Wait! Isn’t God invisible? Well, the Father certainly is. The NT affirms 9 times that the Father is invisible to human eyes.
Translation: World English Bible (WEB)
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
John 5:37 The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
John 6:46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.
Col 1:15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
1Ti 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1Ti 6:16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
Heb 11:27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4:20 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
These verses state catagorically 4 times that “no one has seen the Father at any time”!
The Watchtower agrees completely: “Jehovah God … is invisible to human eyes” Watchtower April 1, 1972 and “…God’s presence was not in a visible form, since the Scriptures are clear that “no man has seen God at any time,” Aid to Bible Understanding q.v. Presence; as well as Insight on the Scriptures Vol. 2, q.v. Presence. In Aid to Bible Understanding q.v. Body they also say: “Because we cannot see God with physical eyes…”
It is very strange that, although there are more than 40 appearances of God reported in the OT, the WTBTS does not discuss them. (I have not been able to find much published material on these appearances on the jw.org site.) Yet, they make a big deal about the 6 verses that mention Michael the archangel.
Articles that do discuss these passages: WT May 15, 1988 Has Anyone Seen God?, Questions From Readers, May 15, 1982, Draw Close to Jehovah, p. 202, In these articles they say that it was always an angel representing God that people saw. It’s true that some texts mention that these appearances were by “the Angel of Jehovah” but in many other cases there is no mention of any angel. Even in many of the passages that do mention “the Angel of Jehovah”, he speaks as Jehovah and identifies himself as Jehovah.
Is it normal for anyone to present themselves as being someone else? For example, can an ambassodor of a country present himself to the leader of another country and say: “I am the President (or Prime Minister) of (my) country?” No. This is never done. You may claim to have the authority to speak in someone’s name but you always distinguish yourself from the one who gave you such authority. In some social settings doing this is even considered illegal and crimminal. Outside of theatrical settings, I can think of no setting where it would be considered ethical or moral to seriously present yourself as being someone else. If this is so in human settings, would it be acceptable if an angel represented themselves as being God? This is why the prophets frequently began by saying: “Thus says the Lord...” None of them spoke as if they were God themselves.
Who was it then that the Old Testament saints said they saw? God himself spoke to Moses in Exodus 6:2-3 (NWT 2013) “I am Jehovah. And I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but with regard to my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them.”
The post-resurrection appearances of Christ make it clear that he could appear and disappear whenever he chose to. Jesus also prayed to the Father: “Keep them in your name which you have given me.” (John 17:11-12) So Christ and the Father share the same name. If the Father has never been seen, yet the OT reports that there were appearances of Jehovah then it is certainly reasonable that it must have been the pre-incarnate Christ that was seen. Jehovah is a composite God! The God who appeared to Abraham calls himself “God Almighty” and “Jehovah” repeatedly! In the passages below that report on the appearances of God, the name “Jehovah” or “Jehovah’s angel” or “Yahweh” occurs about 112x and the word “God” occurs about 69x.
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| Jehovah, Abraham | Gen 12:7 (NWT 2013) Jehovah then appeared to Abram and said: “To your offspring I am going to give this land.” So he built an altar there to Jehovah, who had appeared to him. | Jehovah, Jehovah’s angel, God, Hagar | Gen 16:7-13 (NWT 2013) 7Later Jehovah’s angel found her at a spring of waters in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. … 9Jehovah’s angel then said to her: “Return to your mistress and humble yourself under her hand.” 10Then Jehovah’s angel said: “I will greatly multiply your offspring, so that they will be too numerous to count.” 11Jehovah’s angel added: “Here you are pregnant, and you will give birth to a son, and you must name him Ishmael, for Jehovah has heard your affliction. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him, and he will dwell opposite all his brothers.” 13Then she called on the name of Jehovah, who was speaking to her: “You are a God of sight,” for she said: “Have I here actually looked upon the one who sees me.” |
| Jehovah, God Almighty, Abraham | Gen 17:1-22 (NWT 2013) 1When Abram was 99 years old, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and prove yourself faultless.” … 3God continued to speak with him… 7I will…be God to you… 8I will be their God… 9God said further to Abraham… 15Then God said to Abraham… 18Abraham said to God… 19 God said… 22When God finished speaking with him, he went up from Abraham. |
| Jehovah, Abraham | Gen 18:1-33 (NWT 2013) Afterward, 1Jehovah appeared to him … 2He looked up and saw three men standing … 3Then he said: “Jehovah, if I have found favor in your eyes… 4Please, let a little water be brought and have your feet washed; then recline under the tree. 5Seeing that you have come here to your servant, let me bring a piece of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. Then you may go on your way.” … 8He then took butter and milk and the young bull that he had prepared and set the food before them. Then he stood by them under the tree as they were eating. 13Then Jehovah said to Abraham… 16When the men got up to leave and looked down toward Sodom, Abraham was walking with them to escort them. 17Jehovah said… 20Then Jehovah said… 22but Jehovah remained with Abraham. … 25… Will the Judge of all the earth not do what is right? 26Then Jehovah said… 33When Jehovah finished speaking to Abraham… |
| Jehovah, God, Abraham | Genesis 19:1,23,24,27,29 (NWT 2013) The two angels arrived at Sodom by evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot
saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the earth.
13…Jehovah sent us to destroy the city. 14…Jehovah
will destroy the city!… 24Then Jehovah made it rain sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—it came from
Jehovah, from the heavens.… 27Now Abraham got up early in the morning and went to the place where he
had stood before Jehovah.… 29So when God destroyed the cities of the district, God
kept Abraham in mind… (NASB) Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven |
| Jehovah, Jehovah’s angel, Abraham | Gen 22:11-18 (NWT 2013) 11But Jehovah’s angel called to him from the heavens and said: “Abraham, Abraham!” to which he answered: “Here I am!” 12Then he said: “Do not harm the boy, and do not do anything at all to him, for now I do know that you are God-fearing because you have not withheld your son, your only one, from me.” 13At that Abraham looked up, and there just beyond him was a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14And Abraham named that place Jehovah-jireh. This is why it is still said today: “In the mountain of Jehovah it will be provided.” 15And Jehovah’s angel called to Abraham a second time from the heavens, 16saying: “‘By myself I swear,’ declares Jehovah, ‘that because you have done this and you have not withheld your son, your only one, 17I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply your offspring like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand on the seashore, and your offspring will take possession of the gate of his enemies. 18And by means of your offspring all nations of the earth will obtain a blessing for themselves because you have listened to my voice.’” |
| Jehovah, Isaac | Gen 26:2 (NWT 2013) Then Jehovah appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt. Dwell in the land that I designate to you. |
| Jehovah, God, Isaac | Gen 26:24 (NWT 2013) That night Jehovah appeared to him and said: “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your offspring on account of Abraham my servant.” |
| God, man, Jacob | Genesis 32:24-30 (NWT 2013) 24Finally Jacob was left by himself. Then a man began to wrestle with him until the dawn broke. 25When he saw that he had not prevailed over him, he touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated during his wrestling with him. 26After that he said: “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” To this he said: “I am not going to let you go until you bless me.” 27So he said to him: “What is your name” to which he said: “Jacob.” 28Then he said: “Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel, for you have contended with God and with men and you have at last prevailed.” 29In turn Jacob inquired: “Tell me, please, your name.” However, he said: “Why is it that you ask my name” With that he blessed him there. 30So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face-to-face, yet my life was preserved.” |
| true God, Jacob | Gen 35:1,7 (NWT 2013) 1After that God said to Jacob: “Rise, go up to Bethel and dwell there, and make an altar there to the true God, who appeared to you when you were running away from Esau your brother.” 7There he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there the true God had revealed himself to him when he had run away from his brother. |
| God, God Almighty, Jacob | Gen 35:9-11 (NWT 2013) 9God appeared to Jacob once again while he was coming from Paddan-aram and blessed him. 10God said to him: “Your name is Jacob. Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel will be your name.” And he began to call him Israel. 11God further said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and become many. Nations and a congregation of nations will come from you, and kings will descend from you. |
| God Almighty, Jacob | Gen 48:3 (NWT 2013) And Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. |
| Jehovah’s angel, Jehovah, God, Moses | Exodus 3:2-15 (NWT 2013) 2Then 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.
3So Moses said: “I will go over to inspect this unusual sight to see why the thornbush does not burn up.”
4When Jehovah saw that he went over to look, God called to him out of the thornbush and
said: “Moses! Moses!” to which he said: “Here I am.” 5Then he said: “Do not come any nearer. Remove your
sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6He went on to say:
“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid
his face, because he was afraid to look at the true God. 7Jehovah added: “I have certainly
seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt …” 13But Moses said to the true God: “Suppose
I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your forefathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to
me, ‘What is his name’ What should I say to them” …” 14So God said to Moses:
“I Will Become What I Choose to Become*.” And he added: “This is what you are to
say to the Israelites, ‘I Will Become* has sent me to you.’” Then God said
once more to Moses: “This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this
is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
[*Septuagint “εγω ειμι” = “ego eimi” = I AM. See the Greek Interlinear: John 8:58; John 6:35,41,48,51; 8:12,24,28,58; 9:1; 10:7,9,11,14; 11:25; 13:19; 14:6; John 15:1,5; 18:5-6,8]. See how “ego eimi” gets translated in the NWT here. |
| Jehovah, God, Moses | Exo 4:1,5 (NWT 2013) 1However, Moses answered: “But suppose they do not believe me and do not listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘Jehovah did not appear to you.’” … 5God then said: “This is so that they may believe that Jehovah the God of their forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” |
| Jehovah, God Almighty, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob | Exo 6:2-3 (NWT 2013) Then God said to Moses: “I am Jehovah. And I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but with regard to my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them. |
| Jehovah’s glory, Israelites | Exo 16:10 (NWT 2013) As soon as Aaron had spoken to the entire assembly of the Israelites, they turned and faced toward the wilderness, and look! Jehovah’s glory appeared in the cloud. |
| God, Moses, Aaron and 70 elders of Israel | Exo 24:9-11 (NWT 2013) 9Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel went up, 10and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was what seemed like a sapphire pavement, and it was as pure as the heavens themselves. 11He did not harm the distinguished men of Israel, and they saw a vision of the true God and ate and drank. |
| Jehovah’s glory, Israelites | Exo 24:17 (NWT 2013) To the Israelites who were watching, the appearance of Jehovah’s glory was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop. |
| Jehovah’s glory, Moses, Aaron, Israelites | Lev 9:4,6,23,24 (NWT 2013) 4…to sacrifice them before Jehovah, … for today Jehovah will appear to you.’” …6And Moses said: “This is what Jehovah has commanded you to do, so that the glory of Jehovah may appear to you.” …23Finally Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting and came out and blessed the people. Jehovah’s glory now appeared to all the people, 24and fire came out from Jehovah and began consuming the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they started shouting and they fell with their faces to the ground." |
| Jehovah, Moses, Aaron | Lev 16:2 (NWT 2013) Jehovah said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother that he may not come at just any time into the holy place inside the curtain, in front of the cover on the Ark, so that he may not die, for I will appear over the cover in a cloud. |
| Jehovah’s glory, Israelites | Num 14:10 (NWT 2013) However, all the assembly talked of stoning them. But Jehovah’s glory appeared on the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. |
| Jehovah’s glory, Israelites | Num 16:19 (NWT 2013) 19When Korah had gathered his supporters against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting, Jehovah’s glory appeared to all the assembly. …42When the assembly had gathered together against Moses and Aaron, they then turned toward the tent of meeting, and look! the cloud covered it, and Jehovah’s glory began to appear. |
| Jehovah’s glory, Israelites | Num 20:6 (NWT 2013) Then Moses and Aaron came from before the congregation to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell with their faces to the ground, and Jehovah’s glory began to appear to them. |
| Jehovah’s angel, Balaam | Num 22:20-35 (NWT 2013) 20Then God came to Balaam by night … 22But God’s anger blazed because he was going, and Jehovah’s angel stationed himself in the road to resist him … 23And when the donkey saw Jehovah’s angel standing in the road with a drawn sword … 24Then Jehovah’s angel stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with stone walls on both sides. 25When the donkey saw Jehovah’s angel, it began to squeeze itself against the wall and it jammed Balaam’s foot against the wall, and Balaam began beating it again. 26Jehovah’s angel now passed by again and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left. 27When the donkey saw Jehovah’s angel, it lay down under Balaam, so Balaam became furious and kept beating the donkey with his staff. 28Finally Jehovah caused the donkey to speak, … 31Then Jehovah uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and he saw Jehovah’s angel standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand.… 32Then Jehovah’s angel said to him: “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look! I myself came out to offer resistance, because your way is in defiance of my will. … 34Balaam said to Jehovah’s angel: … 35But Jehovah’s angel said to Balaam: “Go with the men, but you may speak only the words that I tell you.” So Balaam continued going with the princes of Balak. |
| Jehovah, Israelites | Deu 31:15 (NWT 2013) Then Jehovah appeared at the tent in the pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood by the entrance of the tent. |
| Jehovah’s angel, Israelites | Jdg 2:1-5 [Compare: Jdg 6:8-9] (NWT 2013) 1Then Jehovah’s angel went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said: “I brought you up out of Egypt into the land about which I swore to your forefathers. Furthermore, I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you. 2For your part, you must not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land and you should pull down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? 3That is why I also said, ‘I will not drive them away from before you, and they will ensnare you, and their gods will lure you away.’” 4When Jehovah’s angel spoke these words to all the Israelites, the people began to weep loudly. So they named that place Bochim, and they sacrificed there to Jehovah. |
| Jehovah’s angel, Jehovah, angel of God, Gideon | Jdg 6:12 (NWT 2013) 12Jehovah’s angel appeared to him and said: “Jehovah is with you, you mighty warrior.” … 14Jehovah faced him and said: “Go with the strength you have, and you will save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Is it not I who send you?” 15Gideon answered him: “Pardon me, Jehovah. How can I save Israel? Look! My clan is the least in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father’s house.” 16But Jehovah said to him: “Because I will be with you, you will strike down Midian as if they were one man.” … 20The angel of the true God now said to him: “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and place them on the big rock there, and pour out the broth.” And he did so. 21Then Jehovah’s angel stretched out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread, and fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Jehovah’s angel then vanished from his sight. 22Gideon now realized that it was Jehovah’s angel. At once Gideon said: “Alas, Sovereign Lord Jehovah, for I have seen Jehovah’s angel face-to-face!” But Jehovah said to him: “Peace be with you. Have no fear; you will not die.” |
| Jehovah’s angel, Jehovah, angel of God, Manoah and his wife | Jdg 13:3-25 (NWT 2013) 3In time Jehovah’s angel appeared to the woman and said to her: “Look, you are barren and childless. But you will conceive and give birth to a son. …6Then the woman went and told her husband: “A man of the true God came to me, and his appearance was like an angel of the true God, very awe-inspiring… 8Manoah pleaded with Jehovah and said: “Pardon me, Jehovah. Please let the man of the true God whom you just sent come again to instruct us about what we should do with the child who will be born.” 9So the true God listened to Manoah, and the angel of the true God came again to the woman while she was sitting in the field; her husband Manoah was not with her. 10The woman quickly ran and told her husband: “Look! The man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” … So Jehovah’s angel said to Manoah … Manoah now said to Jehovah’s angel …But Jehovah’s angel said to Manoah … 17Then Manoah said to Jehovah’s angel: “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?” 18However, Jehovah’s angel said to him: “Why are you asking about my name, seeing that it is a wonderful one” … 20As the flame ascended from the altar heavenward, Jehovah’s angel ascended in the flame from the altar while Manoah and his wife were looking on. At once they fell with their faces to the ground. 21Jehovah’s angel did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah realized that he was Jehovah’s angel. 22Manoah then said to his wife: “We are sure to die, because it is God whom we have seen.” |
| Jehovah | 1Sa 2:27 (NWT 2013) A man of God came to Eli and said to him: “This is what Jehovah says: ‘Did I not plainly reveal myself to your father’s house while they were in Egypt as slaves to the house of Pharaoh |
| Jehovah, Samuel | 1Sa 3:21 (NWT 2013) And Jehovah continued to appear in Shiloh, for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Jehovah." |
| Jehovah’s angel | 2Sa 24:16 (NWT 2013) When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah felt regret over the calamity, and he said to the angel bringing destruction among the people: “It is enough! Now let your hand drop.” Jehovah’s angel was close to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. |
| Jehovah, Solomon | 1Ki 3:5 (NWT 2013) In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said: “Ask what you would like me to give you.” |
| Jehovah, Solomon | 1Ki 9:2 (NWT 2013) Jehovah appeared to Solomon a second time, just as he had appeared to him in Gibeon. |
| Jehovah, Solomon | 1Ki 11:9 (NWT 2013) Jehovah became furious at Solomon, because his heart had inclined away from Jehovah the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice |
| angel of Jehovah, Elijah | 1Ki 19:7 (NWT 2013) Later the angel of Jehovah came back a second time and touched him and said: “Get up and eat, for the journey will be too much for you.” |
| angel of Jehovah, Elijah | 2Ki 1:3 (NWT 2013) But the angel of Jehovah said to Elijah the Tishbite: “Rise up, go to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron |
| angel of Jehovah | 2Ki 19:35 (NWT 2013) On that very night the angel of Jehovah went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When people rose up early in the morning, they saw all the dead bodies. |
| Jehovah’s angel | 1Ch 21:12 (NWT 2013) whether there should be three years of famine, or three months of being swept away by your adversaries while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or three days of the sword of Jehovah—pestilence in the land—with Jehovah’s angel bringing destruction in all the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what I should reply to the One who sent me.” |
| Jehovah’s angel, David and the elders | 1Ch 21:15-18,30 (NWT 2013) 15Moreover, the true God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to do so, Jehovah saw it and felt regret over the calamity, and he said to the angel bringing destruction: “It is enough! Now let your hand drop.” Jehovah’s angel was standing close to the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16When David raised his eyes, he saw Jehovah’s angel standing between the earth and the heavens with a drawn sword in his hand extended toward Jerusalem. David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, at once threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. 17David said to the true God: “Was it not I who said to number the people I am the one who sinned, and I am the one who did wrong; but these sheep—what have they done O Jehovah my God, let your hand, please, come against me and my father’s house; but do not bring this scourge on your people.” 18Jehovah’s angel then told Gad to tell David to go up and erect an altar to Jehovah on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. … 30But David had not been able to go before it to consult God, for he was terrified because of the sword of Jehovah’s angel." |
| God, Solomon | 2Ch 1:7-12 (NWT 2013) That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him: “Ask what you would like me to give you.” |
| Jehovah, David | 2Ch 3:1 (NWT 2013) Then Solomon started to build the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Jehovah had appeared to his father David, in the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. |
| Jehovah, Solomon | 2Ch 7:12-22 (NWT 2013) Jehovah then appeared to Solomon during the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. |
| Jehovah, Jehovah of armies, Isaiah | Isa 6:1-8 [Compare John 12:37-41] (NWT 2013) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw Jehovah sitting on a lofty and elevated throne, and the skirts of his robe filled the temple.… 5Then I said: “Woe to me! I am as good as dead, For I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of armies himself!” … 8Then I heard the voice of Jehovah saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us” And I said: “Here I am! Send me!” |
| Jehovah | Jer 31:3 (NWT 2013) From far away Jehovah appeared to me and said: “I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have drawn you to me with loyal love. |
| Man, Ezekiel | Eze 1:26-28 (NWT 2013) 26Above the expanse that was over their heads was what looked like a sapphire stone, and it resembled a throne. Sitting on the throne up above was someone whose appearance resembled that of a human. 27I saw something glowing like electrum that was like a fire radiating from what appeared to be his waist and upward; and from his waist down, I saw something that resembled fire. There was a brilliance all around him 28like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. That was how the surrounding brilliant light appeared. It was like the appearance of the glory of Jehovah. When I saw it, I fell face down and began to hear the voice of someone speaking. |
| Man, Daniel | Dan 10:4-12 [Compare Rev 1:12-18] (NWT 2013) 4On the 24th day of the first month, while I was on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen, and around his waist was a belt of gold from Uphaz. 6His body was like chrysolite, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and his feet looked like burnished copper, and the sound of his words was like the sound of a multitude. 7Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see the vision. However, a great trembling seized them, and they ran away and hid. 8Then I was left by myself, and when I saw this great vision, there was no power left in me and my dignified appearance left me and I lost all strength. 9Then I heard the sound of him speaking; but when I heard him speaking, I fell fast asleep with my face to the ground. 10But then a hand touched me, and it stirred me to get up on my hands and knees. 11Then he said to me: “O Daniel, you very precious man, give attention to the words that I am about to speak to you. Now stand up in your place, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, trembling. 12He then said to me: “Do not be afraid, O Daniel. Your words have been heard from the first day that you gave your heart to understanding and to humbling yourself before your God, and I have come because of your words. 13But the prince of the royal realm of Persia stood in opposition to me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I remained there beside the kings of Persia. |
| God of glory, Abraham | Acts 7:2 (NWT 2013) Stephen replied: “Men, brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, before he took up residence in Haran |
| angel Moses | Acts 7:35 (NWT 2013) This same Moses whom they had disowned, saying: ‘Who appointed you ruler and judge’ is the very one God sent as both ruler and deliverer by means of the angel who appeared to him in the thornbush. |
| To Adam | Gen 3:8-21 |
| To Abraham | Gen 12:7; 17:1-22; 18:1-33; 19:13-29; 22:11-18 (Exo 6:2-3; Acts 7:2) |
| To Hagar | Gen 16:7-13 |
| To Isaac | Gen 26:2,24 (Exo 6:2-3) |
| To Jacob, at Beth-el | Gen 32:24-30; 35:1,7,9; 48:3 (Exo 6:2-3) |
| To Moses | Exo 3:2-15; 4:5; 6:3 |
| To Moses, Aaron and others | Exo 16:10; 19:1-24; 24:9-11; Lev 9:4,6,23,24; 16:2 |
| To Moses and Joshua | Deu 31:14-15 |
| To Israelites | Exo 16:10; Num 14:10; 16:19; 20:6; Jdg 2:1-5 (Compare: Jdg 6:8-9) |
| To Balaam | Num 22:20-35 |
| To Gideon | Judg 6:11-24 |
| To Manoah and his wife | Jdg 13:3-25 |
| To Samuel | 1Sa 3:21 |
| To David | 1Ch 21:15-18,30; 2Ch 3:1 |
| To Elijah | 1Ki 19:7; 2Ki 1:3 |
| To Solomon | 1Ki 3:5; 9:2; 11:9; 2Ch 1:7-12; 7:12-22 |
| To Isaiah | Isa 6:1-5 [Compare John 12:37-41] |
| To Ezekiel | Eze 1:26-28 |
| To Daniel | Dan 10:4-21 |
How can it be that the pre-incarnate Christ revealed himself as “Jehovah” in the OT? It’s because the Father had given him his name (John 17:11-12).
Did the pre-incarnate Christ appear in the book of Daniel? When Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the furnace there appeared “a fourth like a son of the gods” Dan 3:25. Then, in Dan 7:13 “One like a Son of Man ... came to the Ancient of Days”. In Dan 8:16 a man instructs Gabriel to give Daniel insight to the vision he had just seen. Finally, from Dan 10:4-10 Daniel sees a man who is described like Jesus Christ in Rev 1:13-18. In this vision the speaker speaks from Dan 10:11 to Dan 12:4 and mentions Michael three times in the third person.
Does the NT ever say that Christ was seen in the OT? In John 12:41 “These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke about Him.” Isaiah 6:1-5 says he saw Jehovah of Armies. If we would ask Isaiah “Who did you see?” He would say: “I saw Jehovah of armies.” If we would ask John “Who did Isaiah see?” He said: “Isaiah saw the Messiah.” Then in John 8:56-58 (NWT_2013) Abraham your father rejoiced greatly at the prospect of seeing my day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” Then the Jews said to him: “You are not yet 50 years old, and still you have seen Abraham” Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” Jesus claimed that Abraham saw him and the Jews understood this to mean that Jesus saw Abraham(!). When did this happen? In Gen 18,19
Objection #1: The Angel of the LORD who appeared was really just an angel (even if he was the pre-incarnate Christ) but because he was representing the Father he spoke as if he was the Father, that is, using the pronouns “I” and identifying himself as Jehovah, even though he was just a representative.
Answer #1: When does an ambassador of a king speak as if he is the king? Give me one example other than the Angel of the LORD. That is presumptuous. Give me at least one biblical example when a human (eg. a prophet) or an angel has ever identified himself or referring to himself as being the one he is representing (i.e. Jehovah).