God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. (Habakkuk 3:3, K.J.V.)
Most of us have at one time or another asked, “Where did God come from?” Well, a few years ago a man pointed out to me that the Bible tells us exactly where God came from. As the fellow told me, “The Bible says that God came from Teman.” Obviously, the man didn’t understand the meaning of Habakkuk 3:3.
Teman was one of the largest cities in the nation of Edom, that nation that was founded by Esau and populated by his descendants. Edom was located in the wilderness region to the south of Israel, lying between Israel and Egypt. The city of Teman was named for Esau’s grandson, Teman (Genesis 36:11).
The Mount Paran that is also mentioned in Habakkuk 3:3 was located west of Teman. Paran was in the northern part of the Sinai Penisula, that region where Mount Sinai is located. Mount Sinai is, of course, where God imparted His law to Moses and the Israelites.
Knowing this background information helps us correctly understand Habakkuk 3:3. When the prophet says, “God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran,” he is referring to how God displayed awesome power in bringing the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and to Mount Sinai. Actually, Habakkuk’s references to Teman and Mount Paran are only two of his references to this event. Two more are found in Habakkuk 3:7, where he says: “I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble” (K.J.V.). Cushan refers to Ethiopia in northern Africa, and Midian was most likely located northeast of the Gulf of Aqaba near Edom. The point Habakkuk is making is that the reports of God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt by way of the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea caused fear among all the nations of that part of the world.
In describing how God delivered Israel from Egypt, Habakkuk poetically depicts God as being blindingly bright and having rays flashing from his hand (3:4). Pestilence went before Him and fever followed in His wake (3:5). The mountains scattered before Him and the hills bowed (3:6). On and on the description goes like that, and what Habakkuk wants is for God to once again display such awesome power in delivering Israel from her enemies. The New Living Translation catches the heart of Habakkuk’s desire by translating our text verse as follows:
I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise.
You see, that man who told me, “The Bible says that God came from Teman” made the mistake of thinking the words “came from” somehow refer to God’s origin, as if the Bible was dropping a clue that God isn’t truly eternal. That mistake was simply one more example of how the Bible can be made to teach just about anything. That’s why we must be diligent to put in the necessary work to not just read the Bible but also study it and figure out what its words mean. Only then can we keep ourselves from believing wrong doctrines, doctrines such as God having an origin in Teman.
The Disciple's Road 
Thank you for this. I am trying to study where Teman is in the end times prophecy. You helped me the history and I appreciate that. God bless you.
You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.
Blessings to you for taking time to share this and other insights on God’s word.
I often lament the state of this fallen world but evidences of the diligence of the brethren like this blog are encouraging. Encouragement to you in those moments that this work may feel a chore. “Feed My sheep”!
Thank you so much, Brandon.
Habakkuk is describing the path of the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ in this passage (Kings Hiway).
I’ll have to disagree with you on that, Tom. In Zechariah 14:1-5 and Acts 1:4-11, the Bible teaches that Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives, which is just outside Jerusalem. From there He will make His way first to Jerusalem and strike with a plague the enemy soldiers who are making war against the inhabitants of Jerusalem on that day (Zechariah 14:1-15). From there He will then make His way to the valley of Megiddo and speak the word to slay all the soldiers who are fighting in the battle of Armageddon on that day (Revelation 19:11-21). From there He will return to Jerusalem and begin ruling and reigning over the entire world from His throne in Jerusalem (Psalm 2:6-9; Isaiah 2:1-4; Joel 3:15-21; Micah 4:1-7; etc.).
Hi,
Rev.19,
There is the marriage at the end of Tribulation & Becomes to battle w His army. In which the 2 ND and 3rd beasts are captured & thrown into lake of fire.
Then the 1st Resurrection which will rule w Him for 1000 yrs.
Then another battle where Satan is cast into the lake of fire.
Then the White Throne Judgement for unbelievers to be cast into lake of fire.
Then Death and Hades to be cast into lake of fire.
The New Heaven and earth
I do not see Him touching Mount of Olives anywhere in these chapters.
So when does that happen.
or happened?
My timeline of prophetic events goes as follows:
#1: The Rapture occurs (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
#2: The Antichrist signs a seven-year peace treaty with Israel, a treaty which serves as the timeclock for the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel 9:26-27).
#3: The tribulation period plays itself out upon the earth (Revelation chapters 6-19).
#4: Jesus returns to the earth for His Second Coming, accompanied by Christians who make up His army, and steps foot first upon the Mount of Olives from where He ascended (Zechariah 14:1-4; Acts 1:9-12).
#5: Since the Mount of Olives is located in very close proximity to Jerusalem, Jesus strikes the armies that have surrounded Jerusalem with a fatal plague (Zechariah 14:12-15).
#6: Following His rescue of Jerusalem, Jesus makes His way to the Valley of Megiddo where He wins the Battle of Armageddon by merely speaking the word and slaying all the enemy soldiers who are gathered there for war (Revelation 19:11-21).
#7: The Antichrist and The False Prophet are cast alive into Gehenna (the eternal lake of fire), and Satan and the other fallen angels are imprisoned in Tartarus (the bottomless pit) for the 1,000 years of Christ’s Millennial Reign (Revelation 19:20-21; 20:1-3).
#8: Christ’s 1,000 Year Reign occurs (Revelation 20:4-6).
#9: Satan and the other fallen angels are released from Tartarus (the bottomless pit) and mount one last doomed rebellion against Jesus (Revelation 20:7-10). #10: The Great White Throne Judgment occurs to eternally sentence all lost unbelievers and cast them body and soul into Gehenna (the lake of fire) to join the Antichrist and The False Prophet in there (Revelation 20:11-15). The bodies of the lost unbelievers will be called forth from their graves to undergo a limited type of resurrection called “the resurrection of damnation” or “the resurrection of the unjust”: John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15). As for the souls of those lost unbelievers, they will be called forth from Hades where they are now kept in torment: Luke 16:19-31.
#11: The first heaven and the first earth will pass away. This means either they will be completely obliterated or they will be purged and renewed by fire. Either way, they will be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).
#12: The eternal city of New Jerusalem comes down from heaven and becomes the eternal home of all of history’s saved believers (Revelation 21:2-27; 22:1-21).
Hi,
Where is the 1st Resurrection?
There is only 1 Resurrection.
When are we ruling over the angels?
mike
Christians will, in a sense, rule over Satan and the other fallen angels during Christ’s 1,000 reign upon the earth. We will be able to do this because Satan and the other rebellious angels will be imprisoned in Tartarus (the bottomless pit) during those years.
The “first resurrection” (Revelation 20:6) is an umbrella term that refers to the resurrection/glorification of the bodies of saved believers. For the bodies of Christians, this resurrecting takes place at the Rapture. For the bodies of Old Testament believers, it takes place at Christ’s Second Coming at the close of the tribulation period (Daniel 12:2; Job 19:26) just before the beginning of Christ’s 1,000 year reign. The term “the first resurrection” equates to the terms “the resurrection of life” (John 5:29) and “the resurrection of the just” (Acts 24:15). Christ’s resurrection was the firstfruits of this type of resurrection.
Conversely, “the resurrection of damnation”/”the resurrection of the unjust” (which will serve as the resurrection of the bodies of history’s lost people) will occur at The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) that takes place after Satan’s final rebellion and just before the beginning of the New Heaven, the New Earth, and the heavenly city of New Jerusalem.
Hi,
Rev20:4,5 And I saw. John. Thrones w those who had been behead when?During the Tribulation. They live and reign w Christ for a thousand years
This is the 1st and only Resurrection of believers. These reign 1000 yrs.
then the 2nd after God destroys at Gog and Magog. Then white throne Judgement.
1Thess 4:16 is by Himself, the Rapture. Right? Are there saints in the grave to be taken up then those who are alive?
2nd Coming in 2 Thess 2:8,9 Right? At the end of 7 yr. Tribulation?
Could you please answer each?
Thanks,
1 Thessalonians 4:16 does describe the Rapture, but Jesus doesn’t come by Himself for that event. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 says that He will bring the souls of deceased Christians with Him for it. Neither He nor any of those souls will actually descend to touch the earth at that time. Instead, they will merely come into earth’s sky and hover there momentarily while the Rapture occurs. During the Rapture, each of those souls will be reunited with the resurrected body it once inhabited. During the Rapture, each of those bodies will be resurrected, glorified, and caught up into the air to meet Jesus in the sky. No grave ever holds any soul (saved or lost). Graves are only home to bodies. The souls of Christians are with Jesus in heaven right now (2 Corinthians 5:8) awaiting the moment of the Rapture.
As for 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9, yes, the coming of Christ being described in those verses is His Second Coming at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. That is when He will literally walk the earth again. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 and Revelation 19:20 describe the same event.
Hi, Rev 20:9 Jesus sends fire to destroy the enemies of the Saints from the millennium. Right?
2 Battles. 1 before Millennium after the 7 yr. Tribulation w the Saints.
And after Millennium w/o anyone. Right.
Mike
Yes, it’s two battles. Actually, though, Jesus Himself doesn’t send the fire for the second one. God the Father sends it down from heaven.
From God. Is Jesus God?
1 Thess. 4:14 even so GOD will bring w Him THOSE WHO SLEEP IN JESUS? When? NKJB v15 until the coming of the LORD V16 for the LORD Himself will descend. No angels. THIS rapture. Right. Like a thief at the end of 7 years? Peace & safety at the end of 7 years? Of Tribulation?
Hi,
Zechariah 14 does not seem to fit in Rev. 19&20?
Fire came down from God out of heaven. No saints w Him in the last battle.
2 Thess 1:7- when the Lord is revealed w His Mighty angels in Flaming Fire to take vengeance. Saints are not mentioned ( His army) as in Rev. 19. After the 1000 yr. Millennium.
It also says He came from everlasting .
It also calls Him “oh Rock”
It also says He is in His Holy Temple.
Hi,
1thess 4:14-16.
The Lord Himself will?
Descend. Yes. Come down into sight. In a cloud.
Then the dead and alive will?
Ascend with Christ.
God is using His Son to bring them up to heaven? Up.
He is not bringing saints in heaven or angels with Him.
I see the Saints in their graves til that time. Hades, Abraham’s Bosom. Never thirsty, can communicate as Luke 16 shows. Those in Torment will thirst as the rich man does. Til after Millennium to be at the White Throne Judgement.
1Cor15 the dead will be raised incorruptible and sh b changed.
Mortals will put on immortality .
Lord never took up anyone in Acts 1.
He went up alone. David was still corruptible. Only Christ was raised.
At rapture David and all Saints are raised incorruptible when Christ comes himself descending from heaven
Christ could not leave them in Abraham’s Bosom.
I do not share this to others around me.
Also. Oh Hades? What?
Where is your victory?