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For many believers it hard to consider that Yeshua was not G-d incarnate, but rather a spokesman for the Almighty. John 17:3 clearly alludes to this,
"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Messiah Yeshua, whom thou hast sent."
In this verse, Yeshua acknowledged himself to be merely a messenger, and not an integral part of the Deity. He was acting as an agent for Yehovah as a theophany. A theophany refers to either a visible or auditory manifestation of the YHVH. It is a combination of two Greek words, "theo" referring to deity and "phaino" meaning to shine or appear. The Encyclopedia of the Jewish Religion, Adama Books, New York, NY, 1986, pg.15. The angels that spoke the law were God's agents or representatives. As such, they had full authority to not only speak in His name, but to seemingly appropriate His name as in Ex.20:2; "I am Yehovah thy Elohim, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." They were speaking exactly what Yehovah wanted them to say.We can see this further in many verses throughout the bible. For example, in Genesis 32:24 we read that Jacob wrestled with a man, and yet he saw G-d face to face. Later in Hosea 12:3,4 we find out that it was not G-d who wrestled with Jacob but an angel (messenger) of YHVH,
"He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with G-d: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed.”
So do these two verses contradict each other? Did Jacob see the face of YHVH or an angel (messenger)? With a western thought process it sounds confusing but with a Hebrew mindset we can come to the conclusion that the angel (messenger) who wrestled with Jacob was not “G-d in the flesh” but a representative. This is the same principal Apostle John was teaching; he was not alluding to Yeshua being “G-d in the flesh” per se, but a perfect representation of what G-d’s is in holiness.
Another great example of "theophany" can be found in Exodus chap 3 and 4. Here we find a many descriptive verses which appear to be Moses talking to G-d through a burning bush. To confirm, Moses then asks who is speaking and the burning bush says, “I AM”. So was Moses actually talking directly to YHVH? According to Exodus 3:2 we find the burning bush as being an “angel of YHVH”, not G-d Himself.
YHVH often talks and appears to His people through theophany or through people and angels who are chosen to be a spokesman for Him. He does this because no man can look upon the face of YHVH and live. Consider the following verses;
Exodus 33:20 - "And He said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live."
John 1:18 - "No man hath seen Elohim at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him."
John 5:37 - "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape."
John 6:46 - "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of Elohim, he hath seen the Father."
1 Jn. 4:12 - "No man hath seen Elohim at any time. If we love one another, Elohim dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us."
1Tim 1:17 - "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise Elohim, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Tim.6:16 - " Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."
ref: http://www.torahofmessiah.com/theophanies.html
For many believers it hard to consider that Yeshua was not G-d incarnate, but rather a spokesman for the Almighty. John 17:3 clearly alludes to this,
"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Messiah Yeshua, whom thou hast sent."
In this verse, Yeshua acknowledged himself to be merely a messenger, and not an integral part of the Deity. He was acting as an agent for Yehovah as a theophany. A theophany refers to either a visible or auditory manifestation of the YHVH. It is a combination of two Greek words, "theo" referring to deity and "phaino" meaning to shine or appear. The Encyclopedia of the Jewish Religion, Adama Books, New York, NY, 1986, pg.15. The angels that spoke the law were God's agents or representatives. As such, they had full authority to not only speak in His name, but to seemingly appropriate His name as in Ex.20:2; "I am Yehovah thy Elohim, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." They were speaking exactly what Yehovah wanted them to say.We can see this further in many verses throughout the bible. For example, in Genesis 32:24 we read that Jacob wrestled with a man, and yet he saw G-d face to face. Later in Hosea 12:3,4 we find out that it was not G-d who wrestled with Jacob but an angel (messenger) of YHVH,
"He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with G-d: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed.”
So do these two verses contradict each other? Did Jacob see the face of YHVH or an angel (messenger)? With a western thought process it sounds confusing but with a Hebrew mindset we can come to the conclusion that the angel (messenger) who wrestled with Jacob was not “G-d in the flesh” but a representative. This is the same principal Apostle John was teaching; he was not alluding to Yeshua being “G-d in the flesh” per se, but a perfect representation of what G-d’s is in holiness.
Another great example of "theophany" can be found in Exodus chap 3 and 4. Here we find a many descriptive verses which appear to be Moses talking to G-d through a burning bush. To confirm, Moses then asks who is speaking and the burning bush says, “I AM”. So was Moses actually talking directly to YHVH? According to Exodus 3:2 we find the burning bush as being an “angel of YHVH”, not G-d Himself.
YHVH often talks and appears to His people through theophany or through people and angels who are chosen to be a spokesman for Him. He does this because no man can look upon the face of YHVH and live. Consider the following verses;
Exodus 33:20 - "And He said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live."
John 1:18 - "No man hath seen Elohim at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him."
John 5:37 - "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape."
John 6:46 - "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of Elohim, he hath seen the Father."
1 Jn. 4:12 - "No man hath seen Elohim at any time. If we love one another, Elohim dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us."
1Tim 1:17 - "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise Elohim, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Tim.6:16 - " Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."
ref: http://www.torahofmessiah.com/theophanies.html
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