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MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL DISPUTES WITH SATAN ABOUT THE BODY OF MOSES

Michael the Archangel and Satan disputed about the body of Moses.  Perhaps Satan was interested in preserving Moses body by like the Egyptian mummies of the Pharaoh’s.  Satan could have used Moses body as an object of worship and a stumbling block for natural Israel to bring God’s wrath against them.  With such a danger, we can understand why God did not permit the location of Moses body to be known to the Hebrews.

 

JUDE 9 – “But Michael the archangel [In Zech 3 = angel / LORD (Jesus)], when contending with the devil [Satan] he disputed about the body of Moses [by extension the faithful of Fleshly Israel], durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord [Jehovah] rebuke thee

 

Though the debate between Michael the Archangel and Satan began with the literal “body of Moses” (Jude 9), it extended to national body of Moses, that is, the faithful of Natural Israel (Zech 3:2; Heb 3:5; 1 Cor 10:2; Luke 9:30).   Satan argued about Israel having been replaced by the selection of the Church (represented by Joshua in Zech 3:1,3-5), and that God should not plan to restore unfaithful Israel after a period of disfavor (branch plucked out of fire. Zech 3:2)

 

The text of Zech 3 is provided below. Words in brackets are explanatory and in some cases help to connect together related symbols in Zech 3 and Jude 9.  The purpose is to provide context for making the connection between Jude 9 and Zech 3:1,2. (See Reprint 1490). 

 

ZECHARIAH 3 / American Standard Version

1   And he shewed me Joshua the high priest [Church Class], standing before the angel [Michael/Jesus] of the LORD [Jehovah], and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

2  And the LORD [Michael as the Logos speaking for Jehovah as explained in Jude 9] said unto Satan, The LORD [Jehovah] rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem [Natural Israel / Body of Moses – Jude 9] rebuke thee: is not this a brand [burning branch] plucked out of the fire? [Israel’s period of suffering and disfavor to end]

3  Now Joshua [Church Class] was clothed with filthy garments [needing justification], and stood before the angel. [Michael / Jesus]

4  And he [the angel / Michael / Jesus] answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I [the angel / Michael / Jesus] have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I [Jesus] will clothe thee with change of raiment. [Justification]

5  And I [Jesus] said, Let them set a fair mitre [clean turban] upon his head [showing the righteous headship of Christ over the Church]. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. [Justification] And the angel of the LORD stood by.

6  And the angel [Michael / Jesus] of the LORD [Jehovah] protested [spake or testified] unto Joshua [Church], saying,

7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways [the Narrow Way / High Calling], and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house [Church is to be priests, kings & judges], and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

8   Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH [Or sprout, the man Christ Jesus.].

9  For behold the stone [Christ is the chief corner stone] that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: [Perfect, or divine wisdom] behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. [The Millennial day, “One day with the Lord is as a thousand years.” (2 Pet. 3:8)].

10  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. [Vine – Christ Jesus and Church (John 15) Fig Tree – Jewish nation. (Joel 1: 7; Matt. 24: 32; Luke 21: 29)]

 

We just want to add the following additional explanation.  Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s since His ascension (1 Tim 6:15; Rev 17:14; 19:16) and from that perspective Michael the Archangel could not be considered Lord in the Old Testament. However, just as when God spoke to Moses through the Angel of the Lord (Ex 3:2), so Jehovah addressed Satan through His Logos or chief messenger, Michael. Hence Michael as representing Jehovah is called Lord in Zech 3:2.

10 comments to MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL DISPUTES WITH SATAN ABOUT THE BODY OF MOSES

  • Daz

    I am a little confused, Jesus had the authority the power to rebuke Satan yet in Jude 9 it’s states that Michael ask Jehovah/the Lord to rebuke him? Surely if Michael & Jesus are one in the same why didn’t he rebuke him directly on this occasion?

    Warm & loving regards,
    Daz

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Daz – If this is sufficient evidence to prove to some that Jesus is not Michael the Chief Messenger, then let each one be convinced in my own mind.

      I can only give you my opinion here, so take it for what it is worth.

      First, let’s consider that this event transpired around the time of Moses death. This would have been before Jesus had been become the Savior of the World and exalted above all principalities and powers.

      Ephesians 1:20-21 NASB
      “which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

      In his pre-human existance Jesus may have felt inclined to respect that for a time Jehovah was permitting Satan to be the God of this world.

      Job 1:6 NASB
      “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”

      This verse seems to imply Satan has been temporarily permitted some latitude for respect to ultimately allow all creation to see the results of his rebellion and efforts as disasterous.

      Even the Apostle Paul apologized for criticizing the high priest who was evidently being used as a tool of Satan

      Acts 23:4-5 NASB
      “But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people .'””

      If Jesus is not Michael, the prince of Israel and God’s Chief Messenger and Israel’s Angel of the Lord, then does Jesus never directly ever make an appearance in the Old Testament?

      • Daz

        Hi Peter, thankyou for your reply, as always it was very informative with great scriptual back up. But did not Christ have the power from the start as shown in John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

        Warm & loving regards,
        Daz

        • Peter K. (admin)

          Daz – Great questions. You are thinking deeply. Again, each person must study the scriptures for themselves and be convinced in their own mind.

          My own thought is that I agree with you on John 1:1. As the Word of God, Jesus was the most powerful of all creation and the highest authority next to Jehovah. So then why would Jesus not rebuke Satan himself?

          To me, this is what is so remarkable about Jesus – his humility in deferring to Jehovah and his hesitancy to exercise authority to condemn others, accepting Jehovah as wiser and of greater understanding then himself. This is what makes him so worthy to lead.

          Philippians 2:5-11 NASB
          “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

          • Daz

            Hi again Peter, yes you are right I am thinking deeply, I just want to get things right in my mind & find the ‘truth’. I certainly do not want to come across as though I am trying to undermine your reasoning or what you say because I really am not doing that at all, infact alot of what you have explained & reasoned with regarding the scriptures has helped me a great deal & I am very thankful for that Peter. It’s just after having many years of studies with Jw’s & still having questions unanswered & since breaking away from the organzation it’s made me more hungry & zealous to search & find the real truth in the scriptures. I always felt that Jesus should be more aknowledged, honoured & given more praise than what he was getting from the watchtower, yes they speak highly of him but I wonder sometimes is he really in their hearts just as in Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: “these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men”.

            • Peter K. (admin)

              Daz – The whole point is to take responsibility to understand the scriptures for yourself, looking to Jehovah and His Holy Spirit for guidance. (Luke 11:13; John 16:13) When in good conscience you are satisfied that you understand a verse or topic, you can hold on to that as long as you find it to be the best explanation of scriptures. None of us are perfect, so we can’t get everything 100% correct. However, the desire to understand God’s Word is fully and accurately as possible is a noble and commendable desire.

              I agree with you that JWs would benefit by placing more emphasis on Jesus as their Savior, lest they find themselves looking to the organization and Governing Body as their Savior.

  • wait there, so I understood the words of Jehovah himself directs judgments to Satan? this to imply that Jesus himself is the same Jehovah? this is nonsense, not logical

    news-of-king.communities.net / evangelist without borders

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Eddie – No- We are NOT saying that Jesus is Jehovah, but that merely as THE angel of the LORD, Jesus spoke to Moses on behalf of of Jehovah in His role as the LOGOS or Word of God.

  • Anonymous

    No, The LORD is not an archangel named Michael. The LORD in Zechariah 3:2 is the LORD YHWH Yahweh/Jehovah. Why can’t you see it in the verse?
    (Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?)
    Bible manuscripts don’t have the additions that the jw’s NWT has added! God’s word is inspired and will not be altered by men.

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Anonymous – Thanks for commenting. Do you believe Jesus had a pre-human existence or not? Could you be more specific about the manuscript problem. What are the words you believe are not part of the original Bible writings in Zechariah 3? What is your source to support your view? Thanks.

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