A. Several of the anti-missionary’s
allegations here could indeed prove worrisome, if proven correct. Closer
examination of the Scriptures in question; specifically Deuteronomy
32:39,40, however, reveals unsubstantiated claims based on
“selective scholarship” or partial quotations of Scriptures which actually
disprove the theory when examined in their entirety.
Deut.
32:39 See now that I, I am He, and there is no deity beside Me. I
have put to death and I make alive. I have wounded and I heal, and from
My hand no one delivers. [40] For I lift My Hand to heaven, and say, ‘I live
forever’.
The Hebrew reads
“REUH ATAH KI ANI ANI WHO VEYN ELOHIM EMADI”,
or “I, I”, or “I even I”, or “I also I”, with no comma or hyphen in the Hebrew,
referring to the two primary faces of Yahweh (Father and preexistent Son).
Now let’s take a look at several other verses where the phrase, ANI ANI
appears.
Isa.
43:25 I, I (ANI ANI) am He that blots out your transgressions for My own
sake, and remember your sins no more.
Isa.
51:9l Awake, awake, put on strength, O Arm of Yahweh. Awake as in
days of old, everlasting generations.... [12] I, I (ANI ANI) am He that
comforts you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a Man that
shall die, and of the Son of Man which shall be made as
grass?
Who is this Son of Man,
spoken of by the prophet, who shall die and be made as
grass? The answer is found in:
Zech.
13:7 O sword, awake against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My
Fellow declares Yahweh of hosts. Smite the Shepherd and let the
sheep be scattered. But I shall turn My Hand upon the little
ones.
The Hebrew of this verse
reads “CHEREV OORI AL ROAEHI VEAL GEVEER AMITI NEOOM YAHWEH
TSAVAOT. NAKAH ‘ET HAROAEH”, or “Sword rise on
My Shepherd, the Man, My Equal Companion, declares Yahweh of hosts.
Smite ALEPH TAW the
Shepherd.”
In the Hebrew it is clear
to see that this smitten Shepherd (the same One put to death
in Deuteronomy 32:29) is the equal of Yahweh, as
part of the ELOHIM ECHAD of Israel. The Father aspect of Yahweh,
“who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom
no one has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16) cannot die, but the
YACHID or only begotten Son who comes forth from the bosom of the Father
(John 16:28; 3:13) and who is imbued with the very
nature of Yahweh (called the QNOMA in the Aramaic Peshitta—see John
1:3 and Colossians 1:17 in Aramaic) can,
because He has taken on the form of a Man, hence the limitations of human
flesh.
Psa.
22:16 For dogs have surrounded Me; a crowd of evil ones have
encircled Me, piercing My hands and My feet. [17] I count all My bones.
They look, they stare at Me. [18] They divide my garments among them, and for
my raiment they cast lots... [20] Deliver My life from the sword, My Only
(YACHID) from the power of the dog. (ISR
Scriptures)
Zech.
12:10b (Yahweh speaking) And they shall look on Me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as One mourns for His Only (YACHID)
Son. And they shall be in bitterness over Him as over the Firstborn.
(ISR)
Luke
24:38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise
in your hearts? [39] See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.
Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I
have.... [46] Thus it has been written, and so it was necessary for the
Messiah to suffer and to rise again from the dead the third
day.
Job 19:25 (KJV)
For I know that my Redeemer lives (present tense), and that He shall stand at
the latter day upon the earth: [26] And though after my skin worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see Elohim: [27] Whom I shall see for
myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another...
Job 19:25 (ISR
Scriptures) For I know that MY REDEEMER LIVES, and AS THE ‘LAST’ SHALL
RISE OVER THE DUST; [26] and after my skin has been struck off, then in my
flesh I shall see Eloah, [27] whom I myself shall see on my side, and not a
stranger.... [28] But you should say, “Why do we persecute Him, seeing the
root of the matter has been found in me?” [29] Fear the sword yourselves, for
wrath brings the punishment of the sword, so that you know there is a
judgment.
The Name of Yahweh defines
Him — I was, I am, I will be — existence in all three tenses. He is
eternal. The immortal cannot die, thus the fullness of Elohim could not
die on the stake, but only the human body which He poured Himself into
(Philippians 2:8) and the flesh which was imbued with
His Spirit and Divine Nature (John 1:3 and
Colossians 1:17 in Aramaic).
Continue To Part
Six: