2 Thessalonians and the Definition of "God"

gillespie9669

The word "God" in the Bible clearly denotes, first, the Person of the Father, and it ALSO describes the divine qualities of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, thus labelling all three as "God". THUS THE WORD GOD IS BOTH A NOUN (TITLE) AND AN ADJECTIVE (DESCRIPTION). IT IS BOTH SINGULAR AND COLLECTIVE FOR ALL "THREE LIVING PERSONS OF THE HEAVENLY TRIO" IN THE "ETERNAL GODHEAD"!! You want Biblical proof? Well, here it is.
Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (quoting directly, it would seem, from Daniel 11:36), teaches that a plurality of personalities is in the Godhead, by showing the Pope (representing "the Man of sin") also “exalting himself above all [plural] that is called God, or that is worshipped”. Notice that the plurality is about “all that is called [referred to by the title] God”, not a plurality of “Gods”. Parallel illustration? All that is called “Man”, or humanity, is a plurality of individuals, yet there still remains a numeric oneness of humanity. There is (only) one humanity, as there is (only) one divinity, or Godhead, but within the one existence, or specie, is a group of persons.
It is self-evident that 2 Thessalonians 2:4 could not be about human “gods”, but, rather, the “God of gods”. Note the qualification made by Paul- “that [which] is worshipped” in “the temple of God” is what the Papacy “exalts himself [itself] above”.
Thus, only by claiming to be the Representative of Jesus (not just the Father) could the Pope “sit in the seat of God” (Ez. 28:2), and only by changing His Law could he “exalt himself above [now notice] all that is called God”, and “speak marvelous things against [i.e. dishonoring or disrespectfully displacing] the God of gods”.
Do you remember, dear reader, that Jesus is Biblically called “Lord of lords” (Revelation 17:14), that is, He is supreme to all “gods” (common noun) and “lords” (living or dead), since 1 Cor. 8:5 shows that many earthly “gods” or “lords” (similar in meaning) exist by Man’s creation. Pharaohs, Caesars, and the Syrian king, Antiochus IV “Epiphanies” (for instance), all tried to be living “gods”, and divine “lords”, but Jesus is the “God of gods”, just like His Father with whom He is equal. Jesus only now worships the Father, as His God, simply because He became a man, and patterns His “brethren” (Israel and Christians) in everything. See Hebrews 2:11-14 for this explosive Bible truth. He is not among the category of those described by the common noun, "gods", or "a god". He must be "God" of all "gods". IF NOT, THEN JOHN 20:28, 29 AND HEB 1:8, 10 WOULD HAVE NO MEANING.
Now, which human can take Jesus’ place in authority? None! But doesn’t Jesus Himself say that men among his brethren are “gods”? Yes, but only in a certain context. And this is the key which unlocks much of the truth in Daniel 11:39-36.
See John 10:34,35, and Psalm 82:1, 6,7 where leaders of Israel (priests and elders), like Moses (Ex. 7:1) were appointed as human “gods”. But they must have been appointed directly by the Godhead, not by their false pretence, and their prerogatives were limited. Human “gods” are never, and can never be divine, in natural substance or authority, like the members of the Godhead.
Thus the Papacy is so wrong to elevate the pope (literally) on a throne to a level equal with Christ, and HIS INFALLIBILITY, that is, when he functions “ex cathedra” in his office.
Since Jewish kings, priests, and elders (all leaders) were called “gods” in ancient Israel, representing the people before God, the Papal system also has effectively, since the great apostasy in Christianity, “exalted himself [itself]…above every god” [common noun] by eclipsing the truth that every Christian is now (since Calvary) a “king” (“god” in symbol) and “priest”, representing himself before the “throne of grace”.
See Revelation 1:6, and 1 Peter 2:5, compared with Hebrews 4:16, and Ephesians 2:18 for this Biblical truth. No Christian now needs an earthly priest since he (himself) is a “priest”, and Jesus is his “Chief Priest”, while being also the christian's God; being the “God of [human] gods” (John 20:28 and Daniel 11:36).
The Papal system was responsible for introducing what is called "the strange god" in Daniel 11:36-39. The “strange god” would have to be someone introduced whom the Bible never represented as divine, that is, one who (just like Lucifer) can never be one of (using the words of the Adventist writer, Mrs. White) the “three living personalities of the Heavenly Trio”, who are each the “fullness of the Godhead”.
Are the Father, the Son, and their Holy Spirit really a “Trio” of “living Personalities” in the one “Eternal Godhead”? Can any of the Three be “the fullness of the Godhead”, and be inferior to the others? Aren’t they all divine (God in nature), and aren’t they all called “God”, and “Lord”? The answers are all obviously yes. Mrs. White, the leading pioneer in Adventism certainly thought so. Confirm her beliefs in John 1:1/ John 8:58, 59/ John 20:28, 29/ Is. 48:16, Heb. 1:8, 10/ 2 Cor. 3:17, 18/ Rev. 1:4, 5/ and Matt. 28:19.
Is the Pope divine, that is rightly called “God” (whether in name, or title, and nature)? Is he any part of the “Heavenly Trio” or “Eternal Godhead”, acting together in perfect unity as the body members depicted in 1 Corinthians 11:3, and 12:4-6. Clearly, NO!! Thus he is an imposter bearing the title, "the Holy Father" (like Jesus' title, "the Everlasting Father", just like that of His Father's). hE IS A "STRANGE GOD" by trying to be the Representative of God on earth, BUT EVER DENYING THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PLACE AS JESUS' SUCCESSOR!!
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Derrick Gillespie (First labelled "SDA", THEN, "Pseudo-SDA", and then "Impolite". What label next?)

Eugene Shubert · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2003 7:21 am Post subject:

To oppose and exalt yourself above all that is called God or that is worshiped means that you exalt and magnify yourself above every god. "All that is called God or that is worshiped" clearly includes all the so-called gods, not just the true God.

"who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
2 Thessalonians 2:4. NKJV.

"Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done."
Daniel 11:36. NKJV.

Here's an illustration. The Greeks had many gods (Acts 17:22-23) and several Roman emperors were worshiped as god. From the meaning of language today or in Paul's day, these so-called "gods" would be understood as included in the phrase, "All that is called God or that is worshiped."

gillespie9669 · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2003 4:23 am Post subject:

Dear Eugene,

I do think that your opinion is respected, but I think your principle of interpretation is turned backwards, and is (IN THIS INSTANCE) too dependent on human wisdom (at least rather conveniently in this matter). Yet you accuse me of giving too much respect to "uninspired" human opinion. The New Testament explains the Old Testament (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND), and the Spirit's explanation should be respected over and above that of educated scholars. Allow the Spirit to interpret the things of the Spirit. Paul's explanation of Daniel 11:36 should be allowed to stand, and FURTHER ENLIGHTENMENT ON PAULS' WRITINGS THROUGH THE "SPIRIT OF PROPHECY" should be respected over that of scholars and commentators.
I admit I have seen your interpretation in several commentaries (including SDA commentaries), but I still insist that 2 Thessalonians 2:4 refers to the true God (and "gods" appointed by Him), and it does not include false pagan gods of other religions, despite various Bible commentaries have literally so translated this verse simply because they recognize the inescapable, inherent or internal plural element in this verse.
BUT BECAUSE "SPIRIT OF PROPHECY" INTERPRETATION DISAGREES WITH SECULAR INTERPRETATION IN THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE, I CHOOSE THAT OVER YOUR TAKE ON THE ISSUE. SPIRIT OF PROPHECY INSIGHTS SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVER SECULAR OPINION, BECAUSE IT HAS THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF INSPIRATION. It is obvious that Satan would not “oppose” or “exalt himself” above false gods (his own inventions) since they fulfill his purpose, but clearly he has and always will continue be opposed to “ ALL that is called God” in the true and highest sense. Mrs. White sheds light on this verse in Chapter 3 of the book “Great Controversy”, by relating it specifically to the Jehovah Godhead. After quoting this verse, Mrs. White re-worded the very same verse this way:

“…Compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in… ‘the man of sin’ foretold in prophecy OPPOSING AND EXALTING HIMSELF AGAINST *GOD” [not ‘gods’, but the proper noun “God”].
-E.G. White- Great Controversy
See the first page, and pages 50-51, of Chapter 3 (or the whole chapter) of that book for confirmation of this truth. This INSPIRED explanation came after saying:

"The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result in the establishment of the papal power. He declared that the day of Christ should not come, "except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."... This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of "the man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God [NOTICE NO REFERENCE TO FALSE GODS]... It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world. More than this, the pope has been given the very titles of Deity. He has been styled "Lord God the Pope"..." {GC 50.1}

In closing I ask you to realize however that in my explanation of Daniel 11:36 I gave allowance for the Papal system exalting itself "above every god [comon noun]" in it exalting itself over "the kingdom of kings [gods] and priests" in the spiritual sense (Rev. 1:6) BY ROBBING CHRISTIANS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO REPRESENTING THEMSELVES BEFORE JEHOVAH, AND THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF CHOICE EVEN IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS, NO MATTER HOW DIFFERENT IT MAY BE FROM THE BELIEFS OF THE GENERAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.
I would like you to show the evidence of the Pope (Satan's pawn) eclipsing the gods of pagan religions, or even being concerned about them, and their places of authority among their pagan worshippers.
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Derrick Gillespie (First labelled "SDA", THEN, "Pseudo-SDA", and then "Impolite". What label next?)