Here
is how to refute the Jehovah's Witnesses' blasphemous claim that Jesus is the
archangel Michael.
Christian - Were you taught to believe Jesus
is Michael, whom Revelation 12:7 identifies as an
"archangel"?
Jehovah's Witness - Yes.
Christian - What evidence do you have that Jesus is Michael?
Jehovah's Witness - Well,
this page
from my website explains in detail that Jesus is the archangel Michael.
Christian - Ok, let's break this up into five parts and address them one by one:
Jehovah's Witness - At times,
individuals are known by more than one name. For example, the patriarch Jacob is
also known as Israel, and the apostle Peter, as Simon. (Genesis 49:1, 2; Matthew
10:2) Likewise, the Bible indicates that Michael is another name for Jesus
Christ, before and after his life on earth.
Christian - Whenever an individual is known by more than
one name in the Bible, the Bible specifies that both names belong to the same
individual. The Bible never "indicates that
Michael is another name for Jesus Christ," let alone
specify that "Michael" was His name "before and after
his life on earth." To the contrary, even your
New
World Translation records Hebrews 1:5's declaration, "to which one of the angels did God
ever say: 'You are my son,' " which
precludes Jesus being Michael or any other angel.
Jehovah's Witness - Let us consider Scriptural
reasons for drawing that conclusion.
Christian - This statement implies that the reasons to
be presented will be Scriptural. As you will see below, they are not.
Jehovah's Witness - Archangel. God’s Word refers to Michael “the archangel.” (Jude 9) This term means “chief angel.” Notice that Michael is called the archangel. This suggests that there is only one such angel. In fact, the term “archangel” occurs in the Bible only in the singular, never in the plural.
Christian - As boxed in red above and seen on this page, Jesus called Nicodemus "the teacher of the Israel" (John 3:10). Notice that Nicodemus is called the teacher of the Israel. Does that mean there was only one teacher of Israel? Of course not. There were 70 other teachers of Israel in the Sanhedrin, Israel's ruling council of which Nicodemus was a member. And the term "wedding" occurs in the Bible only in the singular, never in the plural. Does that mean only one wedding took place during the Biblical times? Of course not. Angels are called princes in the New World Translation's Daniel chapter 10, whose verse 21 states, "Miʹcha·el, your prince," meaning 'Michael, your angel,' while verse 13 states, "Miʹcha·el, one of the foremost princes," meaning 'Michael, one of the archangels.' "One" of the archangels means there are other archangels. Instead performing contortions in logic to spin lies about the Bible, it is better to simply read and believe what the Bible says.
Jehovah's Witness - Moreover, Jesus is linked with
the office of archangel. Regarding the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, 1
Thessalonians 4:16 states: “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a
commanding call, with an
archangel’s voice.” Thus the voice of Jesus is
described as being that of an archangel. This scripture therefore suggests that
Jesus himself is the archangel Michael.
Christian - According to the quote above, 1
Thessalonians 4:16 ends with "voice." It doesn't. Even in the New World
Translation,
1 Thessalonians 4:16
states, "... the Lord himself will descend from
heaven with a commanding call, with an
archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, ..." Since the claim being made
above is that "the Lord" = "archangel" because of the phrase, "with an
archangel's voice," then "the Lord" = "God" since it also says, "with
God's trumpet." This scripture therefore does NOT suggest that Jesus Himself is
the archangel Michael. It
simply says the Lord's return will be accompanied by the sounds of an archangel's
call and God's trumpet. Half of the truth is often a lie, and the claim
made above serves as an example.
Jehovah's Witness - Army Leader.
The Bible states that “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon ... and
its angels.” (Revelation 12:7) Thus, Michael is the Leader of an army of
faithful angels. Revelation also describes Jesus as the Leader of an army of
faithful angels. (Revelation 19:14-16) And the apostle Paul specifically
mentions “the Lord Jesus” and “his powerful angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7) So
the Bible speaks of both Michael and “his angels” and Jesus and “his angels.”
(Matthew 13:41; 16:27; 24:31; 1 Peter 3:22) Since God’s Word nowhere indicates
that there are two armies of faithful angels in heaven - one headed by Michael
and one headed by Jesus - it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other
than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role.
Christian - Iditarod is a famous dogsled race across
Alaska in which a team of dogs pull a sled as led by a lead dog and a
man on the sled. Does the fact that the team of dogs is
led by both a lead dog and a man mean that the man on the sled is the lead dog?
The Jehovah's Witnesses' claim that Jesus is Michael is a blasphemous, Satanic lie that exemplifies how the Jehovah's Witnesses try to justify their heresies. Lacking any Biblical evidence and/or contradicted by Scripture, they spew out a bunch of lies and half-truths and hope that they won't be scrutinized. For another example, see their claims about Colossians 1:16.