You believe that he preexisted as the archangel Michael.
Is this true Aunty Jane?
It is a “belief” held by us, but it does not have “doctrine” status because there is no clear or direct statement concerning it. What we have is what is mentioned about the pre-human Jesus in the scriptures. (Paul said he was “the firstborn of
all creation” both in heaven and on earth in Colossians 1:15-17) “All” means every creation....so he pre-existed all that God created, having been involved in all of it. (Proverbs 8:30-31)
Colossians 1:16 says that all creation came into existence “through” Jesus and was created “for” him.
John 1:2-3 says much the same...
“This one was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.”
Since an eternal God has no beginning...this must mean the beginning of creation. The pre-human Jesus was there as a “servant” of his God and Father, acting as his “master workman”, always under his Father’s direction. (Acts 4:27)
I understand that if you don’t believe that Jesus had a pre-human existence except as a concept, some of the scripture I offer will be waved away as invalid....but to my understanding, the trinity is the only impediment to Jesus being the Archangel Michael, under a name he has always held in his heavenly role. Yet Jesus has many names as the Bible indicates....they usually describe the roles that he has been assigned. On his return to heaven for example, he was assigned another “new name”. (Philippians 2:9; Revelation 3:12)
We see this Prince named Michael first mentioned in the book of Daniel. There an angel of God refers to him in these words:
“But the prince of the royal realm of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days, and, look! Michael, one of the foremost princes, came to help me . . . And now I shall go back to fight with the prince of Persia”. . . . . “When I am going forth, look! also the prince of Greece is coming. 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 Michael, the prince of you people.” (Daniel 10:13, 20-21)
This gives us a fascinating glimpse of the spirit realm. We see that spirit creatures—good and bad—are very much involved in world affairs. There was a spirit “prince of the royal realm of Persia,” opposing the activities of God’s angel. After Persia there would be a “prince of Greece,” promoting the interests of that world power. Among these spirit creatures, Michael was one of “the foremost princes” guiding and protecting Daniel’s people.
The name “Michael” means “Who Is Like God?” indicating that this foremost prince upholds Jehovah’s sovereignty. Since Michael is also a champion of God’s people, we have reason to identify him with the unnamed angel that God sent ahead of the Israelites hundreds of years before:
“Here I am sending an angel ahead of you to keep you on the road and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Watch yourself because of him and obey his voice. Do not behave rebelliously against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; because my name is within him.” (Exodus 23:20-21)
It is therefore logical for us to conclude that this was the angel that delivered so many important communications to God’s people. (Acts 7:30, 35; Judges 2:1-3) He had full authority from God to act in His name.
We also learn from Jude that Michael was “the” archangel, and since no other archangel is mentioned in the Bible, (nor does the Bible use “archangel” in the plural) we understand that “Archangel” means “Chief of the angels.” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament) So, for us, it stands to reason that this “Prince” who is chief of the angels is the son of God. Among God’s spirit servants, only two names are associated with authority over angels: Michael and Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7) so we believe that this too, argues that Jesus and Michael are the same spiritual personage under different names and in different roles.