I believe that Adventism represents a profound danger hidden in plain sight. My primary thrust here, as you can see, is to keep non-Adventists from tasting of the beguiling and deceitful fruit of Adventism in the first place. A secondary mission is to acquaint Adventists with what Ellen White actually wrote. Only the Holy Spirit can lead them out.
After 54 years I find it hard to quickly throw off the "Great Controversy" indoctrination. Ellen White states that both Satan and Jesus were "archangels". I don't find that in my Bible, but then there is much of what we were taught that is not in the Bible.
What do we actually know for certain about this archangel called Michael?
- We know that there is an archangel called Michael. What else could Michael be called, if Jude needs to distinguish which "Michael" he is referring to? There are at least 10 other "Michael's" in the Bible.
- There is nothing that indicates that there is only one such angel. We do know from Daniel 10:13 that Michael is only "one of the foremost princes, i.e. he is one among others of the same rank.
- The term "archangel" only appears twice in the Bible, in Jude 9 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and since in the former it is only talking about one archangel, Micahel, no valid conclusion can be inferred from this. Especially since Daniel 10:13 says that Michael was "one of the foremost princes" and the Jews in the 1st century believed that there were "seven archangels":
According to Enoch, xxi., as the text has now been critically fixed (see Charles, `Book of Enoch,' p. 357), there are seven archangels ('irin we-kaddishin, `holy ones who watch'): (1) Uriel ['God is Light'; compare II Esd. iv. 1], set over the world's luminaries and over Sheol [compare Enoch, xxi. 5, xxvii. 2, xxxiii. 3, 4]; (2) Raphael, set over the spirits of men [compare Enoch, x. 4, where he is told to bind Azazel and to heal the earth with Tobit-iii. 17]; (3) Raguel [Ra'uel, `the terrifier'], who chastiseth the world of the luminaries; (4) Michael, set over the best part of mankind, over the people of Israel; (5) Sariel [Æth., Sarakiel, Suriel, `God turneth'?], set over the spirits who seduce the spirits to sin; (6) Gabriel, set over paradise, the serpents [seraphim?], and the cherubim; (7) Jerahmeel ['God is merciful'], whom God set over the resurrection [compare II Esd. iv. 36; Syriac Apoc. Baruch, lv. 3; Steindorf, `Elias Apoc.' p. 152]." ("Angelology: A Heavenly Hierarchy," Jewish Encyclopedia.com)"According to Enoch, xxi., as the text has now been critically fixed (see Charles, `Book of Enoch,' p. 357), there are seven archangels ('irin we-kaddishin, `holy ones who watch'): (1) Uriel ['God is Light'; compare II Esd. iv. 1], set over the world's luminaries and over Sheol [compare Enoch, xxi. 5, xxvii. 2, xxxiii. 3, 4]; (2) Raphael, set over the spirits of men [compare Enoch, x. 4, where he is told to bind Azazel and to heal the earth with Tobit-iii. 17]; (3) Raguel [Ra'uel, `the terrifier'], who chastiseth the world of the luminaries; (4) Michael, set over the best part of mankind, over the people of Israel; (5) Sariel [Æth., Sarakiel, Suriel, `God turneth'?], set over the spirits who seduce the spirits to sin; (6) Gabriel, set over paradise, the serpents [seraphim?], and the cherubim; (7) Jerahmeel ['God is merciful'], whom God set over the resurrection [compare II Esd. iv. 36; Syriac Apoc. Baruch, lv. 3; Steindorf, `Elias Apoc.' p. 152]." ("Angelology: A Heavenly Hierarchy," Jewish Encyclopedia.com)
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 does state, "The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice." Matthew 16:27, Mark 8:38, 2 Thessalonians 4:16 state that Christ will return "with his angels." Yes, "with an archangel's voice. Why could it not be that of one of those angels who will accompany Jesus. It could very possibly be that of Michael, "one of the foremost princes." Note also that Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says "an archangel", and not "the archangel", so the "an archangel's voice" is not necessarily Michael's. Also, Paul's "an archangel" implies that there is more than one archangel, otherwise he would have written "the archangel" if Paul had thought there was only one archangel. At Christ's second coming He will be accompanied by angels, which will include archangels.
- Nowhere is the voice of Jesus described as being that of an archangel. The Lord's commanding call and the "archangel's voice" are two separate things.
- Hebrews 2:5 explicitly tells us that the world is not (and will not be) in subjection to an angel. According to Revelation 19:16 Christ will reign supreme. Now, if no angel can rule the world (Hebrews 2:5) then Christ cannot be the archangel Michael, since Scripture repeatedly says Christ is to be the ruler of God's kingdom.
- Since Michael, as one of the archangels reports to Jesus, why couldn't Michael's angels also be considered Jesus' angels? Why can't they be the same angels under a hierarchy of leaders? The evidence is that what angels Michael has under his command are part of Jesus' "armies".
While I believe that the Bible teaches that the archangel Michael is at the head of the angelic forces of God, I find nothing inconsistent with Michael being another angel of the caliber of Gabriel who reports to God (the Son).
A deeper look at this subject really necessitates a pause to reflect on a correct understanding of who God is vs. the angels. I don't believe that God the Son is some distinct tritheistic appendage to the Godhead.
I also believe that God can operate outside the confines of space and time as we know it. He is not limited by either. This totally destroys, for example the notion of Him needing to move from one physical room to another physical room in a mythical physical two-room building in heaven called the heavenly sanctuary where Christ's body is physically the veil between the two compartments. Adventism tries to explain its failings and inadequacies by bring God down to our level. The Bible says the earth is God's footstool. I don't believe that heaven is somewhere far far away. Heaven is where God is. It is outside of time and space. We are God's temple, and He dwells in us. That puts the term "heaven" in a whole new perspective.
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