Some claim Michael is just another name for Jesus.

The first thing we need to answer is whether Michael is an angel - the answer is yes. The word angel means messenger; angels are messengers and there are humans that are messengers too. However what is an angel is more important to answer than what the word means.

The word messenger is not what is in questioning whether Michael is applied to Jesus, it’s whether Michael is an angel (a spirit being).

An angel is a created spirit; all angels are the same in species, their nature being spirit. Michael is not a human- the point is that Michael is an angel and cannot be God. His name is translated one like God, not “one who is God.” Such as the name applied to Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us that was given to him by the angel Gabriel.

The Scripture makes a distinction between Michael and the Lord in Jude:

Jude 1:9: “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

The term Archangelos in the New Testament occurs only twice, here and 1 Thessalonians 4:16, three times in the Old Testament (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1).

An archangel means that one who is a head over angels (arch), as an angel. Jude calls Michael an angel who cannot rebuke a greater angel (even a cherubim who is fallen), so he refers to the Lord, therefore He is not the Lord Jesus.

Another important point, Michael is one of many chiefs, not the chief.

It tells us he is angel, therefore he cannot be Jesus; neither is His name applied to Jesus. Michael is an angel just as Gabriel is an angel. There is no justification to say Michael is applied to Jesus or Jesus to Michael.

Rev. 12:7 “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought”

Gr -autos- which has the meaning of the same, in other words he is in the same group as the others mentioned: angels, both God’s and Satan’s.

1Thess. 4:16: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first
It is an angel that announces his coming and blows the trumpet, not Jesus, the Greek speaks of an order given, a procession.

What of Gabriel (meaning mighty like God) who is an Angel is called a MAN in the book of Daniel (9:21).

Yes; this is what it says in English but he was not called a human. In the Hebrew it means a person, the first meaning is male (which all angels are, sons of God).

In fact we find out later that Gabriel is an angel. In Luke 1:19 And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings." Gabriel is a spirit creature, just as Michael is. Both are sent from heaven by God.

What of the Angel of the Lord?

Ex:14:19: “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel”

As an example, Jesus name means God is salvation, a direct correlation of his nature to the name. This Angel (The angel of the Lord) is not a created Angel, Cherub, or Seraph but something far greater. He has authority more than any other angel, He is able to do things only God can do. When the Angel of the Lord shows up there is an awe and worship. This Angel is an ambassador who has God’s name attached to his title, as He is called the Lord himself. Gen.22:1-16 we find the angel identifies himself as the Lord which would be blasphemous if not true.. Ex.3:2 that the identity of this angel becomes absolutely clear when Moses encounters the Lord at the burning bush. V.6 This angel identifies himself as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” In vs.14-16 he then calls Himself the I am who I am”

Throughout scripture Michael is distinguished from Jesus, and there is no need for confusion on this matter.

The Bible says this:

Heb.1:5: "For to which of the angels did he ever say "you are my Son today I have begotten you?"

The answer is none of them! Michael is an angel, one of many chief ones. Jesus is never called Michael, this name is never applied to him only the angel it belongs to.