Is Jesus also Michael?

Our Great God has given Himself many names! All are expressions of His character. As Seventh Day Adventist Christians we recognize the fact that Jesus Christ Himself is very God. Notice this statement by Christian author, Ellen G. White;

"If Christ made all things, He existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity. God over all, blessed forevermore.......This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself, explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths, while it is enshrined in light unapproachable and incomprehensible." [E.G.White, RH April 5,1906]

Let us look at some of the names given to Christ in the Bible;

He is referred to as "the second Adam": (1 Corinthians 15:45) "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."

He is our "lawyer" in the Sanctuary of Heaven. (1 John 2:1). As lawyer, He presents our case and stands by our sides.

He is the "Beginning and the End" of everything. (21:6, 22:13). Alpha and Omega: (Revelation 1:8,17, 2:8, 21:6, 22:13).

And He is the "head of the church"...the "stone".....and we could go on. It is said that there are over 144 titles for Jesus Christ in the Bible.

There are two titles, names, that He is called that I would like to focus on because both of these names for Christ have caused some debate and misunderstandings among some believers.

The first name we will look at is "David" which in the Hebrew means, "beloved of God". Did you know that the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah saw a future "David"? They made prophetic statements about a "David which is to come". These statements were made long after the original king David of Israel died. Some theologians did not understand these passages and made the mistake of describing that the literal king David of old would resurrect. Some "dispensational" theologians still hold to this error.

The passages in question are found in Ezekiel 34:23,24 and in Jeremiah 30:9. These prophetic statements are explained in the New Testament book of Acts. There the Scriptures clearly point out that references to a future David pointed to Jesus Christ. [See Acts 2:34-36] False teachers and cults such as the Davidians have greatly misinterpreted these messianic Scriptures to their own peril.

Let us look at the second controversial name for the Messiah. That name is "Michael, the archangel". Many have made the mistake of referencing the title "angel" to always being that of "winged creatures", those created beings of God. It is true that many times that the title "angel" or "angels" is used it is reference to these created beings, but not always!

The prophet Haggai was called God's messenger (angel); and it is known that "Malachi" is not a real name, but means "messenger" or "angel".

Jesus has many names that point to His character. First off, the word “angel” simply means messenger. Jesus is indeed a messenger! We must understand that when we refer to Jesus as a messenger [angel] we are not classing Him with the typical created messengers [ angels].

The Bible does not make Jesus out to be a mere messenger any more than the Bible makes Him a mere animal by reffering to Him as a "Lamb".

The name Michael means; “One who is like God” or “Who is like God?”. We recognize the fact that Jesus is God! Who can compare to Him? He is called the Chief Messenger [Archangel]. Jesus is also the Michael who kicked Satan out of heaven [see Revelation ch.12]. Michael, the archangel whose voice will raise the dead. According to John 5:28, 29 this voice is that of Jesus and according to Daniel 12:1,2 it is that of Michael. The same messenger! God the Son!

The Bible proclaims that the Son of man will come with all "His angels." [Matt.24:30,31] Jesus Christ is indeed the leader [arch] of all angels. The name Michael is also described as being our "prince" or the "Prince of God's people" in Daniel 10:21. And in this same book of Daniel we see the phrase, "unto the Messiah the Prince". [Daniel 9:25] Clearly Jesus is this Prince, Michael!

Here is some more supportive evidence that Michael is a name for Jesus:

1. The Book of Daniel references Michael as being “a great prince” who stands on behalf of Israel. (Dan. 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1). Jesus is also associated with defending Jerusalem at the battle of Har-Magedon (Rev. 11:15; 16:14-16). Here we see Jesus is Michael.

2. Michael is believed to be the “Angel of the Lord” or archangel who accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness, and Christ himself is said to have been with the Israelites at that time. Since the term “archangel” is only used in the singular, in relation to Michael, (Jude 9) there can only be one “chief” of angels, which would be Michael/Jesus.

3. Jesus’ Second Coming is said to be with the commanding call of an “archangel’s voice”. (I Thess. 4:16-18). Therefore, Jesus is the archangel, who is Michael.

4. Jesus is depicted as leading the heavenly host at the end of the age (Rev. 19:11-16). Revelation also says that “Michael and the angels battled the dragon”. (Rev 12:7,10,12).

Is the Lord ever referred to in the Scriptures as an "angel"? Yes! Look here:


Exo 3:2 "And the *angel of the LORD* appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed."

Now in verses four and six, who is identified as being in the bush?-

Exo 3:4 "And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I."

Exo 3:6 "Moreover he said, *I am* the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."

Notice that the angel (messenger) of verse 2 is really none other than God Himself. This is confirmed in the New Testament-

Acts 7:30 "And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an *angel of the Lord* in a flame of fire in a bush."

Acts 7:31" When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,"

And here is another very interesting verse;

"And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the ANGEL OF THE LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And THE LORD SAID to Satan, THE LORD REBUKE THEE, Satan....." Zechariah 3:1,2

Compare Jude 9;

"Yet MICHAEL the archangel, when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring him a railing accusation, but SAID, THE LORD REBUKE THEE."

Please understand that Seventh Day Adventist Christians do not believe that Jesus or "Michael" is a created being! We understand that Jesus is God! Jesus [God] has many names given to Him throughout the Scriptures because God is big!

I hope this helps you to better understand our Biblical base for this understanding.

Written by, Eric W. King [December 29,2007]

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