Question: Some believe Jesus is Michael the Archangel in Daniel:12:1And 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.
See All... and other verses of the Bible. I would like to know where this teaching came from.
Response:
Biblical speculation, like everything else, falls under the category of being “nothing new under the sun.” More recently, of course, this teaching has become common among Seventh-day Adventists. In Patriarchs and Prophets, written in 1890 by the SDA “prophetess,” Ellen G. White wrote, “Again: Christ is called the Word of God. John:1:1-3 [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] The same was in the beginning with God.
[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
See All.... He is so called because God gave His revelations to man in all ages through Christ. It was His Spirit that inspired the prophets. 1 Peter:1:10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
See All..., 11. He was revealed to them as the Angel of Jehovah, the Captain of the Lord’s host, Michael the Archangel” (p. 761).
White isn’t the earliest writer to promote this teaching, however. Isaac Watts, writer of many beloved hymns, wrote on page 223 in The Glory of Christ as God-Man (published 1795, but clearly written before his death in 1748), “And may not Christ himself be this Michael the Archangel, the Prince of Israel? It has been observed by some writers, that the scripture never speaks of archangels in the plural number; perhaps there is but one archangel and that is Christ.”
The issue is further complicated because on page 224 Isaac Watts comments that some (unnamed writers or preachers) believed that the angel appearing to the prophet Daniel was not Gabriel. Rather, he was “Christ.” And Watts doesn’t appear to be giving his own theological opinion but is passing on what he has read or heard elsewhere. It has been also pointed out that John Calvin was discussing this teaching 200 years prior to the time of Watts.
So, is there is any truth to the idea that Michael the archangel is just another name for the Lord Jesus Christ? No! Hebrews:1:8-14 [8] But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
[9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
[10] And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
[11] They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
[12] And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
[13] But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
[14] Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
See All..., speaking of the Son, specifically contrasts Jesus with the angels and very bluntly asks, “but to which of the angels said he at any time, ‘Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?’ Are they not all [my emphasis] ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
The Lord Jesus directly rebukes Satan, as recorded in Matthew chapter 4 regarding the account of the temptation in the wilderness. In contrast, “Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil...durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 9).
Speaking of His humanity and His relationship with the Father, the Scriptures declare that Jesus was made “a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands” (Hebrews:2:7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
See All...). All the angels (Michael included) are part of “the works of thy hands.” Jesus, on the other hand, is the only begotten (not created) son of the Father (John:1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
See All...; 3:16). When the Father brought His only begotten son into the world, He said, “And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews:1:6And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
See All...).