Gods Sabbath

C HRIST T HE G REAT C ONNECTOR

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el.... the sign which he had desired was given: with the staff in His hand, the Angel touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and a flame bursting from the rock consumed the sacrifice. Then the Angel vanished from his sight.” Patriarchs and Prophets , 547.2. Manoah and his wife It was the same Angel, Jesus Christ, who appeared to Sam son’s parents. “The angel of the L ORD appeared to her and said, ‘You are ster ile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son.’” Judges 13:3. As with Gideon, a communication began between the heaven ly Visitor and the parents (see verses 9–14). Once again the same test was applied and accepted. When the Angel disap peared in the fire, Manoah and his wife knew for certain that it had been the Covenant Angel. “The angel of the L ORD replied, ‘Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the L ORD .’ (Manoah did not realize that it was the an gel of the L ORD .) Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the L ORD , ‘What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?’ He replied, ‘Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.’ Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the L ORD . And the L ORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the L ORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. When the angel of the L ORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Mano ah realized that it was the angel of the L ORD .” Judges 13:16–21. “Manoah and his wife knew not that the One thus addressing them was Jesus Christ,” until the same fiery sign that had been given to Gideon was given to them. Then, “They knew that they had looked upon the Holy One, who, veiling His glory in the cloudy pillar, had been the Guide and Helper of Israel in the desert.” S . D . A . Bible Commentary 2:1006.1, 3. There are many more instances where Christ appeared to hu man beings as an Angel. This does not mean that Christ trans formed Himself into an angel, for He was already both God and