Michael – La Vista Church of Christ

Why were Michael and Satan arguing about the body of Moses?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:18:00 +0000

Question:

I have a Bible question about Jude: Why were Michael and Satan arguing about the corpse of Moses?

Answer:

"Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"" (Jude 8-9).

This passage has led to numerous speculations over the centuries because the event is not recorded in the Old Testament; yet, Jude refers to it as a piece of history. Some try to make it symbolic, but there is no reason to think that Jude is using figurative language in this text.

Most likely the time being discussed is right after the death of Moses. "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day" (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). The fact that God had Moses' body buried does hint that there was a concern.

The most logical guess that I've run across is that people have a tendency to idolize things. The Israelites turned the bronze serpent into an idol (II Kings 18:4). We see the Catholic church venerating anything that hints of being an ancient religious relic, including claiming to have bones of apostles or religious men. Therefore, it is not hard to imagine that Satan wanted access to the body of Moses to corrupt God's people in some manner. God prevented this from happening by keeping the location of Moses' body secret, but I'm sure Satan protested this.

However, this remains a speculation. Instead of getting sidetracked, we need to focus on the point that Jude was illustrating: No one should sit in judgment over the fate of another person, even when we know the ultimate fate of someone like Satan. God is the Judge of all the world and we must respect His authority in these matters.

Could I Thessalonians 4:16 and Daniel 12:1 confirm that Michael, the archangel, is Jesus?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 02:58:00 +0000

Question:

Do I Thessalonians 4:16 and Daniel 12:1 confirm that Michael the archangel and Jesus are the same person?

Answer:

First, read Is Michael the archangel and Jesus the same person? This will give you background proof that Jesus could not be an angel.

"At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1).

Notice that while it states that Michael watches over Israel, it does not state that he, personally, will be the deliverer from their troubles. There are references to other princes guiding nations. "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. ... Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come" (Daniel 10:13, 20). Notice that Michael is one of several chief princes. This is unlike Jesus who is the one and only.

Jesus is referred to in Daniel by the title prince. "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times" (Daniel 9:25). But he is also called the Prince of princes. "Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means" (Daniel 8:25). The Messiah, Jesus, is above all other princes; which is unlike Michael who is one of many chief princes.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first" (I Thessalonians 4:16).

The verse lists three things that will happen as the Lord descends from heaven:

The Lord will shout (Literally a signal shout, a military command. See John 5:28-29.)
The voice of an archangel (What will be announced is not stated.)
The trumpet of God (Similar to Matthew 24:31; I Corinthians 15:52)

The voice of the archangel is separate from the trumpet and the shout of the Lord. This doesn't prove that Jesus is an archangel; rather, it shows that he is separate. Notice also that which archangel is giving voice is not named. To claim that this is Michael is an assumption.

Response:

Thank you very much, sir.

Are Michael the archangel and Jesus the same person?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:31:30 +0000

Question:

My question is about the archangel Micheal. Was that Jesus' original name before he came to earth? I ask because in the book of Daniel and Revelation have some resemblance. (Daniel 10:13, 21; Daniel 12:1; Jude 9 and Revelation 12:7).

Answer:

The simple answer is that Michael is not Jesus by a different name. Jesus is called God's only Son. "By this God's love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him" (I John 4:9). In fact, the phrase "only begotten" used in some translations can also be translated as "unique of a kind." Yet, Michael is said to be one of several. "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia" (Daniel 10:13). In other words, there are more than one chief princes (archangels).

Second, Michael is clearly called an archangel (which means a chief angel) in Jude 9, yet the writer of Hebrews states that Jesus could not be an angel.

"God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have. For to which of the angels did he say at any time, "You are my Son. Today have I become your father?" and again, "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?" Again, when he brings in the firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of God worship him." Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire." But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom" (Hebrews 1:1-8).

All Revelation 12:7 says is that Michael and the angels under him threw Satan and his followers out of heaven. This does not imply that Michael was Jesus.