Why do Jehovah Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel?

What's interesting is that even CT Russell knew that Jesus is NOT Michael, see the link below...

http://www.imagger.com/view/299424_1879_Watchtower...

The reality is that no scripture supports that Jesus is an angel. Here's an interesting question that was brought up on Y/A. The person asked how many Archangels there are. Some of the information from the best answer is interesting and worth a look.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200611...

Here's what Wikipedia had to say about Archangels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archangel

Blessings...

MM777

I love these questions...

Why?

If you can read this along in your copy of the Bible, Daniel 12:1-2 says: "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. And many of them that sleep (death) in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."(KJV)

...Sound familiar, cross reference to Revelation 20:12-15

Such a prominent position should be only deserving to Jesus, right?

...Just a thought...

Also this should pretty much take it home...

1 Thes. 4:16 (Now the context is talking about Christ right?) so it says: "For the Lord (Christ) 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."(KJV)

Ask yourself, how many archangels are they?

If your think Gabriel is, what scripture plainly identifies him as being an archangel?

So without any doubt, Christ is Michael the archangel, and not God...

...Here is a freebie, what was Christ name before coming to earth, and we both know it wasn't Jesus...so what was it?

As in the days of noah so shall it be in the days of the son of man, Survivors of armageddon! Is that not what all christians believe? There will be survivors and you outta know it! you got the cross and you look christian, dont you believe that you would survive armaggedon either by rapture or etc..? this is a common belief and christians of all faiths believe it they just think it in different terms sort of like the fact that they say they worship jesus but really they worship the father in heaven as they were told to do so who are they really worshiping? The same god I do Jehovah but they don't say it but they do it, Good enough in god's eyes i should think since they do not carry the same weight of responsibility as the ones who taught them awrong. Ha ha i say to those who would try to hurt anyone who loves christ after all we belong to the son of god, we were made for him!

part of what you seek is in Jude 9 but it takes a lot of intense study to decipher bible scriptures and meanings. I can see it because that is where my interests are. I am JW.

Whistle gave you some really great answers.

Don't worry over odd answers, some are threatened by JW's knowledge of the bible and have cloned popular JW answerers.

The JW's that have responded are referring to this book;

http://books.google.ca/books?id=uFn7PQJeorwC&dq=%2...

Of course, being that they are modern day Arian's that deny Christ's divinity this is not surprising. If you want a real eye-opener investigate their "Theocratic war strategy".

I wonder why everyone has the same answer. Is that siginficant for JWs? H.interesting...

(Jude 9) 9 But when Mi′cha·el the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: “May Jehovah rebuke you.”

The prefix “arch,” meaning “chief” or “principal,” implies that there is only one archangel, the chief angel; in the Scriptures, “archangel” is never found in the plural. This indicates there is only one archangel.

(Daniel 10:13) 13 But the prince of the royal realm of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days, and, look! Mi′cha·el, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I, for my part, remained there beside the kings of Persia.

(Daniel 10:20-21) . . .. 21 However, I shall tell you the things noted down in the writing of truth, and there is no one holding strongly with me in these [things] but Mi′cha·el, the prince of YOU people.

(Daniel 12:1) 12 “And during that time Mi′cha·el will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of your people. And there will certainly occur a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, every one who is found written down in the book

.Sar, meaning “prince,” “chief,” is drawn from a verb meaning “exercise dominion.” Michael is called "one of the foremost princes", " the prince of you people", and "the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of you people." Compare this with Isaiah 9:6,7

(Isaiah 9:6-7) 6 For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite. The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.

Notice that it says "princely rule" twice and uses the title "prince of peace"

Remember that the scriptures in Daniel chapter 12 quoted above says of Michael “And during that time Mi′cha·el will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of your people." Revelation chapter 12 again talks about the same time period:

(Revelation 12:7-8) 7 And war broke out in heaven: Mi′cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8 but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven.

But chapter 19 describes Jesus as leading the heavenly army of angels

(Revelation 19:11-14) 11 And I saw the heaven opened, and, look! a white horse. And the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. 12 His eyes are a fiery flame, and upon his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, 13 and he is arrayed with an outer garment sprinkled with blood, and the name he is called is The Word of God. 14 Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen.

Finally, first Thessalonians 4:16, in speaking of the preeminence of the archangel and the authority of his office, does so in reference to the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ:

(1 Thessalonians 4:16) 16 because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first.

So comparing these scriptures we can say that "Michael the archangel" and Jesus are the same person. As for the second part of the scripture this really shows the humility of Jesus and his great respect for his father's sovereignty.

They read the bible with their eyes opened.