By Thomas Trinka
October 3, 2022
So, I just want to say at the outset, that this message may at first be a bit upsetting to some of your long held doctrinal beliefs. I understand that, as Mr. Armstrong famously said, it’s harder to unlearn something that we have thought to be true, then it is to simply learn about something for the first time.
And how’d we come to believe the things we have come to understand? Well, many of us, when we were first called read the Plain Truth magazine from cover to cover, and later the Good News publication as well. Likewise, you probably learned the basics beliefs we hold dear from the AC correspondence course, and the years of sermons, many of which doctrinally were given through the release of the Pastor Generals Report, and the refresher courses that the ministry took part in.
Sure, we all read our bibles, but our minds in many cases were subtly influenced by the doctrines that the Church was teaching. And much of what we were taught, and came to believe was and is the truth. However, God’s word instructs us to prove all things and to hold on to what is the truth. And if you’re like myself and most people in the Churches of God, many things we have just sort of took for granted, to be the truth without thoroughly vetting it from the bible itself.
So, all I ask, is to please just have an open mind, truly listen to what I will be sharing and be a Berean, and search the scriptures and prove for yourselves if what I’m offering to you, is indeed the truth. And also, please keep in mind one of the cardinal rules of bible study, which is to let the biblical text define itself.
And then to believe what the bible actually says, even if it may differ from what we have been told, and understood to be the truth for a very long time. God’s word instructs us to grow in grace and knowledge, and we can only do that, if we have an open mind. Furthermore, as I’m sure we have all experienced in the past, you can read over certain biblical passages for years, and then all of a sudden something new and different just jumps out at you, like you’re reading it for the very first time. This I believe is God’s Spirit working in our minds to help us to continue that process of growth in the understanding of God and His written word. But we have to be willing to allow that growth to occur, otherwise we will stagnate and fail to follow what God’s Spirit desires to teach us.
So, with all that said, I’d like to begin in John 17:3 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Friends I find this quote by Jesus quite revealing. What did Jesus mean when He said that the Father is the only True God? Isn’t Jesus God as well? Well of course we know that Jesus is an eternal God being just like the Father, so what was Christ trying to convey, when He said that the Father is the only true God? Well by the end of this study, I’ll put forth some ideas of what Christ was trying to tell us.
Moreover, Christ said that we must know, that is to have a deep understanding of God the Father and Jesus Christ. It is one of the fundamental prerequisites, if we want to inherit internal life. And this makes perfect sense since God created us to become like Him.
And while the gospels are full of information regarding the character and nature of Jesus Christ, and Christ is a perfect reflection of the Father, I believe its fundamental for our Spiritual growth and salvation, to really get to know God the Father in a more personal way as well. And we can only do that if we fully understand how God the Father is identified in the scriptures, and the role that He fulfilled and continues to fulfill in His plan of salvation, as it is recorded in the biblical text.
However, as we all know, the traditional view that the COG’s have held over the years and what the vast majority are still teaching today, is that God the Father had very little to do with ancient Israel.
In fact, the traditional view is that Jesus Christ was the God of the OT, and that God the Father was involved very little, if at all with His people. But is that really what the scriptures actually state to be true? Today I’d like to begin and take a fresh look to show what I have recently discovered to be truthful. Which is that scripture shows that God the Father was in fact extremely active and involved throughout the OT.
God Almighty, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jehovah
Let’s start by turning to Exodus 6:2-3 (MKJV) 2 And God spoke to Moses, and said to him, I am Jehovah. 3 And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty. But I was not known to them by the name JEHOVAH.
Exodus 6:2-3 – New King James Version (1982) 2. And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I [am] the LORD. 3. “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but [by] My name LORD I was not known to them.
6:2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord, I was not known to them.
Ok so who is talking here? Who exactly is God Almighty?
Well let’s let the bible define its own terms, turn to Revelation. 21: 22
This is referring of New Jerusalem;
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
So, we have both the Lamb which of course is Jesus Christ and we have Lord God Almighty. So, the bible clearly defines God Almighty as the Father. Ok, so back to Exodus 6. So, in verse 3 we have God the Father revealing himself to Moses as both God Almighty, and by His name, the Lord or YHWH Jehovah or Yeovah.
For decades we have been told that the Lord, Jehovah was Jesus Christ. But that’s not what the bible actually reveals to be true. I know that’s a real big one, and very hard too mentally digest. But just stick with me, I want to add to this revelation.
Exodus 6:4 I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am [Jehovah] the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am Jehovah [the Lord] your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am Jehovah [the Lord].’
Three times in these five verses God Almighty, the Father tells Moses that His name is Jehovah, and that He was the one that made the covenant with Abraham Isaac and Jacob, and that He Himself was going to bring His people Israel out of bondage.
God Most High
OK lets now turn to Psalms 91:1
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. So here again, letting the bible define its own terms, we find that God the Father, the Almighty is also identified as the Most High God.
Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; So here again we see the one that later became Jesus Christ, in the role of Melchizedek, was priest of God Most High. So, in letting the bible define its own text, the God Most High is identified as God the Father in scripture. And this fits the Christs own words, for He always acknowledged that the Father was the supreme being in the Godhead.
Let’s just confirm this identification of the Most High God, as solely applying to God the Father.
Luke 8:28 This is an account of a demon possessed man. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
So, Jesus is the Son of the Most High God, and Jesus in the role of Melchizedek, was the priest of God Most High. So, to summarize so far, we find that in letting the bible define its own terms, that God the Father is identified as God Almighty, God Most High, the God of the fathers, and Jehovah. Furthermore, the bible tells us that God the Father alone is Jehovah. Let’s look at a few verses that underscore this important distinction.
Psalms 83:16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Jehovah {Lord] 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is Jehovah [the Lord], Are the Most High over all the earth. Again, we have confirmation that the Father, the Most High is Jehovah, and most important is that it is His name alone, He does not share the name Jehovah with Jesus.
Another proof text, a very familiar one. Deuteronomy 6, beginning in verse 1. I’m going to read it the way it should be written in scripture, substituting Jehovah, for the phrase [the Lord] since the phrase the Lord actually is used in place of the name Jehovah. And this substitution really is confusing, because in the NT, the Lord most often refers to Jesus Christ, so it’s easy to automatically think that the phrase ‘the Lord’ is referencing the one that later became Jesus Christ, when here in the OT it is not.
Deuteronomy 6:1 “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which Jehovah your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, 2 that you may fear Jehovah your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as Jehovah, God of your fathers has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.’ 4 “Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God, Jehovah is one! 5 You shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Notice especially what is being stated in verse 4. “Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God, Jehovah is one! What this very familiar verse is stating as fact, is that there is only one Jehovah, who is God the Father. It’s His name alone, He does not share it with Christ or anyone else. And the Jews understood that this was God the Fathers name. The 3rd commandment states “You shall not take the name of Jehovah [the Lord] your God in vain”
So, the Jews being overly zealous and without proper comprehension, of the spirit of the law, just stopped saying God’s name altogether. It’s the only word in scripture the Jews will not use. We also see from Exodus 6:3 that God the Father said that He was known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty. He was the God being that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, knew to be their God, in the book of Genesis.
And this is confirmed for us in Acts chapter 3:13 Let’s read that.
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
This I believe is a key defining verse, for it tells us that God the Father was the God of Israel, not Jesus Christ. Friends, again, please look at these verses with an open mind, setting aside what we have been told is true for so many years.
This fact is again repeated in Acts 5.30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. It bares repeating, what these verses clearly show is that the God of Israel was God the Father, not Jesus Christ. And as we saw in Exodus 6, God the Father identifies Himself as the One responsible for delivering Israel and of bondage. Let’s dig into that a bit deeper.
Psalms 78:12 Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap. 4 In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, And all the night with a light of fire. 5 He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. 16 He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 But they sinned even more against Him By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.
So we see here that Israel rebelled against God the Father, God Most High.
Psalms 78:40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! 41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, 43 When He worked His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; 44 Turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink. Drop to 51 And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52 But He made His own people go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53 And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And He brought them to His holy border, this mountain which His right hand had acquired. 55 He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them an inheritance by survey, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, And did not keep His testimonies.
Now I want to make the point, that the bible clearly shows that Jesus Christ as the Angel of the Lord, worked hand in hand with God the Father, during the exodus and in Israel’s travels in the wilderness. I’m not in any way suggesting that Christ did not have a part to play, I’m just pointing out that contrary to what the COGs have taught for decades, God the Father had a principal and active role in Israel’s history as well. They were both working with the nation of Israel.
Let’s look at one example of Jesus role as the Angel of the Lord, or the Angel of Jehovah.
Exodus 23:20 “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.
Notice again, another proof of God the Fathers name, God says My name is in Him. Sure, it was, because Christ was the Angel of the Lord, or more precisely the angel of Jehovah. God’s name defined who the, Angel was serving, which was God the Father.
22 But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
Verse 22 states that both God the Father and His Angel Jesus communicated with Israel. Obey His voice and do all that I speak.
23 For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off.
Again, both of them are involved, the Father says I will cut them off.
Going back to Psalms 78, I wanted to focus on another term that is used to identify God the Father. Holy One of Israel Psalm 78.41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. The Holy One of Israel, let’s see how that phrase is used in other passages of scripture.
Isaiah 48.17 Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am Jehovah your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.
I am using this verse on purpose to make several points. First notice that Jehovah, who we have shown to be God the Father, calls Himself Israel’s Redeemer. I have found through the course of this subject matter, that there are multiple descriptive words that God the Father and Jesus Christ share. Among them are; Rock, Savior, Creator, Shepherd, and as in this case Redeemer.
This subject is too lengthy to dive into today. But just to help clarify, God the Father Redeemed Israel from Egypt by the death of the first born. This of course is a type of Christ’s sacrifice pictured by the slaying of the lambs during the Passover. We saw that in Psalms 78.42 where God the Father said that He redeemed Israel from there enemy in Egypt.
In the New Testament fulfillment of this, we are redeemed from the penalty of death, through Christ’s sacrifice for us, but God the Father also is our Redeemer, by the fact, that He loved us so much that he was willing to give His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our redemption. So through these actions they both share the label or title of Redeemer. And so, it is with the other titles, that they both share as well.
Ok. so, with that said, please turn to Jerimiah 51.5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, by his God, the Lord of hosts, though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”
So, in both Isaiah48.17 and here in Jerimiah 51.5 we find another title that is exclusively used to identify God the Father. The Holy One of Israel. Notice how the bible threads these titles together, Jehovah is defined as God Almighty, God Most High, God of the Fathers, and now the Holy One of Israel.
At this point I’d like to add another bit of insight into this subject,
please turn to 1 Chronicles. 29, and I’ll start reading in verse 10. Here we find King David praying to God, thanking Him for allowing David to assemble the gold and silver necessary for his son Solomon, to build the Temple. And as I read this, let’s be mindful of whom it is that Jesus instructed us to pray to. We are to pray to God the Father.
1 Chronicles. 29:10 David praised Jehovah [the Lord] in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Jehovah [Lord], the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Jehovah [Lord], is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Jehovah [Lord,] is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
Notice David refers to Jehovah {God the Father} the one he is praying to, and referring to Him as the God of our father Israel. Furthermore, at the end of the prayer, David says that he praises the Fathers glorious name, which as the passage shows is Jehovah. I’d like to offer even more proof that God the Father, was the God that Israel interacted with in the wilderness, and especially at Mount Sinai.
Deuteronomy 5.1 Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 Jehovah [The Lord] our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 6 “I am Jehovah [the Lord] your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 7 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Stop for a moment and ask yourselves, can Jesus make this statement, that You shall have no other gods before me? The answer is no of course not, Jesus always taught that the Father was greater the He was, and that our focus and worship should be directed to God our Father.
Deuteronomy 5:22 These are the commandments Jehovah [the Lord] proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 24 And you said, “Jehovah [The Lord] our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them. 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of Jehovah [the Lord] our God any longer. 26 For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?
The Living God
Notice at the end of verse 26, we are introduced to yet another title of Jehovah, God our Father. He is the Living God. Letting the bible define itself, let’s see from the scriptures who is the living God.
Matthew16:15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus identifies Himself and the Son of the Living God. So again, we find biblical proof that God the Father, is Jehovah, and the One that spoke the 10 commandments at mount Sinai. OK, I’d like to share one more title with you today, please turn to
Jerimiah 23:36 And the oracle of Jehovah [the Lord] you shall mention no more. For every man’s word will be his oracle, for you have perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God.
So here we find that Jehovah, the Living God, God the Father, is also revealed in the scriptures by the title Lord or Jehovah of Hosts. As we read earlier in Jerimiah51:5, the title Jehovah of Hosts is used in conjunction with another title of God the Father, the Holy One of Israel.
Let’s now dig into the title the Lord of Hosts, in more detail. The phrase Lord of Hosts, or more precisely Jehovah of Hosts, is used 235 times in the NKJV. And it reveals some really interesting events pertaining to God the Father. Let’s look at just a few.
Zechariah 6:12 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says [the Lord] Jehovah of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of [the Lord] Jehovah; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of [the Lord] Jehovah. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; So, He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
Please take special note of what verse 12 records for us. This is a prophecy made by Jehovah of Hosts, God the Father that the BRANCH, who we all know to be Jesus Christ, will build the temple or church of Jehovah. Verse 13 confirms that Jesus will build the church of Jehovah, [God’s church], and that the Father has given Jesus both the role of King, sitting on a throne and also as High Priest.
The NLT translates verse 13 stating; 13 Yes, he will build the Temple of [the Lord] Jehovah. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’ So, these verses give us further confirmation, that the Lord of Hosts is yet another title for God the Father, tied in directed with other titles such as the Living God and the Holy One of Israel, which we have already covered.
Isaiah 48.1 “Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah; Who swear by the name of Jehovah [the Lord], And make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth or in righteousness; 2 For they call themselves after the holy city, And lean on the God of Israel; Jehovah [The Lord] of hosts is His name:
Again, further proof that God the Father’s name is Jehovah, and that He was and is Israel’s God.
Isaiah 51:15 But I am Jehovah [the Lord] your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared— Jehovah [The Lord] of hosts is His name.
Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
Here is another defining passage. Who is the Shepherd that gets killed resulting in the scattering of the sheep? Of course, we know it’s referring to Jesus Christ. So once again you have both God the Father and Jesus Christ referenced in the same passage. God the Father is always referred to as Jehovah of Hosts, because as we have seen, that’s the Father’s name.
8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says Jehovah [the Lord], “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, Jehovah ‘[The Lord] is my God.’”
Again, the people after the tribulation will call on, and seek after God the Father, whose name is Jehovah.
Since we are in the midst of the fall Holy Days, let’s now look at a few more passages looking forward to the millennium.
Zechariah 8:1 Again the word of Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.’ 3 “Thus says Jehovah [the Lord]: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’ 4 “Thus says Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. 5 The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.’ 6 “Thus says Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts: ‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’ Says Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts. 7 “Thus says Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts: ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; 8 I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.’
Drop to verse 20.
Zechariah 8:20 “Thus says Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying “Let us continue to go and pray before Jehovah [the Lord], And seek Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts. I myself will go also.” 22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before Jehovah [the Lord].’
Notice again what these verses clearly portray. People in the Millennium going before God the Father in prayer. Showing that, not only was God our Father active and present working with the ancients Israelites, bringing them out of bondage from Egypt. But also, in this later fulfillment God the Father will bring His people back from the future captivity, and will also rule from Jerusalem with Jesus Christ when the Kingdom of God is re-established.
Let’s just quickly go to Revelation 11, to highlight this important fact.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
Notice that verse 17 is stating that Lord God Almighty will be coming to rule on earth, at the time of the sounding of the 7th Trumpet.
And as I’ve shown earlier, the bible defines God Almighty as God the Father in Revelation 21:22.
Revelation 11:15 clearly states “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Both of them will rule on the earth together. The Father is not coming to dwell with mankind a thousand years later, which most COG’s continue to teach today. Let’s close with one final passage that clearly demonstrates the fact that God the Father will rule from Jerusalem, when the Kingdom of God is beginning to be re-established on earth.
Zechariah14:1 Behold, the day of Jehovah [the Lord] is coming, 3 Then Jehovah [the Lord] will go forth and fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.
Brethren, please take special note of Verse 4. The bible clearly says that Jehovah, God the Father’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, not Jesus Christ.
Drop down to the end of verse 5.
5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 It shall come to pass in that day That there will be no light; The lights will diminish. 7 It shall be one day Which is known to Jehovah [the Lord]— Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light.
Verse 9 And Jehovah [God the Father) (the Lord] shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— “[The Lord] Jehovah is one,” And His name one.
Again, there is only one Jehovah, the bible repeats this over and over. Jesus Christ does NOT share the name Jehovah with the Father.
Zechariah14:16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah [the Lord] of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which Jehovah [the Lord] strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 20 In that day “HOLINESS TO JEHOVAH [THE LORD]” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in Jehovah’s [the Lord’s] house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to [the Lord] Jehovah of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of [the Lord] Jehovah of hosts.
In the model prayer Jesus prays Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Jesus is telling us to pray for the Father’s Kingdom to return to earth. But we’ve all been taught that the Kingdoms coming without the Father, and that He doesn’t get involves for another 1000 years.
Friends, as I have strived to show you today, it’s simply not true. OK, so we have covered so much today, and much of it, I know is different from what we have been taught and what continues to be taught.
But as I stated at the outset, the bible defines itself, all we have to do is prove it for ourselves and then believe what God’s word actually says. And there’s so much more that ties into this topic, which I hope to be able to address at some future time. So, I began todays message by quoting John 17:3 where Jesus said to gain eternal life, we have to have a deep understanding of the only True God, which Christ defined in that verse as God the Father.
And I posed the question, as to why Jesus called the Father, the only true God? Let’s just look at a couple final scriptures, to help understand what He may of meant by saying that the Father is the only true God.
Isaiah 37:15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: 16 “O Jehovah [Lord] of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, you are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
Here the King is praying to the Father, and he proclaims “You are God, You alone.” This again states that Jehovah, God the Father is God alone, following up on Christ’s statement in John 17:3 that the Father is the only true God.
Furthermore, in Mark 12:28 Jesus is asked the question, what is the first or greatest commandment, and I think Jesus’s response sheds additional light on our question. Let’s read how Christ addresses this question.
Mark 12:29 Jesus answered him, “The first [or foremost] of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
That’s a direct quote from Deuteronomy 6.4 And as we covered before, the phrase [the Lord] literally means Jehovah. My bible reference states that an alternative translation could be; “Jehovah alone is our God” That’s the focus of Christ’s answer; And then He follows it up in verse
- And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
Jesus focus’s the attention solely on God the Father, and so must we. And that’s what I believe Jesus meant when He said that the Father is the only true God. God’s name Jehovah is used over 7000 times in the OT, improperly translated as the Lord. The Father was the only God that the nation of Israel knew. He made the covenants with the Fathers; He was Israel’s God.
Today I’ve shown that not only was the Father completely involved with ancient Israel, but also that He will be instrumental in bringing his kingdom to earth. And that He will rule with Christ from Jerusalem. All the examples I’ve shared with you today to help us to understand that God the Father is extremely involved with His creation, His Plan of salvation, and specially His people. He loves us and wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him personally. We are instructed to Draw near to Him and then He will draw near to us.
But how can we truly draw close to Him if we can’t even identify Him in His written word? That’s why this subject is so important to our salvation. It’s not that Jesus is not an eternal God Being. Jesus is our perfect example to follow, we are to emulate Him, and He is our eternal High Priest. But the role of the high priest is to steer our focus, and worship to the Father.
So, as we go forward let’s be about our Father’s business, and worship Him in Spirit and in truth. For as it states in Psalm 82:6 we are the children of the Most High.
Thank you all for your time today.
Thomas Trinka