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MICHAEL
THE ARCHANGEL
By David Bruce |
Michael is a Hebrew name that means 'who is like God?'. He is the patron angel of God's people, and first mentioned by name in the Bible book of Daniel (10:13, 21; 12:1). In the New Testament he is mentioned in Jude verse 9, where he contends with the devil for the body of Moses, and in Rev. 12:7, where he is at war with the dragon. He figures prominently in the post-Babylon captivity Jewish writings , including the Dead Sea Qumran War Scroll. |
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DANIEL AND MICHAEL
It is the prophet Daniel, an extremely intelligent Jew of the 6th century B.C., who first introduces us to Michael. He writes that Michael, the chief archangel, appeared to him in a vision to help him (Daniel 10:13).Thus, we learn that Michael is a special guardian angel to God's people from the menace of the godless power of Greece and Persia. |
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Daniel writes, "There is no one to help me against these spirit princes (earthly powers and demons) except Michael, your spirit prince (angel)" (10:21 -NLT). |
| Daniel was an Israelite of noble birth. He was carried captive to Babylon by King Nebuchadrezzar and was trained for the king's service. He gained a reputation as an interpreter of other people's visions and then of his own. He predicted the future triumph of the Messianic kingdom (Daniel ch. 7-12). God opened to Daniel the mysteries of ages and allowed him to see into the heavenly realms. Michael the archangel was his protector throughout this whole venture. |
MICHAEL AND MOSES
Michael may also be the angel who spoke with Moses at Mt. Sinai (Acts 7:38). After the writings of Daniel the Bible is silent about Michael until some year after Christ when both Jude, Jesus' half brother, and the Apostle John mention him in their writings. |
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Jude retells a talmudic Jewish legend: But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you."
(This took place when Michael was arguing with Satan about Moses' body) (verse 9 NLT). |
| In this non-biblical Jewish account, cited by Jude, Michael rescued the body of Moses from Sammael, one of Satan's angels. The devil had claimed it on account of Moses having murdered the Egyptian (cf. 2 Petirat Mosheh 381-82; Midr. D'varim Raba 11.10; also Origen, On First Principles, 3.2.1). |
IN REVELATION -THE WAR IN HEAVEN
The apostle John in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, writes about his vision of "Michael and his angels" (Rev. 12:7), who struggled with Satan when the devil rebelled against God at the beginning of time. The Apostle John writes of this battle in the book of Revelation: |
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Then there was war in heaven. Michael and the angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle and was forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels (Rev. 12:7-9 -NLT). Then there was war in heaven. Michael and the angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle and was forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels (Rev. 12:7-9 -NLT). |
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MICHAEL IN JEWISH TRADITION
In non-biblical Jewish tradition, according to a targum legend, he is one of the four archangels who stand around the throne of God in heaven. The others being Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. In other Jewish writings he replaces Shammiel (or Sammael) as leader of the heavenly choir following the excommunication of Lucifer and his angel-demons (Seder Rabba di-Bereshit 28-30; 3 Hekalot 161-63; Gen. Rab. 78.2). He is sometimes given the name Metatron. |
MICHAEL IN CHRISTIAN TRADITION
In post-biblical Christian tradition Michael becomes the angel who rescues souls from Limbo and Hell. At the Last Judgment he is shown as a armed warrior holding the scales which balance good deeds against bad (Picinelli, Mundus Symbolicus). In the time of Constantine he was thought to be a "heavenly physician." He became the patron saint of healing hot-springs in many locations.
Milton's Paradise Lost has Michael and Gabriel leading the war in heaven against Satan, where he is called by God the "Celestial Armies Prince" (6.44). James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist, reflects Milton's Paradise Lost bk. 10 by referring to "Michael, prince of the heavenly host," who "with a sword of flame in his hand, appeared before the guilty pair [Adam and Eve] and drove them forth [from Eden]." He also says with Milton, that it will be Michael who blows the trumpet on the last day, announcing the Final Judgment day (10.73-75).
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MICHAEL IN POP CULTURE
There is currently a huge interest in angels and many books have been written on the subject, such as Michael. Films reflect this interest too. John Travolta stars as the archangel himself in a 1997 film entitled "Michael." |
Bibliography
NLT= The New Living Tranlation, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1997. See copyright information.
Achtemier, Paul J., Th.D., Harper's Bible Dictionary, (San Francisco: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.) 1985.
The New Bible Dictionary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1962.
Ronald F. Youngblood, general editor; F.F. Bruce and R.K. Harrison, consulting editors, Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1995.
Jeffrey, David Lyle, A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans) 1997.
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THE REAL STORY BEHIND GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL
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The Film: THE PROPHECY
About Gabriel
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The Movie: MICHAEL
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ANGELS IN FILMS
How many angels films can you name?
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