"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deut. 29:29).
Notice that whether or not a mystery of God is revealed, the divine purpose is not for the satisfaction of our curiosity, but for power to obey God. And, likwise the question of what the Spirit is, is not revealed simply to satisfy our fleshly pride to know more than someone else, but to keep us from falling into worshipping a creation instead of the Creator.
Normally, the effort to expose the Trinity delusion comes in the form of saying that we aren't explaining what the Spirit is, but who the Spirit is. And that is essentially my effort in this post. But we have been given a few clues from scripture that actually say something about what the Spirit is. But, again, the divine purpose is still to identify who the Spirit is.
In past posts I have likened the Spirit to radio waves that are collected by an antenna and processed through a radio. In order to hear a radio signal that otherwise is inaudible, the radio power supply creates a voltage from 115 volts, 60 hertz, then combines the radio signal, through a transistor, to the destructive 115 volt current. The transistor steps down the destructive voltage while keeping a perfect copy of the radio wave. Thus, a signal in the radio is created identical to the broadcasted signal, a previously inaudible signal that now can vibrate speakers. And so the human ear is able to listen to the person speaking in a studio. And the radio can rightly claim that the voice it decries is from the man in the studio, when technically, it is the electronic emission of the radio speakers.
I compared this earthly form of communication to the spiritual communication that comes from our Father in heaven. The Spirit of God is His powerful, creative, and recreative mind.
The Spirit can be called a "He", not because it is a separate person from God, i.e. a third person Holy Ghost, but because it represents its source, God. The Spirit can be called "holy", because God is holy and the source of all holiness. The Spirit can also be capitalized, as is our modern convention, to give It special honor, because God is due our special honor and glory. But the personal, capitalized pronoun, "He", should not presume that the Spirit is a person, not a counselor to pray to, not a deity to sing to, or an object of worship. The Spirit is not a being any more than the radio signal or radio speakers are the person in the studio. He is not a member of the Father and Son Godhead any more than is the voice coming from your phone the person you are talking to, as much as the electronic transmission sure sounds like the person.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." (Acts 17:30).
But what does scripture give us to understand the mysterious divine transmissions from God? What is it? And, may we be so bold to ask, How does it work? Perhaps, we have been given clues for understanding this gracious work of God.
Look at the prophets Daniel and John. When Christ revealed Himself to Daniel, who else was present? An angel who was the highest ranking of the heavenly hosts. "I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince." (Dan. 10:21).
Who was this messenger from the courts of God?
"Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding." (Dan. 9:21, 22).
In chapter 10 Gabriel was sent to explain his recent visit to Daniel in chapter 9. And that visit was to finish explaining a vision that Daniel had received years before that in chapter 8.
"And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be." (Dan. 8:15-19).
At each angelic visit Daniel was incapacitated by the power that Christ had vested in His highest ministering spirit, who came to minister the gift of prophecy from Jesus to the humble servant of God.
At the sight of Christ the same incapacitation happened to John in Revelation 1:10-20. Was Gabriel present then also? Yes, he was.
"The Revelation of (from) Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." (Rev. 1:1,2).
Thus, we can say that Gabriel, a link in the chain of divine inspiration, was instrumental in the process of revelation. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy (Spirit)." (2Pet. 1:21). This truth from Peter doesn't contradict his earlier statement, but only sheds light on who the Spirit is. It's Jesus!
"Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." (1Pet.1:10,11).
This tells us that Christ is the Holy Spirit, not Gabriel. The Spirit comes from the Father to His Son to His highest angel. It also shows that Gabriel was/is invested with special power from the Son of God, which left the prophets prostrated.
But, when John fell down to worship Gabriel, he gently but firmly rebuked John. We should learn from that experience not to pray or to worship the Spirit. It's the direct influence of angelic joy that thrills through us when truth and grace are revealed to our minds. Therefore the Spirit involves a created beings, Gabriel and his hosts, which Daniel spoke to in Daniel 8:13. They are "fellowheirs" with us in the hope of God's restored kingdom.
"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God." (Rev. 19:10).
Later, upon seeing the victory of Christ and His Father over the dragon (Satan) and the new heaven and Earth kingdom, John again fell down before the spirit of prophecy in euphoric relief. "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Gabriel has great power. He left Zacharias mute for nine months. He also revealed his high authority to correct sin after the rare appearance of divine glory, and the abundance of precious promises that should have thrilled the priest's soul. Thus Gabriel unveiled his high position.
"And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season." (Luke 1:19,20).
Zacharias' should have been Mairiam's response of perfect faith, and his receiving the gift of heavenly joy, new life and youth, and renewed grace.
"Happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you." (1Pet. 4:14). "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." ( 1 Pet. 3:8,9).
The angelic spirits bring into the hearts of trusting humanity the light and power of heaven. They had unlimited access to Christ during His earthly sojourn. "...believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1:50,51). "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." (John 3:34). Even Jesus' communion, like ours, came through the medium of heavenly agencies. They are vested with the uncanny ability to simulate the very presence of God.
"The words of the angel, 'I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God,' show that he holds a position of high honor in the heavenly courts. When he came with a message to Daniel, he said, 'There is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael [Christ] your Prince.' Daniel 10:21. Of Gabriel the Saviour speaks in the Revelation, saying that 'He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.' Revelation 1:1. And to John the angel declared, 'I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets.' Revelation 22:9. R. V. Wonderful thought—that the angel who stands next in honor to the Son of God is the one chosen to open the purposes of God to sinful men." Desire of Ages, p. 99.
