The Full Deity of the Angel of the Lord
by Rev. Dr. M. Cohen on May.31, 2012, under Doctorine Study's
|
THE DEITY OF CHRIST |
The Full Deity of the Angel of the Lord
(A major problem for Jehovah’s Witnesses)
This study is written by George Zeller and provides some help with respect to the erroneous teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that the Lord Jesus Christ is God and they deny that He is Jehovah. They teach instead that He is a mere creature, an exalted angel that God created. They wrongly teach that He was the first creature that God created, and then God, through Him, created everything else.
Bible-believing Christians have recognized the angel of the LORD to be none other than the pre-incarnate Christ who appeared to men at certain times during the Old Testament period. As we shall see, the Bible clearly identifies the angel of the LORD as Jehovah and as God. This poses a serious problem for Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who deny the deity of Christ and who deny the Trinity.
Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot identify the angel of the LORD as Christ because He is identified as Jehovah, and they deny that Christ is Jehovah. But if He is not Christ, then who is He? He is said to be Jehovah but He is also said to be a separate Person from Jehovah because He is said to be Jehovah’s messenger (the term “angel” means messenger). If He is Jehovah’s messenger then He must be distinct from Jehovah, and yet the Bible also identifies Him as Jehovah! This apparent dilemma is not a problem for those who understand the triune nature of God.
Analogous to this is Christ’s title as “the Word” in John 1:1-3. “The Word was with God” (John 1:1-2), thus He is distinct from God, and yet “the Word was God” (He is identified as God). As God’s Son He is distinct from God the Father. But the Bible identifies God’s Son as God (Heb. 1:8 etc.). So also Jehovah’s messenger is distinct from Jehovah and yet Jehovah’s messenger is also identified as Jehovah. This is a problem that Jehovah’s Witnesses and others that deny the Trinity cannot solve.
Let us now consider the abundant evidence which identifies the angel of the LORD as God (or as Jehovah). The reader is encouraged to read through each of these passages thoughtfully.
1. Genesis 16:7-13
The angel of the LORD promised to do something that only God can do (see v.10). Hagar knew that it was Jehovah who spoke to her (v.13) and she identified the angel of the LORD as God: “Thou God seest me” (v.13).
2. Genesis 21:17-20
The angel of the God promised to do something only God can do (see v.18). This angel is identified as God (v.19).
3. Genesis 22:15-18
The angel of Jehovah is speaking (verses 15-16) and yet verse 16 makes it clear that it is Jehovah who is speaking (“saith the LORD”)! In verses 17-18 the angel of Jehovah promises to do what only God can do.
4. Genesis 31:11-13
The angel of God (v.11) identifies Himself as God: “I am the God of Bethel” (v.13).
5. Exodus 3:2-7
The angel of Jehovah appeared to Moses out of the midst of a burning bush and identified Himself as God (verses 4 and 6) and as Jehovah (verses 4 and 7). See also Acts 7:30-32 where the angel of the Lord is identified as the Lord God.
6. Exodus 14:19-21
The angel of God does what only God can do (verses 19-20) and is identified with the glorious manifestation of God in the pillar of the cloud (verses 19-20). In verse 21 this angel is identified as “the LORD” (Jehovah).
7. Exodus 23:20-23
This passage makes it clear that Jehovah’s angel is much more than a mere angel; this angel is closely identified with God: Jehovah’s “name is in Him” (v.21, “name” referring to Jehovah’s nature and character) and God’s people must “obey His voice” (v.21). Indeed, He has the authority to “pardon your transgressions” or not to pardon them, and who can forgive sins but God alone? Notice that the angel is distinct from God and sent by God. The LORD said, “Behold, I send an angel before thee.” We are reminded of New Testament parallels as the Son was distinct from the Father and sent by the Father (John 3:17; etc.) and yet equal to the Father (John 5:18; John 10:30).
8. Judges 2:1-3
The angel of Jehovah says things that only God could say. God is the One who brought them into the land which He swore to give unto their fathers (v.1). God is the One who promised to never break His covenant (v.1).
9. Judges 6:11-24
As you follow this passage, pay close attention to who is speaking to Gideon: in verse 12 the angel of Jehovah is speaking; in verse 14 Jehovah is speaking; in verse 16 Jehovah is speaking; in verse 20 the angel of God is speaking. Jehovah and the angel of Jehovah are one and the same.
10. Judges 13:3-23
Note especially verses 17-18. Manoah said to the angel of Jehovah, “What is Thy Name?” (v.17) and the angel of Jehovah said, “Why asketh thou thus after My Name, seeing it is secret?” The word “secret” may be translated “wonderful.” It is the same Hebrew word found in Isaiah 9:6 – “His Name shall be called wonderful.” In Isaiah 9:6 the term is used as a name of Christ who is also called “the Mighty God.” The fact that Jehovah’s angel was God was certainly known by Manoah. After the angel of Jehovah appeared to him Manoah said, “We have seen God!” (v.22).
* * * * * * *
Another passage which could have been listed with the examples given above is 1 Chronicles 21:12-27. In this passage we learn that the angel of the LORD is a Person who is distinct from Jehovah (see verse 15 where Jehovah God sent the angel and spoke to the angel, and so also in verse 27). In verses 16-17 David sees the angel of the LORD and calls him “God.”
Note: There are two other passages where the angel of the LORD is obviously identified as God: 1) Psalm 34:7 (it is God who delivers His people, see Psalm 34:4,6,17,19 and it is God that we are to fear, see Psalm 34:9,11) and 2) Isaiah 63:9 (an obvious reference to God).
See C. I. Scofield’s excellent note summarizing what the Scripture teaches concerning the angel of the LORD (pages 289-290 in the New Scofield Bible, his note under Joshua 2:1).
Conclusion: The angel of the Jehovah is distinct from Jehovah and yet is identified as Jehovah, even as the Lord Jesus Christ is distinct from God the Father (as a distinct Person of the Trinity) and yet is identified as God. He is both the Son of God and God the Son. To Him be glory and honor both now and forever more! Amen,.
Rev. M. C.
Leave a Reply
Love: The commandment from Jesus. Love your neighbor as yourself.
June 4th, 2012 on 1:25 pm
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me.
June 5th, 2012 on 1:02 pm
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
June 5th, 2012 on 1:25 pm
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
June 8th, 2012 on 11:51 am
Thanks
June 10th, 2012 on 2:55 am
We liked this post presented here. Keep up the good work
June 19th, 2012 on 12:39 pm
keep sharing such ideas in the future as well. this was actually what i was looking for, and i am glad to come here!
June 19th, 2012 on 8:40 pm
It is like you go through my mind! You seem to know a great deal about this, just like you wrote the novel in it as well.I think that you might do with several pics to drive the message house a little bit, but instead of that, this can be magnificent weblog. A great read.I will certainly be back.
June 19th, 2012 on 9:14 pm
I just want to say I am just new to blogging and absolutely liked this web site. Probably I’m going to bookmark your blog . You surely have wonderful writings. Kudos for sharing with us your blog site.
June 20th, 2012 on 5:11 pm
There is no wrong way to pray, so long as you are calling out to your Creator with a sernice heart.A warning:Sometimes we entangle ourselves in false teachings because our motives are not right. So, this passage is one that you may want to reflect on: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 KJV)Ask God to reveal to you which Bible translation He would have you read. Because what you believe will be shaped by which Bible you are reading. Either Jesus is God or He isn’t. Some Bibles make it very clear that He is. Others deny the Deity of Christ.Trust God that He will give you wisdom and understanding. Trust that if you ask Him for the Holy Spirit, He will be true to His promises. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our Helper, our Teacher and will guide us into all truth. Without the Holy Spirit, you WILL NOT find truth! So you should really learn what God says on the subject.Make prayer and the Word of God your focus instead of bible aids that tell you what to think. If you are not passionately reading the Bible, then you can easily be swayed by any number of false teachings. Do not trust sinful, errant men with your salvation! It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (Psalms 118:8 KJV) God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4 KJV) I said in my haste, All men are liars. (Psalms 116:11 KJV) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5 KJV) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7 KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13 KJV) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27 KJV) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
June 22nd, 2012 on 1:27 am
Very Nice site, I just stumbled on know of the idea yesterday early morning. Bookmarked this and also came across it. Many thanks,You had some nice suggestions in the article, I liked reading this.
June 23rd, 2012 on 11:08 am
please keep posting those great articles, your readers thank you so much for that, as we can always learn something new from your articles.
June 25th, 2012 on 6:49 pm
very good publish, i definitely love this website, carry on it