Unlocking the Hidden Character
Most consistent question – why are you inferring Michael is Jesus
Some think that Jesus waited 4,000 years to personally intervene in the affairs of man.
I want to make it crystal clear to you that Jesus has been personally actively working on behalf of mankind since day 1. Jesus is Michael – Michael is the archangel – the archangel is the chief of all the angels and is also known as THE angel of the Lord.
Scripture does not reward the casual reader
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…
This is why Jesus said; "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56). Jesus appeared personally to Abraham when the Patriarch interceded for Lot (Genesis 18:26).
Genesis 1 and Hebrews 1 and John 1 – tell us clearly that Jesus is the creator of all things – all life – all beings in the universe. This means He was the active agent in creating the angelic race of beings – including the first – Lucifer – the lightbearer – the morning star.
There is a good reason why Jesus is sometimes portrayed as an angel but it can be only be understood with an investigation into the angels.
In Rev.4:5,6 we see a description of the seven angels
These angels are divided into two orders - cherubim and seraphim. According
Eze. 10:9 there are four cherubim and Eze. 10:21 says they have four wings, this means
the other three are seraphim.
In reference to the devil the bible. reads "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth "...Eze.28:14. The only angels that can cover themselves while flying are the seraphim
because of their six wings [Isa. 6:2] so a covering cherub is a seraphim. This means the devil was of the highest order. The description given of him in Eze.28:11-15 would indicate he was the head angel, he was unique!
With the loss of the head angel Jesus stepped in to fill the void because now there were only three seraphim so Jesus also became known as "Prince of host" Dan. 8:11.
"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star son of the dawn…or Oh Lucifer son of the morning"...Isa.14:12. When Jesus stepped in to fill this position he accepted the same title. "I Jesus ...the bright and Morning Star" Rev.22:16.
Ellen White commenting on the war in heaven describes a moment when it had to be made clear that Jesus was higher in rank than all.
Baptist preacher Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
John Calvin:
John Wesley:
Jewish Midrash Judaism, Michael was the fourth being that saved the Hebrew boys from the Fiery furnace
Puritans Matthew Poole and Matthew Henry
Martin Luther
The phrase "angel of the Lord" is found 68 times in Scripture. Sometimes it applies to Gabriel who appeared to Daniel, Zacharias, and Mary. But Gabriel is called "an" angel of the Lord (Luke 1:11). He is not referred to as "the" angel of the Lord. Neither is he ever called the archangel.
Daniel 10
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes --- the chief of the princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
21 But I 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
Daniel 12
12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
"Will the defendant please rise?"
Jude 1:9
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 you.
The only other passage in the Bible that uses the word "archangel" is 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."
John 5:21 – Jesus is the life giver and one who raises the dead
The Revelation of Jesus Christ - 1:18 – Jesus says “I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
Revelation 12:7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
the word "angel" means messenger, Sometimes, men are called angels in the Bible 1 Samuel 29:9 Galatians 4:14. And sometimes angels are called men Genesis 32:24. And in other places, God Himself is identified as an angel!
The Key Is in the Name
. In the Greek New Testament, the word "angel" means "messenger," and "arch" means "chief, principle, greatest, or highest." So "archangel" simply means "highest or greatest messenger." The Hebrew name "Michael," found in the Old Testament, means "who is like God" So the title Michael the archangel can be translated as "The greatest messenger who is God….or who is like God"
The chief of the angels – not just one of but the angel of the Lord
Stories in the Bible
Hagar
"And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness" (Genesis 16:7). When the "angel" disappeared, Hagar "called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me" (verse 13).
Abraham
God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on mount Moriah. Just as he was about to plunge the dagger into his son of promise, the angel of the Lord stopped him. "And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, 'Abraham, Abraham:' and he said, 'Here am I.' And he said, 'Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me'" (Genesis 22:11, 12). (Genesis 22:15-18).
Jacob – wrestles with the angel of the Lord
Moses
Moses saw a burning bush that was not consumed. "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush" (Exodus 3:2). Verse 4 identifies this angel: "God called unto him out of the midst of the bush." And in verse 6 He identifies Himself again. "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." The angel of the Lord identifies Himself as God! ---REPEATED BY STEPHEN (Acts 7:30-32).
Children of Israel
The Angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them" (Exodus 14:19).
Balaam
Judges
Gideon
Manoah
Samson's mother, the wife of Manoah, was barren. "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman" (Judges 13:3). When the angel came the second time, Manoah asked him his name. The King James says that the angel told Manoah that his name was "Secret," that translates as "Wonderful."
----Isaiah's prophecy foretold that Jesus would be called, "Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
after seeing this "Wonderful messenger," Manoah declared they had seen God. And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God!" (Judges 13:22).
No One has Seen the Father
Since no man has seen God the Father, all of these Old Testament sightings of God as the "angel of the Lord" must have been Jesus, God the Son, veiling His glory
Rebuking the Accuser
Zechariah was given a vision of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan is standing at his right hand to resist him. Here we see two adversaries contending over a sinful human being. Joshua's filthy garment symbolizes his sin. (Zechariah 3:3).
In this narrative, the name changes quickly from "the angel of the Lord" (verse 1) to "the Lord" (verse 2), indicating again that they are the same. Then the Lord makes an interesting statement. "And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan" (Zechariah 3:2). There is only one other place in Scripture, Jude 1:9, where this sentence is found—and Michael the archangel speaks it!
Worshiping the Commander
In Revelation 12, Michael is portrayed as commander and captain - leading the heavenly hosts, or armies of angels, in the war against the Lucifer and the fallen angels
Just as Israel was preparing for its first battle after crossing into the Promised Land, Joshua had an encounter with an unusual warrior. (Joshua 5:13-15). "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so"
Angels alone – reject worship - (see Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9).
CONCLUSION
12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
DANIEL 7:22 TELLS US – Jesus Judges in favor of the saints.
1 Corinthians 6:2-3 - Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels?