How many prophets of God are there in the bible?
From the book What Does The Bible really Teach, http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/appendix_11.htm
We can read:-
Archangel. God’s Word refers to Michael “the archangel.” (Jude 9) This term means “chief angel.” Notice that Michael is called “THE ARCHANGEL”. This suggests that there is only one such angel..……………..
If we are to assume that your teaching carries any weight we would need to look at other examples of this expression.
Jeremiah 28:1 Then it came about in that year, in the beginning of the kingdom of Zed•e•ki´ah the king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Han•a•ni´ah the son of Az´zur, “THE PROPHET” who was from Gib´e•on, said to me in the house of Jehovah before the eyes of the priests and of all the people: [NWT]
With Hananiah being called “THE PROPHET” as in “THE ARCHANGEL” would therefore prove that there is and was ever only one Prophet.
Yet I thought there were many major and minor prophets, well your teaching must be correct.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Me: Fundamentalist Christian.
Though you have a valid point, you support it poorly.
With angels we have a different situation.
-- First: angels are believed to be immortal. So, if (pretend) Michael is the only angel with green hair, because he is immortal it suggests that Michael has always been the only angel with green hair - unlike with humans, who are mortal and whose other circumstances and characteristics (other than existence) also change relatively frequently.
-- Second: Jeremiah clearly reads "the prophet who was from Gibeon". This suggests not that Hananiah is and has always been the only one prophet; rather - reasonably and logically - it suggests only that Hananiah was the Hananiah who was a prophet from Gibeon - and, as seen from the first point, the only prophet named Hananiah from Gibeon *at that time*.
Now: **here's** the real problem with the Witness interpretation: the wording in that passage does *not* suggest that Michael is the only archangel - though that **is a logical possibility**. It ONLY suggests that Michael is **an** archangel. The phrase "the archangel" has an **entirely different purpose** in Greek and in our language than what is claimed by Witness literature.
The verse reads: (NASB)
"But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil"
The phraseology
"But Michael an archangel, when he disputed with the devil"
is archaic. In English (like in almost all languages, including repeatedly in the Bible) we have things like these:
-- "Elijah the Tishbite" - from 1Ki 17:1 - not in ANY way suggesting that Elijah was the only Tishbite, but suggesting *nothing* more than the fact that the Elijah who was **a** Tishbite was the person under discussion - not any other person named "Elijah".
-- "John the evangelist" does not in any way suggest that John was the only evangelist, but rather identifies the particular John who was an evangelist!
-- "Simon the Zealot" (Mat 10:4) does not in any way suggest that Simon was the only zealot, but rather identifies the particular Simon who was an zealot (as opposed to the Simon who was known as Peter)!
In these and many other cases, the phrase "the [something]" added to a name is called an "appellative". It is a thing which helps to identify the being under discussion more precisely - by differentiating that thing from other things of the same name or label - and is common to most if not all languages.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/appellative
Like all of my examples, "Michael the archangel" *clearly and indisputably* uses "the archangel" as an appellative to identify specifically the Michael who was an archangel - that is, to differentiate *that* Michael from any other being named Michael (such as the several men named "Michael" mentioned in the Bible)!
Conclusion: your position on this matter is absolutely sound - rock solid - but your argument supports it very poorly. The Witness interpretation **depends upon** poor knowledge of English grammar and/or poor reasoning skills. The phrase "Michael the archangel" does not in ANY way suggest that Michael is the only archangel - not logically, not reasonably and certainly not linguistically.
- Jim, http://www.bible-reviews.com/
Very good explanation from BR about the meaning and use of "the" in relation to Michael the archangel and in relation to prophets. This is everything the Bible has to say about Michael the Archangel:
Daniel 10:13 – Michael is one of the chief princes.
Daniel 12: 1 – Michael is the great prince.
Jude verse 9 – Michael the archangel could not rebuke Satan.
Revelation 12:7 – Michael and his angels fought Satan and his angels.
Regarless of whether there is only one Archangel, we know there were many prophets. We also know there is only one Word, or Logos - who became Jesus. This is what the Bible has to say about Jesus Christ:
Isaiah 9:6 - Jesus is Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Revelation 22:12-13 - Jesus is Alpha and the Omega, First and the Last, Beginning and the End.
Revelation 17:14 – Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings.
Revelation 19:16 – Jesus is LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS.
2 Peter 1:1 – Jesus is God and Saviour.
Titus 2:13 – Jesus is God and Saviour.
Act 3:14 – Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One.
Revelation 2:23 – Jesus can search hearts and minds.
Mark 2:10 – Jesus is the Son of Man and had authority on earth to forgive sins.
John 5:21-22 – Jesus, the Son, gives life and judges everyone.
Luke 24:46-47 – Jesus Christ can grant repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 1:4 – Jesus Christ, the Son, is superior to the angels.
Hebrews 2:5 – God has subjected the world to come to Jesus Christ, not angels.
Revelation 5 describes ten thousand times ten thousand angels worshipping the Lamb, who was slain and is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise. Michael, the archangel, will be there, before the throne, worshipping the Lamb, Christ Jesus.
Just ask yourself, who died to save us from our sins? Christ Jesus or an archangel? Was it Michael the archangel who was slain, or was it Christ Jesus? Who is to be worshipped by all the angels? Christ Jesus or an archangel? Who is sitting on the Throne in Heaven and who is going to judge us? Christ Jesus or an archangel? Who was there, in the beginning with God, at creation? Who is the Word, or Logos? Christ Jesus or an archangel? And who is going to return, in great power and glory, before whom every knee will bow? Christ Jesus or an archangel? Our eternal salvation depends upon getting the right, Bible based answers to these questions.
Jehovah's Witness do not know who Christ Jesus really is and they refuse to worship him. But when he returns, in great power and with all the angels, Michael the Archangel will be with him! Christ Jesus is no mere angel, Archangel or otherwise.
THE spirit creature called Michael is not mentioned often in the Bible. However, when he is referred to, he is in action. In the book of Daniel, Michael is battling wicked angels; in the letter of Jude, he is disputing with Satan; and in Revelation, he is waging war with the Devil and his demons. By defending Jehovah’s rulership and fighting God’s enemies, Michael lives up to the meaning of his name—“Who Is Like God?” But who is Michael?
At times, individuals are known by more than one name. For example, the patriarch Jacob is also known as Israel, and the apostle Peter, as Simon. (Genesis 49:1, 2; Matthew 10:2) Likewise, the Bible indicates that Michael is another name for Jesus Christ, before and after his life on earth. Let us consider Scriptural reasons for drawing that conclusion.
Archangel. God’s Word refers to Michael “the archangel.” (Jude 9) This term means “chief angel.” Notice that Michael is called the archangel. This suggests that there is only one such angel. In fact, the term “archangel” occurs in the Bible only in the singular, never in the plural. Moreover, Jesus is linked with the office of archangel. Regarding the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 states: “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice.” Thus the voice of Jesus is described as being that of an archangel. This scripture therefore suggests that Jesus himself is the archangel Michael.
Army Leader. The Bible states that “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon . . . and its angels.” (Revelation 12:7) Thus, Michael is the Leader of an army of faithful angels. Revelation also describes Jesus as the Leader of an army of faithful angels. (Revelation 19:14-16) And the apostle Paul specifically mentions “the Lord Jesus” and “his powerful angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7; Matthew 16:27; 24:31; 1 Peter 3:22) So the Bible speaks of both Michael and “his angels” and Jesus and “his angels.” (Matthew 13:41) Since God’s Word nowhere indicates that there are two armies of faithful angels in heaven—one headed by Michael and one headed by Jesus—it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role.
Do you ever feel like your talking to the trees? Anyhow in Daniel it speak of Michael as "one of the Chief princes" which would include others like him. So he is not one of a kind. When you deal with JW's they only look at the understanding of the GB. If they say the Apple is a cherry then it's a cherry. Even though to everyone else it's an apple and tastes like and apple, but they will tell you it's a cherry.
1 thess. 4;16 ." with the voice of an archangel" meaning more than one archangel
and what angel, being a pure spirit become human and walk with humans
and who is it telling a messenger in revelation 1:17-18 , but jesus himself, the alpha and the omega . who died and rose again .