BIBLE REVELATION COURSE

Lesson 2

 BE SURE TO COMPLETE ALL FOUR LESSONS - but study them in context, as the one builds on the other.  In only four lessons, you will experience a stunning revelation, straight from Scripture!

Dear Friend,

If you have found a blessing in studying lesson 1, then you will no doubt do so in this lesson.  Be prepared for some wonderful Revelations to come from the Bible.

In this lesson we will learn how the Almighty uses His Personal Name to identify Himself.  In lesson 1 we have used the Sacred Name YHVH in stead of the title "the LORD", which is used by so many Translations to replace the Sacred Name where it appeared in almost 7000 instances in the original transcripts. (For further details, refer to Notes on the Sacred-Names).

Unfortunately, this Identification tool has been effectively hidden in various ways,  by the followers of the Almighty themselves, in stead of declaring it according to clear Divine Instruction, to “the ends of the world”.   This concealment was the result of good intentions, firstly, of the religious leaders of Israel, out of a deep and sincere respect for the Sacred Name and a fear for profaning it in contravention of the third Commandment.   Secondly, by translators who continued in the process of substituting it with Titles rather than using the specific Name.

It is therefore not surprising that believers are today so vague and uninformed.  concerning the Name of their Deity.  Christians will answer that His Name is "God";  Muslims will say "Allah" - and Jews, if they do know His Name (and they should), will refrain from uttering it for fear of profaning it.  They will write it "G-d", for the same reason.   Even Sacred Name believers often maintain that the term “God” should not be used in referring to the Almighty, because “it is the name of a pagan idol “Gad”.  But these are all TITLES, meaning "an object of worship".  (Refer to our study on the subject, entitled “God or Elohim?”  Pagans have personal names for their deities, often several - but followers of the True God have none!.

In order to understand the reason for this phenomenon, there are a few facts concerning the Bible which we will have to take into account.

The Bible was originally written in the Hebrew language and, in early times,  carried forward in that language.   Strange how believers today seem to think that Moses, Isaiah and authors like them, spoke English, or German or French, or whichever language that they themselves study the Bible in.  Needless to say that our Bibles today are merely TRANSLATIONS OF TRANSLATIONS OF OTHER TRANSLATIONS.  This left the way wide open for error.  Many of these translators were certainly not under Divine Inspiration, as were the original authors.  In this way, many of the original Truths have been lost, causing many misconceptions to set in among believers.

This does not mean that we cannot trust the Bible any longer.  In fact, our modern time of "knowledge explosion", has provided us with a multitude of various translations by various scholars from various faiths.  Our advise to you is:  use as many as you may possibly be able to obtain.  Although this course quotes mainly from the Jerusalem Bible,  King James version and Standard Revised version, we are not dogmatic or insistent on it.  In the final result, we should measure any fact of Truth by the following criteria:

1. The original Hebrew text, which has remained mainly unaltered,  thanks to the strict guardianship of the Jewish Faith, and
2. In line with the general context of the Scriptures in its totality.

We will then understand that believers are confused about the Sacred Name because it became CONCEALED throughout centuries of translating and re-translating.  In the original Hebrew transcripts, to this day, the Sacred Name of the Almighty appeared no less than 6823 times, although remaining unpronounced in Judaism and transliterated (pronounced) by the Title "Adonai" (meaning 'Lord').  In most modern translations, some or other form of a Personal Name occurs 2 or 3 times, if at all.  A few Sacred Name versions have however become available over the last few decades.

By using the Sacred Name, the student or believer will experience a far clearer and more intimate, personal concept of the Identity of the Most High, rather than regarding Him with a vague, mystical concept.

May you be richly blessed in your studies!

LESSON 2

THE ALMIGHTY  IDENTIFIES  HIMSELF  BY  HIS  PERSONAL  NAME

In lesson 1 we saw how that the Almighty APPEARED to man in ancient times.  The question now arises whether He had made Himself known to them by any specific Name.  You would have noticed from your study how those people who encountered Him, were often very curious to know His Name.  They realised that it was God Himself Who had appeared to them.  (e.g. Jacob enquired after the Name of the Wrestler;  Samson's mother. etc.).

In this lesson we will show that the Almighty DID announce His Personal Sacred Name to them.

1.  THE ALMIGHTY ANNOUNCES HIS NAME TO MOSES

Exodus  6:2,3,  "And God spoke unto Moses and said unto him, 'I am YHVH and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the Name of God Almighty, but by My Name YHVH was I not known to them."

This verse serves as an interesting example of how widely translations do differ.  It is also one of the very few verses in which most translations do admit some or other form of the Sacred Name.  It relates the announcement by God of His Name

The text states that He appeared unto Isaac and Jacob as "God Almighty".  We read of this in Gen. 17:1, where God appeared unto Abraham and in Gen. 35:11, where He appeared unto Jacob.   But, said God, by His Name YHVH  (which He now announces to Moses),  He was not known to Isaac and Jacob.

It is today generally known and accepted that God's Personal Name was YHVH. The original Hebrew Name is written in four consonants, Y –H – V - H  (grammatically, vowels are not written in Hebrew, but only pronounced according to traditional interpretation).  Thanks also to the 'secrecy' surrounding the Name, it is not quite clear whether YHVH is pronounced  YAHVEH,  YAHOVEH or any of the many other forms presented by Sacred Name Restoration scholars.
(Refer to our comprehensive study on the subject).

What is certain, is that God has a Personal identifying, unique Name to distinguish Himself from other deities.  You may wish to come in the habit of using it wherever the title "LORD" (in capitals) appear in your Bible.  This Title (the LORD) generally serves as substitute in modern translations, for the Sacred Name which appeared in some 7000 instances in the Tanach (‘Old’ Testament).

You should start with the Decalogue (10 Commandments) Exod. 20:2),  "I am YHVH your God ... you shall have no other gods before Me."  Makes much more sense now, doesn't it?
 

2. IDENTIFICATION  OF  YHVH  AS  'THE FATHER'

2a.  THE 'FATHER' APPEARED  IN  THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Thusfar we have seen that the Almighty appeared to human beings in ancient times and also made Himself known to Moses by His Personal Name YHVH  (Exodus 6:3).

It was YHVH Himself Who appeared to Adam and Eve in Paradise.  "And they heard the Voice of YHVH (the LORD) God walking in the Garden ..." Gen. 3:8.

Through the prophet Isaiah, YHVH claims to be the CREATOR of heaven and earth and all that lives.  "Thus says YHVH (the LORD) ... I have made the earth and CREATED MAN upon it; I even  MY HANDS have stretched out the Heavens."  Isaiah 45:11,12.

YHVH was not only Adam and Eve's Creator and God, but also their FATHER.   "Have we not all ONE FATHER?  Has not ONE GOD created us?"  Malachi 2:10.

Isaiah confirmed this:  "But now O YHVH,  Thou art our FATHER;  we are the clay and Thou our Potter (Creator) and we are the work of Thy hand".  Isa. 64:8;  Deut. 32:6 also confirms that our Creator is our Father.

2b.  YHVH  (THE FATHER)  APPEARED AT THE TOWER OF BABEL.

"And YHVH came down to see the city and the tower ..."  Gen. 11:5.  

2c.  THE FATHER APPEARED TO ABRAHAM.

The same God Who appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia, at Mamre, (as the WORD), claimed that He was the Almighty.  "... YHVH appeared to Abram and said unto him,  ' I am the Almighty God ..."  Gen 17:1.  And we have seen from Isaiah 64:8 above, that YHVH, the Almighty, is Our Father - even as
the 'Lord's Prayer'  teaches Christians to pray: "Our FATHER  Who art in Heaven; Thy Kingdom come...".

Yes, GOD THE FATHER appeared to Abraham.  That is, He manifest Himself in a form which Abraham could behold and yet live!

2d.   YHVH (THE FATHER) WRESTLED WITH JACOB

"Yes, he (Jacob) had power over the Angel... Even YHVH, God of Hosts, YHVH is his Memorial."  Hosea 12:4 - 5.

Malachai said that YHVH, God of Hosts, is the Father.  We read in Mal. 1:6,  "A son honours his father ... If then I be a Father, where is My honour? ... says YHVH of Hosts."

Yes, Jacob wrestled with a 'Man'  Who was the VISIBLE MANIFESTATION  OF  THE  FATHER.
 

2e.  YHVH IS THE FATHER OF ISRAEL IN EXODUS.

- While still in Egypt

After the Almighty's appearance to Moses in the burning bush, He also revealed to Moses that He was Israel's FATHER and that the nation of Israel was His "Son".

Exod. 4:22-23,  "And you Moses, shall say unto Pharaoh,  'Thus says YHVH,  Israel is My Son, even My First Born.  And I say unto you, 'Let MY SON go, that he may serve Me."

If YHVH addressed Israel as His 'First Born Son',  does that not make Him Israel's Father?

- When redeemed from Egyptian Bondage

When YAVEH had redeemed the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery, He (YHVH of Hosts) became their God. 1 Chron. 17:21-24.

Isaiah disclosed that the One Who redeemed Israel is the Father!  Isa. 63:16,  "Doubtless, Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not.  Thou O YHVH, are our FATHER, our Redeemer.  Thy Name is from everlasting".

- In the Wilderness

David made the declaration that  YHVH Who went before them by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire (Exod. 13:21), was Israel's Rock and Redeemer  (Ps. 78:13-14,35).  This same Rock was also their FATHER!  "He shall cry unto Me (YHVH),  'Thou art My FATHER,  MY GOD and the Rock of my Salvation".  Ps. 89:26;  Jer. 3:14,19,22;  Deut. 32:4-6, 18-20.
 

2f.  YHVH - THE FATHER - DWELT IN THE TENT TABERNACLE AND TEMPLE

The Most High revealed to David that He (YHVH) being the FATHER, would indwell the Temple which Solomon would build (1 Chron. 17:5, 1 Kings 6:11-14).

"I will be his FATHER and he (Solomon) will be My Son ...."   1 Chron. 17:13.  See also 1 Chron. 22:10.

Messiah also referred to the Temple in Jerusalem as His Father's House, when he overturned the dealer's tables, reprimanding them for making it a House of merchandise.  John 2:13-16.
 

2g.  THE FATHER APPEARED TO SAMSON'S PARENTS.

"And the Angel of YHVH said unto him,  'Why do you ask My Name,  seeing it is SECRET'"  (Meaning 'Wonderful' - refer to the marginal reference).

Isaiah uses this very same Name when he writes in Isa. 9:6,  "... and His Name shall be called 'Wonderful', Counsellor,  the Mighty God, the EVERLASTING FATHER".

So, it was God THE FATHER Who appeared to Manoah and his wife.

The Scriptures in their true and original context state that:

1.  The Name of God the Father is YHVH  -  YHVH.

2.  It was God the Father Who manifest Himself in visible form and appeared to human beings at various times in ancient Israel.

3.  The Eternal announced Himself by His Name YHVH and the Israelites of old (and today), know Him by that Name.

 PLEASE NOTE:

Lesson 3  should be studied before proceeding to lesson 4.  The information contained in these four lessons are progressive and it is important that the thread between them should not be lost.

Go to Lesson 3

BE SURE TO COMPLETE ALL FOUR LESSONS -- it builds up to a stunning revelation, straight from Scripture!

Blessings on your studies!