2Aspects of God

Two aspects of God
Several years ago, I gave a year of my studies to the Qumran documents. In that time, I discovered a very deep and complicated motif among the Qumran community that epitomizes the peculiar teachings of the whole Qumran sect. It begins with a strong assertion of God's unlimited authority and supreme presence: "From the God of knowledge comes all that is and shall be. Before ever they existed he established their whole design... and they accomplish their task without change." As is suggested in many apocalyptic works, God's laws of creation and covenant overlap perfectly and thus the courses of the sun and stars accord exactly with the communities' 364-day festival calendar.

Similarly, God's perfection of way extends to his predestination of history, mysterious though this may be. There are definitely two aspects of the one God says, "He has created humankind to govern the world, and has appointed for them two spirits." These two spirits that are appointed for humankind are preexistent angels: the Prince of Light and the Angel of Darkness. In other texts, chosen people understood the names of these two angels. They appear as Michael, the archangel of Israel, who is also called Melchizedek (Melkisedeq, "King of Righteousness"), and his counterpart Belial, whose secret name is Melchiresha (Melriresa, "King of wickedness"). What is unusual in Qumran angelology is the supremacy granted to these two very opposite "princes" in the world. The Melchizedek Scroll identifies the good archangel as Elohim, the agent of eschatological judgment.

This overlap of language for God and his angel is reminiscent of the "angel of the Lord" texts of the OT and may anticipate later Rabbinic discussions of "two powers in heaven."

The Melchizedek, to whom Abraham paid a tithe, was, to the Qumran community, Elohim. The place where Melchizedek was King, was Mount Moriah, the Holy Place in Jerusalem... the place Abraham later offered his son to Elohim and much later, Elohim offered his son, the Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of mankind.

Why did Abraham go to Jerusalem? Why did the Son of God, Christ Jesus go to Jerusalem? It was the abode of Elohim. Solomon built a temple and placed the Ark of the Covenant in it. Why? It was where Elohim met man in judgment and mercy. Upon the cross, Jesus cried, "Eloi, Eloi, why have you forsaken me?" This was pure judgment and mercy.

Yahweh, the personal God of Israel had forsaken the Son of God. Abandoned by Eloi (God) is the "death" that the first man, Adapa/Adam caused to come upon humanity. To be reconciled to Eloi (God) and obtain immortality is to learn of and accept the "secret code" of the Heavens. It is to have faith in the atonement of God's obedient Son, Jesus Christ.

"For after the similitude (likeness) of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (Christ Jesus) Who is made. after the power of an endless (immortal) life." Hebrews 7:15-16.

In the Epic of Gilgamish, we read of the hero's search for immortality. He found the fruit of the tree of life and let it slip from his grasp by a serpent.

Throughout the Hebrew Bible we learn that death was certain and was the end of life. The hope of immortality was offered through resurrection from death. The hope of resurrection was the message of the Paul in the New Testament. The hero of all ages comes from heaven in the first century AD and reveals immortality to humanity. He offers His own immortal life in humility and shame to the death of the cross. God honors that obedience to the point of sacrifice and gives immortality to all who come to Him in faith, accepting this sacrificial death, resurrection and ascent into "all authority" at his Father's (Yahweh) Right Hand as "God's so great Salvation."

As we approach this same Yahweh in faith, we may cease in our quest for eternal life. It is found in the resurrected Son of Yahweh, Jesus Christ.

"God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I (John) written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" [1 John 5:11-13].

"But as many as received Him (Christ Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" [John 1:12].

This is no myth. The story of Yahweh's Son, Jesus Christ as the bona fide disclosure of immortality.