In the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel experiences a vision after having undergone a period of fasting. In the vision in Daniel 10:13-21 an angel identifies Michael as the protector of Israel. Daniel refers to Michael as a prince of the first rank.[7] Later in the vision in Daniel 12:1 Daniel is informed about the role of Michael during the Time of the End when there will be distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations and that:[8] At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. In view of this, Michael is seen as playing an important role as the protector of Israel, and later of the Christian Church. Although the three occurrences of Michael in the Book of Daniel 10:13, 10:21 and 12:1 all refer to the same individual, who acts in similar ways in all three cases, the last one is set at the end times, while the first two refer to local time in Persia.[9] These are the only three references to Michael in the Hebrew Bible.[10] The references to the captain of the host of the Lord encountered by Joshua in the early days of his campaigns in the Promised Land (Joshua 5:13-15) have at times been interpreted as Michael the Archangel, but there is no theological basis for that assumption, given that Joshua then worshiped this figure, and angels are not to be worshiped. Some scholars also point that the figure may refer to God himself.[11][12] In the book of Joshuas account of the fall of Jericho, Joshua looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. When the still unaware Joshua asks which side of the fight the Archangel is on, the response was, neither...but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 22:00:08 +0000