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NASB | Psalm 102:16 For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 102:16 For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory and brilliance; |
Subject: Where does Scripture say this? |
Bible Note: Greetings Candy Lee, None of the passages that you have referenced proves that Jesus and Michael are one and the same. In fact, you are completely off-base with the allusions that you make in your references. Let's take apart your post, bit by bit. Genesis 16:7,13; 22:11,12,15-18, 31:11-13; 32:24-32; Exodus 3:2-6, Judges 2:1 and Acts 7:30-32 only speak of the angel of the LORD. Genesis 48:15,16 does not say "I am the God of Bethel.." Isaiah 9:6 says, "..and His NAME shall be called.." There is only ONE name that is given to Jesus, and that Name has many descriptions. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. There is only ONE Name in which we can be saved. There is only ONE Name given to Christ. Granted, there are many DESCRIPTIONS of that Name throughout Scripture, but only one Name given to Him. Micah 3:1 has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the difference between Michael the Archangel and the Lord Jesus Christ. THE Angel of the Lord is NOT Michael the Archangel. The 'Angel of the Lord', in all of the passages that you mentioned above, is actually a preincarnate appearance of Christ. The Angel of the Lord, as you have stated, makes very definite claims to Deity in the Old Testament (Ex: Exodus 3:1,2,6). Another verse that proves that the 'Angel of the Lord' is the preincarnate Christ is in Zechariah 1:12. In fact, the 'Angel of the Lord' is sent by God Himself in the Old Testament (Judges 13:8,9). The divine pattern in Scripture is that the Father is the 'Sender' and the Son is the 'Sent One.' The Holy Spirit cannot be seen (John 14:17). God the Father cannot be seen (Colossians 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16). Therefore, it was the preincarnate Christ who appeared visibly in the Old Testament as the Angel of Yahweh, or the Angel of the Lord. The Angel of the Lord and Christ engaged in amazingly similar ministries- interceding for the people of God (Zechariah 1:12,13; 3:1,2; John 17; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25), both the Angel and Christ were involved in revealing truth (Dan. 4:13,17,23; 8:16; 9:21,22; John 1:1,14,18), commissioning individuals for service (Exodus 3:7,8; Judges 6:11-23; 13:1-21; Matt. 4:18-20; 28:19,20; Acts 26:14-18), delivering those enslaved (Exodus 3; Galatians 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 2:14,15), comforting the downcast (Gen. 16:7-13; 1 Kings 19:4-8; Matt. 14:14; 15:32-39), protecting God's servants (Psalm 34:7; Dan. 3:15-30; 6:16-23; Matt. 8:24-26), acting as judge (1 Chr. 21:1,14,15; John 5:22; Acts 10:42), among many other things. I believe that such parallel ministries point to the common identity of the Angel of the Lord and Jesus Christ. In view of the extremely active role of the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, His sudden disappearance after the Incarnation would be strange indeed unless He was a preincarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ. There is no other way to explain the Angel's complete inactivity among humans in the New Testament unless He is recognized as continuing His activity as God incarnate- that is, as Jesus Christ. Theologian Norman Geisler explains it this way: "An angel of the Lord (Gabriel) appeared to Joseph (Matt. 1:20); an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip (Acts 8:26); and an angel of the Lord released Peter (Acts 12:7), but not THE Angel of the Lord. Furthermore, the New Testament "angel of the Lord," unlike "the Angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament, did not permit worship of himself (cf. Revelation 22:8-9), but "the Angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament demanded worship (cf. Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15)." (1) In Jude 9, Michael the Archangel cannot rebuke Satan. However, the Lord Jesus Christ CAN rebuke Satan! (Zech. 3:2) Daniel 10:13,21 and 12:1 as well as Revelation 12:7-9 speak of Michael the Archangel ONLY. None of these passages have anything to do with the difference between Michael the Archangel and the Lord Jesus Christ. In conclusion, Daniel 10:13, Jude 9 and Revelation 12:7 all describe Michael the Archangel only as an angel having a 'higher office' than that of other angels. In no way is Michael the Archangel to be worshipped, and in no way is Michael the Archangel another "name" for Christ. In no way is Michael the Archangel equal to or the same Person as the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, take to heart this Scriptural Truth, and leave this Error of the Jehovah's Witnesses behind for what Scripture reveals as the truth regarding Michael and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessings to you, Makarios (1) Norman Geisler, "To Understand the Bible Look for Jesus", Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979, page 67 (2) Francis Brown, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs, "A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament", Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980, page 521 |