are you a pot stirrer or someone who is truly interested in learning the truth regarding your questions.
If your not truly interested in learning the truth, then why do you waste your 5 points asking useless questions that will lead you no where?
I have a hard time believing that this has some purpose other than entertaining yourself.
Don't worry, I won't waste either one of our time by answering another useless question leading to no where.
I will leave it to my brothers and sisters who have much more patience than I have.

Answer 6

-- WHO & WHAT ARE the following describing:

1. Arch-enemy Sherlock Holmes //how many Moriaritys are there?
2. Arch-fiend, how many cheif fiends are there
3. Archetype--the original pattern or model!
4. Archi or Arch --Primitive, original primary(archenteron)
==
***UPDATE ON QUESTIONS:
1. HOW MANY Arch de Triumphs are there
2. WHY DOES no other name but MICHAEL, --appear together , besides CHRISTS
------ FOR INSTANCE if Gabriel is an archangel WHY IS he not called "Gabriel The Archangel" or "the Archangel Gabriel"
===
--HOW MANY Satans are there as the UNIQUE DIABOLICAL personage?
--JUST because people become like him DOES NOT take away from the fact that HE ALONE, was the chief opposer of Jehovah?
--DOES THE fact that people are referred to as angels, or angel like--INDICATE that they are invisible and have super human powers?
--YOUR MINIMIZING the uniqueness of Michael does not change the fact that there was one angel made superior to all the other angels as the following shows:

***(Proverbs 8:22-31) “22 “Jehovah himself produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago.
--23 From time indefinite(UNIQUIKLY earlier than any other angel(my comment) I was installed, FROM THE START(start of what--of any creation!), from times earlier than the earth. 24 When there were no watery deeps I was brought forth as with labor pains, when there were no springs heavily charged with water.
--25 BEFORE (my caps) the mountains themselves had been settled down, ahead of the hills, I was brought forth as with labor pains, 26 when as yet he had not made the earth and the open spaces and the first part of the dust masses of the productive land.
--27 WHEN HE PREPARED THE HEAVENS (including all the other angels)I WAS THERE (my caps); when he decreed ...... 30 then I came to be beside him as a MASTER WORKER (my caps), and I came to BE THE ONE he was SPECIALLY FOND ( who else would that be but his ONLY first-born?) of day by day, I being glad before him all the time, 31 being glad at the productive land of his earth, and the things I was fond of were with the sons of men.” (who other than Michael had the fondness enough to lower himself as the chief angel to express that fondness AND become the Christ?)

--WHO THEN , OTHER THAN CHRIST(as Michael--for Christ was not designated as THE CHRIST prior to coming to the earth) was the "master worker" WHO WAS made before any of the other angels were created?
--WHO WAS given explicit trust over all creation other than Michael , before he became The Christ?
--DID JEHOVAH not create his "only begotten son" "; the first-borne" of all creation?
--Since Michael has other names & designations such as the Christ, the Messiah , the Word, Shiloh , twig of Jesse, Mighty God, eternal father, prince of peace, the ransom etc.
------How do you excuse the fact that Michael served Jehovah in many capacities AND always submitted himself to whaterver service Jehovah asked him to fulfill?

***UPDATE 1.
--THE SCRIPTURES you supplied do not disprove Christ being the Archangel for NO other names are associated with each other
--THUS the burden lies upon you to explain away the fact that in several places Christ & Michael are identified together as one personage!---SERVING in different capacities! PLEASE NOTE WHY:
--AT REVELATION 12:7-9, Christ as Michael in 1914 was given authority to oust Satan, WHEREAS he did not have that authority as stated in Jude, beforehand!
--THEN MICHAEL, in his fighting station, AFTER ousting Satan, transforms into his KINGLY CAPACITY(not into another person), as Christ, & is installed as King,(REV. 12:10) which was indeed promised him as the savior of mankind,(the Christ) not in his chief angelic state as Michael!

***UPDATE 2
--IF YOU CANNOT distinquish between different capacities of service in stations such as:
---ONE being a governor of a state can also change his office to someday be THE PRESIDENT, then you have a serious problem in using your little "GRAY CELLS " as our friend-- Hercule Perot would say!

Answer 7

There are no other arch angels. That means the supreme one. so how can you be the supreme or most favored if there is more in that rank? Also, ,mentions only one arch angel.

Answer 8

The bible mentions exactly one single solitary archangel, which is entirely appropriate since the term means "Chief Angel". Who besides God's only-begotten Son Jesus would be the chief of the angels? And is not Jesus Christ the primary "Seed" which defeats Satan? The Millennial Rule begins with Satan's abyssing, performed by Christ Jesus, and no mere subsidiary.

(Genesis 3:15) He [the Seed of God's woman] will bruise you [Satan] in the head

(Revelation 12:7-9) Michael and his angels battled with the dragon... So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan

(Revelation 20:1-3) And I saw an angel... And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss

(Revelation 20:6-7) Rule as kings with [Christ] for the thousand years.


Now consider Jude 9:
(Jude 9) But when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil... he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: “May Jehovah rebuke you.”

When anti-Witnesses resurface from time to time with their arguments regarding Jude 9, their arguments seem reasonable only as long as one ignores the actual bible truth. Do the Scriptures themselves ever show Jesus rebuking Satan, even one time? Or does Jesus allow his Father to "make the reply"?

(Proverbs 27:11) Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.

(Matthew 4:1-4) Jesus was led by the spirit up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. ...the Tempter came and said to him: “If you are a son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But in reply he said: “It is written [by God]...

(Matthew 4:5-7) Then the Devil took [Jesus] along... and said to him: “If you are a son of God, hurl yourself down... Jesus said to him: “Again it is written [by God]...

(Matthew 4:8-11) Again the Devil took [Jesus] along to an unusually high mountain... and he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written [by God]...


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

(1 Thessalonians 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

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Answer 9

Jesus created the angels... he isn't one himself. (Colossians 1:16)

Angels cannot receive worship, Jesus can (Rev. 22:8,9, Hebrews 1:6)

Answer 10

I love all these questions...
I think of the answers that I would have given, were I still a witness, and come up lacking.
It wasn't until I left the Witnesses that I learned that they teach That Jesus was the angel Michael. I don't know if I missed that particular part, or if is was vague because it is so rediculous....
I am curious as to whether they can accurately answer this one.....