Jesus = Michael?

SabbathBlessings said:

You quoted three passages of created angles and applied it to the SDA’s view of Jesus which is false and misleading

Agree, the devil and his angles, created fallen beings that is a good example of not being holy.

Well there is the prediction that the Son of God’s voice will raise the dead at His Second Coming John5:25,28-29 and then elsewhere its the voice of the Archangel that raises the dead 1 Thes4:16

Jesus goes by many Titles in Scripture some examples

• Bread of Life — John 6:35, 48
• Light of the World — John 8:12; 9:5
• The Door — John 10:9
• The Good Shepherd — John 10:11, 14
• The Resurrection and the Life — John 11:25
• The Way, the Truth, and the Life — John 14:6
• The True Vine — John 15:1, 5
• Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace — Isaiah 9:6
• Branch — Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 6:12
• Servant — Isaiah 42:1; 52:13; Matthew 12:18
• Man of Sorrows — Isaiah 53:3
• Root of Jesse — Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12
• The LORD Our Righteousness — Jeremiah 23:6
• Sun of Righteousness — Malachi 4:2
• Cornerstone / Chief Cornerstone — Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6
• Rock — 1 Corinthians 10:4

Jesus is not a literal rock or bread, or vine or sun, Jesus is not created and angel does mean messenger and has been referred to as God in Scripture

• Genesis 22:11–18 — the Angel of the LORD speaks as God to Abraham.
• Exodus 3:2–6 — the Angel of the LORD appears in the burning bush and identifies Himself as "I AM" / the God of Abraham.
• Exodus 23:20–23 — God sends an Angel in whom "my name is in him," with authority to pardon transgression (a divine prerogative).
• Judges 13:18 — the Angel of the LORD's name is "Wonderful" (cf. Isaiah 9:6, where "Wonderful" is the Messiah).

"Archangel" comes from the Greek archangelos — a compound of archē (chief, first, ruler, beginning) and angelos (messenger/angel). So it literally means "chief messenger" or "chief of the angels."

which is another Title for Jesus as its His voice that raises the dead. This is not a unique teaching of the SDA church many of the Reformers believed this as well.

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And as prior noted in not a single instance Jesus being shown to be Michael, then, now or in the future.

It is simply an odd and unneccesary stretch of the imaginations to take various names and titles in the Bible and try to make them into God The Son unless they are meant to be applied to God The Son.

The "chief" can be a messenger and not be God The Son. Paul was the chief of sinners, post salvation no less, 1 Tim. 1:15. Does that mean Paul was a worse sinner than Satan? Unlikely. Satan could even be considered an archangel in the reverse form of the matters, that being evil personified in spirit form and all his little weeds with him.

In any case the whole Jesus used to be or still is Michael is a non-starter. I don't know why the SDA bothers to try to sell that story other than to make them and their members "special."

Blueprints said:

I am a Seventh-day Adventist at present. I am a "proponent" of the Jesus / Michael doctrine, as many before I (we) were, as evidenced in the linked material - Jesus = Michael? The question is, why didn't you consider that material (Pro. 18:13,17)? Many Christians and Reformers throughout the ages have taught / believed the same. So, I was never trying to "hide it", but was most bold in my position. It is never something to be ashamed of.

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IF there were a single statement stating such OR even better, multiple scriptural witnesses expounding on that matter, you'd have a point.

A lot of cults have these little side stories where when their members buy into them, they have special, unique and inside information that "verifies and authorizes" them as "safe."

And we all want to be "safe" don't we? We all need to be absolutely RIGHT in order to guarantee our eternal presence in heaven and not be eternally snuffed out or burned alive forever. Except no one is and can be absolutely RIGHT, other than God. So there's that.

If you like your story you can keep your story. I personally don't think God is going to obliterate you any more than anyone else for the story.

BelieveItOarKnot said:

And as prior noted in not a single instance Jesus being shown to be Michael, then, now or in the future.

It is simply an odd and unneccesary stretch of the imaginations to take various names and titles in the Bible and try to make them into God The Son unless they are meant to be applied to God The Son.

The "chief" can be a messenger and not be God The Son. Paul was the chief of sinners, post salvation no less, 1 Tim. 1:15. Does that mean Paul was worse than Satan? Unlikely. Satan could even be considered an archangel in the reverse form of the matters, that being evil personified in spirit form and all his little weeds with him.

In any case the whole Jesus used to be or still is Michael is a non-starter. I don't know why the SDA bothers to try to sell that story other than to make them and their members "special."

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Only if one chooses to ignore the Scripture presented the voice of the Archangel raises the dead at the Second Coming and for it to later say that voice is Jesus Christ.

This has nothing to do with making members feel special, obviously you only know about SDA’s from what other people tell you, this didn’t even start with the SDA‘s but many God-fearing Reformers. Believer as you wish we all have to stand before someone Greater one day soon.

Take care

Blueprints said:

Yes, the Son of the Father, is known by many names, designations, titles and positions, and among them, are "Jesus" and "Michael". Consider - Michael The Archangel Who Is Like Unto God The Highest Messenger (BOOK) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The WTS / JW simply borrowed a piece of Christian and Reformation doctrine, but also borrowed some of Catholicism's Arian doctrine and mixed the two. They did not originate Jesus = Michael doctrine.

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Tell me you're a heretic without telling me you are a heretic.

9Rock9 said:

So, I used to associate with the 7th Day Adventist Church even though I never officially joined them. Even though I no longer agree with their doctrines, I still find their theology fascinating and like to debate them from the Bible.

There is one doctrine I associated with the SDA that I don't recall hearing about during my time among them. It's the idea that Jesus Christ and the Archangel Michael are the same person.

Now, tbf to the Adventists, thet don't actually think that Jesus was an angel or a created being. How it was explained to me is that "Michael" is the name the angels use to refer to Jesus Christ. Also, "archangel" refers to a position or rank, not a type of Angel. In other words, Jesus is not an angel, but he is the commander over the angels.

Idk what to make of this. It's definitely a niche view, but I don't think it's exactly heretical since the Adventists are denying Christ's divinity nor his eternal nature.

While there seems to be some similarities with the Jehovah's Witness doctrine, there are some differences. It's not surprising since the JWs came out of Adventism.

What are your thoughts aboht this?

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Nah. Michael is Michael. Jesus is Jesus.

9Rock9 said:

So, I used to associate with the 7th Day Adventist Church even though I never officially joined them. Even though I no longer agree with their doctrines, I still find their theology fascinating and like to debate them from the Bible.

There is one doctrine I associated with the SDA that I don't recall hearing about during my time among them. It's the idea that Jesus Christ and the Archangel Michael are the same person.

Now, tbf to the Adventists, thet don't actually think that Jesus was an angel or a created being. How it was explained to me is that "Michael" is the name the angels use to refer to Jesus Christ. Also, "archangel" refers to a position or rank, not a type of Angel. In other words, Jesus is not an angel, but he is the commander over the angels.

Idk what to make of this. It's definitely a niche view, but I don't think it's exactly heretical since the Adventists are denying Christ's divinity nor his eternal nature.

While there seems to be some similarities with the Jehovah's Witness doctrine, there are some differences. It's not surprising since the JWs came out of Adventism.

What are your thoughts aboht this?

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First I've heard of that, I always thought it was the Jehovah Witnesses who said Jesus and Michael were the same. And they flat out say Jesus is Michael.

I learned something new. I did a little research to find out exactly what SDA believe and considering how there are many name changes, even when Jesus returns as written in Revelation, he will have a new name that no man knows, it is understandable and I didn't say true, I said understandable...... SDA believe Jesus is holding the position and named Michael while in that position, still with his divine nature while fighting the fallen Angels, who he created.

A look at the belief of the SDA
Michael, My Savior and Rescuer | Sabbath School Net Michael, My Savior and Rescuer | Sabbath School Net

Is Jesus Michael the Archangel? – Answering Adventism https://share.google/Yg7pLyK1xgob5AWXY

I understand how they come to that assumption: in Daniel 4 it is written that the prince of Israel will stand up for them.... In Revelation it is written that Michael and his angels fought against dragon and his angels..... It is also written that Michael and Satan had a dispute when Satan was seeking the body of Moses.

Actually the seventh day activist believe in the Divinity of Christ and all the teachings I've heard them teach but Jehovah witnesses denied the Divinity of Christ.
Who Is Jesus, the Son of God? | Adventist.org https://share.google/NAcFwcmCwNUxHJPQx

Does the way SDA teach interfere with or make a lie out of the Trinity, no it doesn't .... Just like ministers teach God is a single God holding three positions.

Does the belief of the SDA interfere with the Divinity of Jesus no it doesn't .... He is of God and the creator of all things including the Angels.

9Rock9 said:

it was explained to me is that "Michael" is the name the angels use to refer to Jesus Christ.

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The problem with that being in Luke 1:31 St. Gabriel, also an Archangel, refers to our Lord as “Jesus” and instructs the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary to give Him that name, which means “YHWH Saves”* (also why would the angels refer to God as Michael? Remember - Jesus Christ is God, just as the Father is God and the Holy Spirit is God).

*The name Jesus recorded in the four canonical Gospels, which were originally written in Greek, is a Hellenization of an Aramaic word somewhat like Yeshua, although due to variations in Aramaic dialects, and between Judaean Neo-Aramaic spoken in Jerusalem and Gallilean Neo-Aramaic spoken by our Lord and most or all of His disciples, but not spoken while in Judaea, there is a need for some caution around pronouncing this word; there was an Aramaic scholar on ChristianForums named Steve Caruso who sadly was inactive when I joined in 2019, but his posts were very helpful in this respect), which in turn is an Aramaicization of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “Jah (YHWH) Saves.”

Hentenza said:

Jesus had no problems rebuking satan in the wilderness. Even prior to the resurrection Jesus was still God.

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Indeed - in His incarnation He put on our human nature, uniting it to His divinity without change, confusion, separation or division. Thus from the moment of His incarnation He is fully God and fully man, of one essence (homoousios) with the Father (as asserted at the Council of Nicaea and in the Creed based on the Gospel According to John), and in Him the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.

By the way have you seen the amusing Lutheran Satire video with the Irish and St. Patrick on the subject of the Trinity? I had seen it before joining the site and I would assume our Lutheran friends @MarkRohfrietsch @ViaCrucis and @Ain't Zwinglian are either massive fans or have seen it so many times they’ve either memorized it and can re-enact it in memory or are sick of it, but I greatly appreciate it, since it continues the Lutheran tradition of communicating basic Scriptural doctrine in such a manner as the people understandeth, to paraphrase the Book of Common Prayer.

At any rate recently I saw a video from Hans Fiene specifically on the subject of the Arian error and the J/W mistranslation of John 1:1, which was hilarious (and is closely related to the subject of this thread, since the conflation of St. Michael the Archangel and our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ predates the official acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity by the SDA convention in 1980, or the unoffiical endorsement of it without a vote by SDA leadership in 1931 (albeit using atypical phraseology). Going back to the beginnings of Adventism, Miller was a Trinitarian, but his secretary a Mr. Joshua Hines was not; Miller regarded the idea as an example of what we might call adiaphora (his exact words were “a matter of indifference” which was not an uncommon view in the early 19th century, indeed this is probably why the Stone-Campbell movement rejected the use of the Creeds and it definitely prompted the modification of the Book of Common Prayer by King’s Chapel in Boston to avoid using Trintarian phraseology and thus to avoid offending those with Unitarian or other non-Nicene beliefs while also catering to what one might call the “ultra-Laitudinarians” who regarded the Trinity as non-essential doctrine (in more recent years the liberal Episcopalian bishop James Pike expressed such a view).

So at any rate, this refutation of Arianism might be useful and amusing, and I would argue that if we fully think through the doctrine of the Trinity and of the Incarnation and recognize the full deity and humanity of Christ our True God, the idea that he is St. Michael becomes untenable, since God is already ruler of the angels and it seems to be Partialist to assign this function to one person of the Holy Trinity only.

The Liturgist said:

The problem with that being in Luke 1:31 St. Gabriel, also an Archangel, refers to our Lord as “Jesus”

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Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

Can you point out anywhere in the Bible Gabriel referred to as Archangel? The verse above certainly doesn't say this.

SabbathBlessings said:

Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

Can you point out anywhere in the Bible Gabriel referred to as Archangel? The verse above certainly doesn't say this.

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Yes. Can you point out any verse in the Bible where Jesus Christ ie explicitly referred to as Jesus Christ?

The Liturgist said:

Yes. Can you point out any verse in the Bible where Jesus Christ ie explicitly referred to as Jesus Christ?

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So you don't have a Scripture that support that Gabriel is an Archangel. I thought so.