Michael the Archangel is Christ

Bruce Bevins

The following study on Michael the Archangel is from Bruce Bivens’ book “Are we Missing Something Here,” pp. 193-196. This is an excellent study for witnessing to Evangelical Christians. They believe that Michael the Archangel is not Christ.

Appendix “C”

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“Michael” the Archangel IS Christ

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Some maintain that since Michael is called an angel (Archangel), and since “angels” are created beings, that Michael could not possibly be Christ—for Christ was not created, but has existed from eternity. And while it is true that Christ was not created and has existed from eternity (John 1:1-3, 10, 14; 6:38; 17:5, 24; Col. 1:15-17; Micah 5:2), Christ obviously linked Himself with the angels. In Job 38:7 He calls the created angels “morning stars” and in Rev. 22:16 He calls Himself the “morning star.” Could it be that the term “angel” could refer to something other than the created beings of angels?

The word “angel” is used in the Scriptures in Two ways. One as a name (or Label) used to describe the created beings of angels (just as “human” is used as a name to describe us). And second: as a descriptive phrase used to describe their work (function). The word “angel” means “messenger” or “agent.” Thus, when the word angel is used to describe Jesus as the “Archangel”—it is used in the sense of His work or function and NOT as a name or label of a created being.

That Christ is often referred to as an “angel” can be substantiated by a host of texts: Jesus is called the “angel of the Lord” (Ex. 3:2), “the angel of God” (Ex. 14:19), the “angel of His presence” (Isa. 63:9), the “messenger of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1), “angel” (Ex. 23:20), “Mine angel” (Ex. 23:23), and “His angel” (Dan. 3:28).

The “angel of the Lord” who came to Gideon (judges 6:11-22) is called “Lord” in verse 14. In Judges 2:1 the “angel of the Lord” says “I will

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Never break My covenant with you”—only the Lord can establish and maintain His “covenant.” Manoah said that he had “seen God” (Judges 13:22) when the “angel of the Lord” appeared to him (Judges 13:3-21). The angel who came to Joshua (Zech. 3:1-10) causes sin to pass away and gives righteousness—only God can do these things. When the angel appeared to Jacob (Hosea 12:4) Jacob said that he had “seen God face to face” (Gen. 32:30). The “angel of His presence” (Isa. 63:9) “saved” and “redeemed”—which only God can do. “Mine angel” (Ex. 23:23) could pardon transgression—which only God can do (Mk. 2:7). Obviously, the term of “angel” is used in the scriptures to refer to more than the “created” beings of angels—it is used to describe our Lord Jesus.

Christ is the commander and leader of the angelic host. In Joshua 5:14, 15 He is called the “captain of the host of the lord.” Serving in this capacity does not in any way detract from Christ’s deity or make Him a created being. The fact that Joshua worshiped Him is proof that the captain of the host was the Lord and not one of the created angels, for angels are not to be worshiped (Col. 2:18); Rev. 19:10; 22:8, 9) but, rather, worship Christ themselves (Heb. 1:6). A careful comparison of Scripture shows that the “prince of princes” (Dan. 8:25), the “prince of the host” (Dan. 8:11), “Michael your prince” (Dan. 10:21), Michael “the great prince” (Dan. 12:1), and “Messiah the prince” (Dan. 9:25)—ALL refer to the same being—the Lord Jesus Christ (see also Acts 3:14, 15; 5:30, 31; Rev. 1:5)! The being who appeared to Daniel in Dan. 10:5, 6 is obviously Christ, because the description of Him is the same as that of Christ found in Rev. 1:13-15. This being is called “Michael” in Daniel 10:13, 21.

Jude 9 calls Michael “the archangel.” The fact that Christ is indeed the supreme messenger for God the Father, and that He is the “captain” and “prince of the host,” makes the descriptive title of “archangel” especially appropriate and meaningful. In Jude 9 we find Michael (the archangel) disputing with the devil over the body of Moses. The Devil, and only the Devil, had the right and the authority to dispute with Christ over the body of Moses because he had usurped the world when he caused the fall of Adam. The Devil rightly became the “

god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) and the “prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30) through this action. He, and he alone could dispute with Christ over the body of Moses. Likewise,

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Christ alone had the right to dispute with the Devil over the body of Moses because He was man’s creator and is man’s redeemer. Christ has the ultimate authority with which to contend with the Devil over the Salvation or Damnation of anyone. No created angel has the power or authority to give or to decide life or death. Christ alone has this authority and power.

In Jude 1:9 we see a battle being waged between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses. In this dispute Michael rebukes the devil—He did not enter into controversy with the Devil with some long, drawn out argument, but with His Authority as God. “But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” There are some who say that if this is the Lord disputing here, that He would not say “The Lord rebuke you” but that He would simply say “I rebuke you.” These people would be wrong. In Zechariah 3:1-6 we find another dispute between “the Angel of the Lord” and Satan, this time concerning Joshua. Here is what is described about this encounter in verses one and two: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

The simple Truth is that no CREATED being, angel or otherwise, would have the Authority or the Right to dispute with the Devil about anyone’s soul. Only one who has the authority of God could do that. So anytime that we see Michael battling against Satan (as in Dan. 10:21 and Dan. 12:1) we KNOW that it is Christ, not a created angel. How do we know that for sure? How do we know that Michael the “archangel” is not a created being and that He is indeed God?

The fact that “Michael” the archangel (first and foremost in knowledge, power and authority, and leader of the heavenly host) and our Savior Jesus Christ are one and the same, is clearly shown by the power and authority (which is Christ’s alone) being exhibited and manifested in the same event but under two different “titles.” The occasion is the Second Coming and the event is the raising of the dead. Notice 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17: “For the Lord Himself

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Will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” Here the dead are raised by the “voice of the archangel” (Michael). In John 5:27-29 the apostle declared that it is the voice of Jesus that raises the dead. This makes perfect sense because ONLY THE LORD CAN RAISE THE DEAD. It if is the voice of the archangel that raises the dead, and it is the voice of Jesus that raises the dead—then the voice must be the voice of the same person, and the person of Jesus Christ. Only the Lord has the right and the authority to dispute with the Devil, and only the Lord can be Michael the Archangel.