Christian Churches of God

No. P1z

 

Summary:

The Elect as Elohim

(Edition 1.3 19940311-19990322)

This paper deals with the multiplicity of the elohim in the Godhead and the destiny of the elect to become elohim. The capacity to become elohim or theoi was the view of the early Church. This paper is related to papers on The Deity of Christ and also The God We Worship and The Holy Spirit series.

 

 

 

Christian Churches of God

PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA

E-mail: secretary@ccg.org

 

(Copyright ã 2001 Wade Cox)

(Summary Ed. Wade Cox)

This paper may be freely copied and distributed provided it is copied in total with no alterations or deletions. The publisher’s name and address and the copyright notice must be included. No charge may be levied on recipients of distributed copies. Brief quotations may be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching copyright.

This paper is available from the World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org

 

The Elect as Elohim

The ultimate destiny of the elect is to exist as Elohim or theoi under the power and within the spirit of Almighty God. This position was held by Christ (Jn. 10:34-35; Ps. 82:6) and was the original understanding of the church. In the Bible, words applied to the Deity are also applied to humans. Eloah (or Elahh) is applied to God Almighty and is always singular = The One True God. The word Elohim (SHD 430) is plural and used for divine representatives as well as to judges or rulers showing that the term extended to humans as well as the angelic beings. The name carried the authority conferred on it by God.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, Ugarit and Nag Hammadi texts have shed important light on what was actually understood to be the meaning of the biblical texts at the time of Christ. The Bible refers to a council of the Elohim or Elim and the term extended way beyond a duality or trinity. The Bene Elim are identified as the sons of The God, as are the Bene Elyon, the sons of the Most High. Psalm 89:6-8 mentions the saints or holy ones (qesdosim) who are God’s celestrial attendants and the term is extended to include the human faithful (Heb. 8:5).

The governing council of ancient Israel was a reflection of the heavenly system. This pattern was understood throughout the Bible. It was God’s stated intention in His covenant that He would write His law on the hearts and minds of people so that they would know Him (Heb. 8:10-11). The Old Testament demonstrates the subordinate relationship of the Elohim, and also identifies the Angel of YHVH in a progressive manner. He is also identified as the Angel or Messenger of the Presence of God (Isa 63:9).

In fact there are instances of multiple supernatural beings appearing and being referred to as YHVH. For instance in Genesis 19 when three appeared to Abraham, there was no distinction between them. The destruction of Sodom was done by Elohim (Gen. 19:24,29). Here the title Yahovah or YHVH is applied in a hierarchical structure from God Most High or Eloah, YHVH of Hosts to the Elohim of Israel, a subordinate god to the two angels who in turn were subordinate to that Elohim. The term is one of delegated authority from Eloah. The angel of YHVH appeared many times in the Old Testament; he had many interchangeable titles. He was the Elohim of the Patriarchs (Ex. 3:6). He was Peniel, the Face Of God (Gen. 32:24-30); the commander of the armies of God (Jos. 5:15); the angel of redemption (Gen. 48:16). It was he who led Israel out of Egypt as the angel in the cloud (Ex. 13:21; Ex. 14:19) and gave the law to Moses and established the seventy elders of Israel (Ex. 24:9-18).

He is the angel or messenger of YHVH, The Most High God who no man has seen or heard (Jn. 5:37; 6:46). He is the subordinate God or Elohi of Israel appointed by his God, Eloah above his partners (Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:5-13). This angel or YHVH spoke face to face with Moses (Ex. 33:11). He was the presence of face of God. This angel is the word or oracle of God as the memra and understood to be the Messiah (Zech. 3:1-9). This angel has the power of judgement and is the righteous judge of the testaments and the elohim (Ps. 82:1). He is the Branch of Jeremiah 23:5 and Isaiah 11:1.

The Aaronic priesthood extended and changed to the eternal priesthood of Melchisedek (Ps.110; Heb. 7:24). Christ is High Priest and the called of God are the priesthood (1Pet. 2:4,9; Rev. 1:6; 20:6).

Eloah, The Most High God, has a son whose inheritance is Israel. He is the Elohi of Israel, but not the object of prayer or sacrifice. This elohim was anointed by his God and has a throne of the elohim (Ps. 45:6-7); stands in the assembly of The El and judges those on earth (Ps. 82:8). The destiny of the elect is to become elohim like the angel of YHVH at their head (Zech. 12:8). This being at the head of the house of Israel is Messiah, the Son of God born as a man, Jesus Christ.

The New Testament confirms an angel gave the law at Sinai (Acts 7:53) and identifies Christ as the angel of the Old Testament. This demonstrates conclusively his subordination and obedience to God the Father. The singular word Eloah is applied to God the Father and never used to refer to Christ. The generic term

used to refer to the extended order of the Host operating under the authority of The Father is Elohim. The Elohim act both as a council among the Host and in control of mankind. It was the accepted understanding in the first century that the Elohim rank extended to mankind as they were adopted into the family of God, as heirs with Christ (Gal. 4:1-7). In the New Testament the Greek word Theoi is translated from the Hebrew Elohim.

The allocation of the nations according to the number of the sons of God or the Elohim/eliym demonstrate further the extended order (Deut 32:8-9). This was understood to be seventy as the full council of the Elohim. The Sanhedrin or council of elders of Israel established at Sinai was a prototype of this, plus two, being God The Father and Christ, the Yahovah of Israel. Israel will become the key nation at the restoration at Christ’s return to rule the earth. It is evident that a significant number of the Elohim rebelled against God, (Dan. 10:13; Deut. 32:18-19; Rev. 12:7 9).

These fallen host are to be replaced from the ranks of the elect beginning at the first resurrection. The rank of elohim is a delegated authority by appointment of God. It is a plural word applied to the angelic host and those in the priesthood and judges, specifically Moses. It was to demonstrate that the elohim rank and the oneness of God and His nature would extend to embrace mankind. Eloah is singular and only applies to God The Father, without whom there would be no elohim. This concept forms the basis of the first commandment.

The YHVH of Israel is a separate and subordinate being, The Messiah, the high priest of the house or temple of God. The council of elohim he heads as high priest is mirrored in the temple of Zion as an example and shadow of the celestrial structure (Heb. 8:5). The priesthood of the temple consisted of twenty-four divisions of priests and a central high priest. This is reflected in the council of elders of Revelation 4:5. This group numbered thirty entities including the four cherubim or living creatures. Thus thirty pieces of silver (also the price of a slave) was required for the betrayal of Christ (Matt 27:3-9; Zech 11:12-13) as it was an offence against the entire Godhead. The elders are charged with monitoring the prayers of the saints (Rev 5:8). Christ, the high priest, was the only one found worthy to open the scroll of the plan of God and ransom all to God. The ransom of humanity is part of the endtime restoration, which occurs at the second coming of Christ as king of Israel.

The sole purpose of Trinitarianism was to limit the extension of the capacity to be elohim to three beings and deny it to the elect and the heavenly host. Also by elevating our intermediary elohim, Christ, one of the council to the level and equal to Eloah, God the Father we are in breach of the first commandment. This is the sin of Satan who claimed to be El of the council of the elohim (Ezek. 28:2). The concept of how God is one is totally misunderstood by Trinitarians. The unity of God, necessary to monotheism, is of an extended order dwelling in unity under a central will in agreement and spiritual interaction through the spirit and power of God (1Cor. 2:4-14) which through Christ is towards God (2Cor. 3:3-4).

God is the rock from which all others are quarried, the rock of Israel and their salvation, (Deut. 32:15). Our God is our rock (1Sam. 2:2), an everlasting rock (Isa. 51:1-2). The Messiah is hewn from this rock (Dan. 2:34,45) to subjugate the world empires. God, not Peter or Christ is the rock or foundation on which Christ builds the church (Math. 16:18). Messiah is the chief cornerstone of the temple, the elect are the living stones of this spiritual temple, and Naos or holy of holies, the repositary of the Holy Spirit. Christ will construct the temple so that God may be all in all (Eph. 4:6). When Christ subdues all things, then Christ himself will be subject to God, who puts all things under Christ that God may be all in all.

Revelation 12:10 holds that the angels are brethren to the elect. Christ states that the elect are to be equal to angels (Luke 20:36), which is part of them as a rank or order. Christ confesses us before his brethren in the Host. ‘Ye are gods and all the sons of the Most high’ (Jn. 10:34-35; Ps. 82:6).

We are all to become sons of God as co-heirs with Christ and thus Elohim, what a future!

(1Cor. 2:9-10). To become Elohim is the destiny God has prepared for those who love Him!

 

 

 

 

q