Many “believers” and God-fearing people are of the understanding that:
1. Peter was the “rock” referred to and
2. that Jesus entrusted only Peter to “bind and loose”.
Are these teachings validated by the written verses in the Holy Bible? To answer these questions, let us start from the source, where these beliefs started.
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ( note plural disciples, not just Peter)
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
(Note that the subject of the question was specifically referring to “who the Son of man is”)
14 They (note also plural) replied, “Some say John the Baptist;others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” ( From the context, the “you” had to be specifically asking those disciples ).
16 one among the many responded, Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”( Note that Peter was the one who answered, why only Peter and all of them?)
And here is why:
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The preceding shows that the Father revealed it to Peter and others believed; hence they(plural) were ordered not to tell anyone.
First & foremost for us to determine is, “ will there really be…?
Notice the following verses;
In John 14:3, Jesus says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.”
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, he states, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with s the trumpet of God… And so we will always be with the Lord.”
Revelation 1:7 proclaims, “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him…” and Revelation 22:7 adds, “Behold, I am coming soon.”
Acts 1:11 is unambiguous: “This same Jesus…will come back in the same way you have seen Him go…”.
Jesus Christ promised that he will return on earth ; and undoubtedly, he will fulfill this promise.
Having established Jesus’ plan & promise to return on earth, it then begs the next question:
When will be the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ?
Many were bold enough to predict/interpret when his return to earth, hazard a guess, but to their peril; their motive to “enlighten or guide” maybe well-meaning, but still a distraction to the truth.
As an example, what comes to mind is the prediction of a well/known and respected evangelist, Herbert W. Armstrong, head of the Worldwide Church of God, based in Pasadena, CA, who published a book titled “1975 in Prophecy”
The book was well written with biblical bases. It was so convincing that a friend of mine, member of the church, who was already in his senior year in medical school, had to quit finishing medical school; he was in a dilemma because, he reasoned, what for is graduating as a physician, if in fact the return of Jesus is to be in 1975?
I met him in New York sometime after 1975, and he was very disappointed with that church teaching. Takeaway lesson for leaders in any church authority is to refrain from pre-empting God’s prophecy.
Instead, stick to what the Bible says; most especially the timing. Even Jesus’ words should make everyone humble in predicting exact timing, as in;
English Standard Version “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only”
However, as promised also, God will not leave us in the dark and has advised us to watch events, as in:
Matthew 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
God gave us a sequence of events i.e., a succession of kingdoms/human governments to be fulfilled first,before his return , as in
The Dream and Its Interpretation: Daniel was brought before Nebuchadnezzar and credited God with the revelation, emphasizing that no human wisdom could unveil such mysteries. He recounted the dream: a great statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A stone, not cut by human hands, struck the statue on its feet, causing the entire structure to crumble and be swept away, while the stone became a great mountain filling the whole earth (Daniel 2:31-35).
Daniel explained that the statue represented a succession of kingdoms. The head of gold symbolized Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian empire, a kingdom of great power and glory. The subsequent parts of the statue represented future kingdoms: the Medo-Persian Empire (silver), the Greek Empire (bronze), and the Roman Empire (legs of iron). And out of that kingdom(resurrected after the fall of Roman Empire) symbolized as the feet of iron and clay indicated a divided new kingdom, partly strong and partly brittle. The stone (from nowhere) represented a divine kingdom established by God, which would crush all these earthly kingdoms and endure forever (Daniel 2:36-45).
So, here God, through Daniel, instructed Nebuchadnezzar and all the way to us, at the present time, to watch these global developments. What did the dustheap of history tell us?
Indeed, the Babylonian empire was succeeded by Medo-Persian Empire of Cyrus, then followed by Greco-Macedonian empire of Alexander the Great; then followed by the Roman Empire that divided into 2 divisions of East and West; legs of iron. The downfall of the Roman Empire has been established and re-emerged, as prophesied in Revelations.
This time, we should now be watching/looking for 2 feet with 10 toes, “conglomerate of 10 countries”, composed of “weak/clay” countries with backing of “iron/strong” countries, and that 3/10 will be replaced by the “little horn” to become the 8th head of this upcoming new government/kingdom.
Notice:
Revelations 13”Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.”
“I considered the horns, and behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And behold, this horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke words of great boastfulness.”
King James Bible “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”; otherwise takes on the function of the “little horn”.
Context of Daniel’s Vision
• Daniel receives a night-vision of four beasts, each representing successive world empires (7:1-7).
• The “fourth beast” is unlike the others—terrifying, iron-toothed, ten-horned, pointing prophetically to a final phase of Gentile dominion.
• Out of those ten horns, “another horn, a little one,” rises and supplants three, signaling a new, blasphemous power exerting dominion in the last days.
Identifying the Little Horn by
• A literal, future ruler who will emerge from the geopolitical remnants of the fourth beast—often linked with the coming Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:1-7).
• Prefigured historically by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (cf. Daniel 8), yet reaching ultimate fulfillment in a final world leader who exalts himself “above every so-called god” (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
• Distinguishing marks:
– “Little” at first—an underestimated, seemingly insignificant origin.
– “A mouth… of great boastfulness”—arrogant speech, public rhetoric that demeans God and exalts self (Revelation 13:5-6).
– “Eyes like the eyes of a man”—human intelligence, shrewd discernment, political savvy.
• His rise is literal, global, and hostile toward the saints (Daniel 7:21,25).
Summary:
Going forward, there will be a 2nd coming of Jesus Christ as promised and will undoubtedly come to pass.
As to the exact timing of the actual event, no one knows except the Father. But, we were given indications of a sequence of events that will happen first, before the actual return of Jesus on earth. Historically, this sequence happened, starting with;
Babylonian kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, symbolized as “head of gold “ in his dream as interpreted by God through Daniel.
Medo-Persian Empire , under Cyrus, took over.; symbolized as chest and arms of silver,
Greco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great followed and symbolized as belly and thighs of bronze,
Roman Empire that has divided into Eastern & Western divisions symbolized as legs of iron,,, fall of this Roman Empire
Revived Roman Empire symbolized with 2 feet and 10 toes as feet partly of iron and partly of clay. Also portrayed with ten crowns representing 10 heads//leader/king
Little horn to replace 3/10 to become the 8th head of this Beast of Revelations, with feet of iron and partly of clay
Jesus Christ returns to earth snd symbolized as A stone, not cut by human hands, struck the statue on its feet, causing the entire structure to crumble and be swept away, while the stone became a great mountain filling the whole earth (Daniel 2:31-35).
Always remember that God is Almighty and the I AM, who will deliver what was planned & promised.
Isaiah 60:22 “When the right time comes, I will make this happen quickly. I am the LORD!”
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
God bless us all and be humble with what we are blessed to know.
Sounds ridiculous? Yet surprisingly, many of us may be misinformed about what the original “word” God is, thus, leading to misinterpretation as to what the translated English word “god” is.
Some may be atheist and denies existence of God. Others are agnostics and still groping for the answer. Admittedly, others know who their God is, one way or another, one religion or another. But, do we really know what the word God is? This question is not about the attributes of God, viz., omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, etc. Rather, it is about whether we comprehend what comprises or constitutes the word translated in English as God. Can this understanding help us in resolving the conflict between those who prove that Jesus is both God and man versus those who has equally compelling proof that he is only human?
And, are there other “Gods“? If there are no other, then why did Jesus say in John 10:34 “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? The man-Jesus classified himself as well as other human beings as gods, for which reason they accused him of blasphemy, stoned him and subsequently killed him because of this outrageous claim. Was Jesus right in classifying humans as gods?
Does it really matter, who we are and where in creation we belong? We are not in the plant-kingdom nor are we in the animal-kingdom as those kingdoms were created before man (Genesis 1:11-12; Genesis 1:21; Genesis 1:24-25; Genesis 2:5; Genesis 2:7). Are we really in the god-kingdom as classified by Jesus for which claim, he was persecuted and eventually died?
This issue maybe so basic, yet so fundamental that the answer maybe so eye-popping as to help us understand the future and destiny of man. As the Bible says, “…the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is...” Romans 12:3 (The Message, Colorado Springs, Navpress, 1993)
Facts: analysis towards Truth:
To know the facts, we need to get to the original word in Hebrew (for the Old testament portion of the Bible/Tanach) and Greek (for the New Testament) that was translated into the English word God. For this, the Touch Biblewill be of much help as the original comes out just by touching that English word. Anyone who has a comprehensive concordance will also be able to compile all the original words translated as God. Afterwards, to know the truth behind those words, one then looks at the usage/context of how the original word was used and whether other text or verses can confirm the true meaning of the original word.
Following this format of research, one may be surprised about discovering many things that we were taught as a child/adult may indeed be deficient and fall under the category of misinformation, not intentional mind you, but misleading and confusing, nevertheless.
As we delve into this critical subject, we will know what comprises the word “God“, concepts of polytheism/monotheism, variations/levels of powers, and where is the rightful position of angels, man, sons of God, Christ and the Father.
And from these, we will then appreciate the spiritual significance behind knowing this subject well, and the hierarchy of creation.
POLYTHEISM/MONOTHEISM :
At the outset, let us look at the concept of polytheism/monotheism and verses that may appear confusing yet may eventually help us in exploring this subject: The startling fact is that the Pentateuch introduces the concept of plurality of the word God.
Notice :
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.(Genesis 1:1) Here, the word God translated from Hebrew is plural and this numerical concept is reiterated in (Genesis 1:26) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness, …
But also, consider the following verses:
If after all, there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords (I Corinthians 8:5)
God stands in the assembly of El ,in the midst of the gods he renders judgment(Psalms 82:1 )
None can compare to you among the gods, O sovereign Master! Your exploits are incomparable! (Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O lord) (Psalms 86:8)
Yes, I know the Lord is great, and our sovereign Master is superior to all gods.(YHVH is above all gods) (Psalms 135:5),
For you, O Lord, are the sovereign king over the whole earth; you are elevated high above all gods.(above all gods ) (Psalms 97:9)
You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus.20:3 Decalogue)
You must burn the images of their gods,(graven images of their gods ) (Deuteronomy 7:25),
…on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment (many deities ) (Exodus 12:12)
For thou, LORD, [art] high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods (Psalms 97:9)
The preceding verses from the Old/New Testament tell us that, indeed, there are many gods, and many lords, but a Supreme Being among them is above all of them.
Traditional Christianity denies the reality of many “gods“. But, there are indeed many “gods” and with different names. May refer to same person but with different names, as in known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob the supreme God and above all of them, his name was El Shaddai (God Almighty) and to Moses, YHVH (Lord/Yahweh/Jehovah); see Exodus 6:3. To Muslims, the name is Allah, to Chinese and Hindus there are many names as well(1,2).
While there are many gods, only one should be worshipped above all and others not, at a particular time in history, e.g., El Shaddai/Yahweh Elohim (aka, who incarnated to man-Jesus) to be worshipped during Old Testament times and the Father-God in the New Testament when the son-father relationship was first introduced.
These verses affirm and did not deny the existence and reality of many gods. Polytheismis a fact in as much as there are many gods, and so is monotheism, in so far as there is One Supreme Being and One Above All gods is concerned, and the one to be worshipped.
If in fact the preceding statement is true, and using this premise as a base, it then becomes imperative to get to the original word in Hebrew and Greek that was translated God . This will then help us understand what constitutes or comprises the word God, not only from the transliteration of the word, but also its context and usage.
ELOHIM:
In Genesis, the Hebrew word translated God in English comes from the word ELOHIM/ELOHIYM. This is plural and a derivative of “El/Eloah“(singular) meaning strong, mighty, power, POWERFUL ONES (3).
430 ‘elohiym el-o-heem’ plural of 433 ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:–angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
433 ‘elowahh el-o’-ah; rarely (shortened) >eloahh {el-o’-ah probably prolonged (emphat.) from 410; a deity or the Deity:–God, god. See 430.
426 ‘elahh el-aw’ (Aramaic) corresponding to 433; God:–God, god.
410 ‘el ale shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):–God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”
Why is Elohiym plural ? Some think this is numerical plurality but others take this to mean multiplicity or majesty of powers, functions or rank, the latter being more in line with the context of one proximate Creator.
Which, if any, could it be?
In Genesis 1:26, “And ELOHIYM said, Let us ….our likeness…” suggest there were others of the same likeness or image during this creation narrative, hence Elohiym is a word that connotes numerical plurality , but also that a particular being (not beings) actually did the creation itself or spoke the word of creating, e.g., using he/his in:
Genesis 1:27So ELOHIYM created man in his own image, in the image of ELOHIYM created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:31 And ELOHIYM saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day ELOHIYM ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made, And ELOHIYM blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which ELOHIYM created and made.
Genesis 2:8And YHVH ELOHIYM planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
and using pronoun I in Gen.1:29-30And ELOHIYM said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
YHVH ELOHIYM:
The identity of this particular Elohiym, was specified as YHVH ELOHIYM or Lord God in
Genesis 2:4-5 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that YHVH ELOHIYM made the earth and the heavens,And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for YHVH ELOHIYM had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
Genesis 2:7-9 And YHVH ELOHIYM formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
And YHVH ELOHIYM planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
And out of the ground made YHVH ELOHIYM to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
N.B. Also see Genesis Chapters 3,4,5, etc. that specifies that the particular Elohiym was in fact YHVH.
YHVH is the proximate Creator-God in contradistinction to the other Elohiym, as in, Genesis 6:2 sons of ELOHIYM. This specific and particular Elohiym is YHVH, who is the creator and the one who said “…Let us…our likeness ..” in Genesis 1:26. This same person is the one who spoke to Moses and the one known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shadday. Notice the following:
Exodus 6:2-3 And ELOHIYM spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am YHVH:
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of EL SHADDAY (God Almighty) but by my name YHVH (Lord) was I not known to them.
Exodus 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a ELOHIYM: and ye shall know that I am YHVH (Lord) your ELOHIYM(God), which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Deuteronomy 10:17For YHVH your ELOHIYM is ELOHIYM of gods, and ADOWN of lords, a great EL, a mighty, …
And thou shalt love YHVH thy ELOHIYM with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Micah 4:5For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of YHVH our ELOHIYM for ever and ever.
Yes, there is no other specific Elohiym known and introduced to Israel to be worshipped but YHVH / El Shadday who is ONE. The One andONLY ONE above all gods. Yes, one person with “plurality of powers” and not plural in number.
From the preceding, one can see that the plural word Elohiym is a generic or common name for a powerful being with majesty or plurality of powers and that it includes the Creator as well as others of like image or likeness. But to specify the identity of this particular Elohiym as a Creator of heavens and earth, over “all gods” and the one-being who dealt with Abraham, Isaac,Jacob,Moses and Israel , the proper name El Shadday(Shaddai), YHVH was used.
Angel as ELOHIM:
To confirm this concept that Elohiym/God is generic/common name, notice the following:
Worship him, all ye gods(430, elohiym)Psalms 97:7 and juxtapose this with the reference…angels (32 aggelos {ang’-el-os} of God worship him in Hebrews 1:6
The elohiym/gods in Psalm 97:7 is definitely referred to mean aggelos/angels. See also the scene when Jesus told an angel (Satan) to worship him and speaking of himself towards Satan :
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Matthew 4:10
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Luke 4:8
And to identify which of the elohiym or angels is specifically referred to:
…. for Satan himself is transformed into an angel (32 aggelos {ang’-el-os} of light.2 Corinthians 11:14
See also Psalms 8:5 angel(elohim, Strong’s #43) referring to YHVH’s incarnation to man-Jesus being lower than angels, yet both angels and man are called “gods”.
Yes, even angels are classified in the Elohiym/God. This could be the reason why “us” and “our” are used in Genesis 1:26 as angels were there during man’s creation, as the “serpent” (Lucifer,Satan) was in the garden of Eden. As only Jesus and the Father knew about the plan, alternatively and more logical rendering is that “us” and “our” referred to YHVH (Jesus) and the “Ancient of Days”(Father God, Daniel 7:13.)
Man-Jesus, Son of God, human, Jewish leaders, Judges are classified as ELOHIM:
Following the same concept of commonality or common noun for the word Elohiym/God, notice these verses:
John 10:31-36The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. Jesussaid to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?” The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.”Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods(430 elohiym); and all of you are children of the ELYOWN (God).
N.B. Children of Elohim/God are classified gods as well, as Jesus, the man, the son of God is God, as other humans who were stoning him are called gods as well. Jesus classified “…those people to whom the word of God came …as… ‘gods’. The word of God came to humans, you and me, and not to plants nor to animals. That’s why we are gods ! See also, Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:8-9, Exodus 22:28where judges are called elohim (Strong’s#430)
MOSES reckoned as Elohiym:
Exodus 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of ELOHIYM. See also, Exodus 7:1
Kings of the House of David likened to Gods:
Zechariah 12:8 In that day shall YHVH defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as ELOHIYM, as the angel of YHVH before them.
Yes, even men/women are classified in the Elohiym/God. Notice also that in Zechariah 12:8 both man (house of David) and angel are classified as elohiym.
Again, looking at the facts and deducing the truth from the usage and context of the verses quoted, there is no doubt that the word Elohiym/God constitutes and comprises:
1.YHVH/El Shadday – the Creator-God, above all gods, one and only god to be worshipped by Israel at that time, and by extension all gentiles.
2. Angels(including Lucifer), and other “gods” of different religions.
3. And man/woman
This specific and inclusive concept is not “pantheism“. It is not that “God is all and all is God” and not “all reality is infused with divinity”(4). Christ was specific and excludes plants, animals and innanimate beings. Distinction among the “gods” is maintained, i.e. there are levels and ranks of powers. Moreover, Elohiym (generic, but not specific as Yahweh-Elohim) is a word that connotes numerical plurality but may also mean (in context) multiplicity or majesty of powers, function or rank, as in Adonai in Genesis 42:30-33, Isaiah 22:18; Isaiah 51:22; Ezra 10:3;Malachi 1:6
THEOS:
This same concept in the Old Testament is carried through in the New Testament. Notice, that in Greek, the word God is translated from “theos” This word is singular, masculine, and in the nominative case (The New Analytical Greek Lexicon ,p. 201)
And yet, THEOS , by context and usage, is a composite or common name and includes:
1. God the Father: When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God(theos,Strong’s#2316), and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.John 17:1-3
2. God, the Son/Jesus: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God(theos,Strong’s#2316), and the Word was fully God.(theos,Strong’s#2316) The Word was with God(theos,Strong’s#2316) in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.(John 1:1-3).
She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God(theos,Strong’s#2316)with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23)
For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel(Isaiah 7:14)
Isaiah7:14 Therefore the ADONAY himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
3. Angel:
II Corinthians 4:4“among whom the god(theos,Strong’s#2316) of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. … theos,Strong’s#2316 of this world (Satan)
4. Man/woman:
John 10:34-36 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’(theos, Strong’s #2316) ? If those people to whom the word of God (theos,Strong’s #2316) came were called ‘gods’(theos, Strong’s #2316) and the scripture cannot be broken, do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?” (theos,Strong’s #2316)
N.B. Jesus was human and was made in the image of the invisible God as we all are (2 Corinthians 4:4.). Jesus as man incarnate is God as He is also God in the pre-incarnate and post-incarnate state.
The preceding verses show that “theos“, while singular, is a composite word as the plural “elohiym” is.
Now comes the question, why is Elohiym plural but can be singular, while Theos is singular but maybe plural? This is because by usage/context the Elohiym/Theos maybe specific or generic. When the word is specific then it is described and identified, e.g. YHVH / El Shadday or Father, Son, angel, man.
This contextual usage is equivalent to the rendering of “ekklesia“(plural) as exemplified in:
I Corinthians 12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which (is) in his house.
1Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which (is) in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which (is) the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which (are) written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect
Notice that when the plural word is modified by a singular verb, it coalesces the plural into singular connotation. Ecclesia , while plural, is one but composed of many members; as our body is one, yet made up of many members. This usage is akin to the United States being one country but composed of many states; as Israel is one nation but with 12 tribes and with the grafting of the gentiles could be even more.
Summary:
1.Elohiym/Theos refers to a composite of powers, the sum of divine and powerful beings, the totality of all attributes of deity. It is a generic term that may apply to a particular being. When it does, the specific name of that Elohim is identified, as in YHVH Elohim(Lord God ornEl Shaddai(God Almighty).
2. Most of the time, Elohiym in the Old Testament refers to a specific YHVH Elohiym and Theos in the New Testament refers specifically to God the Father. At other times, it refers to those others in the generic Elohiym/Theos, i.e. Jesus, angels, humans.
3. In general, Elohiym/Theos is collective and not a selective term; common and not a proper name; inclusive and not exclusive; generic not proprietary; composite and not specific.
4. The usage and/or context of the word explains the intended meaning, whether plural/singular or numerical plurality/multiplicity of power, rank or position/function.
5. The word God/Elohim, as originally written,, includes different living beings, levels, class or rank. At the highest level is the Father, followed by Son(s) of God, then angelic rank, and the lowest is man. However, man will be transformed into “sons/children of God”, spirit-composed at resurrection and higherthan angelic-class.
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Why know what the word “god” is ? Now that you know the facts and the truth behind the facts, the screaming spiritual significance of this truth can out-decibel anything ever heard of before!
This has not been emphasized in traditional Christendom. Man is planned and classified by Jesus himself, to be categorized in the Elohiym. This classification of man in the Elohiym has far-reaching potential, seriousness and gravity that Jesus risked being stoned, charged with blasphemy and eventually gave his life for us to comprehend the magnitude of our destiny.
Human beings are in the Elohiym/Theos-kind, not in the plant-kind, nor in the animal-kind. We did not “evolve” from plants nor animals! In Genesis, you can see that after plants were created, they were planned to reproduce after their own kind. Likewise, when animals were created, they were to reproduce after their own kind. But, notice, after plants and animals were created to reproduce their own kind, God said, in,
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness, .”
Genesis 1:27 God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.
Yes, humans are in the image of God, as Jesus the man, was in the image of the invisible God.( “… Christ, who is the image of God… 2 Corinthians 4:4) God is reproducing and multiplying the numbers that compose the Elohiym, aside from angelic beings.
We are created in the Elohiym/Theos. We are in the GOD-KIND ,the God-Kingdom ! This is the context of the gospel of the Kingdom Of God. Kingdom of “man” was not planned. In fact, all human kingdoms from the Tower of Babel through the succession of human kingdoms represented by the ” image of Nebuchadnezzar“, will all perish. While in the class of Elohiym, as man, like Jesus was, we are currently below the level and rank of angels(see Hebrews. 2:7) But as Jesus is now in the right hand of the Father as “Son of God“, our High-Priest, man will also be in that position (although lower in hierarchy) but higher than the angels(Heb. 1:4; 2:10), as we will be in Christ, as “Son of God”, who will bring ” many sons to glory“. The head, who is Christ, has to be with the body, which is the ecclesia, composed of many members. When this kingdom of God, the ecclesia, the priests of Melchizedek are finally composed and is delivered to the Father, then all of us, including Jesus, will bow down before the supreme God of all…the Father, as in:
And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God (Father, not Son) may be all in all.1 Corinthians 15:28
Thank God, this human destiny was decided even before man’s creation, and before man has done anything right or wrong. Being in that category or class of Elohiym is a gift, not of works, but of grace through faith and out of the love of God.
Brethren, the spiritual meaning of this concept that man is in the class of Elohiym is of enormous significance worthy of praise and glory of the Father. For centuries, we were distracted from this concept and now, through the blessing of the Spirit, the time has come for all of us to see our direction and destiny.
as ever present, past, present and future. He was named El Shaddai, YHVH-Elohim, LOGOS, incarnated man-Jesus Christ and now Son of God, the “first of firstfruits” and others like him to follow.
In a way they are, because the “good news/gospel “about” Christ leads one towards understanding the good news/gospel “of” Jesus. However, what one commonly hears from the pulpit is the good news/gospel “about” Christ and the good news/gospel “of” Jesus is basically minimized as to be marginalized. Let us therefore delve into these concepts which are critical for any “Christian believer” to be well-grounded as in: 1Peter 3:15
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness.”
Gospel “about” Christ
This gospel has always been emphasized in churches.
Both “good news” are inter-connected and both must be emphasized in the pulpit. Unfortunately, emphasis is mainly on topics that distract from the gospel “ about” Jesus and “his” gospel.
God promised and planned for human mind to change. This promise is prophesied to come at his “time & season” of his choosing; as in, Hebrews 9:7
“But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.”
Your brain is a pattern machine, and it’s terrifyingly efficient. With approximately 86 billion neurons wired for one core purpose, efficiency, it doesn’t just record what you think. It reinforces it.
Every time you have a thought, your neurons fire along a specific pathway. Repeat that thought again… and again… and your brain starts laying down mental “pavement.” It gets faster, smoother, and easier to access. Over time, what started as a passing idea becomes your default setting, a habit of thought.
Think “I’m not good enough” every day? That wire gets stronger. Think “I’ve got this” daily? That one does too. The more a thought fires, the more it rewires. Your mind isn’t just a mirror, it’s a builder, constantly reinforcing the bricks you hand it.
That’s why changing your mindset feels hard at first. You’re literally asking your brain to build new roads. The old routes are smooth and automatic. But with conscious repetition, affirmations, visualizations, reframing, you can reprogram your own mental highways.
This isn’t fluff. It’s neuroscience. Your thoughts become easier not because they’re true, but because they’re familiar. And the brain loves familiarity.
So be intentional. Choose your thoughts like you choose your fuel. Because your brain isn’t just listening, it’s wiring your future around them.
Repeat negativity and it becomes your cage. Repeat belief, gratitude, or strength, and those thoughts become your power.
You’re not stuck. You’re just practiced. Time to practice better.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and Matrix Reimprinting not only address emotional healing but also play a crucial role in fostering positive neural networks in the brain. When individuals tap through EFT, they effectively diminish the intensity of negative emotions tied to specific memories, creating a sense of calm and safety.
This emotional release paves the way for the brain to form new, healthier connections.
Matrix Reimprinting amplifies this effect by encouraging individuals to visualize and re-experience positive outcomes and empowering beliefs.
As they engage with these uplifting scenarios, their brains begin to create neural pathways that reinforce confidence, resilience, and joy.
Over time, this rewiring fosters a more optimistic outlook, helping people respond to challenges with a sense of empowerment rather than fear.
Ultimately, by integrating EFT and Matrix Reimprinting, individuals can cultivate a vibrant mental landscape filled with supportive, positive neural networks that bolster emotional well-being and enhance overall quality of life.
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