COGR – Is Jesus Christ really Michael?
February 11, 2024
Good day! I am writing a series of short reviews of abbreviated COGR video clips. I am looking for input and comments. If it makes it easier, I will gladly supply a Word document so comments can be put in the document, and we can communicate directly. My email address is lattema@icloud.com. I hope you find these reviews helpful.
Transcript:
And then heaven is referred to a heavenly place, okay, exalted place. Verse seven. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought. And his angels, okay, this is very important and prevailed not. Who prevailed? Not the dragon. Neither was their place found anymore in heaven.
Verse nine, and the great red dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Let’s go back and let’s get Michael. Michael means the chief of the angels. Michael is the chief of the angels.
Hebrews three. Hebrews three. Someone get that Hebrews three. Verse one. And you read that? Yes, consider the apostle and high priest. Or consider the chief priest and the chief apostle, which is the chief angel, which is Michael. Jesus Christ is Michael.
Who are his angels? Who could tell me? Who do you think that is? Who are his angels? His ministers? Amen, I think. And specifically he’s talking about those that were warring, especially his apostles of the morning time. And I explain why I am saying what I’m saying.
Commentary:
Looking at Hebrews 3:1 we find:
3 Therefore, holy brothers, sharers in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, (W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Heb 3:1.)
Randall says, “Or consider the chief priest and the chief apostle, which is the chief angel, which is Michael. Jesus Christ is Michael.” So, we have here a claim that the chief priest and apostle is the chief angel. Nothing in the text suggests that. Since nothing in the text suggests that Michael is either the chief apostle or chief priest, we can safely say that according to this argument, Jesus is not Michael.
Several groups make a doctrinal point of Jesus and Michael being the same. Among them are the Seventh Day Adventists and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some offshoots of Adventism also share that belief. The following commentators have also stated that Michael was a theophany of Jesus or that Jesus and Michael were the same. They are John Calvin, John Gill, Adam Clarke, Alfred Barnes and E.W Bullinger. The primary arguments for this position come not from Hebrews 3:1 but from the three points made and refuted below:
The basic arguments in favor of Randall’s claim are as follows:
- Some argue Jesus is Michael because Michael contends with Satan in Jude 1:9, and Jesus is linked to an archangel’s voice in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. However, these passages don’t equate Jesus with Michael but merely mention them in different contexts. Jude 1:9 discusses Michael’s authority over Satan, while 1 Thessalonians 4:16 associates Jesus with an archangel’s voice but doesn’t identify him as Michael.
- Jesus and Michael are depicted as powerful heavenly beings and warriors against evil forces. However, while they share characteristics, Jesus’ role as the divine Son of God and Savior distinguishes him from Michael. Jesus’ redemptive work surpasses any angelic role, emphasizing his uniqueness.
- In Revelation 12, some see Michael’s leading angels against Satan aligning with Jesus’ ultimate victory over evil. However, while Revelation 12 portrays Michael’s role in battling evil, it doesn’t equate him with Jesus. Jesus’ victory over sin and death is central to Christian theology, distinct from any angelic figure’s role.
The only five places that mention Michael are below. None of those passages suggest an equivalence between Jesus and Michael.
Daniel 10:13 – “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.”
Daniel 10:21 – “But first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.”
Daniel 12:1 – “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.”
Jude 1:9 – “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Revelation 12:7 – “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.”
In addition, the following points are worth considering,
- Jesus is never called Michael in Scripture.
- Jesus is WITH Michael (Dan 10:5-6 cf Rev 1:13,14, 2:18)
- Jesus is NOT an angel – Hebrews 1:1-8
- Jesus was worshiped by men and angels – Mt 28:9,17, John 9:38, Acts 7:59,60, I Cor.1:2, Revelation 5:11-12
- Jesus can rebuke Satan — compare Jude 9/Mt.4:10.
While refuting the theology of the Watchtower,much has been written about the claim that Michael is Jesus by ex-JWs. The information here does not begin to plumb the depths of the discussion.
Conclusion:
Randall has made a claim that is rejected by most of Christianity, and with good reason. Then, he chose to justify his position with a verse unrelated to the topic. That is either shoddy research or an effort to put forth error by twisting Scripture. Neither is a good look.
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