How, then, is he distinguished from the angels? Let me give an example which is not identical in every respect but demonstrates the point. Adam was the first and only man who was "naturally" a son of God (Luke 3:38). All other men were sons of Adam. In a sense you could say they were produced through Adam. He is distinguished from all men in that he was a direct creation of God and for a period of time he was without sin. Yet he had the same human nature as all other men.
Though Adam was directly created by God. he would be by nature classed under the heading "human." As you said: "he had the same human nature as all other men." He would also be classed with all other men when men are being comapred to other beings such as spirit angels. For example Adam is included in the class "men" in the example below:
"For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: . . ." Chapter 2:5-8
The fact that Christ is shown to be classed separate from all the angels, would likewise exclude him from being any type of created spirit angel including an archangel. Rhetorical Questions such as from Hebrews would surly separate Christ from being any created spirit angel including archangel.
Michael though an archangel is classed as a created spirit angel in the Bible along with the others.
"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Jude 8-9
"But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 2 Peter 2:10-11
Thus, rhetorical questions such as these should exclude Christ from being even an archangel, since even archangels are "angels."
"For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?" Hebrews 1:5
"But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" Hebrews 1:13
Hebrews 1:6 also shows Christ to be separate from all the angels (this must include archangels).
"Be glad, O heavens, together with him, and let all the angels of God worship him. Be glad, you nations, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him . . . " Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX
Here in Deuteronomy 32:43LXX there are two clasees of beings: God and "all the angels of God" who worship him. The second class must mean all with no exceptions. The second class surely includes Michael with the other angels.
"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Hebrews 1:6
Hense, Hebrews 1:6 being a quote from Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX cannot have Christ being Michael since Michael must be in the group of "all the angels" in Deuteronomy. The phrase "all the angels" surely means the same in both verses.
Now let us consider Christ and the angels. Christ was the first-begotten of all creation (Colossians 1:15),
The phrase "firstborn of all creation" is discussed in Troublesome Trinity Verses Part 11
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/59646/1.ashx
and specifically the first-begotten son (Hebrews 1:6).
"firstbegotten" probably means first of a series of begotten beings. I believe that this refers to Christ's resurrection.
"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Hebrews 1:6
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," Revelation 1:5
Everything else was produced through him, including the angels (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16,17) who are also sons of God (Job 1:6).
John 1:3 shows that all things with no exceptions were made through Christ, not "all other" things and not "everything else" that was made, hense Christ could not be a made thing. Christ must have pre-existed all made things and hense could not be a made thing.
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:3 KJV
" All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." John 1:3 NASB
Now you may say that he is different from the angels because he was the first-begotten and they were all produced through him.
The phrase firstbegotten probably refers to resurrection, not pre-existence.
And that is true. Yet they share the spirit nature.
See my earlier comments on general form nature vs. specific substance nature. I believe that while both God and the angels are "spirit" that they are of a different specific spirit nature. Thus I believe that Christ is God by nature and angels are of a different substance.
On his resurrection Christ became a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). It was then that "the angels and authorities and powers" were made subject to him (1 Peter 3:22). To what extent they were subject to him before his incarnation the scripture does not say but as the Word it implies he was the primary spokesman for God. At any rate, it seems that after his resurrection he was exalted to a superior position so that in his name every knee in heaven should bend (Philippians 2:9,10).
I belive that Christ has alaways been God by nature yet took upon an additional nature that of a man. I believe that in his resurrection he is both God and man still.
So, Christ was never one of the angels, i.e. the army of messengers that were there to do God's bidding. He was the Word, the prime spokesman. Sometimes he acted in the capacity of angel/messenger and could be described in that way.
I agree with this statement, and would strengthen it to say that he never has been one of the angels including archangels.
Sometimes he acted as leader of the angels and could be described as archangel. Sometimes he acts as apostle and priest and king. These are all functions that he serves. But his nature is spirit. He shares this with other spirit beings including those resurrected from the earth (1 Corinthians 15:48).
I don't think that Revelation 12:7 should be applied to Christ based on a similarity in word structure to 2 Thessalonians 1;7-8.
1. Contextually they are talking about two different events (one an angellic battle, the other Christs coming).
2. When versses talking about Christs comming are looked at compared to their OT prophesies the scriptures show that Christ is the Jehovah who is comming with his angels and saints. This agrees
with context as well as word similarities.
