By Nick Bibile
God reveals himself only in Christ (Matt, 11: 27). The theophany is therefore more accurately defined as a Christophany, or an epiphany of God in Christ.
Epiphany, Greek epiphaneia, remember the word phaneroo – manifest. Epiphaneia means appearance, closely linked to phaneroo, manifest. Same meaning.
No one has seen God. John 1:18 Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. 1 Tim 2:5
Pre-patriarchal
age.
Patriarch - The father and ruler of a family or tribe, as one of the founders of the ancient Hebrew families: in the Bible, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons were patriarchs.
Latin word pater means father.
Pre-patriarchal age – Pre means before, before Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God spoke directly to Adam, probably a manlike form, Gen 2:16-17;3:8, God spoke to Cain Gen 4:6-12. God spoke to Noah Gen 6:13-21. God spoke to Noah’s sons Gen 9:1,8)
Patriarchal times.
God revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob in his covenant promises. Revealed through theophanies. Manifestation of God to man. Theo – God. Phainomai – to appear.
Angel of the Lord – Gen 16:7-13; 28:13. Spoke through visions (vision comes from the word video where you can see) Gen 12:7;15:1;12: 26:24
Two types of dreams. Direct revelation and symbolic dreams with divine interpretation. Direct revelations Gen 15:12;20:3-6 : 28:12; 31:10-11; 46:2. Symbolic dreams Gen 37:5-6,10: 40:5-16: 41:1-5)
Mosaic period (Exodus through Deuteronomy)
Theophanic media. (Media, medium, a way of transmission of communication) Burning bush (Exod 3:2), a pillar of cloud and fire. (Exod 13:21-22)
Visions. Numbers 22:20.
God speaking to Moses – Numbers 12:6-8; Deut 18:18;
Moses recorded things that God told him. (Exod 17:14; 24;4-7; 34:27 ; Num 33:2, Deut 31:9,24 see John 5:46-47)
At the mountain Moses received the book of the covenant also the book of the law. Exod 24:7; Deut 31:26
Urim and Thummim also became a medium for discerning the Lord’s will. Urim and Thummim were gemstones that were carried by the High Priest of Israel on the ephod / priestly garments. They were used by the High Priest to determine God's will in some situations. Exod 28:30 Num27:21
Moses was the author of Psalm 90
God spoke directly to Joshua. (Joshua 1:7-8 8:30-35)
Judges – Spoke to Gideon (Judges 6:12)
Midianite soldier ( Judges 7:13-15)
God spoke to David (1 Sam 23:2-4)
(wrote about 73 pslams, two Pslams of Solomon)
God spoke to Solomon. (1 Kings 3:5 9:2; 2 Chro 7:12)
God spoke to prophets such as Nathan (2 Sam 7:4-17; 12:1-14 1 Chro 17:3)
God spoke through prophets such as Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29-39; 14:6-16) Shemaiah ( 1 Kings 12:22-24) Elijah ( 1 Kings 17: 3-4;9;18:1;19:1-15;21:17-19; 2 Chro 21:12-19) Micaiah (1 Kings 22:17-28) and Elisha (2 Kings 2-13) Ezk 3:27
9th Century to 5th Century (900 B.C to 500 B.C)
9th Century prophets – Obadiah and Joel.
8th Century prophets – Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah and Isaiah.
7th Century prophets – Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Jeremiah.
6th Century prophets – Daniel, Ezkiel, Haggai and Zachariah.
5th Century – Malachi
God also spoke to Nebuchadnezzar through dreams.
God instructed several prophets to preserve the writings. (Isa 8:1; 30:8 Jer 25:13; 30:1-2; 36:2 27-28; Ezk 24:1-2 43:11 Dan 9:2; 12:4 Hab 2:2. See also 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21)
Sometimes they really didn’t want to speak God’s word, yet God’s hand was so heavy upon them which they spoke against their human desire. (Exod 3:11 4:10-13; Jer 1:6; 20:9; Isa 8:11 ; Jonah Chapter 1 3:2