Who are the "gods"?

"Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’?  If he called them ‘gods,’ toward whom the word of God came (Jude 1:3; Matt.25:14; 13:11; 11:25,27; 16:17;  1Cor. 4:1,2; 2:10;  1Pet. 1:12,25; Eph.3:10; Isa.53:1; Amos 3:7; Gal.1:11,12; John 3:11) —and Scripture cannot be set aside—  what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? (John 1:14,9; 18:37; 7:16; 12:49) Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?" (John 10:34-36) 
(See footnote at end of post)

There we learn that the Bible refers to those who receive the Word of God, as "gods".

Jesus spoke of them when he said,
"For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me." (John 17:8)

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:63,58)

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna." (Rev.2:17 A)

Yes, those to whom Christ gives hidden manna, take in the power of eternal life, through the spirit and it's seed placed within them (1Pet. 1:23; Rom.8:9). It then dwells within them (Luke 8:8,15). They have authority to give it to yet others who receive them. They become "messengers" (Greek: "angels") of heavenly bread (Mal.2:7; 1Cor.4:1) (John 6:51,55;  1Cor. 12:27; 10:17; John 1:51) and of living water (John 7:38; Rev.22:17,1,2; Jer.17:7,8; Ps.1:3; Prov.11:28; Isa.61:3; Eze.47:12; John 15:16,8; 14:12,13; Gen.22:15,18; Gal.3:29) (John 7:38; Luke 6:45,44; Matt.7:20).
Possessing the power to impart eternal life...."gods", indeed!

The Bible tells us more about who these "gods" are, 
at Psalm 82:6...
"I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High."
(see Gal.3:26) So, these "gods" have taken in the incorruptible seed of Almighty God, becoming reborn as His Sons...

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." (1Pet. 1:23).

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (James 1:18)

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Eph.1:13)

"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God." (1John 3:9)
(Matt.5:48; Eph.5:1; Phil.2:15; Dan.12:3)
Yes, "born of God"...God's Sons.
"So in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal.3:26,27,29)

The sons of God ("gods") inherit the promises given to Abraham. What promises are these?
"I will make you very fruitful (John 15:8) I will make nations of you (Rev.5:9,10), and kings will come from you (Rev.20:4; 1:5; 3:21; 19:16,15; 2:26,27)".
“Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels (lit."messengers") of God were ascending and descending on it (Eph.2:6). There above it stood the Lord, and he said: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying....
(Gal.3:29; Gen.17:6; Ps.37:29; Heb.2:5,16; Gal.3:29; Heb.11:8,9,10; 13:14; Rev.21:2; Heb.12:22,23; Luke 10:20). 
....Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring (Rev.22:2). I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go (Matt.28:20), and I will bring you back to this land (Rev.21:7). 
I will not leave you (John 14:18) until I have done what I have promised you (John 16:22; Matt.24:34; 28:20 B). 
Jacob was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place (Heb.12:22,23,28)! This is none other than the house of God (1Cor. 3:9,16; Isa.56:7; Eph.2:19,10); this is the gate of heaven (Rev.11:6; Matt.16:19; Rev.3:12; John 10:9;  2Cor. 5:20) (Gen.28:12-13,14-15,17)." 

"Jesus added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open (Luke 24:32,45; Rev.2:17; Matt.13:11; Rev.4:1; 1:1) 
(John 3:12;  1Cor. 2:12,13; Col.3:2), and the angels of God ascending and descending (Heb.12:22; Eph.2:6; Rev.3:21) "on* (Greek--*"in service to") the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)

The "angels" (Lit. Greek, "messengers" -- Isa.43:10,21;  1Pet. 2:9; Mal.2:7; Acts 1:8) referred to here, could not have served before the time of Christ (John 3:13)
Jesus specifically said that they are in service on "the Son of Man" (1Cor. 4:1). 
The "Son of Man" is Jesus in the flesh (John 1:14). Therefore, these angels serve Christ (Col.3:24), after his coming down from heaven (John 3:13; 6:38,33-35).
To be a messenger of Christ (an "ambassador") who harbors God's spirit of life within...
who has been made new (Rom.12:2; 8:11) as a part of God's new creation (2Cor. 5:17) by means of incorruptible seed, the Word of God (1Pet.1:23; Luke 8:11; James 1:18)...
...who has been reborn as spirit, as a Son of the Most High (John 3:3,5; Rom.8:9,16,17,19,28,29,30)...
...who has been made a immovable pillar in the eternal heavenly Temple of God (Rev.3:12; Prov.9:1; Jer.1:18)...
...is a "god" (Ps.82:6; Rom.8:14;  1Cor. 8:5).

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2Pet. 1:3,4)

24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth." (Eph.4)

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2Cor. 3:18)

"2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1John 3:2)

Knowing these things (about the identity of the "gods")
helps us to interpret prophecy accurately, such as 2Thess. 2:4....

"He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called god or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple (1Cor. 3:16; Eph.2:20,21;  1Pet. 2:5), proclaiming himself to be God**."

Although we were taught while within the "Watchtower", that this "man of lawlessness" (2Thess. 2:3,4) pertains to "Christendom";
We now see that this is an identity that actually comes to dominate the authentic anointed.... the genuine priests of "God's temple" (1Cor. 3:16; Rev.5:10).
This is in harmony with so many scriptures that speak about the final condition of the anointed while being trampled by Gentiles ("man of lawlessness")
(Luke 21:24; Rev.13:10,7; Isa.5:5; 63:18; Dan.8:13; Rev.11:2).

This interpretation is also in harmony with the following prophecies.....

"You said in your heart,
    “I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
    above the stars of God (Dan.12:3; Phil.2:15; Rev.1:20);
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly (Heb.12:22,23; Rev.14:1),
    on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. ("Baal-zephon")(Zech.4:7; Rev.8:8)
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds (Mark 14:62; Matt.25:31; Jude 1:14);
    I will make myself like the Most High**.” (Isa.14:13,14)

“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place." (Dan.11:36)

"He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands (Rev.13:7,10; Col.2:8; Luke 21:24; Rev.12:14) for a time, times and half a time." (Dan.7:25)

"It opened its mouth to blaspheme God**, and to slander his name and his dwelling place (Rev.21:2-3) and those who live in heaven. (Heb.12:22-23; Eph.2:6)" (Rev.13:6)


We are now enabled to discern the true condition of God's present people, despite the "Watchtower's" false claim of peace and security with God (1Thess. 5:3).
- - - - - - - 
footnote:
John 10:35 reads;
"If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came", 
yet the "Watchtower" has translated this as saying;
"If he called 'gods' against whom the word of God came".
    Obviously, these two interpretations have opposite meanings.
I offer for your consideration, the Greek word "pros", which is translated and interpreted by myself as meaning a "delivering" of God's Word to the 'gods'.
The "Watchtower" Bible has translated the meaning as "against", as if these 'gods' stand condemned by God's Word. Yet the "Watchtower's" own Greek interlinear does not contain that in the Greek writing.

Here is what can be found at: http://biblehub.com/greek/4314.htm
4314 prós (a preposition) – properly, motion towards to "interface with" (literally, moving toward a goal or destination).

4314 /prós ("towards, with") indicates "extension toward a goal, with implied interaction or reciprocity (L & N, 1, 84.18), with "presumed contact and reaction" (L & N, 1, 84.23). 4314 (prós) naturally suggests the cycle of initiation and response (L-N, 1,90.25, 90.33).

[4314 (prós) can mean "in view of," or "in light of, but never "against," 

except where the context specifically indicates an active exchange (interface) done in opposition.]

- - - - - - -
LINK TO DIRECTORY OF ARTICLES
LINK TO MAIN HOME-PAGE
LINK TO FORUM

https://translate.google.com/ 
(For making and reading comments in language other than English)