Who is the Angel of Revelation 20:1?

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand."

(Revelation 20: 1, KJV)

 

This above Scripture passage was brought up in conversation by a Jehovah's Witness friend who was insistent on defending the false Watchtower doctrine that teaches Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel. So is it true, does this above passage prove that Jesus is an "angel" called Michael? Now let us look at Revelations 20: 1 and see whether it really teaches that Jesus is an angel. 

Is the Angel in Revelation 20: 1 Jesus Christ? 

According to my friend Roy, he believes the "angel" mentioned in Revelations 20: 1 is the Lord Jesus Christ. However, a closer look at the passage disproves the notion that there is any connection to the angel in the said Scripture text ever referring to the Lord Jesus. The cross references are Revelation 1: 18; 9: 1; 10: 1. These references are not referring to the "angel" in this passage. It is referring to "the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand." For we read in the very next reference in Revelation 1: 18 that it is Jesus talking. He states that He has "the keys of hell and of death." Second, we read in chapter 9: 1 about "the fifth angel" which "was given the key of the bottomless pit." Are we to believe this "fifth angel" is the Lord Jesus. A simple reading of the entire chapter reveals that this "fifth angel" has no connection at all to Michael the archangel, let alone the Lord Jesus Christ! It is interesting to know that there are seven angels mentioned (see Rev. 8: 6-13; 9: 1, 13; 10: 7). Since it already has been mentioned in my "Christ Superiority over Angels" blogs that the Lord Jesus is the only unique Son of God distinct from any angel. Then how can He be "the only begotten Son" of the Father if He is being referred to here as an "angel" (20: 1) or "fifth angel" (9: 1)? It is plain nonsense to conclude from these passages in Revelation that the "angels" mentioned are the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the height of bad theology. (To be Continued…)