WHO IS MICHAEL?

All Bible texts are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.

Michael is mentioned 13 times in the O.T. and 2 times in the N.T. Strong’s exhaustive concordance tells us that the O.T. meaning for Michael is "Who is like God?; the name of an archangel and nine Israelites." In the N.T. it is the Greek translation of the same word and means the same, "Michael, an archangel."

Numbers 13:13; 1 Chronicles 5:13, 14; 6:40; 7:3; 8:16; 12:20; 27:18; 2 Chronicles 21:2; Ezra 8:8 obviously all refer to Israelite men, but this cannot be said of the following texts:-

Daniel 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia."

Daniel 10:21 "But I will show 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 12:1 "’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."

Jude 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."

Revelation 12:7 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,"

One clue we have in these texts as to who Michael is, is found in Jude 9 "Michael the archangel".

Archangel is only mentioned in the Bible 2 times, both in the N.T. and only singular, never plural. It’s literal meaning from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is "a chief angel from 757 & 32". Having a closer look we find that 757 means "to be first (in political rank or power):- reign (rule) over." and 32 means "a messenger:- angel, messenger." So archangel refers to the one who reigns or rules over the angels. There is but one. Who is He? He is the one whose voice is heard from heaven when the dead are raised.

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:"

And whose voice is heard in connection with that event? The voice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 5:27-29 "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Jude 9 also tells us that Michael was contending with the Devil for the body of Moses. Because Moses had sinned and died, Satan claimed Moses body as his. We know that Moses appeared with Elijah on top of a mountain (Matthew 17:3, Mark 9:4, & Luke 9:30), so it may be concluded that Michael won the contest and raised Moses from the grave. Who is the only one with the keys of death and hell (grave), and therefore able to raise a body from the dead? The Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Let us now take a look at the rest of the texts.

Daniel 10:13 - looking at this text Michael must be of a higher rank or stronger being than Gabriel, as Michael came to help him. Luke 1:19 says that Gabriel stood in the presence of God which is a highly exalted position for an angel. It is also interesting to note that although Gabriel was sent, Michael came.

Daniel 10:21 - here we can see more clearly the positions of both Gabriel and Michael as these two alone knew these prophecies. Michael is here referred to as Daniel’s prince.

Daniel 12:1 - Michael is referred to as "the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people". Who is the great prince that stands for all of God’s People?

Daniel 9:25 "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Acts 3:15 "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."

Acts 5:31 "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

From these texts we can see that our Lord Jesus Christ, is indeed a Prince, and He does stand for His people.

Revelation 12:7 - it is interesting to note that here and in Jude 9, when a heavenly being is dealing directly with the Devil or Satan, the name Michael meaning "Who is like God?", is used, as this is what Satan wanted to be in heaven (Isa 14:12-14). So who is the heavenly being that is like God?

John 14:9 & 10 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

Matt 11:27 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

From the evidence presented above we reach the following conclusions:

1. Michael is our Prince.
   
2. Michael is greater than Gabriel.
   
3. The voice of the Son of God is the voice of the archangel.
   
4. The archangel is the Son of God.
   
5. The archangel is Michael.
   
6. Michael is the Son of God.

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