Is Jesus Michael?

Is Jesus Michael?

Here is how to refute the Jehovah's Witnesses' blasphemous claim that Jesus is the archangel Michael.

Christian - Were you taught to believe that 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 divide this into five sections and address them one by one. Please read each section in turn.

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 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 in 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 in the Biblical era? 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.

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, as the claim you read exemplifies.

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 pulls a sled as led by a lead dog and a man on the sled. According to the twisted logic you read, the fact that the team of dogs is led by both a lead dog and a man necessarily means that the man on the sled is the lead dog.