We seem to instinctively shy away from examining certain scriptural theories or positions if we find out that cultists hold to that position. Yet we shouldn't prematurely be against a position just for that reason. We should just let Scripture, and not tradition or the "yea" or "nay" of enemies have any consideration in the matter. Also, our view on this matter is not at all like that of the Jehovah's Witnesses, seeing that they do not believe in the deity of Christ.

The controversial topic that bears examing is this: Is Michael the same person as Jesus? I am not asking, "Is Jesus a mere created angel" - I can already see those mails coming in. I am asking, "Is it possible that Michael is just another name for Christ?" The more I look into this the more Scriptural and historical support I find for this. See, for instance, Matthew Henry's able defense of this view in his commentary on Daniel 12.

"Michael" means "who is like God?". "Archangel" means "Chief Messenger".

"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts." (Mal. 3:1)

"The messenger" of Malachi 3:1 may or may not refer to Jesus (some say it refers to John the Baptist). At any rate, Jesus Christ is the Chief Messenger of the OT, seeing that His various Christophanies are accompanied by messages from the Father.

The passages that mention Michael are instructive. 1st Thess. 4:16:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"

I never noticed before that here we have (supposedly) two shouts in unison, the Lord's and the Michael's. It makes more sense, to me at least, to see this as a shout coming from one person, described in two ways, the Lord and Chief Messenger.

John 5:28-29 says:
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection"

They "shall hear His (singular) voice". This at least adds to the evidence.

Jude 9 should be compared to Zechariah 3:1- 2. These may actually be referring to the same event. If they are, the persons are the same - Christ Jesus. In Zech. 3:2a we have:

"The Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan!..."

Now Jude 9:

"But Michael the archangel... said, "The Lord rebuke you!".

Do you see the similarity? The fact that Jesus did not rebuke Satan at that point, but rather ascribed all authority and power to the Father has to do with the time of the event, this being before the resurrection and before the time when "all authority" will be given to the victorious Son. The Christophanies and all other OT references to the pre-incarnate Son need to be understood in this light. To me, at least, a strong case has been made that Michael, the Arch Angel is none other than Jesus Christ.