Many
non-Adventist members of Christian denominations claim that the title of
Michael the Archangel used by Ellen White is a direct challenge to Christ's
deity - and a reiteration of the Jehovah's Witnesses' position that Jesus is a
created being, and not equal to the Father.
To
reply to this objection, a deep study of the title "archangel" in a
good quality lexicon will effectively refute this objection. The word
"archangel" comes from the Greek archon, meaning chief, or commander
in chief. Any good lexicon will indicate several meanings of the Greek word
above. The correct translation for "archangel" is commander of the
angels, or commander -in-chief of the same. Thus the
title of Michael the Archangel is not in any way, shape, or form designed to
deny or diminish the deity of Jesus Christ. Michael means "Who is like
God?" in Hebrew - and only Jesus can answer this question - as He is the
express image of the Father, and the fullness of the Godhead.
Furthermore,
God revealed Himself many times to Moses, Elijah, and other prophets as the
ANGEL OF THE LORD, throughout the books of Genesis, Exodus, and other Old
Testament books. Thus God Himself had assumed form of
an angel while retaining His omnipotence and Deity. Thus
we can say that the term "Michael the Archangel" is used in the same
sense as the "Angel of the Lord" - that God Himself can assume the
form of an angel in order to communicate closely with man on a personal,
intimate level, as He did to Moses.
It is
this Michael the Archangel, or the Angel of the LORD, that is mentioned in the
twelfth chapter of Daniel, verses 1 and 2:
"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 [the
Lamb's book of life - Rev. 21:27].
"And
many of them that sleep in the in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt."
After
examining the above evidence, we can conclude that Michael and Christ are one
and the same person.
Robert
Sterbenc