I and My Father Are One, Part 2

“I and My Father Are One”

Part 2, The Angel of the Lord’s “Secret” Identity

Chapter 29, Part 2 Preview: (Part 1?) In a “word”, the “Angel of the Lord” is the one who became the “Word of God” or the “Messenger of Yehovah”. A controversy has raged for nearly two thousand years: “How can Jesus (actually Yeshua, off site) be God”? Many theories have been proposed over the centuries concerning the “nature” of Yeshua. These ideas are at extreme variance with the Scriptures concerning His identity and they are quite dangerous. Prophecy indicates that heresy [literally: sectarianism] would be an unbridled problem. It is not just the cults that are a problem tho they do provide very convenient “whipping boys” for more traditional deceivers. This four part sequel to The Origin of Heresy explains the “Nature of God” directly from the Scriptures in a way that harmonizes the passages that have baffled heretics for nearly two millennia.

This could be a stand alone article, but I felt that it fit here best. This secret identity, all by itself, proves the dual nature of the One mind of God.

The New King James Version of the Bible uses the designation “the Angel of the Lord” fifty three times in the Hebrew Scriptures. A close look at these references will quickly demonstrate that “the Angel of the Lord” is no ordinary angel! The term “an angel of the Lord” is not used in the Hebrew Scriptures. Beginning in Matthew, an “ordinary angel” or messenger is speaking to Joseph about the baby that Mary is to have.

Hagar spoke with “the Angel of the Lord”, (or to state it correctly “The Messenger (or Word) of Yehovah’”), and was greatly moved! She correctly identified Him as “God” and “Yehovah” and was one of several people who were surprised to have remained alive after seeing Him. It seems that everyone was aware that God the Father said: “You cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live”. No one could have told her that “the Son” was to be frequently seen by men!

Genesis 16:7-14 The Angel of [Yehovah] found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.” 9 The [Messenger] of [Yehovah] said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” 10 The [Messenger] of [Yehovah] said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude.” 11 The [Messenger] of [Yehovah] said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael [he became Father of the Arabs], because [Yehovah] has heard your affliction. 12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers.” 13 She called the name of [YEHOVAH] WHO SPOKE TO HER, “You are a GOD who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed ALIVE after seeing Him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi*. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. WEB

[*Beer Lahai Roi means “well of the One who lives and sees me.”]

The references to the “the Angel of God” are apparently always identical to the “the Angel of the LORD” in the Hebrew. Some time later, in a time of distress in the desert, “The Angel of God” (the Messenger of Elohim) again spoke to Hagar, this time from the sky. He, “God”, reminded her about His promise: I will make him a great nation; then He intervened and saved their lives.

Genesis 21:16-19 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Dont let me see the death of the child.” She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 17 God heard the voice of the boy. The [Messenger of Elohim] called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Dont be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation.” 19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. WEB

So why does this account, and others, call “God” “the Angel of the Lord” or “the Angel of God”? Here is the word often translated as “angel”:

The Hebrew word “malak” used by itself, without being accompanied by “of the LORD”, can mean any messenger or messengers, human or otherwise, such as below:

Genesis 32:3 Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. WEB

Perhaps it could mean an unnamed “angelic” messenger, but unless more than one “spirit messenger” is being referred to; I know of no instance where it must be anyone other than THE Messenger—except for Michael and Gabriel. However, the “malak” of “the LORD” is a very specific and powerful “Messenger”. He is none other than the “Messenger of the Covenant”; the pre incarnate “Word of God” (Revelation 19:13).

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I send My messenger [Elijah], and He will prepare the way before Me; and the Lord, [the Messiah,] whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the Messenger of the Covenant, whom you desire, behold, He comes!” says [Yehovah] of Armies. WEB

The Authorized Version translates “malak” as “angel” 111 times and “messenger” 98 times. If the references to “the Angel of the LORD” were correctly translated as “the Messenger of the LORD”, or better still “the Messenger of Yehovah”, then Messenger would be by far the most common translation of “malak”.

Moses and the Messenger of Yehovah

Here is another Angel of the Lord account. This Messenger of Yehovah, who appeared in a flame of fire, is also specifically called “Yehovah” (YHVH) . It was “God” who called to Moses “out of the midst of the bush”! Moses also “was afraid to look at God”—not wanting to die.

Exodus 3:1-5 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb. 2 The [Messenger] of [Yehovah] appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 Moses said, “I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” 4 When [YEHOVAH] saw that he turned aside to see, GOD called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” 5 He said, “Don’t come close. Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” 6 Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God. WEB

It was common knowledge that if you saw God you would die. So logically, Moses was afraid that if he looked upon “the [Messenger] of [Yehovah]” he would die.

Keep in mind that “angel” in Greek means exactly what it does in the Hebrew—a messenger. The Acts account tells us that God the Father sent “the Angel of the Lord” also known as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”—Yeshua the Messiah, to Moses!

Acts 7:30-35 When forty years were fulfilled, [the] [Messenger] of [Yehovah] appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, [the] voice of the Lord came to him, 32 ‘I [the “Angel”] am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look. 33 The Lord said to him, ‘Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground [because God Himself was there]. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of My people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have COME DOWN to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’ 35 This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God [Being #1] has sent him [Moses] as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the [Messenger] [Being #2] who appeared to him in the bush. WEB

We just saw that the “Angel” is God.

Is this a very presumptuous angel speaking? Notice carefully:

Judges 2:1 The Angel of [Yehovah] came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you.... WEB

This Angel of the LORD claims to be the Being who led Israel out of Egypt! He also claims to have made an Everlasting Covenant! Is this blasphemy? God disallowed Moses from entering the Promised Land for sharing the credit for far far less than that!

So who “really” led Israel out of Egypt and whose Covenant was it?

Exodus 6:1-9 [Yehovah] said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.” 2 God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am [Yehovah]; 3 and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by My name [Yehovah] I was not known to them. 4 I have also established My Covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens. 5 Moreover I [as above] have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My Covenant. 6 Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am [Yehovah], and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: 7 and I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am [Yehovah] your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 9 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage; I am [Yehovah]. WEB

There is only one possible explanation for this seeming contradiction: The Messenger of Yehovah is the member of the Elohim Family, who was sent by the One who later became His Father, due to His human birth. He was seen by the patriarchs of old, whose appearance did not cause death to those privileged observers!

Another person who saw the Messenger of Yehovah “face to face” and thought, “Alas, I’m going to die”, was Gideon. He too was not aware that One member of the Divine Family could be “safely” looked upon.

Judges 6:21-23 Then the [Messenger] of [Yehovah] stretched out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock, and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes; and the [Messenger] of [Yehovah] departed out of his sight. 22 Gideon saw that he was the [Messenger] of [Yehovah]; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord [Yehovah]! Because I have seen the [Messenger] of [Yehovah] face to face!” 23 [Yehovah] [knowing exactly what he feared] said to him, “Peace be to you! Dont be afraid. You shall not die. WEB

Manoah Meets the “Secret” “Mystery” “Angel”

The soon to be parents of Samson also had an encounter with the Messenger of Yehovah. Manoah asked Him His name, but the name that Manoah was given revealed nothing to him. Only the Messenger’s amazing exit gave His identity away. Then Manoah too thought that he was going to die “because we have seen GOD”, but his wife, being less shaken by the shocking event, knew that Yehovah had no such intentions.

Judges 13:17-24 Manoah said to the [Messenger] of [Yehovah], “What is Your Name, that when your words happen, we may honor You?” 18 The [Messenger] of [Yehovah] said to him, “Why do you ask about My Name, seeing it is [W]onderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to [Yehovah]: and the [Messenger] did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it happened, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the [Messenger] of [Yehovah] ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 But the [Messenger] of [Yehovah] did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that He was the [Messenger] of [Yehovah]. 22 Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen ‘God’ [Strong’s 0430, Elohim: ‘The Divine Ones’].” 23 But his wife said to him, “If [Yehovah] were pleased to kill us, He wouldnt have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, neither would He have shown us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these.” 24 The woman bore a son, and named him Samson: and the child grew, and [Yehovah] blessed him. WEB

The Messiah was deliberately hiding His identity (and the fact that the Mind of God was within Two Beings) by using the most obscure name that He possessed: “Wonderful”. This word is also translated as “awesome” and “marvelous” in other places, but it is not used as a name. There is only one reference in the Bible to confirm that an actual name had been used.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of [Yehovah] of Armies will perform this. WEB

However the King James Version captured the intent; leaving the other meanings for the more inquisitive. He was a Wonderful and Awesome “SECRET”!

Judges 13:18 And the Angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after My name, seeing it is SECRET? KJV

In fact the very existence of the One called Yeshua today was both a “mystery” and a “secret” and was incomprehensible even to the patriarchs!

Romans 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my [good news] and the preaching of Yeshua the Messiah, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY kept SECRET since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and [oh, by the way] the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Yeshua the Messiah forever. Amen NKJV

Joshua and the Messenger of Yehovah

Now back to that “boastful” Angel again! The “Angel of the Lord” is talking about “My ways”, “My instructions” and “My house” in this quote! Who does He think He is—God?

Zechariah 3:1-7 He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the [Messenger] of [Yehovah], and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. 2 [Yehovah] said to Satan, “[Yehovah] rebuke you, Satan! Yes, [Yehovah] who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isnt this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the [Messenger]. 4 He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments off of him.” To him he said, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.” 5 I said, “Let them set a clean turban on his head.” So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the [Messenger] of [Yehovah] was standing by. 6 The [Messenger] of [Yehovah] protested to Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says [Yehovah] of Armies: ‘If you will walk in My ways, and if you will follow My instructions, then you also shall judge My house, and shall also keep My courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by. WEB

This is also an insightful chapter in that we find Yehovah—that is “the Angel of the Lord”—is personally challenging Joshua to become one of the final Two Witnesses in this dually prophetic account. Joshua (Yehoshua), the long form of the Hebrew “Yeshua”, will symbolically represent Yeshua on Earth, actually bearing the “iniquity” of the world, typified as “filthy garments”, much as Yeshua bore our iniquities when He was crucified or martyred. The “Angel” goes on to say that:

vs. 9-10 ... and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,’ says [Yehovah] of Armies, ‘you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree [a millennial reference i.e. Micah 4:4, Joel 2:22]. WEB

On this dramatic occasion, God is actually present, with Satan also there tempting Joshua to fail, both having a vested interest in his decision of whether or not to become one of the Two Martyrs.

Jacob Wrestling with the Messenger of Yehovah

There is another similar account of a patriarch who encountered this member of the God family and was understandably bewildered by the encounter. Jacob did not know of this beings’ existence and certainly did not know His name. It’s strange that this grandson of “the Father of the faithful” didnt have a clue about the nature of God. But apparently it was meant to remain a mysterious secret. Even under being directly asked, “Please tell me Your Name”, it does not appear that Jacob was given the answer! And of course, Jacob was surprised that he survived the encounter, just as others in later years would be.

Genesis 32:24-30 Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a Man there until the breaking of the day. 25 When he saw that he didnt prevail against Him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was strained, as he wrestled. 26 The Man said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” Jacob said, “I wont let You go, unless You bless me.” 27 He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Jacob asked him, “Please tell me Your Name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what My Name is?” [This is the same stall tactic He used on Manoah] He blessed him there. 30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. WEB

In Genesis 28 “the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac” came to Jacob in a dream. This event changed his life forever. He named the place “Bethel” in memorial to the event. In Genesis 31 “The Angel of God”, again, apparently the same as “the Angel of the LORD”, said that “I am the God of Bethel”. Enough said:

Genesis 31:11-13 The [Messenger] of [Elohim] said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am’ ... 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to Me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth. WEB

To paraphrase Yeshua: If you have seen “the Angel of the LORD” you have “seen the Father”, because to be “LIKE” Him is to be “LIKE GOD” Himself!

Zechariah 12:8 In that day [Yehovah] will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and the house of David will be LIKE GOD, LIKE the [Messenger] of [Yehovah] before them. WEB

There is another “Angel” reference worth noting. This Angel was the “Savior” of Israel, He “redeemed” Israel, thus He is the Redeemer, He claimed Israel as “My people”, and yes, He was also “Yehovah”:

Isaiah 63:7-9 I will make mention of the loving kindnesses of [Yehovah], and the praises of [Yehovah], according to all that [Yehovah] has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His loving kindnesses. 8 For He said, “Surely, they are My people, children who will not deal falsely”; so He was their Savior. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the [Messenger] of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them, and carried them all the days of old. WEB

“His Presence” really is a good translation. It simply indicates that this member of the Family of God was actually present during “all the days of old”! “Presence” in the Hebrew literally means “to be in front of your face”. He was truly the God who frequently was seen literally “face to face” with the Patriarchs.

Moses and “My Presence”

With the understanding that “the Angel of His Presence” is another name for “THE Messenger”, we are now ready to look at the Exodus 33 account where Moses talked to both THE Messenger and the “Message Sender”; the God who spoke to Moses “face to face”, and the God who said, “You cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live.”

Exodus 33:1-3 [Yehovah] spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’ 2 I will send [My Angel] [as in the NKJV] before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: 3 to a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you in the way.... WEB

Skipping to verse 9 we see where one of the Beings who was in “the pillar of cloud” “spoke to Moses FACE TO FACE, as a man speaks to his friend.”

v.9-11 It happened, when Moses entered into the Tent, that the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door. 11 [Yehovah] spoke to Moses FACE TO FACE, as a man speaks to his friend. WEB

At this point Moses was a bit puzzled because he did not understand the distinction between the “Angel” whom “I will send” and the “Sender”. So Moses told God; paraphrasing his statement, “You havent let me know whom you will send with me”. You say “I know You by name”, now show me something—“Your ways”—so “that I may know You”:

vs. 12-13 Moses said to [Yehovah], “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people:’ and You havent let me know whom You will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now Your ways, that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight: and consider that this nation is Your people. WEB

At this point the One speaking to Moses spoke of the Messenger of “My Presence”.

v.14 He [God] said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Moses still did not understand that God’s “Presence” was distinct from the One speaking, because Moses still thought that the One speaking was going to go with them—“You go with us”:

vs. 15-17 He said to him, “If Your Presence doesnt go with me, dont carry us up from here. 16 For how would people know that I have found favor in Your sight, I and your people? Isnt it in that You go with us, so that we are separated, I and Your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth? 17 [Yehovah] said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name. WEB

At this point, Moses is greatly desiring to see the one who was speaking to him who was cloaked within the “pillar of cloud”.

vs. 18-23 He [Moses] said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 He [still in the cloud] said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of [Yehovah] before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” 20 He said, “You cannot see My face, FOR MAN MAY NOT SEE ME AND LIVE.” 21 [Yehovah] also said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 It will happen, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away My hand, and you will see My back; but My face shall not be seen. WEB

Immediately after this, in chapter 34 we read:

Exodus 34:4-7 He [Moses] chiseled two tablets of stone like the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up to Mount Sinai, as [Yehovah] had commanded him, and took in his hand two stone tablets. 5 [Yehovah] [#2] descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, [no cleft of the rock necessary here] and proclaimed the name of [Yehovah] [#1] 6 [Yehovah] [#2] passed by before him, [again, no special precautions] and proclaimed, “[Yehovah]! [#1] [Yehovah] [#2], a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, 7 keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation. WEB

The above reference to “Yehovah! Yehovah” (“the LORD, the LORD”) is unique to this verse, except in such instances as Numbers 14:43 where it is used in a different sense:

Numbers 14:43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you. NKJV

Moses, at this point, apparently knew that he was dealing with both Yehovah and Yehovah! However he apparently did not go out of his way to explain what he had seen, and did not see, beyond what goes virtually unnoticed in his account.

Exodus 34:9 He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord [#1], please let the Lord [#2, Your Presence] go in the midst of us; although this is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance. WEB

I have only dealt with the Hebrew references to “the Angel”. The Greek references are often about an ordinary holy messenger since the true Messenger of the God was often present in the flesh. The most common way that an “Angel of the Lord” is referred to in Matthew, Luke and Acts (the only other “New Testament” books where the phrase is used) is by preceding it with the word “an” instead of “the”. Were this always the case, there would at least be no confusion over whether we are seeing a reference to the Messiah or another holy messenger. Unfortunately, even the quotations from the Hebrew often switch from “the” to “an”.

There is one more reference to “Yeshua” prior to His human birth that I would like to note. On the very day that Israel crossed over into the Promised Land, Joshua met up with “the commander of Yehovah’s army”. If this had been an ordinary holy messenger then Joshua would have been corrected when he “worshipped” Him.:

Joshua 5:13-15 It happened, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him, and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of [Yehovah’s] army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said to him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” 15 The Prince of [Yehovah’s] army said to Joshua, “Take your ‘shoes’ [05275] off of your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so. WEB

Had this been an ordinary messenger from God the ground would not have been “holy”. The shoes remark is exactly what the Messenger of Yehovah told Moses in Exodus:

Exodus 3:5 He said, “Don’t come close. Take your ‘sandals’ [05275] off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”

Who is “The King of Kings and Lord of Lords”?

Timothy told us about the King of Kings. But did he mean Yeshua or His Father? In this context, Timothy mentioned Yeshua twice. However he said about “no man has seen, nor can see” “the King of Kings and Lord of lords” that “no man has seen, nor can see” Him. Furthermore, only the Father, it would appear, has unending “immortality” because Yeshua’s eternity was interrupted for “three days and three nights”. Yet this King of kings “alone has immortality”. Timothy is no doubt referring to the Father:

1 Timothy 6:13-16 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before [our Messiah Yeshua], who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our [Master Yeshua the Messiah]; 15 which in [His] own times He will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen. WEB

However, no one would argue who John said was “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.

Revelation 17:14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with Him, called and chosen and faithful. WEB

Revelation 19:13-16 His name is called “The Word of God.” 14 The armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. 15 Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it He should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. WEB

Who is the Creator?

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him. Without Him was not anything made that has been made. WEB

In the following text we see that the Father is credited with creating both Heaven and Earth.

Creator #2:

Acts 4:24-27 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God [Creator #1], who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 25 who by the mouth of Your servant, David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? 26 The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, AND against His Messiah [Creator #2] 27 “For truly, in this city against Your holy [Son], [Yeshua], whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your council foreordained to happen. WEB

Creation was a joint effort. The Father authorized the Son to do the creating and He did. It almost seems that the Father took the back seat while the Son seemingly receives most of the glory. I believe that the Father is highly compensating the One who took on the role of the Son, by giving Him so much responsibility. It is perhaps comparable to a new father pampering his wife after all of the travail that accompanied the birth of a new baby. In God’s case, Yeshua had the painful role, while the Father looked on. We are collectively the “baby”.

Who is the Bridegroom?

In Who is the Bride of Messiah?, I covered the many Scriptures showing that the bride of Messiah will be the nation of Israel, rather than “the “Church” (off site)”—which is almost universally accepted. Jeremiah 31 really makes the case all by itself. There is going to be a new wedding ceremony “with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah”. Again God will be the Husband.

Jeremiah 31:31-33 Behold, the days come, says [Yehovah], that I will make a “New Covenant” with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says [Yehovah]. 33 But this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says [Yehovah]: I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.... WEB

But we need to consider who the true “bridegroom” (or groom) is! Generally speaking, virtually everyone claims that the 6,828 references to Yehovah in the Hebrew Scriptures are references to God the Father, often mistranslated as “Yahweh”. Virtually all of these references are in solid capital letters: “LORD” in the KJV so as to indicate Yehovah. But is this always so? How often can we be completely certain that we have isolated “one” of the two Eternal Beings, in any given verse, given that there is “one” God?

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The ‘LORD’ [YeHoVaH] our ‘God’ [Elohim is plural!] the LORD is One! NKJV

There are evil spirits, but is there more than one “good Spirit”?

John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. WEB

Most versions of the Bible render John 4:24 as saying that “God is A Spirit” rather than “God is Spirit”. But that is inconsistent with the twenty other places where “a spirit” is always in reference to an evil spirit, except for the few places where it says something like “a spirit of ill will” or “a spirit of stupor”—which is identical to the dual meaning in English. So why is it that there are so many references to “a spirit” used concerning a demon while the concept is actually absent in reference to God and even His messengers? Consider that Satan and the demons are cut off from God so that they are independent and alone—separated “spirits”. Essentially, each demon has his own rebellious spirit. Presently they are free to commit evil because they are cut off from the One Spirit that God shares with His “family”.

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one [Supreme Divinity] [more on this below] and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. WEB

Did you just notice that the “One Spirit” is already “in us all”? Those who have the “one baptism” also have an embryonic portion of the One Spirit of God.

When we are finally born into God’s family we will be incapable of sinning because we share the very spirit of God with Him!

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesnt commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cant sin, because he is born of God. WEB

So here we see that Yehovah refers to both the King of Israel AND to the one who is “the First and the Last”! Can we pinpoint beyond question which person the First and the Last is? Yes, unmistakably!

Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me, saying, “Dont be afraid. I am [notice] the first and the last, 18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am [notice] alive forevermore. Amen. WEB

In Isaiah 44:6 Yehovah is Yeshua the Messiah again, but the wording “with the last I AM He”, appears to indicate both beings in this title!

Isaiah 41:4, 13-14 Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, [Yehovah], the first, and with the last, I Am He”.... 13 For I, [Yehovah] your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Dont be afraid. I will help you.’ 14 Dont be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says [Yehovah], and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. WEB

Here is another reference to “the first” and “the Last”, as well as “I AM”, with a tie in with the God of Abraham. I AM is a well recognized name of God. “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.” Nothing could be plainer!

Exodus 3:13-15 Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you;’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” [note] and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘[Yehovah], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations. WEB

Here is is difficult to miss that Yeshua is Lord God Almighty:

Revelation 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. WEB

Now for a more well hidden revelation by the Messiah concerning who He really is. Most translations say “It is I” rather than “I AM”. The WEB Bible does have the correct rendering in the footnotes (where the vast majority of us will miss it). The KJV also hides this. However, Strong’s 1510, “eimi” is “I AM”. This is also readily apparent in Green’s Interlinear—both in the main text and the interlinear rendering, which is why it is in my YMES.

Matthew 14:25-27 His disciples saw Him as He walked on the waters, and they were frightened, and they said, “What we see is a phantom* [5326, phantasma] and they cried out in fear”. 27 But Yeshua immediately said, “Have courage, *I AM*, dont be afraid”. YMES

Mark 6:49-50 They saw Him walking on the waters, and they supposed it was a phantom* [5326, phantasma], and they cried out. 50 For they all saw Him, and were afraid. Immediately He spoke with them, and said, “Take courage; *I AM*; dont be afraid”. YMES

Yeshua sought to comfort His frightened disciples while at the same time providing them (and us) a sobering lesson.

Here is another reference to “the first” and “the Last”, with a tie in with the God of Abraham.

You can see the LORD Yehovah but on the other hand you cannot see the LORD Yehovah!

In the well known conversation that God had with Abraham concerning the fate of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, we perhaps fail to notice that honest Abe was speaking face to face with the LORD (YHVH, Yehovah)!

Genesis 18:22 & 33 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before [Yehovah].... 33 [Yehovah] went His way, as soon as He had finished [speaking] with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. WEB

Genesis 32:30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. WEB

Contrast the face to face encounter to Moses needing to hide from the Father:

Exodus 33:20-23 He said, “You cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live.” 21 [Yehovah] also said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 It will happen, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away My hand, and you will see My back; but My face shall not be seen. WEB

Exodus 33:11 [Yehovah] spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didnt depart out of the Tent. WEB

Deuteronomy 34:10 There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom [Yehovah] knew face to face.... WEB

I offer the explanation that the Father Yehovah, cannot be seen but that the Son Yehovah can be seen.

There is soon coming a time when Yehovah the Son will again speak with men face to face.

Ezekiel 20:33-36 As I live, says the Lord [Yehovah], surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you: 34 and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out; 35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord [Yehovah]. WEB

Bear in mind that it is Adonai Yehovah who will “enter into judgment” with Israel and this is in reference to Yeshua! Notice:

2 Timothy 4:1 I command you therefore before God and the [Master Yeshua the Messiah], who will JUDGE the living and the dead at His appearing.... WEB

Romans 2:16 ... in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, BY [Yeshua the Messiah]. WEB

Lon W. Martin

Now for Part 3: