What Are The Functions Of A Savior And Messiah?
What Are The Functions Of A Savior,
Messiah, Priest, And Prophet?
Can they all exist wrapped up as one?
I am sure you understand that in the latter days the Prophet will worship the Savior. Are you aware, in addition, that "the Messiah" will worship "the Savior"? Does that sound like a contradiction of terms? It may, but we clear up the apparent contradiction in this study.
We will cover the meanings and functions of a Savior, Messiah, Priest, and Prophet. But, first, I will ask a question. What does a King, Priest, and Prophet have in common? All three are anointed to their office of responsibility. But what is anointing?
Anointing.
The Aid to Bible Understanding by International Bible Students Association, Brooklyn, New York states:
ANOINTING: The Bible indicates a difference between the common practice of rubbing the body with oil and the special anointing with oil of dedicated things and people. This distinction is maintained quite consistently by different original-language words, both in the Hebrew and in the Greek. Some versions of the Bible do not maintain this fine distinction but translate all such words by the one-term "anoint".
RUBBING OR GREASING WITH OIL: In the lands of the Near East, it was a common practice to rub oil on the body, and, among other things, this helped to protect the exposed portions from the intense rays of the sun. The oil also helped to keep the skin supple. Olive oil was generally used and often perfume was added to it. The customary practice was to apply the oil after bathing. Esther underwent a course of six months' massage treatment with oil of myrrh and six months with oil of balsam before being presented in the presence of King Aha'sue-rus (Esther 2:12).
An example of rubbing with oil is Ruth's preparation to meet Boaz.
(Ruth 3:1-3)[1] (NKJV) 1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
In both cases (Ester and Ruth) the English word "anoint" comes from the Hebrew word "cuwk" (sook) #H5480[2] in Strong's which states "is a primary root word and means to smear over with oil".
The Aid for Bible Understanding states "Greasing the head with oil was a sign of favor":
(Psalms 23:5) (KJV) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
The English word "anointed" in this case comes from the Hebrew word "dashen" (da-shane') #H1878 in Strong's which states "is a primary root word and means to be fat" or well cared for.
The Aid for Bible Understanding states:
The headmen of Ephraim took favorable action toward the captured Judean soldiers by greasing them and returning them to Jericho, as advised by the prophet Oded (2 Chronicles 28:15). The ETERNAL spoke of bringing about a lack of oil for rubbing as a sign of his displeasure (Deuteronomy 28:40). To refrain from rubbing one's body with oil was regarded as a sign of mourning (2 Samuel 14:2).
Special Anointing The Bible often uses the Hebrew sukh (sook) for the commonplace rubbing on of oil. But for a special anointing with oil, it generally uses the Hebrew word ma-shahh' (maw-shakh'), from which the word ma-shi'ahh (Messiah") comes. The term is used in the Bible almost exclusively with regard to being anointed with oil in a sacred or ceremonial way.
When a person was anointed with oil, the oil was put on his head and allowed to run down on his beard and onto the collar of his garments (Psalms 133:2). ...This constituted the confirmation of their official appointment to office (Judges 9:8, Judges 9:15). Samuel anointed Saul as king after the ETERNAL had designated Saul as His choice (1 Samuel 10:1). David was anointed as king by Samuel, later by the men of Judah and finally by all the tribes (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4; 2 Samuel 5:3) Aaron was anointed after his appointment to the office of high priest (Leviticus 8:12). Afterward, Aaron and his sons had some of the anointing oil along with the blood of the sacrifices spattered upon their garments, but Aaron was the only one who had the oil poured over his head (Leviticus 8:30).
Things dedicated as sacred were also anointed. Jacob took the stone on which he rested his head when he had an inspired dream, set it up as a pillar and anointed it, thus marking that place as sacred, and he called the place Bethel, meaning "house of the ETERNAL" (Genesis 28:18-19). A short time later the ETERNAL acknowledged this stone as having been anointed (Genesis 31:13). In the wilderness of Sinai, Moses anointed, at the ETERNAL's command, the tabernacle and its furnishings, indicating that they were dedicated holy things (Exodus 30:26-28).
There are instances, in which a person was regarded as being anointed because of being appointed by the ETERNAL, although no oil was put on his head. A case in point is the Persian king Cyrus, who had been foretold by Isaiah as being one whom the ETERNAL would use as his anointed (Isaiah 45:1). Cyrus was not actually anointed with oil by one of the ETERNAL's representatives, but he was appointed.
Three Positions Are Anointed.
To understand our subject of "Savior, Messiah, Priest, and Prophet"; it is important to fully understand "anointing". So far, we have been told that kings, priests, and prophets were "anointed" by pouring olive over their head, which appointed them for a special duty. To that point Unger's Dictionary states:
CORONATION: It was a custom among the Jews to anoint with oil those set apart as kings. ...The anointing with oil was a symbol of endowment with the Spirit of the ETERNAL (1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 10:6; 1 Samuel 16:13; Isaiah 61:1) for the duties of the office to which a person was consecrated by anointing (Leviticus 8).
We will follow up on who else is anointed, they are given in the following order Priests, Prophets and Kings:
1. Priests:
(Exodus 28:41) (NKJV) So you [Moses] shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests.
2. Prophets:
(1 Kings 19:15-16) (NKJV) 15Then the ETERNAL said to him [Elijah]: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16Also, you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
3. Kings, Saul:
(1 Samuel 15:1) (NKJV) Samuel also said to Saul, "ETERNAL sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the ETERNAL".
Kings, David:
(2 Samuel 12:7) (NKJV) Then Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus says the ETERNAL SOVEREIGN of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul'.
Kings, Solomon:
(1 Kings 1:45-46) (NKJV) 45So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard. 46Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
Kings were "anointed" and remember the Hebrew for anointing is "ma-shahh' (maw-shakh') from which the word ma-shi'ahh ('Mashiach or Messiah') comes". When an anointed individual is referred to, the word "ma-shi'ahh (Mashiach) is used, which is translated into English as "Messiah". Since the word Mashiach simply means anointed, then kings, priests, and prophets can all be called Mashiach (Messiahs). The ETERNAL watches over His Mashiachs (Messiahs):
(1 Chronicles 16:21-22) (NKJV) 21He permitted no man to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, 22Saying, Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.
He permitted no man to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones (My Mashiachs), And do My prophets no harm".
An interesting occurrence appears in the thirty-eight verses containing the Hebrew word [ma•she'•akh Strong's #H4899] in which various offices are referred to:
In general: priests 5 times, kings 6 times, prophets 2 times and all offices together 1 time.
A single king is referred to by office several times: Saul 8 times and David 10 times. Saul is never referred to as Mashiach by name, but his shield is referred to 1 time.
There are two kings referred to as Mashiach specifically by name: Cyrus 1 time and David 4 times. In 7 of the verses referring to David, he is speaking and referring to himself, so in actuality David is named as Mashiach 11 times.
Thus, it becomes obvious whom Scripture names as the Mashiach and this person is King David, for example:
(2 Samuel 23:1-5) (NKJV) 1Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the SOVEREIGN of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2The Spirit of the ETERNAL spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 3The SOVEREIGN of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of the ETERNAL. 4And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain. 5Although my house is not so with the ETERNAL, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase?
Unger's Dictionary adds: The anointing with oil was a symbol of endowment with the Spirit of YHWH.
(1 Samuel 16:13) (NKJV) Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him [David] in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the ETERNAL came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
If I were to tell you "my sister is president of her Homemakers Club, my father is president of his civic club, and my brother is president of his hunting club". Then I say, "The President is coming to town". You know immediately I am not speaking of any of my relatives; but I am speaking of President Bush. In addition you do not believe that George W. Bush is President of the United States, you know that his is.
No one in the Hebrew Scriptures is called "HaMashiach" or "The Mashiach". From the number of times King David is called "Mashiach" or "Anointed" you can be sure of that fact, however the ETERNAL has said that in the future, King David will 'branch out' or 'will flourish' [be resurrected], to build the third temple, take his place on the royal throne, and rule the ETERNAL's people [Israel] for all eternity as their king. So it becomes apparent, only then will there be a true "HaMashiach" or "The Mashiach"[3]. You can know that and not just believe it:
(Zechariah 6:12-13) (ESV) 12And say to him [Joshua], Thus says the the ETERNAL of hosts, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch [David]: for he [David] shall branch out from his place [be resurrected], and he [David] shall build the temple of the ETERNAL. 13It is he [David] who shall build the temple of the ETERNAL and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
(Zechariah 6:12-13) (GNT) 12Tell him [Joshua] that the ETERNAL Almighty says, The man who is called The Branch [David] will flourish [be resurrected] where he [David] is and rebuild the ETERNAL's Temple. 13He [David] is the one who will build it and receive the honor due a king, and he [David] will rule his people. A priest will stand by his throne, and they will work together in peace and harmony.
(Zechariah 6:12-13) (NRSV) 12say to him [Joshua]: Thus says the ETERNAL of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Branch [David]: for he [David] shall branch out [be resurrected] in his [David'S] place, and he [David] shall build the temple of the ETERNAL. 13It is he [David] that shall build the temple of the ETERNAL; he [David] shall bear royal honor, and shall sit upon his [David'S] throne and rule. There shall be a priest by his throne, with peaceful understanding between the two of them.
Moreover, Psalms states this point even more clearly:
(Psalms 89:20-28) (NRSV) 20I have found My servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him; 21my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him. 22The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him. 23I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. 24My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted. 25I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. 26He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my CREATOR, and the Rock of my salvation!' 27I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm.
So, despite the false testimony of the so-called [New Testament]™ book of deception, there is no firstborn 'son-of-god' who is the alleged 'king of kings'. Not only does the ETERNAL name who the 'king of kings' is by name, we can also clearly see that this is an event that is for a time in the future.
As a point of fact: Only in the future will [The Mashiach/Messiah] (King David) when he comes, enter into the inheritance of "sonship" of the ETERNAL, a position he will share with all of the ETERNAL's chosen servants. In other words, it hasn't happened yet, despite the so-called [New Testament]™ insistence to the contrary!
Duties of the Anointed.
We will now look at the duties and responsibilities of the classes of officials who were "anointed" or "ma-shahh'" (maw-shakh') into their office.
A King. The English word "king" comes from the Hebrew word "melek" (Strong's #H4428 meh'-lek) and it comes from the Hebrew word "malak" (Strong's #H4427 maw-lak') and means " a king, to reign; to ascend the throne; to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel.
Webster's Dictionary: "a male ruler of a nation or state usually called a kingdom; male sovereign, limited or absolute; a monarch.
American Heritage Dictionary (AHD) states that a monarch is: "One who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right, especially: a. A sole and absolute ruler; a sovereign, such as a king.
A Priest. The English word "priest" comes from the Hebrew word "kohen" (Strong's #H3548 ko-hane') and it comes from the Hebrew word "kahan" (Strong's #H3547 kaw-han') and means "literally one officiating, to mediate in religious services; to officiate as a priest; figuratively to put on regalia of a priest".
AHD states: "A person having the authority to perform and administer religious rites; and Webster's adds: "a person whose function is to make sacrificial offerings and perform other religious rites"
A Prophet. The English word "prophet" comes from the Hebrew word "nabiy'" (Strong's #H5030 naw-bee') and it comes from the Hebrew word "naba'" (Strong's #H5012 naw-baw') and means "a prophet or generally an inspired man; to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse).
AHD states: "A person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of a 'g-d' is expressed. A person gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression. A person who foretells future events by (or as if by) supernatural means.[4]
Webster states: "A prophet is person who speaks for 'G-d' (or a 'god'), or (as though) under divine guidance. A religious teacher or leader regarded as, or claiming to be, divinely inspired. A person who predicts future events in any way.
A Savior.
Starting with meaning of the English word "savior", it comes from the Hebrew word "yasha'" (Strong's #H3468 / #H3467 yaw-shah') and it is "a primary root meaning to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causative to free or succor.* The King James' translators also translated it as avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.
*Succor (AHD): to give assistance to in time of want, difficulty, or distress.
Here are the dictionary definitions:
AHD states: "A person who rescues another from harm, danger, or loss".
Webster's gives the same definition "A person who saves" 'see save'.
Webster also states the theological definition of 'save' is: 'to bring about deliverance from sin and its penalties'.
AHD "Etymology: The origin and historical development of a linguistic form as shown by determining its basic elements, earliest known use, and changes in form and meaning, tracing its transmission from one language to another, identifying its cognates in other languages, and reconstructing its ancestral form where possible".
First, notice that the position of "Savior" is not an appointed office, in that someone is "anointed" into that appointment. The offices of kings, priests, and prophets were appointed by and ordained by the ETERNAL CREATOR Himself. These are jobs that human beings held in the past and will hold in the future. Remember that the English word "anointed" is translated from the Hebrew word "mashiach".
We have seen that "HaMashiach" or "The Mashiach" will be the ancient psalmist, King David. He will be resurrected to fill the office of "mashiach". But note; he is not "a savior", and especially not "The Savior". He was a physical human being that will be resurrected to fulfill that office. The same goes for the Prophet Elijah who will be resurrected as a prophet and priest. Appointed offices staffed by human beings anciently did worship "The Savior" Yahweh, The Mighty One of Israel. In addition, after they have been resurrected they will again worship the ETERNAL, "The Savior" in the future.
The Question Then Is, Who Is "The Savior"?
To answer that question, let us first ask, and answer another question, Who is sin against? King David can answer that:
(Psalms 51:1-4) (NKJV) 1Have mercy upon me, O ETERNAL SOVEREIGN, According to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight; that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.
Only the one that is sinned against can forgive the sin. For example if Joe steals Bob's dog, then Jack can not forgive the sin by Joe, against Bob. Only Bob can forgive Joe for stealing his dog. Likewise, sins against the ETERNAL SOVEREIGN can only be forgiven by the ETERNAL Himself.
Do you see a pattern emerging? Our sin of disobedience by breaking the law of the ETERNAL His [Commandments, Ordinances, Statutes, and Laws], is only against our CREATOR. In addition, He is the one who forgives, washes, and makes clean. It is not the false idol on a cross who does the forgiving, as the church in Rome and her proselytising daughters would have you believe.[5] Is any sin to great for the ETERNAL to forgive? We will let Him answer that:
(Isaiah 1:18-20) (NKJV) 18Come now, and let us reason together, says the ETERNAL, Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the ETERNAL has spoken.
To get into the question further, notice what Unger's Bible Dictionary states for Savior:
1. Names: In the Old Testament Savior is usually some derivative of the verb [yasha Strong's #H3467], to save.
2. Person: The title "Savior" is applied to [YHWH/Yahweh] in the Old Testament:
(Isaiah 43:3) (LEB) For I am Yahweh, your SOVEREIGN, the holy one of Israel, your savior. I give you Egypt as ransom, Cush and Seba in place of you.
(Isaiah 43:11) (NOG) I alone am Yahweh, and there is no savior except me.
(Isaiah 45:21) (WEB) Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven't I, Yahweh? There is no other SOVEREIGN besides me, a just SOVEREIGN and a Savior; There is no one besides me.
(Isaiah 49:26) (NOG) I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they will become drunk on their own blood as though it were new wine. Then all humanity will know that I am Yahweh, who saves you, the Mighty One of Jacob, who reclaims you.
(Isaiah 60:16) (LEB) And you shall suck the milk of nations, and suck the breast of kings, and you shall know that I am Yahweh your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Strong One of Jacob.
(Obadiah 1:21) (LEB) And those who have been saved will go up on Mount Zion to rule the mountain of Esau. And the kingdom will belong to Yahweh.
As you just read with your own eyes, there is a savior, HOWEVER, it is not a man from Galilee. It is "The ETERNAL CREATOR and SOVEREIGN of the universe", "The Mighty One of Israel". There is no savior except "The ETERNAL; The Mighty One of Israel". The confusion comes from a counterfeit 'man-god' savior mythology, originating out of the equally counterfit [New Testament]™ book of deception.
You can see how the 'Council of Nicaea' has deceived you, with the [New Testament]™ lie, that the self-proclaimed 'son of god', is the so-called 'Savior'. Also, please see: "Quest For The Messiah", and "New Testament Credibility".
Notice what the prophet Zephaniah, states:
(Zephaniah 3:15-17) (WEB) 15Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you. You will not be afraid of evil any more. 16In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, Don't be afraid, Zion. Don't let your hands be weak. 17Yahweh, your SOVEREIGN, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
We have seen that King David when resurrected, as "HaMashiach/The Messiah" will worship the Savior. In addition, the Prophet will also worship the Savior. The next statement, if you understand it, will ring clear as a bell:
In the later days, from the time of the third Temple, "HaMashiach/The Messiah" [King David], will worship the true "Savior" YHWH, the ETERNAL SOVEREIGN, the Mighty One of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Footnotes:
[1] All scriptural links point to the Bible Gateway, A Searchable Online Bible In Over 100 Versions And 50 Languages, located at "BibleGateway.Com", a vast biblical resource containing all the major texts and reference materials useful for in-depth bible studies. Most scriptual quotations are from the (KJV) of the Bible, however versions noted in (parentheses) should also be consulted.
[2] All Strong's scriptural references point to the Blue Letter Bible Lexicon, located at "BlueLetterBible.Org", another vast biblical resource which has over 4,000,000 links available, pointing to more than 165,000 pages of concordances, lexicons, dictionaries, commentaries, images, and several Bible versions.
[3] See the essay: "Quest For The Messiah", for an in-depth study on "The Mashiach".
[4] There are so many charlatans in the world, it has demeaned what the true meaning of a prophet really is.
[5] See the article: "Are We Saved By Grace?", for an in-depth study on the church in Rome and her proselytising daughters and their "False Idol" vs the ETERNAL.