Michael The Archangel

In the New Testament there really is not another epistle quite like Jude’s. Jude draws on Old Testament history, prophecy and imagery to support a strong, impassioned argument against false teachers who have infiltrated and troubled the church from apostolic days. He attaches to these ‘ungodly men’ vivid, illustrative epithets and grimly likens them to notorious characters such as Cain, Balaam and the sons of Korah. He enlists ancient writers such as Enoch and Moses to support his message. Jude’s burden is for the damage being done to the true gospel.

Michael the archangel

In all this, perhaps today’s reference to ‘Michael the archangel’ is the most enigmatic of all Jude’s observations and comments. Michael is not an unusual Bible name – around seven or eight men bear it in scripture. However, Michael the archangel is referred to in only a few places; three times in Daniel, once in Revelation and here in Jude. Michael means ‘one with God’ or ‘who is as God’ and while we cannot be absolutely definitive it seems very likely that Michael the archangel is a heavenly title of the Lord Jesus Christ.

‘The voice of the archangel’

The word archangel is used only twice in scripture, by Jude here and by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. There we read, ‘For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel’. We have no reason to assume there are more archangels than one. The word is singular and arch-angel signifies the first, or principal, or prince, of the order of angels. Furthermore, where Michael the archangel is spoken of his role seems to be as guardian and protector of the church, an office which aligns well with the advocate-work of the eternal Word on behalf of His people.

Satan the accuser

Jude relates an incident in which Michael the archangel contended with the devil concerning the body of Moses. Some think this refers to Moses’ actual body which was claimed by the devil but buried secretly by the Lord in a valley in the land of Moab. However, Jude seems rather to be referring to Satan’s accusation in Zechariah 3:1 against Joshua, or Jeshua, the high priest at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah who was guilty of transgressing Moses’ law, which is ‘the body’ of Moses spoken of here. 

Christ the Representative

Jeshua had been physically opposed in his efforts to rebuild Jerusalem after the exile by Sanballat and others, motivated by Satan. Here Satan is said to oppose Jeshua spiritually before the Angel of the LORD by reproaching him for sins he had committed. The prophet Zechariah portrays this as a court scene with Satan the accuser. At first there appears to be merit in Satan’s case for Jeshua is not without fault. However, Christ, the uncreated Angel of the LORD comes to Jeshua’s aid and represents him.

The Gospel in Zechariah

Jeshua typifies the church and every believer guilty of sin. Christ, the Angel of the LORD – elsewhere He is called the Angel of the Covenant – advocates for His people. Jude explains how the angel of the LORD contended with Satan on Jeshua’s behalf and silenced the accuser with the rebuke that God’s purpose of grace will be fulfilled, the sins of the church notwithstanding, for they are brands plucked from the burning. Then, to Jeshua, the Angel said, ‘Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment’.

Don’t rail, preach!

Jude’s argument to the church of his own day, and to us, is that even though the Lord Jesus was more powerful, glorious and dominant over Satan, the rebuke He delivered as Michael the Archangel was measured and controlled. Much more could have been levelled at Satan by way of counter-accusation using sterner language and yet the Lord simply restated the settled and unchangeable purpose of God to save His people from their sin and deliver them from judgment. Christ accomplished this deliverance personally while maintaining and fulfilling perfect justice by bearing His peoples’ sin and clothing them with perfect righteousness.

Preach the Word!

Those false teachers against whom Jude warns display none of the exemplary qualities demonstrated by the Lord Jesus ‘who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously’. On the contrary, these ungodly men despise dominion and speak evil of dignities, being divisive in the church and having no respect for God’s established rule either in the church or out of it. It is characteristic of false prophets to oppose and deride true gospel preachers for their own self-promotion. It is characteristic of true gospel preachers simply to get on with their job!

Amen