Angels & the Divine Council: Part 2

ANGELS AND THE DIVINE COUNCIL

PART 2

THE CREATION OF MAN

Since it has been documented that sons of God were created prior to the earth or humanity let’s look at the next example.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (Genesis 1:26 KJV)

Genesis 1:26 states that God said, “Let us make man in our image.”  The conservative answer would be that “us” and “our” is one member of the Trinity speaking to the other two members of the Trinity due to the use of plural pronouns.  However, let’s view the plural Trinity issue in Genesis 3:22.

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:   (Genesis 3:22 KJV)

After the sin of disobedience, the Lord God said, “the man is become as one of us.”  Does this mean that Adam and Eve were the same nature as the Triune God:  were like the Triune God; or became as the Triune God?  That is obviously not the answer, but there was apparently a vast change in the spiritual composition of the humans.  Perhaps Adam and Eve, by knowing good and evil, became as one of the created entities such as an angel or Divine Council member.  Perhaps Adam and Eve could now express free will without regard to the higher authority of God.  Did the created beings know good and evil?  The one who tempted Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree obviously did know.  (It was not a snake)  Yes, it appears created beings have the free will to disregard the authority of God as we will see later on.  Perhaps, it should be considered that the Lord God was speaking to members of the Divine Council and not to Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  It’s not an important point and either opinion will not tarnish your theology.

THE SNAKE AND THE FRUIT

The Hebrew word “nachash” usually translated as serpent in most Bible versions has previously been covered in my article entitled, THE GARDEN OF EDEN NACHASH,  (see Garden of Eden Nachash)  Here is a short quote as a refresher:

The word serpent is the Hebrew word, nachash, which can be translated as serpent or snake but has other meanings as well.  According to Heiser, the Hebrew root is the basis for a noun, verb, and adjective.  Of course as a noun it is usually the word for serpent.  The verb form means deceiver or diviner with divine knowledge.  The adjective version means bronze or brazen with a bright shine.  Therefore, used as an adjective it should be translated as “shining one.”  Shining or luminosity is a quality that is characteristic of divine beings in the Hebrew bible and other near east literature.

This tempter was a serpentine shining entity and a member of the Divine Council as evidenced in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 named Helel ben Shachar (literally means “shining one, son of the dawn”).  The word “Lucifer” of Isaiah 14 was taken from the Latin vulgate translation of “Helel” and transliterated to the English KJV and others.

The motivation for the temptation of Adam and Eve is Biblically unknown although several non-canonical assumptions are available, with envy being the major theme.  It may have been that Helel considered it insulting when humans were given dominion of the earth and the status of council members.

THE SONS OF GOD AND ANGELS

All scripture passages with the Hebrew phrase translated as “the sons of God” is beney ha-elohim or just beney Elohim.  The Hebrew word Elohim is the most common Biblical name for the Lord God although it is plural.  There are two generic Hebrew words for “God”:  el and eloah; the plural forms are elim and elohim.  The normal Hebrew word for “angel” in the Old Testament is malak.  It would appear that the “sons of God” or beney ha-elohim of the divine council are different entities from the normal angel or malak which means a messenger.

The word translated as “Satan” in the book of Job, which is the first instance of the word is the Hebrew hassatan, which is satan with a definite article has in front.  The meaning of the word is “The Adversary”.  The Hebrew satan became a proper noun name in the Greek New Testament and was used untranslated or transliterated in English Bible versions.

EZEKIEL 28

The passage found in Ezekiel 28 is considered by Dr. Heiser as a semi-parallel commentary to the nashash/serpent deceiver of Genesis.  Verse 10 states this particular entity was in the Garden of Eden.  His covering was one of shining precious stones.  It should be noted the tabrets and pipes (tambourines and flutes) is not the translation of every version.  (OTHER VERSIONS USE:  settings and mounts NET, NIV; treasures and stores LXX).  Dr. Heiser maintains the figure is the anointed cherub which is a serpentine entity with a shining covering (of precious stones).  He has walked in the midst of the stones of fire which is defined by Heiser as the divine council on the mountain of God.  He was thrown from Eden / the mountain of God / the stones of fire / the divine council due to his iniquity.  His heart (ego) was lifted up due to his beauty and brightness (shining), but he will be placed into Sheol (the abyss or the bottomless pit).

Ezekiel 28:13-17 KJV  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.  (14)  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.  (15)  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.  (16)  By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.  (17)  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

The NET Bible side notes claim this particular passage has many translation problems.  This is evidenced by viewing several Bible versions.  One issue concerning tabrets and pipes has been mentioned above.  Another major concern is whether the shining one is actually the guardian Cherub or if he was there with a Cherub.  Also did God expel him from Eden or did the Cherub expel him?  The differing versions of this passage are the KJV, which is listed above, and the NET with different wording is listed below.

Ezekiel 28:14-16 NET  I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.  (15)  You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you.  (16)  In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I defiled you and banished you from the mountain of God -- the guardian cherub expelled you from the midst of the stones of fire.

The meaning of the Hebrew word for “cherub” is uncertain.  It could possibly refer to a heavenly entity with the task of guarding the throne room of God, regardless of appearance. 

ISAIAH 14

Unless his opinion has changed, Peter Goodgame views this chapter as a resurrected, from the abyss, Nimrod, the former king of Babylon, and the coming antichrist (beast).  He pairs this with the Queen of Babylon or Babylon the Great of Revelation.  The characteristics of:  oppressor; staff of the wicked; smote the people in wrath; ruled the nations in anger; all appear to describe the Revelation beast.

The chapter according to Dr. Heiser is about an evil tyrant king, whose pride is described in terms of an ancient story about a divine being who fell from paradise due to rebellion against God.  The Hebrew word translated as Lucifer in the KJV is “Helel ben Shachar” which literally means “shining one, son of the dawn.”  The word “Lucifer” was taken from the Latin vulgate translation of “Helel” and transliterated to English.  This would be the same entity who fell from paradise because of his Eden deception.  More extensive coverage can be found at:  Garden of Eden Nachash

Isaiah 14:4-6 KJV  That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!  (5)  The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.  (6)  He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

The punishments or curses given to the nachash (serpent, shining one) of Genesis 3 cannot be seen as part of Isaiah 14 because a snake (reptile animal) would not be sent to Sheol.  The Sheol punishment have to be a future event as depicted by Satan being cast into the bottomless pit in Revelation 20:1-2.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

(Revelation 20:1-2 KJV)