Who is Michael the Archangel?
Jesus is Michael the Archangel! How do we know this to be true? Can we prove it? An in-depth look into Scripture gives us sufficient evidence to support these claims. Many find it insulting and blasphemous to identify Jesus as an angel, but we must first understand that the Archangel is no ordinary angel.
“Angel” or aggelos in Greek, means “messenger.” These messengers are created beings that work on behalf of the Lord’s kingdom. The word for Archangel in Greek is achaggelos, which means “chief of the angels.” This mean that all the angels work for and take instructions from the Archangel.
We see this hierarchical authority in Revelation 12:7, when the chapter brings out that “Michael and His angels fought with the dragon” in Heaven. In fact, Michael’s name means, “one who is like God.” Who is more like God than anyone else in Scripture? Jesus, the Son of God!
In the Bible there are a few instances where God is referred to as “the Angel of the Lord,” and this should not be confused with ordinary angels. For instance, while Gabriel is a high-ranking angel, he is still a created being that is referred to as “an” angel of the Lord, not “the” Angel of the Lord (Luke 1:11).
There is a difference! Many Bible characters had an encounter with “the Angel of the Lord” and it is clear that they have encountered God. Some of them include Hagar (Genesis 16:7–13), Abraham (Genesis 22:15–18; Acts 3:25), Jacob (Genesis 31:11–13; 32:22–32; 48:15–16), Moses (Exodus 3:2; Acts 7:30–32), the nation of Israel (Exodus 13:21; 14:19), Balaam (Numbers 22:21–35; 23:4–5), the Judges (Judges 2:1), and Gideon (Judges 6:14).
If you read Exodus 3:2, Moses encounters “the Angel of the Lord” as a burning bush. There is no doubt that this is God for two reasons:
1. In Exodus 3:5 the Angel of the Lord tells Moses to remove his sandals because he is standing on Holy ground. What makes something holy? God!
2. In Acts 7:30–32 Stephen identifies this Angel of the Lord as God.
A similar situation is found in Joshua 5:13–15, where he encounters the “Commander of the Army of the Lord.” Notice that Joshua bows to worship this Commander and the worship is not refused.
Next, in verse 15, the Commander says something interesting. He commands Joshua to remove his sandals because he is standing on Holy ground. Obviously, this Commander is divine. The question is, who is the Commander of the Lord’s Army? The answer is clear: Michael the Archangel. The angels make up the Lord’s army, but Michael is the Chief of the angels.
So, who is Michael? God said from the burning bush, “…I AM WHO I AM….” (Exodus 3:14). The same person receives worship from Joshua as the “Commander” of the Lord’s army (Joshua 5:14). It’s interesting that Jesus identifies Himself as the “I AM” in John 8:58, as well. The original Greek words brings this out a second time when Jesus is seen walking on the water in Matthew 14:27 and Mark 6:50. In this instance, the Greek literally has Jesus saying “Fear not, I AM.” Not once, but twice Jesus identifies Himself as the God of the Old Testament, which would identify Him as the Commander of the Lord’s army that Joshua worshiped—a.k.a. Michael the Archangel.
Michael the Archangel is mentioned in Daniel more than any other book of the Bible (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1). In all three instances He’s referred to as a “Prince.” It is important to acknowledge that Jesus is referred to as “Messiah the Prince” in Daniel 9:25. Also, the famous Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 identifies Him as the “Prince of Peace.”
In his famous Bible commentary, Matthew Henry identifies Jesus as Michael the Archangel: “Michael signifies, ‘Who is like God,’ and His name, with the title of ‘the great Prince,’ points out the Divine Saviour. Christ stood for the children of our people in their stead as a sacrifice, bore the curse for them, to bear it from them. He stands for them in pleading for them at the throne of grace.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. 4, Daniel 12:1–4.)
Finally, the capstone texts that further prove Jesus to be Michael the Archangel are found in the New Testament:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” John 5:25
When Jesus returns to retrieve His people, His “voice of an archangel” will awaken the righteous dead out of their graves. Only God can do such a mighty work; therefore, it leads us to conclude that Michael the Archangel is no ordinary angel. He is the Supreme Creator—the Giver of Life. He is the Chief of the angels—One who is like God. He is the Son of God—Jesus Christ!