I know this subject keeps coming up over and over again, but I have a new question on Daniel 10. in 2011 I thought this doctrine had been debunked when I attended an Evangelical Church and the preached on this subject. As he was preaching I thought I saw the proof that Michael was NOT Jesus, but now I think I may have drawn a hasty conclusion. In the vision Daniel see what most believe a vision of the pre-incarnate Christ. Then he falls un-conscious and when he wakes up he is told by an un-named being that Michael had to be called to help, because he was resisted by the Prince of Persia, that is why it took so long to come to Daniel. The problem is that when Daniel falls asleep and then wakes up is the speaker the Pre-incarnate Christ or is some other being. If it is PIC then it is proof Michael is not Christ. If it is some one else then Christ could still be Michael. Does anyone know if the language indicates that it is one way or the other?
First ... and foremost Jesus is NOT a created being.
The word angel in the bible means messenger ... sometimes it's used in regard to the actual angelic beings from heaven, sometimes in regard to humans ... and ... yes ... sometimes in regard to the divine. When used in regard to the divine that is in no way diminishing or changing the divine.
A good example is in Exodus
Exodus 3
1Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush
then of course ....
4When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look,
God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
“Here I am,” he answered.
5“Do not come any closer,”
God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
d 6Then He said, “
I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
e
At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
So .. on Mt. Sinai ... God is described as the angel of the Lord .... this was Jesus.
John 1:18
Contemporary English Version
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.
An arch angel is the leader or commander of angels ... and Jesus is just that. Back in OT days and during the days of the apostles etc. ... names had real meaning ... they were used to describe a persons character. The name Michael means ... one who is like God.
So the verse is describing one who is like God (Jesus), one who commands the angels and one who brings messages. Jesus certainly brought ALL many many messages. He is the supreme messenger of all time.
Remember God himself changed peoples names all the time .... ie Abram to Abraham ... Jacob to Israel ... Simon to Peter etc. (many other examples)
So Michael (one who is like God) ... yes .... Jesus is one who is like God ... and using the name Michael in no way changes His authority or Him being Gods one and only beloved son. Michael describes His character and His character is exactly like God.