One or more archangels ?
⚪ There are several archangels (1880)
⚫ There is only one archangel (1912)
⚪ There are several archangels (1927)
⚫ There is only one archangel (1985)
⚪ There are several archangels
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The very chief of God's creation higher than angels and archangels [Heb. i. 5-8], He who is called "the beginning of the creation of God" [Rev. iii. 14] is selected as the one who shall undergo the labors or redeeming humanity.
Source : 🇺🇸 The Watchtower, December 1880 page 1 |
⚫ There is only one archangel
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ARCHANGEL SIGNIFIES HIGHEST ANGEL
Question. - Is there, or will there be more than one Archangel ? Answer. - To speak of Archangels (plural) would be contrary to the Scriptures. The word archangel signifie highest angel, the prefix arch meaning the same as chief; for instance, the chief of the fire department. In the twelfth chapter of Daniel we read (vs. 1), "And at that time shall Michael [the Archangel] stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people." In the Hebrew the name Michael signifies One who as God, or like God. That One who is "like God," we understand to be the great Messiah, the Lord Jesus himself. Source : 🇺🇸 The Watchtower, June 15 1912, pages 198-200 |
⚪ There are several archangels
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Archangel is the name given to some of God's spirit creatures, which name signifies "first in rank". (1 Thess. 4:16) [...] Long ages ago, before earthly time began, the great Jehovah God had a wonderful and mighty organization consisting of a host spirit creatures the beautiful angels among them, archangels, seraphim, cherubim, Lucifer and the mighty Logos, the two latter being designated as "the morning stars".
Source : 🇺🇸 1927 - Creation page 15, page 19 + Cover |
⚫ There is only one archangel
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Reasonably, then, the archangel Michael is Jesus Christ. (Interestingly, the expression “archangel” is never found in the plural in the Scriptures, thus implying that there is only one.)
Source : 🇺🇸 1985 - Reasoning from the Scriptures, page 218 + Cover |
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Interestingly, the title "archangel" is used elsewhere in the Bible with reference to only person: Jesus-Christ. Paul says of him: "The lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet." (1 Thessalonicians 4:16) [...] These and other scriptures lead us to the inescapable conclusion that Michael is no one else but the Lord Jesus Christ in his heavenly position.
Source : 🇺🇸 1988 - Revelation Its grand climax at hand, page 181 + Cover |
Have you noticed that from the same verse (1 Thess. 4:16), the watchtower taught 2 contradictory beliefs