Does Father Travel in Time?

Does Yehovah (God) Travel in Time?

What if Einstein Was Right!

Chapter 39 Preview: If *Yehovah “travels in time” then certain occurrences in the Bible become easier for us, with our limited knowledge, to comprehend. If you believe that Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity essentially proves that “time travel” is possible, then you shouldnt be surprised if it were to have a bearing on both history and prophecy. If you believe that Einstein was wrong and that even Yehovah cant traverse time, then please go on to another chapter. This chapter was written from the premise that the Creator of time has complete mastery of it, so if Einstein miscalculated—well then blame him for the deductions of this chapter. Nothing else in my book is dependent on time travel.

For at least the last one hundred years the concept of time travel has tantalized the minds of many of us. I happen to easily fit into that category. A pbs.org article, for example, offers this enticement:

“Various researchers have proposed ways in which backward and forward time machines can be built that do not seem to violate any know laws of physics. Remember that the laws of physics tell us what is possible, not what is practical for humans at this point in time. The physics of time travel is still in its infancy. While all physicists today admit that time travel to the future is possible, many still believe time travel to the past will never be easily attainable. Dont believe anyone who tells you that humans will never have efficient technology for backward and forward time travel. Accurately predicting future technology is nearly impossible, and history is filled with underestimates of technology:”

The following thought would aptly explain Yehovahs statement that He “inhabits eternity”.

“Surprising as it may be to most non-scientists and even to some scientists, Albert Einstein concluded in his later years that the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously. In 1952, in his book Relativity, in discussing Minkowski’s Space World interpretation of his theory of relativity, Einstein writes:

“Since there exists in this four dimensional structure [space-time] no longer any sections which represent ‘now’ objectively, the concepts of happening and becoming are indeed not completely suspended, but yet complicated. It appears therefore more natural to think of physical reality as a four dimensional existence, instead of, as hitherto, the evolution of a three dimensional existence.” (outside link)

So perhaps Yehovah doesnt exactly travel in time anymore than we see the sun rise—since the earth is actually rising, but from our perspective the sun is rising. Another analogy is when a car approaches you on a highway—you only see where you are going while the approaching driver only sees where you have been. Time and space are a matter of perspective. Perhaps Yehovah travels to the location that He chooses to, and then chooses which vantage point, or points in “time” to view.

We’ve been designed to long for this “beautiful” perspective of “time” and “eternity”, but presently “man cant find out”.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man cant find out the work that Yehovah has done from the beginning even to the end. —The Word of Elohim (Gabriel Version)

Other mathematical geniuses have since expanded on Einstein’s realizations, but that is way beyond the scope of this chapter.

There are certainly times when true believers can disagree on whether or not a Bible verse should be taken literally. I dont think that there should be many of these places, especially in regard to obedience. This has nothing to do with obedience, so I’m perfectly happy if you think that figurative explanations for some of the following passages were intended.

Just for fun let’s take some Scriptures literally that are traditionally taken to be anything but that.

The following verse is the first example of a verse that I take to be literal. It appears that Yehovah doesnt actually “travel in time”—He INHABITS time! From wherever He is, He exists in the past, the present and the future of that particular place, all at once!

Isaiah 57:15 The High and exalted One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Devout says; “I am living in the high and dedicated place, along with the One who is to be destroyed [root word: crushed or broken] and humiliated in spirit, who will be returning to life the spirits of the crushed, and returning to life the consciousnesses of the crushed. —The Word of Elohim, Gabriel Version (WE)

From the above verse we can see that:

The primary meaning of “revive” using the hiphil verb stem (8687) is “to preserve alive, let live”. So under Yehovahs umbrella certain humans can be preserved alive and at least on some level experience what Yehovah is experiencing.

Yet the Bible never says that Yehovah exists EVERYWHERE at the same time. The concept of “omnipresence” is of pagan origin.

So Yehovah actually dwells in eternity. The Hebrew word for “inhabits” above is the same word translated as “dwell” in the same sentence. Yehovah said that He lives in a specific “place”. The word for “place” is very often translated as “sanctuary”. So Yehovah “inhabits” one place at a “time”—a sanctuary.

Here is a closer look at the word “inhabits” using the appropriate (Qal) verb stem from the Online Bible Hebrew Lexicon:

Furthermore, “eternity” in the Hebrew means past, present and future—just as it does in English.

Notice in the following statement, from Yehovah Himself, how He knows, for example, the future of the descendants of Abraham—an aspect of TIME, but when it comes to a location, a specific place in SPACE He must either rely on “reports” or “go ... and see” in Person!

Genesis 18:17-21 [Yehovah] asked, “Would I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will surely become an important and populous nation, and every nation on earth will be blessed because of him? 19 I [the Son] know him. He will command his children and his household after him, to obey the way of Yehovah, doing what is right and just; so that Yehovah [the Father] will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him”. 20 Yehovah said, “Because the outcrys against Sodom and Gomorrah are so numerous, and because their sin is so very serious, 21 I’m going down now, and see if their behavior is as wicked as the reports that have come to Me. If not, I’ll know”. WE

Note that the operative word in the following Scripture, “declaring” (Heb. nagad) is translated as “tell” 222 times in the KJV. So it is not saying that Yehovah is necessarily “causing” all of the events of eternity, rather His prophecies “tell” us the end results.

Isaiah 46:9-10 Recall the former events of antiquity; because I’m Elohim, and there is no other; I’m Elohim, and there’s no one like Me; 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that havent been done yet. I say: My purposes will be established, and I’ll do the things I delight in; WE

This is not to imply that Yehovah does not intervene—eliminating certain outcomes that are not to His liking, as He did in Sodom and Gomorrah. Yehovah can do anything that He wants to:

Matthew 19:26 Yeshua looked at them intently and said, “With humans it is impossible, but anything is possible with Yehovah”. —The Testimony of Yeshua, Gabriel Version (GV)

The best minds of science, beginning in 1905 with Albert Einstein, have concluded that “time travel” is not only possible—it is a mathematical certainty*).

So if Yehovah can travel in time (from our perspective), then can Yehovah make people travel in time as well? Does the Bible ever address that?

Yehovahs (the Lord’s) Day

Was the apostle John hallucinating, as some believe? Was he dreaming? The Bible says that he was “in the Spirit on Yehovahs (the Lord’s) day”. It was the real thing—he lived in the future. He literally experienced the events of “the Day of the Lord”! The entire book of Revelation is a first hand narrative. Unlike Daniel, he did not take this lying down. Seven times he said “I saw”: Revelation 1:12; 1:17; 4:4; 5:1; 5:2; 6:1; 6:9.

Revelation 1:9-19 I John, your Friend, and your participant in the tribulation and suffering that are ours in Yeshua the Messiah, was on the island called Patmos, because of the Words of Aloha, and because of the Testimony of Yeshua the Messiah. 10 I was in the spirit realm on Yehovahs day [1]; and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet, that said, 11 “Write what you are seeing in a book, and send it to the seven Assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea”. 12 I was turning around to look at the voice that spoke to me; and as I turned, I saw the seven lights of the golden menorah; 13 and, in the middle of the menorah, someone, “perhaps” the Son of Man, wearing a garment down to His feet, and wearing a belt of gold around His chest. 14 His head and His hair were white, like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flaming fire. 15 His feet were like fine brass, flaming in a furnace, and His voice was like high waves on the sea. 16 He had seven stars in His right hand; and a sharp two edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining full strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as tho dead. He laid His right hand on me, and said, “Dont fear, I am the First and the Last; 18 who lives and was dead. I am alive forevermore! Aw-mane’. I have the keys of death and Sheol. 19 So record what you have already seen, and the things that presently are, and the things that are to be in the future. GV

Here John is actually told to measure the end time third Temple, just prior to the Two Witnesses commission (v.3). Measuring the temple is described 29 times in Ezekiel 40-42. This would explain the previous verse (10:11): “John, you must prophesy again before many nations, and peoples, and princes, and kings”. Is he one of the two witnesses or one of their companions? Same goes for Elijah.

Revelation 11: A reed was given to me, John, like a rod; and the *Messenger stood, saying, “Get up, and measure the Temple of *Yehovah, and the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court that is outside of the Temple, and dont measure it; because it has been given to the other nations; and they’ll trample the *dedicated city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 I’ll commission My Two Witnesses; and they’ll prophesy one thousand and two-hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

[1] The “Lord’s Day” is “The Day of Yehovah —it wont be a Sunday picnic!

Revelation clearly says that:

My brother told me that according to a very old family copy of Fox’s Book of Martyrs (that I couldnt stomach reading as a teen), that John was never martyred. Here is an excerpt from an online copy:

“The “beloved disciple,” was brother to James the Great. The churches* of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, were founded by him. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.”

But that does not square with what Yeshua said!

Mark 10:35-39 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, and asked, “Master, we want You to grant us whatever request we ask of you”. 36 He asked them, “What do you want Me to do for you”? 37 They told Him, “Allow one of us can sit on Your right side, and the other on Your left side, in Your splendor”. 38 But He told them, “You dont know what you’re asking for. Are you able to drink from the same cup that I drink from, and be immersed with the same immersion that I am immersed with”? 39 They told Him, “We are able”. So Yeshua told them, “You will indeed drink the from cup that I drink from, and you will be immersed with the same kind of immersion that I am immersed with. GV

Could it be, as my brother said in our discussion of this topic, that John “was” martyred during the coming Great Tribulation?

Visions?

What about the use of the word “vision” in Revelation? Yes, the word “vision” appears once in Revelation:

Yet it could just as easily say:

Revelation 9:17 While I looked at the horses within view, and at those who rode them ... GV

The primary use of the word “vision” concerns the act of seeing in the sense of sight with the eyes!

At least one of Daniel’s visions appears to be much more than a simple dream because “the men who were with me ... fled to hide themselves!”

Daniel 10:7 I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; because the men who were with me simply couldnt see it. But they were overcome with trembling, and they ran away and hid themselves. WE

Occasionally “vision” does utilize the figurative usage, as is done in English. Here is an example:

Acts 12:9 He [Peter] went out, following him, not realizing that what had been done by the spirit Messenger was a reality; because he thought he was having a vision. GV

The Fifth Coming of Elijah!

As you probably know, Elijah did not die in ancient Israel—he simply vanished into the sky!

2 Kings 2:11-12 11 While they were walking along and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses appeared and separated them; and Elijah went up into the sky inside a whirlwind! 12 Elisha saw it, and yelled, “Teacher, teacher! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” But he vanished out of sight. [1] He grabbed his own clothes, and tore them in half out of grief. WE

This “fiery” mode of transportation was not an isolated incident; in fact Yehovah has a fleet of such chariots:

Isaiah 66:15 Yehovah will come with fire, and His chariots will be like a whirlwind. He will return with fierce anger; His punishment is with flames of fire. WE

But what happened to Elijah after his flight? Did Elijah go to pluck on harps in heaven, or does the Bible say that he was to appear in the future? I hope to show that he made four other appearances!

I believe that all of these Elijahs are the same person who lived/will live at different points in time. Put another way, if we believe the Bible literally, then we would have to look very hard NOT to believe that Elijah (known in the 1st century as John the Immerser) was:

Let’s check out #4 first because it is the most represented in the Bible:

There are three accounts of the “transfiguration”. This event was truly astonishing and should not be dismissed as a curiosity. In each account the “wont experience death” comment is followed six days later by a metamorphosis comment. Despite the inconsistency of the people who inserted the chapter breaks, these two events are very connected.

This was no vision. In fact Peter plainly stated much later, in reference to the transfiguration, that they had not fallen for any “fables”. He said that the three of them “were eyewitnesses” and that they also “heard the same voice come out of heaven”—so they were also “earwitnesses”!

2 Peter 1:16-18 ... because we have not followed artfully framed fables, in making the power and arrival of our Master Yeshua the Messiah known to you; but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 He has received honor and praise from Yehovah the Father. A voice came to Him from the Excellent Majesty that said, “This is the Son I love very much, I am very pleased with Him”. 18 We also heard the same voice from Heaven that came to Him, while we were with Him on the sacred mountain. GV

The key to understanding what actually happened is that Yeshua was literally metamorphasized [Gr. metamorphoo]—“changed into another form”—and that form was light!

With that metamorphosis in mind let’s read the accounts:

Matthew 16:28-17:3 He told them with certainty, “There are some standing here, who wont experience death, until they see the Kingdom of Yehovah coming with great power”. Chapter 17:1 Six days later, Yeshua took Cephas, James, and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 Yeshua underwent a supernatural metamorphosis [metamorphoo] before them; and His face shone like the sun; and His clothing became as white as light. 3 Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Yeshua! GV

Mark 9:1-4 He told them with certainty, “There are some [1] standing here, who wont experience death until they see the Kingdom of Yehovah coming with great power”. 2 After six days, Yeshua took Cephas and James and John, and led them to a high mountain where He underwent a metamorphosis [metamorphoo] right before them. 3 His clothing shone and was very white, like snow, more than people on earth can ever whiten. 4 Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Yeshua. GV

Luke 9:27-33 I tell you, it is certain that there are some standing here who wont experience death until they see the Kingdom of Yehovah with their own eyes. 28 About eight days after these discourses, Yeshua took Simon and James and John, and went up a mountain to pray. 29 While He prayed, the form of His face took on a different appearance, and His clothing became white and radiant. 30 Suddenly there were two men talking with Him; they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in an exalted state. They were conversing about His departure that was to take place from Jerusalem. 32 Simon and those with him were overcome with drowsiness; and barely awake when they saw His glorious condition, and the two men who stood with Him. 33 As they were about to leave Him, Simon said to Yeshua, “Founder, it is delightful for us to be here. Let’s make three booths here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”. But he wasnt aware of what he was saying. GV

Are there some very old people who never experienced death; and are there are some men who actually saw “the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom”. None of these accounts indicate that the “transfiguration” was a “vision”. All represent the information as factual—so why the unbelief? “Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Yeshua”. This was no parlor trick! Notice that they were “awake” when they saw Yeshua in His glorified form, as well as when they saw “Moses and Elijah”. Luke’s account might seemingly indicate that Peter was a bit “rattled” after the event, by his tabernacles comment but perhaps Peter began to perceive a Feast of Tabernacles connection to this occurrence, but let’s go on.

This astonishing experience alone might have lead “Peter, John, and James” to assume that the New Covenant with Israel would be accomplished in their life times. With the advantage of 20/20 hindsight we need to understand what really happened—that both Moses and Elijah had traveled in time to meet with Yeshua! Yet as exciting as this meeting was, they still did not see “the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom”.

Under normal chronology, the “transfiguration” is the fourth coming of Elijah, as I hope to show. We just read that some of those standing with Yeshua would actually live to see “the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom”. Yet that time will be of far more consequence than was the “transfiguration”—it will involve all of the Saints and even “the world”:

Mark 13:26-27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds, with great power and splendor. 27 Then He will send out His spirit Messengers, and will gather His Chosen People from the four winds [north, south, east and west], from the farthermost bounds of the land, to the farthermost bounds of the horizon [“heaven”]. GV

Luke 21:25-28 There will be supernatural occurrences in the sun, in the moon, in the stars; and on the earth distress among nations; with great stress, and astonishment at the raging waves of the sea. 26 Anxious expectation and fear of the events coming to the earth; and the wonders in the Heavens will push men’s bodies beyond their limits. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power, and with great splendor. 28 When these things begin to happen, be greatly encouraged, and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is near. GV

Lets go back to the statement: “the form of His face took on a different appearance, and His clothing became white and radiant”. Herein lies the answer to the mystery. Yeshua was transformed into something like solid light!

The nature of light is the backbone Einstein’s revolutionary theory of relativity:

“What is light? How does it travel, and how fast can it go? Even as a teenager, Einstein was fascinated by the nature of light. When he was just 16 years old, Einstein tried to imagine what it would be like to ride on a beam of light. Could he travel as fast as light? Could he travel faster?”

Yet scientists are now just beginning to describe the kind of solid appearing light that is commonly used in descriptions of Yehovah.

“A ‘new theory’, predicts that light could be made to exhibit properties similar to those of matter, although photons dont normally interact with one other, unlike for instance electrons used by computer circuitry.

“A team of scientists made a breakthrough in the field of solid light using only tools that are usually employed to study matter, rather than energy.”

Ordinary light somewhat inhabits eternity, in that it does not experience time. It is almost eternal when we consider the star light that we see came our direction aeons ago.

Elijah on Mount Sinai

Both Moses and Elijah spoke with Yehovah on Mount Sinai during antiquity. In Exodus (18:1-3), when Moses visited Yehovah, the mountain was covered with a cloud (19:16). The same thing happened at the transfiguration. Perhaps during the transfiguration, Yehovah moved both Moses and Elijah to Galilee where the three disciples were.

Is there a clear precedent for that? Yes, during Ezekiel’s “vision” he saw Yehovah moving from “within the city” “to the mountain!”:

Ezekiel 11:1, 22-25 Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east gate of Yehovahs house, that faces eastward. At the door of the gate were twenty-five men; and I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. ... 22 Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the splendor of the Elohim of Israel was overhead. 23 The splendor of Yehovah went up from the middle of the city, and paused on the mountain on the east side of the city. 24 The spirit lifted me up, and brought me to a phenomenon by the spirit of Elohim into Chaldea, to those of the captivity. So the phenomenon that I had seen left me. WE

How often do you wake up from a “dream” in the very place that you were dreaming about, and then tell people about the dream?

Next we see two accounts of Ezekiel traveling both in time and in space:

Ezekiel 8:1-3 During the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, the hand of Adonay Yehovah came to me quickly. 2 Then as I looked on, I saw something that looked like a man. From his waist down he looked like ‘fire’ [light]; and from his waist upward, a brilliance, like glowing metal. 3 He stretched out what appeared to be a hand, and took me by a lock of my head; and the spirit lifted me up between earth and the sky, and brought me as a mode of revelation from Elohim to Jerusalem, to the door of the gate of the inner court that faces toward the north; where there was the seat of the image of Jealousy [the Queen of Heaven], that provokes to jealousy. WE

Ezekiel 43:4-7 And the glory of [Yehovah] came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. 5 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of [Yehovah] filled the temple. 6 Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man stood beside me. 7 And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places.”

Moses also had a mountain top experience with the “Great Light”:

Exodus 34:29 It happened, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moses didnt know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him. WEB

This event corresponds with Luke 9:31; telling us that during the transfiguration Moses “appeared in glory”. WEB

During the transfiguration, the past, the present and the future all exist in the same location. Under Yehovahs “umbrella” Moses and Elijah from their “times” appear with the disciples in their “time” while Yeshua appears in His futuristic resurrected state!

So why do I call this the fourth coming? Let me attempt to show you the other four comings!

The first Biblical reference to Elijah informs us that he was from an unknown “captive” city and that he was a “foreigner”! He was a man who seemingly came out of nowhere—and perhaps he did!

1 Kings 17:1-4 Elijah the Tishbite {08664}, who was of the foreigners {08453} of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As [Yehovah], the [Yehovah] of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” 2 The word of [Yehovah] came to him, saying, 3 “Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 4 It shall be, that you shall drink of the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” WEB

Right away he was performing miracles. But “after many days” (18:1) Yehovah put him to work single-handedly attacking the wicked king Ahab of Israel.

1 Kings 18:1 It happened after many days, that the word of [Yehovah] came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.” WEB

Our first contact with Elijah explains that he was a wanted man—dead or alive. This would be his “first coming”.

Years after his fiery departure on a blazingly lit up chariot he came back at least long enough to pronounce a curse upon another royal administration:

2 Chronicles 21:12-15 A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says [Yehovah], the [Yehovah] of David your father, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute, like the house of Ahab did, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, who were better than yourself: 14 behold, [Yehovah] will strike with a great plague your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your substance; 15 and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.’” WEB

From our perspective this was Elijah’s “second coming”.

Elijah is mentioned thirty times in the Testimony of Yeshua (“New Testament”). In the first 28 times the topic concerns either the return of Elijah—a very popular idea at the time, or else the “transfiguration”.

The Bible and other historic records repeatedly indicate that the Jews were expecting Elijah and some of the other prophets to reappear!

Matthew 16:13-17 When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His Disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is”? 14 They said, “Some are saying that You are John the Immerser; but others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets”. 15 Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am”? 16 Simon Cephas answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Aloha”. 17 Yeshua replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonas; because flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in the Heavens. GV

This would have been Yeshua’s perfect time to say: “thus saith the Lord, ‘you guys are crazy! Elijah is quite dead’”. But on the contrary Yeshua confirmed the astonishing truth! See for yourself:

Matthew 11:12-14 From the time of John the Immerser, until now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been attacked by force, and the violent continue attacking it. 13 All of the Prophets and the Torah prophesied until the time of John. 14 And if you people are willing to accept him, he is Elijah who was prophesied to come. GV

So Yeshua said of John the Immerser: “this is Elijah, who is to come”. From our perspective this would be his third coming. Another clue is that no one else in the Bible is described as wearing this distinctive atire:

2 Kings 1:8 They answered him, “He was a ‘hairy’ [crude animal hide] man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” WEB

Matthew 3:4 As for John, his clothing was made of camel’s hair, and a leather belt was around his waist; and he lived on locusts and wild honey. GV

Of course John the Immerser was no more likely to spend his youth calling himself “the Elijah to come” than Yeshua would have gone around saying that he was the Messiah—before the time was right.

But there is a problem: John did not fulfill the prophecy concerning the Elijah “who is to come” of Malachi 4! He denied that he was the fulfillment of the prophecy!

John 1:21 They asked him again, “Who then? Are you Elijah”? He replied, “I am not”. “Are you the Prophet”? And he replied, “No”. GV

A point that I have made before is that it wasnt predestined that the Jews would forsake their Messiah; they had a legitimate opportunity to accept Him. The prophecies would have to have occurred later, as happened with Jonah, or even failed (1 Corinthians 13:8). The Seventy Weeks Prophecy was meant to end on or about 31 AD. John the Immerser was scheduled to be the Elijah to come, but the Bridegroom was delayed for 2000 years, because of the carnality of His countrymen!

Elijah will return just prior to “the great and dreadful day of Yehovah”, to prevent Yehovah from needing to strike “the earth with utter destruction” [a ‘curse’]!

Before John was even born an angel made the same claim:

Luke 1:11-17 This is when Yehovahs Messenger appeared to Zachariah, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zachariah saw him, he was troubled and stricken with dread. 13 Yehovahs Messenger told him, “Dont be afraid, Zachariah; because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elisabeth will give birth to a son, and you will name him John”. 14 You’ll have cause for joy and happiness, and many others will celebrate his birth. 15 Yehovah will consider him to be great. He wont drink wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the dedicated spirit, from the very hour of his birth. 16 He will convert many of the descendants of Israel to Yehovah their Aloha. 17 He will be His [Messiah’s] forerunner, in the spirit and power of Elijah [1] the prophet, and will turn the minds of the fathers to the children, and those who are disobedient to the knowledge of the righteous, and will prepare a perfect people for Yehovah. GV

OK, here is why my wife says that I watch too much sci-fi. If John was really Elijah then he would have spent his youth with Yeshua AND THEN WOULD HAVE “GONE BACK IN TIME” TO CHANGE HISTORY!

The Jews of Yeshua’s day were looking for Elijah to come again and fulfil Malachi’s prophecy. Let’s consider the Elijah “who is to come”. Here are the very last words from most versions of the Hebrew Scriptures:

Malachi 4:4 “Remember the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of [Yehovah] comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” WEB

Malachi didnt say that Yehovah was going to send someone kind-a-sort-a-like Elijah. Yehovah said that He was going to eventually send Elijah back to perform an amazing job “before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes” (KJV). That would be his fifth appearance. Once his 21st century work was over the only thing he had left to do was to return to the first century and die at the hands of king Herod.

“John’s Immersion” and the “wrath to come”

Why had people come to John the Immerser for immersion? First notice that it was not for receiving the sacred spirit!

Acts 19:1-6 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled over the upper coasts to Ephesus. He asked the Disciples who he found there, 2 “Have you received the sacred spirit, since you believed”? They replied, “We have not even heard about a sacred spirit”. 3 So he asked them, “Then what were you immersed into”? They replied, “Into John’s immersion”. 4 Paul told them, “John immersed people with an immersion for changing minds—he told them to believe in the One who was to come after him, namely, in Yeshua the Messiah”. 5 After they heard that, they were immersed in the name of our Master Yeshua the Messiah. 6 Paul laid his hand on them; and the sacred spirit came on them, and they spoke in different languages, and prophesied. GV

These people had to be told long after John immersed them what John’s immersion was about, and that his immersion was insufficient for salvation:

So why were “Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his immersion”? The answer to that is that they believed that he was the Elijah to come, and that they wanted to be spared “from the wrath to come”! That is a clear reference to Malachi’s prediction: “lest I come and strike the earth with a curse”!

John also believed that Yehovahs devastating wrath was about to be unleashed on the earth:

Matthew 3:7 But when He saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who came to be immersed, He told them, “Offspring of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath”? GV? [also Luke 3:7]

The third and final reference to “the wrath to come” is definitely about surviving the Day of Yehovah, because the Messiah “delivers us from the wrath to come” when He returns:

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 They report what a reception we had with you, and how you turned to Yehovah, from the fear of idols, to worshiping the living and true Aloha; 10 awaiting His Son from Heaven, Yeshua Himself, who He raised from the dead, who delivers us from the wrath to come. GV

Yet even John the Immerser didnt know until quite late in the scheme of things that his cousin Yeshua was the Messiah!

Luke 7:18-20 John’s Disciples told him all these things. 19 John called two of his Disciples, and sent them to Yeshua, and asked, “Are you the One who is coming, or should we look for another”? 20 They came to Yeshua, and told him, “John the Immerser has sent us to you, and asks, ‘Are you the One coming, or should we look for another’”? GV

Before John was imprisoned, he was able to tell two of his disciples who the Messiah was (John 1:29-36). So even tho John wasnt positive who the Messiah was, he did understand that he had been endeavoring to prepare His way.

John 1:19-27 This was John’s testimony, when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him, to ask him who he was. 20 He openly admitted, “I am not the Messiah”. 21 They asked him again, “Who then? Are you Elijah”? He replied, “I am not”. “Are you the Prophet”? And he replied, “No”. 22 So they asked him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can answer those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself”? 23 He said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make the highway for the Master smooth’, as the prophet Isaiah said”. 24 Those who were sent, were Pharisees. 25 Again they questioned him, “Then why do you immerse if you arent the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet”? 26 John told them, “I immerse with water; but there is someone among you, who you dont know. 27 He is coming after me, and was before me, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to unfasten”. GV

I believe that John, in what would have appeared to be but a mere moment, perhaps while he was in prison, lived out the rest of his life in the past and the future—fulfilling all five of the Elijah prophecies!

Many of us will live to see Elijah’s final mission:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of [Yehovah] comes”!

Perhaps people who believe that “time is flat” will some day be in the same category as the one dimentional “earth is flat” crowd.

ADDENDUM: “... nor did His flesh see decay”

On a related topic—Does Yeshua entirely occupy eternity or is He short “three day and three nights” of that?

Yeshua said that He occupies eternity. There is no reason to conclude that He is not, as is His Father: past—present—and future, all at once!

Revelation 1:8 “I am Aleph and the Tau”, says Yehovah, “the Aloha; who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty”. GV

Speaking of occupying time and space, even as Yeshua lay in the grave He was still present in a way because there was something unique about His death—His body was not allowed to deteriorate at all. In the Greek, every time that “corruption” is used it is in reference to the lack of deterioration of Yeshua’s dead body, with the sole except for David’s body which “saw corruption” (Acts 13:36).

Notice the detailed explanation of Yeshua’s flesh:

Acts 2:27because you wont leave my body in the grave, nor will You allow your Sacred One to see bodily decay GV

Acts 2:31He foresaw, and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that He wasnt to be left in the grave, nor would His body undergo decay. GV

Acts 13:34-37 Yehovah has raised Him from the dead, never to return there and see decay; as He said, “I will give to you a descendant of David undefiled by sin”. 35 Again He said, in another place, “You havent allowed Your Sacred One to see decay”. 36 David served his generation, then after serving Yehovahs purpose, he fell asleep, and joined his predecessors, and underwent bodily decay. 37 But the One Yehovah raised, didnt undergo bodily decay. GV

This detailed description about Yeshua’s body not seeing decay stems from a prophecy of David, and that prophecy even emphasizes His “flesh”:

Psalms 16:9-10 So My heart is glad, and My glory rejoices; My flesh shall also ‘rest’ [Strong’s 07931: dwell!] in hope. 10 For You will not leave My soul in ‘Sheol’ [the grave]; You will not give Your Holy One to see corruption. LIT

With so much emphasis, this is quite significant. Since Yeshua apparently experienced no more bodily degradation than that which was inflicted upon Him by men, perhaps He did not pass from the realm of always existing. Apparently Yeshua is technically Eternal.

Dont think for a minute that I am saying that He didnt die. What I am saying is that as soon as our heart quits beating or our lungs cease to work are bodies begin to “decay” and soon we begin to stink. I dont think Yeshua’s body was allowed to degrade or stink.

Recall that manna, “the bread from heaven” “bred worms and stank” by morning when people tried to save it. Yet when Yehovah wanted it preserved it didnt “decay” for “generations”!

Exodus 16:19-23 Moses said to them, “Let no one leave of it until the morning.” 20 Notwithstanding they didnt listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was angry with them. 21 They gathered it morning by morning, everyone according to his eating. When the sun grew hot, it melted. 22 It happened that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one, and all the rulers of the assembly came and told Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is that which [Yehovah] has spoken, ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to [Yehovah]. Bake that which you want to bake, and boil that which you want to boil; and all that remains over lay up for yourselves to be kept until the morning.’” WEB

Exodus 16:33 Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take a pot, and put an omer-full of manna in it, and lay it up before [Yehovah], to be kept throughout your generations.’ WEB

Interestingly, manna, “the bread of life”, was to be treated like the Passover lamb in that is should not be kept for use the next day during the week.

Exodus 12:10 You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. WEB

Yeshua was the “the true bread out of heaven”. And yes His flesh was symbolically eaten at the Passover.

John 6:30-35 They asked Him, “What miracle will You perform, so that we can see and believe in You? What will You do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness; as the Scriptures say, ‘He gave them bread from Heaven to eat’”. 32 Yeshua told them, “It is absolutely certain that Moses didnt give you bread from Heaven; but My Father is giving you the real bread from heaven, 33 because the bread of Yehovah is the One who came down from Heaven, and gives Life to the world”. 34 They replied, “Master, give us this bread continually”. 35 Yeshua told them, “I am the bread of Life. Anyone who comes to Me will never hunger; and anyone who believes in Me will never ever thirst again. GV

There is a parallel to this: if at Yeshua’s Supper you eat the bread in an unworthy manner your destiny may just stink!

There is a Hebrew word that is the equivalent of the Greek word for “decay”. Here is an interesting use of the word. This appears to be in reference to the resurrection!

Job 33:23-26 If there is beside him an ‘angel’ [messenger], an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him; 24 then [Yehovah] is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to ‘the pit’, [decay] I have found a ransom.’ 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth. 26 He prays to [Yehovah], and He is favorable to him, so that He sees his face with joy. WEB

Under what other conditions could an adult’s flesh be of higher quality “than a child’s”? I believe that this is “born again”—spirit composed flesh.

The point is that Yeshua’s body was not allowed to see “decay” even on the cellular level, so it appears that He was technically eternal even in the flesh.

But there is more. When people die they know nothing, that is they have no consciousness until our resurrection:

Ecclesiastes 9:4-5 4 Everyone who remains among the living has hope; because a living dog is better than a lion that’s been killed! 5 The living know that they will die, but the dead dont know anything. They arent being rewarded; and even memories of them will be forgotten. WE

This is not to say that Solomon wasnt aware that Yehovah preserves our spirit essence in a safe place until the time of judgment:

Ecclesiastes 12:5,7 & 14 5... because man goes to his everlasting home, while mourners march the streets ... 7 and the dust returns to the ground where it was, and the breath of life/spirit returns to Elohim who gave it. ... 14 Elohim will judge everything we do, every secret thing, whether it is good or bad. WE

But only our “spiritual genetic code” goes to heaven:

John 3:13 NO ONE HAS GONE UP TO HEAVEN, EXCEPT THE ONE WHO CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, THE SON OF MAN WHO IS IN HEAVEN. GV

However with Yeshua, because He is eternal, He was consciously suffering even in death along with the vilest of disembodied spirits who—unlike their less vile companions—are even now being restrained. This was part of the suffering that Yeshua did for us!

1 Peter 3:17-20 It is far better for you to suffer evil, while doing good deeds, (if this is the will of Yehovah); than to suffer for your evil deeds. 18 The Messiah also once died for our sins, a righteous man for sinners; so that He could bring you to Yehovah. He died physically, but was restored to Life spiritually [simultaneously]. 19 He heralded to the spirits who were imprisoned in sheol, 20 who previously had not complied. And once, in the days of Noah, Yehovah in extreme patience, commanded an ark to be made, hoping that they would amend their ways; but only eight souls entered it, and survived the water of the deluge. GV

In due “time” we too will inhabit eternity:

Job 14:13-15 “I wish you would hide me in Sheol [“hell”, the grave], and keep me hidden until your wrath is past, but that you would a set aside a time to remember me! 14 When a man dies, will he live again? I will wait all the days of my “struggle”, until my replacement me, Your handiwork. WE