The Spiritual Realm - Part 3
Notes
Transcript
Handout
In review, we have looked at the terms for the five spiritual realms and the nature of beings who inhabit the spiritual realms. This began our journey of dispelling misconceptions and understanding our place in God’s family.
The current realms are the third heaven, the earth, Sheol, Tartarus, and Hell.
Today, we continue our journey to see what the Bible says about the beings that inhabit these realms. We are doing this to bring clarity and understanding since much of our thinking on this is caught from our culture rather than biblical teaching.
As always, we need to remember that the proper context to understand the Bible’s teaching is not our current cultural context, but the biblical one.
As a reminder, in Christianity today, we find two extremes concerning the supernatural. The first is minimizing and skeptical of the spiritual realms; the second is overemphasizing and being infatuated with the spiritual realms.
Obviously, neither of these extremes are true or healthy. This series will try to bring us as a church to the middle, where we know and understand what the Bible says, and thus we know how we fit into God’s family.
So, what are the biblical terms for the spiritual beings who inhabit these realms?
The terms for spiritual beings are divided into three categories.
The first category is terms that describe the nature of spiritual beings (ontology - what they are like).
The second category is terms that describe their status (their rank in relation to Yahweh and each other).
The third category is terms that describe their function (what spiritual beings do).
This week, we will begin to cover the terms that describe the status of spiritual beings.
It will be divided into four parts in the coming weeks: Yahweh’s terms of status, the good elohim’s terms of status, and the bad elohim’s terms of status. Some of the terms of status for the good and bad elohim overlap, but the Biblical context makes it clear.
We will start with the 22 terms of status for Yahweh. We will get through 11 of them today and then cover the other 11 next week.
“Yahweh Elohim” (LORD God) is the first phrase for our terms of status. It is used 144 times in the OT; the first use being in Genesis 2:4. It is used 5 times in the NT, the first being in Luke 1:32.
These are the generations
of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
“Yahweh” (LORD) is the second term of status. It is used by itself 4,990 times. Genesis 4:1 is the first use of Yahweh by itself.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
“Adonia Yahweh” (Lord GOD) is the third term, used 566 times; the first use being in Genesis 15:2.
But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
“Ruah Yahweh” (Spirit of the LORD) is the fourth term, used 60 times. The first use is in Judges 3:10.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.
These terms are only used to refer to our God, the God of the Bible, whose name is Yahweh. In most translations, Yahweh is translated as LORD or GOD, written with all capital letters to show respect to the name of Yahweh and to prevent his name being taken in vain. This comes from the Jewish practice in the Second Temple period to replace “Yahweh” with “Adonia” in Hebrew, or “Kyrios” in Greek, to protect Yahweh’s name. The New Testament reflects this practice when quoting the OT and in assigning Jesus the name of Yahweh by calling him the Lord.
“I AM” (hayah) (ego eimi) is the fifth term of status. It is used once in Exodus 3:14 and alluded to by Jesus in his claim to deity in John 8:58.
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
This phrase in both languages is the verb “to be”, speaking of the eternal state of Yahweh. He is, always has been, and always will be. This is our Godhead.
“Father” (Abi), (Patera) is the sixth term of status. It is used 146 times in the Bible. Two examples are Isaiah 63:16; John 14:6-9
For you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
“Ancient of Days” (Attiq Yomin) is the seventh term of status. It is used 3 times. The first use is in Daniel 7:9
“As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
“Everlasting God” (Olam Elohim) and “Creator” (Bore), (Ktisanta) are the eighth and ninth terms of status. Both are used in Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
The term “Everlasting God” is only used here. We are again reminded that our God, Yahweh, has none that can compare, for he is everlasting.
The term “Creator” is used four times in Scripture. We see it show up in the NT as well, in Romans 1:25
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
“Most High” (Elyon), (Hypsistou) or “God Most High” (El Elyon) is the tenth term of status. It is used 110 times. An OT example is Psalm 91:1, and a NT example is Luke 1:35
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
“Almighty” (Shaddai) (Pantokrator) or “God Almighty” (El Shaddai) is the eleventh term of status. It is used 58 times in Scripture; here are some examples: Genesis 17:1; Job 13:3; Revelation 1:8
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,
But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to argue my case with God.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
We are only halfway through the terms of status for Yahweh. He is awesome and worthy of all praise. None can compare to him. Nothing is too hard for him. Yahweh, help us to trust in who you are and let your peace fill our hearts and minds.
