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Jesus In the Old Testament: Part II

 

In my last article, we delved into proving and providing scriptural evidence of Jesus’ presence in the Old Testament.

We proved from the book of Daniel that Jesus was not only the SON of MAN but also the Ancient of Days. We know he was known, because all the prophets testified about him, for His Spirit was in them (Acts 10:43).

In part II of this study, I would like to dive into the book of Genesis, Chapters 18 & 19. Here, we will surely see GOD as a man, AND which is “mind-blowing”… both YHWH and JESUS interacting together to bring judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah!

Let us Pray,

“Heavenly Father, you who are worthy to be praised. You showed your love for us by sending your son to die for our sins. We thank you, Lord, that we now have the ability to come to your throne boldly with our prayers and petitions. Lord God, I ask that the words you give me will be a blessing to those who read them. I pray their hearts will be opened, and that the Spirit of Truth will show them the way. As always, Lord bless them and test all things via your word. I thank you for this opportunity to plant a seed, that you may water for it to grow. Continue to guide us, and may your hand never leave upon us. I ask this in Jesus’ name, our Lord, AMEN.

GENESIS 18 

Here we see that the LORD (JEHOVAH) appeared to Abraham.

Abraham looked up and saw THREE men standing nearby (v2). Notice that these Three men are real humans because we see Abraham asking, “if I have found favor in your eyes, my lords don’t pass by, and let water be brought so you all can wash your feet” (v3-4).

We also know they were humans because they also ate real food(v8). The Lord inquires, “Where is Sarah? I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will be with child (v 9-10).

As the men finished eating, they turned away and went towards Sodom, but the LORD stayed with Abraham (v22).

Now, keep up, Saints. In the beginning, there were THREE men who came to Abraham.

Now we see the men leaving, yet the LORD stays with Abraham.

So, how many men left to go to Sodom?

Answer only Two, and we will clearly see this later on in scripture.

So, the LORD remained with Abraham and told him what He was going to do to the cities.

Abraham pleaded with the LORD, “far be it for you to do such a thing to kill the righteous with the wicked”.

Now watch carefully … Abraham then says, “Will not the Judge of ALL the earth do right?” (v25).

Abraham understood that he was standing in the presence of the LORD JEHOVAH!

He confessed that the LORD was the Judge of all the earth. Not only a Judge but a righteous one at that. Remember Saints God the Father is Spirit, and No one has EVER seen God but the one whom came from God.

The LORD responded to Abraham’s confession about him, that if he found fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, or even ten righteous people in the city he will spare them all.

Then the LORD left Abraham.

Where was the LORD going? To correct Sodom(v33).

GENESIS 19

Now, remember when I asked how many men left to go to Sodom while the LORD stayed with Abraham?

Well, here is your answer from scripture.

Verse 1 says, “The Two Angels arrived at Sodom…”

The men described in Genesis 18 are now angels with physical bodies in chapter 19.

We also know that the LORD is on his way to see if HE will find 10 righteous people in the cities to spare it. When we keep reading the scriptures, ultimately, we know that the LORD didn’t find 10 righteous people: only Lot and two others survived.

When the LORD reached the cities… now watch this: how YHWH and JESUS both worked together to destroy the cities…

“Then the LORD (JEHOVAH) rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD (JEHOVAH) out of the heavens” (Genesis 19:24)

Did you catch it?

The LORD who was with Abraham (JESUS) rained down sulfur on both cities, “FROM” the LORD (FATHER) out of the heavens.

Clearly, the scripture is speaking and alluding to Two LORDS who are yet One, working together, passing the same Judgment.

How can this be if Jesus is (only) a New Testament figure?

When Abraham asked the LORD (Jesus) if he would spare the cities if 10 righteous were found,  Jesus answered, saying, “Yes,” which was Jesus’ forgiving. The word “to spare” in Hebrew is CHAMAL, which means to have pity/forgive.

Only God can forgive!

Here, again, we see Jesus showing his Godly attributes when answering Abraham.

Conclusion

One last point, to bring this all home so we can close this discussion.

When Jesus was speaking to the Jews in John 8:56-57 he said, “Your father Abraham  rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he SAW it and was glad.”

What day is Jesus speaking about?

I will tell you it was the day in GENESIS 18 when Abraham met Jesus and was Glad.

We know it was that day because the Jews in (v57) said, “you are not fifty years old, and yet you MET/HAVE SEEN Abraham!

Even they (the Jews) understood what Jesus was saying in (v56) about Abraham seeing him!

Don’t you just LOVE how God will provide the truth to those who seek it!

I pray that this article has been a blessing to you, as it has for me to write it.

I pray in the future to write part 3, for more scriptural evidence of our Christ in the Old Testament.

Be blessed!!!!!

Jesus In the Old Testament: Part 1

 

“In the beginning God (Elohim) (Plural) created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1)

 

There have been many discussions about the Son of God.

He is called Jesus in the New Testament.

Some say he was a created Being that came to be only in the New Testament. Others say He is only mentioned in the New Testament, not the Old Testament.

Why do we have so much confusion when it comes to the second distinct person in the Godhead?

As a believer, I also wondered why so many religions other than Christianity see Jesus as a threat to their faith. Islam, for example, needs an absent Jesus in the Old Testament, as do the Jews, because it validates what each is taught, or, as I say, “not taught.”

Throughout history, many have set out to disprove the Lamb of God. Jesus’ eternal existence is the biggest threat to many religions.

One doesn’t have to wonder why so many false doctrines and dogmas permeate our world today.

This article aims to search the scriptures useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).

We shall dive into God’s word to see His SON alive, working, and ministering to his people in the Old Testament.

We shall see how the prophets spoke and had visions of the Holy One. But most importantly, I shall prove that the one called Jesus is clearly not absent in the Old Testament.

Let us Pray:

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Mighty name of Jesus, thanking you for this opportunity to write and testify of your goodness.

May these words be a blessing to many.

May they test all things and not rely on me but on you.

May we all be strengthened and grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of you and your word.

We have so much to be thankful for, Lord God.

You have demonstrated your love for us; while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I ask if this article will touch those whose hearts you have opened to receive these words.

And may we all be called overcomers on that great day.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Close Examination of Text

Let’s first look at Daniel 7:9

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”

Here, Daniel is shown a vision.

Daniel said thrones (plural) were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his place.

Daniel goes on to describe what the Ancient of Days looked like… His garments were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool.

Daniel saw a real person, not a spirit, but one who looked like a “Son of man.”

The Bible says God the Father is Spirit, and we must worship Him in Spirit (John 4:24).

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18).

The question must be asked: Who did Daniel see in his vision?

We know from John 1:18 that no man has ever seen God the Father. So, who is this Supreme being who sits on a throne Daniel is speaking about?

We shall find one clue as to who this person is in Daniel 7:10.

It says, “The court was seated, and the books were opened.”

When I saw this verse, I was immediately reminded by the Holy Spirit of the book of Revelation 20:11-15.

It speaks of a great white throne and Him who is seated on it. People stood before this great white throne, and “books were opened.”

Chapter 20 of Revelation is the judgment of the dead, not the saints but those who chose to separate themselves from God while on earth.

You see, God loves us so much that he will honor our request not to serve Him while we are alive, and he will also honor that request when we die.

Revelation 20 shows Books (plural) were opened, and this Great and Mighty Judge was handing down eternal sentences WITHOUT the possibility of parole or pardon to those whose names were not written in the Book of Life.

Who is this judge that judges the dead?

Acts 10:42 and 2 Tim 4:1 tell us this person is none other than JESUS.

Lordship of Christ

Jesus was given all authority to Judge every human that has been born.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 we see the saints being judged for rewards, called the Bema SEAT of Christ. Yes, Jesus is also the judge of the living (Saints). Now that we have established who the person is, who sits on the throne when the books are opened, we can directly address Daniel 7.

Daniel 7:9-10 we clearly see the Ancient of Days mentioned is Jesus. Remember, God the Father is Spirit, and no man has EVER seen GOD. Daniel saw a manifestation of Jesus. He described him in human terms and attributes. We also know Jesus is on the throne, at the Father’s right hand.

But why does the verse say “Thrones”?

That’s because other thrones will be set up in heaven as well!

Matthew 19:27-28 teaches us that 12 thrones shall seat the 12 Apostles, who will also take on the role of a judge, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

Daniel 7:9 clearly shows that the one called Jesus in the New Testament was known in the Old Testament. Daniel knew these things because the Spirit of Christ was in the Prophets(1 Peter 1:11).

When we let scripture interpret scripture, we can see how things line up to leave little room for any other interpretation.

Now watch this!

Daniel 7:13 talks about “one like” the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven also look at (ref. Rev 14:14). Yet now the one who looks like the Son of man “approaches” the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

WAIT… I thought we established that Jesus was the “Ancient of Days?”

He is, but so is the Father!

Notice Daniel gave no description when mentioning the Ancient of Days in verse 13.

Daniel saw Jesus, called the Ancient of Days, in (v.9) being led into the presence of the Father, also called the Ancient of Days in (v.13).

These terms are eye-opening, for we clearly can see the equality in nature when it comes to the Father and Son. We can clearly see the same title attributed to the Father was also given to the Son.

We see both the Father and Son working in some future event shown to Daniel in a vision!

The Ancient of Days carries the meaning that God has lived through the entire course of human history.

He and He alone is the Ancient of Days!

He knows all the deeds of all human beings and all earthly kingdoms! Since Christ falls under this title, He, too, must be eternal and God.

We can’t separate the oneness of God, but we understand the distinct persons of that oneness. Jesus approaches the Ancient of Days because, as we know, Jesus does ONLY what the Father tells Him or what he sees the Father do.

I want to use one more scripture to drive my point home for you:

Daniel 7:22 says, “Until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. “

Reading (v. 21), it talks about the ten horns and another horn that waged war against the saints and defeated them.

This story can also be seen in (Rev 13). Verse (22) tells us that this Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High.

In favor of the Most High is speaking of God the Father, and the one who came to pronounce judgment in favor of the saints is clearly Jesus since he will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). Again, Jesus is called the Ancient of Days.

He is eternal and created All things and is over All things.

The second person in the Godhead has always been eternal, not affected by time, space, or matter until He became flesh.

There are many places that we see Christophany in the Old Testament.

Jesus is real, and He is truly God.

He takes no back seat but works in conjunction with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

I urge all Saints to be like the Bereans in the Bible and test what is said.

Show thyself approved.

The goal of this article is to give you Holy weapons to defend the faith against those who make false claims against our Lord.

As you can see, this world is getting closer to the entrance of the Son of Perdition.

We have seen evil called good and good called evil.

People have become lovers of themselves. Many have forsaken their First Love for the testimony of men.

Trusting in whom Jesus claims to be is key!

Being around like-minded people will also help us and strengthen us.

We serve a Mighty God who has revealed his Holy nature to those who search to find it.

It makes me wonder how the people whom God wanted His message to come through in the Old Testament didn’t see that their Messiah was always with them. He should have easily been identified when born in the flesh.

But because men valued their traditions more than the word of God, they became blind spiritually. Now we honor traditions or political parties. Anything that awakens what’s in our hearts.

Saints, the time is now, not tomorrow, for tomorrow isn’t promised. Call on the name that is above all names and ask him to come into your heart.

Ask Him to dwell with you, for He is trustworthy.

I Thank God for this blessing and my brother in Christ for this opportunity to plant in hopes that God shall water if you abide in him.

Be blessed!