MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL

The word, "Archangel," appears only twice in the Bible (1 Thes. 4:16; Jude 1:9).  In Jude's epistle, the Archangel is named:  Michael.  While he is the only Archangel named in the sixty-six books of the Bible, it is clear that there are others which hold that rank.  In Daniel 10:13, we read, "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." 

The names of the others are a mystery, as is their number.  There is another Archangel named in the Apocrypha, but since those books are not accepted as canonical, one cannot say with a certainty that an Archangel named Uriel ever existed.  Nevertheless, I will include the verse:  2 Esdras (4 Ezra. 4:36) says, "And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance." 

The Archangel Michael is unique in another way as well.  He appears to be assigned by God to be the guardian of the nation of Israel.  Daniel wrote, "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" (Dan. 12:1). 

Another verse in Daniel supports the idea that Michael is "their angel":  "But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince" (Dan. 10:21).

There are humans named Michael in the Bible, and there are also men named Uriel in the Canon (1 Chron. 6:24; 15:5, 11; 2 Chron. 13:2).  "Michael," in the Hebrew is מִיכָאֵל (Miyka'el), meaning "who is like unto God?"  Jude, used the Greek word Μιχαήλ (Michaēl) for "Michael," as did John in Revelation 12:7, which reads, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels."

While there are two named angels in the Bible which oppose God, Satan/Lucifer and Abaddon/Apollyon (Rev. 9:11), there are also two named angels which obey God, Michael and Gabriel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Lk. 1:19, 26).

 

It is clear that the Church needs no angel; Jesus watches over us (Jn. 10:28)!