Life and Relationships

Who Is Michael the Archangel?

Michael is presented in Scripture as a chief heavenly figure who leads God's forces in conflict with Satan. The name means “Who is like God?”

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

0 views
Bible StudyGreat Controversy

Biblical explanation

Michael appears in several important passages. Daniel describes: “Michael, one of the chief princes” (). Daniel also calls him: “Michael your prince” (). And: “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people” (). Jude calls Michael: “Michael the archangel” (). describes Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. The name Michael therefore appears in connection with heavenly leadership and the protection of God's people. Is Michael Jesus? The Bible never directly says, “Michael is Jesus.” However, an important connection appears in : “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel.” This has led some Bible interpreters to connect Michael with Christ because of the commanding heavenly voice associated with Christ's return. But Scripture should be distinguished from interpretation. It explicitly identifies Michael as an archangel and Christ as the returning Lord, but it does not contain a sentence directly equating the two names. Michael is unquestionably a heavenly leader associated with God's people. The direct identification of Michael with Christ is an interpretation based on comparing passages, not an explicit biblical statement.

In brief

Michael appears in several important passages.

Bible references

Go deeper into this topic Can We Trust the Bible? Start the study

Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.