Michael the Archangel

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Michael the Archangel

What does the Bible teach?

William Branham believed that Michael the archangel was Jesus Christ.

The Bible mentions Michael five times:

1. as "one of the chief princes" in Daniel 10:13;
2. as "your [Daniel's] prince in Daniel 10:21;
3. as "the great prince who has charge of your people" in Daniel 12:1;
4. as "the archangel" in Jude 9 who when contending with the devil and was disputing about the body of Moses "did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment" against Satan but rather said, “The Lord rebuke you”;
5. and as a participant in heavenly conflict when "Michael and his angels" are fighting against the dragon in Revelation 12:9.

Does one of these verses say that Michael the archangel is Jesus Christ?

No. It is necessary to read Scripture plus a message or Watchtower argument to reach that conclusion.

We would also point out that, as with many things William Branham taught, he was incredibly confused. In fact, in 1963 he stated that Michael was Christ but later stated that Michael was just another angel.

Video Transcript

Are you aware that there are similarities between some of Bro. Branham’s teachings and those of the Watchtower Society, the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

This is the first part of a series examining those similarities.

“...how that Michael the Archangel, is the Pillar of Fire too, he was the voice in the whirlwind, that spoke Alaska’s doom.” Dave Cheberinoff singing Jesus the Word of God

Are Michael the archangel and Jesus Christ one in the same person?

This is what Bro. Branham taught:

BEGINNING.AND.ENDING.OF.THE.GENTILE.DISPENSATION_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 55-0109E

"And at that time Michael shall stand, the great prince." Michael was Christ, of course, Who fought the angelic wars in heaven with the devil.

CHRIST.IS.THE.MYSTERY.OF.GOD.REVEALED_ JEFF.IN V-3 N-7 SUNDAY_ 63-0728

...the first thing that Lucifer done to separate the fellowship of God and man, he wanted to build him a united kingdom, a greater splendor and seemingly more cultured, a greater kingdom than Michael, Christ had.

But who does the Bible say that Michael was?

In the book of Daniel, Daniel was told by the angel that …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; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Michael is obviously a very powerful angel and one of the chief angels, but does that make him Jesus Christ? The book of Daniel does not even call him the Chief prince. He is just ONE of the chief princes.

In the book of Jude, verse 9, Michael the Archangel is pictured as arguing with the devil, disputing over the body of Moses and tells Satan, “The Lord rebuke thee”

Who is “The Lord” that Michael is referring to?

In the Greek the word is kurios.

There are a number of New Testament passages that also contain the word “Kurios”, such as:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Kurios shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

And God hath both raised up the Kurios … (1 Cor 6:14)

One Kurios, one faith, one baptism… (Eph 4:5)

...that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Kurios... (Phil 2:11)

There can be no doubt that Michael, when he said “The Lord rebuke thee”, was referring to the Lord Jesus Christ.

So how could Michael be Jesus Christ if he is saying “the Lord rebuke thee”? If he was also the Lord, why didn’t he just rebuke Satan himself?

When William Branham or the Jehovah Witnesses teach that Michael is the Lord Jesus, they are doing so without Biblical evidence.

So what did Bro. Branham teach about Jehovah Witness doctrine? We can learn by hearing the following quotes

HEBREWS.CHAPTER.SEVEN.2_ JEFFERSONVILLE.IN HEB SUNDAY_ 57-0922E

If Brother Neville wanted to preach Jehovah Witness doctrine, that's up to him and you. See? If he wanted to preach anything he wanted to, that's between you and him. That's all. If the congregation votes for him in there, to preach that, that's all right. That's up to him.

QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_ JEFF.IN SATURDAY_ 54-0515

Is Jehovah Witness a false sect?

See, somebody... And the Holy Spirit, at the place at the... Standing in my bathroom before coming down here, God, Who is my solemn Judge, told me, "That will be laying on the platform," and said I wouldn't say nothing about it, just go on. See?

Do you think that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are a false sect or will you remain silent on the issue?

Quotes of William Branham

William Branham believed that Michael was an angel and not Jesus

1959

Now, when they sit by that rock, and all the Angels come down from Heaven, to listen in to this conference. Oh! There was Gabriel, Michael, Woodworm, all the thousands of them, sitting around the rock.

1960

And there, when (no doubt) that Michael might’ve stepped up and Gabriel. And when the message came into heaven, “Your children is lost; they have sinned and gone away,” God didn’t take Gabriel, and say, “Go down and hunt My children,” He came Himself! It was a man-sized job, a God-sized job.

He wouldn’t let an Angel make the decision; He wouldn’t let Gabriel make it; He wouldn’t wet—let Michael make it. He come to make it Himself. Hallelujah! And when He was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and died for us, He made the way, Himself.

1963

Not that there wasn’t worthy people there, now, like an Angel; like, for instance, we would say, Gabriel, or Michael. But, remember, it had to be a Kinsman. Remember, John said here, “And no m-a-n,” not Angel, not Seraphim. They hadn’t sinned, but They were in a different category. They had never fallen.

Then there is a supernatural Angel comes down from the Lord, a Messenger like Gabriel, and—and Michael, Woodworm, and so forth, their names.

William Branham believed that Michael was Christ

1955

“And at that time, Michael shall stand, the great prince.” Michael was Christ, of course, Who fought the Angelic wars in Heaven, with the devil. Satan and Michael fought together, or fought against each other, rather.

1963

Notice Lucifer, in the last days, is doing as he did at first. What did Lucifer do? The first thing that Lucifer done to separate the fellowship of God and man, he wanted to build him a united kingdom, a greater splendor and seemingly more cultured, a greater kingdom than Michael, Christ had.

Most message followers consider William Branham to be an infallible interpreter of scripture. It is the widely held view of message followers that, if we want to know what a passage of the Bible actually means, William Branham is the best source on all counts.

When encountering a passage in scripture that seems to be at odds with William Branham's interpretation, message preachers generally encourage message followers to simply put it "on the shelf" until God reveals to them why William Branham has the correct view.

But there are a number of biblical issues that William Branham seems to have messed up badly:

• Did God change Saul's name to Paul?
• Elijah and Elisha did pray
• Marriage and Divorce
• Was King Saul the people’s choice by democratic vote?
• Can you lose your salvation?
• How hard do lilies work?
• Did John weep for joy or because no one was worthy?
• Were Women were designed by Satan?
• Were Enoch and Noah alive at the same time?
• Is Jesus really Michael the Archangel?

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