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The Trinity/Binity, Part 8: Evidence That Jesus is the Archangel

The word "archangel", received from the Greek, means "Chief [or principal] angel" or "first angel". There is no indicator in the title, or anywhere in the Scriptures, that it is a position assigned to more than one heavenly person.

We often point to 1 Thessalonians 4:16 [pa|in] as the simple proof that Jesus is the archangel because he calls out with an archangel’s voice. Since it is "the Lord himself" who descends to call out, not by sending out an archangel, but by employing the vocal sound of an archangel, then it is a reference to his own status as archangel as he uses his authority to call forth the angels with God’s trumpet. Also, it is by means of that call that "those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first." However, did you know that this is not the only evidence? There is other equally compelling evidence that magnifies the evidence at 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

However, regarding 1 Thessalonians 4:16, some of our opposers try to cleverly confuse things by saying that "to be consistent" we must reason that if 1 Thessalonians 4:16 means that Jesus is an archangel, then he must also be a trumpet. But that is false. The scripture says "with an archangel’s voice", not simply "with an archangel". But then now let’s apply their logic to the trumpet phrase in order "to be consistent". If "archangel’s voice" means the voice is an archangel (Not Jesus), then "God’s trumpet" means that the trumpet is God. Clearly it is false reasoning all around. Jesus has an archangel’s voice and likewise has God’s trumpet.

At Daniel 12:1 and 2 [pa|in] it speaks of the very same events spoken of by Jesus himself. As a sign of his presence. Daniel wrote: "During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book. And many of those asleep in the dust of the earth will wake up, some to everlasting life and others to reproach and to everlasting contempt."

Compare that to Matthew 24:3 [pa|in], 21[pa|in], 31 [pa|in] and 25:31-33 [pa|in], 46 [pa|in] where, after his disciples ask, "when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?", Jesus answers much of their question, and said, "for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." Then he said, "And [the Son of man] will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity." Later in that discourse he also said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left . . . These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life."

But wait, there’s more! Note at Daniel 12:1 [pa|in] that Michael is called "the great prince", as if he is the only one. Daniel 10:21[pa|in] shows us the significance of this title when it describes him as "Your [Israel’s] prince". Who could be described with such great honorifics except the one who is called the "Prince of Peace" in the prophesy about Jesus at Isaiah 9:6-7 [pa|in]?

So there is ample solid evidence of Jesus being Michael the archangel, unlike the unsubstantiated "proofs" of the Trinity.

Note these parallels between Jesus and the angel mentioned (Michael the archangel):
  1. "Prince of Jehovah’s army", "a prince of the first rank", "[Daniel’s] Prince" and "The Great Prince" (Michael; compare Jos 5:13-15 [pa|in] and Da 10:13 fn. [pa|in], 21 [pa|in] and Da 12:1 [pa|in] to Isa 9:6-7 [pa|in] and footnotes. "Prince" is also translated as "Chief" and can indicate one chosen for an important role, such as a general or administrator. It can also mean a son of the king and heir to the kingdom.)
  2. A heavenly "king" (angel of the abyss; compare Re 9:11 [pa|in] to 17:14 [pa|in])
  3. Is prostrated to (as "Prince of Jehovah’s Army"; compare Jos 5:13-15 [pa|in] to Ex 3:2-5 [pa|in] and Mt 9:18 [pa|in])
  4. Commands an army of angels as an archangel (Michael, "Prince of Jehovah’s army"); compare Jos 5:13-15 [pa|in]; Re 12:7 [pa|in] to Mt 13:41 [pa|in], 26:53 [pa|in], 1Th 4:16 [pa|in] and 1Pe 3:22 [pa|in])
  5. Acts as a high priest in heaven (angel; compare Re 8:3-4 [pa|in] to Le 16:11-13 [pa|in] and Heb 3:1 [pa|in])
  6. Primary figure in the great tribulation (Michael; compare Da 12:1 [pa|in] to Mt 24:29-30 [pa|in])
  7. Descends from heaven on a cloud (angel; compare Re 18:1 [pa|in] to Mt 24:30 [pa|in] and Ac 1:9-11 [pa|in])
  8. Has absolute authority over Satan after Christ’s resurrection (Michael, angel of the abyss; compare Re 12:7-9 [pa|in] and 20:1-3 [pa|in] to Mt 4:10 [pa|in])
  9. Associated with the book or scroll of life (Michael; compare Da 12:1 [pa|in] to Re 21:27[pa|in])
  10. Associated with the judgment of the righteous and unrighteous (Michael, angel; Compare Da 12:2 [pa|in]to Joh 5:25-29 [pa|in])
  11. Was sent directly by God to show his servants the same Revelation (angel; Compare Re 22:6 [pa|in] to Re 1:1 [pa|in])
The most convincing evidence is found in the parallel Scriptures of 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 [pa|in] at Matthew 24:30, 31 [pa|in] and 2 Thessalonians 1:7 [pa|in]. Those Scriptures clearly highlight that Jesus himself gives the call and leads the angels and no one else. Also, 1 Thessalonians says that the call raises the dead, which is Christ’s role and no one else’s. (Joh 6:54 [pa|in]) Saying that Jesus calls with "an archangel’s voice" is to say that he has returned to heavenly power and is once again given the authority of archangel.

Could this angel also be God as many Adventists believe? No. The word "angel" means "messenger", which is someone who delivers messages for someone else. A person that delivers their own messages is never called such.


Return to the beginning of the Salvation vs. the Trinity/Binity series

Go back to Part 7: Failed Logic of the Trinity

Go to Part 9: Failures of the Trinity/Binity Claims
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