Archangel Michael; The Strongest Angel (Biblical Stories Explained)

One of the most prominent characters in the Bible is the angel Michael, who is known as the archangel or the chief of angels. In this celestial hierarchy, Michael stands as a figure of authority and power, embodying the very essence of divine strength and leadership. He is the only angel designated as an archangel in the Bible. This unique designation sets Michael apart, placing him in a position of unparalleled honor and responsibility in the heavenly realms. Many people believe that Lucifer was also an archangel because he led other angels to revolt against God. Yet, in the grand tapestry of biblical narratives, Lucifer's role diverges significantly, symbolizing a fall from grace in contrast to Michael's unwavering devotion to God. However, nowhere in Scripture are we explicitly told that he was an archangel. Similarly, some believe that Gabriel is also an archangel, but Scripture does not explicitly state this. Gabriel's role as a messenger, while significant, differs from the combative and protective aspects associated with Michael, illustrating the diversity of functions within the angelic order. Within the canon of Scripture, only four angels are named. Michael, the archangel. Gabriel, the messenger of God. Lucifer, the fallen one. Abaddon, also known as Apollyon, the destroyer. Of all the holy angels mentioned in the Bible, Michael is the most prominent. The name Michael means who is like God. In Daniel 10.13, the archangel Michael is described as one of the chief princes. This phrase suggests to us that if Michael is one of the chief princes, there are other chief princes that the Bible has remained silent about. That is a plausible conclusion to reach. In my personal opinion, I believe there are other archangels because of this phrase. However, we have not been given their names. From the onset, it is imperative to address a fringe doctrine which is categorically incorrect. There are groups of Christians who subscribe to the belief that Jesus Christ is Michael, the archangel. It is imperative to clarify, particularly through the lens of traditional biblical interpretation of the Bible, that Jesus Christ and Michael are indeed two distinctly separate beings. This stance is grounded in several key scriptural analyses. Firstly, the nature of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament is fundamentally different from that of any angel, including Michael. In the book of Hebrews, a direct comparison is made between Jesus and the angels. Hebrews 1.5, For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee, and again I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. This passage unequivocally distinguishes Jesus as the Son of God, a status that is not attributed to Michael or any other angel. Moreover, in Hebrews 1.6 it states, And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. This clearly indicates that Jesus is to be worshipped by angels, thereby placing him in a position of authority and divinity far above them, including Michael. Worship of angels, or considering them on the same level as Christ, is contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Additionally, the roles and functions of Jesus and Michael in the biblical narrative are distinctly different. While Michael is depicted as a warrior and protector, particularly in the book of Revelation, Jesus' role encompasses the redemption of humanity through his sacrificial death and resurrection, a role that is unique and central to Christian faith. In John 1.1-14, Jesus is described as the Word, who was with God and was God, and through whom all things were made, this divine nature is not ascribed to Michael or any other angel. Furthermore, Jesus' authority over life and judgment, as depicted in the Gospels, is another aspect that sets him apart from Michael. For instance, in John 5.22 it states, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Such divine authority over judgment is never attributed to Michael. Michael is not Jesus, and Jesus is not Michael. Unlike other angels whose identities are hidden in the Old and New Testaments, Michael's name is mentioned virtually everywhere he featured in the Bible. The book of Revelation portrays Michael as an angel of warfare. He led the war against Satan and his angels in heaven and won the victory over them. Revelation 12.7-9 says, And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was there place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Wherever Michael is mentioned in the Bible, he is mentioned as contending, fighting, or standing against evil spirits and principalities. He defends the things of God and the people of God. And we see this in a very important book of the Bible, the book of Daniel. In all the books of the Bible, both Michael and Gabriel are mentioned in one book. They are both mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, but only in one book are they both mentioned. Daniel 10.7-13, And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men that were with me saw not the vision, but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me, for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words, and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright, for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia. The angel that was sent to deliver the answer to Daniel's prayer was confronted by the prince of Persia for twenty-one days. Since this prince was able to oppose the angelic messenger to Daniel, we know this prince was more than a man. This prince was a spirit being, and the fact that this prince is called the prince of the kingdom of Persia suggests that Persia has a spirit being that represents it. The word prince has the idea of a ruler or authority. This fits in well with the New Testament idea that angelic ranks are organized and have a hierarchy, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Apparently, this was a high-ranking evil spirit, as it had the power to oppose the answer to Daniel's prayer for twenty-one days. If you remember in the book of John on three separate occasions, Jesus referred to Satan as the prince of this world. This leads me to believe that the prince of the kingdom of Persia was no normal run-of-the-mill evil spirit, but a very powerful evil spirit that withstood this holy angel for twenty-one days until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help the angel. Michael did not bring the answers to Daniel. He only delivered the angel from the attack of the prince of Persia. This means that angels have different ranks and different duties. When examining the roles and responsibilities of Michael the archangel in contrast to other angelic figures, a profound understanding of the diverse yet unified nature of heavenly beings in serving God's purpose emerges. This comparison, particularly with Gabriel and Lucifer, provides a broader perspective on the functions and duties assigned to these celestial beings. Michael, often depicted as a warrior, represents the strength and protective nature of divine intervention. His portrayal in the book of Revelation as the leader of heavenly hosts in the battle against Satan and his forces, Revelation 12, verses 7 to 9, showcases his role as a defender of the divine order and a competent against evil. This warrior aspect of Michael is not seen in Gabriel's character. Gabriel, on the other hand, is primarily known as a messenger. His appearances to Daniel in Daniel 8.16, to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist, Luke 1.19, and to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus in Luke 1.26-28 emphasize his role in conveying critical messages from God to humans. Unlike Michael, Gabriel does not engage in celestial battles but focuses on delivering divine revelations and guidance. Lucifer, known as the fallen angel, presents a stark contrast to both Michael and Gabriel. Originally a creation of beauty and splendor, Lucifer's fall from grace due to pride and rebellion, as seen in Isaiah 14, verses 12 to 15, is antithetical to the unwavering loyalty and service demonstrated by Michael. Lucifer's role transitioned from serving God to opposing Him, marking a departure from the divine purpose assigned to angelic beings. Michael's distinctive responsibilities also set him apart in the spiritual realm. His role as a protector is further emphasized in the book of Daniel, where he is described as a chief prince who comes to the aid of the angels struggling against the prince of Persia. This protective duty aligns with his role in defending Israel, particularly highlighted in Daniel 12.1, where Michael is depicted as the guardian of God's people during times of unprecedented trouble. Furthermore, Michael's interaction in Jude 1.9, where he contends with Satan over the body of Moses, reveals his authority and power, yet he still operates within the limits of his angelic nature, deferring to God's authority. Now back to the book of Daniel. The angel that was sent to Daniel had the answer to his prayers but could not overpower the evil spirit that withstood him. But Michael came to rescue him and ensured that the answer to Daniel's prayer was delivered to him. He acts as the leader of other angels. He has the strength to fight and to contend against evil spirits. He is very much a leader of other angels. We see this in the sense that he led other angels to fight the devil and his angels in the book of Revelation. There is a spirit world around us with powerful forces that literally affect our world. Don't ever think for one second that what you see happening in our world today occurs in isolation. This passage of Scripture just opens up the curtain slightly into what is happening in the spirit world right now. There are confrontations and battles between spirit beings happening at this very moment. The prophet Daniel reveals to us that Michael has a direct connection with the nation of Israel. Moreover, he reveals that Michael will have a prominent role in the end time. Daniel 12.1.3 says, And 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, and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. This means that Michael has the ministry to protect the nation of Israel during the Great Tribulation. He is not only a warrior angel, but Michael also has a special job in protecting Israel. God appointed Michael as a spiritual guardian over Israel. Right now, Michael is still standing for the children of Israel, as he always has. He is their protector. One angel of the Lord that God dispatched, just one angel, slew 185,000 men. Just one angel. Angels are not to be taken lightly. Typically, when you see depictions of angels, they are soft, fluffy, cute, flowery creatures. Those are not angels. That is unscriptural. Angels are powerful beings. Jude recorded how Michael contended with Satan for the body of Moses. Jude 1.9 says, Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. This is the only Bible passage that clearly defines Michael as an archangel. Now, there are some denominations and beliefs that preach that the Lord Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel. He is not. Jesus is not Michael the archangel. Nowhere in the Bible is Jesus identified as Michael or any other angel. In Jude 1.9, Michael states, The Lord rebuke thee. If the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed Michael, why would he say, The Lord rebuke thee? It would make more sense for him to say rather, I rebuke thee. This proves to us that Michael is not Jesus, as some groups have thought. Jesus rebuked the devil in his own authority, but Michael did not. Michael the archangel, though, is only an angel. He is not God. Yes, he is a marvelous creature. Nevertheless, he is still a created being, and he should not be worshipped. The dispute between Michael and the devil over the body of Moses is interesting. Although Michael had the power to go toe-to-toe with the devil, as we see in other instances in Scripture, he simply says, The Lord rebuke thee. He rebuked the devil in the name of the Lord. All the roles performed by Michael in the Scripture are related to warfare and contention. We can reach the conclusion that angels have varying offices and patterns of operation. According to his office, Michael stands in loyalty to God. In the book of Daniel, angel Michael defeated the prince of Persia, while his victory over the devil, our arch-enemy, is recorded in the books of Jude and Revelation. Revelation 12, verses 7 to 11. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not. Neither was there place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto the death. This is a dramatic scene of a battle between good holy angels and bad unholy angels, faithful angels and fallen angels. Notice how in this passage of Scripture we are told that Michael and his angels. He is an archangel and he has angels that work with him. Notice the dragon who is Satan has his own angels. Some say Michael must be Jesus because he has his angels. But if Satan, a fallen satanic angelic being, has his angels, can't Michael, an unfallen holy angelic being, have his angels. However, as great and heroic as Michael appears, he is just but a creation of God. He is not equal with God. Therefore, he should not be worshipped. Every time people attempted to bow and worship angels in the Bible, they were forbidden by them. Angels are ministering spirits. You see an angel and live, but no man has seen God and lived.