Jesus and Michael the Archangel

Open the Bible Question Form to send your own question.

Q:  A friend of mine on the KJV Baptist group on Yahoo is working with a Jehovah Witness who is telling him that Jesus and Michael the Archangel are one and the same and that Michael is the only Archangel. He is looking for Biblical refutations of this patently absurd position! As the Lord leads and you have the time would you help us?

A:  Michael is the only angel called "the archangel" (Jude 1:9) and he is called "the" archangel as if he were the only one. In this one matter, I agree with the adversary. The prefix "arch" means main, chief, or principal. I do not know how many chief angels there are. One seems enough. The teaching that there are other archangels is traditional. It is not directly taught in scripture.

As to Michael's identity with Jesus, this is absurd. Go back to 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 thee." Jesus Christ is the Lord. Why would He hesitate to rebuke the devil by His own authority and power? The Lord Jesus does not need to say, The Lord rebuke thee.

Michael is identified as one of the chief princes (Daniel 10:13). Jesus is not one of anything.

Although Michael does some of the things that are also part of the ministry of Christ, this does mean they are identical. Michael stands up for Israel (Daniel 12:1). This is no proof that He is Jesus Christ. Michael and his angels fights against the dragon (devil) and his angels (Revelation 12:7). Since the angels do the bidding of God, this only makes sense. You cannot prove that two people are the same because they are involved in some of the same projects. This goes for Michael and Jesus Christ.

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan