Despite the obvious answer seen in John 1:1.
Joh 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- and despite the illustration from Daniel 2:34.
Da 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
- and despite the information in John 17:5.
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
- and despite the scriptural admonition to treat the Father like the Son, John 5:23.
Joh 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Scripture illustrates that Jesus is and always has been superior to Angels, and is in fact God’s word in a physical Body.
He was God before the incarnation as Joh 1:1 shows.
Joh 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The first born or pre-incarnate Jesus was not an Angel as some denominations believe.
Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
He is the person who the angels are told to worship, Heb 1:6.
Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Worshiping angels is a sign of deception, Col 2:18.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
1 Thess 4:16 seems to be the basis for the concept that before Jesus came to earth He was the Archangel Michael, since the Lord descends in the voice of the Archangel.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
In that verse the Lord Jesus descends to deal with that situation using 3 analogies. With a voice, a trump and a shout.
The event that 1 Thess 4:13 to 5:11 – is describing is identified in 1 Thess 5:2 as the Day of the Lord.
The Day of the Lord is not a one time event that occurred when the priests were alive, as is mentioned in Matt 26:64.
Mt 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
The phrase “day of the Lord” is a description of the appearing of the Lord’s judgment which occurs as God the Father deems it is necessary, Mt 24:36.
Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
It is a figurative reference to the Lord “coming” through His enemies to inflict judgment upon people, similar to the one mentioned in Isaiah 19:1.
The purpose of the parable in 1 Thess 4:13 – 5:10 is to veil the truth from unbelievers and unlearned Christians 1 Cor 14:24.
1 Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.
The statements in 1 Thess 4:13 -5-10 have been very effective in this regard.
This parable or message in Tongues is veiled to most people, and they still believe in the false rapture theory.
Mr 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mr 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
The word became a man and God prepared a body for Jesus, Heb 10:5.
- So Jesus was God as John 1:1 shows.
- He became a man.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
- Then He went back to God.
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
- So the only question becomes – was He God while He was on earth.
- The answer is yes, as Isaiah 7:14 and Mt 1:23 show.
- Jesus has and always will be God.
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Mt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- Jesus was and is and is to come “The Almighty”, Rev 1:4.
Re 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Re 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Re 4:8 ¶ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.