We are currently discussing the Commander of God’s warrior angels who appeared before Joshua in Joshua 5:15.
The sword this mysterious figure was wielding was symbolic of the holy war that was about to be fought.
In terms of theological implications, the appearance of this divine warrior figure who accepted worship from Joshua and identified himself as one possessing the authority of God Himself literally destroys any traditional understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity.
First of all, you should know that the word “trinity” appears exactly ZERO times in the Scriptures.
It is a concocted gentile church doctrine based on the phrase “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”.
The problem with the church’s interpretation is they assert that God ONLY manifests Himself as the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
That’s obviously a bunch of hogwash because right here in Joshua 5, we’re witnessing a manifestation of Hashem that is neither the Father, Son or Holy Spirit.
And the same could be said of the SHEKINAH and the so-called “Angel of the Lord”.
These are all divine manifestations of God that don’t fit into the category of Father, Son or the Holy Spirit.
And that’s the problem with Christianity.
They create some doctrine, give it a nice-sounding title, and then superimpose that doctrine backwards into the Scriptures.
And then they say that every manifestation of the Almighty has to either be the Father, Son or Holy Spirit.
Well, that hound dog ain’t gonna hunt homies.
Because other manifestations of Hashem such as the Shekinah, the Angel of the Lord or the Commander of the Lord’s Army don’t fit the mold of the trinity.
And it’s because of the Trinity doctrine that the idea of a pre-incarnate Christ came about.
In other words, the Angel of the Lord has to be Jesus because God can only manifest Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with saying that God manifests Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (though my understanding of how this works is way different than a Christian’s understanding).
What I DO have a problem with is saying that God can ONLY manifest Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit which is obviously not true.
I also have a problem with the church declaring someone a heretic just because one doesn’t accept their doctrine, especially when that doctrine isn’t explicitly stated in the Scriptures.
So, can we then say, God leaves Heaven and comes to us AS His Son?
Instead of the traditional “God’s Son left Heaven for earth…”?
First, the notion that God the Father himself left heaven and comes down to us AS his son is unacceptable.
Secondly, the age long traditional belief that, God’s son left heaven for earth presupposes him to be preexisting as a spirit being in heaven before he comes down.
If this is true, the question here is; can a spirit being die?. Voy Wilks in the article below offered some thoutht provoking answers from the pages of the bible to this question.
Can a Spirit Being Die?
Can a spirit being die? More exactly: Can deity (a divine personage) die? If Yahshua the Messiah pre-existed as Deity, or as a Spiritual Being before the world was created, was it possible for him to die (on the tree)? Let the Scriptures answer.
“And Yahshua answering said unto them, The sons of this age marry, and are given in marriage, but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to the angels; and are sons of Yahweh, being sons of the resurrection.” (Lu.20:34-36, RSV).
We see that angels of Yahweh cannot die. Once resurrected we will be “equal to the angels” in that we cannot die either. Why is this? It is because we are sons of Yahweh, being sons of the resurrection. But when do we become spirit beings? Is this the same as becoming “sons of Yahweh?”
“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” (1Cor.15:35, 42-44).
It is at the (first) resurrection that we become a spirit being – that we obtain a spiritual body. Please notice the following things that happen at the (first) resurrection:
We are raised in power
We are raised in glory
We are raised incorruptible
We are raised to immortality (1 Cor. 15:52)
We are raised equal to angels
We are raised to become sons of Yahweh, being sons of the resurrection
We are raised with a spiritual body
We are raised to immortality so we cannot die anymore
Luke says those of the first resurrection cannot die. Synonyms of “cannot die” are “incorruption” and “immortal.” Paul says those of the first resurrection come forth as spiritual bodies and are incorruptible and put on immortality. Accepting the statements of both Luke and Paul, we find that spirit beings cannot die. When did Yahshua become a spirit being? Again, the Scriptures have the answer.
“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Yahshua] was made a quickening [life-giving] spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.” (1Co.15:44-46).
This indicates the Messiah was not a spirit being before he was born physically. The physical (body) comes, then the spiritual (body). When was Yahshua declared to be the son of Yahweh? Just as we will be sons of Yahweh by our resurrection from the dead, so Yahshua was declared to be the son of Yahweh “by his resurrection from the dead” (Rom.1:4).
Conclusion? Once mortal man receives immortality (a spiritual body) he cannot die. Is Deity any less? We must conclude, then, that Deity cannot die – in the past, the present, or in the future. Therefore, Yahshua was not Deity nor did he exist as a spiritual being before the world existed – except in the plans of the Father – plans made from the beginning.
“Who verily was foreordained [in the plans] before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1Pe.1:20).
* “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit” (Jn.3:6). It is one or the other. No person can be both at the same time.
Written by Voy Wilks.