Writing in the "Aid" book pg 1152, the writer, evidently Ray Franz, uses the quote at Dan 12:1 as "proof" that Michael = Jesus. The verse tells us that "at that time [according to WTS theology in Oct, 1914] Michael will STAND UP" That expression "Stand up" has great significance for the WTS leadership in that the writer of the "Aid" article makes it mean "To rule" [in the book of Daniel, anyway]
A brief consultation of some of the finest minds devoted to the study of the Hebrew words of the OT elicits the following information [The Theological Wordbook of the OT by Harris Archer and Waltke, Heb Lexicon by Gesenius, Dictionary of OT theology, Keil and Delitz, Heb Commentary of the OT]:
The word for "stand" as used in Dan 12:1 is the Heb/Chaldee "Amad" and can have the following 9 meanings in the 500+ times it is used in the OT:
1 To stand [as in the physical act opposed to sitting]
2 To arise as from a sitting position
3 To stand [guard} NASV Dan 12:1
4 To stand before [someone as in supplication] Abraham before Yahveh [ Gen 18:22] Joseph before Pharaoh [Ge 41:46] etc
5 To stand before someone [as before Yahweh awaiting judgement] Deut 19:17, Jer 7:10
6 To represent as at Ezra 10:4 [NWT has "act representatively" - the WTS position being - why use one word when we can complicate the issue by usingm two]
7 To establish something
8 To endure
9 To build, set up something: A house [Ezra 2:68] A statue [2 Chron 33:19] etc
As one can see, there are several possibilities inherent in the meaning of the word "Amad" - but sorry, no evidence that it can mean "to rule" - except in the distoted imaginations of the FDS - indeed that there is an undercurrent of servitude in the word mitigates against such a conclusion.
Ah but you see, the FDS tells us, you have ignored the "symbolic" meaning. True "Amad" may not mean "to rule" but that is only literally. Symbolically, it can mean whatever we want it to mean. Have'nt you heard of the FDS principle called "The Chesire Cat Syndrome?" who said in that other Inspired work, "Alice In Wonderland" - "A word means whatever I choose it to mean, nothing more, nothing less" [I submit that if I make the word "name" mean "hate" then I can make the sentence, -My name is Jehovah into - My hate is jehovah, or even, I hate to be called jehovah, etc]
The writer lists seven occurences of the word "Amad" in Daniel where it evidently "means" - "To rule" [8:22, 23, 11:2, 3, 7, 20, 21] A close look at these references shows that none of these instances makes any allusion to "rulership" in fact all they show is that they can sit as firmly as ever on the already established meanings of the word, as above. In Dan 11:3, for instance, a ''mighty king" is said to do two things, not one: "He will stand [pick any meaning above] AND he will rule"
If the word "stand" means "to rule" in Dan 12:1, then it must do so a few verses later, in vs 13. Here it talks of Daniel "standing" This inevitably must lead to either one of two conclusions: That Michael has a co-ruler in his "kingdom" - the Heb prophet, Daniel, or that the teaching of the WTS regarding Michael - Jesus is an ingenious fraud deliberately perpetuated to demean the position and office of Christ
Cheers
