WHO Did Abraham SEE In Genesis 18:1?

 

Genesis 18:1

World English Bible

Abraham's Celestial Visitors

1 Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don't go away from your servant. 4 Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant." They said, "Very well, do as you have said." 6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly prepare three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes." 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. 8 He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

Some in the Trinity faith believe the three persons who visited Abraham are a shadow of the TRINITY.

Let's read on the Trinitarian web site of https://www.gotquestions.org/three-men-Genesis-18.html and see what they say and believe:

Question: "Who were the three men who visited Abraham in Genesis 18?"

Answer: Abraham was visited by three men one day; the men turned out to be unusual guests, to say the least, and the visit was life-changing for Abraham and Sarah. Genesis 18:1–2 says, “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.” Abraham showed immediate hospitality to the three men, inviting them to rest under a tree and preparing a big meal for them (verses 3–8).

During their visit with Abraham, the three men warned him that God’s judgment was about to fall upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20–21; 19:12–13). They also promised that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, would have a baby by the same time next year (Genesis 18:10).

Some have suggested that all three of these “men” were angelic beings who appeared to Abraham in the form of men. However, Genesis 18:1 says that it was “the LORD” (Yahweh) who appeared to Abraham. It is the LORD who speaks in verses 13, 20, 26, and 33. Abraham stands “before the LORD” in verse 22. So, one of the three “men” must have been God Almighty taking on the appearance of a man. We call such an appearance a “theophany.” When Jesus appears in His pre-incarnate body in the Old Testament, we call it a “Christophany.” Whether God’s appearance to Abraham in Mamre was a theophany or a Christophany, we don’t know. But it does seem clear from the context that one of the visitors was God Himself (Genesis 18:22) and the other two were the angels who later visited Sodom and spoke to Lot (Genesis 19:1).

Abraham’s response to the appearance of the three men also suggests that he instinctively knew that he was in the presence of God. A typical response to visitors in that culture was to rise and wait for them to approach the home. But Abraham ran to meet them and “bowed low to the ground,” a prostrate posture reserved for royalty or deity.

Abraham was well acquainted with the LORD and would have instantly recognized Him, because the Lord had spoken and/or appeared to him many times before. Those appearances include the following occasions:

• when God first called him (Genesis 12:1–3)

• when Abraham parted ways with Lot (Genesis 13:14–17)

• possibly when he met Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18–20)

• when God made a covenant with him (Genesis 15)

• when God restated His covenant (Genesis 17)

These three visitors whom Abraham entertained were heavenly, and Abraham and Sarah were in the company of God Himself. The story teaches us that God is aware of what is happening on earth, and He is involved. God can even visit or send His heavenly messengers to help fulfill His plans. We may not always realize whom we are speaking with, so we should treat everyone as though they were on special assignment from God. Hebrews 13:2 reminds us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

As we see, the Trinitarian author of this web site believes: one of the three “men” must have been God Almighty taking on the appearance of a man.

There are also millions of Christians who do not believe in the TRINITY, and do NOT believe Jesus is GOD, and do not believe the person talking to Abraham was God Almighty, but instead believe this was Jesus appearing before His incarnation, as the word of GOD, and as GOD's Mediator.

Let's now examine the Biblical facts.

This is my own independent research, and I am always, praying, seeking, researching and learning, so please do shout by contacting me on mrsimonbrown@aol.com or please leave a comment below.

Here are the many problems with what I believe seen in the TRINITY faith, believing: one of the three “men” must have been God Almighty.

We must always and only believe what the Bible teaches, and I do not know of any teachings or scriptures in the whole Bible saying or teaching that GOD SOME TIMES takes on the appearance of a MAN.

We know nothing is impossible with GOD. But we also know John 1:18 tells us: No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.

John 6:46

Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One being from God; He has seen the Father. 

Exodus 33:20

He said, "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live."

1 Timothy 6:16

alone having immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one of men has seen nor is able to see, to whom be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As we have seen in the scriptures above, No one has ever yet seen God the Father, except Jesus John 1:18, John 6:46.

And that NO MAN can see GOD's face, and live Exodus 33:20, and whom no one of men has seen nor is able to see 1 Timothy 6:16.

Yet the Trinity faith seem to be experts at contradicting the word of GOD, by saying and believing: one of the three “men” must have been God Almighty.

So according to most in the Trinity faith, people have seen GOD, and yet the Bible tells us NO ONE has ever SEEN GOD.

Numbers 23:19 also tells us: God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?

Yet we see how the Trinity faith again contradict the word of GOD by saying: one of the three “MEN” must have been God Almighty.

The Trinity faith often tell me Numbers 23:19 does not say GOD cannot BECOME a MAN, but instead GOD is not a MAN.

But I ask WHERE does the Bible say or teach GOD SOME TIMES takes on the form of a MAN?

Here are some simple questions for the Trinitarians to think about.

1. WHERE did GOD, or Jesus, or the disciples every say or teach GOD SOME TIMES takes on the form of a MAN?

2. If GOD some times comes as a MAN, then WHY did GOD nearly always send His Angels to save His people, when He could come Himself as a MAN?

It happened that night, that the (ANGEL) of Yahweh went out, and struck one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 2 Kings 19:35.

3. If GOD some times comes as a MAN, then WHY did GOD nearly always send His Prophets, when He could come Himself as a MAN?

Hebrews 1:1 God, having spoken long ago to our fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways.

4. If GOD could come as a MAN, WHY then would GOD always send His Angels or His prophets to talk for Him, when He could come Himself as a MAN, and talk for Himself?

We do know that GOD was in the MAN Jesus: John 14:10: Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak from Myself; but the Father dwelling in Me does His works.

5. As GOD was in His SON Jesus, WHY then did GOD NOT come Himself as the MAN Jesus, if GOD can be a MAN Himself as Jesus was?

6. IF GOD could come as a MAN, why then did GOD GIVE and SEND the MAN Jesus to save His people?

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that (He GAVE) the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life.

7. IF GOD could be a MAN, why then do we need Jesus to be the perfect Adam and MAN, as our Mediator, advocate, and High priest between GOD and MAN?

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus.

8. BOTH GOD and Jesus never ever taught they were the same being, but a Father and SON.

9. The Bible only ever teaches GOD the Father and the SON, are two SEPARATE PERSONS, and are NOT the SAME PERSON, and that the Father is the only One True GOD ALONE: 1 Corinthians 8:6 yet to us there is one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we through Him.

10. GOD only ever taught the MAN Jesus was His SON: Luke 9:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him!"

11. Jesus only ever taught that He was the SON of His One True GOD John 10:36, Mark 12:29.

Some Trinitarians believe that the person who came to Abraham as GOD Almighty, was instead the second person of the Trinity, and is Jesus as GOD.

12. However, this would make another Trinitarian contradiction, because as we have seen Jesus told us, no one has ever seen GOD, which would prove Jesus is NOT GOD, because millions of people saw Jesus.

The Trinity faith do not believe the Father is the SON, which makes another Trinitarian contradiction, because GOD and the FATHER is one and the same being, and yet the Trinity faith say GOD is the SON.

What about the None Trinitarians and  Christians who do not believe Jesus is GOD?

We now move forward to understanding the problems with the millions of Christians who do not believe in the TRINITY, and who do not believe Jesus is GOD, and who do not believe the person talking to Abraham was God Almighty, but instead believe this was Jesus appearing before He became flesh, as the word of GOD, and as GOD's Mediator, or Jesus as an Angel of the Lord GOD.

Did you know there is NOT a single verse in the Old Testament saying or teaching the word of GOD is a second person, or is the SON?

We do NOT read in John 1:1 saying: In the Beginning was the SON, and the SON was with GOD, and the SON was GOD.

Please read my articles below on John 1:1 to 4, and discover the SHOCKING TRUTH, of how most of Christianity are using false Bible translations, wrongly teaching the word of GOD in John 1:1 - 4, is the SON, when INSTEAD the word of GOD is from, and is the FATHER.

The (word) of GOD IS GOD the Father.

Jesus is the (Word) OF His GOD and Father.

Did you know there was NO Mediator between GOD and Man, until Jesus was born as the word of GOD in John 1:14?

We see in Job 16:21 how Job prays: O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor! Webster’s Bible Translation.

Berean Study Bible

Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both. Job 9:33  

We clearly see how Job tells us there is NOT A MEDIATOR, and praying how we need A MEDIATOR, between GOD and MAN, which GOD so wonderfully already had known and planned, before the foundations of the world 1 Peter 1:20:

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.

By GODS perfect PLAN He had already known He would send His SON Jesus to be born as our perfect Lamb of GOD, and High Priest and MEDIATOR:

1 Timothy 2:5,6.  

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.  

Please read my article on: The (unique) WORDS by Job 23:13, on the link below. https://wwwrealdiscoveriesorg-simon.blogspot.com/2019/10/job-date-1880-medium-painting.html

If we open our hearts and minds, praying, seeking and researching always, we will find said Jesus.

And what we discover, is that the doctrines, and teachings in most churches today, are teaching another great and terrible deception, who preach a FALSE PRE HUMAN Jesus, who would NOT be the second MAN Adam, and the CHRIST Jesus, if Jesus were GOD, or some kind of PRE - EXISTING BEING.

WHAT and WHO then are the three MAN who visited Abraham, before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?

The answer is simple.

The three MAN were simply three Angels, acting for Yahweh GOD.

How do we know this?

Well, as we have seen, there was NO Mediator between GOD and Man, until Jesus was born as the word of GOD in John 1:14?

And this is why GOD always SENT His Angels, as we see in the amazing story of Mosses at the burning bush at Mount Sinai.

So the simple answer to who was the three Angels, acting for Yahweh GOD, is seen in 

Exodus 3: 

Lets rewind back to this amazing story as we look in the World English Bible translation:

Moses at the Burning Bush

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God's mountain, to Horeb. 2 The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 Moses said, "I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." 4 When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses! Moses!" He said, "Here I am." 5 He said, "Don't come close. Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground." 6 Moreover he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God.

Did you notice who appeared in verse 2: The angel of Yahweh appeared.

And then we read in verse 4 saying: Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses! Moses!"

We then read in verse 6 Moreover he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." 

And yet verse 2 tells us it was: The angel of Yahweh (who) appeared.

And then Yahweh GOD is talking.

So what does: The angel of Yahweh (who) appeared, and then it was Yahweh GOD who is talking, PROVE?

This simply proves GOD nearly always sends His Angels, or Prophets and communicates THROUGH and by His Angels, or Prophets, just as He was IN His Son JESUS, who was born as the Living WORD of GOD.

My Own Conclusion.

WHO Did Abraham SEE In Genesis 18:1?

When GOD sent His Angels or Prophets, they very often spoke as if they were GOD, hence, as we read in Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." 

And yet the previous verse Exodus 3:2 tells us it was: The angel of Yahweh (who) appeared to Moses.

And notice how the Prophet of GOD talks for GOD, as if He is GOD in Isaiah 45:5 saying: I am Yahweh, and there is none else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me.

Did you also see how the correct translations in the Hebrew text IDENTIFY the ONE TRUE GOD as being GOD ALONE by His name Yahweh.

As GOD spoke THROUGH His Angel in Exodus 3, this must conclude that GOD was also speaking THROUGH His Angel who was also acting for Yahweh GOD, where we read  in Genesis 18:1

Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre.

My conclusion now perfectly explains WHY the Bible tells us: No one has ever yet seen God the Father, except Jesus John 1:18, John 6:46.

Simply because NO ONE DID SEE GOD, but an Angel acting for GOD.

And now we do not have any Bible contradictions as the Trinity faith have, who say one of the three “MEN” must have been God Almighty, and yet John 1:18, and John 6:46 tells us: No one has ever yet seen God the Father, except Jesus.

And as we have seen, with the problems with the millions of Christians who do not believe in the TRINITY, and who do not believe Jesus is GOD, and who do not believe the person talking to Abraham is God Almighty, but instead believe this was Jesus appearing before He became flesh, as the word of GOD, and as GOD's Mediator, or Jesus as an Angel of the Lord GOD.

These people have also been deceived, as they are also using and reading false Trinitarian Bible translations, and are misunderstanding the Bibles teachings that do NOT say Jesus PRE EXITED His flesh.

And this explains WHY the Hebrews writer did NOT say In the Beginning GOD spoke through His SON, but instead by the prophets: Hebrews 1:1 God, having spoken long ago to our fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways.

My final conclusion, is that when we read some one in the Bible saying they saw GOD, the person was always an Angel acting for GOD.

Unless it was Yahweh Himself as He tells us in a vision, or speaking with him in a dream. Numbers 12:6.

Judges 6:22

Gideon saw that he was the angel of Yahweh; and Gideon said, "Alas, Lord Yahweh! Because I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face!"

Notice how we are clearly told how Moses is the only person except Jesus who is now with GOD, to have (partially), seen GOD because as GOD: said, "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live." Exodus 33:20.

Would GOD contradict His own word, by saying to Moses: "You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live." Exodus 33:20.

And then in His other hand Yahweh GOD appears to Abraham as a MAN, and Abraham sees GOD face to face and lives, as Trinitarians say and believe? 

Did Abraham truly SEE GOD and therefor contradicted John 1:18?

No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.

For GOD is Spirit, not a MAN, for GOD created the MAN.

1 Timothy 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.

I believe if there are Bible contradictions, then we are simply not understanding the word of GOD.

But If there are NO Bible contradictions, then we are correctly understanding the word of GOD.

I am Simon Brown, thank you for reading my research.

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Related Articles:

There is a great article and research by The Trinity Delusion here: Genesis 18-19 https://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/TTD/verses/genesis18-19.html

The (unique) WORDS by Job 23:13, on the link below. https://wwwrealdiscoveriesorg-simon.blogspot.com/2019/10/job-date-1880-medium-painting.html