Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
The word of Jehovah
John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God. 2 This same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made.4 In it was life, and that life was the light of men.5 And that light shineth in the wilderness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. This is from the Geneva bible which posits the "word" as "it" in verses 3 and 4. In verses 3 and 4 in the KJV the "word" is shown to be a "it". Understanding whether the "word" here is a "him" or a "it" is crucial in terms of whether Jehoshua is preexistent or not. Some Unitarians acknowledge that the "word" is a "him" but then say it relates to the start of Jehoshua's ministry. I believe there is a reason the Geneva translators posited the "word" as an "it". It could be because they saw the strong possibility that the "word" here is used to denote God's spoken commandment which gives life rather than identifying it specifically as the second person of the trinity. The Geneva translators were obviously trinitarian so they upheld the preexistence of the Son of God and probably left the first few verses of John to be interpreted in both ways. This is where we as lovers of truth have to search the scriptures to see what the above passage is saying in terms of what exactly the "word" is when used in the first few verses of John. Psalm 33:6 "By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" Here the Psalmist eqautes the word of Jehovah with the breath of His mouth. The Hebrew word for "breath" is "ruwach" (Strongs 7307) which means "spirit, breath, wind, life, mind, blast". So here we see that the word of God is His breath which is spirit which gives life causing the heavens and their hosts to come into existence. The Hebrew word for "word" is "dabar" (Strongs 1697) and means "a word, a matter spoken, counsel, decree". We see from the above verse in Psalms and the definitions of word and breath that it was not a second person of the Godhead that made the heavens but rather Jehovah's own word (decree) which He uttered by the breath (spirit) of His mouth. We see elsewhere that the word of Jehovah is not neccessarily a person one to one but rather God's commandment and decree. This is evident in the prophets. Ezra 1:1-2 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah The word of Jehovah here was spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet and that word is the proclamation by King Cyrus that the temple of God would be built in Jersusalem. Clearly we see that the "word of Jehovah" is not a person but instead it is a "commandment (decree)". Isaiah 2:3 "And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem." Isaiah the prophet eqautes the law with the word of Jehovah. Isaiah 38:4-5 4 Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah, saying,5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years The word of Jehovah came to Isaiah, was this word a person or an instruction from God? Clearly it is an instruction from Jehovah God to Hezekiah relayed by Isaiah the prophet. Jeremiah 1:4-5 4 Now the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations. The word of Jehovah here is His exhortation and encouragement to Jeremiah that He has been chosen from the womb to be a proohet to the nations. Again, we see here that the word of Jehovah is not a person but rather Jehovah's actual words. Jeremiah 1:9 "Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth" The word of Jehovah is not a person but His actual words which He puts in the mouth of His prophets so that they can preach His commandments and instructions. This is exactly what Moses said God would do with Jehoshua. Let's go to Deueteronomy 18:18 "I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." This is a prophecy about the arrival of Jehoshua onto the scene of Israel. It would be a little confusing and strange if Jehoshua were the literal word of God in the old testament metaphysically made flesh in the new and yet God would put His words into the mouth of Jehoshua. Why would God need to put His words in the mouth of Jehoshua if Jehoshua were already the literal word of God? It is clear that the teaching that Jehoshua was/is the literal word of God contradicts the prophecy given by Moses that God would put His words in Jehoshua. Jeremiah 1:11-12 11Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree.12Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it. What comes to Jeremiah is not a person but rather the commandment of Jehovah which is His word. Here we see proof that His word is His commandment as Jehovah tells Jeremiah that He watches over His word to perform it. Jeremiah 1:13-14 13 And the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a boiling caldron; and the face thereof is from the north.14 Then Jehovah said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. Here Jehovah's word is a warning about thosr from the north bringing evil. Jehovah's word in the old testament is His commandment, instruction and prophetic warning. Ezekiel 1:3-4 3 the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him.4 And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with a fire infolding itself, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst thereof as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire. Here Ezekiel is seeing/taken in vision seeing the four living creatures as well as the heavenly sanctuary and the glory of the likeness of Jehovah God sitting on His throne above the firmament. So in this passage the word of Jehovah is a heavenly vision. Hosea 1:1-2 1The word of Jehovah that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.2When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah. The word of Jehovah comes to Hosea and that word is Jehovah's instruction for Hosea to a wife of whoredom as an object lesson to the nation of Israel. We see again, that the word of Jehovah is not a person but rather a commandment. Joel 1:1-2 1The word of Jehovah that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.2Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers?3Tell ye your children of it, and let your children [tell] their children, and their children another generation. Here the word of Jehovah is a call to repentance given to Joel. The word of Jehovah is an exhortation to repent. We have no indication here of the word being a person. Jehovah's word is Spirit (ruwach) Psalm 33:6, here is an example of that Joel 2:28 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. In Psalm 33:6 it eqauted Jehovah's word with His breath (spirit). Here the pouring out of Jehovah's word (Spirit) causes men and women to prophesy, dream and have visions. Amos 3:1 "Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying" Jehovah's word can also be a rebuke as seen above. Amos 5:1-3 1Hear ye this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.2The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is cast down upon her land; there is none to raise her up.3For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left, to the house of Israel. This is a word from Jehovah and it is a lamentation for the house of Israel and it's fallen state. Jehovah's word can be a lamentation. Again, there is no indication that the word of Jehovah is a person here. Obadiah 1:1 "The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning Edom: We have heard tidings from Jehovah, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle." Here the word of Jehovah is translated to a vision and it is given to Obadiah. They are also called the tidings of Jehovah. Positing the word as the pre-incarnate Son of God complicates the simplicity that the word is exactly what it says it is which is Jehovah's actual words. Jonah 1:1-2 1Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. Here the word of Jehovah is a warning to the people of Ninevah and ultimately a call to repentance. The word of Jehovah here is a message not a person. Micah 1:1-2 1The word of Jehovah that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.2Hear, ye peoples, all of you: hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord Jehovah be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. The word of Jehovah above is a witness against both Northern and Southern Israel for their having high places of idol worship. Clearly here the word of Jehovah is not a divine being but rather a message of rebuke and this word is a witness against Israel for their idolatry. Nahum 1:12-14 12 Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.13And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.14 And Jehovah hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile. Thus saith Jehovah in verse 12 and Jehovah hath given thee commandment in verse 14. The word of Jehovah is His commandment and it is given to the prophets who are then commisioned to bring the command to the people. Often the angel of Jehovah would bring Jehovah's message to the prophet. Sometimes the prophet would have a dream or a vision in which Jehovah's word was relayed. Habakkuk 2:14 "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea." The knowledge of God is eqauted to His law which is eqauted to His word (Isaiah 2:3). Zephaniah 1:1-2 1 The word of Jehovah which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.2 I will utterly consume all things from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah. We see here that Jehovah's word is a message of destruction. Haggai 2:1-5 1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying, 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts, 5 according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you: fear ye not. The word of Jehovah to Haggai the prophet is a word of encouragement and exhortation to Zerubbabel and Joshua to be strong to not be diamayed at those who will lament that the rebuilt temple is not as glorious as the former one. Also, in verse 5 Jehovah hearkens back to the word He covenanted with Israel when He brought them out of Eygpt. We see that the word of Jehovah is His covenant He makes with man. Zechariah 1:1-3 1In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,2Jehovah was sore displeased with your fathers.3Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto me, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts. The word of Jehovah comes to Zechariah the prophet and the word is a call to repentance to the people of Israel. Malachi 1:1-2 1The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi.2I have loved you, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Jehovah's word is His burden. It can be a burden for His people such as above or it can be a burden for other nations. Jehovah gives His burden to the prophets and the burden can be one where Jehovah calls for repentance, rebuke or announces judgment. Malachi 2:8 "But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts" We have looked at other scriptures during this study that show the word of Jehovah to be His law and His covenant that He makes. Here Malachi calls out the priests for causing people to stumble out of the way of God's law and the covenant He made with them (Levi). We have seen plenty of examples from the old testament where Jehovah's word is not a person but rather a message. This is consistent all over scripture. Now let's look at some scriptures in the new testament that verify that Jehoshua wasn't the "word of God" in the old testament as a preexistent divine being. Hebrews 1:1-3 1God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,2hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. This is an odd thing for the author of Hebrews to say if indeed Jehoshua was the one sent to the prophets to deliver Jehovah's message. The author of Hebrews makes it clear that it is only in these last days that Jehovah God spoke to us through His Son. Those that hold that Jehoshua was literally the word of God in the old testament also hold that He was the angel of Jehovah as it was the angel who was God's primary method of delivering messages to His people. If Jehoshua was the angel of Jehovah then it is also odd that the author of Hebrews goes out of His way to contrast angels with Jehoshua and clearly state that Jehoshua was never an angel but rather He is God's only begotten Son of the Davidic covenant. Mark 12:25-27 25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.26But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in [the place concerning] the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I [am] the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err. In this passage, Jehoshua clearly identifies God as someone else as well as eliminates Himself from being the one who spoke to Moses in the bush. We know that it was the angel of Jehovah that spoke to Moses and here Jehoshua says it was someone else who spoke to Moses. Both in verse 26 and 27, Jehoshua fails to identify Himself as the one who was speaking to Moses. So clearly Jehoshua is neither the angel of Jehovah nor Jehovah Himself. He refers to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as entirely someone else (verse 26 and 27). It would have been the perfect time to identify Himself as the one speaking to Moses on behalf of God i.e. the angel but He doesn't and identifies someone other than Himself as speaking to Moses (verse 26). Without going to the passage, Acts 7 is a passage where Jehoshua could have been identified as the angel of Jehovah but Stephen preaches as if they are completely distinct entities from each other. Remember, those who say Jehoshua is the literal word of God identify Jehoshua as the angel because it was the angel who was God's mouthpiece on earth. Revelation 19:13 "And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God." Note that it says that Jehoshua's name is the word of God not that He is the literal word of God in some metaphysical way. Why is His name the word of God? Because He explained the Father (John 1:18) and gave us an understanding of Him that is true (1 John 5:20). Jehoshua showed us that in the Father is light and no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Whereas the law came by Moses, grace and truth came by Jehoshua Messiah (John 1:17). See, Jehoshua is not the word of God from a metaphysical standpoint but He can be called the word of God because as prophesied God would put His words in the mouth of the Son of God: Deuteronomy 18:18-19 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. This is a prophecy about the Messiah being raised up to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. Jehovah says through Moses that He (Jehovah) will put His words in the mouth of the prophet (Jehoshua). This is evidence that Jehoshua is not the literal word of God but rather the word of God is put in Him. This is why Revelation 19:13 can say that Jehoshua's name is called the word of God because He is the final and true revealer of God's word i.e. plan and gospel. Let's go back to John chapter 1 and see John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth" Most Christians whether, trinitarian, Unitarian, Arian, modalist all attribute the word to becoming flesh at the supposed incarnation of Jehoshua i.e. the virgin birth. However, this contradicts prophecy as stated above by Moses and also Isaiah: Isaiah 11:1-2 1And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah. This is a prophecy about Jehoshua's baptism and it is at His baptism that He is empowered with the Spirit of Jehovah God which gives Him wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, the fear of Jehovah. Those are all attributes of Jehovah's word. Also, note that it was right after the word became flesh that Jehoshua dwelt among John and the other apostles. We know from scripture that Jehoshua didn't dwell with the apostles until after His baptism. Also, we see that this is precisely when Jehoshua was begotten as God's Son as the word becoming flesh is connected with John saying "and webeheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father" Older manucscripts have "thou art my Son, this dayhave I begotten thee" as the words the Father said when Jehoshua was baptized. The word becoming flesh at Jehoshua's baptism also shows that this is when Jehoshua was begotten of the Father as John 1:14 connects the begetting of the Son of God with the word becoming flesh. While many say the word became flesh at His birth we must remember that from this study it was proved that the word was not a literal person in the old testament but rather God's commandments and instructions. Jehoshua didn't begin to teach God's commandments until the age of 30 years old when He was baptized at the Jordan river. Luke 3:23 "And Jehoshua himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli" Luke says that it was at 30 years of age that Jehoshua began to teach God's word. Acts 13:13-24 23 Of this man`s seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jehoshua;24 when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. This shows that the raising up of Jehoshua as the Saviour of Israel was at His baptism which is precisely when He began to teach God's word. We also see in the new testament itself that the word of God is not eqauted to being a literal person: Acts 3:22 "Moses indeed said, A prophet shall Jehovah God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. To him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you" The apostle Peter connects the raising up of Jehoshua (baptism per Acts 13) with Him speaking the things that Israel was supposed to hearken to. Acts 3:26 "Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." Again, the context of Peter's sermon the raising up of Jehoshua was right at the point where He began to speak God's commandments to Israel per Moses prophecy (Deuteronomy 18). As we see from the gospel of Luke above and Paul's sermon in Acts 13 the raising up of Jehoshua was when He was baptized at the Jordan river. Acts 4:4 "But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand" What word did the Israelites hear? The word was the message of the gospel that Peter preached to them. So again we see here that the word is not literally a person but it is an actual message. Acts 4:29-30 29 And now, Jehovah, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,30 while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jehoshua. Here the saints are praying for the Father to grant the apostles boldness in speaking His (the Father's) word. See how the saints identify the word as being the Father's? This sheds light on John 1:1 and that the word being God is about the Father not the Son. We see here that the word of God is the gospel of the Kingdom. Acts 13:4-5 4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.5And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant. Notice the progression here, the holy Spirit comes to the brethren and then they proclaim the word of God in the synagogues. This is exactly what took place in the old testament when the angel of Jehovah would bring the word of Jehovah to the prophet and then the prophet would take it to the children of Israel. How God works is consistent in both the old testament and new testament. Acts 13:26 "Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth" Paul connects the word of salvation being sent forth from the time that Jehoshua was raised up at His baptism. This shows us exactly the meaning of John 1:14 in that the word became flesh Let's look at a couple of verses that show what the identity of the literal word is: James 1:18 "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" It was the word of truth that begot us unto being chidren of God according to James the brother of Jehoshua. John 1:12-13 12But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. James said above that we were begotten via the word of truth i.e. the gospel of the Kingdom. Here John the apostle says we were begotten by God's will. God's will is eqaul to His word. His word carries with it eternal life: John 1:38 "For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" Jehoshua came not to do His own will (preach his own words) but rather to do the will of the Father who sent Him. John 12:49-50 49 For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak. Here Jehoshua echoes Deuteronomy 18 which prophesied that the future Messiah would be given God's words/commandments in His mouth to speak. The Son of God makes it clear that He is not speaking His own words or commandments but that which the Father gave Him to speak. So, if God's word is His will and Jehoshua said He came not to do His own will or speak His own words then that should tell us that Jehoshua is not the literal word of God but rather He spoke God's word from the time of His baptism and He can rightly be called the word of God as He is the true prophet of God. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart" The word of God is what the Bible says it is "His word". The word is given to His prophets to rebuke, exhort and instruct His people. In the old testament God used the prophets, in the new testament He used His Son who is a prophet and also used the apostles and deacons. 2 Peter 3:5 "For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God" This statement by Peter corresponds to Psalm 33:6 which is that the heavens and earth were formed by the word of God which Psalm 33 eqautes to the breath of Jehovah's mouth. In the Genesis creation account we see that on each day of creation when "God said" things came into existence: Genesis 1:3 "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" God said and things came into existence and this He did by His word and breath of His mouth. Ephesians 6;17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" Here Paul tells us exactly what the word of God is one to one and he says it is the sword of the Spirit. The word "Spirit" means "breath, mind, wind" and denotes that the Spirit of Jehovah God is His presence, personality, power and His word. When Jehovah gives a commandment that is His word and His Spirit. The word of Jehovah as stated by Paul is His verbal command which is spoken by the breath (Spirit) of His mouth. John 6:63 "It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, are are life" Remember Jehoshua was speaking God's words not His own and He says that the words He speaks are Spirit and life. We see from Genesis, Psalms, James and the gospel of John that Jehovah's word is a life giving commamd. Jehoshua throughout His ministry gave the words of eternal life that were given to Him to speak as Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15-21. The evidence is clear exactly what is Jehovah's word.
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