Tag Archives: Elohim

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Know Your Enemy: Part One

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If you belong to God, you war against principalities from another dimension. The apostle Paul wrote about this in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Evil spiritual forces move people to oppose God. How did this happen? What is the genealogy of their evil and leader?

Background. God and other disembodied spirits called Elohim were part of a divine council before our time (Job 38:4-7; Genesis 1:26). The one we’d eventually call Satan rebelled, taking others with him (e.g., Ezekiel 28:12-16). Then, angelic watchers, sent to oversee humanity after their exile from Eden, also rebelled (Genesis 3:22-23; 6:1-2 & 4). After the Great Flood, meant to eliminate their offspring, God disinherited all the nations except Israel.

Those Elohim in charge of the disinherited nations have caused people (especially rulers) to rebel against God ever since. Think of them as other-worldly puppets. Their puppet master and ruler of this world is called in Hebrew Ha Satan—The Adversary. He’s your main enemy—don’t underestimate him, as he and his minions search diligently for the spiritually weak and isolated (1 Peter 5:8)! Let’s consider these things in more detail.

The Course of Evil: Until the Watchers. Initially, God and others comprised an innumerable council of spiritual Elohim. There was no apparent rebellion until one Elohim became an adversary. He fell from grace and tricked humans into revolting, too. Their disobedience caused their expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). Other Elohim sent to watch over them afterward also disobeyed. Then, the Great Flood came, after which God distanced Himself from most of creation.

The Course of Evil: Disinheritance, Influence, and the End. Read Deuteronomy 32:8-9 and Psalm 82, and you’ll learn that God temporarily gave control of nearly the entire world to other Elohim. He kept what would become Israel, though. Evil persists because those spirits are now in authority (e.g., Psalm 82). For instance, in Daniel 10:13, we read of the spiritual principalities manipulating Persian rulers in Daniel’s time. And we read that Satan will empower the Beast—Antichrist in Revelation 13:3-4. Finally, 1 John 5:19 reminds us that the world lies in Satan’s authority for now.

The good news is that The Enemy won’t prevail, as we see in Revelation 20:10: “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Summary. Evil exists because of free will gone wrong when Elohim rebelled and the one we call Satan became God’s adversary. Next? I’ll equip you to resist your spiritual enemy! Meanwhile, pray that God will protect you from that evil one as you resist him.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Back to Eden: As It Was

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Recently, I wrote a series about our Supernatural God—Elohim led by YHVH, the Creator. I touched on Elohim rebels, including Satan, coming cosmic battles, an earthly Kingdom, judgment, and re-creation. Over the following few articles, I’ll start with the new creation and give a high-level view of the ‘end times,’ which have been in motion since Jesus brought YHVH’s Kingdom to people. But . . .

First, the point is hope. We believe what YHVH has done and is doing. So, we believe He’ll keep His word to restore everything to perfection as it once was. Read Revelation 21:1-22:5 for a glimpse of that beautiful future! Also, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men . . . looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus . . . (Titus 2:11-13)

Second, here’s the basic sequence from now until the coming new age of re-creation:

  • Life will continue as it has until religious deception, war, and environmental issues increase significantly.
  • The ‘Antichrist’ ruler will crush YHVH’s people for several years.
  • YHVH will rescue them and bring wrath against the ungodly.
  • There’ll be peace on Earth for a while.
  • Finally, judgment and a new age when YHVH will again hang out with His creation.

These periods could be categorized as: (1) From now until the Satan-influenced Antichrist; (2) During the time of the Antichrist; (3) After the Antichrist; (4) Return to Eden. We’ll focus on the return to Eden here and then cover the other periods in subsequent articles.

As it was in the beginning. Before some Elohim rebelled, YHVH walked with people in a beautiful place and partnered with them to manage His creation (Genesis 2:6-25). YHVH’s creation was ‘good,’ and the relationship between Creator and the created was perfect (complete). Two unique trees grew there—one that offered enlightenment not meant for people and another that gave indefinite human life. We now die because our access to that Tree of Life was removed (Genesis 3:22-24).

So it will be in the end. In a remarkable reversal, YHVH will destroy this realm and, in its place, create one where He and His creation co-exist as it was and is meant to be (Revelation 21:1-4). No pain. No suffering. No evil. What about the Tree of Life? Read Revelation 22:1-2, and you’ll see that it will be restored. Beauty, purity, eternal life, and perfection will be the order again!

Summary: God has pursued us since we walked away long ago. One day, He’ll tire of our immoralities and self-centeredness and insert Himself into our history for massive reconstruction. In the following article, we’ll continue our end-times journey by unveiling from now until the devil pulls Antichrist’s strings. Remember that God desires our love for Him and people more than religion.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

The Supernatural God: Many with One Mind!

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As a young boy, I asked my pastor to explain God’s origin and the Trinity. His answer went like this: “God was always around. He became different things when needed: the Creator, then Jesus who left heaven to come to earth, and His Spirit sometimes.” The visual was a fluid God blob. It was a stupid answer, but I didn’t know how to explain it better. Fifty-some-odd years later, I can and want to introduce you to Elohim and their ruler and ours, YHVH (the Hebrew consonants naming the Creator and pronounced Jehovah or Yahweh).

Others existed before this earth’s creation. So, unsurprisingly, they were present at creation (Job 38:7), in Eden (Ezekiel 28:12-19), and in governing all but Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8-9). This group of disembodied spirits is labeled Elohim in ancient Hebrew and identifies angels, Jesus, the Creator, Holy Spirit, and others. Many compose God’s Divine Council. Let’s dig deeper into Elohim YHVH and Elohim as a divine council before finishing with Elohim, the rebels.

Elohim, the Creator & Ruler. God, as we know Him, created everything and has had many labels and roles. But He has only one name: YHVH. He is the God who will be our provider, shepherd, and healer when we are fully devoted to Him. He rules creation, including all Elohim, and seeks willing partners in His dimension and ours despite the risk of rebellion.

Elohim, the Divine Council. Collectively, Elohim has always had a place as a spiritual council headed by YHVH. Our existence began like this: “Then Elohim said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule . . .’” (Genesis 1:26). Therefore, we’re meant to be imagers of God—doing and saying here what the Creator and His council do and say in their realm. Jesus reports this like-mindedness (John 5:9 and 14:10). Job mentions this assembly of the ‘sons of God’ (Job 1:6). We see them advising YHVH about Ahab in 1 Kings 22:19-23, and the Psalmist reflects on this holy council in Psalm 89:5-7. Finally, the apostle John sees them in an end-times vision (Revelation 4). However, many have gone rogue (e.g., Psalm 82).

Elohim, the Rebels. Spiritual rebellion happened multiple times during and after Eden. First, Lucifer rebelled and lost his authority. Then, ‘watchers’ appointed to protect humans rebelled and were relegated to the underworld. You can read about this in the books of Enoch and Jasher, both mentioned in our Bible. After Babel, God gave members of His council authority over all nations except Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8-9); they went rogue (e.g., Psalm 82 and Daniel 10:12-13 & 20).

In summary, Elohim represents disembodied spirits. Some are part of a divine council led by YHVH with one mind and mission. Some are rebels. So, we’ll next explore further YHVH’s disinheritance of the nations and Elohim rebellion.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.