Immanuel: “Elohim with Us” v2.0

By servant@nazareneisrael.org

In Acts Chapter Two, YHWH (sometimes called Jehovah) poured out the Spirit on the Messiah’s followers en masse.  However, long before the Spirit was ever poured out en masse, YHWH was ‘with’ certain individuals in the Tanach (or the ‘Old Testament’).

For example, Genesis Chapter 39 and verse 2 tells us that YHWH was ‘with’ the Patriarch Joseph.

First Samuel Chapter 3 and verse 19 tells us that as Samuel grew, YHWH was ‘with’ him.

There are many other examples of how YHWH was ‘with’ certain of His people even before the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts Chapter Two.

But how could YHWH have been ‘with’ these people, seeing as He was not physically present? 

Scripture contains many mysteries.  Isaiah Chapter 7 and verse 14 tells us that Yeshua the Messiah (sometimes called ‘J-sus’) would be called ‘Immanuel.’  In Hebrew, ‘Im’ means with, the ‘nu’ suffix means us, and El (or Elohim) is the Hebrew word for ‘G-d.’  Therefore, “Imanu-El” means ‘El (or G-d) ‘with’ us. 

But if El was ‘with’ His people even before Acts Chapter Two, is it possible that the Messiah (Imanu-el, or El ‘with’ us) was the one who was ‘with’ them?

In Hebrew, the Messiah’s given name is Yeshua; and in the study, “Yeshua, Manifestation of Elohim”, we explain how Yeshua is Elohim.  Interestingly, in the Great Commission, Matthew Chapter 28 and verse 20, Yeshua tells us that He will be 'with' us always, even unto the end of the world, living up to His name, Imanu-El.  And in fact, Yeshua is with us even now.

Is Yeshua with you? 

If Yeshua is not in your life, then ask, seek, and knock.  Matthew 7 and verse 7 tells us that whoever asks, it will be given to him; and that whoever seeks will find; and that if anyone should knock, it will be opened to him; for everyone who asks receives, and everyone who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

But if Imanu-El is already ‘with’ us, and if He may have been the one ‘with’ His people in ‘Old Testament’ times, then how do we understand passages such as Revelation Chapter 20, verses 4 thru 6, which tell us the believers will rule and reign 'with' Yeshua for a thousand years?  Since Revelation is a vision, must the Messiah be physically present?  Or is it possible that He will continue to be ‘with’ us in the future just as He is with us now: through the indwelling of His Spirit? 

Zechariah Chapter 12 and Verse 10 tells us the days are coming when our Jewish brothers will look upon Him whom they have pierced; and that they will grieve for Him.  Surely this will cause them to accept Him as their Messiah.  Could this also lead to the opening of immigration to the Land of Israel, for Hebraically-oriented believers in Yeshua?

And is it possible that what Revelation Chapter 20 really says is that once all twelve tribes of Israel are reunited in the Land of Israel, that all Israel will rule and reign over the nations as they have not done since the days of Kings David and Solomon: only this time, through the indwelling of His Spirit?

Pre-Millennial Return Theory is the idea that the Messiah Yeshua will return back to earth in the clouds in physical form, to rule and reign over the earth physically for its final thousand years.  This final thousand years is popularly called ‘the Millennium’, and it began around the year 2000.  While there are variations, most versions of Pre-Millennial Return Theory have the Messiah coming in the clouds, smiting the enemies of Israel, and then going on to build the next Temple, in which they say He will serve both as Israel’s King, and as its High Priest, physically, for a thousand years. 

However, if Yeshua were to bring His followers back to the Land of Israel in the clouds a thousand years before the last trump, to rule and reign supreme, there are numerous passages of Prophecy which will never be fulfilled.  Yet this would clearly violate Yeshua’s dictum at John Chapter 10 and verse 35, that the Scriptures cannot be broken.

Ezekiel Chapter 45 and Verse 22 tells us that the Prince of the next Temple will prepare for himself (and for all the people of the Land) a bull for a sin offering.  But if Yeshua was sinless, then why would He offer a sin offering, for Himself?

And how does Pre-Millennial Return Theory explain Ezekiel Chapter 46 and Verse 16, which tells us that if this prince decides to give a gift to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; and that it shall be their possession by inheritance?  For this prince to be Yeshua, He would have to take an earthly wife, and beget earthly sons. Yet the mixture of deity with human women was the role given to the Nephilim, or the ‘Fallen Ones’, the Fallen Angels of Genesis Chapter Six.

If Yeshua brings the believers back to the Land of Israel in the clouds a thousand years before the end of the world, to rule and reign supreme, sharing His power and glory with no man, then how do we explain Jeremiah Chapter 30 and verse 21, which tells us that when all twelve tribes are reunited, Israel's Leader shall be 'from among' them, and their Governor shall come 'from their midst'?  The language here speaks of two separate individuals who do not come down from the clouds.  If these two mortal human beings are to be Israel's leaders, then where does that leave Pre-Millennial Return Theory’s supposition that Yeshua alone will reign?

For Yeshua to rule and reign supreme in physical form, all of these passages would have to be broken; and yet this is against the Messiah’s words that the Scriptures cannot be broken; and as we explain in The Post-Millennial Return study, these are just a few of numerous passages that would have to be violated, if the Messiah were to return to earth in physical form prior to the very last trump, less than a thousand years from now.

For a more complete explanation of this topic, please see ‘The Post-Millennial Return’ study, downloadable for free from the Nazarene Israel website, or you can order a hard copy from Amazon.com at our cost, because it is never right to make merchandise out of YHWH’s word.

Please share this video with everyone you care about.  And may YHWH be 'with' you.

Shalom.