Program 186: Christ the Rock

Christ was the great anti-type of all the Old Testament symbols. As such, he could not have had a pre-existence.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44] 

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: A common analogy to describe the Savior is to refer to him as our rock. This very analogy, and how it can be traced from the Old Testament through to the New is one argument many trinitarians use to try and prove a pre-existence for the Savior.

Hi, I’m Miles Robey and you’re listening to WLC Radio. Today, Dave is going to be looking at just what it means for Yahushua to be our rock, where the analogy comes from and if it proves that Yahushua indeed had a pre-existence prior to his birth in Bethlehem.

Dave?

Dave Wright: Thanks, Miles. The analogy of the Savior being our “rock” is, as you said, repeated throughout Scripture and actually comes from a very beautiful prophecy concerning the Messiah. Let’s take just a moment to read it. It’s in Psalm 118. Read verses 22 and 23.

Miles: All right, it says …

The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
Yahuwah has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Dave: Yahushua himself pointed to this passage as a prophecy of himself. You can find it in Matthew 21 verse 42. In this chapter, Yahushua was sharing the parable of a vineyard owner. He tells how, when it was harvest time, he sends servants to receive the fruit, but the vineyard workers attack the servants. They beat one, kill another, and stone the third.

Let’s pick up the story in verse, uh … 3

Miles:

“Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

They said to him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Yahushua said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was Yahuwah’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” [Matthew 21:36-42]

Dave: So, the Savior is quoting this very same passage to warn his hearers of the fate that awaits everyone who rejects the gift of salvation. This same psalm is quoted as applying to Christ in Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, and 1 Peter 2:7. In Acts 4 verse 11, Peter pointblank tells the Sanhedrin that Christ, quote, “is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’”

This is a theme that is developed and expounded upon throughout Scripture. Now the part that is used by many Christians as “proof” that Yahushua is divine and had a preexistence is found in 1 Corinthians 10. Let’s turn there: 1 Corinthians chapter 10. Just start with verse 1 so we can get it in context. 1 Corinthians 10, verses 1-4.

Miles:

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

Dave: You can see how, if you didn’t know any better, you could extrapolate from this passage to assume that Yahushua had a pre-existence because it says, right here in verse 4, “they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.”

Miles: Sure! Sure, so I suppose a better question would be, how do you explain this verse if you believe Yahushua did not have a pre-existence? Because I don’t believe he did and I know you don’t believe he did, either. Sooo … what are we to do with this passage?

Dave: Well, this ties into the trinitarian belief that Yahushua, as the son of Yahuwah, is actually the third person of the godhead, or “God the Son.” Obviously, if he’s indeed divine, he’d have to have had a pre-existence.

Turn to Deuteronomy 32 and read verses 3 and 4. Deuteronomy 32:3 to 4.

Miles:

I will proclaim the name of Yahuwah.
    Oh, praise the greatness of our elohim!
He is the Rock, His works are perfect,
    and all his ways are just.
A faithful [deity] who does no wrong,
    upright and just is He.

Dave: This is a very clear statement from Scripture that Yahuwah is the Rock of our salvation. Turn now to Psalm 18 and read verses 2 and 31. This is a passage that clarifies who the “Rock” is.

Miles: “Yahuwah is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

What was the other one?

Dave: Verse 31.

Miles: “For who is God [or eloah] besides Yahuwah?
    And who is the Rock except our God [or elohim]?”

Dave: Again, a very clear statement that Yahuwah is the Rock.

Now, many trinitarians will argue that it was Yahushua, in his pre-existent form, that accompanied the Children of Israel in their wilderness wanderings. Since Scripture clearly states Yahuwah is the divine rock, and since Paul appears to place Yahushua in the Wilderness as the “rock” the Israelites drank from, then the connection seems to be clear: Yahushua is also divine and had a pre-existence.

Miles: Sure. You can see how that connection could be made.

Dave: The problem, though, is that when you take a really close look at this interpretation, some really serious inconsistencies start popping up.

The first is the use of the word “Christ.” The only time you ever hear that word is in conjunction with Yahushua.

Miles: Right! It’s almost like “Christ” is Yahushua’s surname. “Yahushua Christ.”

Dave: But it’s not. “Christ” is simply the English translation of the Greek word, Christos. Christos, in turn, is simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew word, Messiah.

Now, the word “Messiah” appears in our English translations only twice, and both times are found in Daniel 9.

Miles: Oh, yeah. We recently had a radio program on Daniel 9. It says,

Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks . . . And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself. [Daniel 9:25-26]

Are you saying that’s the only time in Scripture the word Messiah appears? But what about Isaiah? What about the prophecies of the Savior? Surely it’s got to appear there!

Dave: Oh, the original word appears throughout the Old Testament, but it’s only translated into English as “Messiah” the two times it’s in Daniel 9.

In Hebrew, the word is mashiach and it’s used a lot but it’s typically translated as “anointed.” We won’t look at all of them; there are too many, but let’s look at least a couple examples of the use of mashiach in the Old Testament.

Turn to 1 Samuel chapter 24. You’ll recall how, when Saul was chasing David to kill him, one time he went into a cave to go to the bathroom. David’s men told him, “Hey! Here’s your chance! End his miserable life now and we can all go home.” Let’s read David’s response. Verses 4 to 6 and see if you can figure out where mashiach or “messiah” appears in this verse. It appears twice. Go ahead.

Miles:

 And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “Yahuwah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Yahuwah’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of Yahuwah.”

Dave: Where does mashiach appear?

Miles: Anointed? Yahuwah’s anointed?

Dave: Right! See, there are lots of messiahs in the Bible. Yahushua was only one. Saul was Yahuwah’s messiah; David was Yahuwah’s messiah. So was Abraham. These were people set apart and anointed by Yah.

In fact, even angels can be “messiahs” in that sense. In Zechariah 4, the prophet was shown two olive trees that dripped their oil directly into tubes that supplied fuel to the seven-branch candlestick. When Zechariah asked what they represented, the angel told him, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord [or sovereign or adone] of the whole earth.”

Miles: So, literally, these are the two messiahs. The two christs.

Dave: Yeah, depending upon which language you’re translating from.

Miles: That sounds weird.

Dave: I know, but it’s important that we read and interpret Scripture as it was intended to be read and interpreted in the original.

Now, the coming of the promised Messiah is a theme that you found woven throughout the entirety of the Old Testament. Let’s look at how he was referred to. Genesis 3:15. This is the first promise of the Messiah made at the time of the fall. What does it say?

Miles:

And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.

Dave: Now turn over a few chapters to Genesis 22 verse 18. This is a promise given to Abraham when he showed he was willing to sacrifice Isaac.

Miles: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Dave: In Galatians 3, Paul refers to this same promise. Read verses 16 and 19 of Galatians three.

Miles:

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.

 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Dave: Galatians is important because it’s connecting “Seed” to Yahushua.

Uh … Genesis 49:10. This was from when Jacob was on his death bed and blessing his sons. What does that one say?

Miles: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to him shall be the obedience of the people.”

Dave: So the promised Messiah is shown here to come through the lineage of Judah. In 1 Chronicles 5:2 it says, “Yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s.” Again, Yahushua descended from Judah. King David also did, which is why Yahushua was called the “seed of David.”

Read 2 Timothy 2 verse 8.

Miles: “Remember Yahushua Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.”

Dave: Again, the Messiah was descended from David who was descended from Judah.

Let’s take a quick look at Isaiah 11 verses 1 and 10.

Miles: Isaiah 11 … um …

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

Dave: And verse 10?

Miles: “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek him,
And his resting place shall be glorious.”

Dave: We can see that, in all these passages, the word “seed” means “descendant.” Yahushua was the “seed” of David, who was the seed of Jesse. They, in turn, were the “seed” of Judah who was himself descended from his great-grandfather, Abraham.

The important point I want you to focus on is that the promised seed was predicted to arise from the human race. I know that sounds obvious, but I’m going to say it again. The promised “seed,” the Messiah, was prophesied to arise from the human race.

There is absolutely nothing in all the Old Testament prophecies that suggests or even hints that the Messiah was already in existence, just in some other form. So, when we look again at what Paul said about Yahushua being the “Rock” the Israelites drank from, we have to take a second look at the assumption that Paul meant Christ was literally there.

Miles: Okay, yeah. Because for Paul to state that Yahushua was personally with the Children of Israel in the Wilderness would be to contradict the words of the Old Testament prophets.

Dave: All of which, if they had anything to say on the subject at all, said the Messiah would arise—that’s future tense—the Messiah would yet arise from the human race.

You can’t have that and have a pre-existent Christ. The two concepts are diametrically opposed to each other.

* * *

Advertisement

Nouns. Pronouns. Verbs. Adverbs. Conjunctions. Participles. Past participles. Predicates. Predicate nominatives. Infinitives. Split infinitives. Dangling modifiers.

Have your eyes glazed over yet? If you’re like me, you learned the various parts of speech just to pass the test in school . . . and then promptly forgot all about it as you went on to more interesting topics.

Well, as boring as grammar is to most of us, the personal pronouns which Yahushua used when referring to himself, as recorded in the gospels, shines an interesting ray of light on his nature as fully human . . . and not divine at all. For a unique perspective on this fascinating topic, look for the previously aired program entitled “Christ’s Personal Pronouns.” [Program 185] Even if you believe Yahushua was fully divine, you’re going to want to listen to the information in this program. That’s “Christ’s Personal Pronouns” on WorldsLastChance.com. You can also listen to previously aired programs on YouTube !

* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: Before we assume that, all evidence to the contrary, Yahushua was personally with the Children of Israel in the wilderness, we should be aware that the Bible says Yahuwah used angels to minister to Israel.

Miles: Really?? Where?

Dave: There are three places in the New Testament that state this. I’ve printed the texts out for you to look up. Here … what’s the first one say?

Miles: Uh … Acts 7 verse 38.

… This is from Stephen’s sermon to the Sanhedrin just before he was stoned. He’s talking about Moses here. It says, “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us.”

Um, there’s more further on in the chapter. Verses 52 and 53 say: “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Dave: This is a very intriguing statement. It says the law was received “by the direction of angelSSS.” That’s plural.

What’s the next one?

Miles: Galatians 3:19. It says, “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.”

The last one is Hebrews 2 verses 2 and 3. It says, “For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?”

Dave: What’s unique about each of these passages is that they’re claiming angels played a part in the giving of the law. That’s not something we hear preached about.

Miles: Yeah, I’ve never heard that. Ever.

Dave: Well, I’d encourage you and our listeners to go back and study each passage in context. When you do, you’ll see that in each passage, the theme of the message is that the gospel is superior to the law. That’s the message in each chapter where this is discussed.

Miles: Let me just read those verses off again in case anyone wants to go read them in context. I know I’m going to. You’ve really piqued my interest.

That’s Acts 7 verses 38, 52 and 53. Galatians 3 verse 19, and Hebrews chapter 2, verses 2 and 3. Acts 7:38, 52 and 53. Galatians 3:19, and Hebrews 2:2 to 3.

Dave: Thanks. It’s a fascinating study to realize that in each place, the superiority of the gospel to the law is the point that’s being emphasized. Now, the reason why this is so significant to today’s discussion is that this emphasis proves that Yahushua could not have been present when the law was given at Mount Sinai nor had anything to do with ministering to the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness.

Miles: Why do you say that? I’m not seeing why that would make any sort of difference. Yes, the gospel is superior to the law. Okay, but why should Yahushua’s presence or absence make a difference? I’m not seeing your point.

Dave: Because Yahushua was the antitype of all the types the law pointed forward to. The lambs that were sacrificed? Those were types. Yahushua, as the “lamb of Yah that taketh away the sins of the world,” was the great antitype. He was the fulfillment.

Miles: Okay, I can see that. Then what did Paul mean when he said that the rock was Christ?

Dave: Well, we’re dealing with symbols. We can say that the rock typified Yahushua; it was a type, pointing forward to a future fulfillment, the antitype. The rock represented Christ.

It’s not all that unusual in the Bible for verbs of being to draw a connection between Yahushua and something that symbolizes him.

Miles: For example?

Dave: Well, uh … ah! John 10. Yahushua gives the parable of the good shepherd. The good shepherd comes in via the gate; thieves come in over the wall. Why don’t you turn there and read verses 7 to 9 for us? John 10, verses 7 through 9.

Miles: “Then Yahushua said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Dave: Here, Christ is “the door.” Elsewhere, he said, “I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser.” [John 15:1]

Miles: How about at the Last Supper? He said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you.” The wine he said was his blood. Obviously, it wasn’t his literal flesh and blood. That would be cannibalism and unlawful.

Dave: But it was a symbol, yes. When we have communion service, the emblems represent his body and blood.

Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. Paul makes a very interesting statement here; 1 Corinthians 10 and read verses six and 11. Paul is recounting here various highlights in the history of Israel. Specifically, the wilderness wandering. In fact, it’s this chapter that’s behind our entire discussion today. This is where Paul says “that rock was Christ.”

Read verse 6.

Miles: “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

Dave: Then he sums it all up in verse 11.

Miles: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

Dave: I know a lot of translations say “examples.” And we all know what an example is. It’s something that serves as a representative, a pattern. But if you look at the marginal reading, the word isn’t “example.” It’s ensample. An ensample is a … type! And that’s what the word is in Greek. It’s tupos, or type.

So go back up to the start of the chapter and read the first two verses.

Miles: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”

Dave: The children of Israel weren’t literally ‘baptized.’ We know this because the Bible says they crossed through the Red Sea “dry shod.” It was one of Yahuwah’s miracles, so they didn’t get bogged down in the mud. But, again, we’re talking types. Crossing the Red Sea was a type of baptism.

Miles: And isn’t baptism itself also a type? I’m thinking of Romans where it says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Yahushua were baptized into his death?” [Romans 6:3]

Dave: Right! Same idea in Galatians: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” [Galatians 3:27]

Let’s keep going in 1 Corinthians 10. Verses 3 and 4 continue the analogy. It keeps the “type” going.

Miles: “All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

Dave: This is referring, of course, to when Yah gave them manna, as recounted in Exodus 16, and the events at Rephidim and Kadesh-barnea where Yahuwah provided water from the rock.

Now, as most of us know, the Bible actually records two different events when Yahuwah supplied water from a rock. There are striking similarities between the two events as well as striking differences.

Miles: No pun intended.

Dave: Uhhh … Oh! Right. Yes. I see your point. Let’s review and everyone else will see it, too.

In Exodus 17, we have the story of how the Israelites came to Rephidim, but there was no water to drink. So, they did what they normally did: they griped to Moses.

Miles: Well, I’d say they did more than gripe. Moses told Yahuwah that they were ready to stone him!

Dave: So, let’s read what happened. Exodus 17 verses 5 and 6.

Miles: “And Yahuwah said to Moses, ‘Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.’”

Dave: So we have here this terrific acted-out parable. The rock typifies Christ. Striking the rock symbolizes his death. Even the water flowing out is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Miles: Where do you get that from?

Dave: Let’s read it! John 7, verses 37 to 39.

Miles:

 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Yahushua stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Yahushua was not yet glorified.)

Dave: The second event occurred near the end of the 40 years in the wilderness. Again, the Israelites gripe over the lack of water and again Yahuwah directed Moses to a rock. This time, however, Moses was told to just speak to the rock. Instead, he got angry at the Israelites’ continued lack of belief and struck the rock.

Miles jokes: Your striking similarity.

Dave laughs: Well, the problem was that in striking the rock a second time, Moses destroyed the intended symbol. Christ was sacrificed once for the sins of many, not multiple times.

Miles: Seeing a repeat of what had happened 40 years before, he was probably afraid that their continued lack of belief would send them back into the wilderness another 40 years.

Dave: Maybe. The point is, that Yahuwah wanted to continue the lesson of the rock as a symbol for Christ. He wanted to teach the Israelites lessons about the Savior. Yes, he died once, as symbolized by Moses striking the rock at Rephidim. But after that, the blessings of salvation flow to us through the Holy Spirit simply when we ask. Striking the rock a second time destroyed the analogy.

By having these two incidents with the “rock,” one at the beginning of the wilderness wandering, the other at the end, we can see symbolized the Savior’s presence at every step of the way over our “wilderness wanderings” through life.

Miles: That’s really beautiful. Even with the analogy destroyed by Moses’ rash action, you can still see what it was intended to be. That’s quite profound and comforting.

Dave: Yes. This is what Paul meant when he said they “drank of the spiritual rock which followed them.” Obviously, a literal rock can’t sprout legs and wander around in their wake for 40 years. We’re dealing with symbols here, but this doesn’t prove a preexistence for Christ.

We have to remember that Paul was writing to a Christian audience that understood Christian symbols. He’s applying those symbols to the wilderness wandering and teaching the lesson that Christ, the great antitype of the literal rock in the wilderness, accompanies us through life, always there to be a shield and comfort to his children.

That’s what is meant by Christ being the rock.

Miles: Beautiful. Beautiful.

Stay tuned! Up next is our daily mailbag.

* * *

You are listening to World's Last Chance Radio.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Today’s question is coming from the country that operates and maintains the world’s GPS systems.

Dave: GPS? The Global Positioning System used by airline pilots?

Miles: And cars, and militaries, smartphones, and . . . just about everybody, really.

Dave: One country is in charge of operating and maintaining that?

Miles: Yep!

Dave: Which one is it?

Miles: The United States.

Dave: Huh! Well, I suppose it makes sense. You would need some high level of coordination. Anyway, what’s today’s question?

Miles: Well, I’d say it’s more of an observation than an actual question, but the team members who work on our website say they get confronted on this topic quite a bit, so I think it’s fair to offer some clarification.

Carina from Sandpoint, Idaho in the United States writes, “Wow! You taught us the use of the correct name of Yahuwah, then turn right around in your broadcasts and say ‘God.’ Past time to decide who you serve! Yah? Or Baal?”

Dave: Yes, I have heard the team members who work on the website and answer comments and letters say this comes up a fair amount. So, thank you, Carina, for giving us an opportunity to address this on air.

Miles: She’s not the only one. A while ago, a message came in from a David ben Yeshua. He said, “You need to explain to the Most High why you call Him ‘Yahuwah’ one minute and then turn around and call Him ‘Baal’ the next.”

Dave: I’m assuming he’s referring to calling Yahuwah ‘God’ since we’ve never actually referred to Yahuwah as ‘Baal.’

It’s a fair question. We do teach—and I firmly believe—that “Yahuwah” is the name of our Creator and Scripture repeatedly urges us to call upon His name, so we’re definitely supposed to use it. This was lost when the Bible was translated because the translators inserted the generic title “Lord” instead of His actual name.

Miles: Which, as we’ve covered in previous programs, we’re not supposed to do.

Dave: No! How can we “call upon the name of Yahuwah” as Scripture repeatedly urges us, when we don’t know what the name is?

But let’s look at the reasoning behind why some people say we shouldn’t use the word “god” to apply to Yahuwah, and why, despite this, we sometimes do. Would you please turn to Exodus 23 and start with verse, uh … let’s start with verse 10 so we get the context.

Miles:

Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. [Exodus 23:10-12]

Dave: So these are very important instructions Yah’s people are to take seriously. Verses 10 and 11 explain how every seventh year they’re to let the land rest. This may not seem important to believers today, but elsewhere in Scripture we’re told that the reason the Israelites spent 70 years in Babylonian captivity was for neglecting to let the land rest. So, as many sabbatical years they neglected to let the land rest, that’s how many years the land rested while they were in Babylon.

We also have here a repeat of the Sabbath commandment. Again, very solemn, very important instructions that are to be taken literally. Now, keeping this in mind, read the next verse.

Miles: “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.” [Exodus 23:13]

Dave: This text is the foundation for why many very sincere believers feel the word “god” should never be applied to Yahuwah.

Let’s look at one more text. Hosea 2:17. This brings another element into it. This is quoting Yahuwah here.

Miles: “For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more.”

Dave: There are two parts to this issue of the use of pagan names. The first is, do we use the word “god” to apply to Yahuwah when it’s a word that applies to false gods as well?

The second is the use of pagan words. So, let’s look at this—

Miles: Before you go on, I think it’s only fair to share that there are members of the WLC team that agree with Carina and David. They’re very important members of our team and we really respect them. They also believe the word “god” should never be used in reference to Yahuwah.

Dave: Right. Thanks, Miles.

The question asked why we, as part of the on-air team, still occasionally use the word “god.” So that’s what I’m going to answer. But you’re right; there are some team members who disagree. There’s no question as to the sincerity of all team members, so we give each other the religious liberty to follow individual convictions, knowing that if we keep studying, the Holy Spirit will lead us all to the same truths.

All right. Back to our first point. Some people believe that we should never use any words to apply to Yahuwah that are used to apply to false gods, and obviously, the word “god” is a prime example of that.

The word “god” comes from the Hebrew word eloah and means, literally, “god.”

Miles: Well, that makes sense. We’re dealing with different languages. English is a Germanic language in the Indo-European family of languages. The English “god” originates with the German word, “gott.” As you’ve said before, that’s simply the word for eloah that Yahuwah assigned our language’s ancestors when He confounded the languages at Babel.

Dave: Elohim is the plural form of the word and means “gods” or even “goddesses.” It was a Hebrew literary device to use this same plural word to apply to Yahuwah because pluralizing the word showed greater respect. They’d also do this when using elohim to refer to magistrates or other important personages.

Let’s look at some uses of elohim in Scripture. Probably the most famous is in Genesis 1:1. You don’t even have to look that up. What does it say?

Miles: “In the beginning, Elohim created the heaven and the earth.”

Dave: We know it was Yahuwah who created the heaven and the earth, but that’s not the word Moses used, even though he knew the divine name because he used it in Genesis 2! Instead, Moses used the Hebrew word for “god” and he applied it to Yahuwah.

The Old Testament repeatedly refers to Yahuwah as “elohim,” but that’s not His name. It’s simply a title and the word means “divinity” or “god.”

Miles: Or “gods”.

Dave: Right. The point I’m driving at is that, whether the word is el, eloah, or elohim, it all means the same thing—god—and it was used in Scripture the same way we use the word “god” in English. It was applied to both Yahuwah and false gods. So this idea that you can’t use the same vocabulary to describe Yahuwah that you use for false gods is not Scriptural.

Let’s look at a few examples in Scripture. Turn to Exodus 20 and read the first three verses. And I want you to read it just as it says in the modern translation.

Miles: “And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Dave: Now. I want you to read it again, but this time I want you to take out the English titles and insert the Hebrew titles and divine name as they appear in the original.

Miles: All right, uh … “And elohim spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am Yahuwah your elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other elohim before Me.”

Dave: So right here, as Yahuwah spoke the ten-commandment law from Sinai, He Himself used the Hebrew equivalent of the English word “god” and applied it to both Himself and all other false gods.

This happens a lot in the Bible, but let’s look at just one more example. Joshua 23:16 and again, I want you to read it first just as it appears in modern English. This is part of Joshua’s farewell address to Israel. Go ahead.

Miles: “When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”

Dave: And with the divine name and Hebrew titles reinstated?

Miles: “When you have transgressed the covenant of Yahuwah your elohim, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other elohim, and bowed down to them, then the anger of Yahuwah will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”

Dave: So, here again, we have another of the many passages in Scripture where the word “elohim”—god—is used to refer to both false gods and Yahuwah.

Miles: You know, a thought that just struck me. We all agree it’s wrong to hide the name of Yahuwah behind the generic title “Lord.” However, have we been in danger of doing the same thing just in reverse? In our radio programs, as well as our videos and the articles on our website, we’ve capitalized the word “elohim” and applied it strictly to Yahuwah. But, one, Hebrew did not have capitalization, so we’re elevating a word that isn’t a name and using it as a name, and two, we’re using a generic title and applying it strictly to Yah when Scripture itself applies it to both the real god and all other false gods.

Dave: Well … that’s something to consider. And there’s a problem with that. Yes, if you use “Elohim” to refer exclusively to Yahuwah then, yeah. We’re doing precisely what the Bible translators did and turning a title into the holy name and that’s wrong.

But more than that, and here’s where it gets really problematic, if we decide that we can’t use words for Yahuwah that also apply to false gods, then we are limiting … our ability … to communicate … important … concepts. And that’s something even the Bible writers didn’t do. This is why most of WLC’s content creators come down on the side of using the word, “god.” Restricting your vocabulary restricts your ability to communicate.

“God” is a generic title. It should never replace the divine name. But if you turn the generic title of “elohim” into another divine name, if you remove the word “god” from your vocabulary, you will not be able to make the comparison statements that Scripture itself does.

Miles: Yeah. Like the first commandment. That’s a comparison! “I am the god that brought you out of Egypt … you shall have no other gods before Me.”

Dave: What about statements that distinguish between gods, like “the only true and living god” or “my god” or “the god of Abraham”? Those are comparative statements, too. Scripture repeatedly draws comparisons between Yahuwah and all other gods. But, and here’s my point, you can’t draw comparisons without using a word that applies to both. It’s that simple and the Bible writers certainly did not handicap themselves by refusing to use a word that applied to both.

Miles: Did you notice that Exodus 23’s prohibition doesn’t actually refer to Yahuwah at all? Let me read it again and you’ll see what I mean.

It says: “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.”

It’s not saying we can’t apply the word “god” to Yahuwah. It’s saying not to mention other gods. Nothing is said about limiting the way we refer to Yahuwah in either this text or in Hosea 2:17 where it says: “I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.”

Dave: You’re right. And that brings me to my next point. Not only are these verses not saying we can’t use the word “god” or “elohim” to refer to Yahuwah, but they aren’t actually talking about the word “god” at all. Both of them are referring to the names of false gods.

Now a number of very sincere believers take this quite literally. I know someone who is a staunch defender of the lunar Sabbath. Any time he tries to share about the Biblical calendar, he runs into difficulties because most people today don’t know the Biblical terminology for the days of the week, let alone the months of the year! He often finds himself having to refer to “Wednesday” or “Friday” or whatever, even though both words come from the names of pagan gods. But he can’t communicate, he can’t convey the information he’s trying to share with his audience, if he doesn’t use those words.

Miles: So, what does he do?

Dave: Well, he’ll say the word, but then he’ll say, “Forgive me, Father.”

Miles: He does that after every time he says a pagan word?

Dave: Yes. Of course, when he can, he’ll try to avoid the use of the word altogether, such as, for example, the word “fortunately.” Comes from a pagan god, so he doesn’t use it.

Miles: So he’s limiting his vocabulary and his ability to communicate.

Dave: Pretty much, yes. But again, we run into a problem. Suppose that these verses literally mean, as translated, that we’re never, ever, ever to use words that come from the names of pagan gods.

Well, we’ve got a problem. A big problem because Scripture itself repeatedly names false gods. You’ve got Bel, Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Dagon, Merodach, Milcom and many more.

These are all pagan gods and they’re all named in Scripture! If we’re never supposed to speak the names of pagan gods, how can they appear in Scripture? Why would Yah break His own command?

Miles: He wouldn’t.

Dave: No, He wouldn’t.

Turn to Isaiah 46 and read verse 1 for us.

Miles: “Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle.”

Dave: Here we’ve got two Babylonian gods and the prophet Isaiah is mentioning them by name! Nebo is the same as Nebu and it appears in the name of none other than . . . Nebuchadnezzar. His names means, “May Nebo protect the crown.”

Miles: So Nebuchadnezzar’s name—

Dave: Which is spoken repeatedly throughout the book of Daniel …

Miles: —is actually an invocation to a pagan god??

Dave: Yep!

Miles: What about the New Testament? There’s plenty there. I’m thinking of Acts where Paul and his companions were mobbed by the Ephesians. They got so angry at the apostles that they yelled, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” [Acts 19:28] Diana, of course, was a Roman goddess.

Dave: There’s Acts 17 as well. We read how Paul traveled to Athens. Athens was named after the goddess, Athena. Athens was her holy city. The Christian missionaries entered it, and Luke recorded the name of where they went. While there, Paul went to Mars Hill. Mars, of course, was another god. In most of the Latin languages, the third day of the week is named after him. You can hear it, in the Spanish martes or the French mardi.

Luke also records the names of some Athenians who converted. One of them was Dionysius the Areopagite. Dionysius is the name of still another god known for drunken revelry. And his name appears in the Bible!

There’s even a book of the Bible that literally means “Dedicated to the god, Mars.”

Miles laughs: Really?? Which one is that?

Dave: The Gospel of Mark.

Miles: Okay, so we know that Yahuwah doesn’t contradict Himself. Obviously, Scripture does use the Hebrew word for “god” and applies it equally to Yahuwah and false gods. There’s no other way to draw a comparison between the true and the false except to use the same word for both.

But, to be fair, these verses in Exodus and Hosea do say, unequivocally, that we’re not to take the names of other gods into our mouths. We’re not to even mention them. It does say that. So how do you explain that Scripture itself then breaks Yah’s clear command and names them? What are we to do with that?

Dave: You have to dig a little deeper to get the true meaning. Yes, a surface reading of Exodus 23:13 and Hosea 2:17 would suggest that we’re never even to say the names of pagan gods. That’s why you get people, like my friend who, when he finds he can’t communicate any other way but by saying a word that comes from a pagan god, he’ll immediately say, “Forgive me, Father.”

But that’s a surface reading. You look up the word “mention” in Strong’s Concordance … well, why don’t we do that really quickly. There’s a concordance on the shelf there. Grab it and let’s read what the original Hebrew word is. It’s number 2142.

Miles turns pages: Uh … it comes from the word, zakar. It says, “to remember.” Oh, this is interesting! It says that the translation of “mention” is only by implication. The actual meaning is to burn incense, to bring to remembrance, to think on.

Dave: In other words, to worship.

A more accurate translation of Exodus 23:13 is found in the New International Version. It says: “Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.” Invoke, of course, means to call on for help, to earnestly pray to. We are not to pray to other gods. Don’t invoke other gods for help. This is what’s consistent with the rest of Scripture.

All right. What about Hosea 2:17 where it says the pagan gods “shall be remembered by their name no more”? Look up the word “remembered.”

Miles: That comes from the word … oh! Same word. Zakar.

Dave: The true meaning of these commands is that we are not to reverence, we’re not to “burn incense to” or invoke the names of other gods. We’re not to pray to them.

Now this doesn’t mean we can’t literally say their names. Daniel 1:7 tells us Daniel’s Babylonian name. The eunuch put in charge of the Israelite captives renamed him Belteshazzar. Belteshazzar literally means “Beltis protect the king.”

Beltis was considered the queen of the Babylonian gods. So, Daniel’s Babylonian name—which, notice, is mentioned in Scripture—was actually itself an invocation to a pagan deity. Again, Yahuwah’s commands in Exodus 23 and Hosea 2 do not mean we can’t literally speak a word in order to convey information. It means we are not to engage in the act of invoking, honoring or worshipping another god.

Miles: That makes a lot of sense. Why would it dishonor Yahuwah to use words He Himself gave for the purpose of conveying information?

Dave: The real tragedy comes when we remove from our use the very words needed to share truth. If pagan titles or names were what was meant, that we literally were never to speak or write them, then those names and titles, such as the word “elohim,” would not appear in Scripture as the very act of recording them in Scripture would break the command not to mention or remember them.

Miles: That’s true.

Dave: That said, we will continue to respect the religious liberty of those who disagree with us, including some of our own team members. We just respectfully ask for the same right in return. Let’s not denounce each other or accuse each other over things like this. That’s not the spirit of Yahushua.

Miles: Interesting discussion. Thanks, Dave.

If you have any questions, you can get in contact by going to our website at WorldsLastChance.com and clicking on Contact Us. We enjoy receiving your messages.

* * *Daily Promise

Hello! This is Elise O’Brien with today’s daily promise from Yah’s word.

My grandfather was a very godly man. He was kind and loved playing with his grandchildren. This may not seem all that important to an adult, but to a child, it meant a lot to have a compassionate adult show an interest in you. My grandfather died when I was only a teenager, but his influence lives on. In fact, sixteen years later when I gave birth to a son, I named him after my grandfather. Yesterday would have been my grandfather’s birthday and in remembering him, I realized what a precious promise Ecclesiastes 9:5 is.

It says:

For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.

That may not sound like a promise, but it is. It promises us that our loved ones who have passed are not suffering. It promises us that, should we die before Yahushua returns, we won’t suffer, either. Death is like sleep. We don’t have to watch as those we’ve left behind miss us and mourn our passing. But we can know that one day, we’ll be reunited with all those who love Yahuwah.

In looking forward to that time when we shall be reunited with the saved of all ages, John said that Yahuwah “will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. [Yahuwah] Himself will be with them and be their God. And [Yah] will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Mohith Agadi is an author, journalist, film producer and entrepreneur living, last I heard, in Bengaluru, India. He said, quote, “When you do some good work and if it inspires others, then you have just created the ripple effect.”

I couldn’t help but think of that during today’s discussion about Yahushua—or Yahuwah—being the rock. The beliefs we hold impact so many other beliefs, there’s a real ripple effect. Today, we could see the difference between approaching these verses as trinitarians or unitarians. But there are so many other areas where this holds true.

For example, if you believe in an eternally burning hell, that’s going to impact your belief on something as seemingly unrelated as baptism. Because, naturally, you don’t want an infant going to hell. So you’re going to want to baptize the baby as soon as possible. And it just snowballs from there.

Dave: You’re right. That’s why it is such an incredibly solemn obligation to constantly be searching for more truth and light. To be like Bereans, studying to see if the beliefs we hold are truly consistent with the Bible.

And the only way we’re going to know that is if we actually take the time to re-examine our beliefs. Because no one deliberately believes error. Everyone assumes their beliefs are correct, or they wouldn’t believe that way!

Miles: Yeah, but you and I have both experienced how, just because you believe something to be true, doesn’t mean it actually is true. Today’s discussion really sinks home how important it is to dig for the truth, and to keep digging. New understandings shed more light on previously held beliefs.

Dave: I remember reading once a statement something along the lines of “truth can bear the weight of investigation.” And it’s true. If a doctrine is true, it’s not going to lose anything by taking a second look at it. And we may even, or I should say, we likely will even find something new to learn.

Miles: What is the most important principle to keep in mind when studying and looking for new light?

Dave: Well, I think a lot of people have been taught to be afraid of looking at new ideas. They’ve been taught—maybe not in so many words, but the idea is there—that if they even consider new ideas, the devil will come in like a flood and they’ll be deceived against their will. But that’s not how Yahuwah works. He wants us to study, and He’ll keep your mind safe while you do.

But you can’t be settled on the truth if you don’t put the time in to study for yourself. It’s when you study for yourself that Yah’s spirit has the time to settle you firmly on that point.

Miles: And maybe the Holy Spirit will settle you down into being confirmed that some idea is wrong.

Dave: Right! But you still have to study for yourself in order to give the spirit the opportunity to do that.

Miles: So, in the studying itself, what’s the most important thing to keep in mind? Prayer and asking for divine guidance, of course. But what else?

Dave: Well, I think it’s important to know what it means to study with an open mind. Most everyone will claim they have an “open mind,” but they aren’t truly studying with an open mind if they’re looking to prove a new idea wrong. Maybe it is wrong, but that’s not studying with an open mind.

Studying with a mind that is open means being willing to accept the new idea if the Holy Spirit convicts you that it is true. It also means being willing to lay aside preconceived ideas and prejudices. That’s not easy, but if you want to arrive at the truth, it’s very important to do that.

Miles: That’s true. And there’s so much more to learn! We won’t even scratch the surface before Yahushua returns.

Dave: But we can have fun getting started!

Miles: And let the ripple effects teach us still more!

We hope you’ll be able to join us again tomorrow and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

You have been listening to WLC Radio.

This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage. 

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.