Exod 23:20-23 - “I am going to send an angel
(“messenger”) before you to protect you on the way
and bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and listen
to him. Do not defy him, because he will not forgive your acts of
rebellion, for my name is in him.
So, they were to listen to this “angel”.
22 But if you will carefully obey him and do
everything I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a
foe to your foes.”
Who else at the time, but Jesus as the Logos, would be given
the authority to guide the people in God’s word and to not forgive their acts
of rebellion? (John 1:1; John 5:22,30)
(1 John 5:20)
If God is truth, and Jesus is the word/truth of God (Logos)
he would have God’s name in him…as an angel, as Michael the “archangel”,
the chief messenger of God. (“who is like God?”)… and Jesus, God’s
messenger/angel when he walked the earth ("YHVH is salvation"). (John
14:6;1:1,14; 17:17)
And it’s not the only time God told His people under
covenant to “listen to him”. Luke 9:35 - Then a voice came from the
cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”
To support the angel as Jesus Christ in Exod 23:20-23 who
would bring God’s people “to the place I have prepared”, is another scripture:
“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that
all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were
baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual
food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual
Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor 10:1-4
There was no other angel/messenger to “to protect you
on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared”, except Jesus Christ as
the messenger angel and Word of God.
Daniel 12:1 - “At that time Michael, the great
prince who protects
your people, will arise...”
Jesus is the great Shepherd of God’s people, His sheep. Shepherds protect the flock and save
them from harm. John 10:2-4,9
“Then WAR broke out in heaven. Michael and
his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels
fought back.” Rev 12:7
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me
was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.
With justice he judges and wages WAR.” Rev 19:11
In Revelation 19:14, Jesus has his own army following him. So, are there two battling this war, two protectors of
God’s people, with their own army of "angels", one called Michael and one called “Faithful and True”, who has
the ability to judge? Many times Jewish
names depict a divine assignment from God.
No one questions the fact that Jesus is called, “Faithful and True” in
this scripture. No one questions that in
Revelation 19:12, Jesus has a name written on him that “no one
knows but he himself”.
And no one questions that Jesus will give his new name to
those who are victorious and stand alongside him in the battle against Satan,
his demonic deceptions and his “angel”/messengers with him. Rev 13:12
“Angel” simply means “messenger” in both Hebrew and
Greek. And it can be used to apply to
people – Gen 28:12; John 1:51; Mal 2:7; Matt 11:10; 1 Tim 5:21
Jesus is also called the "Prince of peace" in Isaiah 9:6. In Daniel 9:21, and Michael is called "prince". So, does calling Jesus "Prince", degrade his position as God's Son?
"...And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isa 9:6
