## Important Clarifications I hope to shed some light on this subject without alienating readers. There are three pop-Christianity notions which cause people to have a knee-jerk reaction to what I'm about to go over, so I want to address them first.  1) Contrary to popular belief, the scriptures only refer to **_one_** archangel, Michael (the KJV is one of the few translations that respects this by preserving **_"the" archangel_** in [`1 Thess. 4:16`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Thessalonians-4-16/)). The idea that there are multiple archangels comes from apocryphal texts, like the book of Enoch. 2) "Angel" is a generic term for "messenger." In the original Greek, Jesus referred to John the Baptist as an "ἄγγελος aggelos" in [`Matt. 11:10`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-11-10/), but it is translated as "messenger" in English. 3) The archangel is **_not a_ _created angel_**. Rather, he is the chief, or leader, of the angels. The notion that "archangel" is some kind of promoted angel comes from how we view positions like archbishop, which implies a bishop that ascended the ranks. We should not interpret the title in this way. ![[michael_the_archangel_newton.jpeg]] ## The Angel of the LORD The Old Testament describes Michael as the chief of the angels and identifies him with the "Angel of the LORD," who is frequently mentioned in the OT as a divine being (see [`Gen. 16:7-14`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-16-7_16-14/); [`22:11-18`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-22-11_22-18/); [`31:11-13`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-31-11_31-13/); [`Ex. 3:2-6`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-3-2_3-6/); [`14:19`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-14-19/); [`23:20-23`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-23-20_23-23/); [`Judg. 2:1-5`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Judges-2-1_2-5/); [`13:2-23`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Judges-13-2_13-23/); [`Hos. 12:3-5`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hosea-12-3_12-5/); [`Mal. 3:1`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Malachi-3-1/)). This "Angel" ([`Ex. 23:23`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-23-23/)) was capable of pardoning or refusing to pardon transgressions, and God's name was "in Him" ([`Ex. 23:21`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-23-21/)). Since forgiveness of sins is the prerogative of God ([`Ex. 34:7`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-34-7/); [`Is. 43:25`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-43-25/); [`Mic. 7:18`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Micah-7-18/); [`Mark 2:7`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Mark-2-7/)), the conclusion is inevitable that God's Angel or Messenger ([`Ex. 23:23`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-23-23/)) is His Son. In [`Daniel 10:21`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-10-21/), Michael is called "your prince," in other words, the Prince of God's people. In [`Isaiah 9:6`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-9-6/), Jesus the Messiah is called the "Prince of Peace"; in [`Daniel 8:25`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-8-25/), He is "the Prince of princes"; and in [`Daniel 9:25`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-9-25/), He is identified as "Messiah the Prince/Ruler." Thus, the conclusion seems justified that in the OT "Michael" is "the Angel of the Lord" or "My Angel," who is also called "My Son" ([`Ps. 2:7`](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-2-7/)). ![[michael_the_archangel_spurgeon.jpeg]] [[Foreshadowing, not Prophecy|<< Back]]