Who Is the Archangel Michael?

Scripture often refers to the Archangel Michael as a “chief prince” of

the heavenlies. Michael will play a significant part in end-time
events. This angel leads a host of angels in a victorious war over
Satan and His demons in Revelation 12. Michael is not merely one
of the angels but the head of a battalion of angels, though not their
ultimate leader; that would be God. 
Candice LuceyContributing Writer
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he
disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against
him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke
thee (Jude 1:9 KJV).
Michael is known as God’s "archangel" which means "chief
angel." His name means "who is like God?" but who is he? 

Michael, An Angel of God

Scripture often refers to Michael as a “chief prince” of the
heavenlies. The Book of Daniel mentions him multiple times:
in Daniel 10:13 as “Michael, one of the chief princes”
and Daniel 12:1 where “Michael, the great prince” protects
the people of Israel. In Daniel 10:21, “There is no one with
me who contends against these princes except Michael, your
prince.” He worked with another angel to answer Daniel’s
prayer that God would “turn away your anger and your wrath
from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill” (Daniel 9:16). The
reference above, from Jude, is one of only a few direct
references to Michael.

What Does Michael Look Like?

The Bible does not help us here very much, although artists
have imagined the Archangel Michael (and all angels) as
beautiful, taller than humans, and powerful. “Angels
are spirit beings” with “some type of localized form — they
occupy some space [...] adapted to the unseen spiritual
realm.” 
Paul explains that “not all flesh is alike” and “there are both
heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the
heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another” (1
Corinthians 15:39-40). Hebrews 13:2 tells us to
remember “to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing
some people have shown hospitality to angels without
knowing it.” 
Therefore, they must sometimes take human form, but that
form might not be obvious. A host of angels greeted
shepherds watching their flocks on the night of Christ’s birth;
their form was obvious and glorious. At other times, angels
blend in with the crowd.

Archangel Michael in the End Times

The Archangel Michael will play a significant part in end-time
events. “Michael, the great prince, the protector of your
people, shall arise” (Daniel 12:1). He might be the angel
of 1 Thessalonians 4:16 of whom Paul writes “the Lord
Himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and
with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.” This angel leads a host
of angels in a victorious war over Satan and His demons
in Revelation 12. 
Michael is not merely one of the angels but the head of a
battalion of angels, though not their ultimate leader; that
would be God. Christ’s apostles would have understood
military hierarchy exemplified by the Roman system where
Caesar was in command and the senate operated as an
“advisory body to Rome's magistrates.” Top military
officials were drawn from the senate, consisting of Roman
citizens.  
In other words, an angelic hierarchy would have made sense
to listeners during the time of Christ, which is why artists
have often depicted Michael as a warrior (here is
an example by Raphael). Michael is portrayed as the “great
captain” of angels “and the warrior helping the children of
Israel.” He was recognized as the “helper of the church’s
armies against the heathen and against the attacks of the
Devil” and “numerous representations of Michael in art
reflect his character as a warrior.” 

Is Michael the Christ?

A controversial theory suggests that Michael was the pre-
incarnate Christ. He is given the title of “prince” and shown
to be a “protector of the people Israel.” Yet, “the one who
protects Israel” is God Himself, says Don Stewart. “My help
comes from the LORD” (Psalm 121:2-4). Many people
argue that if God protects Israel, and Michael protects Israel,
they must be one in the same. Moreover, when Christ
returns, He will come with “the voice, or cry of command, of
the archangel” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). 
But, as Stewart points out, Michael is the chief prince of
angels. Jesus is never given the title “chief prince” among His
many names which include “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”
(Revelation 19:16). Michael is like the “legatus Augusti
proparetore” who “commanded an entire province.” He is one
of several commanders in the angelic army. He is not unique.
Jesus is the one and only  Son of God.  
In Matthew 28:18, Jesus tells His disciples, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This cannot be
said of the Archangel Michael who, as Jude tells us, could
not rebuke Satan; only God can do that. As one with the
Father, Christ can rebuke the Devil also.
The real power is Christ’s authority to forgive sins,
demonstrated by His sacrifice, by submission to Roman
punishment, and His victory over death. Angels accomplish
what humans imagined Christ would do — defeat armies —
while only Christ could surpass the limits of human
imagination and desire by accomplishing victory over what
matters most — separation from God because of our sin.
Who Is the Archangel Michael to Us?
There really are angels; Scripture points to their existence
too often to deny that God made them, and they serve a
purpose in God’s kingdom. Angels are “mighty ones” who
work for God (Psalm 103:20) using His authority and the
power He gave them to fight Satan. We see that in the
verses cited above. Wayne Grudem tells us that angels
deliver messages, “carry out some of God’s judgments,” act
as an “example” to us in their worship of and obedience to
God, and “patrol the earth as God’s representatives.” They
act on behalf of God’s people as per God’s command. 
This should create a sense of wonder; that there are angels
around us doing God’s will, invisible to humans. Elisha and
his servant were surrounded by the force of Syria, and
Elisha’s servant was terrified. “Do not be afraid, for those
who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2
Kings 6:16). Elisha could see what was invisible to most
people: God’s forces at work on behalf of His people. Angels
are at work around us, and it is tempting to become more
enthralled with these beautiful, mighty creatures than with
the Son of God.
Even as he fights Satan during the end times, however, the
Archangel Michael will not be as powerful as the Messiah. We
see Michael as a sword-carrying warrior against demons, but
the blade we are most concerned with as Christians is the
sword of the Word, an essential piece of the “full armor of
God” (Ephesians 6). 

What Does This Mean?

One must not worship anyone other than the Lord for, as
John Gilhooly reminds us, “to which of the angels did God
ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your
Father”? (Hebrews 1:5). “It is bad doctrine that makes
creatures secure by creatures.” The Bible repeatedly
“promises the very presence of God by the Spirit through
faith. We ought to take comfort in the eternal God and his
everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27), not the arms of
angels.”