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Bible Q & A
Q.
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Is Michael, who was called ‘your prince’ in Daniel 10:21, the person who later became Christ?
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A.
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There is a church which contends that
Michael, who was called “your
prince,” was Christ. Is this
assumption true?
Christ certainly was, and is, a
Prince (Dan. 9:25). But this scripture
does not make Him a prince who was named
“Michael.”
The angelic being who gave Daniel the
vision recorded in chapter 10 told
Daniel, “…the prince of the kingdom of
Persia withstood me one and twenty
days: but lo, Michael, ONE OF THE
chief princes, came to help me…” (verse
13). Notice that there was a prince
of Persia. That prince is another
spirit being of equal rank to
Michael.
Notice, also, in this verse that
Michael is called “ONE OF the chief
princes.” This clearly indicates
that among the spirit beings there
is more than one “chief prince” –
more than one of first rank! The
combined power of Prince Michael and
the prince who delivered the vision
to Daniel (Gabriel) was enough that they
were able to subdue the Prince of
Persia, an evil, rebellious spirit
prince.
But Christ is far superior to any of
these created spirit princes. There are
no other princes of equal rank to
Christ. But there are others of
Michael’s rank! Christ is not
Michael. Michael is “your prince” – the
spirit sent to serve Israel. Michael and
the other princes over the nations are
all subject to Christ who is
Supreme Ruler under the Father!
The chief princes among God’s created
spirit beings have great power and
authority over the nations. But what
is the limit of their authority?
How far does their authority and power
extend? In Jude 8 and 9 we read:
“These filthy dreamers (evil men)
… despise dominion (authority), and
speak evil of dignities (those who
are give authority). Yet
Michael the archangel (a chief
prince), when contending with the
devil he disputed about the body of
Moses, durst not bring against him a
railing accusation, but said, ‘the Lord
(Christ – who is Michael’s superior)
rebuke thee.’”
Notice this scripture! Evil men
have no respect for those in authority,
but Michael, who is an archangel, showed
respect to the office of authority
of Satan the Devil. By this scripture we
can see very clearly that Michael does
not have greater rank than Satan.
But Christ does have greater rank. If
Michael did have greater rank, he
would have given the Devil a command – he
could have done the rebuking himself,
instead of saying, “The Lord rebuke
thee.”
Turn to Matthew 4:10. Here we find
Christ said to Satan: “Get thee
hence, Satan….” Christ gave Satan a
sharp command. Christ was of
greater rank and authority. Christ
was in authority over Satan because
He created him. Christ is the One
through whom the Father created all
things (Col. 1:15-16; John 1:3);
Lucifer, who became Satan, was but a
created being (Ezek. 28:14-15).
Christ has been in authority over Satan
since he was created as Lucifer. But
Michael was not in authority over him
and could not give him a command: he
could only pass on a rebuke – a command –
from the Lord, Christ (Jude 9).
It is absolutely proven that Michael
could not have been Christ! Michael is,
instead, an angelic being who is put in
authority over other lesser angelic
beings in God’s government. He was
one of the leaders among God’s faithful
angels. But he dared not usurp
authority and command Satan, who
is an unfaithful, fallen cherub. |
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