Who is Michael anyway?

[Beloved Servant]

Michael is the archangel, the chief of the angels.
He is described as one of the chief princes and our prince.
When He stands up, things happen. He is described as standing for the children of thy people. So when He stands, there is a time of trouble that results in God's people being delivered, every one who's name if found written in the book.
He contends directly against Satan and the angels in heaven are described as being Michael's angels.

Because Michael does things that we might think God or Jesus should be doing: Is it possible that Michael could be Jesus Christ?

[micah7:9]

I believe that the Chief Messenger is Jesus Christ.  My simple reply :happy3: :HeartThrob:

[Beloved Servant]

 :HeartThrob:   As do I.

[Molly]

Michael is an archangel and a prince of Israel.  There's no reason to believe he is Jesus.  One question:  Do both of them appear in the same room at the same time? :laughing7:

They both appear in the book of Daniel.  I believe they also both appear in Revelation.  Michael is a warrior angel who stands up for the people of Israel.

He's pretty cool but he isn't Jesus.

[Molly]

Michael (Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל‎ (pronounced [ˌmixäˈʔel]), Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; Greek: Μιχαήλ, Mikhaḗl; Latin: Michael or Míchaël; Arabic: ميخائيل‎, Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition. He is viewed as the field commander of the Army of God. He is mentioned by name in the Book of Daniel,[3] the Book of Jude,[4] and the Book of Revelation, in which he leads God's armies against the Devil's forces during his uprising.[5] In the book of Daniel, Michael appears as "one of the chief princes"[3] who in Daniel's vision comes to Gabriel's aid in his contest with the angel of Persia (Dobiel). Michael is also described there as the advocate of the Children of Israel and as a "great prince who stands up for the children of your [Daniel's] people".[6]

In Hebrew, Michael means "who is like God" (mi-who, ke-as or like, El-deity), which in Talmudic tradition is interpreted as a rhetorical question: "Who is like God?" (which expects an answer in the negative) to imply that no one is like God. In this way, Michael is reinterpreted as a symbol of humility before God.[7][8]

Much of the late Midrashic detail about Michael was transmitted to Christianity through the Book of Enoch, whence it was taken up and further elaborated. Christian cultus devoted to the archangel was first initiated in the East, as a healer, at Chonae near Colossae in Phrygia and in the West, at the end of the fifth century, as a patron in war, at Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano. In late medieval Christianity, Michael, together with Saint George, became the patron saint of chivalry. Jean Molinet was one who glorified the primordial feat of arms of the archangel as "the first deed of knighthood and chivalrous prowess that was ever achieved."[9] Thus Michael was the natural patron of the first chivalric order of France, the Order of Saint Michael of 1469. In the British honours system, a chivalric order founded in 1818 is also named for these two saints, the Order of St Michael and St George. Michael is also considered in many Christian circles as the patron saint of the warrior. Police officers and soldiers, particularly paratroopers and fighter pilots, regard him as their patron. He is the Patron of the Catholic Police Guild. He is also a patron of Germany,[10] the City of Brussels,[11] and Kiev.

Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael. Orthodox Christians refer to him as the Taxiarch Archangel Michael or simply Archangel Michael.[12] Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, and certain New Age Christian denominations refer to Michael as the Christ Michael, or Christ before he became man.[13][14][15] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that Michael is the heavenly form of Adam from the Book of Genesis,[16][17][18] and that Michael assisted Jehovah (the heavenly form of Jesus Christ) in the creation of the world under the direction of God the Father.[19]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(archangel)

[Beloved Servant]

In much of the Old Testament, this Being is identified as the angel of the Lord, but to Joshua, He identifies Himself as the captain of the Lord's Host!
Who is that? Who is the captain of the Lord's Host?

In Revelation 12:7 we saw that it is Michael that led the angel forces in Heaven.
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Revelation 12:7.

Now we find that the angels in Heaven are Michael's angels and that Michael leads His angels in battle against Satan!
So, we can see that Michael is indeed the Captain of the angels. He is their leader.

Putting Joshua 5 and Revelation 12 together, we see that Joshua saw a man who identified Himself as the Captain of the host of the Lord.
That man was also identified as being the Lord in Chapter 6.
Archangel means the chief of the angels. He is the Chief of the angels! He is their commander, the Commander of the LORD'S army in Heaven, God's angels.
This is Michael the Archangel, the Captain of the host of the Lord, who is also the Lord!

The Word is the Captain of the Host

Now, in Revelation 19, we see a very interesting change in the leader of the armies of heaven. Michael will be called by a different name.

    Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
    His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
    He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
    And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses, Revelation 19:11-14.

We now see in verse 13 that it is The Word of God who leads the armies of heaven!
From John 1:1 we read: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So, the Word of God is Jesus.
Jesus is leading the armies of heaven!

[Molly]

Michael is designated in the Book of Enoch, as "the prince of Israel" and the "archistratege"(meaning chief general in the Greek language) of God. He is the angel of forbearance and mercy (Enoch, xl:3) who taught Enoch the mysteries of clemency and justice (lxxi:2). Some speculate that the angel in the book of Jubilees (i:27 and ii:1), who is said to have instructed Moses on Mount Sinai and to have delivered to him the tablets of Law, may be Michael.

Enoch 9:1 states that Michael, along with Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel and Suriel heard the cries of men under the strain of the Watchers and their giant offspring. It was Michael and his compatriots that beseeched God on behalf of men, prompting Yahweh to call Enoch to prophethood.

In Enoch 10:15 Yahweh says to Michael; "Go and announce his crime to Samyaza, and to the others who are with him, who have been associated with women, that they might be polluted with all their impurity. And when all their sons shall be slain, when they shall see the perdition of their beloved, bind them for seventy generations underneath the earth, even to the day of Judgement, and of consummation, until the judgement, the effect of which will last forever and be completed."

Enoch 20:5 says that Michael presides over human virtue in order to command nations.

Enoch 24:4-10 has Enoch before the Tree of Life/Mercy, and Michael explains to him that he should not touch it, for it is for those who are 'elect' after the day of Judgement.

Enoch 40:8 says that Michael is patient and merciful.

Enoch 53:6 states that Michael, along with Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel shall be strengthened during the Battle of Armageddon.

Enoch 58 shows Enoch overcome with terror over a vision he has, and Michael is quick to interpret. The terror is only for those who turn on Yahweh, that the Day of Judgement is for the elect, a day of covenant, while for sinners it is a day of inquisition.

Enoch 66:14-15 has Michael explaining to Enoch that the evil spirits [demons] shall bear witness against those of the flesh who supported them. Yet Enoch is told that Michael holds a secret oath so that the elect shall not perish by their knowledge like the sinners, Enoch 68:20-22.

Enoch 70:11-16 shows that Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel always 'escort' Yahweh [God the Father], whenever he leaves his throne.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(archangel)

[Beloved Servant]

I am unfamiliar with that book.

[Molly]

Rabbinic traditions

According to rabbinic Jewish tradition, Michael acted as the advocate of Israel, and sometimes had to fight with the princes of the other nations (cf. Daniel 10:13) and particularly with the angel Samael, Israel's accuser. Michael's enmity with Samael dates from the time when the latter was thrown down from heaven. Samael took hold of the wings of Michael, whom he wished to bring down with him in his fall; but Michael was saved by God (Midrash Pirke R. El. xxvi.).[20]

The rabbis declare that Michael entered upon his role of defender at the time of the biblical patriarchs. Thus, according to Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob, it was Michael who rescued Abraham from the furnace into which he had been thrown by Nimrod (Midrash Genesis Rabbah xliv. 16). It was Michael, the "one that had escaped" (Genesis 14:13), who told Abraham that Lot had been taken captive (Midrash Pirke R. El.), and who protected Sarah from being defiled by Abimelech. He announced to Sarah that she would bear a son and he rescued Lot at the destruction of Sodom (Talmud B. M. 86b).

It is said that Michael prevented Isaac from being sacrificed by his father by substituting a ram in his place, and saved Jacob, while yet in his mother's womb, from being killed by Samael (Midr. Abkir, in Yalḳ., Gen. 110). Later Michael prevented Laban from harming Jacob (Pirke R. El. xxxvi.). According to one source, it was Michael who wrestled with Jacob and who afterward blessed him (Targum pseudo-Jonathan to Genesis xxxii. 25; Pirke R. El. xxxvii.).

The midrash Exodus Rabbah holds that Michael exercised his function of advocate of Israel at the time of the Exodus also, when Satan (as an adversary) accused the Israelites of idolatry and declared that they were consequently deserving of death by drowning in the Red Sea (Ex. R. xviii. 5). But according to Midr. Abkir, when Uzza, the tutelar angel of Egypt, summoned Michael to plead before God, Michael remained silent, and it was God himself who defended Israel.

Legend makes Michael the teacher of Moses; so that the Israelites are indebted to their advocate for the supreme good of the Torah. This idea is alluded to in Midrash Deuteronomy Rabbah xi. 6 in the statement that Michael declined to bring Moses' soul to God on the ground that he had been Moses' teacher.

Michael is said to have destroyed the army of Sennacherib (Midrash Exodus Rabbah xviii. 5), a deed normally attributed to an otherwise unnamed angel of destruction but perhaps accomplished by Uriel, Gabriel, or others.

Michael is also credited with being the angel who spoke to Moses in the burning bush (an honor often bestowed upon Zagzagel).

He is accepted in lore as well as being the special patron of Adam. Supposedly he was the first angel in all of the heavens to bow down before humanity.[21] Michael then kept an eye on the first family, remaining vigilant even after the fall of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.



Altar by Joseph Lusenberg, 1876
In the apocryphal Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, Michael taught Adam how to farm. The archangel later brought Adam to heaven in a fiery chariot, giving him a tour of the blessed realm. After Adam's death, Michael helped convince the Lord to permit Adam's soul to be brought to heaven and cleansed of its great sin. Jewish legend also states Michael to be one of the three "men" who visited Abraham. He is said to have tried to prevent Israel from being led into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar II and to save the Temple from destruction; but the sins of the people were so great that he was powerless to carry his purposes into effect. There is a legend which seems to be of Jewish origin, and which was adopted by the Copts, to the effect that Michael was first sent by God to bring Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem, and that Michael was afterward very active in freeing his nation from Babylonian captivity (Amélineau, "Contes et Romans de l'Egypte Chrétienne," ii. 142 et seq.). According to a midrash, Michael saved Hananiah and his companions from the Fiery furnace (Midrash Genesis Rabbah xliv. 16). Michael was active in the time of Esther: "The more Haman accused Israel on earth, the more Michael defended Israel in heaven" (Midrash Esther Rabbah iii. 8). It was Michael who reminded Ahasuerus that he was Mordecai's debtor (Targum to Esther vi. 1); and there is a legend that Michael appeared to the high priest Hyrcanus, promising him assistance (comp. Josephus, "Ant." xiii. 10, § 3).

The motif of Michael and the dragon appears in Michael's fight with Samael in Assumptio Mosis, x.). This legend is not found in Jewish sources except insofar as Samael or Satan is called in the Kabbalah "the primitive serpent".

The idea that Michael was the advocate of the Jews became so prevalent that in spite of the rabbinical prohibition against appealing to angels as intermediaries between God and his people, Michael came to occupy a certain place in the Jewish liturgy. There were two prayers written beseeching him as the prince of mercy to intercede in favor of Israel: one composed by Eliezer ha-Kalir, and the other by Judah b. Samuel he-Hasid. But appeal to Michael seems to have been more common in ancient times. Thus Jeremiah is said (Baruch Apoc. Ethiopic, ix. 5) to have addressed a prayer to him. "When a man is in need he must pray directly to God, and neither to Michael nor to Gabriel" (Yer. Ber. ix. 13a).

With regard to the nature of the offerings which Michael brings to the altar, one opinion is that they are the souls of the just, while according to another they are fiery sheep. The former opinion, which has become prevalent in Jewish mystical writings, explains the important position occupied by Michael in Jewish eschatology. The idea that Michael is the Charon of individual souls, which is common among Christians, is not found in Jewish sources, but that he is in charge of the souls of the just appears in many Jewish writings.

Michael is said to have had a dispute with Samael over the soul of Moses (Midrash Deut. Rabbah xi. 6.) According to the Zohar, Michael accompanies the souls of the pious and helps them to enter the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem. It is said that Michael and his host are stationed at the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem and give admittance to the souls of the just. Michael's function is to open the gates also of justice to the just. It is also said that at the resurrection, Gabriel will sound the trumpet, at which the graves will open and the dead will rise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(archangel)

[Beloved Servant]

Tradition, lore and legend (used twice).

[Molly]

I am unfamiliar with that book.

If you want to study the angels, the book of Enoch is a must read I think.

Our Bible references it, but for some reason our Bible leaves out a lot of the detail on the angels.

I hear what you say above, how he does almost seem to resemble Jesus, but Michael is clearly one of the princes in the book of Daniel.  These princes were supernatural beings put in charge of the nations.  Each nation has a prince over it.  Michael is the prince of Israel.

So this would make Jesus equal to the other princes if you say Michael is Jesus.  I'm not so sure you would want to go there because Jesus is pre-eminent in all things.

[Beloved Servant]

That book will never enter my home.

[Beloved Servant]

     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.
    And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
    And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:1-3

Now we see Michael who is called the great prince, stands up, and when he does a time of trouble starts and God's people are delivered.

Why is it that God's people are delivered when Michael stands up?

Jesus is our Deliverer.

[Molly]

That book will never enter my home.

LOL Ok.  You're the one who is calling the archangel Michael Jesus.  I would think you might want to study up a bit more before you come to that conclusion.

Does this sound like Jesus?

12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13But 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.

14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

--Dan 10


Do you really think Jesus would be called 'one of the chief princes'?

[redhotmagma]

To which of the angels did He say sit down at my right hand until I make all the enemies a footstool for your feet.

A new covenant not mediated by angels (can't find the verse)

How do you rectify these passages with the idea that Michael is Jesus?

[Beloved Servant]

He is called the great prince in Daniel 12:1.

He is also King of kings
and Lord of lords.

[Molly]

     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.
    And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
    And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:1-3

Now we see Michael who is called the great prince, stands up, and when he does a time of trouble starts and God's people are delivered.

Why is it that God's people are delivered when Michael stands up?

Jesus is our Deliverer.

Because Michael is a very powerful warrior archangel and the prince of Israel.

Jesus on the other hand is the Prince of Peace.

I'm sure Micahel does what Jesus tells him to do.

[Molly]

He is called the great prince in Daniel 12:1.

He is also King of kings
and Lord of lords.

Michael is called the great prince--he is an archangel.

Jesus is called King of kings and LORD of Lords.

[Beloved Servant]

To which of the angels did He say sit down at my right hand until I make all the enemies a footstool for your feet?    ———> Jesus.

[Beloved Servant]

He is called the great prince in Daniel 12:1.

He is also King of kings
and Lord of lords.

Michael is called the great prince--he is an archangel.

Jesus is called King of kings and LORD of Lords.

...and Prince of Peace.

[redhotmagma]

I believe that the Chief Messenger is Jesus Christ.  My simple reply :happy3: :HeartThrob:

Is He the messanger or the Message?  I could see his earthly body being the messanger of the WORD, the carrier of the fullness of deity.

[Beloved Servant]

The prince of Israel:

Yisra = To prevail over
El = the Divine ie;- the angel

[Molly]

To which of the angels did He say sit down at my right hand until I make all the enemies a footstool for your feet.

A new covenant not mediated by angels (can't find the verse)

How do you rectify these passages with the idea that Michael is Jesus?

The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?

And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

--Heb 1


Hebrews 1:13
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?


Hebrews 2:16
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

[redhotmagma]

To which of the angels did He say sit down at my right hand until I make all the enemies a footstool for your feet?    ———> Jesus.

I forgot the all important BUT at the beginning, which is in contrast to the explanation of the son.  It seems as though a contrast is being laid down between the son and angels.  The word but can be a continuation, like for, but it seems the contrast is the difference here. 

ylt
For to which of the messengers said He ever, 'My Son thou art -- I to-day have begotten thee?' and again, 'I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son?'

The said He ever seems to exclude that He ever said that to an angel

[Beloved Servant]

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, and with the trump of God" (I Thes. 4:16).

The King James Version states that the Lord shall descend from heaven "with the voice of the archangel," that is not exactly the way it is in the original.

The Greek uses the preposition EN meaning "in," and Young's Literal Translation correctly renders it, "Because the Lord Himself, IN a shout, IN the voice of a chief-messenger, and IN the trump of God, shall come down from heaven."

The Lord does not come "with" the voice of the archangel, but "in" the voice of the archangel.




We have listened to fairy tales much too long.
In the first place we discover that the word "angel," instead of being a translation, is but an evasion, being the English form of the Greek word AGGELOS, which to the average person means nothing at all.

The Greek word AGGELOS means nothing more than "messenger."