Why do I call Jesus “Michael”? Because the Bible does. Daniel 10:13, 21 and 12:1; Jude 1:9 and Revelation 12:7 are the only texts that mention “Michael” in this context. If you study these texts carefully you will find that they are all in reference to heavenly places or heavenly beings. Lucifer, having been a heavenly being, would have known Jesus by His heavenly name, “Michael”. In the New Testament, the two references where He is called Michael have to do with His heavenly duty, not earthly duty.
Therefore, in Heaven He was known as “Michael”. In the Old Testament He was known as “YHWH” in commemoration of His “saving” Israel from the Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3:13-15; 6:2, 3); and in the New Testament as “Jesus” to commemorate His saving from sin (Luke 1:31).
Also, Jesus is the Chief Prince. Israel had many princes who were in charge of their tribes. But above them all was Michael, the Chief Prince. Why Prince? Because He had not yet received His Kingship. That would not take place until later. Notice, even Peter calls Jesus “Prince”. “God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.” (Acts 5:31) Nowhere in the Bible is a regular “angel” called a prince. Also Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you.” He is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Jude 1:9 are the only texts to show us that Michael and the Archangel are the same person. “Arch” means leader, or “head of”. Jesus is “Leader” and “Head of” the angels. In both the Old and New Testaments Jesus is the one giving messages to angels to give to men. Why? He is the Head of the angels. Jesus is the One who is coming at the head of all the angels at His second coming. It is His voice, the voice of the Archangel, which He will use to call the righteous to life (John 11:25). Only God has the power to raise the dead. Jesus, the Archangel, will raise the dead at the end of time.
“Angel” only means “messenger”. Well, Jesus is a messenger. We find where the New Testament confirms this concept of Jesus being called “angel” since He gave messages. We know that Exodus 3:4 is very plain about who was in the burning bush and who it was who was talking to Moses. It was God (Jesus). Yet, listen to what Stephen said when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. “He (Moses) was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God Himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.” Acts 7:35. Why “angel”? Because He had a message to bring. He was a “Messenger”.
Again, in Exodus 19:20 it is God (Jesus) who “descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain.” Again, listen to Stephen as he spoke by the Holy Spirit. “He (Moses) was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words (Ten Commandments) to pass on to us.” Acts 7:38.
Now comes the positive proof that Jesus, God, is called an “Angel” in the Bible. Look at Genesis 48:15, 16. “…The God who has been my Shepherd (Jesus)…, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm…”. (NIV)
Remember, this is not the “angel” we are talking about. This is what we visualize as an “angel”, but this is not what we are talking about in this case. Remember, “angel” only means “messenger”. These beings are “messengers” and so they are the most commonly understood concept for “angel”.
However, there is a better concept for “angel”. This is the concept of “angel” as the Old and New Testament writers would have understood it. Someone who gave a message. An “angel” or Jesus, or God the Father, or a prophet, or the donkey who gave Balaam a message can all be called “angel”, or messenger.
As a biblical point, in most cases, when the Bible says “angels”, that is, angels in the plural, it is talking about the flying angels we imagine with wings. That is what we understand. When the Bible talks about “Angel of the Lord” it is usually talking about Jesus, Michael, the Archangel. (See Genesis 16:7-13: Angel = LORD)
Jesus, Michael, is the “Arch” Angel. He is the “Head” Message Giver. Jesus is the Leader of the messengers (1 Peter 3:22). Messages that come from the Father go through Jesus who then gives them to the angels, or messengers, to give to us. But sometimes, Jesus Himself will give the message. Revelation 1:1, 8.
This concept is very simple when we put aside our prejudices and just accept the original meanings of the words as the original writers would have understood them. Unfortunately, we have 2000 years of brainwashing and propaganda to cut through in order to get our minds reoriented.
Angel is a broad term used to designate anyone who gives a message. Among the “angels” of heaven there are actual names for different groups of angels. Isaiah 6:2 shows us Seraphim and Ezekiel 10:1 shows us the Cherubim. These are actual names given to two different groups of “angels” who have very specific jobs. Hebrews 1:7, 13, 14 is talking about the “plural” kind of angels, the ones we think of as having wings.
Many have asked why, if Michael was “The Lord”, He speaks in the third person saying, “The Lord rebuke you!”? (Jude 9). Because Jesus is humble. Look at Mark 8:31, 32. Here we find Jesus speaking about Himself in the third person also. He did not speak directly about Himself as “I”, or “Me”, but as the “Son of Man”. See also Luke 18:31, 32 and Zechariah 3:1, 2. It is never good to limit Jesus. Just believe.
I pray that this little study on Michael helps you to understand how broad and how deep the concept of Jesus goes. Check out Isaiah 9:6 for some more names of Jesus. Two more names are found in Matthew 1:21, 23. Therefore, understand that Michael and Archangel are only “titles”. No different than Jesus being called “Lamb”. I hope you don’t think of Jesus as a four footed animal going “baa, baa, baa” all day long, do you? Or how about the title “Rock”. Do you think of Jesus as a lump of granite? So why visualize Jesus as an “angel” with wings just because He has the title, “Archangel”? Don’t be so foolish. Visualize Him as “Leader” of the angels. Truly, He is the “Archangel”.
Yes my friends, the biblical evidence is undeniable that Jesus, Yahweh, Messiah, Michael and Archangel are all the same person. The word “Michael” means One “who is like God”. Yes, Jesus is God in every way.