The Jehovah's Witness Cult and Michael the Archangel

The Jehovah's Witness cult and other aberrant groups falsely claim that Jesus Christ is not God but only an exalted angel and cite 1 Thessalonians 4:16 as a proof text. As such they embrace heresy by rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus Christ (2 John 7-11).

So who is Michael the Archangel? A view taken by several Protestant preachers and theologians (including Charles Spurgeon, John Gill, Matthew Henry and John Calvin among others) is that Michael is simply another title for the Son of God and consider the term Archangel as indicating Jesus Christ's position as chief of the angels but NOT an angel himself. In contrast to the Jehovah's Witness they uphold the divinity of Jesus Christ - thus maintaining a Trinitarian Christology. In this view "Archangel" means "head of the angels" rather than "head angel" and is a title similar to "Prince of the host" (Daniel 8:11).

So what do we know about Michael? The name means "who is like God". He holds first rank among the angels (Revelation 12:7-9) and is the deliverer and great prince of his people (Daniel 10:13, 21 and 12:1-3) whose voice will call the dead to life at the Resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16). These attributes belong more to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ than to any angel.

In the battle against deceivers we must be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Truth is always mixed with error.

John Gill

Daniel 10:13 "but, lo, Michael one of the chief Princes, came to help me; called in the New Testament an Archangel, the Prince of angels, the Head of all principality and power; and is no other than Christ the Son of God, an uncreated Angel; who is "one", or "the first of the chief Princes" (x), superior to angels, in nature, name, and office; he came to "help" Gabriel, not as a fellow creature, but as the Lord of hosts; not as a fellow soldier, but as General of the armies of heaven and earth, as superior to him in wisdom and strength; and he helped him by giving him fresh counsels, orders, and instructions, which he following succeeded:"

Daniel 12:1 "And at that time shall Michael stand up,...The Archangel, who has all the angels of heaven under him, and at his command, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ; who is as God, as the name signifies, truly and really God, and equal in nature, power, and glory, to his divine Father: "he shall stand up"..." John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.

Matthew Henry

"Here is Michael our prince, the great protector of the church, and the patron of its just but injured cause: The first of the chief princes, Daniel 10:13. Some understand it of a created angel, but an archangel of the highest order, 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 1:9. Others think that Michael the archangel is no other than Christ himself, the angel of the covenant, and the Lord of the angels, he whom Daniel saw in vision, Daniel 10:5. He came to help me (Dan 10:13); and there is none but he that holds with me in these things, Dan 10:21. Christ is the church's prince; angels are not, Hebrews 2:5. He presides in the affairs of the church and effectually provides for its good..." Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Entire Bible.

John Calvin

"Daniel therefore represented Michael as the guardian of the Church, and God had enjoined this duty upon Christ, as we learn from the 10th chapter of John, (ver. 28, 29.) As we stated yesterday, Michael may mean an angel; but I embrace the opinion of those who refer this to the person of Christ, because it suits the subject best to represent him as standing forward for the defence of his elect people..." A Commentary on Daniel, John Calvin.