The Chief
Author: Pastor Thomas G. Wilson
May 22, 2020
Revelation 12:7-9 KJV [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Michael is one of four angels named in the scriptures as a whole. The other three are Gabriel and Lucifer and Abaddon (Heb)/Apollyon (Gr). Angels can be divided into two main categories: 1) Holy Angels and 2) Evil or fallen Angels.
One of the most prominent angels in the Bible is Michael the "archangel" or "chief angel." He is the only angel specifically designated as an archangel in the 66 books of Scripture. His name means, "Who is like God?" He is mentioned a number of times in Scripture in both the Old and New Testament. The word “archangel” was only used referring to Michael in Jude:
Jude 1:9 KJV [9] 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.
This is the only passage of scripture that uses a specific name of an angel and the specific title “archangel”. It is revealing to make note of the consistency as far as activity where Michael is mentioned, he is engaged in warfare against the devil, and doing so very victoriously I might add.
Daniel 10:13 KJV [12] Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. [13] But 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. [14] Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
This passage in Daniel is interesting because Michael is identified as “…one of the chief princes…” It then is implied that there are others, however they are not named nor is their title used anywhere in the Bible. Michael is also called “…your prince…” in Daniel 10:21, signifying he has specific responsibility as it relates to the nation Israel. He then is the premier warrior angel, deputized to defend and enforce God’s word concerning Israel. God was communicating to Daniel who Michael was, what the “chief prince” had been doing, and what he would be engaged in even until the end of the world (as referenced in Rev.12 above and Daniel 12 below):
Daniel 12:1 KJV [1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
For further reading: Read and meditate all references found in the body of the above article.
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