Wrestling with God: Turning From Jacob to Israel in Your Pineal

There is a famous story in the bible of Jacob wrestling with a “man” where Jacob received a new “name” and calls the place Penuel which means “face of God.” Because of this name, “Face of God,” it’s assumed the “man” who Jacob was wrestling with was an angel of the LORD (AKA angel of YHWH).

Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” And he said, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” 27 And he said unto him, “What is thy name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 And he said, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, “Tell me, I pray thee, thy name?” And he said, “Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

Is This Wrestling Match Literal?

According to Genesis 32:33 the Israelites don’t eat the sinew of the thigh because of this event.

Genesis 32:33 Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the thigh-vein which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh, even in the sinew of the thigh-vein.

But does that mean it really happened? People do make up fictional holidays and celebrate them, so it’s not like a fictional story or parable couldn’t have a real-life celebration or result in behavioral changes.

Rachel’s Wrestling Match

In Genesis 30 Rachel breaks one of the 10 commandments, and covets her sister’s ability to have children. Rather than realizing she’s upset with God, she takes her anger out on her husband, who reflects back to her that it’s not his fault she’s not getting pregnant.

Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, and if not I will die. 2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, “Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?” 3 And she said, “Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.” 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, “God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.” 7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, “With God-wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed:” and she called his name Naphtali.

Did Rachel have a physical wrestling match with her sister? No, and what’s interesting is her wrestling with her sister is described as elohim wrestling (God-wrestling usually translated as mighty wrestling). Also, the name she gives her son, Naphtali, means “My wrestling,” and the word used for prevail here, Strong’s 3201 yakol, was also used of Jacob’s wrestling match the same as Rachel’s. Although Rachael had a wrestling match and prevailed before Jacob did.

So, if Rachel’s wrestling was a God-wrestling and she prevailed and Jacob’s was a god-wrestling and he prevailed, and they’re both within 2 chapters of each other in Genesis, it seems unlikely that one was figurative and one was literal.

The Early Followers of Jesus’ (Yehoshua)’s View

The early followers of Jesus (Yehoshua) were often referred to as the Essenes or Ebionites. The early followers didn’t believe that YHWH would use people as prophets, saviors, leaders, if they weren’t “holy” (set-apart from the world/sin), so they didn’t believe that these men were sinners.

From the Clementine Homilies Chapter LII. Sins of the Holy Ones Denied.

Then Kefa (Apostle Peter) answered: “With good reason, I neither believe anything against Elohim, nor against the just men recorded in the Torah, taking for granted that such are impious imaginations. For I am persuaded that Adam was neither a transgressor (he who was fashioned by the hands of Elohim), nor was Noah drunken, who was found righteous above all the world; nor did Avraham (Abraham) live with three wives at once, who, on account of his sobriety, was thought worthy of numerous posterity; nor did Yaakov (Jacob) associate with four, of whom two were sisters, who was the father of the twelve tribes, and who was suggestive of our Master’s presence; nor was Moses a murderer, nor did he learn to judge from an idolatrous priest: he who set forth the Torah of Elohim to all the world, and for his right judgment has been accounted a faithful steward.”

What matters here is not whether or not that’s true, but that there was a group of early Hebrew Christians who basically implied these were stories. Some people may suggest they were stories made up by sinners who wanted to not feel bad because they weren’t living up to the holiness of these anointed ones, but it seems more likely they were implying that these were parables and not to be taken literally.

Figurative God-Wrestling

Rachel

As stated above, Rachel claimed to have wrestled with her sister and we know she didn’t literally wrestle with her sister, so what did she mean? She wrestled with jealousy. She wanted to be able to have a child and was envious of her sister’s ability to have children. Her husband said her issue was with God, not him. She decided to take matters into her own hands and have a child through her hand-maid. Once her maid conceived and gave birth, she decided that God was with her (in plan and purpose) and named “her” first child Dan, which means “he has judged me.” The idea is that she acted and God deliberated and ruled on whether or not she deserved a child. She believed, at the birth of Dan, that God gave her a favorable decision when He judged her.

Was it a favorable decision? She didn’t have a child herself, but another woman had a child. A favorable decision would have been for her to get pregnant herself, right?

Regardless of whether or not this was a favorable decision, Rachel thought it was and her maid conceived and Rachel received another child, who she named Naphtali, which means “My wrestling.” The “wrestling” part may also refer to “twisting” or “struggles” or “fights” and according to Brown-Driver-Briggs, may have referred to “crafty, cunning one.” You can get the sense of the serpent from the garden of Eden who was cunning and tried to twist the meaning of what God had ordered Adam. Even the idea of a snake brings to mind the idea of the twists and turns it makes.

We don’t know what Rachel went through, but a possible scenario is that she struggled with her jealousy. Ha satan (the adversary) is described figuratively as a serpent. We’re told to resist the devil and he will flee, so we resist the temptation to fall into sin. Rachel fell into sin being envious of her sister’s ability to conceive. She struggled with the “devil” or “serpent” in her mind.

Numbers 21:4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6 Then YHWH sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against YHWH and against you. Pray that YHWH will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 YHWH said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

The image of wilderness brings to mind the idea of barrenness. Rachel was barren, she couldn’t conceive, she was in the wilderness, so to speak. She cried to her husband, “Give me children, and if not I will die.” You can see the correlation between her whining about dying (while barren) to the Israelites whining about dying in the wilderness. Then YHWH sent serpents which killed the Israelites.

The Law of Attraction and Ungratefulness

I don’t think YHWH just “got upset and sent serpents” but rather, this world is created through the “Word of God” and the consequences for breaking the commandments is built into the programing, or “laws of nature.” So when people are ungrateful and complain, immediately they’re met with something negative. This could be what people refer to as the “Law of Attraction” attracting like negative vibrations. According to the early followers of Jesus (Yehoshua), they didn’t believe just one man or woman sinned, but that mankind, in general, sinned, and the start of that was their ungratefulness.

“But they, because they had at first no experience of evils, being insensible to the gift of good things, were turned to ingratitude by abundance of food and luxuries, so that they even thought that there is no Providence [they thought there was no creator like atheists], since they had not by previous labour got good things as the reward of righteousness, inasmuch as no one of them had fallen into any suffering or disease, or any other necessity; so that, as is usual for men afflicted on account of wicked transgression, they should look about for the God who is able to heal them. But immediately after their despite, which proceeded from fearlessness and secure luxury, a certain just punishment met them, as following from a certain arranged harmony, removing from them good things as having hurt them, and introducing evil things instead, as advantageous.” Clementine Homilies 8 Chapter XI. Cause of the Fall of Man

So the “laws of nature” would be the “certain arranged harmony” that once your vibration lowers you attract lower vibrations. If you complain you’ll attract things to complain about, etc. So when you’re ungrateful your vibration lowers. This is why a lot of “law of attraction” teachers speak about being thankful.

Being Ungrateful Leads To Serpents

Back to Rachel and the Israelites complaining in the desert. Both of them complained about being barren (or in the wilderness), both of them said they would die (because of this condition), and both of them were very ungrateful., which is why they were complaining in the first place. Then came serpents.

If we take the serpents as figurative temptations that lead to sin (the wages of sin is death), we see another correlation between this incident in the wilderness and Rachel. Rachel was upset at her bareness, and then she sinned in her envy of her sister.

In the incident in the wilderness, Moses lifted up a pole with another serpent and everyone who had faith would live. This is where the stories may differ.

Rachel should have had faith that she would conceive a child, but, instead, she asks for another woman to bear a child for her. She takes this pregnancy as a sign that YHWH was with her. But that is debatable. Either way, we have to go with her opinion of how things worked out.

She said she had god-strugglings with her sister. Her struggle was her jealousy. She did get over her jealousy and figured out how to get children for her family name. So she believed she won her wrestling match with her sister. She overcame her struggle with envy.

Jacob

Jacob wrestled the night before meeting his brother Esau after a long time, so, to understand his story we have to go back to the reason he was upset. In Genesis 27, his mother told him to deceive his father to steal his brother’s inheritance.

Genesis 27:6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before YHWH before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah, his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

His mother told him she would take the curse, but she can’t do that.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

According to the Seven Essene Mirrors, his action of deceiving his Father (which led to his brother losing the inheritance that was rightfully his) led to Jacob being deceived by his Father-in-law and losing the inheritance (wife) that was rightfully his. Jacob made a deal to work seven years for Rachel, but ended up being tricked into marrying her sister, and having to work another seven years for Rachel.

But besides reaping what he had sown for it, he had upset his brother. His brother was rightfully upset and made an allusion to Jacob’s name after hearing of this trickery.

Genesis 27:34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, “Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?”

The name Jacob means “supplanter” or “heel-grabber.” Esau was the first born, and Jacob grabbed his heel. The idea of a supplanter is someone who tries to take the place of another, usually by unfair or nefarious means. Check out the article “The Cursed Serpent & Kundalini Serpent That Moses Held Up” and “Is The God Of This World An Egregore?” for more information, but the serpent was upright in the beginning. It seems to signify the Holy Spirit. But then people became ungrateful, and were led to lower vibrations, and the serpent was cursed to slither on the ground and “eat dust” signifying death.

When people are ungrateful, the “serpent seed” (Anti-Christ Spirit) creeps in, like a supplanter, trying to take over “God’s seed” (Holy Spirit). Jacob bore this name (and character of behavior) for many  years.

Jacob Sees the Stairway to Heaven In a Dream

Before getting into his wrestling match and name change, let’s also remember that Jacob had a dream in which he saw YHWH at a specific place and changed the name of that location.

Genesis 28:10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, YHWH stood above it, and said, I am YHWH God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely YHWH is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel (which means House of God): but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall YHWH be my God

From there he meets Rachel, and goes through working 14 years to get married to her, reaping what he sowed when he tricked his father. After he’s been faithful for so many years, he starts to get blessed and his father-in-law is not pleased. Jacob has another dream and decides to go back home.

Genesis 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. 11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, “Jacob:” And I said, “Here am I.” 12 And he said, “Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.”

The reason angels of YHWH can speak for YHWH as if they are YHWH is due to Shaliah, the law of agency. The context of Jacob’s wrestling match that is coming up is that he first met YHWH in a dream in Bethel, then years later an angel referred to the same God and told him to go back home.

Jacob’s Return Home

Genesis 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is the camp of God and he called the name of that place Mahanaim (meaning 2 camps).

After the previous context, it should be fairly obvious that he met the angels of God in a dream and then changed the name of the place to Mahanaim. The writer probably thought it would be redundant by this point to share how Jacob met the angels. (Remember, the scriptures were written on a long scroll without any chapter or verse markings.)

Then we’re told he becomes afraid of his brother Esau, and prays again to the God of Bethel.

Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, YHWH which saidst unto me, ‘Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. 11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.”

In verse 13, we’re told he lodges there. Verse 21 says he spent the night there and it is ambiguous as to whether this is a new night, or if verses 13-20 was a dream letting him know what to do. In verse 22 he decides to send his family over in the middle of the night.

Genesis 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

Verses 31 and 32 make some people believe this was a literal wrestling match, but based on the context, it seems much more likely that Jacob had a dream. When he has dreams, he sees angels of YHWH and he wakes up and renames the place. Also note that in verse 24 Jacob was “alone” and “wrestled a man”. There is no way to be alone and wrestle a man unless you’re alone having a dream about wrestling a man.

Penuel means “face of God.” Jacob had no problem believing he’d seen YHWH in his dream at Bethel. He didn’t need to literally see an angel while awake to believe that.

The Symbolism of God-Wrestling

The idea that we have a spirit that is “standing up” originally is discussed in the article “The Cursed Serpent & Kundalini Serpent That Moses Held Up.” Through ungratefulness our spirit fell (or was cursed to the ground to “eat the dust”), but we are supposed to pick up our “cross” or “stake” and do what Jesus (Yehoshua) did and become the serpent on the pole that Moses held up so we can help save others.

This is an allegory for purifying ourselves and becoming like “gods.” We know Rachel was dealing with her envy over her sister being fertile, and she got that “straightened out” which is why she declared that she had “prevailed” in her god-wrestling with her sister. Jacob was dealing with fear concerning repercussions from his deceit concerning his brother’s blessing. At this point in his life, he probably realized that his being tricked into marrying the wrong sister was because he tricked his father into blessing the wrong son. He had begun to have a “fear of the LORD” so to speak. He feared the law of YHWH, and that is the beginning of wisdom. It’s not about literal fear but a reverence for the law of reaping what we sow. However YHWH is merciful, and we receive grace when we give it to others.

Jacob struggled with this “fear” of consequences. But he prevailed. He listened to YHWH and sent people ahead of him, and he prevailed.

Crossing the River

The River was named Jabbok. From Wikipedia:

The limping of Jacob (Yaʿaqob ), may mirror the name of the river, Jabbok (Yabbok יַבֹּק sounds like “crooked” river), and Nahmanides (Deut. 2:10 of Jeshurun) gives the etymology “one who walks crookedly” for the name Jacob.^[4]

As discussed earlier the idea of “wrestling” is shown in the image of a serpent who twists and turns. The river Jabbok is symbolism for the “crooked” nature Jacob had previously. Before Jacob could cross over the river, he needed to straighten himself out spiritually.

The term “Hebrew” means to “cross over.”

From Abraham the Hebrew:

The root of the Hebrew word for “Hebrew” (ivri) literally means “to cross over.” Why does the Torah give Abraham this name? One opinion is that he gained this name because in coming to Israel he left his birth place in Ur Kasdim and crossed over the Euphrates, a major geographical demarcation line in the ancient world. Thus he was known as one who had “crossed over.” In a more spiritual sense, the Midrash describes the entire world standing on one side while Abraham crossed the boundaries of accepted thought and action by choosing to believe in one God (Bereishit Rabbah 42:13). Undeterred by physical hardship or the emotional difficulty of standing alone, Abraham was unafraid of crossing both physical and spiritual borders. As mentioned in the previous section, God took this one step further by urging Abraham to go “outside,” leaving behind the strictures of the natural world altogether…

…The notion of crossing over becomes a recurrent metaphor throughout the spiritual career of Abraham and his descendants. It describes the physical act of “crossing over” and alludes to several deeper messages. When Abraham enters the Land of Israel, the Torah reports that “Abram crossed into the land of Canaan” (Genesis 12:6). Here, by using the verb “to cross,” the Torah alludes to the additional level of holiness in the Land of Israel. Just as crossing over the Euphrates symbolizes a major transition and the forging of a new path in life, crossing into Israel also indicates entering a new level of reality.

When God makes a covenant with Abraham to give him and his children the Land of Israel as an eternal inheritance, Abraham falls into a deep sleep or altered state of consciousness and experiences a torch of fire passing through two rows of animal carcasses (Genesis 15:1-21). Once again the root word “to cross” is used to describe Abraham entering into an entirely new relationship, a covenant, with God.

Later in Jewish history, the Israelites cross the Reed Sea in order to escape the pursuing Egyptians and leave slavery behind them forever. And forty years after this, the Israelites cross the Jordan in order to enter the Land of Israel. In both cases the Israelites could only attain new material and spiritual levels after crossing over a physical border.

The various usages of the root “to cross over” whether they be the command to Abraham to leave most of his old life behind him or the request that he go beyond or “outside” his preconceived understandings are, in fact, consistent with a certain message God wishes to impart to Abraham. Through the ten trials, Abraham is being taught that he must “cross over” certain emotional, psychological, or spiritual limitations and stretch himself in every manner possible in order to pass the tests.

Because the early followers rejected the idea of the blood sacrifices, the dream with the animal parts probably had more to do with the cutting off of the animalistic behaviors that gentiles did. Keeping the commandments is the mark that we are “mankind” made in the image of God, but sinning is the mark of the “beast.” When you sin you show the world you’re like an animal. So to go from being like an animal to being the image of God, we need to sacrifice our animalistic behaviors (fleshy desires). That’s not a physical sacrifice, it’s a spiritual sacrifice.

To “cross over” or to “become Hebrew” we spiritually sacrifice our animalistic behaviors, and come into covenant with God. The river being running water is a representation of crossing through the waters of baptism also.

Jacob wrestled with his past, but he prevailed and then he “crossed over” the “crooked” river to join his brother in a happy reunion, like the prodigal son returning.

Getting a New Name (Israel)

As discussed in the article “Coming in our Father’s Name, Praying & Baptizing in Jesus’s Name” the word “name” has many nuances. It meant a lot more then than it does today. It let people know other’s reputation, and what they were famous for. It was about their character. Jacob was known as the supplanter,  but after he struggled spiritually, and prevailed, he got called a new name, Israel.

Some say the word “Israel” means = Isis + Ra + El to say that the Jews worshiped pagan gods. The term “el” refers to “god” and the “isra” part is about the struggle. (If you think that “Is” + “Ra” is because of Isis and Amun Ra, then their names together mean “struggle” – we overcome that struggle of worshiping false gods, in order to worship the true God). The whole meaning of the word is to overcome or to prevail the struggle or wrestling with God’s help or to become like god because of the struggle.

From Wikipedia:

…from then on, Jacob would be called יִשְׂרָאֵל, Israel (Yisra`el, meaning “one that struggled with the divine angel” (Josephus), “one who has prevailed with God” (Rashi), “a man seeing God” (Whiston), “he will rule as God” (Strong), or “a prince with God” (Morris), from Hebrew: שרה‎, “prevail”, “have power as a prince”).

As discussed in the “Ye Are Gods” article, we are supposed to be little ‘g’ gods looking like our Father God. When we become like the serpent on the pole (empty ourselves of our animalistic behaviors), and do YHWH’s will, when people see us, they see the Father.  We will then “rule as God” for Him, because we don’t do our own will and do what YHWH tells us to do.

In Revelation, when we do this, we’re seated on the same throne (which means having the same authority) of YHWH.

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

We overcome by emptying ourselves of our animalistic behaviors, and by becoming the temple of the living God (YHWH). When we are “living stones” of the New Jerusalem and offer spiritual sacrifices, Jesus (Yehoshua) makes us pillars in his God’s temple. His God is the Father, and we get a new name, just like Jacob did. The name is written in our foreheads, as golems receive instructions there. In our case we’ve got the mark of God (the commandments) written on our foreheads.

Then, we have crossed over from slavery to sin into the promised land where we are “slaves to righteousness” doing our Father YHWH’s will rather than our own animalistic behaviors.

Pineal Gland

The word pineal comes from the Latin word pinea which means “pine tree,” this is because the shape of the pineal gland looks like a pine cone (source). In Hosea there is an instance where YHWH seems to be symbolized as a pine tree.

Hosea 14:4 I (YHWH) will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall flourish as the lily, and be firmly rooted like the trees of Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as the trees of Lebanon. 7 Those who live in his shadow will again raise grain and blossom like grapevines: They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon. 8 What has he to do any more with idols? I have afflicted him, and I will strengthen him: I am as a green cypress (pine) tree. From me is thy fruit found.

This passage has Israel (men) symbolized as the trees of Lebanon, and also has YHWH symbolized as a green pine tree. This is why some Christians use this passage to explain their use of an evergreen tree for Christmas.  Some Christians disagree with that being a justification, saying that YHWH compared Himself to an ox (Numbers 24:8) and wasn’t pleased with the worshiping of the golden calf. But the debate they have is about whether or not Christians are worshiping the tree, not whether or not YHWH compared Himself to the tree.

According to this article on Pubmed, the pineal organ of the Rana esculenta frog has rods and cones. These sensory cells pick up light. Our eyes use rods and cones to pick up light in order to see. And this frog also has rods and cones in the pineal organ in order to see. Our vision comes to us based on our perception of light. It is likely we have the same capability through the pineal gland. This is why the pineal gland is described as the “third eye,” because it has a perception of “light,” which leads to vision.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness”

From Wikipedia, “René Descartes believed the pineal gland to be the ‘principal seat of the soul‘. Academic philosophy among his contemporaries considered the pineal gland as a neuroanatomical structure without special metaphysical qualities; science studied it as one endocrine gland among many.”

The pineal gland has been called the “seat of the soul,” and the kingdom of heaven is inside of us. There are also some who say the ark of the covenant is in our brains. Christ was supposed to have been crucified in Golgatha which means “the place of the skull,” (Matthew 27:33).

Jesus (Yehoshua) said they were going to destroy his temple meaning his body (John 2:21) and we are also called temples of the living God (1 Corin. 3:16, 6:19, Romans 8:9). The sides of our skulls are also called “temples.”

Could it be that Matthew 6:19-23 is talking about our pineal gland where we’re storing up heavenly treasures? The light of the body is the eye that is single (verse 22). So if the pineal gland is between the temples in Golgatha (the skull) and that’s where the mercy seat is, then the light of God could appear above the mercy seat (perhaps in the pineal gland that can perceive “light”) and we can perceive Him there in our mind’s eye, the pineal gland.

YHWH referred to Himself as a pine tree (Hosea 14:8), and we are His children, with His seed inside (1 John 3:9). The seeds of a pine tree come from the pinecone, which is what the Pineal gland is named after.

Penuel which means “face of God” is where Jacob wrestled and received a new name.

Genesis 32:27 And he said unto him, “What is thy name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 And he said, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, “Tell me, I pray thee, thy name?” And he said, “Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

How did Jacob see God face-to face, when no one has ever seen God and lived? The same way Moses saw God face-to-face most likely. The phrase face-to-face is a Hebrew idiom meaning something like, “personally witnessed something divine” or “meet each other in battle.” Jacob was known as “supplanter” before his divine battle with this angel of YHWH.

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to attempted burglary, and the forceful, violent try to seize it.

We’re told that some people are trying to enter the kingdom of heaven (within) by trying to seize it, like a bounty/spoil that wasn’t supposed to be theirs. Jacob’s name shows the character of someone who is trying to lay siege to the kingdom of heaven and he succeeds in battle which is why his name/character gets turned into Israel, because he prevailed to enter the kingdom of heaven (inside) with God’s help. And he called that place Peniel. This seems to be related to the Pineal gland.

Another interesting fact about the pineal gland is that it produces melatonin. Melatonin helps to modulate your sleep and can give you more vivid dreams (this is not a suggestion to take it as a supplement, as it can cause crazy, weird, scary dreams also). But what’s going on there? You can see the post Are We Spirits in Heaven Playing Avatars On Earth? for more information, but the basic idea of the post is that we may be going back to God when we sleep here, and if so, our dreams may be a manifestation of what we see symbolically on our journey to heaven and back during the night.

If the pineal gland is actually regulating that, it makes sense how we can see God face-to-face in the place called “Peniel” during the night.

Wrestling in the Pineal Gland

There are many who warn about “Awakening the Kundalini Spirit” because of negative consequences. It’s basically turning the heat up on the lake of fire, trying to spiritually detox yourself too quickly. By trying to “Awaken the Kundalini Spirit” you’re asking to be baptized in the lake of fire. Most people have a struggle with emptying themselves of their animalistic behaviors. The deliverance page may help with that.  But after you do get purified, you can enter the Promised Land.

Below is John St. Julien’s video on the symbolism:

Isaiah 59:19 So will they fear the name of YHWH from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun; for He will come like a rushing stream, driven by the Spirit of YHWH. 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.” declares YHWH.

Two Wolves: A Cherokee Legend

Another way to view this struggle is found in the Cherokee legend of the Two Wolves.

“An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. ‘A fight is going on inside of me,’ he said to the boy. ‘It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.’

He continued, ‘The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, ‘Which wolf will win?’ The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.'”

The war between these two is called the war of the flesh versus the spirit in the bible.

Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

1 John 3 tells us we have “God’s seed” inside of us keeping us from sinning.

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

So YHWH’s Holy Spirit is how we are to overcome sin, that’s His seed inside of us. We are his children growing up to look like Him one day. Those who have the Anti-Christ Spirit, then, are “sons of the devil” so to speak. This is not a literal “serpent seed” it’s just the Anti-Christ Spirit.

When you grieve the Holy Spirit, you are by default feeding the Anti-Christ Spirit. When you live by the Holy Spirit you are by default starving the Anti-Christ Spirit.

By your fruit, people will know you. You make manifest or make known to the world that you are a child of God when you walk in the Spirit, feed the good in you, but you make known to the world that you are a “child of the devil” when you exhibit the rotten fruit of the flesh, and feed your fleshy desires.

Which wolf or which spirit do you feed?

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