Michael and all Angels
“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1
Only two angels are mentioned by name in the Bible. We all know Gabriel, the angel who announced the birth of John and Jesus. The other one is Michael. He is called the Archangel in Jude 1:9. Daniel calls him “one of the chief princes,” (10:13) who contended with the evil spirit that supported the heathen kings of Persia. In the passage above he is called “the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people.”
Daniel foretells the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. That was a time of horrible trouble, worse even than the first destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. The Jewish historian, Josephus, describes the atrocities that went on in Jerusalem during the siege. But God reassures Daniel that Michael will stand watch over your people and that “your people shall be delivered.”
When God speaks of Daniel’s people, He is not talking about the nation of Israel. Many thousands of Jews died horrible deaths in the siege. He is talking about the believers in Jesus Christ, as He describes at the end of the verse, “every one who is found written in the book.” These are God’s people and they were delivered from the horrors in some amazing ways.
We, too, are God’s people by faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can also know that Michael stands watch over us to deliver us in times of trouble. What tremendous strength, confidence, and comfort we can have in knowing that such a mighty warrior is constantly standing watch over us. What shall we fear?
I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept all harm and danger away from me; . . . Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.