HOW CAN GOD HAVE “HORNS” COMING OUT OF HIS HAND?

by Shawn Brasseaux

We find in chapter 3 of Habakkuk: “[1] A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth [Hebrew word unknown – perhaps meaning “poem” or “hymn?”]. [2] O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. [3] 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. [4] And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. [5] Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.”

How could God have horns coming out of His hand? Apparently, in this context, they are not horns as in the bony structures on an animal’s head. A better way to look at the phrase is to imagine rays of light coming from His hand. Think of projections, shafts, or beams of light originating from the sun at sunrise, light passing through gaps in or between clouds. The scientific name for them at sunset is crepuscular rays. They are hornlike, but not actual horns. Here is how we should handle the verse in Habakkuk. (We are using common sense here… hopefully!)

Through this prayer-song, which spans the entire third chapter of his Book, the Prophet Habakkuk describes the glorious return of the LORD Jesus Christ. Let us draw our attention to verse 4 again: “And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.” This “brightness” is also referenced in 2 Thessalonians 2:8: “And then shall that Wicked [Antichrist] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” An intense flashing of light—similar to lighting—will attend the Lord as He passes through Earth’s atmosphere. These “horns” radiating from His hand are generating at least some of that illumination. In Habakkuk 3:5, we learn of “burning coals went forth at his feet,” a glowing fire also accompanying Him during His Second Coming—referenced in the second Epistle to Thessalonica too.

Read the Apostle Paul’s words in the first chapter of 2 Thessalonians: “[6] Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; [7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” This is the “wrath… fire… baptism with fire” of Matthew 3:7-12 and Luke 3:7-9,16-17.

Circa 700 B.C., Isaiah the Prophet also saw a glimpse of the LORD’S Second Coming in chapter 30: “[27] Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: [28] And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. [29] Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. [30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. [31] For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian [the Antichrist] be beaten down, which smote with a rod. [32] And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. [33] For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king [the Antichrist] it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.” Be sure to take note of the fire and the storm (lightning, wind, hail, et cetera).

Chapter 34 of Isaiah is another preview of Christ’s fiery return: “[8] For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. [9] And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch [derivative of petroleum], and the dust thereof into brimstone [sulfur], and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. [10] It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.” Actually, the LORD sets afire the oil and gas reservoirs of the Middle East—an extremely thorough cleansing of His land, Satan and all his defilements wiped away.

Lastly, we will look at what Moses told Israel shortly before he died, his sermon also anticipating Christ’s Second Coming. Deuteronomy chapter 33: “[1] And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. [2] And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. [3] Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.”

Also see:
» Who will accompany Jesus at His Second Coming?
» How many angels will be with Jesus Christ when He returns?
» How are the Beast and the False Prophet “cast alive” into the Lake of Fire?