Tag: Gods

Ye Are Gods

Joseph Dewey

Ye Are Gods

TEACHER: There has been a lot of controversy over some doctrines taught by the New Age people who say that they are manifesting God. Others even say that they are gods, or the sons of God and all the powers of godliness are theirs to enjoy. The unfortunate thing is that few people believing in this philosophy have ever examined this concept from a scriptural viewpoint. Those who do believe the Bible have generally condemned any teaching that insinuates that man is or can be a god.

 

The main grounds for this condemnation come from the first section of the Bible where the serpent was tempting Eve. As you may remember Adam and Eve were commanded not to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Shortly afterward the serpent comes along and temps Eve into eating it with these words [Read Genesis 3:5]: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Since this serpent whom most Christians call the Devil used the lure of becoming gods to tempt Eve we can’t really blame them for thinking he may have been lying can we?

STUDENT: I guess not.

 

TEACHER: In fact, most fundamentalists call this temptation the Devil’s first great lie and they say that anyone who believes it is deceived by the oldest lie on earth. Let’s assume that this serpent was totally evil and did want to tempt Adam and Eve away from God. What produces the strongest temptation: truth or untruth.

STUDENT: I’ve never thought about it.

 

TEACHER: Let us use an example. If a person is tempted to steal a Porsche. Is he tempted because the Porsche just appears to be a quality car or because it really is a quality car?

STUDENT: He is tempted because it is a quality car.

 

TEACHER: In other words, the grounds for the temptation is something which is true, isn’t that right?

STUDENT: Yes.

 

TEACHER: If a man is tempted to have an affair with his good-looking secretary because he thinks it will be pleasurable, is he deceived into thinking that pleasure is a possibility, or is no pleasure possible.

STUDENT: Pleasure is a real possibility.

 

TEACHER: Again, he is tempted by something which is true isn’t he?

STUDENT: Yes.

 

TEACHER: A tempter may use false information, but true information is much more powerful and appealing. There is only one major lie that runs through all temptation. Can you guess what that is?

STUDENT: I’m not sure.

 

TEACHER: It is the sentence: “You can get away with it.” If we think we can get away with a harmful act that may bring us personal pleasure or gain then it may seem worth it. The idea that we can get away with something is always a deception for we always reap what we have sowed, but it does not mean that all the allurements of a temptation are grounded in falsehood. Now let us examine the temptation of the serpent more closely. What was the first promise the tempter made in this verse we just read?

STUDENT: Their eyes would be open.

 

TEACHER: Let us find out if this came true. Read what happened after they ate the fruit in verse seven [Read Genesis 3:7]: “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked…” Did the serpent’s prediction of their eyes becoming open come true?

STUDENT: It seems to.

 

TEACHER: What was the second item of temptation in this verse five?

STUDENT: That they should be as Gods, knowing good from evil.

 

TEACHER: Now let us read a quote from the voice of God himself speaking [Read Genesis 3:22]: “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil…” How does God verify that the serpent was telling the truth with this temptation?

STUDENT: God says that the man became as one of the Gods knowing good from evil.

 

TEACHER: The serpent also told them that they would not die. In other words, they would get away with their disobedience. Was he telling the truth here?

STUDENT: No. Adam and Eve did die.

 

TEACHER: This scripture also tells us that the man is to become as one of “us.” Now everyone says there is only one God. Why is the pronoun “us” used?

STUDENT: It must have been referring to more than one person, or perhaps the Trinity.

 

TEACHER: There are several references to God in the plural. We’ll quote two more. [Read Isaiah 6:8] “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me.” [Read Ecclesiates 12:1] “Remember thy Creators in the days of thy youth…” [Note: This is translated as it reads in the Hebrew. Most Bibles mistranslate Creators as singular for obvious reasons.] Is God referred to here as one or more than one?

STUDENT: More than one.

 

TEACHER: This should not be surprising to anyone who has read the Bible in its original language of Hebrew. The primary word for God is ELOHIYM which is the plural of ELOWAHH. The singular ELOWAHH is not even used in the first half of the Bible and rarely after that. Therefore, almost every time you see the word God in the Old Testament it is translated from ELOHYIM and if the translators were honest it should read “Gods.” The Bible tells us that the Gods created heaven and earth, Adam and Eve and all other things. Does this help you to understand why God refers to himself as “us.”

STUDENT: Yes. If God is plural he would refer to himself as us.

 

TEACHER: The Bible tells us the position of Jehovah among the many gods. [Read Deuteronomy 10:17 You may also refer to Joshua 22:22] “For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God… Does it sound like Jehovah is the leader of many gods and lords?”

STUDENT: It seems to.

 

TEACHER: Let us read another similar verse in Psalms 82:1: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” The Bible tells us that Jeshovah is the God of gods and also that he judges among the gods. Who do you suppose these gods are that Jehovah is over?

STUDENT: I’m not sure.

 

TEACHER: The scriptures make it clear a few verses later [read Psalms 82:6]: “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” Who is he calling gods here?

STUDENT: All of us who are children of the most High.

 

TEACHER: The Jews thought Jesus was guilty of blasphemy because he said that he and his Father are one. They thought he was claiming to be God. To defend himself he used this scripture from psalms. [Read John 10:34-36]: “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” Who did Jesus here say were called Gods?

STUDENT: Those who received the word of God.

 

TEACHER: In this scripture Jesus was accused of saying he was God because he said that he and his Father are one. Now let us read about the destiny of his disciples [Read John 17:11]: “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” What did Jesus ask on behalf of the disciples?

STUDENT: That they would be one as Jesus and the Father are one.

 

TEACHER: And if Jesus was a god because he was one with the Father what would the disciples be for also being one with the Father and Son?

STUDENT: Gods.

 

TEACHER: The primary message of Jesus was to preach the kingdom of God. The question to consider is who are the inhabitants of the kingdom of God? We may use common sense to figure this out. The mineral kingdom consists of minerals, the plant kingdom has plants, the animal kingdom has animals and the human kingdom is inhabited by humans. Therefore, who would inhabit the kingdom of God?

STUDENT: Gods.

 

TEACHER: The scriptures tell us the main ingredient necessary to be called a god. Let us reread an earlier scripture we talked about. [Read Genesis 3:22]: “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil…” What must man know to become as God?

STUDENT: Good and evil.

 

TEACHER: The word “know” comes from the Hebrew YADA which can also mean “to discern.” A person who “knows” or discerns good from evil is usually called a judge. Let us read a scripture about those who were judges in ancient Israel [Read Exodus 22:8-9]: “If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods. For all manner of trespass, whether it be of ox for ass, for sheep, for rainment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbor.” Even though the leaders were judges the word here is mistranslated. In all three cases the word “judges” comes from ELOHIYM which should be translated as gods. Why were the leaders, or judges, called gods here?

STUDENT: Because they were supposed to know good from evil.

 

TEACHER: One who was supposed to know good from evil was Moses. Let us read an interesting statement about him. [read Exodus 4:16 & 7:1]: “And he [Aaron] shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou [Moses] shalt be to him instead of God [The Hebrew reads: Thou shalt be to him a god]…I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” What was Moses called here by Jehovah himself?

STUDENT: A god.

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TEACHER: The fact that men are called gods is often covered up by translators. The next scripture is a good example [read Genesis 23:5-6]: “And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my Lord: thou art a mighty prince among us…” Again the word “prince” is a mistranslation. It should read “mighty god.” Does it seem clear here that men in Bible times were often called gods?

STUDENT: Yes.

 

TEACHER: Not only are prophets like Moses and Abraham called gods, but this promise to become such is available to all. Let us now read the words of Paul [Read Romans 8:14-17]: “For as many as are lead by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” If we follow the Spirit of God and become the sons of God, what do we become heirs to?

STUDENT: Heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

 

TEACHER: Isn’t it logical that a child grows to be like his parent and becomes an heir?

STUDENT: Yes.

 

TEACHER: Therefore, if we are truly sons and daughters of God should we not mature into gods?

STUDENT: It would seem so.

 

TEACHER: Now let us read an even more interesting passage from Paul [read Phil 2:5-6]: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” What mind is supposed to be in us?

STUDENT: The same that was in Jesus.

 

TEACHER: And what thought does it say was in Jesus?

STUDENT: He did not think it robbery to be equal with God.

 

TEACHER: The apostle John seemed to verify these words [Read I John 3:2]: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” When we see Jesus again what will we discover?

STUDENT: We will be like him.

 

TEACHER: What confuses Bible scholars is that there are other scriptures which tell us that there is only one God. If the scriptures we have just read are true then all of us can become gods and it would seem that there is not just one god but an untold number throughout the universe. Since it seems that both doctrines cannot be true then each religion has to pick either one God or many gods as a correct teaching. On the other hand, this contradiction gives Bible critics ammunition to claim the Bible is not inspired. Can you think of a way that there could be one God, but also many gods?

STUDENT: I’m not sure.

 

TEACHER: Believe it or not this is exactly what the Bible teaches. It is also the foundation of all metaphysical belief. The Apostle Paul explained what Christ is which is the same as explaining what God is. Let us read this scripture [Read I Corinthians 12:12: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” According to this scripture is Christ or God merely the man Jesus or is it composed of many members?

STUDENT: It is composed of many members.

 

TEACHER: The scriptures plainly tell us that the body is composed of not just one superbeing, but many members. Just think of how many members are in your body. You have all the different limbs and organs and smaller units called cells that make up the whole. Do you have any idea how many cells there are in your body?

STUDENT: A lot

 

TEACHER: The average person has about 80 trillion cells. Some religions teach that the universe is the body of God. Does it seem possible that there may be 80 trillion or more people who are a part of the body of God?

STUDENT: It is possible.

We are the gods of the atoms that make up ourselves, but we are also the atoms of the gods that make up the universe. – Manly P. Hall

Nov 11, 2011

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The Gathering of Lights, Chapter 1

Joseph Dewey

To Prevail As God

The story of Israel is the story of humanity.  Israel was a microcosm of the human race intended to be an ensign to her brethren. Israel was to exemplify a closeness with God and spiritual progress that would be admired and imitated by other races just as Christ lived an exemplary life that will eventually be duplicated by us all. The life of Christ fulfilled its purpose. Israel did not. The perfect example worthy of emulation is yet waiting to be set. The greatest drawback of Israel through the ages has been her separateness — the chosen people syndrome. The feeling that they are more approved by God because of their birth or race. The feeling that they are special in Gods eyes above others. Those who claim to be modern Israelites (Jews and non-Jews) do not stop to think that if Hitler had not had this “special” feeling about himself and his own people that there would have been no holocaust and no World Was II.  This feeling of being special, or better in the eyes of God because of some life’s mission has been the cause of more pain and misery among mankind that any other thing. Equally damaging are unthinking followers who support other men or races in this feeling of specialness. Without support these special beings could not sew their seeds of destruction.

In this writing we will explore the true destiny of Israel showing how she is to be a benefit to mankind and a help to her brothers, and moreover that Israel is lying latent in each member of the human race waiting to be awakened.

The word Israel is first used in the Bible in connection with the patriarch Jacob. In the book of Genesis we are

told that he and a supernatural being had an actual wrestling match and Jacob prevailed to the extent that the entity could not escape his grip. Jacob told him that he would not let him go unless he were given a blessing to which the messenger agreed and said: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.” Gen 32:38 From that time on Jacob was known as Israel and his descendants were (and many still are) called “the children of Israel” or “Israel”.

Whether or not the story of Jacob is true or symbolic is not important here. The needful point here is the meaning behind the whole story of Israel and, more particularly at present, the meaning behind the word itself.

The word “Israel” comes from the Hebrew YISRAEL. The first part of the word is derived from the prime root SARAH which literally means “to prevail” or to “have power”. It is sometimes used to indicate a princely or royal power.  The second half of the word is EL. This word is translated as “God” numerous times throughout the Old Testament.  When it is not used in this connection it means “mighty” or “strong” and implies superhuman goodness or strength.

If we put these combinations together we have several possible meanings among which are: “To prevail as God”, “to have royal power as God”, or “to prevail through great strength and goodness”. Some say that it should mean “prince of God”, but this is a watered down euphemism designed to conform to orthodoxy.

In examining the first rendition (“to prevail as God”) one may wonder why such a title would have been bestowed upon a man for surely man was not intended to prevail or have power as God. Is not this a bold title to assume?

It may seem bold, but it is also quite fitting, for did not Jacob prevail and have power over an angel of God, or possibly more than an angel? After the entity left it is written: “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (Which means the “face or appearance of God): for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Gen 32:30

Most religionists call this personage an angel, but eh Bible does not. The scriptures call him two things. He is called “a man” (Gen 32:24) and “God (Gen 32:30). The amazing thing is that Jacob being a man prevailed

over another person who was called a “god”. Therefore, he was given a name which meant “to prevail as God” for only a God could overpower another God.

Jacob, however, was not the first Israel for others before him had obtained similar powers to prevail. Among them were Abraham, Melchizedek, Enoch, Seth, and Adam. The Israel power in man became obvious when man first used his free agency to sample good and evil “and the Lord God said, Behold, THE MAN IS TO BECOME AS ONE OF US, to know good and evil.” Gen 3:22

The Creators here recognized that the man was to become eventually like unto them (“One of us”). They realized that man had latent within him the power of Israel, or the power to prevail even as they did. They knew that man was like unto the son of God, or the Creators, and that eventually a son grows to be like unto his father.

Moses himself said: “ye are the children of the Lord your God.” Deut 14:1. Paul wrote: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. . .” Rom 8:16-17 Moreover, God is called “the Father of spirits”. Heb 12:9.

In addition Paul said: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” I Cor 13:6. If the Spirit of God dwells in man then obviously a God dwells in man that is waiting to be recognized. This is why Paul told us: “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, which was in also Christ Jesus:  Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Phil 2:5-6. Interestingly we are told to actually be of the same mind as Christ and to think it not robbery to be “equal with God”. After all it makes sense. Is not a son eventually equal with his father? Did not Jesus pray concerning his disciples: “That they may be one, AS WE ARE.”?  John 17:11,21-23.

David acknowledged this interesting doctrine: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” Psalms 82:1 The word “mighty” is translated from EL or the last part of IsraEL. Remember that this word is usually rendered “God”. The word “gods” is translated from ELOHIYM which is the most common Hebrew word for God. The word “God” in “God created the heaven and the earth” is taken from this word. Thus we see that God stands in the congregation of those with the power of God to judge among these gods. Then David says: “Ye are gods (ELOHIYM); and all of you are children of the most High, but ye shall die like men.” Psalms 82:6.

Many believers who feel that greatest destiny of man is to drift for eternity in some nebulous heaven, or to be some harmless watered down being in another world will be amazed and perhaps alarmed to find this doctrine in the Bible, a doctrine espoused by esoterists for centuries. They, modern orthodoxy, could be no more upset than were the Jews who tried to stone the Christ for claiming to be a god: “for a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, I said ye are gods?  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent unto the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” John 10:33-36

Jesus himself used this scripture as evidence that he was Emmanuel, or a God among men, but he did not use it to refer exclusively to himself, but to all Israel, or those who received and recognized the word of God. This reasoning drove the Jews to a frenzy and they again sought to kill him right on the spot “but he escaped out of their hand”.

This reasoning also adversely affects an emotionally based individual. The God within must be recognized by the intuition and the feeling man cannot properly sense it, even if his religion teaches it, and he becomes angry at others who teach such doctrines and many of them would relish a return to the days of the inquisitions.

There are many scriptures indicating that there is a god in man for man is often called a god in the Bible. The children of Heth were so impressed with Abraham that they called him a “mighty prince” Gen 23:6 This, however, is a mistranslation.  Prince comes from the Hebrew NASIY which literally means “exalted one” and “mighty” comes from ELOHIYM the word for God. A more correct translation would be: “exalted God”. The sons of Heth indeed marveled at the power of Israel in Abraham for he did prevail as a god in their eyes.

The judges in ancient Israel were often called “gods”, but it is usually mistranslated for the sake of orthodoxy:

“If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges (ELOHIYM – Gods), to see whether he put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods. For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges (ELOHIYM); and whom the judges (ELOHIYM) shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbor.”  Exodus 22:8-9

This word is translated correctly a few verses later: “Thou shall not revile the Gods (ELOHIYM), nor curse the ruler of thy people.” Ex 22:28. King James Version.

Jehovah himself approves of calling one with the power of Israel a god for he said to Moses: “I have made thee a god (ELOHIYM) to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall by thy prophet.” Ex 7:1 He also said: “He (Aaron) will do all the speaking to the people for you, he will be the mouthpiece and you will be the god (ELOHIYM) he speaks for.”  Ex 4:16 New English.

Moses was indeed a true Israelite for he prevailed as a god, as did Jacob, did and got the best of another ELOHIYM. God was dismayed at Israel because they disobeyed him and built the golden calf and had decided to destroy them all. The problem God faced in destroying them is that it would interfere with his promise to Abraham and to fulfill this promise he had to keep some of the promised see for breeding so he told Moses: “Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.” Ex 32:10

Moses did not want all of his labors with the people to have been in vain so he reasoned with God and told him how embarrassing it would be before the eyes of the Egyptians. They would think that there is something wrong with a god that would save a people just to destroy them in the wilderness. Then Moses reminded God that he may not be able to completely fulfil his promise to Abraham if he destroyed the whole house of Israel and left Moses alone. Moses still had his free will and if he did not cooperate it would be possible that the promise could not be fulfilled making God a covenant breaker. Thus through the powerful reasoning of Moses God was forced to change his mind. It is written: “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” Exodus 32:14 (Read the whole chapter.)

It should not be surprising that men like Moses and Jacob can prevail among the gods for when man was created “God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. . .” Gen 1:26 Man is then a reflection of God and has an unrecognized god within and can eventually have all the power of the creators “for the spirit of God dwelleth in us”.

It is written that man was made “a little lower than the angels . . .” Psalms 8:5, but this is a mistranslation. The Hebrew word from which angels is taken here is ELOHIYM so it should be written than man is “a little lower than the Gods”. He is a little lower, but when he recognizes the god within he can advance to the God Kingdom, or the kingdom of the Gods, and then recognize the higher beings in the universe as his brothers.

We are told that Christ “is the image of God”  II Cor 4:4 and in this relation John said: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see him as he is.” I John 3:2

Those who shall be like him when he shall appear are Israel, the people who can prevail as God, those who submit to the will of the god within.