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A serious study of YAHWEH AND/OR EL ELYON? Chapter 15, must also include a study of: · YAHWEH, GOD OF ISRAEL Chapter 10, and · YAHWEH, CONFOUNDING Chapter 11, and · YAHWEH, UNCONFOUNDED Chapter 12, and · YAHWEH MADE THE LAW Chapter 13, and · YAHWEH FAMILY Chapter 14, because there is a lot to learn about YAHWEH.
Some subjects in those chapters have been reviewed and/or abbreviated for this chapter. Some have not. Some subjects in this chapter are new and unique. The index should be a big help.
YAHWEH YAHWEH is the distinctive personal name of the God of Israel (not the other nations). The scripture that makes the introduction of the new Name of God YAHWEH to Moses is Exodus 6:2-4.
Exodus 6:2-3, And ELOHIM (God) spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am YAHWEH (the LORD): 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of EL SHADDAI (God Almighty), but by my name YAHWEH (JEHOVAH) was I not known to them. (KJV)
EL ELYON EL ELYON is the name/nature of the God of all the other nations (sometimes including Israel). EL ELYON is the name of the Most High God. The scripture that makes the introduction of the new name EL ELYON is Genesis 14:18.
Genesis 14:18, And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of EL ELYON (the Most High God). (KJV)
INTERNAL INTERACTION We find quite a lot of interaction in the Holy Scriptures between the two name/natures of God. YAHWEH and EL ELYON are still one God.
YAHWEH, HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL YAHWEH is mainly interested in His own people, the nation of Israel. But EL ELYON is interested in nations, boundaries, kingdoms, and kings. Deuteronomy 32:8-9 shows the contradistinction very clearly.
Deuteronomy 32:8-9, When ELYON (the Most High) divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For YAHWEH’S (the LORD'S) portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. (KJV)
Don't read this too fast. Master the contradistinction between the names/natures of YAHWEH and of EL ELYON to which this scripture calls attention.
EL ELYON (not YAHWEH): Divided the inheritance to the nations, He separated the sons of Adam (established the nations), He set the bounds (national boundaries) of the people according to the number of Israelites.
Some of the Bible references use EL ELYON and others drop the first EL and simply say ELYON.
We treat those references equally; because scholars tell us that THE MOST HIGH GOD and THE MOST HIGH are the same thing.
YAHWEH (not EL ELYON): Received the people (of Israel) for His inheritance, He also received Jacob for His inheritance.
EL ELYON, NATIONS, AND BOUNDARIES That is the reason that the book of Daniel uses the name EL ELYON rather than YAHWEH (with a minor exception). In captivity at Babylon, which is the subject of Daniel, it was impossible for a religious Jew to keep the laws of YAHWEH. So people like Daniel exhibited a consciousness of EL ELYON while in captivity.
On return to the land in Jerusalem, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin left their interest in EL ELYON and reverted back to an interest in YAHWEH, and also returned back to His law. (See Nehemiah chapters 7 through 13.)
TWO IN ONE We are not saying that there are two different Gods, YAHWEH and EL ELYON. We are saying that at certain times and for certain reasons, our one God acts more one way than another way. For instance, when David Ebaugh is Daddy, he acts quite a bit differently than when the same man is Rev. Ebaugh.
DAVID AND YAHWEH For example, as the King of Israel, King David had to know God as YAHWEH. As a man of war, David needed YAHWEH, the masculine God of war, victory, hosts, law, etc. King David certainly depended a lot on the name/nature of YAHWEH.
DAVID AND EL ELYON However, King David showed a good understanding of the merciful character of the name/nature of EL ELYON.
King David restored the name/nature EL ELYON to Jewish literature after it had been in disuse for about ten centuries from Abraham and Melchisedec to the time of David. Israel used the name/nature EL SHADDAI from the time of Abraham to Moses (about 500 years). Then they changed to the name/nature YAHWEH at the time of Moses and held to YAHWEH for about another 500 years to the time of David.
This may help us to see why the nation of Israel related to the concept of the name/nature of YAHWEH for the five centuries between Moses and King David, while they were at war. Then they related more and more to the name/nature of EL ELYON as King David sang of EL ELYON (the Most High God) in the Psalms. The natural result of the change of God consciousness from the name/nature of YAHWEH to EL ELYON produced a peaceful reign for David's son, Solomon. Do you suppose that nowadays our own nation could expect a similar result from a similar change of God consciousness from YAHWEH to EL ELYON? I do.
A PEACEFUL NATION Our national singers will soon sing songs of love, light, forgiveness, freedom, and life. That will result in a peaceful nation, a peaceful government, and a peaceful world.
A VIOLENT NATION Secular Rappers who sing (?) of hate, murder, and rape will reap what they sow. Regrettably, some young people seem to choose hateful violent singers as their idols. We can assume that’s what we’ll get when it’s their turn to run our government in a few years. It’s hard to listen to modern radio and then think that things are going to get better. I’m glad that I read the last chapter of Revelation because it says we are going to win.
TO THUNDER OR TO UTTER? There seems to be a difference between thundering and uttering.
2 Samuel 22:14, YAHWEH (the LORD) thundered from heaven, and EL ELYON (the Most High) uttered his voice. (KJV)
Your Bible probably says JEHOVAH, not YAHWEH, but remember JEHOVAH was inserted by the English translators and is a made-up word for YAHWEH. So here in the KJV we have a translation corruption of the transmitted text. Also see Psalm 18:13.
This section from II Samuel 22 is a Psalm of David. It is so very close to the 18th Psalm. Most scholars say that one of the passages is a copy of the other.
YAHWEH thundered! The word thundered means “to be violently agitated, to roar!” That sounds mighty masculine.
EL ELYON uttered His voice. The word uttered is from a primary root Hebrew word having a great latitude of applications, of which utter is one. But, none of the translations indicate a forceful masculine thunder. It has been translated with words like apply, bring forth, come, deliver, get, gave, etc. It is far more gentle, but still commanding.
We are trying to show the difference between the two name/natures of our one God. Sometimes He roars (YAHWEH) and sometimes He gently but firmly commands (EL ELYON).
SPEAKING OF YAHWEH SINGING OF EL ELYON There is a difference between articulate words of speech and singing words in songs. You will see this more clearly when you notice the difference between the two name/natures, YAHWEH and EL ELYON.
King David said: Psalm 7:17, I will praise YAHWEH (the LORD) according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD ELYON (Most High). (KJV)
Another place he said: Psalm 9:2, I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O ELYON (thou Most High). (KJV)
I don't think that David was playing a word game. He meant that his articulate praise went to YAHWEH and his singing praise went to EL ELYON.
King David set a pattern of using articulate words of speech for praising YAHWEH, but he used the singing of songs for praising EL ELYON.
King David used articulate talking speech (like a testimony) when he gave praise to YAHWEH.
Also notice that when he wanted to praise ELYON, David used music and singing for that purpose. Another example of this pattern is in Psalm 92:1.
David repeated the idea when he said: Psalm 92:1, It is a good thing to give thanks unto YAHWEH (the LORD), and to sing praises unto thy name, O ELYON (Most High) (KJV).
DAVID KNEW BOTH We can correctly conclude, I think, that as the King of Israel, King David had to know God as YAHWEH. As a man of war, King David certainly depended on the name/nature of YAHWEH a lot.
However as a man who also said: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” (Psalm 51:1) David showed a good understanding of the merciful character of the name/nature EL ELYON.
A THEORY Perhaps the present resurgence of spontaneous singing of praise in many churches is because of a subconscious (or spiritual) leading. This may indicate that the feeling of many people today is to return to an awareness of EL ELYON. As long as this concern is manifest in an ever widening change of ideas, resulting in accepting the fullness of the Godhead, it will be healthy. If it leads some people to reject some part of the Godhead (like YAHWEH), it will be sick.
YES AND NO There is nothing in these verses that tells us not to sing to YAHWEH. But there are patterns established which strongly favor articulate thanks to YAHWEH and also favor singing praise to ELYON.
A CHANGE IS COMING The point I want to make is that verbal thanks to God YAHWEH has been a part of the program of the church for centuries, but I believe that we all have noticed a spontaneous move, all over the world, of singing praise to God ELYON in the spirit.
Whole congregations sing in the Spirit, often without direction from the platform. They sing without selected songs and music. They sing with a spontaneous release of different words and different tones, but always in perfect harmony. I believe that this phenomenon is a return to a Davidic type worship. King David sang praise to EL ELYON and restored His name/nature to Israel.
Singing praise is the result of a supernatural leading. The beauty of it is that no man made it happen. It’s a pleasant spine tingling sensation to observe and participate in. Don’t knock it, if you haven’t tried it.
Lately we have noticed that the churches that are still involved in a lot of articulate testimony are, for a large part, still involved in discerning and enforcing the laws of YAHWEH. Conversely, churches that are given to a lot of spontaneous music and singing don’t seem to have their minds on the law any more. They seem to feature love, light, forgiveness, mercy, and life. They are more oriented toward EL ELYON -- the Most High God. Have you noticed that the churches that are going into a lot of singing praise are tapering off their old testimony meetings!
WHAT TO DO? The God of Israel is YAHWEH. As a consequence, most Jews of today have developed a personal profile and a national profile that reflects their understanding of how their God YAHWEH would want them to handle a problem.
But the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST was identified as EL ELYON, the Most High God (Luke 1:32, 35). Consequently, we should expect some Christians to solve their own problems differently than Jews whose name/nature of God is YAHWEH do. One subject of this book is to demonstrate how YAHWEH and EL ELYON can have widely differing characteristics -- and yet be the same God.
It is unwise to choose the name/nature of God that seems to suit your own personality or personal needs and then to exclusively embrace only that name/nature.
TURNED OFF CHURCHES The overtly masculine actions of YAHWEH have "turned off” some people. They are tired of a punisher; they want a forgiver.
They are tired of law; they want love. They hate death; they want life. Consequently, some people erroneously want to leave YAHWEH and to live exclusively in the mercy of EL ELYON. I think that shows immaturity. That's like saying that you do not want any exclusive masculine influence in your life.
WE STILL NEED YAHWEH JESUS needed a knowledge of the name/nature of YAHWEH when He overturned the tables in the temple, and when He made a whip of cords.
The Christian life often demands a strong backbone that fights for the right. I think that some people have over reacted against a super YAHWEHISTIC type of overt masculine control with punishment, aggressiveness, boldness, loudness, forcefulness, and a demand for your own way. Truthfully, I myself tend to react against an excessive display of that type of spirit. But I fully recognize that I have a need for a balanced display of those characteristics, at times.
You can always swing the pendulum too far!
OLD IDEAS Speaking of a swinging pendulum, according to some recently written books about the recently uncovered Nag Hammaddi scrolls, the Gnostics of the first century claimed that YAHWEH was a demigod. They said that YAHWEH fell from the Godhead and that YAHWEH became the God of Israel. They explained the strong antagonism between Christians and Jews with that idea.
TOO MUCH -- TOO FAR This is the best example I know of swinging the pendulum too far! I think that they were deadly wrong. I agree that the YAHWEHISTIC spirit (consciousness) made the Jews cry, "Stone the woman." But to call YAHWEH a demigod is a deadly error. It could be the reason that the Gnostics disappeared and that the structured church became powerful and produced the voice of Christianity for the world to hear for two thousand years.
I would be in deadly fear to minimize the attributes of YAHWEH in any way. YAHWEH is LORD. YAHWEH is God.
But YAHWEH without EL ELYON is out of balance.
TRUST IN YAHWEH ASK EL ELYON FOR MERCY King David continued to show us about his understanding of the complex name/nature of God when he said, Psalm 21:7, For the king trusteth in YAHWEH (the LORD), and through the mercy of ELYON (the Most High) he shall not be moved. (KJV)
Notice that "mercy" is connected with EL ELYON. Some people have already shown that they misunderstand my teaching on the different Names of God by telling me that they don't want anything more to do with YAHWEH. They want to act like EL ELYON. And they want EL ELYON, not YAHWEH, to act in their own lives. Well, they are right when they want to act more like EL ELYON, but they are deadly wrong when they say that they don't want anything more to do with YAHWEH.
We all need to trust in YAHWEH for deliverance from forces that would oppress and enslave us. Without a masculine caring name/nature of YAHWEH to trust in, we would be fair game for every tyrant. We need a balanced appreciation of the name/natures of God. To reject YAHWEH is just as unbalanced as is the present church society that majors in YAHWEH name/natures. Don't allow yourself to swing the pendulum too far. David was clear to show that he expected mercy from ELYON and that he trusted in YAHWEH for victory in battle.
MERCY Here is a pattern about EL ELYON that might not be immediately obvious without a little study.
Psalm 56:1-2, Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O ELYON (thou Most High). (KJV)
At first thought you would think that this plea would be addressed to YAHWEH for victory against enemies. But it was to EL ELYON. Why? Because King David did not ask for victory in this case. He did ask for mercy. "Be merciful unto me." A request for victory is addressed to YAHWEH the God of victory in battle. A request for mercy is addressed to EL ELYON, the God of merciful deliverance.
Let's try to bring this concept to a practical example.
Suppose that you are unfairly accused by the government about something. This would make the government your enemy. It is not logical to ask YAHWEH to fight your case against your own government. The first problem is that the result would be that the government would have to lose. Our government just cannot lose against its citizens. There is no way for a citizen to win against our government. Some might think that they have won, but after they have counted the cost -- they found they lost.
So, the logical prayer would be toward EL ELYON asking for mercy against an unfair tyrannical government agent. EL ELYON could show mercy by turning their attention somewhere else, by causing them to lose their files, by allowing a tyrannical regulatory government agent to change jobs, get transferred, etc. There are lots of ways to show mercy to you without causing your enemy to lose. When you get into a box like that you need the mercy of EL ELYON, not the victory of YAHWEH.
The same idea about the mercy of ELYON is in Psalm 77:9-10.
MERCY OR JUDGMENT? The question is often asked, "When should we grant mercy and when should we bring judgment?" Perhaps our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST gave us a pattern for the answer.
JESUS CHRIST granted mercy to a woman by saying, “Neither do I condemn thee.” But you can't do that under YAHWEH. You must bring condemnation if you have a YAHWEHISTIC concept of God. All of us have mistakenly been taught that whenever you meet sin, you must judge it. It is implied that if you don't condemn it, it means you do approve of it. JESUS did not teach that and He didn't act that way. He said, “Nether do I condemn you, now, go and sin no more.” He did not approve of sin. He refused to condemn it. Relate to that person who wants help and say, “I don't condemn you, I love you and accept you. Let me give you power. Let me impart something to you. Now, go and sin no more.” If you bring condemnation, then usually the person will not hear your counsel. When you bring love, usually the person can hear your counsel. Unfortunately, the present structured society (many denominations) cannot relate to people where they are. They bring the stones of YAHWEH. They stone people as Moses said instead of bringing the EL ELYON concepts of mercy as David said. When a person meets JESUS CHRIST, then JESUS covers all their past sins by His blood. After that there is nothing left to judge.
EL ELYON says, “The sin is covered by the blood of my Son JESUS CHRIST so that I don't know anything bad about that person.” Judgment cannot come through the EL ELYON concepts. But, just when you trip and fall, the structured society will judge you by saying that you are not a Christian. The truth of the matter is, you are a perfect Christian in your heart (spirit). You are becoming a better Christian in (soul) mind. Someday you are going to be perfect in your body.
The answer to the conflict between judgment and mercy rests in what you are trying to accomplish. If your goal is to help and to build individual people, then bring the mercy of EL ELYON, as JESUS did.
On the other hand, if your goal is to build a church, or strengthen a denomination, or build an army, or govern a group of people, then perhaps you will get more done toward achieving your objective if you bring judgment of YAHWEH to each person or situation.
Pastors seem to be constantly pulled between these two forces. Often a pastor can bring peace to his own life by asking himself the question, "Am I here to build the church structure or to help the individual people?" If his main goal is to increase the attendance then he should go soft on granting mercy. He should be an organizer with law.
If his main goal is to help individual people, then he should go soft on judgment. He should be a creative lover using mercy.
MERCY IS NOT APPROVAL A sinful man and woman I know did pray to EL ELYON asking for forgiveness and mercy. Their following experience proved that they got mercy from EL ELYON. They erroneously mistook mercy for approval. They reasoned that since EL ELYON was obviously merciful to them, then He must have approved of their sinful actions.
They brought great disrepute upon the cause of Christ and upon the "grace" message by turning away from the laws that YAHWEH gave to us. They brought more disrepute by flaunting the freedom that mercy brings. They advertised their sin instead of keeping it quiet. They connected the mercy and business with an erroneous idea of approval. They even suggested to some in the church that perhaps, in the eyes of God, their sin wasn’t so bad anymore.
If you choose to not bring condemnation, you must also be prepared to pay the high price that misunderstanding can bring. Sometimes that can be a very dear price. The couple never showed any indication that they learned the lesson. Those who chose to not bring condemnation upon those sinners had to pay a social price for the sin of the couple.
Many professional preachers refuse to teach the "grace" message because of the resultant misunderstanding and the disrepute and harm it brings. They think the reason there is less scandal in their church is that they teach "law" rather than "love." The tragedy is that they are right. JESUS and Paul were in constant trouble with the religious leaders of their day because JESUS and Paul taught "love" not "law."
Experience shows that sinful immature Christians still plea for "mercy." EL ELYON still grants "mercy" to them. Mistaking "mercy" for "approval," they ignorantly continue in their sin. They do not seem to hear the command, “Go and sin no more.” They dismiss criticism of their wrongful ways by pointing to their obvious sensitivity to the ways of EL ELYON.
In my own experience I have had to deal with immature Christians who actually told a certain Church that I approved of their sin because I refused to bring condemnation. They pointed to the fact that I gave them love, forgiveness, and mercy. They erroneously concluded that meant that I approved of what they were doing.
There is a big difference between "no condemnation" and "approval." I didn’t condemn and I don’t approve.
It’s a tragedy that most YAHWEHISTIC church societies believe that disapproval should produce condemnation. However, there are those who believe that the name/nature of EL ELYON should guide their thought patterns. They find it easy to see that LOVE, LIGHT, FORGIVENESS, MERCY, and LIFE does not indicate approval. Churches that try to follow the name/nature of EL ELYON are sometimes criticized for being too free. The criticism is especially strong from people in YAHWEHISTIC type churches.
The result is that sometimes the Bible teacher or pastor gets a black eye for the sin that was committed by the student.
James summed it up this way: James 3:1-2, My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (KJV)
YAHWEH -- EL ELYON The Amplified New Testament says it a little better this way: James 3:1-2, Not many of you should become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we teachers will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity than other people. Thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation. 2. For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if any one does not offend in speech - never says the wrong things - he is a fully developed character and a perfect man. (ANT)
NOT THE SAME When you notice someone who persists in sinful acts because they believe that they can move from the law of YAHWEH to the mercy of EL ELYON, then that person would probably benefit from a reminder that "no condemnation" is not the same as "approval."
THE PRODIGAL SON I think that the story of the prodigal son shows the difference in the two attitudes. The father had the attitude of EL ELYON. When the younger son went to his dad and repented, then the father granted him LOVE, LIGHT, FORGIVENESS, MERCY, AND LIFE.
On the other hand, the elder son acted in a YAHWEHISTIC manner. His statement was, "I have been good and kept all your laws, but you never gave those benefits to me” (paraphrased, Luke 15:29).
The father responded, “All that I have is thine.” In other words, they had not yet learned to know his heart.
Neither son knew the heart of the father.
Luke 15:11-32, And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (KJV)
We should say it again, with tears in our eyes. Neither son knew the heart of the father. COMPLETE IN HIM Remember that the Son of EL ELYON is JESUS CHRIST of whom it is said: Colossians 2:9-10, For in him (CHRIST) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (KJV) 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power (KJV)
We conclude, then, that the Father, EL ELYON, has transferred all of His Godhead to His Son JESUS CHRIST, and that's not the end of the subject.
As we believers/receivers move and live in JESUS CHRIST, then the FULLNESS of the GODHEAD causes us to become complete, also. That means that we will embrace and operate in every attribute of the names/natures of God as it becomes appropriate or necessary for the time. Right now, our religious groups and societies have mainly taught us to exhibit the attributes of the name/nature of YAHWEH. As we mature, we will embrace more of the whole Godhead.
We will not embrace YAHWEH any less -- we will expand to be able to embrace the other name/natures even more.
PROVOKED BY REJECTING How did they provoke ELYON? Remember that ELYON set the bounds (boundaries) of the people (Deut. 32:8).
Psalm 78:17, And they sinned yet more against him by provoking ELYON (the Most High) in the wilderness. (KJV)
Along the same line, Nebuchadnezzar said: Daniel 4:17 ,…ELYON (the Most High) ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (KJV)
In the wilderness, the people of Israel rejected the boundaries as set by EL ELYON, the Most High God by a vote of 600,000 to 2. They agreed that they could not "take the country." They set their own boundaries. By rejecting EL ELYON'S boundaries they provoked EL ELYON. As a consequence, they spent 40 years in the wilderness while the provokers of EL ELYON died off and their children became strong enough to accomplish the plan of EL ELYON. We see then, that the plans of EL ELYON are discovered by a prophet and not by popular vote.
We have also seen that it is best to take, appropriate, and inhabit all that EL ELYON has provided for us. Another way of saying that is: Hebrews 4:1, Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (KJV)
It seems to be a wise thing -- to have a fear (a reverent awe) of not entering into everything that our God EL ELYON has provided for us.
ASKING EL ELYON TO SATISFY LUST Another way that they sinned against EL ELYON was: Psalm 78:18, --- by asking meat for their lust. (KJV)
It looks like we should remember the pattern JESUS set for us. He performed many miracles in order to meet the needs of others -- but JESUS never turned the stones into bread in order to satisfy His own hunger.
It’s a good idea to pray to the name/nature EL ELYON when you are in the process of selecting a set of tires from the dealer’s rack. That’s because EL ELYON owns all the tires in the world, and He knows which ones are the best, and which ones have hidden defects in them. If I needed money to pay for the tires I would pray to the name/nature EL SHADDAI, the God of provision, and ask for the money.
CAN GOD DO IT? Still another way that they provoked ELYON was by saying: Psalm 78:19, --- Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
Their insolent question implied that they did not believe that God could (or would) supply them with their needs while they traversed the wilderness. Their haughty and contemptuous behavior actually provoked EL ELYON to do what they disrespectfully and untruthfully said that He would do.
Many parents, have at one time or another, been provoked by their own children, to do exactly what the overbearing brat said. When a presumptuous kid says, "You never get me anything!” Or, “You never let me do what I want!” many adults tend to be provoked into fulfilling the child’s prophecy. That’s tempting the child’s parent.
Are there any people in your city who say, "Does God heal, today?" That tempting question nearly provokes God to not heal.
Better never say, "Does God care about my problem?"
EL ELYON REDEEMER We know that JESUS CHRIST, the Son of EL ELYON, is our redeemer. Redemption comes through the EL ELYON line because redemption and mercy are so closely associated.
Psalm 78:35, And they remembered that ELOHIM (God) was their rock, and EL ELYON (the High God) their redeemer. (KJV)
Our perception of ELOHIM is rock like, in that we are never removed from our creator's love. Like a ship anchored to a giant rock in a storm, we are safe.
Like a ship, we often weigh anchor and make our own way through life's seas. We have all become lost at one time or another. That's when we need a redeemer like EL ELYON, to set us right again. EL SHADDAI We will now look at some of the name/natures, actions, and interactions of EL SHADDAI.
· A serious study of EL SHADDAI must also include YAHWEH FAMILY, Chapter 14, and · EL SHADDAI ‑‑ NEW TESTAMENT, Chapter 17. because there is a lot to learn about EL SHADDAI.
Some subjects in those chapters have been reviewed and/or abbreviated for this chapter. Some have not. Some subjects in this chapter are new and unique. The index should be a big help.
EL SHADDAI is God.
EL SHADDAI is from the word "SHAD" meaning breast.
The gender of the Hebrew word SHADDAI is feminine.
EL SHADDAI means “the large breasted one.”
EL SHADDAI is a possessive word.
EL SHADDAI means “her breast is mine for me to use.”
EL SHADDAI is the mother, nourisher, provider.
EL SHADDAI sustains life.
EL SHADDAI is open eyed, i.e., has knowledge of all truth.
EL SHADDAI provides balance, fairness.
EL SHADDAI provides because of need, and withholds when best.
EL SHADDAI responds with love.
EL SHADDAI was the name/nature of God known by Israel from the time of Abraham to Moses, from about 2000 to 1500 B.C., about 500 years.
EL SHADDAI operates in concert with the masculine YAHWEH to create all things, and becomes ELOHIM (the creator God).
EL SHADDAI is translated "God Almighty" in the Old Testament, K.J.V.
EL SHADDAI is occasionally erroneously, theologically, confused with the Greek word G3841 PANTOKRATOR because it was rendered Almighty in the book of Revelation. There are no similar attributes, consequently another word for God should be chosen for PANTOKRATOR. This subject is covered in Chapter 17, EL SHADDAI, NEW TESTAMENT.
SHADDAI also occurs as a Name of God, chiefly in the book of Job. It is rendered "The Almighty." EL SHADDAI is cognate with Hebrew SHAD meaning breast which comes from proto-Semitic TAD -- the semantic development from rounded "breasts" to "hills" and "mountains" would not be impossible.
EL SHADDAI is often explained as a cognate of the Akkadian word SADU meaning “mountain.”
EL SHADDAI etymology, Strong's 7706, 1237, 7703 Etymology is 7706, 7699, meaning “provide with the breast.”
A FEMININE NAME OF GOD We have noticed that some people feel relieved to find that one of the name/natures of God is feminine. Some people express shock coupled with disbelief. We have discovered that there are some people who are fiercely opposed to the idea that God could have a feminine name/nature.
Many women in religious settings have been made to feel that they were deficient because they were female. I believe that is because religions have taught an unbalanced reliance on YAHWEH and have operated in relative ignorance of EL SHADDAI.
NO OFFENSE INTENDED We have also noticed that some people feel very uncomfortable using words like "breast." Some are uncomfortable using words like "male" and "female." To those uncomfortable people, I apologize for offending. But I will use the words because I am a Bible teacher and they are good Bible words that are used universally to describe natures.
EL SHADDAI AND YAHWEH The major contradistinction between the name/nature of God, EL SHADDAI, and the name/nature of the very same God, YAHWEH, is shown in Exodus 6:2-3.
Exodus 6:2-3, And ELOHIM (God) spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am YAHWEH (the LORD): 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of EL SHADDAI (God Almighty), but by my name YAHWEH (JEHOVAH) was I not known to them. (KJV)
GOD APPEARED At this point, let us notice that God said, "I appeared unto..." It is God's prerogative to appear anyway that He wants.
A few chapters earlier: Exodus 3:14, And ELOHIM (God) said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV)
EHYEH, ASHER, EHYEH is the Hebrew Name of God that was given to Moses in this passage. It was translated “I AM THAT I AM.” Some authorities say that it is better translated, "I AM WHATEVER I WANT TO BE.” That translation is more in harmony with the expression,: Exodus 6:3, And I appeared unto...
When our God wants to be a provider, He appears as EL SHADDAI. When our God wants to be a God of victory, He appears as YAHWEH. When our God wants to be a creator, He appears as ELOHIM. When our God wants to be a life giving force, He appears as ELOAH. When our God wants to be the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth, He appears as EL ELYON. Our God is whatever He wants to be.
Abraham only knew God as EL SHADDAI. He did not know the name/nature YAHWEH, the masculine God of Israel, because God never appeared to him that way.
LAW OR COMMAND? Abraham always did what EL SHADDAI commanded him to do. For instance: Hebrews 11:8, By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (KJV)
There is a difference between obeying a command and keeping a law.
As an allegory, let us say that small children are expected to obey the command of their mother. As they grow up, they learn to keep the law of their father.
Here we are likening Abraham to a small child who obeyed the commands of his mother (EL SHADDAI). That's because Abraham started us on our religious journey. He was the first of the patriarchs, but Abraham was like a religious infant. In other words, Abraham didn't know much about what God wanted, but he did know enough to do what he was told to do, when he was told to do it. Abraham did obey the commands that he received from EL SHADDAI.
Continuing the allegory, Abraham did not receive laws to remember or memorize. We do not give laws to small children because they cannot memorize or remember. Mothers of small children are often confused and confounded because they themselves do not know if they have given a command or a law. But, by the time the child is a teenager, there is no confusion when the father lays down the law. By then, the child is expected to know what to do when they are alone because they are carrying the law with them. As infants, the mother repeats the command over, and over again as each situation demands, until she is blue in the face. “Telling you to do something is like talking to a brick wall. Can’t you remember to do anything?” she says in exasperation, as she tells him again.
As teenagers, the father sets down the law once, and the adolescent child is expected to remember and obey forever. That's the way YAHWEH sets down the law forever. There is no conflict between EL SHADDAI and the commands She gives contradistinctive to YAHWEH and the laws He gives. In a well balanced home, there should not be any conflict between the commands given by the mother versus the laws given by the father. Tragically, many homes are not balanced with feminine and masculine forces of authority. Equally tragic is the fact that most mothers and fathers do not understand these principles because they themselves were never exposed to them as they grew up. An understanding of these principles would help solve many of our present social ills.
MOM AND DAD Watch a normal family in a restaurant and you will see mother telling everyone where to sit, what to order, how to behave. When someone has to tell the waitress or the cook what to do, it will usually be mother's voice.
More often than not, father sits quietly contemplating the facts and deciding if he should lay down some new law. If everyone always waited for the laws of the father, the meal would never be finished. As we grow up and learn to keep the laws of the father, we never stop obeying the commands of the mother.
The law of YAHWEH does not tell us to go here today, and avoid there tomorrow. But the commands of EL SHADDAI do. The law is more generalized than a command. A command is more specific than the law. It is EL SHADDAI who gives you an uncomfortable feeling. The feeling may say it is best to not eat in that restaurant today, or you should or should not schedule the airplane trip in the afternoon or morning. Or perhaps EL SHADDAI gives you a comfortable feeling (warm fuzzies) when you are trying to chose a newer car. You may have said, “It just feels right.” If your own head was out of the way, then that feeling was probably from EL SHADDAI.
Continuing the allegory with a different story, Israel (the nation) was treated as an infant and child for 500 years from Abraham to Moses. Israel was expected to obey the commands of EL SHADDAI the large breasted nourisher, provider, mother.
Eventually Israel went through a Bar Mitzvah and became a teenager (not an infant). Then they received the law of YAHWEH, the Father, given through Moses. They were then required to read and to remember the law.
You may recall that at a Bar Mitzvah the young boy leaves the mother's side of the synagogue, covers his head with his new yarmulke, reads the law of God in the synagogue, and then sits on the father's side. So, Israel left mother EL SHADDAI (after 500 years) and received the law from YAHWEH, read it, and then became apprenticed under father YAHWEH (Ex. 6:2-6). This is a neat pattern that makes sense.
The truth is, that no one leaves the commands, love, tender care, and provision of their mother. Mother is mother. Her commands always accompany her personality. An 80 year old mother still tells her 60 year old son what to do. And a 60 year old son respectfully morns and cries when he reflects on her very last command when she died.
NOT MUCH ABOUT EL SHADDAI There is not nearly as much in our Bible about EL SHADDAI as there is about YAHWEH. There are three main reasons.
The first is that YAHWEH is the God of Israel and the stories in the Bible are mostly about Israel. EL SHADDAI did play a part as Israel developed from an infant to a teenager. But most of the stories are about Israel after the time of Moses while they were learning the laws, and while they were becoming apprenticed to the Father (YAHWEH).
The second reason is that it took a lot more time to develop under YAHWEH. Israel was under the commands of EL SHADDAI for only about 500 years, from 2000 B.C. to 1500 B.C. They were under YAHWEH, off and on, for about 1500 years until the time for JESUS CHRIST. That’s three times as long.
The third reason there is more written about YAHWEH than EL SHADDAI is that all the books were written by men, with a masculine approach to each subject. The Holy Ghost chose men, not women. Don’t get mad, things are changing.
2 Peter 1:21, For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
In the last days (these days) the Holy Ghost shall use both men and women. Things are changing.
Acts 2:17-18 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on myhandmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy (KJV)
That is an indication that our God will bring a balance of His/Her names/natures.
Men have always leaned more toward the masculine justice of YAHWEH than toward the feminine mercy of EL SHADDAI.
Most of the 500 years that they were under Mother EL SHADDAI were spent in Egypt and there aren't too many stories about that. We have a little of the history of how Joseph led them into Egypt, and some more stories of how Moses led them out. We don't know very much more about that 500 years, so we don't have much about EL SHADDAI. One book of the Bible, Genesis, gives the history from Adam to Joseph (including their years in Egypt, about 500 years), covering Israel’s infancy, and childhood, and up to early teen age development.
Thirty-eight other books of the Bible, Exodus through Malachi, give the history of getting out of Egypt, into the New Testament, and JESUS CHRIST (1500 years). They cover the teen age years of the nation of Israel to adulthood. In those 1500 years there was very little reference to Mother EL SHADDAI.
EL SHADDAI MADE SARAH FERTILE This passage has to do with Sarah's past infertility and the promise of a fertile future. This is the first time the name/nature EL SHADDAI was used in the Bible. The covenant had to do with Abram's duty to circumcise the foreskin of every male. Circumcision and sex seem to be interconnected thoughts.
Genesis 17:1-6, And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am EL SHADDAI (the Almighty God); walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (KJV)
ISAAC ASKED EL SHADDAI TO MAKE HIS SON JACOB FRUITFUL WITH CHILDREN The second instance of the name/nature EL SHADDAI is in Genesis 28.
Genesis 28:1-4, And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
3 And EL SHADDAI (God Almighty) bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. (KJV)
This use of the name/nature EL SHADDAI has to do with the selection of a proper mate.
EL SHADDAI PROMISED FRUITFUL MULTIPLICATION TO JACOB/ISRAEL The third time we find the name/nature EL SHADDAI is in Genesis 35.
Genesis 35:10-11, And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him, I am EL SHADDAI (God Almighty): be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins (KJV)
This promise is very similar to the one that EL SHADDAI made to Abram in Genesis 17:1-6. It may be a little striking to note that when EL SHADDAI changed Jacob’s name to Israel, She reemphasized Her own name, EL SHADDAI.
JACOB/ISRAEL ASKED EL SHADDAI TO PROTECT HIS SONS The fourth reference to the name/nature EL SHADDAI says: Genesis 43:14, And EL SHADDAI (God Almighty) give you (Judah) mercy before the man (Joseph unknown), that he may send away your other brother (Simeon), and Benjamin. If I (Jacob) be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. (KJV)
This reference is to the blessings of the family of Jacob/Israel with mercy.
JACOB/ISRAEL TOLD HIS SON JOSEPH ABOUT THE FRUITFUL BLESSING OF EL SHADDAI. The fifth reference in Genesis to the name/nature EL SHADDAI says: Genesis 48:3-4, And Jacob said unto Joseph, EL SHADDAI (God Almighty) appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people. (KJV)
Here is a repeat to his son Joseph of the promise that Jacob/Israel had received from EL SHADDAI. The subject is fruitfulness and multiplication within the family.
EL SHADDAI’S BLESSING WILL MAKE JOSEPH FRUITFUL. THE BREASTS AND WOMB SHALL BLESS JOSEPH. The sixth and last reference in Genesis to EL SHADDAI contains a much stronger concept of the blessing of the family.
Genesis 49:22-25, Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by SHADDAI (the Almighty), who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb
The blessings of the breasts and of the womb come from EL SHADDAI. Remember that SHADDAI comes from the Hebrew word SHAD, meaning breast.
The first six references to EL SHADDAI were to the blessing and the security of the family.
JOB DID NOT WANT TO THINK ABOUT A WOMAN This promise to Joseph might have been in the mind of Job when he said: Job 31:1-2, I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 2 For what portion of ELOAH (God) is there from above? and what inheritance of SHADDAI (the Almighty) from on high? (KJV)
In his depression, Job felt like he would never inherit the joy of breasts or a womb of a maid. Job had lost his wife and all of his children. In a state of deep despair, Job renounced interest in women and a wife, and all hope of having children. Job correctly connected EL SHADDAI with the subject.
REFERENCES FOR EL SHADDAI Bible scholars that I know about who have written about EL SHADDAI THE GOD WITH BREASTS are:
1.) David Biale, “THE GOD WITH BREASTS: EL SHADDAI IN THE BIBLE, HISTORY OF RELIGIONS 21, 240-256 F 82, State University of New York at Binghamton.
2.) Norman Walker, "A NEW INTERPRETATION OF THE DIVINE NAME SHADDAI, ZEITSCHRIFT DIE ALTTESTAMENTLICHE WISSENSCHAFT," 72 (1960):64.
3.) Klauskoch, "SHADDAI, VETUS TESTAMEN-TUM 26,” (1976):299-332, esp. 308. 4.) William F. Albright, "THE NAMES SHADDAI AND ABRAM," Journal of Biblical Literature 54(1935):180-93.
5.) Frank Moore Cross, “CANAANITE MYTH AND HEBREW EPIC,” (Cambridge, Mass., 1973), pp. 52-60.
6.) Zoller, “RIVISTA DEGLI STUDI ORIENTALI 13,” No. 13 5.
7.) Walter Brueggemann, "THE KERYGMA OF THE PRIESTLY WRITERS," ZEITSCHRIFT FUR DIE ALTESTAMENTUCHE WISSENSCHAFT 84 (1972) 397-413.
8.) P. Trible, "GOD, NATURE OF, IN THE O.T.," Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, suppl. Vol. (Nashville, Tenn. 1976), pp 368-69.
9.) Raphael Patai, “THE HEBREW GODDESS,” (New York, 1967), pp. 29-52.
10.) William Reed, “THE ASHERAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT,” (Fort Worth, TX. 1949). pp. 80-81, 87.
11.) Zeev Meshel, “KUNTILLET AJRUD, A RELIGIOUS CENTER FROM THE TIME OF THE JUDAEAN MONARCHY ON THE BORDER OF SINAI,” Israel museum, Jerusalem, spring 1978, catalog no., 175. 12.) Cyrus Gordon, “UGARITIC LITERATURE,” (Rome, 1949). p. 75 text 128 par. 25-28.
13.) Vawter, “CANAANITE BACKGROUND OF GENESIS 49,”
14.) Cropss, “CANAANITE MYTH,” pp. 55-56, n.44.
15.) U. Cassuto, “THE GODDESS ANATH,” English ed. (Jerusalem, 1971), pp. 84-85, 108.
16.) Clement of Alexandria “PAIDAGOGOS 1.6,” in Elaine Pagels, “THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS,” (New York, 1979), p.67 and pp. 48-69.
17.) W. A. Meeks, “THE IMAGE OF THE ANDROGYNOUS, SOME USES OF A SYMBOL IN EARLIEST CHRISTIANITY,” History of Religions 13 (1974) 165-208.
18.) Gersholm Scholem, “MAJOR TRENDS IN JEWISH MYSTICISM,” (New York, 1961), p. 224.
19.) Gersholm Scholem, “ELEMENTS OF THE KAB-BALAH AND ITS SYMBOLISM,” Hebrew ed. (Jerusalem, 1976). Pp. 259-307.
Also see the list of references in Chapter 28, AUTHORITY AND REFERENCES. A serious study of EL SHADDAI -- NEW TESTA-MENT Chapter 17, must also include: · EL SHADDAI Chapter 16, and · YAHWEH FAMILY, Chapter 14.
Many details in those chapters are not repeated here. Some are.
God Almighty does not always mean God Almighty. Did you read it in the O.T. or the New? It makes a big difference. In the O.T., all references to the Almighty are from the Hebrew Name of God, EL SHADDAI. In the N.T., all the references to the Almighty are from the Greek Name of God, PANTOKRATOR.
A big problem is that O.T. EL SHADDAI and N.T. PANTOKRATOR, don’t have any common Godly attributes. They are not the same. PANTOKRATOR should not have been translated into Almighty in the N.T. Let’s try to unravel this perplexity. You can get pretty mixed up about EL SHADDAI. A few following facts will help you to get it straight.
ENLIGHTENMENT STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE tells us that "Almighty" appears in the book of Revelation eight times, Revelation 1:8, 4:8, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7, 16:14, 19:15, and 21:22. There is only one other place in the New Testament where the word "Almighty " appears. That is II Corinthians 6:18.
ETYMOLOGY OF PANTOKRATOR Etymology in the Greek is: 3841 Greek, PANTOKRATOR, from 3956 and 2904: the all-ruling, i.e. God as absolute and universal sovereign. Almighty, omnipotent. 3956. PASS, a prim. word, all, any, every, the whole. 2904, KRAUTS, perh. a prim. word, rigor, dominion, might, power, strength.
MOST ERROR IS IN REVELATION It is possible to get the wrong idea about EL SHADDAI from reading the book of Revelation. Take Revelation 16:14 for instance.
Revelation 16:14, -- to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty (NOT EL SHADDAI). (KJV)
In the O.T., when we saw the word Almighty, we knew it should be the feminine EL SHADDAI. But, it doesn’t work that way in the N.T. Going to battle sounds more like the masculine YAHWEH, the God of war, and victory. Wars are traditionally for men, not women. Please try to follow the general plan of things. Of course, you can find exceptions. We are not studying the exceptions. War is for men.
Or look at Revelation 19:15.
Revelation 19:15, -- he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (NOT EL SHADDAI). (KJV)
That can’t be right. EL SHADDAI does not operate with fierceness and wrath. It sounds more like YAHWEH, the Jealous God. (Exodus 34:14)
Exodus 34:14, For thou shalt worship no other god: for YAHWEH (the LORD), whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (KJV)
And look at 2 Corinthians 6:18.
2 Corinthians 6:18, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LORD Almighty (NOT EL SHADDAI). (KJV)
That makes no sense. The name/nature of God EL SHADDAI has never been a father. The large breasted provider EL SHADDAI has always operated as a Mother not Father. That reference sounds more like YAHWEH, the Father God.
I think that the translation of the Greek word "PANTOKRATOR" into the Hebrew word YAHWEH is the best translation, because it keeps harmony with all the references to all the Names of God in the Old Testament. The selection of YAHWEH for "PANTOKRATOR" bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments. But the K.J.V. selection of the word "Almighty" only confounds the subject.
We have learned to apply the name/nature of EL SHADDAI whenever we found the English word "Almighty" in the Old Testament. But, we cannot do that in the New Testament. The pattern will not hold.
Throughout the Old Testament the word "Almighty" was reserved for EL SHADDAI alone. The other Names of God, EL ELYON, ELOHIM, YAHWEH, and ELOAH were never translated into the English word "Almighty" in the Old Testament.
The Greek word "PANTOKRATOR" includes many ideas that are foreign to EL SHADDAI. Maybe I should not say foreign, because God is God and EL SHADDAI can be anything. Let’s say that the word EL SHADDAI does not include such ideas as all-ruling, absolute sovereign, universal sovereign, omnipotent, vigor, great, dominion, might, power and strength. Yes, these ideas could refer to any name/nature of God, but the language of the Old Testament does not apply these ideas to EL SHADDAI. These ideas are applied to several other Names of God in the Old Testament at various times. But one Name of God stands out as always fully containing all of these ideas. That Name of God is YAHWEH, the God of Israel.
MORE BIBLE TRANSLATIONS Quite a few other Bible translations do agree with the fact that the Greek word "PANTOKRATOR" should not have been translated "Almighty." Here are 3 examples:
First, the AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT has trouble consistently translating "PANTOKRATOR," substituting other ideas and often "Omnipotent" for Almighty. Second, the HOLY BIBLE IN MODERN ENGLISH translated by Ferrar Fenton shows that Fenton was uncomfortable with "Almighty" because several times he translated "PANTOKRATOR" into "All Ruling."
If you must use an English word, I like Fenton’s selection best (All Ruling). But I think the use of the equivalent Hebrew word for God (YAHWEH) is really the very best.
Thirdly, THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT of the NEW TESTAMENT by Benjamin Wilson changes the word "Almighty" to "Omnipotent" in all the references. That’s a good choice, too.
Those are enough references to demonstrate that modern translators do not agree with the KJV as to the proper translation of the Greek word "PANTOKRATOR." Neither do they agree with each other. A serious study of ELOHIM must also include YAHWEH FAMILY, Chapter 14.
Many details in that chapter are not repeated here. Some are.
ELOHIM Here are some of the name/natures, actions, and interactions of ELOHIM.
ELOHIM is God.
ELOHIM is the creator.
ELOHIM is the Hebrew word for God used in the creation chapters of Genesis.
ELOHIM is a Spirit.
ELOHIM is usually translated "God" in the K.J.V.
ELOHIM is plural in form.
ELOHIM is an androgynous word in gender and use.
ELOHIM is the result of the concert between YAHWEH and EL SHADDAI.
ELOHIM etymology is Strong's 430, 410, 352, 193, 17a.
Etymologically, ELOHIM can also be traced 430, 424, 410, 413, 451 meaning “to come forward with a strong oak tree and rump.”
Sometimes ELOHIM is used for heathen deities. Ex. 9:1, 12:12, 20:3, Genesis 31:30, 32. In the great majority of cases it is used for the one God of Israel.
The later Bible writings use the name ELOHIM more often than they use the distinctively Hebrew name YHWH (YAHWEH).
ELOHIM -- CREATOR ELOHIM is used in the sense of the creator. The Hebrew word "ELOHIM" was translated into the English word "God" throughout the creation chapters in the book of Genesis.
Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning ELOHIM (God) created the heaven and the earth. (KJV)
ANDROGYNOUS ELOHIM is androgynous in gender (having characteristics of male and female). The construction of the Hebrew word "ELOHIM" makes it plural.
What is androgynous? Remember androgynous in YAHWEH FAMILY Chapter 14. Androgynous means possessing both sexes in the same body.
Exodus 6:2-3 2 And ELOHIM (God) spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am YAHWEH (the LORD): 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of EL SHADDAI (God Almighty), but by my name YAHWEH (JEHOVAH) was I not known to them. (KJV)
ELOHIM had appeared as the feminine, large breasted EL SHADDAI for 500 years, from Abraham to Moses. Then ELOHIM changed from Her feminine characteristics to reveal His masculine side, YAHWEH.
When the androgynous ELOHIM appeared to Moses as YAHWEH in Exodus 6:2-3, the purpose was to show and use the masculine side of ELOHIM. That's because Israel needed a God of hosts, a God of victory, a God of lawful order, a God that would force His will by overshadowing others and projecting himself. In short, YAHWEH is the name/nature of the powerful masculine aspect of the androgynous God ELOHIM.
In contrast, ELOHIM reminded Moses that this new way of appearing as YAHWEH was a big change from the way She had appeared as EL SHADDAI from the time of Abraham through all his generations to Moses, 500 years later. As the sons of Abraham progenerated for 500 years in Egypt they needed a provider God, a nourisher God, a nursemaid God who would watch over them and protect them in their formative years. In short, EL SHADDAI is the name/nature of the loving feminine aspect of the androgynous God ELOHIM.
THANKSGIVING AND VOWS King David wrote a Psalm to show the differences between the name/natures of the creator ELOHIM and the Most High ELYON.
Psalm 50:14, Offer unto ELOHIM (God) thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto ELYON (the Most High) (KJV)
First, we will look at the idea of offering thanksgiving to ELOHIM. Next, we will look at the idea of paying vows to EL ELYON.
Why offer thanksgiving to ELOHIM? ELOHIM is the name/nature of the creator God. When we think of thanksgiving we think of harvest, plenty, abundance. None of that can come without the creative name/nature of the androgynous God ELOHIM.
When the masculine seed of the plant enters the womb of Mother Earth, then creation takes place and the name/nature of the God of that creation is the androgynous God ELOHIM.
When we give thanksgiving to ELOHIM we are thanking the Godhead for bringing the masculine name/nature of YAHWEH into concert with the feminine name/nature of EL SHADDAI in order to bring forth the plentiful harvest. Without these God forces in concert there will be no harvest and no thanksgiving.
EL ELYON IS THE GOD OF EARTH Next, we will look at the idea of paying vows to EL ELYON. David showed some contrast between ELOHIM and EL ELYON. He said that we should pay our vows to ELYON. That's a different subject from giving thanks to ELOHIM. Paying of vows is definitely in the earthly temporal realm. Our own earthly temporal blessings are items of interest to the God of heaven and earth, whose name/nature is EL ELYON. The concept of an earthly kingdom for EL ELYON was revealed in Genesis 14:18-19.
Genesis 14:18-19, And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of EL ELYON (the Most High God). 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of EL ELYON (the Most High God), possessor of heaven and earth (KJV)
Almost everyone has associated God with heaven. This revelation in scripture also associates God with earth.
Our physical effort and production are to be directed to the Most High ELYON. In a similar way, our spiritual praise and blessing are to be directed to the creator ELOHIM.
The idea of a physical God continues. The introductory verses to EL ELYON include words like, bread and wine, possessor of earth, and tithes. All of those remind us of the temporal earth realm, rather than the spiritual realm.
Genesis 14:18-20, And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of EL ELYON (the Most High God). 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of EL ELYON (the Most High God), possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be EL ELYON (the Most High God), which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (KJV)
Yes, EL ELYON is also God of heaven. But the emphasis is on earth.
ELOHIM IS THE ROCK ELYON IS THE REDEEMER Another distinction between the name/natures of ELOHIM and ELYON says: Psalm 78:35, And they remembered that ELOHIM (God) was their rock, and the ELYON (High God) their redeemer. (KJV)
Now we will look at the difference between a rock and a redeemer.
We know that JESUS CHRIST, the son of EL ELYON, is the redeemer. Redemption comes through the EL ELYON line because redemption and mercy are so closely associated.
The rock-like characteristics of ELOHIM remind us that the masculine and feminine creative powers are consistent and universal in all the different kingdoms of nature. All creative forces in both the animal and the plant world depend on the name/nature of the androgynous ELOHIM. Using the metaphor of a rock to describe the unchanging characteristic of procreation is indicated.
YE ARE GODS The Holy Bible says that we are ELOHIM. We are "creators." Remember that the word ELOHIM means "creator."
JESUS CHRIST reemphasized the importance of Psalm 82:6 that says: Psalm 82:6, I have said, Ye are ELOHIM (gods, creators); and all of you are children of ELYON (the Most High).
JESUS quoted from the above Psalm.
John 10:34-36, Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are ELOHIM (gods)? 35 If he called them ELOHIM (gods), unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (KJV)
If you followed that scripture in your own K.J.V. Bible you noticed that the translators did not render the Hebrew word ELOHIM with a capital "G" in God. They wrote the word “god.” They broke consistency and translated ELOHIM according to their own understanding.
I'll bet that if JESUS would have translated Psalm 82, He would have been consistent and rendered it with a capital G for God, as it was rendered Son of God at the end of the verse. Are we “gods?” Or are we “Gods?”
In the sense that we possess creative powers, we are Gods. But don't get the wrong idea. The creative power of sex is only one of the wonderful talents that our God EL ELYON gave to us. We can create houses, and farms, and dams, and ships, and autos, and airplanes. We can create poems, and essays, and books, and songs, and instruments of music, and telephones, and radios. We can create happiness, and joy, and gladness.
We can bring together all the masculine and feminine creator forces to subdue the whole earth.
In that sense of the spirit, we are Gods, and children of "God ELYON."
We can create with our spirits and we can create with our souls. Christians are not limited to only procreating in the body realm.
I think that a careful study of all the scriptures on the subject would show that we are Gods (not gods) in spirit because the word ELOHIM means creator. The Psalms say we are ELOHIM. JESUS said that we are ELOHIM, and I think that means we are creators.
When you think about it, you are happy when you are creating (loving, painting, knitting, building, writing, reading, etc.) and you are sorrowful when you are destroying (fighting, hating, gossiping, etc.).
YOU ARE CHILDREN OF GOD The idea that we are all "children of ELYON (God)" makes sense to a lot of Christians -- and it makes no sense at all to others. I think that is because some people have not yet learned to see the difference between the spirit, soul, and body. If we think in the body realm, we will have to agree that the idea makes no sense at all when we observe sickness, the bondage of corruption, etc. So this scripture must be talking about something else besides the realm of the body.
Psalm 82:6, all of you are children of ELYON (the Most High). (KJV)
Also, when we observe the human soul (mind), then we must also conclude that the soul (mind) is not from God either because of the universal selfish acts motivated by self-centered souls (minds).
That leaves the spirit of man. I'm going to try to show you that the spirit of man is that part of man that is fathered by EL ELYON. Another way of saying it is that we are all children of EL ELYON in spirit, not soul, and not body.
That explanation was written in the sense of how we are today. But in the future we shall be changed. Sometime soon we shall have the "mind of CHRIST," not our own carnal minds.
The scriptures teach that eventually some people will have the glory of EL ELYON around their bodies. Then those people will be perfect in spirit (through the force of JESUS CHRIST) and perfect in soul (through the power of the Holy Spirit) and perfect in body (through the energy of God).
At that stage it will be a lot easier to see how we are ELOHIM and children of EL ELYON.
WHO IS YOUR FATHER? JESUS CHRIST settled the question of who our spiritual Father is when He said: John 4:24, God is a Spirit. (KJV)
And that thought is connected with: John 3:5, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Hebrews 12:9 also settled it when it says: Hebrews 12:9, Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh (body) which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (KJV)
Other scriptures which confirm the idea that God is the Father of spirits are: Numbers 16:22, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh. (KJV)
Another: Numbers 27:16, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh. (KJV)
Another: Isaiah 42:5, Thus saith God the LORD, He that giveth spirit to them that walk therein. (KJV)
Another: Zechariah 12:1, saith the LORD, which -- formeth the spirit of man within him. (KJV)
Those are enough scriptures to show that our spirit was created, formed, Fathered by God.
I KNEW YOU BEFORE I FORMED YOU This is the only way we can understand God when He told Jeremiah: Jeremiah 1:5, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. (KJV)
Obviously there was no Jeremiah in body or in soul before the procreation of the embryo.
Based on our present understanding of the scriptures just quoted, we can see that God knew the spirit of Jeremiah prior to procreation of the body of Jeremiah. To get a little more technical, there was a spirit of Jeremiah for God to know before the father and mother of Jeremiah came together in the physical realm.
YOU SHALL DIE The Palmist told us that we are ELOHIM (Gods), and also that we are children of ELYON (God). Then he followed with the uncomfortable thought that "we shall die, like men".
Psalm 82:7, But ye shall die like men. (KJV)
I believe that "die like men" refers to the body realm, because Ecclesiastes 12:7 says: Ecclesiastes 12:7, Then shall the dust (body) return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (KJV)
Also notice that death of the body does not mean death of the spirit. Since the spirit came from God and returns to God at the death of the body, that's a pretty good indicator that the spirit was Fathered by ELYON.
WHAT’S THE TRUTH? While it is true that: Romans 5:14, Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses. (KJV) It is also true that death reigned from Moses to JESUS CHRIST.
It is also true that: 1 Corinthians 15:26, The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (KJV)
In other words, the "past truth" was for people to expect to die. But there is a final generation of people who will not walk in that expectation. They will expect to overcome the last enemy -- death.
We are talking about death of the body (not spirit or soul). Hebrews 2:9-15, (Edited) But we see Jesus, --- that he -- should taste death for every man. -- that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (KJV)
Some people have said, "But the scripture has said, And as it is appointed unto men once to die.” (Hebrews 9:27) and so I don't see how we can escape death"!
The answer waits in your ability to perceive the differences between "PAST TRUTH" and "PRESENT TRUTH".
There is no question about the fact that in the PAST, it was true that society was predestined to die.
The question really is, is it true for the PRESENT, and/or future?
Our answer is, that there is a generation of people who will overcome the last enemy -- death (of the body). These people will be alive, and remain to the coming of the LORD.
These people will walk in the truth of the scripture which says: Romans 6:10, -- he (CHRIST) died unto sin once. KJV)
They will admit, "It is appointed unto men once to die," but they will claim CHRIST kept that appointment for them.
It is true the scriptures promise that someday there will be a generation of people who will not die. We hope to be in that group.
ELOAH is God.
ELOAH is translated "God" in the K.J.V.
ELOAH has a feminine ending (AH) but some Hebrew scholars call it a masculine word for a reason that has escaped our understanding, even after much study.
ELOAH is the anointing, life giving, creative force.
ELOAH is the Messiah of the Old Testament, the CHRIST of the New.
ELOAH appears mainly in Job.
ELOAH is comparatively rare, occurring 57 times only in poetry and late prose (in Job 41 times). It is the singular form of ELOHIM.
ELOAH is used for the God of ISRAEL in Deut. 32:15, Psa. 18:31, 50:22, 139:19, Prov. 30:5, Job 3:23, and 40 more times in Job.
ELOAH is also used for heathen deities in II Chron. 32:15, Daniel 11:37, 38, 39, Hab. 1:11.
ELOAH etymology is; 433, 432, 430, 43a, 410, 42a, 352, 17b, 193, 17b God singular, masculine, with a feminine ending, from EL 410, from RAM 352. From MIGHTY STRENGTH 193. From to twist, according to YOUNG’S and THE NEW ENGLISHMAN'S HEBREW/ARAMAIC CONCORDANCE. ELOAH alternate etymology is STRONG’S 433, 410, 352, 193, 17a.
I believe it is 433, 410, 451 meaning “provide with the rump.”
ELOAH etymology could be; 433, 43a, 451, 46b, 422,6b. God singular, feminine gender, from RUMP 451, from oath.
ELOAH Here are a number of scriptures that demonstrate a few patterns regarding the use of the name/nature ELOAH. Most of them are from Job because the book of Job contains more references to ELOAH than the total of all the others. But, it is dangerous to use scriptures from Job to establish theological truth about the Names of God, because YAHWEH said the things reported by Job’s three friends were not right. So, in the following analysis we only quote from what Job said, not from his three friends.
RIGHT AND WRONG The answers that Job gave concerning the name/natures of God are right; and the statements made by his friends are wrong.
Job 42:7, And it was so, that after YAHWEH (the LORD) had spoken these words unto Job, YAHWEH (the LORD) said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. (KJV)
Warning! Do not study anything that Job's friends said unless you want to study incorrect religious thought.
DEAD OR ALIVE ELOAH controls human life and death.
Job 6:8-9, Oh that I might have my request; and that ELOAH (God) would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 Even that it would please ELOAH (God) to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! (KJV)
Job 10:8, Thine ELOAH’S (God’s) hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. (KJV)
Job 27:8, For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when ELOAH (God) taketh away his soul? (KJV)
Deuteronomy 32:15, But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook ELOAH (God) which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. (KJV)
In Bible days, to become fat was not something wrong. Fatness was looked upon as a blessing from God. Only the most blessed people could become fat. Normal people were all skinny because there wasn’t much food to go around. Jeshurun (a symbolic term for Israel) got fat on the blessings of ELOAH, but later, the Jews turned against the very ELOAH who made their life easy.
THE GOOD AND BAD OF IT We find another definite pattern about the name/nature ELOAH by studying Job. Sometimes ELOAH puts good things in the life of both good and bad people; and sometimes ELOAH removes good pleasant things from the life of good people, but allows bad people to enjoy those things to the end of their life. Sometimes ELOAH gives temporal blessings to bad people, and withholds them from good people.
Job 12:6, The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke EL (God) are secure; into whose hand ELOAH (God) bringeth abundantly. (KJV)
Job 21:9, Their (the wicked) houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of ELOAH (God) upon them. (KJV)
Job 24:12, Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet ELOAH (God) layeth not folly to them. (KJV)
Job 19:6, Know now that ELOAH (God) hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. (KJV)
Job 19:21, Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of ELOAH (God) hath touched me. (KJV)
Job 21:19, ELOAH (God) layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. (KJV)
JESUS said: John 16:33, In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (KJV)
ELOAH puts tribulation into the lives of Her children, to teach them lessons, but does not bring wrath to them. Wrath is reserved for the bad people.
YAHWEH (38:1) said: Job 39:17, Because ELOAH (God) hath deprived her (the ostrich) of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. (KJV)
The gifts of the Holy Spirit include wisdom, knowledge, discerning of spirits. Many times the acts of ELOAH in the O.T. are parallel and similar to many of the acts of the Holy Spirit in the N.T.
LIFE IS BREATH Job connects the thought of "breath" with the spirit of ELOAH in his nostrils. We conclude that ELOAH produces physical life. Conversely when ELOAH withdraws Her spirit from our nostrils -- we die.
Job 27:3-4, All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of ELOAH (God) is in my nostrils; 4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. (KJV)
Very early in the morning a nurse phoned me from a hospital in Indianapolis with the message, "Your mother expired 5 minutes ago." I looked up the word "expired" and found that it means to quit breathing. For centuries the medical community agreed with the community of theologians and defined human life as "breath.” The lack of "breath" meant the lack of human life, even according to my own Boy Scout Handbook. Now today our courts argue. Does human life consist of brain activity? Or heart activity? Or lung activity? The Bible consistently uses "breath" (or the lack of it) as the only measure of the presence of human life.
Genesis 2:7, And the LORD ELOHIM (God) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (KJV)
The clay was formed into a perfect man, but it had no life. God forced His holy breath into the lump of clay and it became a living soul. The difference between life and death was in the breath. There is a strange connection between breath and soul. Hospitals have discovered that often when a newborn is immediately started on oxygen, the resulting child develops into a highly intelligent adult. But, some doctors do not want to start a newborn on oxygen because there is some indication it may weaken the lungs of an otherwise healthy child.
PAST AND FUTURE Job 29:2, Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when ELOAH (God) preserved me; (KJV)
Job 29:4, As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of ELOAH (God) was upon my tabernacle; (KJV)
Job 31:6, Let me be weighed in an even balance, that ELOAH (God) may know mine integrity. (KJV)
Eastern religions teach that a man's evil is weighed in a balance against his good. Salvation or damnation results at the tip of the scales. That could be why no one went to heaven in the O.T. Since JESUS' time, God can not remember the evil committed by a saved person.
SHUT UP! Job 40:1-5, Moreover YAHWEH (the LORD) answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with SHADDAI (the Almighty) instruct him? he that reproveth ELOAH (God), let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered YAHWEH (the LORD), and said, 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. (KJV)
Job set a pattern that would be a good one for us all to follow. After Job saw that God was God, he decided to shut up. No more complaints about God or what He does. No one can effectively analyze the acts of God in comparison with the acts of men.
The way I see it, when I try to figure out why God does the things He does, the best thing for me to do is shut up. God has great eternal plans that are too involved for any of us to figure out. I try to do what I’m told to do, when I’m told to do it.
JESUS summed it up this way:
Luke 17:10, So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (KJV)
MY PROBLEM WITH ELOAH Unfortunately, not all authorities really do have authority, and not all authorities do agree as how to translate the Bible. We can get into lots of trouble by accepting only one authority as a source of information about an important fact. I did. For instance, the HOLY NAME BIBLE, revised by A. B. Traina, published by THE SCRIPTURE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC., 1125 Stuyvesant Ave., Irvington, NJ, has been presented to me on many occasions, as the authority on the restoration of the sacred Names of God to the English scripture. I erroneously believed that for a great number of years. My purpose is not to take pot shots at the translation, its author, or its publisher. My purpose is to demonstrate the importance of thorough research in important matters.
The H.N.B. says: Psalm 110:1, "YAHWEH said unto my ELOAH."
I believed that erroneous translation, and I developed ideas about it. In checking and proving references for my own work on this book, NAMES OF GOD, EL ELYON, NOW, I found that Strong's Concordance did not agree.
In English it reads, Psalm 110:1, "The LORD said unto my Lord. "
Note the difference between the capitalized letters in LORD, and the lower case letters in Lord. STRONG'S said that the second "Lord" was from the Hebrew word ADON," not the word ELOAH.
Psalm 110:1, <<A Psalm of David.>> YAHWEH (The LORD) said unto my ADON (Lord), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (KJV)
To most observers that's not very important at all. To me, that is very important. But I erroneously dismissed it as a probable error of Strong's, because H.N.B. was touted as the authority on the restoration of the Sacred Names.
My emotions of chagrin and happy relief clashed together, leaving my poor brain numb when I found that other authorities do agree with Strong's and disagree with H.N.B., but don't fully agree on anything.
Following is my summary of the ADON -- ADONAI -- ELOAH confounding, from books by the experts. This is my understanding of what they have said.
The INTERLINEAR HEBREW GREEK ENGLISH BIBLE, by Jay Green, Associated Publishers and Authors, Inc., Evansville, Indiana 47713, 1978, did not agree at all with the H.N.B., and only partially agreed with STRONG'S. The disagreement with Strong's was that Strong's said the second “Lord” was from the Hebrew word "ADON" (STRONG'S 113). But the INTERLINEAR printed the Hebrew word "ADONAI," (which is STRONG'S 136). They are close, but not the same.
The NEW ENGLISHMAN'S HEBREW/ARAMAIC CONCORDANCE, Wigram, Christian Copyrights, Inc., by Jay P. Green, 1983, says that the second "Lord" is from the Hebrew word "ADON" (STRONG'S 113), thereby disagreeing with himself in his INTERLINEAR, but in this case, agreeing with Strong's.
The NEW BROWN, DRIVER, BRIGGS, GESENIUS HEBREW AND ENGLISH LEXICON, by BROWN, ASSOCIATED PUBLISHERS and AUTHORS, Inc. Lafayette, IN. 47903, 1980, states that the original reading of ADON (STRONG'S 113) was probably in all cases ADONAI (STRONG'S 136). He also points to vowel point variations in the Masora (called the Massorah by the EMPHASIZED BIBLE, by ROTHERHAM). If their explanation is right, then the Masorites messed up an additional whole category of the names of God, that is not often reported in the literature. See Chapter 11, YAHWEH,CONFOUNDING, for more information about the Masorites.
WHO KNOWS? What is the conclusion of all of these conflicting references? What does all of this mean?
It means that when unlimited time (several thousands of hours) and unlimited money (many thousands of dollars) are spent on both modern and ancient books and scholarly works, and big computer programs, this engineer turned Bible student does not yet have enough material available to him to be absolutely certain about which Hebrew word was used in many passages in the Bible.
It also means that all scholars do agree that they themselves can not be certain about the Names of God, either.
It means that a thoughtful person can not demand that any doctrine, based on translation, be forcefully taught or believed. Only the Spirit can bear witness.
It means that context, flow, general Biblical usage and consistent patterns are as much authority for translation as is a succinct listing in a dictionary, concordance, interlinear or lexicon.
It means that it is best to not argue too forcefully about what the Bible really says, but it is a good idea to ask a lot of questions.
It means that it is a good idea to get as many books as you can, and to pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It means that a hard headed seminary professor can force his own denominational concepts upon his students, and present compelling evidence of the veracity. But, he can be entirely wrong.
It means to me that presently we can not come into the unity of the faith, so the result must produce a lot of different denominations.
It means that we should all agree to pray for the fulfillment of the prophesy.
Zephaniah 3:9, For then will I turn to the people a pure language. (KJV)
OTHER GODS Here is an example of the use of ELOAH for a heathen deity:
2 Chronicles 32:15, Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no ELOAH (god) of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your ELOHIM (God) deliver you out of mine hand? (KJV)
Here is another example of the use of ELOAH for a heathen deity:
Daniel 11:37, Neither shall he regard the ELOHIM (God) of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any ELOAH (god): for he shall magnify himself above all. (KJV)
EL SHADDAI -- YAHWEH -- ALLAH Israel (the nation) and Ishmael (the Arabs) both worshipped the same name/nature of God, EL SHADDAI.
Israel (the nation) changed from worship of the name/nature EL SHADDAI to the worship of the name/nature YAHWEH through the prophet Moses.
Exodus 6:2-3, And ELOHIM (God) spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am YAHWEH (the LORD): 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of EL SHADDAI (God Almighty), but by my name YAHWEH (JEHOVAH) was I not known to them. (KJV)
Ishmael (Arabs) changed from worship of the name/nature EL SHADDAI to ALLAH through the prophet Mohammed.
We learn about the change of Israel (the nation) in the Bible.
We learn about the change of Ishmael from history books. That happened around 600-700 A.D. and the Bible had already been written, by then.
Remember that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the sons of Israel knew God as EL SHADDAI (God Almighty). For about 500 years while they were nomads in the fertile crescent, and while they were slaves in Egypt they worshipped EL SHADDAI. Later, their concept of God changed from EL SHADDAI to YAHWEH (Ex. 6:2-3).
But that's not the whole story. EL SHADDAI was the God of another nation, too.
Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. The Bible, and this book, trace the history of the nation of Israel (descendants of Isaac) all the way up to JESUS CHRIST. That's where the majority of our attention has always been.
But there was a fork in the road and now it is valuable to look down that other road for a while. That road is marked "Ishmael."
Now we will study Ishmael to follow the Arab nations. When Sarah (and God) forced Abraham to throw out Hagar and Ishmael, an interesting thing happened. They were sent into the wilderness to die (Genesis 21:17-21).
At the time of this incident, ELOHIM’S name was EL SHADDAI. See Exodus 6:2-3, printed on the previous page..
Genesis 21:17-21, And ELOHIM (God) heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of ELOHIM (God) called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for ELOHIM (God) hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. 19 And ELOHIM (God) opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. 20 And ELOHIM (God) was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt. (KJV)
Their concept of the name/nature of God named EL SHADDAI kept watch over them, provided for them, and saved them.
A whole lot more people than Hagar and Ishmael were provided for and saved that day. Ishmael became the father of the 12 dukes (princes) who became the fathers of all the Arab nations (Genesis 25:13-16).
Genesis 25:13, And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. (KJV)
So the loving mother, provider, life sustainer, name/nature of God named EL SHADDAI provided for the two sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac.
Isaac and his descendants called Israel (also later called Jews and Hebrews) knew God by the name/nature EL SHADDAI for a relatively short period of the next 500 years. Isaac’s brother Ishmael and his descendants, called Arabs, worshipped the same EL SHADDAI for a relatively longer period of time, the next 2500 years. The Arab concept of God never grew to include YAHWEH. Arabs only looked to EL SHADDAI as a provider.
Arabs were a nation of nomads and tent dwellers, wandering from place to place. Their main concern was where to find their next meal or watering hole. They were absolutely and completely dependent on the nourisher, the provider name/nature EL SHADDAI.
ISLAM--ALLAH After 2500 years the descendants of the 12 dukes of Ishmael embraced a new religion with a new and different name/nature of God, ALLAH. ALLAH is the name of the Islamic God. Allah is not a Jewish name/nature of God. Allah is not a Christian name/nature of God. Allah is not in our Bible. The worshipers of ALLAH are called Islamic Moslems (Muslims). Moslems embrace a large section of the population, including Turks. Remember that the 12 tribes of Israel embraced the new name/nature of God, YAHWEH about 2000 years before.
ALLAH The name of the Moslem God: ALLAH (not YAHWEH).
The prophet: Mohammed (not Moses).
The religion: Islam (not Judaism).
The people: Arabians, Turks, Libyans (North Africans), and Persians (not Israelites).
Their name: Muslims, Moslems.
Their holy city: First Mecca, then Jerusalem then others.
Their message: Day of Judgment.
Their army: Jihad.
Their militant sect: The Shiites.
Their battle cry: There is no God but ALLAH; and Mohammed is his apostle (Prophet).
Their creed: I believe in ALLAH, in his angels, in his revealed scriptures, in his prophets, in the future life, in the divine decree in respect to the good as well as to the bad, and in the resurrection of the dead.
Their proclamation: The Koran.
Their treatment of unbelief: All people must be believers in ALLAH. Conversion to ALLAH using weapons, when necessary. Believe in Allah or die.
Their division of the world: Territory of Islam. The Territory of War. (All territory outside Islam is the territory of war.)
Their most hideous teaching: Muslims who die in battle against unbelievers are guaranteed entrance into heaven.
Results of their fanatical wars: Spread of Islam by the sword. Suicidal attacks by the Shiite Jihad, recently, against western culture, especially the U.S.A. Fundamental Moslems are not afraid to die, and they feel no guilt when killing others in battle or terrorist acts.
SUICIDAL TERRORISM In WW II, our greatest losses came from Japanese Shinto Kamikaze pilots who flew their frightful human suicide bombs into our ships.
From 1982 and forward, our greatest losses have come from IRANIAN, SYRIAN, and LIBYAN SHIITE JIHAD (Holy Army) car and truck drivers who drive their abominable human suicide bombs into American establishments.
The hellish common denominator that binds the Shinto Kamikazes and the Shiite Jihads is the hideous teaching that Muslims (Shintos) who die in battle against unbelievers are guaranteed entrance into heaven. Both are groups of religious terrorists.
Religious systems that teach such suicidal terrorism are enemies of the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. I admit that these ugly ideas are not the only cause of war, but I believe that nations and religions that teach them are always warring people.
As a former enlisted sailor, I have developed an awesome regard and terrifying dread of the determination of the Shiite Jihad and their Holy War. Only our God can save us from their monomania. I think that many of the leaders of our own government have shown that they can offer our young men and women as a sacrifice to the godless U.N. in the coming Holy War, called Armageddon.
RELIGIOUS KILLINGS There is another religious teaching that is almost as bad as suicidal terrorism because it leads to a Holy War. That ugly idea is that it is proper and pleasing to God to kill a person who holds a religious belief foreign to your own. This religious fanaticism is the nature of the destroyer.
In the Turkish Holy Wars, Muslims killed Spanish and Egyptian people because the Muslims believed that the Spanish and Egyptians were infidels.
In the Christian Crusades, French and English Knights killed Turks and Arabs because they were Moslems.
In the inquisition, Roman Catholics killed Spaniards because they were Protestants or Jews.
Around the time of the Reformation (1553), Roman Catholics burned MICHAEL SERVETUS in effigy (likeness, puppet, dummy, straw mannequin, used because the person was in hiding, or not available) because SERVETUS wrote theological papers like a Protestant. Later, the infamous John Calvin (father of the Baptist and Presbyterian Denominations) literally and personally caused the same MICHAEL SERVETUS to be burned alive at the stake. Calvin violently disagreed with the religious writings of SERVETUS. So much for the way Roman Catholics and Protestants treat newly revealed religious ideas. Do you think they would do the same now-a-days if they could get away with it? I do.
In the 1800s, Anglo Saxon Americans and Native American Indians killed each other because they hated each other’s history, and they wanted each others territory. Catholics and Protestants killed those Native Americans they could not convert.
In the 1860s, American brothers killed each other because they hated each other’s stand on slavery, and on state’s rights.
In WW II, Protestant Lutheran Germans killed Polish people because they were Jews.
From 1982 to the present, Arab SHIITE JIHAD Muslims kill any nationality, especially U.S.A. Anglo Saxons, and Jews, because they are JUDEO-CHRISTIANS.
In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants killed each other because they hate each other’s religion, and history of control.
In the 1990s, Bosnian Serbs, and Bosnian Moslems kill each other because they hate each other’s religion and history.
In the 1900s, white men and black men kill each other in the streets of the U.S.A. because they hate each other’s history.
This is the nature of the destroyer.
It is not a pretty history! Is it?
It is sad to think that almost everyone in the world is descended from someone who took part in that chain, either as aggressor or victim, and in some cases, both.
Do you suppose that you may be called upon by our God to help break that chain?
RACIAL KILLINGS And there is another idea that is just as bad. That idea is that a certain race of people has a divine right to rule the world because they believe they are superior to the rest of the races.
Someday people who think that their own race is superior to others will have to answer to this scripture:
Revelation 5:9-10, And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The blood of JESUS CHRIST has made all nations equal and consequently the kings and priests who will reign on the earth will be from all nations.
WHO’S THE BOSS? Many Turkish Muslims believed that they were superior to others and that they had a divine right to rule. So they fought in the Islamic wars.
Many Anglo Saxons believed that about themselves. So they fought in the Christian Crusades.
Many Spanish Conquistadors believed that about themselves. So they fought in the South American, Mexican, and American Indian conquests.
Many Nazi Aryan Germans believed that about themselves. So they fought in WW II.
Many Shinto Japanese believed that about themselves. So they fought in WW II.
Many whites believe that about themselves. So they fought in South Africa.
Many blacks believe that about themselves. So they fought in the African tribal wars.
Many SHIITE JIHAD Muslim Arabs believe that about themselves. So they fight in the present terrorist wars.
Will we ever learn?
A serious study of EL ELYON Chapter 21 must also include a study of: · EL ELYON, MOST HIGH GOD Chapter 22, and · KNOWING FROM EL ELYON Chapter 23, and · EL ELYON, MOST HIGH GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Chapter 24, and · EL ELYON, THEN AND NOW Chapter 25, and · MELCHISEDEC ORDER Chapter 26, because there is a lot to learn about EL ELYON.
Some subjects in those chapters have been reviewed and/or abbreviated for this chapter. Some have not. Some subjects in this chapter are new and unique. The index should be a big help.
EL ELYON, A DIVINE NAME Since, in reference to God, ELYON is never preceded by the article HA (the), it must have been regarded as a proper noun, a Name of God. Thus, it can be used as a divine name, meaning "The Most High." In the preceding expression, the word “the” refers to the word “Most,” not to “High.” The word “High” is the English word for the Hebrew word “ELYON.”
When we see “ha shem” (the name) it usually refers to YAHWEH.
The word EL also means God. EL has the widest range of usage of all the different words for God. Consequently, it does not follow specific patterns like the others do. In fact, some writers say it is an abbreviated form of ELOHIM. Others say it is an abbreviated form of ELYON. I say that all of the ideas expressed about EL make sense to me.
When EL is combined with ELYON, to make EL ELYON, it means "The Most High God."
The name ELYON occurs with EL, with YAHWEH, with ELOHIM, and also alone, chiefly in poetic and late passages. See, YAHWEH, COUNFOUNDING, Chapter 11 for possible explanations for the combinations. Some confounded corruptions were made on purpose.
The Phoenicians used what appears to be the same name for God, ELYON.
EL ELYON is God.
EL ELYON is the Most High God.
EL ELYON is androgynous.
EL ELYON is the possessor of heaven and earth.
EL ELYON is the Father of JESUS CHRIST.
EL ELYON is our Father, too.
EL ELYON provides love, mercy, and forgiveness.
EL ELYON is the God of MELCHISEDEC and the MELCHISEDEC order.
EL ELYON is the God of overcoming death.
EL ELYON etymology is Strong's 5945, 5927. I believe it means, “to provide from the top head.” 5945, 5920, 5921, 5942, 5946, 5956, 5957, 5958, 5959.
NAME NATURE OF JESUS' GOD The Christian who wants to overcome the last enemy -- which is death -- desires to know God as JESUS knew Him. Jesus became a priest after the order of Melchisedec, who knew God as EL ELYON, the Most High God. JESUS and Melchisedec entered the EL ELYON priesthood through the power of endless life. Those who overcome the last enemy -- death -- will do it the same way. They will have a balanced knowledge of, and experience with, all of the names/natures and attributes of the Godhead, and be priests of EL ELYON, the Most High God.
EL ELYON -- JESUS' FATHER The angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary: Luke 1:32, He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of ELYON (the Highest) (KJV)
And the angel Gabriel also said: Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the dunamis (power) of ELYON (the Highest) shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (KJV)
That means that EL ELYON was the Father of JESUS.
The same dunamis (power) of ELYON was promised to other people to change them also, as Mary was changed.
Luke 24:49, And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with dunamis (power) from ELYON (on High). (KJV)
That’s something to stop and think about. There is some evidence to think that the same dunamis (power) of ELYON, that empowered Mary -- the same dunamis (power) that the disciples received when the Holy Ghost came upon them -- that same dunamis (power) will empower the last generation of this age, to overcome the last enemy, death.
We are talking about something more than the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
EL ELYON -- OUR FATHER, TOO JESUS quoted Psalm 82:6.
Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are ELOHIM (gods); and all of you are children of ELYON (the Most High). (KJV)
When we look at today’s society it is hard to believe that plain statement of King David and JESUS, but someday soon, we hope it will become obvious that we are Gods and children of EL ELYON.
EL ELYON, NOT YAHWEH Judaeo-Christian literature is resplendent with many references to the attributes of YAHWEH. After all, YAHWEH is the name/nature of the God of Israel, so there has been a lot written about YAHWEH. Comparatively, very little has been done to study the concerns of EL ELYON. Perhaps that is because scholars are as human as people in other realms, so they tend to follow in each other’s tracks.
INEFFECTIVE CHRISTIANITY Another less noticed reason that EL ELYON receives less attention than YAHWEH is the one that bothers me a lot. Bible reading Christians tend to want to pattern their conduct after their own understanding of God. Naturally, the predominance of information about God is about YAHWEH, the God of Israel. Some Bible reading Christians tend to change, in their ideas and conduct, to think a lot like Jews think. JESUS warned us against that.
There’s nothing wrong with being a Jew. The problem is the return of YAHWEH when applied out of harmony with EL SHADDAI to the thinking process of any race or nationality of people.
Paul wrote whole books to try to stop that. But we have persisted -- until now. The way out of this trap is to study the attributes of EL ELYON -- the Father of JESUS.
This study will show us why JESUS was often in trouble with the Jewish religious leaders of His day. The Jewish idea of God was YAHWEH. Jesus’ idea of God was EL ELYON; and there is a big difference. We must become aware of the differences.
There is as much difference between "YAHWEH" and "EL ELYON" as there is between “The Reverend David Ebaugh" and "Daddy," but in both cases we are talking about the same person.
EL ELYON is interested in nations, peoples, boundaries, kingdoms, and kings. Contradistinctively, YAHWEH, the God of Israel, is interested mainly in the nation of Israel. Deuteronomy 32:8-9 shows the contradistinction very clearly.
Deuteronomy 32:8-9, When ELYON (the Most High) divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For YAHWEH’S (the LORD'S) portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. (KJV)
Notice that ELYON is connected with the nations of the world, and YAHWEH is connected with Israel.
The book of Daniel is full of the idea that ELYON is the God of the other nations. Daniel could not keep the laws of YAHWEH while he was in captivity in Babylon. So Daniel’s references to God were to EL ELYON not YAHWEH.
It seems obvious to me that ELYON is the true name/nature of the God of Biblical Christianity, because Christianity crosses national boundaries. YAHWEH, the God of the Jews, acts mainly in the interest in Israel, i.e., YAHWEH stays with Israel. The tragedy is, that traditional Christianity has rejected EL ELYON, as the name/nature of their concept of God. Christianity has embraced the concept of God as YAHWEH, the God of the Jews. I believe that this is the main reason for the ineffectiveness of Christianity in dealing with world problems. It is also the reason that we can not look to Judaism, Roman Catholicism, or Protestantism for the real answers to our present problems.
VERY IMPORTANT KEY We believe that this scripture about Melchisedec is a very important key for those people who will overcome the last enemy -- death. Those people will live through the end of the present church age and enter victoriously into the millennium. We also believe and hope, that many people who are going to overcome death are reading this book right now!
Genesis 14:18-20, And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of EL ELYON (the Most High God). 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of EL ELYON (the Most High God), possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be EL ELYON (the Most High God), which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (KJV)
We will study Genesis 14:18-20 to find things about EL ELYON. Later we will study the same scripture to find things about Melchisedec. Then we will try to connect it all together.
EL ELYON -- MOST HIGH GOD The first thing that we should notice is that none of the various Bible translations help us to see the difference between YAHWEH and EL ELYON. So we have to go back to STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE to find the information, so we can supply the correct Name of God in the right place.
EL ELYON is the possessor of heaven and earth. We are looking at the word “earth.” We have already seen from Deut. 32:8 that EL ELYON gives a lot of attention to nations, peoples, boundaries, kingdoms, and kings. That sure does sound like EL ELYON is interested in the earth. Not that EL ELYON ignores heaven. EL ELYON is the possessor of heaven and earth.
We might mention that JESUS said that ELOHIM (not EL ELYON) was a spirit. Since ELOHIM is a spirit and consequently is mainly (but not exclusively) interested in spiritual, heavenly, and angelic things, it may help to see why EL ELYON is referred to as the Most High God. His interest includes the heavenly spiritual areas of ELOHIM. EL ELYON’s interest also includes the areas of the earth where we live.
Let's be careful to not allow ourselves to think of ELOHIM as lesser than EL ELYON. We must think that EL ELYON is Most High.
EARTHLY INTEREST As possessor of heaven and earth, EL ELYON is not only interested in our spiritual heavenly development and future -- He is also interested in our temporal earthly development and future. That makes EL ELYON the name/nature of a very practical side of our God. In other words, EL ELYON is not only interested in our spirits, EL ELYON is also interested in our bodies.
BREAD AND WINE The priest of EL ELYON, named Melchisedec, followed up on the body idea, the practical and temporal side of God, by bringing bread and wine to Abram.
As priest of EL ELYON, Melchisedec could have brought hope, faith, healings, miracles or a whole list of more spiritual gifts to Abram. Instead, Melchisedec brought some very practical temporal bread and wine to Abram and his tired hungry soldiers after their return from the battle with the kings.
Over the years, I have come to identify more with the name/nature of God that takes care of us while we are alive, here on this earth. That may show why my interest is moving to EL ELYON, the name/nature of the Most High God (of earth). By saying that I do not mean to indicate that I have any less interest in the other names. Yes, I do have respect for the name/nature of God that takes care of us after we die and go to heaven. You can have more interest in one attribute without having less interest in another.
After Melchisedec gave bread and wine to Abram, then Abram responded by giving tithes of the battle to Melchisedec. He responded in the same temporal, physical, practical, and earthly realm. I don't think that was an accident or a coincidence.
PROVOKED BY REJECTING The attention here in Psalm 78 is in the division of the temporal land for a natural inheritance. Psalm 78:17 has a lot to say about the way Israel provoked ELYON by rejecting the boundaries of the countries that ELYON set up.
Psalm 78:17, And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. (KJV)
Psalm 78:55-57, He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tempted and provoked EL ELYON (the Most High God), and kept not his testimonies: 57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. (KJV)
Psalm 78:55-57 continues to amplify the story about the way Israel provoked ELYON. Also see Deut. 32:8.
Deuteronomy 32:8, When ELYON (the Most High) divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. (KJV)
HIGHER NOT LOWER We have just seen that EL ELYON is the Most High God. That would indicate that EL ELYON is the highest of all the name/natures of God. We can conclude from the scriptures that there is a hierarchy in the Godhead.
As we think about the hierarchy of the Godhead we should remind ourselves that Paul said: Colossians 2:9-10, For in him (JESUS CHRIST) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him (JESUS CHRIST), which is the head of all principality and power (KJV)
Since EL ELYON is the Most High God, and since JESUS CHRIST is the head of all principality and power, and since the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in JESUS CHRIST, we conclude that JESUS CHRIST is of equal rank with EL ELYON. After all, JESUS CHRIST is the Son of EL ELYON, not YAHWEH (Luke 1:32, 35).
I have learned to never think about, and I try to never refer to, a lower order of the Godhead. We are to only think about a higher order.
Psalm 34:3, O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (KJV)
Magnify and exalt means to make bigger and higher.
In other words, make God bigger and make God higher. Never make God smaller or lower.
That means we should never think of ELOAH as anything less than YAHWEH, ELOHIM, EL SHADDAI or EL ELYON. It is fine to think of ELOAH as God and to think of EL ELYON as the Most High God. That magnifies God and exalts the Name of God.
When presented with a fact that "A" is higher than "B," the normal Occidental mind rightly concludes that "B" is lower than "A." That's O.K. for most thinking processes, but it is dangerous and it is wrong to apply that Occidental type of thinking to the Godhead.
From our standpoint, we must see that no name/nature of the Godhead is lower than any other. But some Names are higher than others. Sure it is hard. But, you must try to master it. Here is an idea to help.
While I look at the Godhead, I stand in awe of every splendored portion. Within the intense glory, Nothing can be distinguished. Every section is equally brilliant. Within the resplendent light I am oblivious. A burst of increasing scintillation projects light on light. Somehow, I notice and respond, To the ever increasing illumination, I am in love.
All the attributes of the Godhead are contained within the highest order. That means that everything that ELOAH is and does is contained within YAHWEH, ELOHIM, and EL SHADDAI. Also it means that all the attributes of YAHWEH, ELOHIM, and EL SHADDAI are contained within EL ELYON, the Most High God.
Here is another hard part. Remember that we do not say or think that EL ELYON contains the total of the combined attributes of YAHWEH, ELOHIM, EL SHADDAI, or ELOAH.
We do not say or think that the whole is equal to the sum of its parts. We say and think that the sum of the parts equals the whole. That way we constantly magnify and exalt our God. We do not make our God smaller.
EL ELYON produced the highest order of creation, JESUS CHRIST. The masculine creative forces within the name/nature of YAHWEH and the feminine creative forces within the name/nature of EL SHADDAI are contained within the name/nature of EL ELYON the Most High God as well as within ELOHIM the creator God. The sum of the parts is equal to the whole.
JESUS' FATHER IS EL ELYON. When we say that EL ELYON’s Son is JESUS, we are not lowering the Godhead by making JESUS less than EL ELYON. Sons are not necessarily less than their father. Many sons become equal to their father. And hopefully for the sake of our society, many sons become greater than their father.
HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY EL ELYON is the possessor of heaven and earth. The idea is presented in Gen. 14:19 and repeated in verse 22. Possessor of heaven and earth! That's everything.
Possessor of heaven means that EL ELYON owns all heavenly, spiritual powers, principalities, forces, angels, and entities.
Possessor of earth seems fairly obvious. ELOHIM creates everything in heaven and on earth, and EL ELYON possess it.
It would follow then, that the bread and wine that Melchisedec gave to Abram were the possession of EL ELYON. And those things are very earthy.
We think of gifts of God as being something far from earthy. Gifts of love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, patience, temperance, and faith are expected from God. EL ELYON (the Most High God) did not send any of His spiritual possessions to Abram through His prophet Melchisedec. No. EL ELYON’S gifts were very temporal, and earthy. They were bread and wine.
In other words, EL ELYON the possessor of heaven and also of earth, can send gifts from either the spiritual or the temporal realm, i.e., what ever He thinks we need the most.
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