Friday, August 22, 2008

GENDER IN THE GOD FAMILY

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Why would the Creator inspire the 
Biblical record to refer to Him as the Father?  

The obvious reason is that Creator is not descriptive enough. Why do people wonder what God looks like? I've heard religious teachers say that God has no gender, that He is simply shapeless spirit energy.

To get a life-like example of what God looks like is really simple. Here's how:


1) Find a full length mirror.
2) Enlist the company of a human being of the opposite gender.
3) Stand side-by-side in front of it.
4) Now look.

And, there you are. As simple as that.
(Genesis 1: 26-27)
"And God said, Let us make man in our image,
 after our likeness ..... in the image of God 
created he him; male and female created he them."

It may be hard to believe, but we humans did not have this shape, nor the complementary genders FIRST.


Reading such a statement as Genesis 1:26 gives the picture of a male and a female member of the Elohim talking with each other as they are about to create a physical being that is shaped in their own similitudes. 

Now, some might think the main speaker here is surely God the Father. But it isn't. It is, in fact, the One who created all things, the entire material universe, at the direction of God the Father, and that is the One who came to Earth as Jesus Christ.

Check out this verse. It's a good place to start.

Ephesians 3:9
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship 
of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
 world hath been hid in God, who created all 
things by Jesus Christ:"

It says that all things were created by Jesus Christ. But, could that really mean ALL things? Well, I'm afraid so. We'd better get used to the idea, because it's repeated in several more places.

And, not only did He create all things material, He also created all energy, all things visible and invisible, all things in Heaven and Earth, and all positions of authority: thrones, dominions, principalities and powers.
 
Colossians 1: 16- 20
"For by him [Christ] were all things 
created, that are in heaven, 
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, 
whether they be thrones, or dominions, 
or principalities, or powers: all things 
were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, 
and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, 
the church: who is the beginning, 
the firstborn from the dead; that in 
all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in 
him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood
 of his cross, by him to reconcile all things 
unto himself; by him, I say, whether they 
be things in earth, or things in heaven." 

That should settle the matter. But, you'd be surprised how many religious people think God the Father created Adam and Eve Himself. But, beyond that, who is the female Elohim that is present at the creating of Adam and Eve? There had to be a female there, for mankind was made MALE and FEMALE in the likeness of the Gods present ... remember?

If it were God the Father, I'd have to guess that it was Sophia that was present with Him. But it wasn't God the Father. It was Logos, the Word of God, who later came into this world as Jesus Christ. So, who then was the female Companion?


But wait. I'm getting ahead of myself here. I should explain why my guess would be Sophia if God the Father had done the creating. 

Well, I cannot say with absolute certainty. But there is a place in the Bible where wisdom is personified, and given the characteristics of an Entity. And wouldn't you guess, this Entity is not only given the female gender, but .......wait. Here, you can read it for yourself: (Proverbs 8: 1-8)


"Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding 
put forth her voice?

She standeth in the top of high places, 
by the way in the places of the paths.

She crieth at the gates, 
at the entry of the city, 
at the coming in at the doors.

Unto you, O men, I call; 
and my voice is to the sons of man.

O ye simple, understand wisdom: 
and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; 
and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall speak truth; 
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; 
there is nothing froward or perverse in them."

Like God the Father, this Wisdom is righteous, with nothing forward, or perverse. In verses 22 through 29, Wisdom is speaking, and she tells a little more about herself.

"The LORD possessed me in the 
beginning of his way, before his works of old.
 
(In the beginning of God's way; this is before Logos began His creating of the Universe. In fact, this was before Logos Himself was created, who was the First creation of God. Another name used in reference to Logos (Christ) is the Amen. 


In Revelation 3:14 it calls Him the beginning of the creation of God. But, don't miss an important observation at this juncture. Who was it that created Logos ? 

It was God, which is from the Greek Theos (Hebrew Elohim), a collective noun. This "God" represented more than one personage. 

Keep in mind, Sophia said she was with Him in the beginning of His way, BEFORE HE DID ANY WORKS, and that would include the work of His First creation ..... Logos. It was God the Father and Wisdom (Sophia) that created Logos!

Proverbs 8: 30:
I was set up from everlasting, 
from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, 
I was brought forth; when there 
were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, 
before the hills was I brought forth:

While as yet he had not made the earth,
 nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: 
when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

When he established the clouds above: 
when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

When he gave to the sea his decree, 
that the waters should not pass his 
commandment: when he appointed 
the foundations of the earth"


"Then I was by him, 
as one brought up with him: 
and I was daily his delight, 
rejoicing always before him;" 

The word "delight" means enjoyment or pleasure. It is from the Hebrew word - shashua (Strongs Concordance # 8191).
 

And, in case you're wondering, the word rejoice is from the Hebrew "sachaq", meaning "to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play".

And, look how long she has been with Him ... "as one brought up with him".

Listen, this is about as far back as I can go! When I read stuff like this, my mind starts to reason all kinds of things, like: 


 God created us, but, did God Himself ( Oh no, I can hardly bring myself to think it) ......EVOLVE. There, I said it!

What did Wisdom say ..... as one brought up WITH him? 


Was God BROUGHT UP!    Is Wisdom as old as God?
 

If we go on to the next chapter of Proverbs, chapter 9, we see more information about this One called Wisdom.
Proverbs 9:1:
"Wisdom hath builded her house, 
she hath hewn out her seven pillars:"

These words bring Revelation 12:1 to mind:

"And there appeared a great wonder 
in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun,
 and the moon under her feet, and 
upon her head a crown of twelve stars:" 

Who is this woman? She appears to be God's household (church) in Heaven. The Heavenly pattern and counterpart for the earthly Church established by Christ in the physical. Interesting that there seven pillars mentioned in Proverbs 9:1.

When we apply Proverbs 1:1 to the original Hebrew language, it reads:  

"Chokmowth [Sophia in Greek] has obtained 
children to her family".

In the book of Revelation she is contrasted to the great false religious system found in chapter 17.

In the book of Luke, chapter 7, verse 35, Jesus was comparing the understanding of the people of the generation into which He was born. A great disparity was coming. He was about to put the capstone on the Old Covenant and usher in the New Covenant, and they couldn't recognize His authority from God, even at the witness of many miracles.

He said to them: "But wisdom is justified of all her children." (verse 35)

Applying this statement to the Greek, we read: "But Sophia is just and righteous in spite of all her sons and daughters."

So, not only do we find Wisdom personified in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, but we find her personified in the very words Christ spoke.

Here's another one found in Luke 11: 49-50

"Therefore also said the wisdom of God, 
I will send them prophets and apostles,
 and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
 That the blood of all the prophets, 
which was shed from the foundation of the world, 
may be required of this generation;" 

As applied to the Greek Concordance:
"Therefore then said the Sophia of Theos 
[Hebrew; Elohim] 
I will send out among them inspired 
speakers and messengers and some of 
them they will kill and pursue.  
That the blood of all the inspired speakers, 
from the time of creation, may demand 
a completion in this generation."

Christ is quoting Wisdom here, and calling her the Wisdom of the Family of God, giving her a specific name that in Hebrew is
Chokmowth, but in the Greek is Sophia. 

Listen, if God is a Father, and furthermore, if He says He has Children ........... where in blue blazes did they come from?!! 

The written word of the Bible definitely adds gender to the Family of God. I didn't put it there. It was in the Bible when I first got a Bible and began studying it.

Why doesn't he tell us of all His other children on a myriad of other worlds He has strewn throughout the cosmos?

Why does He keep stuff from us? Who does He think he is anyway, ........ God?

Well ...... yes. He IS God isn't He?

(Nehemiah 9:6)
"Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; 
thou hast made heaven, 
the heaven of heavens, with all their host, 
the earth, and all things that are therein, 
the seas, and all that is therein, 
and thou preservest them all; 
and the host of heaven worshippeth thee."

He doesn't have to explain anything to any of us. But He does; and mankind has shown over and over, that he is just not spiritually mature enough to handle what He has already given.

Back to the question. Who was the female Elohim that was present at the creation of mankind? If it wasn't the one referred to as Sophia when speaking of Wisdom personified, who was it?

If it was the One who became Jesus Christ that did the creating, who was the other female Elohim there with Him? When thinking about two members (male and female)of the Elohim being described as participating in something together, I reminded of Psalm 45 as previously shown in the post ABOUT THE GOD FAMILY.

Here is that information once again:

"My heart is inditing a good matter: 
I speak of the things which I have 
made touching the king: my tongue 
is the pen of a ready writer.

(Happy occasion.)

Thou art fairer than the children of men: 
grace is poured into thy lips: therefore 
God hath blessed thee for ever.
 (Fairer than mankind. Blessed forever.)


Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, 
O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
(This person is called most mighty and has glory and majesty)

And in thy majesty ride prosperously because 
of truth and meekness and righteousness; 
and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of 
the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.


Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: 
the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 
(This person is not human. This is a God being. Remember the phrase referring to the One who became Christ; "Thy throne, Oh God" that we read in the book of Hebrews?


Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: 
therefore God[Logos], thy God[God the Father]
hath anointed thee with the 
oil of gladness above thy fellows. 
Remember also, that Jesus was "anointed above thy fellows" in the book of Hebrews? Remember also, this occurred at the judgment described in Psalm 82.


All thy garments smell of myrrh, 
and aloes, and cassia, out of the 
ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.


Kings' daughters were among thy 
honourable women: upon thy right hand 
did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. 

Among Logos' past relationships were the daughters of Kings in heaven. This is not talking about anything on earth. If you need to, go back once again and begin reading these verses to set up the proper context.

At the time of this ceremony (He is the King remember), the Queen (female Elohim) is standing at His right side.


Hearken, O daughter, and consider, 
and incline thine ear; forget also thine
 own people, and thy father's house;


So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: 
for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. 

The above two verses are about the woman He is about to enter into a contractural relationship with.


And the daughter of Tyre shall be there 
with a gift; even the rich among the 
people shall intreat thy favour.

The king's daughter is all glorious within: 
her clothing is of wrought gold.

She shall be brought unto the king in 
raiment of needlework: the virgins her 
companions that follow her shall 
be brought unto thee.

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: 
they shall enter into the king's palace.

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, 
whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

I will make thy name to be remembered 
in all generations: therefore shall the 
people praise thee for ever and ever." 

In this life, marriage automatically ends when one party dies. The Elohim have eternal life. Marriage-like relationships must be agreed upon for a period of time, or until the parties wish to end the relationship. 

It may seem odd to us that the King is entering into a relationship with another woman as the current Queen stands at His right side. But God's ways are not our ways. It may be beyond the comprehension of some folks today.

Some things are beyond our investigation, no matter how much we would be interested in finding out. However, here is one called a Queen. She is the Queen of a heavenly realm, the King of which is the One who became Jesus Christ; and Jesus Christ, as we have already seen, did the creating.

The chance of this Queen being the One he was talking to in Genesis 1:26 is very likely. However, her personal name is nowhere given that I know of.

Christ is referred to as the "King of Kings" because the Kingdom of God consists of many, many lesser Kingdoms, some of which, resurrected human beings are destined to rule. Some of these may be the very Kingdoms the wayward sons and daughters of God have shown they are undeserving to govern. (see ABOUT THE SONS OF GOD). 

 And, therefore, many Queens exist also. And, on occasion, some of these Queens (Goddesses) have endeavored to usurp authority and worship beyond their established positions such as this account in Jeremiah:

(Jeremiah 7: 17-18, also Jeremiah 44: 17-18, 25)
"Seest thou not what they do in the cities 
of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

The children gather wood, and the 
fathers kindle the fire, and the women 
knead their dough, to make cakes to the 
 queen of heaven, and to pour out drink 
offerings unto other gods, that they 
may provoke me to anger."  

The female side of the Family of God seems to always be equated with wisdom, and teaching. The Assembly (church) of God in Heaven as well as it's physical counterpart on earth is referred to in the feminine gender, and is sometimes called a Queen.

The great false church (Traditional, Pagan inspired christianity) is referred to as a great whore, who desires to be the Queen of Heaven.

Here is the Bible's prophesied judgment on her.

It begins in Revelation 17: 1-6:

"And there came one of the seven angels 
which had the seven vials, and talked 
with me, saying unto me, Come hither; 
I will shew unto thee the judgment of 
the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

With whom the kings of the earth 
have committed fornication, and the 
inhabitants of the earth have been made 
drunk with the wine of her fornication.

So he carried me away in the spirit into 
the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit 
upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names 
of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

And the woman was arrayed in purple 
and scarlet colour, and decked with gold 
and precious stones and pearls, having 
a golden cup in her hand full of abominations
 and filthiness of her fornication:

And upon her forehead was a name written, 
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

And I saw the woman drunken with the 
blood of the saints, and with the blood of 
the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, 
I wondered with great admiration."


It continues in Revelation 18:1- 20:


"And after these things I saw another 
angel come down from heaven, 
having great power; and the earth 
was lightened with his glory.

And he cried mightily with a strong 
voice, saying, Babylon the great 
is fallen, is fallen, and is become the 
habitation of devils, and the hold of 
every foul spirit, and a cage of 
every unclean and hateful bird.

For all nations have drunk of the 
wine of the wrath of her fornication, 
and the kings of the earth have 
committed fornication with her, 
and the merchants of the earth are 
waxed rich through the abundance 
of her delicacies.

And I heard another voice from heaven, 
saying, Come out of her, my people, 
that ye be not partakers of her sins, 
and that ye receive not of her plagues.

For her sins have reached unto heaven, 
and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Reward her even as she rewarded you, 
and double unto her double according 
to her works: in the cup which she 
hath filled fill to her double.

How much she hath glorified herself, 
and lived deliciously, so much torment 
and sorrow give her: for she saith 
in her heart, I sit a queen, and am 
no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Therefore shall her plagues come in 
one day, death, and mourning, and famine; 
and she shall be utterly burned with 
fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

And the kings of the earth, 
who have committed fornication and 
lived deliciously with her, shall 
bewail her, and lament for her, 
when they shall see the 
smoke of her burning,

Standing afar off for the fear of her 
torment, saying, Alas, alas that great 
city Babylon, that mighty city! 
for in one hour is thy judgment come.

And the merchants of the earth shall 
weep and mourn over her; 
for no man buyeth their 
merchandise any more:

The merchandise of gold, and silver, 
and precious stones, and of pearls, 
and fine linen, and purple, and silk, 
and scarlet, and all thyine wood, 
and all manner vessels of ivory, 
and all manner vessels of most 
precious wood, and of brass,
 and iron, and marble,

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, 
and frankincense, and wine, and oil, 
and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, 
and sheep, and horses, and chariots, 
and slaves, and souls of men.

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after 
are departed from thee, and all things 
which were dainty and goodly are 
departed from thee, and thou 
shalt find them no more at all.

The merchants of these things, 
which were made rich by her, 
shall stand afar off for the fear of
 her torment, weeping and wailing,

And saying, Alas, alas that great city, 
that was clothed in fine linen, 
and purple, and scarlet, and decked 
with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

For in one hour so great riches is 
come to nought. And every shipmaster, 
and all the company in ships, and sailors,
 and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

And cried when they saw the smoke 
of her burning, saying, What city is 
like unto this great city!

And they cast dust on their heads, 
and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, 
Alas, alas that great city, wherein were 
made rich all that had ships in the sea by 
reason of her costliness! for in one 
hour is she made desolate.

Rejoice over her, thou heaven, 
and ye holy apostles and prophets; 
for God hath avenged you on her."

The symbol of God's righteous assembly (His loyal group, or "church") is also symbolized as a woman:
Revelation 12: 1-5:


"And there appeared a great 
wonder in heaven; a woman clothed 
with the sun, and the moon under her feet, 
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

And she being with child cried, 
travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; 
and behold a great red dragon, having seven 
heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, 
and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood 
before the woman which was ready to be delivered, f
or to devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to 
rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child 
was caught up unto God, and to his throne."

Gender is used much in the writing of the Bible. How much of it is only symbolism we will have to wait to know for absolute certainty.


Personally, I am already certain that if there is a King of Kings, there is also a Queen of Queens.
 

Both appear to be loyal and righteous while having to deal with those rebellious ones who would like to replace them.

These links from the ASK website may be enlightening to some. I've included them for your convenience:
 

GOD'S VIEW POINT. (Article by Ernest Martin)

DEIFICATION. (Article by Ernest Martin)

GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN. (Article by Ernest Martin)
 

GEOGRAPHY OF GOD. (audio by David Seilaff. This link takes you to the audio page at the ASK website. 

Once there, scroll down to "Geography of God" to listen to a radio program on which Mr. Seilaff was the guest speaker).

Enjoy.

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