SABBATH THOUGHT 2023-11-18—THE YHVH WORD
May God bless you on His Sabbath day!
A new ‘doctrine’ is spreading globally that is very disturbing. It is the idea that the only Deity that has truly existed for all eternity is the God Most High because He created the Word[1] (prior to becoming Jesus Christ and before all other living beings). In other words, Jesus Christ did not always exist. While I could attribute it to an intellectual exercise, I believe it can have serious consequences for the ekklesia (called out ones).
I want to preface this article by saying that this is not a topic I will debate because the premise of this new ‘doctrine’ requires a completely different perspective or understanding of very important Scriptures that I am unwilling to accept. Any topic in which the foundational principles are so completely divergent between opponents cannot be debated because the opposing views requires a significant change to the essential meaning of Scripture that form the foundation of beliefs. So, please do not send ‘evidence’ or arguments to try to convince me otherwise. I accept that others have beliefs that differ from mine. While I am willing to respectfully consider other viewpoints, I will not always agree with them. If that makes me ignorant or foolish in the eyes of others, then so be it. God will correct me if necessary.
In a purely academic sense, this new ‘doctrine’ may not seem to be a salvational issue. However, it is a dangerous path, in my opinion, because it changes HOW we think of Jesus Christ as God. As you read on, please keep in mind that this is not an exegesis or rebuttal to every argument of the new ‘doctrine’. This is MY ‘belief system’.
To explain my concerns, I first need to define what I believe constitutes a Deity; in other words, who or what is the Supreme God? The most important point is that a Deity is SELF-existing; that is, a Deity is a Living Being with inherent life that was not given by, or received from, another living being and that is the basis for an eternal life that has no beginning or end. Those promoting the new ‘doctrine’ agree that the Most High is self-existent so the question is whether the Word was also self-existent? The simple answer for me is ‘yes’, because I believe Scripture applies the title YHVH, commonly called the Tetragrammaton, to BOTH the Most High and the Word. YHVH is variously pronounced as Yehovah, Jehovah, etc. and simply means SELF-existing. What does that mean? Inherent life that was not given by, or received from, another being. It is eternal life without beginning or end. If the Most High is YHVH (self-existing), then the Word is also self-existing because He has the same YHVH title. Here is one of many examples:
EXODUS 33:18-23 And he [Moses] said, I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory. 19 And He said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I [the Word] will proclaim the name of the LORD [YHVH = God the Father] before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And He [the Word] said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see Me, and live. 21 And the LORD [YHVH = the Word] said [to Moses], Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen.
While it is clear there are two separate YHVH Beings mentioned here, remember that John 1:18 states in no uncertain terms that “No man hath seen God [the Father] at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” The one who was seen and heard by Moses was not God the Father (the Most High) so it had to be the Word, who is also referred to as YHVH. In fact, the first YHVH (the Word) proclaimed the second YHVH (the Most High). One of the fundamental messages of Jesus Christ was to reveal God the Father[2]. So, this Scripture says that the Word proclaimed the Most High to Moses. Both the Most High and the Word have the title YHVH or self-existing. They are the Elohim; i.e., the Supreme Ones (plural). They are the only true Gods. Here is another example:
ISAIAH 44:6 Thus saith the LORD [YHVH] the King of Israel, and His Redeemer the LORD [YHVH] of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God [Elohim = Supreme Ones = Gods].
Surely this is clear—the Elohim each have the title YHVH (self-existing). Moreover, they are both First and Last (they are both speaking). Then there is also this verse:
JOHN 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In Him [the Word] was life; and the life was the light of men.”
The Word (BEFORE He became Jesus Christ) had inherent LIFE; that is, He was YHVH or self-existing! Then there is Melchizedek, the High Priest[3] of God. The Most High swore:
PSALMS 110:1-4 A Psalm of David. The LORD [YHVH = the Most High] said unto my [David’s] Lord [the Word], Sit thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. 2 The LORD [the Most High] shall send the Rod [the Word] of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou [the Word] in the midst of Thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth. 4 The LORD [YHVH = the Most High] hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [the Word] art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek means King of Righteousness. Who is that? The Word, as Scripture confirms in Isa. 32:1; 62:2; Jer 23:5; and Heb. 7:2. Who is and always has been the High Priest of God? The Word. Remember, the Most High swore this oath to the Word BEFORE He became Jesus Christ. Of Jesus Christ, Paul absolutely proclaims:
HEBREWS 6:20, 7:1-3 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 1 For this Melchisedec, King of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To Whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of Righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but [as Melchisedec, He was later] made like unto the Son of God; abideth a Priest continually.
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Father restored Him to His previous position as the High Priest of God after the “order of Melchizedek;” that is, He is of the “order of,” or His estate is, the King of Righteousness. Clearly, this is NOT referring to the Most High because Melchizedek is the “High Priest of God.” (Gen. 14:18). In speaking of Jesus Christ as Melchizedek, Paul declares that the Word had no beginning of days.
In my belief system both the Most High and the Word are equally self-existent God-Beings who are Elohim (Supreme Ones) and without beginning or end of days. Why is this important? Because it comes down to WHO I worship and WHO I try to love and obey with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.
The first three of the Ten Commandments forbid those things that are NOT love and worship of God. But some claim that the Most High spoke the Ten Commandments, not the Word. If that is true, the Ten Commandments demand worship of the Most High, which excludes the Word because the first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exod. 20:3). If the Most High spoke the first three commandments, He clearly excluded the Word as God even though they are both Elohim and both YHVH. If, on the other hand, the Word spoke the Ten Commandments, then the first three commandments INCLUDE both the Most High AND the Word.
Worship of God applies to the Two who are YHVH. Just to avoid confusion that can arise about whether YHVH refers to the Most High or the Word in certain scriptures, recall that Jesus Christ was worshipped in the flesh—He was worshipped as an infant (Matt. 2:1-2) as well as an adult (John 5:23). As such, He certainly was worshipped prior to being a man. He was also glorified AGAIN at His resurrection (John 17:5). Glory is a quality or sign of greatness that is worthy of worship. This is confirmed by an angel who says, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him [Jesus Christ] that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Rev. 14:7) It is plain that worship of the Word is not excluded by the first three of the Ten Commandments so it had to be the Word who spoke them to Moses.
Holiness, like glory, is also quality worthy of worship. The Most High is holy but so also is Jesus Christ (the Word). Jesus is called the Holy Child of God (Acts 4:27) and the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24). So, in my belief system, both the Most High (God our Father) and the Word (Jesus Christ) are the two Deities of the Elohim (Supreme Ones) and both have the title YHVH of self-existence and these two are the BOTH worthy of all worship, honor, praise, glorify, love, and obedience.
When it comes to the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the messages of each serve different purposes. At the time of Jesus Christ, only the Old Testament Scripture existed. One of the major subjects contained within the old scriptures was the Law. But most importantly it REVEALED GOD—both the Most High AND the Word! Throughout the Old Testament, They are described as Creators, the Elohim (Supreme Ones), YHVH (self-existing), and God Most High and God the Word. Without the Old Testament, mankind would not have knowledge of the True God.
The New Testament, on the other hand, elevates the Law to a spiritual level of agape love and reveals the NEW roles of the Most High as the Father and the Word as the Lamb sacrificed for the sins of mankind. In other words, the main purpose of the Old Testament is to reveal the Two who are Elohim YHVH God whereas the New Testament reveals their roles in the salvation of mankind. The New Testament should not be used to redefine God who was revealed in the Old Testament—it should enhance but not change God.
But what happens in the heart and mind of someone who believes that the Word was a created being? Does that not lessen the stature and respect of Him, especially as Jesus Christ? Does that not cause us, even subconsciously, to think of Jesus Christ as a lesser God-Being if He was created? And what about “babes in Christ?”[4] Will the new ‘doctrine’ diminish their worship, reverence, respect, and honor due unto Jesus Christ? Even if the claims that Jesus Christ was created were true (and I do NOT believe that), what is the PURPOSE of this new ‘doctrine’? At best, it is an intellectual exercise and at the worst, it can cause some to forsake their calling. There are already too many who disregard the eternal divinity of Jesus Christ, which DEFINES what is called Christianity! For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses say that Jesus is not God; there are groups who say He was simply a prophet (and even inferior to Muhammad); while others claim He was only an enlightened man.
Some might counter by saying the new ‘doctrine’ makes God the Father all the greater but how can it since He is already YHVH (self-existing eternally)? The new ‘doctrine’ only denigrates Jesus Christ to the status of a lesser Being. The Word—Jesus Christ—WAS and IS God; He WAS and IS Elohim; He WAS and IS YHVH (self-existing); He WAS and IS the High Priest of God; and He WAS and IS without beginning or end of days. Scripture is very clear in my belief system.
If I thought or taught anything like this new ‘doctrine’, I greatly fear the verdict I would bring upon myself in the Day of Judgment. Anything that denigrates or diminishes the worship, glory, holiness, or sacrifice of either of the Elohim Supreme Self-Existing Creator Gods is not something I can contemplate and the thought of doing so makes me tremble.
May God’s grace and peace be upon you!
Steven Greene