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Commentary on "A Brand Plucked From the Fire"
Day 4: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - The Angel of the Lord
The Lord rebuked Satan—
“…is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?” God knows our weakness and the pull of our flesh. Ps 103:14
“For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.” NASU
Of course, Joshua knew better than He lived, just like us, but God did not give up on him or the people of Israel. God will not give up on you; He is always ready to forgive, cleanse, save and renew.
The “Angel of the Lord” was standing there with Joshua. Who is “the Angel of the Lord?” Jesus Christ. This title, “the Angel of the Lord”, is an Old Testament name for the pre-incarnate Jesus. The first mention of “the Angel of the Lord” is in Genesis 16:7-14 in the story of Hagar, the run-away servant of Sarah. As you read this passage, you will clearly see that the “Angel of the Lord” is God. Gen 16:11,13
“The angel of the LORD said to her…Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, ‘You are a God who sees’; for she said, ‘Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?" NASU
Hagar had no doubt about Who visited her that day; she knew the Angel of the Lord was God. (In the Hebrew, the sacred name YHWH, is used in these verses – LORD – so there is absolutely no question about the identity of Who appeared to Hagar). The title for God, “The Angel of the Lord” appears in the account of Moses and the burning bush. Note in these verses that the Angel of the Lord calls to Moses from the burning bush, then God speaks to him from the burning bush. Ex 3:2,4 “The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush…God called to him from the midst of the bush” NASU
The Angel of the Lord is not an angelic being but God, Himself. The Hebrew word for “angel” is mal'ak (mal-awk') which means “to dispatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher): ambassador, angel, king, messenger.”
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Mal’ak does not refer only to angelic beings but anyone who is sent by God as a messenger.
Jesus Christ is the Angel of the Lord. When Manoah and his wife asked the Angel of the Lord His name, the Angel of the Lord replied,
“Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” Judges 13:18.
The same Hebrew word for wonderful is used in the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 which refers to Jesus.
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful” NASU
Seventh-day Adventists have confused teaching regarding Jesus. Although they teach that Jesus is God the Son, they are constrained to also add that He is Michael the Archangel, because Ellen White wrote that Jesus is an angelic being, Michael the archangel.
"Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave him life before his body had seen corruption. Satan tried to hold the body, claiming it as his; but Michael resurrected Moses and took him to heaven. Satan railed bitterly against God...but Christ did not rebuke His adversary... He meekly referred him to His Father, saying, 'The Lord rebuke thee.'" Early Writings, p. 164 (emphasis added).
"When Jesus stands up; when his work is finished in the Most Holy, then there will be not another ray of light to be imparted to the sinner....The light is made to reach far ahead, where all is total darkness. MICHAEL stands up." Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 276 (emphasis added).
“The teaching that Jesus is Michael the Archangel is an old, tired Arian argument. The early Adventist pioneers taught the heresy called ‘Arianism’ which teaches that Jesus is not God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity. Those who believe this false doctrine teach that Jesus is an exalted angel. Those, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, who promote this heresy today teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel.
This early Adventist heresy appeared in several books and articles published by the church. It even manifested itself in the hymnology of the church. In the official Seventh-day Adventist hymnal, published from 1941 until its more recent revision in 1985, the church had changed the words of the hymn ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ which says, ‘God in three Persons, blessed Trinity’ to ‘God overall who rules eternity.
THE BIBLE SAYS:
“For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'Thou art My Son, today I have begotten thee?'” Hebrews 1:5 (emphasis added).
“But of the Son He says, 'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever...'” Hebrews 1:8a (emphasis added).
“But to which of the angels has He ever said, 'Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet?' Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:13-14 (emphasis added).
It is clear from Scripture that Jesus is NOT and has never been an angel or an archangel! It would appear that the only support there is for such a belief is the literature of heretical cults and the writings of Ellen White.” www.exadventist.com
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 19, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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