“I and My Father Are One”
The Messenger of Yehovah’s “Secret” Identity
(aka “The Angel of the Lord”)
Chapter 29, Part 2 Preview: In a “word”, the “Angel of the Lord” is the one who became the “Word of Elohim (God) or the “Messenger of Yehovah”. A controversy has raged for nearly two thousand years: “How can Jesus be God?” Many theories have been proposed over the centuries concerning the “nature” of Yeshua (Jesus). These ideas are at extreme variance with the Bible concerning His identity, and they are quite dangerous. Prophecy indicates that heresy (literally: sectarianism) would be an unbridled problem. It’s 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 Bible 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 Elohim.
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 Yehovah is no ordinary angel! The term “an angel of Yehovah” (the “Lord”) is not used in the Hebrew Scriptures. (Only beginning in Matthew does an “ordinary angel” or Messenger speak to Joseph about the baby that Mary is to have—the Word or ‘Messenger’ being made flesh!)
Hagar spoke with “the Messenger of Yehovah”, and was greatly moved! She correctly identified Him as “Elohim” 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 Elohim the Father said: “You can’t see My face, because people can’t see Me and live”. No one could have told Hagar that “the Son” was to be frequently seen by men!
Genesis 16:7-14 The Messenger of Yehovah found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I’m fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai. 9 The Messenger of Yehovah told her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority. 10 The Messenger of Yehovah told her, “I’ll greatly multiply your descendants, so that they will be beyond counting. 11 The Messenger of Yehovah told her, “Look, you are pregnant, and will give birth to a son. You’ll name him Ishmael [he became Father of the Arabs], because Yehovah has heard your distress. 12 He’ll be like a wild ass of a man. His fist will be against everyone, and everyone’s fist will be against him. He’ll live in hostility toward all his brothers. 13 And she called the name of Yehovah who spake unto her, “You are the Elohim who revealed Himself,” for she said, “I have just stayed alive after seeing Him!” 14 So the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. It’s between Kadesh and Bered!
(Beer Lahai Roi appears to mean “well of the One who revealed Himself to me.”)
The references to the “the Angel of God” (Messenger of Elohim) are apparently always identical to the “the Angel of the LORD” in the Hebrew as well. Some time later, in a time of distress in the desert, The Messenger of Elohim spoke to Hagar again, this time from the sky. He, “Elohim”, 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. She said, “Dont let me see the death of the child. She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and cried. 17 Elohim 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? Don’t be afraid. For Elohim has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hands, because I’ll make him a great nation. 19 Elohim opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink.
So why does this account, and others, call “Elohim” “the Messenger of Yehovah” or “the Messenger of Elohim”? The Hebrew word usually translated as “angel” is “malak”. Used by itself, without being accompanied by “of Yehovah”, it 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, in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
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 when it specifies Michael and Gabriel. However, the “malak” of “Yehovah” is a very specific and powerful “Messenger”. He is none other than the “Messenger of the Covenant”; the pre incarnate “Word of Elohim” (Revelation 19:13).
Malachi 3:1 Look, I’ll send My messenger, and He’ll prepare the way before Me, and the Sovereign, who you seek, will suddenly come to His Temple, the Messenger of the covenant, who you desire. Look, He comes!” declares Yehovah the ‘Warrior’ King.
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 Yehovah” account. This Messenger of Yehovah, who appeared in a flame of fire, is also specifically called “Yehovah” YHVH . It was “Elohim” who called to Moses “out of the midst of the bush”! Moses also “was afraid to look at Elohim”—not wanting to die.
Exodus 3:1-6 Now Moses was tending Jethro, his father-in-law’s flock, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to Elohim’s mountain, to Horeb. 2 The Messenger of Yehovah appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and saw that the bush was on fire, but the bush wasn’t being consumed. 3 So he thought, “I must go over and see this amazing sight, why the bush isn’t being burnt up. 4 When Yehovah saw that he went over for a look, Elohim called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” 5 He said, “Dont come any closer. Take your sandals off of your feet, because the place you are standing on is kadosh ground. 6 He said, “I’m the Elohim of your father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at Elohim.
It was common knowledge that if you saw Elohim you would die. So logically, Moses was afraid that if he looked at “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 Elohim the Father sent “the Messenger of Yehovah” also known as “the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob”—Yeshua the Messiah, to Moses!
Acts 7:30-35 At the end of forty years, the Messenger of Yehovah appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flames of a burning bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, but as he came closer to look, Yehovah loudly told him, 32 ‘I [the “Angel”] am the Aloha [God] of your patriarchs, the Aloha of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’. Quaking with fear Moses didn’t dare look at the sight. 33 Yehovah told him, ‘Take off your shoes; because you are standing on sacred ground [because Elohim Himself was there]. 34 I have witnessed the suffering of My people, who are in Egypt; and I have heard their groans, and have COME DOWN to deliver them. So come, I will send you to Egypt’. 35 This Moses, who they rejected, asking, ‘Who appointed you ruler and judge over us’? —he is the one who Yehovah [Being #1] sent to them to be their commander and liberator, with the help of the Messenger [Being #2] who appeared to him in the bush.
We just saw that the “Angel” is Elohim.
Is this a very presumptuous angel speaking? Notice carefully:
Judges 2:1 The Messenger of Yehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I caused you to leave Egypt, and I’ve brought you into the land that I swore to your ancestors, and I said, “I’ll never break My covenant with you.
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? Elohim disallowed Moses from entering the Promised Land for sharing the credit for far less than that!
So who “really” led Israel out of Egypt and whose Covenant was it?
Yehovah told Moses, “Now you’ll see what I’ll do to Pharaoh, because by a strong hand he’ll let them go, and by a strong hand he’ll drive them out of his land. 2 Elohim spoke to Moses, and told him, “I am Yehovah, 3 and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as the Mighty Conqueror, but they did not know of My name Yehovah. 4 I’ve also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, that they lived as foreigners. 5 I’ve heard the groaning of the Israelites [as above], who the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I’ve remembered My covenant. 6 So tell the Israelites, “I am Yehovah, and I’ll bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I’ll bring you out from under their slavery, and I’ll redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments, 7 and I’ll take you as My people, and I’ll be your Elohim, and you’ll know that I am Yehovah your Elohim, who brought out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I’ll bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I’ll give it to you for a heritage, I am Yehovah. 9 Moses told this to the Israelites, but they didn’t listen to Moses due to anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.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 vanished out of his sight. 22 Gideon saw that He was the Messenger of Yehovah, and Gideon said, “Alas, Sovereign Yehovah! Because I’ve seen the Messenger of Yehovah face to face!” 23 Yehovah told him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You won’t die.”
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 helped reveal His identity. Then Manoah too thought that he was going to die “because we have seen Elohim”, but his wife, being less shaken by the shocking event, knew that Yehovah had no such intentions.
Judges 13:17-24 17 Manoah asked the Messenger of Yehovah, “What is Your name, so that when the things that You say happen, we can honor You?” 18 The Messenger of Yehovah asked him, “Why do you ask about My name, seeing it’s Wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took a young goat and a meal offering, and offered it on the rock to Yehovah, and the Messenger worked wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 Then when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, 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 was no longer visible to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah realized that He had been the Messenger of Yehovah. 22 Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, because we have seen Elohim.” 23 But his wife told him, “If Yehovah wanted to kill us, He wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have told us all of these things at this time.” 24 The woman carried a son, and named him Samson, and the child grew, and Yehovah blessed him.
The Messiah was deliberately hiding His identity (and the fact that the Mind of Elohim 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 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 Elohim, Everlasting Father, leader of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His dominion and prosperity there will be no end, from David’s throne and over His kingdom, arranging it and maintaining it, with justice and righteousness from that time on—forever. The zeal of the Word* of Yehovah the ‘Warrior’ King will make it happen.
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 [Yehovah] 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 Yehovah, who is able to establish you according to my Good News, that is heralded concerning Yeshua the Messiah; thru the revelation of the MYSTERY that was hidden for past ages, 26 but is now revealed by means of the Prophetic Scriptures, and by the command of the eternal Yehovah, has been made known to all the other nations, leading to the obedience of faith. 27 Praise belongs to the only One who is wise, thru Yeshua the Messiah, forever and ever: Aw-main’.
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 Yeshua the high priest standing before the Messenger of Yehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand side, to make accusations against him. 2 Yehovah told Satan, “Yehovah reprimand you, Satan! Yes, Yehovah who has chosen Jerusalem reprimand you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy clothing, and was standing before the Messenger. 4 He told those who stood before him, “Take the filthy clothing off of him. To him he said, “Look, I’ve caused your wickedness to pass from you, and I’ll 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 Yeshua: 7 “This is what Yehovah, the ‘Warrior’ King says, “If you’ll walk in My ways, and if you’ll follow My instructions, then you also will judge My house, and will also keep My courts, and I’ll give you a place of access among these who stand by.
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 Yehovah the ‘Warrior’ King announces, “Look at the jewel that I’ve set in front of Yeshua, this one jewel has seven eyes, I will engrave an inscription on it that says ‘I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.’ 10 Yehovah the ‘Warrior’ King announces, “This is when all of you will invite your neighbors to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’ [a millennial reference i.e. Micah 4:4, Joel 2:22].
On this dramatic occasion, Elohim 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.
Chapter 4 is pretty much the same, but with the Messenger ironically alluding to Himself as the Capstone:
Zechariah 4 All: The Messenger who talked with me returned, and awakened me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see”? I said, “I see a menorah of pure gold, with a bowl on top of it, with seven lamps on it; there are seven pipes going to the lamps that are on top of it. 3 There are two olive trees are by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other to the left side of it”. 4 I replied to the Messenger who spoke with me, “What are these, my Master”? 5 Then the Messenger who spoke with me replied, “Dont you know what these are”? I replied, “No, my Master”. 6 Then He said, “This is the Word of Yehovah to Zerubbabel, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit’, says Yehovah, leader of His army. 7 Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain. He will bring out the Capstone [Yeshua] with shouts of ‘He is favored!’” 8 The Word of Yehovah came to me, and said, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands will also finish it; and you will know that Yehovah, leader of His army has sent Me [Yeshua] to you.
Jacob Wrestling with the Messenger of Yehovah
There is another similar account of a patriarch who encountered this member of the Elohim 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” didn’t have a clue about the nature of Elohim. 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 didn’t 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, because the day breaks. Jacob said, “I won’t let you go, unless You bless me. 27 He asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you’ve fought with Elohim 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, because, he said, “I’ve seen Elohim face to face, and my life is preserved.
In Genesis 28 “the Elohim of Abraham your father, and the Elohim 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 Elohim”, again, apparently the same as “the Angel of the LORD”, said that “I am the Elohim of Bethel”. Enough said:
Genesis 31:11,13 The Messenger of Elohim told me in the dream, “Jacob”, and I said, “Here I am.”... 13 I’m the Elohim of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.
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 On that day Yehovah will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the weakest of them on that day will be like David, and David’s descendants will be LIKE ELOHIM, like the Messenger of Yehovah going before them.
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’ll mention the loving kindness of Yehovah, and the renown of Yehovah, because of everything that Yehovah has done for the family of Israel, that He has done for them in His compassion, and by His unlimited mercy. 8 He said, “Surely, these are My people, children who won’t defraud Me.” So He rescued them. 9 In all their distress He too was distressed, and the Messenger of His Presence rescued them. In His love and mercy He reclaimed them. He lifted them up and carried them for many years in the past.
“His Presence” really is a good translation. It simply indicates that this member of the Family of Elohim 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 Elohim who frequently was seen literally “face to face” with the Patriarchs.
While in Isaiah notice Two here in these as well:
Isaiah 34:16 Search in Yehovah’s book, and read that not one of these will be missing. None will lack her mate. My mouth has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them.
Isaiah 29:23 But when they see their children among them, the work of My hands among them, they’ll revere My name. Yes, they’ll honor the Kadosh One of Jacob, AND stand in awe of the Elohim of Israel.
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 Elohim who spoke to Moses “face to face”, and the Elohim who said, “You can’t see My face, because people can’t see Me and live.”
Exodus 33:1-3 Yehovah spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people who you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’. 2 I will send a Messenger before you; and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; 3 to a land flowing with milk and honey; because I won’t go up with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, and I might exterminate you on the way”.
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 Then when Moses entered into the Tent, 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 got up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door. 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, didn’t depart out of the Tent.
At this point Moses was a bit puzzled because he didn’t understand the distinction between the “Angel” whom “I will send” and the “Sender”. So Moses told Elohim; paraphrasing his statement, “You haven’t 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, “Look, You told me to bring up these people, but You haven’t let me know who You’ll send with me. Yet You’ve said, “I know you by name, and you’ve also found favor in my sight.’ 13 So if I’ve found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, so that I can know you, so that I can find favor in your sight, and consider that this nation is your people.
At this point the One speaking to Moses spoke of the Messenger of “My Presence”.
v.14 He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I’ll 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 told him, “If your Presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here. 16 How would people know that I’ve found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Isn’t it because You go with us, so that we’re separated, I and Your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?”
17 Yehovah told Moses, “I’ll do this thing also that you’ve spoken, because you’ve found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.
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 [still in the cloud] said, “Please show me Your splendor. 19 He said, “I’ll make all My goodness pass before you, and proclaim the name of Yehovah before you. I’ll be gracious to who I’ll be gracious, and I’ll show mercy on whoever I’ll show mercy. 20 He said, “You can’t see My face, BECAUSE PEOPLE can’t SEE ME AND LIVE. 21 Yehovah also said, “Look, there is a place next to Me, and you can stand on the rock. 22 Then, while My splendor passes by, I’ll put you in a cleft of the rock, and cover you with My hand until I’ve passed by, 23 then I’ll take away My hand, and you’ll see My back, but you won’t see My face.
Immediately after this, in chapter 34 we read:
Exodus 34:4-7 He chiseled two tablets of stone like the first, and Moses got 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 Elohim, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, 7 keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving wickedness and disobedience and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the wickedness of the fathers on the children, and on the grandchildren, on the third and on the fourth generation [Large Nun].
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 There the Amalekite and the Canaanite are before you, and you will fall by the sword; because you turned away from following Yehovah, so Yehovah won’t be with you”.
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’ve found favor in Your sight, Yehovah, please let Yehovah [#1], [#2, Your Presence] go in the midst of us; although they are a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.
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 Elohim 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 “worshiped” Him.:
Joshua 5:13-15 Then when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a Man standing in front of him with His sword drawn in His hand. Joshua went to Him, and asked Him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No, you don’t understand I’ve come as the Commander of Yehovah’s army. Joshua fell face down to the earth, and as he bowed in worship, he asked Him, “Master what ‘message’ do you have for your servant?” 15 The Commander of Yehovah’s Army [Yeshua (Jesus)] replied Yehoshua [Joshua or Yeshua] , “Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is kadosh [1]. So Joshua did so.
Had this been an ordinary messenger from Elohim 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, “Dont come any closer. Take your sandals off of your feet, because the place you are standing on is kadosh 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 In the presence of YHVH, who gives life to all, and before Yeshua Messiah who declared His honorable testimony before Pontius Pilate, I insist that 14 you OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS [1] spotlessly and blamelessly until the appearance of our Master Yeshua Messiah. 15 At the right time, YHVH will reveal who the blessed and only Sovereign is, the King of kings and the Master of masters 16 who alone has ‘immortality’, living in unapproachable light, who no one has ever seen or even can see. To Him be honor and dominion forever and ever. Aw-main’.
However, no one would argue who John said was “KING OF KINGS AND MASTER OF MASTERS (SOVEREIGNS)”.
Revelation 17:14 I said, “Friend, you know”. He replied, “These are the ones who are coming out [1] of The Great Tribulation. They’ve washed their clothes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:13-16 He was arrayed with a vest sprinkled [2] with blood, and His name is called the the Word of Aloha. 14 The armies of Heaven followed Him on white horses, arrayed in fine linen, pure and shining white. 15 A sharp two-edged sword came from His mouth, and with it He could strike down the nations. He’ll rule the nations with a royal scepter of iron, and He’ll tread the winepress of the fierce anger of YHVH Almighty. 16 He had on His robe, at His thigh, the ‘title’ written: “KING OF KINGS AND SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS.”
Who is the Creator?
John 1:1-3 In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word Himself was with Aloha, and Aloha was the Word Himself. 2 He was with Aloha in the beginning. 3 Everything was created by Him, and absolutely nothing came into existence without Him.
In the following text we see that the Father is credited with creating both Heaven and Earth.
Creator #2:
Acts 4:24-28 When they heard this, they unitedly raised their voices to YHVH and said, “YHVH, You are the Aloha who has made the skies, earth, the seas, and everything in them. 25 You said by the dedicated spirit thru David your servant, ‘Why do the heathen rage and the people devise worthless plans? 26 The kings of the earth and the rulers stood up and conspired against YHVH AND against His Messiah’. 27 In reality, both Herod and Pilate along with foreign nationals [ethnos] and the assembly of Israel gathered together in this city against Your dedicated Son Yeshua, who You Anointed 28 to do whatever Your hand and will had predestined to occur.
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 our sacrifice, 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 Elohim’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 verses showing that the bride of Messiah will be the nation of Israel, rather than “the church”—that 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 Elohim will be the Husband.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 Look, the time is coming, says Yehovah, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; 32 Unlike the covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt; since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband, declares Yehovah: 33 In this Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yehovah; I will put My Torah in their seat of thought and emotions, and I write it on their minds. I will be their Elohim, and they will be My people.
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 Elohim 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” Elohim?
Of course in Hebrew, adding an “im” to the end of a word pluralizes it in the same way that adding a “s” does in English. Examples:
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, Israel; Yehovah is our Elohim; Yehovah is one;
There are evil spirits, but is there more than one “good Spirit”?
John 4:24 YHVH is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Most versions of the Bible word 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 Elohim and even His messengers? Consider that Satan and the demons are cut off from Elohim 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 Elohim shares with His “family”.
Ephestians 4:4-6 There is one body and one spirit, just as you are called by name into one hope by your invitation. 5 There is one Master, one faith, one immersion, 6 and one Aloha, everyone’s Father, over everything, and in all of us.
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 Elohim.
When we are finally born into Elohim’s family we will be incapable of sinning because we share the very spirit of Elohim with Him!
John 3:9 Nicodemus asked Him, “How can these things be”?
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 as tho dead. He laid His right hand on me and said “Dont be afraid, I’m the First and the Last, 18 the living One. I was dead, but look, I’m alive forevermore! Aw-main’, and I have the keys of death and Sheol.
In Isaiah 41 and 44 Yehovah is Yeshua the Messiah again, but the wording indicates both beings being Yehovah!
Isaiah 44:6 This is what Yehovah, the King of Israel, AND His Redeemer, Yehovah, leader of His army, says;” I am the first, and I am the last; and besides Me there is no Elohim.
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 Because I, Yehovah your Elohim, will hold your right hand, and tell you, ‘Dont be afraid, I will help you’. 14 Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob; you men of Israel, I will help you”, says Yehovah, your Redeemer, the Sacred One of Israel.
Here is another reference to “the first” and “the Last”, as well as “I AM”, with a tie in with the Elohim of Abraham. I AM is a well recognized name of Elohim. “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.” Nothing could be plainer!
Exodus 3:13-15 Moses asked Elohim, “Look, when I come to the Israelites, and tell them, “The Elohim of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, “What is His name?’ What should I tell them?” 14 Elohim said to Moses I AM WHO I AM,” [note] and He said, “You will tell the Israelites this I AM has sent me to you.’ 15 Elohim also told Moses, “You will tell the Israelites this, “Yehovah, the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, this is My memorial name to all generations.
Here is is difficult to miss that Yeshua is Yehovah, Elohim Almighty:
Revelation 1:8 “I’m the Alaph and the Tau [Aramaic], says YHVH, “the Aloha who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty”.
Here is another reference to “the first” and “the Last”, with a tie in with the Elohim of Abraham.
Here are examples where Yehovah is visible, but on the other hand invisible!
In the well known conversation that Elohim 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 Yehovah)!
Genesis 18:22 & 33 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before Yehovah. ... 33 Yehovah [1] went His way, as soon as He had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis 32:30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, because, he said, “I’ve seen Elohim face to face, and my life is preserved.
Contrast the face to face encounter to Moses needing to hide from the Father:
Exodus 3320-23 He said, “You can’t see My face, because people can’t see Me and live. 21 Yehovah also said, “Look, there is a place next to Me, and you can stand on the rock. 22 Then, while My splendor passes by, I’ll put you in a cleft of the rock, and cover you with My hand until I’ve passed by, 23 then I’ll take away My hand, and you’ll see My back, but you won’t see My face.
Exodus 3311 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, didn’t depart out of the Tent.
Deuteronomy 34:10 There hasn’t arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, who Yehovah knew face to face,
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 surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Yehovah, I will rule you with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I will be your King. 34 I’ll bring you out of the nations and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the people, and I’ll judge you there face to face, 36 just like when I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, that’s how I’ll judge you, says the Sovereign Yehovah.
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 implore you in the presence of YHVH and our Master Yeshua Messiah, who will judge the living and the dead when His Kingdom appears,
Romans 2:16 ... on Judgment Day, when YHVH, thru Yeshua Messiah, judges the secrets of humanity, as My Good News declares.
Lon Martin
Now for Part 3:
