This is an interesting question to ponder since many people today claim to be in direct verbal contact with God. Can this be true in the light of 1Corinthians 13:8-10 where it says, 8 "Love never fails. But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; 10 but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with.
Visions, Dreams, and Voices
You know that it is not uncommon for a bad person to be friendly to those he wants to deceive and cheat. “White teeth, black heart,” says the African proverb. And God’s Word says: “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.”—2 Corinthians 11:14.
God no longer contacts people on earth by means of dreams, visions, or voices from the spirit world. He guides and instructs them through the Bible, which can make a person “completely equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:17.
But the Bible says at John 10:3 "The doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." Again, we simply have to avoid taking scriptures out of context for emotional purposes. Yes, Jehovah speaks to us today, but he does so through the scriptures, at the meetings and by answering our prayers that are made in harmony with his direction found in His word the Bible.
Have any humans actually heard the voice of God himself?
In three instances in the Bible record, Jehovah is reported as speaking audibly to humans. These are:
(1) At the time of Jesus’ baptism (29 C.E.), when Jehovah said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.” Both Jesus and John the Baptizer undoubtedly heard this voice. (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22)
(2) At Jesus’ transfiguration (32 C.E.), with the apostles Peter, James, and John present, when virtually the same words were uttered. (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35)
(3) In 33 C.E., shortly before Jesus’ last Passover, when, responding to Jesus’ request that God glorify his name, a voice from heaven said: “I both glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd thought that it had thundered or that an angel had spoken to Jesus.—John 12:28, 29.
Now we may see why many tell of “hearing” or “seeing” dead loved ones. Though such apparitions at times may seem friendly, wicked spirit forces are out to deceive humans. (Ephesians 6:12) Also, think about this: Jehovah is a loving God who cares for us. If the dead were alive somewhere and they could come to the aid of their friends and family, would our loving Creator forbid such contact and refer to it as “detestable”? Surely not! (1 Peter 5:7) which says, "while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you"
Can angels speak in English and other earthly languages?
The apostle Paul speaks of “the tongues of men and of angels,” indicating that spirit persons have language and speech. 1Corinthians 13:1 says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal." So yes, it does seem that angels have their own language and since they are not physical and don't have vocal cords, their language & form(s) of communication must be different than ours. Just what it is can be anybody's guess since the Bible gives us no indication one way or another.
Angelic voices
Angels, and Jehovah God himself, have been heard to speak in voice sounds and languages audible to men and understandable by them. But it is not to be supposed that such would be the voice with which they communicate with one another in the heavens, for an atmosphere such as exists around the earth is necessary for propagating the sound waves of voice that is audible and understandable to the human ear.
Hearing the Voice of God
On other occasions when God ‘spoke,’ angels were used as his representatives to provide the vocal manifestation. Angels represented God in speaking to Moses in Mount Horeb and to Israel, assembled near the foot of the mountain. (Exodus 34:4-7; 20:1-17; Galatians 3:19) These angels sometimes did not present any visible appearance of a form, as when the voice came from the quaking, smoking mountain. (Exodus 20:18, 19; Deuteronomy 4:11, 12; Hebrews 12:18, 19) At times they made visionary appearances Daniel 8:1, 15, 16; Revelation 14:15-18 and on several occasions materialized in human form to bring spoken messages to men. Genesis 18:1-3, 20; 19:1; Joshua 5:13-15.
To ‘hear the voice of God’ does not necessarily mean the hearing of a literal, audible voice. It more often means recognizing and hearing with obedience what God has caused to be written in his Word and transmitted through his earthly servants who represent him. (1John 2:3, 4) Thus, “voice” is used as applying to “every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth,” Psalms 103:20; Matthew 4:4; In todays world, this communication is written in His word, the Bible.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
How & Why do angels communicate with humans?
Some may ask,
Q: what proof do you have that any spirit creature has ever communicated with people of the earth?
A: According to the Bible where all of my research originates, I have found that Angels spoke Jehovah's message to humans both by voice, direct communication to the minds and hearts of individuals (by inspiration) and also by vision. Sometimes the voice was heard by some and not by others, and sometimes the vision was seen and understood by some and not by others and sometimes a conversation took place.
Jehovah has a personal relationship with humans of the earth. He communicated with them in any number of ways. At times those times he communicated with humans it was one sided where Jehovah just spoke to his prophet, at other times, it was in the form of a conversation. In Numbers Jehovah spoke to humans on many different occasions. Here are a few of the times Jehovah spoke to humans as mentioned in the Bible book of Numbers:
Numbers 1:48 - "Accordingly Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying:"
Numbers 2:1 - "Jehovah now spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:"
Numbers 3:1 - "Now these were the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spoke with Moses in Mount Si′nai"
Numbers 3:14 - "And Jehovah spoke further to Moses in the wilderness of Si′nai"
Numbers 4:1,17,21, 5:1,4, 6:1,22, 8:5,23, 9:4-5, 9-10, 13:1, 15:1, 16:20-23,36,44, 17:1,6 18:8,25, 20:7, 22:7, 24:13, 25:10,16 26:52, 27:18, 28:1, 30:1, 31:1, 34:1,16,29,
Numbers 11:25 "Then Jehovah came down in a cloud and spoke to him and took away some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon each of the seventy older men. And it came about that as soon as the spirit settled down upon them, then they proceeded to act as prophets; but they did not do it again."
Numbers 16:5-7 - Jehovah often spoke very specifically and sometimes he was not so specific. Here is an example of when he spoke to Korah and was specific in his directions.
5 Then he spoke to Ko′rah and to his entire assembly, saying: “In the morning Jehovah will make known who belongs to him and who is holy and who must come near to him, and whoever he may choose will come near to him.
6 Do this: Take fire holders for yourselves, Ko′rah and his entire assembly,
7 and put fire in them and place incense upon them before Jehovah tomorrow, and it must occur that the man whom Jehovah will choose, he is the holy one. That is enough of YOU, YOU sons of Le′vi!”
At times, Jehovah had his angel speak in his behalf. Here is a few samples of an angel appearing or speaking in behalf of Jehovah:
Exodus 3:2 "Then Jehovah’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire in the midst of a thornbush. As he kept looking, he saw that the thornbush was on fire, and yet the thornbush was not consumed."
2Kings 1:3 & 15, As for the angel of Jehovah, he spoke to E·li′jah the Tish′bite: (often the angel would begin his message with, "this is what Jehovah has said,"
Jeremiah 7:13 "But you kept doing all these things,’ declares Jehovah, ‘and even though I spoke to you again and again, you did not listen. I kept calling you, but you would not answer."
Daniel 9:14 - “So Jehovah kept watchful and brought calamity on us, for Jehovah our God is righteous in all the works that he has done; yet we have not obeyed his voice.
And the list goes on and on as to when, what, how and why Jehovah spoke to his people.
And yet, the entire Bible is on record for us saying that it (the Bible) was assembled by his faithful humans here on earth as recorded for us at 2 Timothy 3:16 says: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial.” The Greek word translated “inspired of God” literally means “God-breathed.” God “breathed” the information we now find in the Bible books into the minds of some 40 writers. The few examples both scientific, historical, and prophetic that we have considered clearly point to but one conclusion. This unique book, the Bible, is a product, not of human wisdom, but of divine origin.
Q: what proof do you have that any spirit creature has ever communicated with people of the earth?
A: According to the Bible where all of my research originates, I have found that Angels spoke Jehovah's message to humans both by voice, direct communication to the minds and hearts of individuals (by inspiration) and also by vision. Sometimes the voice was heard by some and not by others, and sometimes the vision was seen and understood by some and not by others and sometimes a conversation took place.
Jehovah has a personal relationship with humans of the earth. He communicated with them in any number of ways. At times those times he communicated with humans it was one sided where Jehovah just spoke to his prophet, at other times, it was in the form of a conversation. In Numbers Jehovah spoke to humans on many different occasions. Here are a few of the times Jehovah spoke to humans as mentioned in the Bible book of Numbers:
Numbers 1:48 - "Accordingly Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying:"
Numbers 2:1 - "Jehovah now spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:"
Numbers 3:1 - "Now these were the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spoke with Moses in Mount Si′nai"
Numbers 3:14 - "And Jehovah spoke further to Moses in the wilderness of Si′nai"
Numbers 4:1,17,21, 5:1,4, 6:1,22, 8:5,23, 9:4-5, 9-10, 13:1, 15:1, 16:20-23,36,44, 17:1,6 18:8,25, 20:7, 22:7, 24:13, 25:10,16 26:52, 27:18, 28:1, 30:1, 31:1, 34:1,16,29,
Numbers 11:25 "Then Jehovah came down in a cloud and spoke to him and took away some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon each of the seventy older men. And it came about that as soon as the spirit settled down upon them, then they proceeded to act as prophets; but they did not do it again."
Numbers 16:5-7 - Jehovah often spoke very specifically and sometimes he was not so specific. Here is an example of when he spoke to Korah and was specific in his directions.
5 Then he spoke to Ko′rah and to his entire assembly, saying: “In the morning Jehovah will make known who belongs to him and who is holy and who must come near to him, and whoever he may choose will come near to him.
6 Do this: Take fire holders for yourselves, Ko′rah and his entire assembly,
7 and put fire in them and place incense upon them before Jehovah tomorrow, and it must occur that the man whom Jehovah will choose, he is the holy one. That is enough of YOU, YOU sons of Le′vi!”
At times, Jehovah had his angel speak in his behalf. Here is a few samples of an angel appearing or speaking in behalf of Jehovah:
Exodus 3:2 "Then Jehovah’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire in the midst of a thornbush. As he kept looking, he saw that the thornbush was on fire, and yet the thornbush was not consumed."
2Kings 1:3 & 15, As for the angel of Jehovah, he spoke to E·li′jah the Tish′bite: (often the angel would begin his message with, "this is what Jehovah has said,"
Jeremiah 7:13 "But you kept doing all these things,’ declares Jehovah, ‘and even though I spoke to you again and again, you did not listen. I kept calling you, but you would not answer."
Daniel 9:14 - “So Jehovah kept watchful and brought calamity on us, for Jehovah our God is righteous in all the works that he has done; yet we have not obeyed his voice.
And the list goes on and on as to when, what, how and why Jehovah spoke to his people.
And yet, the entire Bible is on record for us saying that it (the Bible) was assembled by his faithful humans here on earth as recorded for us at 2 Timothy 3:16 says: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial.” The Greek word translated “inspired of God” literally means “God-breathed.” God “breathed” the information we now find in the Bible books into the minds of some 40 writers. The few examples both scientific, historical, and prophetic that we have considered clearly point to but one conclusion. This unique book, the Bible, is a product, not of human wisdom, but of divine origin.
Angels identified by name
This section has been moved to http://project-whats-in-a-name.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-angels-also-had-names.html where it seemed to fit better.
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