June
2008
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to
give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness
and reverence - 1 Peter 3:15
Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?
Jehovah's Witnesses are very open in their discussions that Jesus is inferior to Jehovah God. They are even quite forthright in their labeling Jesus a created being. However, they are a little more reserved to claim that Jesus is a created angel by the name of Michael. I've even spoken with some new JWs that had not been told yet that Jesus is Michael the Archangel.
If you go to the official web site of the Jehovah's Witnesses and look up articles specifically written concerning Jesus, I was unable to find that He is an angel named Michael. If you look up articles linked to their home page on "What do They Believe?", many distinctive JW doctrines are listed but none concerning Jesus being Michael.
However, although somewhat veiled, the doctrine that Jesus is Michael can be found on their site if you searched for articles on "angels". I was able to find 2 places on their web site that teach Jesus is the created angel Michael. Both places give as biblical proof, Jude 9 and I Thessalonians 4:16.
This is a screen capture from the official web site of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Watchtower.org.
It is clear that they teach that Jesus is an angel named Michael.
The witnesses bible, the New World Translation reads:
"But when Mi'chaúel the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses' body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: 'May Jehovah rebuke you.'" (Jude 9) NWT
"because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first." (I Thessalonians 4:16) NWT
Neither of these verses say that Jesus is the created Archangel Michael or that Jesus is a created being. Jude 9 is clear that there is an angel named Michael, and I Thessalonians is clear that Jesus will return "with an anchangel's voice."
The NASB bible says "with the voice of the archangel" and the RSV bible says "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call".
Regardless of which bible version you read the archangel Michael will be present with Jesus and announce this great day along with the trumpet blast.
Mark 13:27 says many angels will likewise be involved as they gather the elect from all the world.
We shouldn't be surprised of the inclusion of the heavenly host of angels as they "shouted for joy" (Job 38) in the early moments of creation, and heralded the birth of Christ in Luke 2.
Hebrews 1:5 removes all doubt that Jesus is an angel:
"For example, to which one of the angels did he ever say: "You are my son; I, today, I have become your father"? And again: "I myself shall become his father, and he himself will become my son"?" (NWT)
Although it's been changed, the 1970 NWT bible in Hebrews 1:6 commands all the angels to "worship" Jesus. How can angels worship another angel?
This is further proof that the Watchtower is NOT to be trusted and indeed is a false prophet and false teacher.
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