Allepo, in Syria is an ancient metropolis, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World, noted for its commercial and military proficiency. The city has scarcely been touched by archaeologists, since the modern city occupies its ancient site been inhabited as a city from around 5,000 BC. The city appears in historical records as an important city much earlier than Damascus.
The 1rst written record of Allepo comes from the Ebla tablets, a collection of as many as 1,800 complete clay tablets, 4,700 fragments and many thousand minor chips, found in the palace archives of the ancient city of Ebla, a major trade center. She was responsible for the development of a sophisticated trade network system between city-states in Northern Syria. The system grouped the region into a commercial community. The names of the kings holding power were enlisted, also royal ordinances, edicts, and treaties. The literary texts included hymns and rituals, epics and proverbs.
The archive was kept in orderly fashion in two small rooms off a large audience hall with a raised platform often for dignified occupancy at one end; one repository contained only bureaucratic economic records on characteristic round tablets, the other, larger room held literacy texts, including pedagogical texts for teaching young scribes. Many of the tablets had not previously been baked, but when all were preserved by the fire that destroyed the palace, their storage method served to fire them almost as thoroughly as if in a thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven, that produced temperatures sufficient to complete the process involved in the chemical changes. The tablets also were stored upright in partly recessed wooden shelves, rectos facing outward, leaning backwards at an angle so that the first few words of the text, employed as an identified label of each tablet could be seen at a glance, and separated from one another by fragments of baked clay. The burning shelving pancaked -collapsing in place and preserving the order of the tablets.
Two languages appeared on the tablets, a Sumerian and a previously unknown language that used logograms as a phonetic representation of the locally spoken Ebla language. They provided a wealth information on Syria and Canaan, including the 1st known references to the "Canaanites," "Ugarit," and "Lebanon." A main focus appeared to be the economic records, inventories recording Ebla's commercial and political relations with other Levantine cities and logs of the city's import and export activities.
The application of the Ebla texts to specific places and people mentioned in the Scripture confirm the existence of Abraham, David, Sodom and Gomorrah, among other Scriptural references.
Allepo was known as Khalpe, Khalibon, and to the Greeks and Romans as Beroea. During the Crusades the name Alep was used. The original name, Halab, has survived as the current Arabic name of the city. It is of obscure origin. Its meaning is "iron" or "copper" in Amorite language. The area served as a major source of these metals in antiquity. In the Aramaic language the word Halaba, which is the translation of the word Halab, means "white," refering to the color of soil and marble abundant in the area. The modern-day Arabic nickname of the city, Ash-Shahbaa, which means "the white-colored," also derives from the famous white marble of Allepo.
The Allepo Codex or Crown of Allepo is a medieval bound manuscript of the Hebrew Scripture that refers to the Law of Redemption from imprisonment in which Israel has fallen. The codex was written in the city of Tiberias in Northern Israel. The Karaite Jewish community of Jerusalem purchased the Codex. During the 1st Crusade, the synagogue was plundered and the Codex was transferred to Egypt, whose Jews paid a high price for its ransom. The Codex was preserved at the synagogue in Old Cairo until one descendant of Maimonides (Sephardic Jewish philosopher) brought it to Allepo, Syria. The Codex remained in Syria for 500 years until rioters enraged by the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine burned down the synagogue where the Codex was kept. It disappeared until news about the surviving Codex surfaced saying that it was smuggled into Israel and presented to the president of the state. It was found that parts of the Codex had been lost. The Allepo Codex, then was entrusted to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
When the translation of the Codex was complete, it followed the Tiberian textual tradition in the order of its books, which also matches the later tradition of Sephardi Scriptural manuscripts. The Torah appears in the same order found in most printed Hebrew Scripture, but the order for the books for Ketuvim differs markedly. The Ketuvim is the 3rd and final section of the Hebrew Scripture named Tanakh, after the Instruction (Torah) and Prophets (Nevi'im). In English translations of the Hebrew Scripture, this section is usually entitled "Writings." I and II Chronicles form one book, along with Ezra and Nehemiah which form a single unit entitled "Ezra-Nehemiah."
In the Allepo Codex, the order of the Hebrew Scripture (Ketuvim) is: Books of Chronicles, Psalms, Book of Job, Book of Proverbs, Book of Ruth, Song of Songs 3:11 to the end; all of Ecclesiastes, Book of Lamentations, Book of Esther, Book of Daniel, and Book of Ezra-Nehemiah.
Such a long history is attributed to Allepo because of its strategic location as a trading center midway between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, now modern Iraq. The city's significance in human history has been its location at one end of the Silk Road, which passed through Central Asia and Mesopotamia.
For centuries, Allepo has been the Syrian region's largest city and the Ottoman's Empire's 3rd largest, after Constantinopla and Cairo. It has also been Syria's largest city and also one of the largest cities in the Levant before the advent of the Syrian Civil War. Since the Battle of Allepo that started in 2012, the city has suffered massive destruction and it is the worst-hit city in the civil conflict.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Sunday, December 11, 2016
PAUL, A WARRIOR OF THE LAW.
This Jewish Pharisee is first encountered in the Book of Acts under his Hebrew name Saul (Acts 7).
He was born in Tarsus in Cilicia which was in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), and raised inside the home of a very devout Jewish family from the Tribe of Benjamin. Paul's father was a Jew but must have been given Roman citizenship, for paul later made use of the fact he was a Roman citizen by birth and therefore had the right to be tried under the Roman rights. (Acts 22).
According to the Jewish way of life, every teacher, including the highly educated religious leaders, were expected to have a trade to work at. Paul had also been taught a craft by his father. He was a tent maker (Acts 18), and from time to time mention is made of how he worked to support himself. (1Cor.4; 2Thess.3; etc). There is ample evidence in these and other passages that Paul worked as much as he could, only because he did not want to be a burden or impose any burden on those among whom he wished to proclaim an absolutely "Free Gospel."(1 Cor.9). He propably sought to avoid being regarded as just another roaming teacher, given the way that traveling teachers and philosophers did in his time, often expecting people to support them with food and finances.
Paul was so zealous for the Law of God that he traveled to Jerusalem in his early teenage years, to study the Law under a famous teacher called Gamaliel. Paul later spoke to Jewish leaders of that time: "Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers an was just as zealous for God as any of you are today." (Acts 22).
Paul, now being a highly educated religious person that received a careful instruction in the Jewish law at a very early age, also having been taught to be fluent in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, and having such a universally acceptable trade that let him travel widely without any financial problem, decided to join the Pharisees.
The Pharisees were one of the 3 Jewish groups, along with the Saducees and Essenes, that were on scene when Paul was growing up. The name was applied to a movement which grew out of the Maccabean era composed of religious leaders and students of the Law who tried to create an elaborate system of oral legislation and interpretation of the Scripture to enable the faithful Jew to obey and apply God's commandments, ordinances and statutes in every area of life. Originally pious reformers, they were generally well-respected by the less zealous Jews. They viewed Rome as an illegitimate, oppressive government which blocked Israel from receiving her divinely ordained blessing of freedom and peace in their land. Later the Talmudic tradition described 7 classes of Pharisees, according to the motivation for their behavior, and only one of the seven is said to act out of Love.
Paul is referred to as a "young man" at the time of Stephen's stoning, and, for a spiritual reason, he is first noted in Acts, watching people's clothing as the crowds stoned Stephen to death for his faith and commitment to Christ, and his desire to promote the Good News. Saul was there, and because of his adherence to the Mosaic Law, he was seen as one giving approval to Stephen's death. (Acts 7).
Stephen was deeply involved in the whole church growth movement, particularly in the expansion of the church from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 6-12). His message was accompanied by forceful demonstrations of the power of God which enabled him to perform "great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. His message also arouse opposition from conservative Jewish sources who were suspicious of the new Christian movement and jealous of Stephen's evident "wisdom of the Spirit." They instigated a campaign to convict Stephen of serious charges of blasphemy against Moses and against God. Mobilizing the crowd against him by utilizing the evidence of false witnesses, they secured his arrest by twisting his glowing testimony for Christ into something sinister and hostile to Mosaic authority.
Stephen's speech to the council is a remarkable review of Jewish history and a bold defense of the Chriatian Faith before his accusers.
He was born in Tarsus in Cilicia which was in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), and raised inside the home of a very devout Jewish family from the Tribe of Benjamin. Paul's father was a Jew but must have been given Roman citizenship, for paul later made use of the fact he was a Roman citizen by birth and therefore had the right to be tried under the Roman rights. (Acts 22).
According to the Jewish way of life, every teacher, including the highly educated religious leaders, were expected to have a trade to work at. Paul had also been taught a craft by his father. He was a tent maker (Acts 18), and from time to time mention is made of how he worked to support himself. (1Cor.4; 2Thess.3; etc). There is ample evidence in these and other passages that Paul worked as much as he could, only because he did not want to be a burden or impose any burden on those among whom he wished to proclaim an absolutely "Free Gospel."(1 Cor.9). He propably sought to avoid being regarded as just another roaming teacher, given the way that traveling teachers and philosophers did in his time, often expecting people to support them with food and finances.
Paul was so zealous for the Law of God that he traveled to Jerusalem in his early teenage years, to study the Law under a famous teacher called Gamaliel. Paul later spoke to Jewish leaders of that time: "Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers an was just as zealous for God as any of you are today." (Acts 22).
Paul, now being a highly educated religious person that received a careful instruction in the Jewish law at a very early age, also having been taught to be fluent in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, and having such a universally acceptable trade that let him travel widely without any financial problem, decided to join the Pharisees.
The Pharisees were one of the 3 Jewish groups, along with the Saducees and Essenes, that were on scene when Paul was growing up. The name was applied to a movement which grew out of the Maccabean era composed of religious leaders and students of the Law who tried to create an elaborate system of oral legislation and interpretation of the Scripture to enable the faithful Jew to obey and apply God's commandments, ordinances and statutes in every area of life. Originally pious reformers, they were generally well-respected by the less zealous Jews. They viewed Rome as an illegitimate, oppressive government which blocked Israel from receiving her divinely ordained blessing of freedom and peace in their land. Later the Talmudic tradition described 7 classes of Pharisees, according to the motivation for their behavior, and only one of the seven is said to act out of Love.
Paul is referred to as a "young man" at the time of Stephen's stoning, and, for a spiritual reason, he is first noted in Acts, watching people's clothing as the crowds stoned Stephen to death for his faith and commitment to Christ, and his desire to promote the Good News. Saul was there, and because of his adherence to the Mosaic Law, he was seen as one giving approval to Stephen's death. (Acts 7).
Stephen was deeply involved in the whole church growth movement, particularly in the expansion of the church from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 6-12). His message was accompanied by forceful demonstrations of the power of God which enabled him to perform "great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. His message also arouse opposition from conservative Jewish sources who were suspicious of the new Christian movement and jealous of Stephen's evident "wisdom of the Spirit." They instigated a campaign to convict Stephen of serious charges of blasphemy against Moses and against God. Mobilizing the crowd against him by utilizing the evidence of false witnesses, they secured his arrest by twisting his glowing testimony for Christ into something sinister and hostile to Mosaic authority.
Stephen's speech to the council is a remarkable review of Jewish history and a bold defense of the Chriatian Faith before his accusers.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
WHO WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST? Part Two.
While the whole multitude were praying outside at the Hour of the Incense, Zechariah received the rare privilege of offering the incense inside the Temple in Jerusalem, as an act that symbolized the prayers of God's people about the hope that God would bring salvation to them. While performing this duty, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of the incense, announcing that his prayers were going to be answered.
Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel and fear fell upon him. He was terrified. The angel foretold him that Elizabeth would have a son, to be named John, who would be great in the sight of the Lord as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Zechariah's lack of faith made him doubt about the angel's prophecy, and because of it the angel Gabriel rendered him unable to speak until the baby's birth.
Zechariah and his barren wife whom were well advanced in years, had led lives devoted to the commandments, statutes and ordinances of God, and had their home in the hill-country South of Jerusalem.
According to the Gospel of Luke, the birth of John took place 6 months before the birth of Jesus and by giving a child to Zechariah and Elizabeth the final stages of redemption would be set in motion. Soon after the child was born, at the time of his circumcision, Zechariah was suddenly released from the lack of speak, and under the power of the Spirit, gave praise to God for bringing salvation to his people.
John is presented as a preacher of repentance reflecting a separation from the sinful ways in which the nation was wrapped and forming a new Israel. John spoke harshly to those leaders whose behavior was reprehensible and who thought they had nothing to fear simply because they were descendants of Abraham. Yet even to them John preached repentance and the promise of forgiveness and restoration.
John himself understood and made clear that his preaching of the baptism of repentance were meant to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord: "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."Matthew3.
Jesus submitted himself to John's baptism, as the one called to bear the sufferings of His people, at which time a voice from heaven and the descent of the holy Spirit made clear that Jesus was the One for whom the way was being prepared.
John the Baptist's role in announcing the coming of the Messiah is emphasized especially by the Gospel of John (1:19-43). When John the Baptist was questioned whether he himself was the Messiah, he strongly denied it and instead pointed people to Jesus, whom he described as "the Lamb of God," who takes away the sin of the World." Later in the same Gospel he is reported to have said regarding Jesus, "He must become greater; I must become less. John 3. The public appearing of the Lord, for whom he had prepared the way, marked the concluding stage of John the Baptist's ministry.
Quite soon after Jesus was baptized, John was put in prison because he had rebuked Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Perea. (Matt.4;Mark1;Luke3). Some time later, news of Jesus' growing ministry reached John, who proceeded to send 2 of his own disciples to Jesus with this question:"Are You the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else!"(Matt11;Luke7). John may have expected the Messiah to take up the axe already laid at the root of the tree and bring Judgment on the wicked. Since Jesus was doing nothing of the sort, John may have needed some reassurance or at least some clarification of the Messiah's role.
Jesus' response was in effect to point out how the Messianic works prophesied in Isaiah 61 were now being fulfilled. Jesus took the opportunity to speak about the significance of John the Baptist.
Jesus indicated that John was not a delicate or easily intimidated man, nor was he someone interested in courting the good graces of powerful people. On the contrary, John was a prophet and his ministry had greater significance than that of the other prophets, for he was the Elijah promised in Malachi 3.
It was in this context that Jesus made the remarkable comment: "Among those born on women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." The point is that John who had announced the coming of the Kingdom, did not experienced it because he belonged to an earlier agreement. On the other hand, those who receive the good news of the Messiah, and thus participate by Faith in the blessings He brings, belong to a new different agreement that belongs to a different age.
Jesus' Words have an eschatological meaning, that is, they refer to the end-time fulfillment of the Old Testament promises in the person of the Messiah. Jesus said:"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John."(Matt 11). Since that time, the Good News of the Kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel and fear fell upon him. He was terrified. The angel foretold him that Elizabeth would have a son, to be named John, who would be great in the sight of the Lord as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Zechariah's lack of faith made him doubt about the angel's prophecy, and because of it the angel Gabriel rendered him unable to speak until the baby's birth.
Zechariah and his barren wife whom were well advanced in years, had led lives devoted to the commandments, statutes and ordinances of God, and had their home in the hill-country South of Jerusalem.
According to the Gospel of Luke, the birth of John took place 6 months before the birth of Jesus and by giving a child to Zechariah and Elizabeth the final stages of redemption would be set in motion. Soon after the child was born, at the time of his circumcision, Zechariah was suddenly released from the lack of speak, and under the power of the Spirit, gave praise to God for bringing salvation to his people.
John is presented as a preacher of repentance reflecting a separation from the sinful ways in which the nation was wrapped and forming a new Israel. John spoke harshly to those leaders whose behavior was reprehensible and who thought they had nothing to fear simply because they were descendants of Abraham. Yet even to them John preached repentance and the promise of forgiveness and restoration.
John himself understood and made clear that his preaching of the baptism of repentance were meant to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord: "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."Matthew3.
Jesus submitted himself to John's baptism, as the one called to bear the sufferings of His people, at which time a voice from heaven and the descent of the holy Spirit made clear that Jesus was the One for whom the way was being prepared.
John the Baptist's role in announcing the coming of the Messiah is emphasized especially by the Gospel of John (1:19-43). When John the Baptist was questioned whether he himself was the Messiah, he strongly denied it and instead pointed people to Jesus, whom he described as "the Lamb of God," who takes away the sin of the World." Later in the same Gospel he is reported to have said regarding Jesus, "He must become greater; I must become less. John 3. The public appearing of the Lord, for whom he had prepared the way, marked the concluding stage of John the Baptist's ministry.
Quite soon after Jesus was baptized, John was put in prison because he had rebuked Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Perea. (Matt.4;Mark1;Luke3). Some time later, news of Jesus' growing ministry reached John, who proceeded to send 2 of his own disciples to Jesus with this question:"Are You the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else!"(Matt11;Luke7). John may have expected the Messiah to take up the axe already laid at the root of the tree and bring Judgment on the wicked. Since Jesus was doing nothing of the sort, John may have needed some reassurance or at least some clarification of the Messiah's role.
Jesus' response was in effect to point out how the Messianic works prophesied in Isaiah 61 were now being fulfilled. Jesus took the opportunity to speak about the significance of John the Baptist.
Jesus indicated that John was not a delicate or easily intimidated man, nor was he someone interested in courting the good graces of powerful people. On the contrary, John was a prophet and his ministry had greater significance than that of the other prophets, for he was the Elijah promised in Malachi 3.
It was in this context that Jesus made the remarkable comment: "Among those born on women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." The point is that John who had announced the coming of the Kingdom, did not experienced it because he belonged to an earlier agreement. On the other hand, those who receive the good news of the Messiah, and thus participate by Faith in the blessings He brings, belong to a new different agreement that belongs to a different age.
Jesus' Words have an eschatological meaning, that is, they refer to the end-time fulfillment of the Old Testament promises in the person of the Messiah. Jesus said:"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John."(Matt 11). Since that time, the Good News of the Kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
WHO WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST? Part One.
He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Both parents were of the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah was a priest of the division of Abijah.
Abijah was a priestly descendant of Aaron who in King David's day was recognized as Head of one of the paternal houses of Israel. David diveded the priesthood into 24 divisions, each to serve at the sanctuary for one-week period every 6 months. The paternal House of Abijah was chosen by lot to head the 8th division and thereafter it was known as the "division of Abijah."
A special place for the sons of Aaron began at Mount Sinai and it was at that time that special duties were given to each of the 3 lines of priests, through the 3 sons of Levi: the Gershonites, the Kohathites and the Merarites; but only the sons of Aaron (Aaronic Priests) were permitted to offer animal sacrifices in the Tabernacle or offer incense. Also, only they had access to the Holy and Most Holy place.
Aaron and Moses were sons of Kohath, the 2nd son of Levi, but had special pre-eminence over all others. The sons of Aaron and Moses camped on the East side of the Tabernacle that was the entrance and the most important area. They had front and center prominence.
Numbers 3: "These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar; these are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to minister in the priest's office. But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unholy fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father. ... And those to encamp before the Tabernacle on the East, before the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the people of Israel; and ant one else who came near was to be put to death..."
The rebellion of Korah at Sinai was a challenge of the other 2 priests lines against this exclusive right that Aaronites had over them and it cost the their lives: "So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the men who were burned had offered, and they hammered them out as a plating for the altar, as a reminder to the sons of Israel that no layman who is not of the descendants of Aaron should come near to burn incense before the Lord; so that he will not become like Korah and his company.."Num16.
Moses is called a priest in Psalms 99: "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!... Mighty King, lover of Justice, You have establish equity; You have executed Justice and Righteousness in Jacob... Moses and Aaron were among His Priests, ... Samuel also was among those who called on His Name. They cried to the Lord, and He answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His Testimonies, and the Statutes that He gave them. ... You showed them that You are a Forgiving God, but and Avenger of their wrongdoings..."
High Priests were appointed for life by Moses, but at the time of Jesus, they were appointed annually by the Romans. This is why we have multiple High Priests at the trial of Jesus (Annas and Caiaphas). The priesthood continued down to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD when it became physically extinct.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his Order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the Priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.
While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying.
Abijah was a priestly descendant of Aaron who in King David's day was recognized as Head of one of the paternal houses of Israel. David diveded the priesthood into 24 divisions, each to serve at the sanctuary for one-week period every 6 months. The paternal House of Abijah was chosen by lot to head the 8th division and thereafter it was known as the "division of Abijah."
A special place for the sons of Aaron began at Mount Sinai and it was at that time that special duties were given to each of the 3 lines of priests, through the 3 sons of Levi: the Gershonites, the Kohathites and the Merarites; but only the sons of Aaron (Aaronic Priests) were permitted to offer animal sacrifices in the Tabernacle or offer incense. Also, only they had access to the Holy and Most Holy place.
Aaron and Moses were sons of Kohath, the 2nd son of Levi, but had special pre-eminence over all others. The sons of Aaron and Moses camped on the East side of the Tabernacle that was the entrance and the most important area. They had front and center prominence.
Numbers 3: "These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar; these are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to minister in the priest's office. But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unholy fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father. ... And those to encamp before the Tabernacle on the East, before the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the people of Israel; and ant one else who came near was to be put to death..."
The rebellion of Korah at Sinai was a challenge of the other 2 priests lines against this exclusive right that Aaronites had over them and it cost the their lives: "So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the men who were burned had offered, and they hammered them out as a plating for the altar, as a reminder to the sons of Israel that no layman who is not of the descendants of Aaron should come near to burn incense before the Lord; so that he will not become like Korah and his company.."Num16.
Moses is called a priest in Psalms 99: "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!... Mighty King, lover of Justice, You have establish equity; You have executed Justice and Righteousness in Jacob... Moses and Aaron were among His Priests, ... Samuel also was among those who called on His Name. They cried to the Lord, and He answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His Testimonies, and the Statutes that He gave them. ... You showed them that You are a Forgiving God, but and Avenger of their wrongdoings..."
High Priests were appointed for life by Moses, but at the time of Jesus, they were appointed annually by the Romans. This is why we have multiple High Priests at the trial of Jesus (Annas and Caiaphas). The priesthood continued down to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD when it became physically extinct.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his Order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the Priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.
While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying.
Monday, November 21, 2016
RAS AL-AYN, THE REAL SOURCE OF THE CHEBAR RIVER.
The area, in North Eastern Syria, in which the city of Ras Al-Ayn is located has been inhabited since at least 8,000 BC. Today the city is inhabited predominantly by Arabs and Kurds, with a significant number of Syriacs/Assyrians and a smaller number of Armenians and Chechens.
Later Ras Al-Ayn was known as the ancient Aramean city of Sikkan, then as the Roman city of Rhesaina, and then as the Byzantine city of Theodosipolis. The area was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and in medieval times was fiercely embattled between several Muslim dynasties.
The first mention of Ras Al-Ayn is in Akkadian "Res'Ina during the reign of the Assyrian king Adad-Nirari (911-891BC). The Arabic name 'Ras Al-Ayn' derives from the Akkadian and has the same meaning:"Head of the spring." Or, "Hill of the spring,"indication a prominent mountain formation close to a well.
The underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves that form the springs around Ra'Al-Ayn are the main source of water of the Chebar River. Chebar means "strong", "many", "powerful".
In the Scripture, Che'Bar is defined as the River in the "land of the Chaldeans", known as "Babylon".
An artificial but powerful and royal water canal, property of the Assyrian king Nabuchadnezzar, besides whose fertile banks he located a part of the captive Jews and the place from where the prophet Ezekiel received his first prophetic and recorded vision of the Cherubim-Throne, the stunning effect of which lasted 7 days, and of his commissioning as "a watchman ... to the House of Israel, (Ezekiel 1:1-3:23), as well as a number of other similar prophetic oracles (10:15, 20, 22; 43:3).
The exact identification of the River is not possible. Shifting and flooding of the Euphrates River are known to have greatly altered the topography of the area over the centuries.
Ezekiel used the term 'River' in its widest sense to include the numerous Babylonian canals that once intersected the fertile area between the lower courses of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. The reason why they built the numerous canals was as a means of defense in order to contain the destructive waters of the flooding season not only by the excess but also by the depositing layers of soil-ruining salt over the agricultural areas. Many of these canals were broad enough for large sailing vessels, serving thereby to enhance Babylon's already renowned commercial and economic position.
In antiquity the course of the grand canal left the Euphrates North of Sippar and ran South East ca. 300 km / 186 mi through the Nippur Region before rejoining the Euphrates South of ancient Uruk. It is said to have been 15 to 20 ft / 4.6 to 6.1m deep in places, a sufficient depth to make it navigable by certain vessels. Today this artificial watercourse is dry.
The place 'the land of the Chaldeans' was a spot where Babel began. The name 'Babel' in Hebrew is the equivalent of 'Babylon' in Greek. Thus, Chaldea is actually Babylon and Babylon is Babel, the place where Satan collected the fallen people to rebel against God. The very place where Ezekiel saw the visions is the place where Satan instigated the greatest rebellion against God among the fallen people. That was also the place out of which God called Abraham (Genesis 11), and the very place into which the rebellious have fallen. In today Christian World, are most Christians on the right way to the Promised Land or in the land of the Chaldeans? The Book of Ezekiel exactly fits the situation of Christians today.
Chebar is also mentioned in several cuneiform documents of the 5th century BC from Nippur. The document certifies that the area was inhabited by a community of Jews that were exiled or in captivity. Cuneiform tables found from the archives of a Babylonian brokerage firm contains many Jewish names among their lists of clientele.
According to the Scripture the captives of Judah were deported to a place called Tel-Abib which was by the Chebar River (Grand Canal) in the land of the Chaldeans (Babylon). The name means 'Mount of the Deluge' because it was destructively flooded and ruined constantly by the Euphrates River. The prophet Ezekiel was among the first to be taken captive. When Ezekiel saw the visions, he was by a River. The River signifies the power of the enemy to damage God's chosen people.
Today the Chebar River is the satanic tide of the age that carries people away from God to Babylon.
There are two Rivers in the Book of Ezekiel: the Chebar River in chapter one and the River flowing out of the Temple in chapter forty-seven. The Chebar River carries the people away from God, but the River flowing out of the Temple brings people into God's life. These two Rivers are still on earth today. One River is the trend, the course, the tide, of this World, the River of Babylon, the River in the fallen World, which carries people away from God. And the River of the Lord that carries life wherever it comes and goes, the River of the Holy Land. You are free to choose in which River you want your journey in this World.
Later Ras Al-Ayn was known as the ancient Aramean city of Sikkan, then as the Roman city of Rhesaina, and then as the Byzantine city of Theodosipolis. The area was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and in medieval times was fiercely embattled between several Muslim dynasties.
The first mention of Ras Al-Ayn is in Akkadian "Res'Ina during the reign of the Assyrian king Adad-Nirari (911-891BC). The Arabic name 'Ras Al-Ayn' derives from the Akkadian and has the same meaning:"Head of the spring." Or, "Hill of the spring,"indication a prominent mountain formation close to a well.
The underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves that form the springs around Ra'Al-Ayn are the main source of water of the Chebar River. Chebar means "strong", "many", "powerful".
In the Scripture, Che'Bar is defined as the River in the "land of the Chaldeans", known as "Babylon".
An artificial but powerful and royal water canal, property of the Assyrian king Nabuchadnezzar, besides whose fertile banks he located a part of the captive Jews and the place from where the prophet Ezekiel received his first prophetic and recorded vision of the Cherubim-Throne, the stunning effect of which lasted 7 days, and of his commissioning as "a watchman ... to the House of Israel, (Ezekiel 1:1-3:23), as well as a number of other similar prophetic oracles (10:15, 20, 22; 43:3).
The exact identification of the River is not possible. Shifting and flooding of the Euphrates River are known to have greatly altered the topography of the area over the centuries.
Ezekiel used the term 'River' in its widest sense to include the numerous Babylonian canals that once intersected the fertile area between the lower courses of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. The reason why they built the numerous canals was as a means of defense in order to contain the destructive waters of the flooding season not only by the excess but also by the depositing layers of soil-ruining salt over the agricultural areas. Many of these canals were broad enough for large sailing vessels, serving thereby to enhance Babylon's already renowned commercial and economic position.
In antiquity the course of the grand canal left the Euphrates North of Sippar and ran South East ca. 300 km / 186 mi through the Nippur Region before rejoining the Euphrates South of ancient Uruk. It is said to have been 15 to 20 ft / 4.6 to 6.1m deep in places, a sufficient depth to make it navigable by certain vessels. Today this artificial watercourse is dry.
The place 'the land of the Chaldeans' was a spot where Babel began. The name 'Babel' in Hebrew is the equivalent of 'Babylon' in Greek. Thus, Chaldea is actually Babylon and Babylon is Babel, the place where Satan collected the fallen people to rebel against God. The very place where Ezekiel saw the visions is the place where Satan instigated the greatest rebellion against God among the fallen people. That was also the place out of which God called Abraham (Genesis 11), and the very place into which the rebellious have fallen. In today Christian World, are most Christians on the right way to the Promised Land or in the land of the Chaldeans? The Book of Ezekiel exactly fits the situation of Christians today.
Chebar is also mentioned in several cuneiform documents of the 5th century BC from Nippur. The document certifies that the area was inhabited by a community of Jews that were exiled or in captivity. Cuneiform tables found from the archives of a Babylonian brokerage firm contains many Jewish names among their lists of clientele.
According to the Scripture the captives of Judah were deported to a place called Tel-Abib which was by the Chebar River (Grand Canal) in the land of the Chaldeans (Babylon). The name means 'Mount of the Deluge' because it was destructively flooded and ruined constantly by the Euphrates River. The prophet Ezekiel was among the first to be taken captive. When Ezekiel saw the visions, he was by a River. The River signifies the power of the enemy to damage God's chosen people.
Today the Chebar River is the satanic tide of the age that carries people away from God to Babylon.
There are two Rivers in the Book of Ezekiel: the Chebar River in chapter one and the River flowing out of the Temple in chapter forty-seven. The Chebar River carries the people away from God, but the River flowing out of the Temple brings people into God's life. These two Rivers are still on earth today. One River is the trend, the course, the tide, of this World, the River of Babylon, the River in the fallen World, which carries people away from God. And the River of the Lord that carries life wherever it comes and goes, the River of the Holy Land. You are free to choose in which River you want your journey in this World.
Friday, November 18, 2016
SYRIA AND DAMASCUS, GOD'S CHOSEN PLACES.
Syria is the region bounded on the East by Mesopotamia, on the West by the Lebanon Mountains, on the North by the Taurus Mountains, and on the South by Palestine and the Arabian Desert. This same region is called Aram in the Scripture. This boundaries are only general, since Syrian influence and domination within this area were rather fluid and unstable most of the time.
Syria is considered the cradle of prophets and apostles and most of the prophecies done in their ground were fulfilled.
During the patriarchal times, the Scripture records the concerned Syrian events around Haran involving the lives of Rebekah's family, her father Bethuel, and brother Laban, both being described as Syrians, or literally Arameans (Genesis 25; 28; 31). Because Jacob resided 20 years in this region, and there married Laban's 2 daughters and fathered sons and daughters, and because of the afflictions he experienced in Laban's service, he was later described as "a perishing Syrian." Also Jacob's mother was a Syrian. (Deuteronomy 26; Genesis 31; Hosea 12).
During the period of the Judges when the Israelites fell away from God's worship, the Syrian king Cushan-Rishathaim subjugated them for a period of 8 years (Judges 3;10). On another occasion, Syria's influence proved strong enough to cause Israel to worship her gods along with other of her deities.
From and after the birth of Israel's monarchy, Syria became aggressively active militarily, and throughout the entire history of the Northern Kingdom hostilities between the two prevailed.
Saul went to war with the Syrian kings of Zobah. (1Samuel 14). David, upon becoming king, inflicted heavy loses on the army of the Syrian King Hadadezer. At the same time much gold, silver, and copper were taken and sanctified to God. David also set up garrisons in Damascus and compelled the Syrians to pay tribute. (2Samuel 8; 1Chronicles 18). Later, more than 30,000 Syrian mercenaries that were hired by the Amonites, instead of fighting, took flight before the Israelites. However, after Syrian reinforcements were brought up, a battle with Israel ensued, and the Syrians suffered great losses, causing them to sue for peace. (2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 19).
Syria of the apostolic times meant the Roman province that Pompey annexed to the empire. This province embraced much of the territory of the Old Syria as well as the whole of Palestine. At the time of Jesus' birth it was ruled over by Governor Quirinius, the legate of Emperor Augustus, whose residence was in the capital of the province and third-largest city of the Roman Empire, Antioch, on the Orontes River. (Luke 2).
Jesus restricted His Ministry to Palestine proper, but reports of His Miracles reached out "into all Syria." (Matthew 4). Jesus also gave the greatest sermon in history, the"Sermon on the Mount", on Mount Hermon, in Syria (Matthew 5-7). God spoke on Mount Horeb, Hermon, and Gogotha, in Syria and the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Horeb. Syria also is the cradle of civilizations and Semitic peoples, and their languages.
Syria, in our days is one of the rich countries in the region because of its Petroleum and industries and the country has highly developed in the last two decades. For almost 45 years, the rain was scarce and the dry soil remained barren due to the lack of rain. But now the land has become fertile and people are amazed to see the fresh vegetables and fruits that dress the land after years of drought and scarcity.
The Biblical history and privileges of what God has done through all Syria and to the whole World is remembered throughout the Scripture. Syria was chosen by God, according to His Plan, as the center from where His Word was spread from Antioch to the World, and paved the way of the today Christian Church. In this holy spot God chose the prophets mentioned in the Old Testament, and the Apostles in the New Testament. The Greater and the Minor Syria is mentioned approximately 300 times in the Scripture. Still many cities and towns in Palestine are still called by the same name used during the time of Christ.
The most glorious gift to mankind is the Word of God compelled in the Scripture. The prophets were inspired by the Spirit of God to say and write what God wanted them to write. Christ is the living Word and Jesus is the Revelation of God to mankind. It seems that the Word of God is ignored or disregarded to study in our today lifestyle making many Christians unable to grasp the deep and sacred meaning and amazing history of Syria.
In the Gospel of Luke (chapter 2) it says: "In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman World." This was the first census that took place when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the exact time when this was happening. The time of the birth of Jesus marked the division line in the Scripture between before and after His Time (BC and AD).
Damascus was called "the oasis of the Arab World"and it was and still is a beacon and inspiration to all poets of the East and West. With his glorious history, it is considered the World archaeological museum and the World's oldest living city.
Damascus is now a modern capital like other modern capital cities. Being an historical city it is divided into two parts: the old and the modern. Both have a vivid Arabic character and splendor of its own.
The modern Damascus has grown so much in the surrounding suburbs and neighboring areas, being now named the Greater Damascus in the eyes of the World.
Damascus is mentioned about 60 times in the Scripture and Antioch 20 times. Jerusalem and Damascus are the ancient centers of Bible history and Jerusalem the center of the World in Prophecies. When the Christians in Jerusalem were scattered because of the persecution following the stoning of Stephen, some of them carried the Good News to Syria's capital, Antioch. First the Israelites there heard the message, and later those of other national groups. Barnabas and Paul were both instrumental in building up the congregation of Antioch. It was first in this Syrian city where "the disciples were by divine providence called 'Christians'". (Acts11; Galatians 1).
Syria is considered the cradle of prophets and apostles and most of the prophecies done in their ground were fulfilled.
During the patriarchal times, the Scripture records the concerned Syrian events around Haran involving the lives of Rebekah's family, her father Bethuel, and brother Laban, both being described as Syrians, or literally Arameans (Genesis 25; 28; 31). Because Jacob resided 20 years in this region, and there married Laban's 2 daughters and fathered sons and daughters, and because of the afflictions he experienced in Laban's service, he was later described as "a perishing Syrian." Also Jacob's mother was a Syrian. (Deuteronomy 26; Genesis 31; Hosea 12).
During the period of the Judges when the Israelites fell away from God's worship, the Syrian king Cushan-Rishathaim subjugated them for a period of 8 years (Judges 3;10). On another occasion, Syria's influence proved strong enough to cause Israel to worship her gods along with other of her deities.
From and after the birth of Israel's monarchy, Syria became aggressively active militarily, and throughout the entire history of the Northern Kingdom hostilities between the two prevailed.
Saul went to war with the Syrian kings of Zobah. (1Samuel 14). David, upon becoming king, inflicted heavy loses on the army of the Syrian King Hadadezer. At the same time much gold, silver, and copper were taken and sanctified to God. David also set up garrisons in Damascus and compelled the Syrians to pay tribute. (2Samuel 8; 1Chronicles 18). Later, more than 30,000 Syrian mercenaries that were hired by the Amonites, instead of fighting, took flight before the Israelites. However, after Syrian reinforcements were brought up, a battle with Israel ensued, and the Syrians suffered great losses, causing them to sue for peace. (2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 19).
Syria of the apostolic times meant the Roman province that Pompey annexed to the empire. This province embraced much of the territory of the Old Syria as well as the whole of Palestine. At the time of Jesus' birth it was ruled over by Governor Quirinius, the legate of Emperor Augustus, whose residence was in the capital of the province and third-largest city of the Roman Empire, Antioch, on the Orontes River. (Luke 2).
Jesus restricted His Ministry to Palestine proper, but reports of His Miracles reached out "into all Syria." (Matthew 4). Jesus also gave the greatest sermon in history, the"Sermon on the Mount", on Mount Hermon, in Syria (Matthew 5-7). God spoke on Mount Horeb, Hermon, and Gogotha, in Syria and the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Horeb. Syria also is the cradle of civilizations and Semitic peoples, and their languages.
Syria, in our days is one of the rich countries in the region because of its Petroleum and industries and the country has highly developed in the last two decades. For almost 45 years, the rain was scarce and the dry soil remained barren due to the lack of rain. But now the land has become fertile and people are amazed to see the fresh vegetables and fruits that dress the land after years of drought and scarcity.
The Biblical history and privileges of what God has done through all Syria and to the whole World is remembered throughout the Scripture. Syria was chosen by God, according to His Plan, as the center from where His Word was spread from Antioch to the World, and paved the way of the today Christian Church. In this holy spot God chose the prophets mentioned in the Old Testament, and the Apostles in the New Testament. The Greater and the Minor Syria is mentioned approximately 300 times in the Scripture. Still many cities and towns in Palestine are still called by the same name used during the time of Christ.
The most glorious gift to mankind is the Word of God compelled in the Scripture. The prophets were inspired by the Spirit of God to say and write what God wanted them to write. Christ is the living Word and Jesus is the Revelation of God to mankind. It seems that the Word of God is ignored or disregarded to study in our today lifestyle making many Christians unable to grasp the deep and sacred meaning and amazing history of Syria.
In the Gospel of Luke (chapter 2) it says: "In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman World." This was the first census that took place when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the exact time when this was happening. The time of the birth of Jesus marked the division line in the Scripture between before and after His Time (BC and AD).
Damascus was called "the oasis of the Arab World"and it was and still is a beacon and inspiration to all poets of the East and West. With his glorious history, it is considered the World archaeological museum and the World's oldest living city.
Damascus is now a modern capital like other modern capital cities. Being an historical city it is divided into two parts: the old and the modern. Both have a vivid Arabic character and splendor of its own.
The modern Damascus has grown so much in the surrounding suburbs and neighboring areas, being now named the Greater Damascus in the eyes of the World.
Damascus is mentioned about 60 times in the Scripture and Antioch 20 times. Jerusalem and Damascus are the ancient centers of Bible history and Jerusalem the center of the World in Prophecies. When the Christians in Jerusalem were scattered because of the persecution following the stoning of Stephen, some of them carried the Good News to Syria's capital, Antioch. First the Israelites there heard the message, and later those of other national groups. Barnabas and Paul were both instrumental in building up the congregation of Antioch. It was first in this Syrian city where "the disciples were by divine providence called 'Christians'". (Acts11; Galatians 1).
Sunday, October 16, 2016
ELEMENTAL BEINGS.
An elemental is a mythic being particularly elaborated and described in the 16th century works of Paracelsus, and later his ideas were adopted by the Rosicrucians, and modern theosophists.
The concept of subdivisions and elaborations of nature spirits draws from several much older traditions in mythology and religion. The ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles (490-430BC) was the 1st to propose that the 4 classical elements were sufficient to explain everything in the present world. The philosophy of nature spirits was also familiar to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and certainly Paracelsus.
Paracelsus believed that each of the 4 classical elements -earth, water, air, fire- is inhabited by different categories of elemental spirits that share our world. He described these elementals as the 'invisible, spiritual counterparts of visible Nature, neither divine nor human, but very like to human beings, who existed on a "plane", a world of their own, different from that of humans though occupying the same space, many resembling human beings in shape. They needed to eat, sleep, and wear clothes like humans, but unknown to man because his undeveloped senses were incapable of functioning beyond the limitations of the grosser elements."
The Paracelsian concept prevailed in the Classical world and was highly influential in medieval natural philosophy. The 4 elemental categories corresponded to the classical elements of antiquity: earth (gnomes, pygmy), water (undines, nymph), air (sylph, sylvestris), and fire (salamander, vulcanus). The elements were classed as the fundamental building blocks of nature. Paracelsus stated that each one stays healthy in its particular chaos, as he termed it, but dies in the others.
- Gnome (earth) is a diminutive being that lives underground. The word comes from a Greek name representing literally an 'earth-dweller.' Norse myth provides different mythical origins for the beings. They were associated with earth wisdom, smithing, and crafting. The Poetic Edda poem details that the dwarfs were the product of the primordial blood of the being Brimir and the bones of Ymir. They are similar to maggots that festered in the flesh of Ymir before being gifted with 'reason' by the gods. The Poetic Edda contains over 100 dwarf names, while the Prose Edda gives the 4 dwarfs, North, South, East, West, a cosmological role, holding up the sky.
Paracelso used 'gnome as a synonym of 'pygmaei', describing them as 2 spans (distance measured by a human hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger) high, very reluctant to interact with humans, and able to move through solid earth as humans move through air. They were known as 'chthonic, or 'earth-dweller' in ancient myths, often guarding mines and precious underground treasures.
- Undines (unda means 'wave)are beings associated with water. Similar creatures are found in classical literature, particularly Ovid's Metamorphoses. They are almost invariable depicted as females and usually found in forest pools, and waterfalls. The group contained many species, including nereides, limnads, naiades, and mermaids. Although resembling humans in form they lacked a human soul, so to achieve immortality they must acquire one by marrying a human. Such a union is not without risk for the man, because if he is unfaithful he is fated to die. The offspring of the union become human with a soul, but also with some kind of aquatic characteristic, called a watermark.
- Sylph is an invisible being of the air. The word was used as a metaphorical name for an 'echo.' Other use of the word was to describe something 'wild' (sylvestres). Paracelsus said that these elementals were rougher, coarser, taller, and stronger than humans. Because these elementals were able to move through air, sylphs were the closest to humans, while in fire they burn, in water they drown, and in earth, they get stuck.
- Salamander which renew its scaly skin in the fire was suggested by Paracelsus as the elemental of fire, being long, narrow, and lean. He considered them to be not devils but similar to humans.
The salamander is found throughout French folklore, although in differing form. Instead of its fire symbolism, it was attributed a powerful poison. Some legends say that merely by falling into a well, it would poison the water, and by climbing a fruit tree, poison the fruit. Its highly toxic breath was reportedly enough to swell a person until their skin broke. In Auvergne, it supposedly did the same to herds of cattle. The only way to kill one was said to be locking it in a confined space so that it breathed its own poison. The Bretons feared this elementals so much so they did not dare say its real name for fear it would hear and then kill them.
Marco Polo believed that the true salamander was an incombustible substance found in the earth.
In 1670, Comte de Gabalis was prominent in popularizing Paracelsus' theory of elementals. In particular focused on the idea of elemental marriage discussed by Paracelsus. In his book "Count of Kabbalah" explains that members of his order, to which Paracelsus is said to belong, refrain from marriage to human beings in order to retain their freedom to bestow souls upon elementals. He used the terms 'sylph' and 'gnome' to refer to female elementals. Male undines are said to be rare, while female salamanders are rarely seen.
The Rosicrucians claimed to be able to see such elementals spirits. To be admitted to their society, it was previously necessary for the eyes to be purged with the Panacea or 'Universal Medicine,' a legendary substance with curative power. As well, glass gloves would be prepared with one of the 4 elements, and for 1 month exposed to beams of sunlight. With these steps the initiated would see innumerable elemental beings immediately. The beings were said to be longer lived than man but ceased to exist upon death. However, if the elemental were to wed a mortal, they would become immortal in their own planes. One of the conditions of joining the Rosicrucians was a vow of chastity in hopes of marrying an elemental.
In Jainism, an ancient Indian religion, in which the central tenet is non-violence and love towards all living beings, there is a similar concept of the elemental beings within its general cosmology. The motto of its philosophy is "the function of souls is to help one another" and its 3 main principles are non-violence, non-absolutism, non-possessiveness. The word "Jain" derives from the Sanskrit word "Jina" meaning "conqueror." A human being who has conquered all inner passions is called "Jina."
According to Jainism, there are 6 simple substances in existence, namely, Soul, Matter, Time, Space, Dharma and Adharma. Jains maintain that all living beings are really soul, intrinsically perfect and immortal. Souls are said to be imprisoned in the body. In the Paracelsian concept, elementals are conceived more as supernatural humanoid beings which are much like human beings except for lacking souls.
The concept of subdivisions and elaborations of nature spirits draws from several much older traditions in mythology and religion. The ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles (490-430BC) was the 1st to propose that the 4 classical elements were sufficient to explain everything in the present world. The philosophy of nature spirits was also familiar to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and certainly Paracelsus.
Paracelsus believed that each of the 4 classical elements -earth, water, air, fire- is inhabited by different categories of elemental spirits that share our world. He described these elementals as the 'invisible, spiritual counterparts of visible Nature, neither divine nor human, but very like to human beings, who existed on a "plane", a world of their own, different from that of humans though occupying the same space, many resembling human beings in shape. They needed to eat, sleep, and wear clothes like humans, but unknown to man because his undeveloped senses were incapable of functioning beyond the limitations of the grosser elements."
The Paracelsian concept prevailed in the Classical world and was highly influential in medieval natural philosophy. The 4 elemental categories corresponded to the classical elements of antiquity: earth (gnomes, pygmy), water (undines, nymph), air (sylph, sylvestris), and fire (salamander, vulcanus). The elements were classed as the fundamental building blocks of nature. Paracelsus stated that each one stays healthy in its particular chaos, as he termed it, but dies in the others.
- Gnome (earth) is a diminutive being that lives underground. The word comes from a Greek name representing literally an 'earth-dweller.' Norse myth provides different mythical origins for the beings. They were associated with earth wisdom, smithing, and crafting. The Poetic Edda poem details that the dwarfs were the product of the primordial blood of the being Brimir and the bones of Ymir. They are similar to maggots that festered in the flesh of Ymir before being gifted with 'reason' by the gods. The Poetic Edda contains over 100 dwarf names, while the Prose Edda gives the 4 dwarfs, North, South, East, West, a cosmological role, holding up the sky.
Paracelso used 'gnome as a synonym of 'pygmaei', describing them as 2 spans (distance measured by a human hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger) high, very reluctant to interact with humans, and able to move through solid earth as humans move through air. They were known as 'chthonic, or 'earth-dweller' in ancient myths, often guarding mines and precious underground treasures.
- Undines (unda means 'wave)are beings associated with water. Similar creatures are found in classical literature, particularly Ovid's Metamorphoses. They are almost invariable depicted as females and usually found in forest pools, and waterfalls. The group contained many species, including nereides, limnads, naiades, and mermaids. Although resembling humans in form they lacked a human soul, so to achieve immortality they must acquire one by marrying a human. Such a union is not without risk for the man, because if he is unfaithful he is fated to die. The offspring of the union become human with a soul, but also with some kind of aquatic characteristic, called a watermark.
- Sylph is an invisible being of the air. The word was used as a metaphorical name for an 'echo.' Other use of the word was to describe something 'wild' (sylvestres). Paracelsus said that these elementals were rougher, coarser, taller, and stronger than humans. Because these elementals were able to move through air, sylphs were the closest to humans, while in fire they burn, in water they drown, and in earth, they get stuck.
- Salamander which renew its scaly skin in the fire was suggested by Paracelsus as the elemental of fire, being long, narrow, and lean. He considered them to be not devils but similar to humans.
The salamander is found throughout French folklore, although in differing form. Instead of its fire symbolism, it was attributed a powerful poison. Some legends say that merely by falling into a well, it would poison the water, and by climbing a fruit tree, poison the fruit. Its highly toxic breath was reportedly enough to swell a person until their skin broke. In Auvergne, it supposedly did the same to herds of cattle. The only way to kill one was said to be locking it in a confined space so that it breathed its own poison. The Bretons feared this elementals so much so they did not dare say its real name for fear it would hear and then kill them.
Marco Polo believed that the true salamander was an incombustible substance found in the earth.
In 1670, Comte de Gabalis was prominent in popularizing Paracelsus' theory of elementals. In particular focused on the idea of elemental marriage discussed by Paracelsus. In his book "Count of Kabbalah" explains that members of his order, to which Paracelsus is said to belong, refrain from marriage to human beings in order to retain their freedom to bestow souls upon elementals. He used the terms 'sylph' and 'gnome' to refer to female elementals. Male undines are said to be rare, while female salamanders are rarely seen.
The Rosicrucians claimed to be able to see such elementals spirits. To be admitted to their society, it was previously necessary for the eyes to be purged with the Panacea or 'Universal Medicine,' a legendary substance with curative power. As well, glass gloves would be prepared with one of the 4 elements, and for 1 month exposed to beams of sunlight. With these steps the initiated would see innumerable elemental beings immediately. The beings were said to be longer lived than man but ceased to exist upon death. However, if the elemental were to wed a mortal, they would become immortal in their own planes. One of the conditions of joining the Rosicrucians was a vow of chastity in hopes of marrying an elemental.
In Jainism, an ancient Indian religion, in which the central tenet is non-violence and love towards all living beings, there is a similar concept of the elemental beings within its general cosmology. The motto of its philosophy is "the function of souls is to help one another" and its 3 main principles are non-violence, non-absolutism, non-possessiveness. The word "Jain" derives from the Sanskrit word "Jina" meaning "conqueror." A human being who has conquered all inner passions is called "Jina."
According to Jainism, there are 6 simple substances in existence, namely, Soul, Matter, Time, Space, Dharma and Adharma. Jains maintain that all living beings are really soul, intrinsically perfect and immortal. Souls are said to be imprisoned in the body. In the Paracelsian concept, elementals are conceived more as supernatural humanoid beings which are much like human beings except for lacking souls.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
HYPNOSIS, AN THE UNSEEN WORLD.
Hypnosis is a tool that allows us to explore the unused potential of our minds to accomplish the goals we desire. Not all medical experts of Hypnosis would agree that Hypnosis is a state of increased suggestibility during which ideas and instructions become readily acceptable to the subconscious mind.
Hypnosis can eradicate and replace long-established habits and attitudes that the patient wishes to change.
Although modern scientific and medical hypno-therapy is 2 or 3 centuries old, Hypnotism itself dates back for millennia. Although no named as such, some elements of Hypnosis are indistinguishable from certain trancelike states induced during ancient religious ceremonies involving rhythmic drumming, chanting, or deep meditation.
Hypnosis has been used in United States since the mid- 1800s, and was the subject of deep studies to many psychologists of the time like Sigmund Freud, Pierre Janet, and Alfred Binet among others.
The origin of hypnosis are inseparable from the history of the ancient cultures, including the Sumerian, Persian, Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman. All of them used Hypnosis in some form.
The Sumerian practiced Hynosis 4000 years before the Time of Christ, as described on cuneiform tablets. The 'priest of Erech' had a manuscript that proved that 'cures had been achieved' through Hypnotic therapy. The practice 3 levels or grades of Hypnotherapy: Light, Medium, and Deep.
In Egypt, the 'Ebers papyrus,' found through excavations in their sacred places, shows methods of Hypnosis that were used as a therapy tool. Priests were regarded as doctors in ancient Egypt, and they used the 'Power of Suggestion.' Patients would stare at metal discs, which created a 'fatigue' that would cause them to fall into a hypnotic sleep. This technique came to be known as 'fixation' and is commonly used in Hypnosis today.
In Greece, the individuals affected by some sort of unknown frequencies in their brains, went to sleep temples that were used as healing places, to restore the brain health or other maladies. The patients followed special diets, took special baths, and participated in special cleansing rituals. The priest told them about cures that helped others in their condition, which encouraged them mentally and stimulated their expectations for the same healing to occur with them.
In ancient Rome, doctors served as middlemen between the gods and the ill. Certain philosophers also began to use the 'power of suggestion' that was used by physicians.
In India, the Sanskrit book known as 'the Law of Manu,' the ancient science of India, defines 3 different levels of Hypnosis as the sleep-waking, dream-sleep, and ecstacy-sleep states.
Many of the healing techniques documented in the Old Testaments in the Scripture have been linked to hypnosis. In pre-Christian times, the Jews used professional exorcists. These practices are described as what we know today as Hypnosis.
In the 2nd century BC, a poet named Porphyrus reported an argument between 2 students, Plotinus and Olympius, over the beliefs of their masters regarding Hypnosis. To settle the disagreement, Olympius challenged Plotinus to prove his gift in the 'art of hypnosis.' People gathered around and watched attentively. Plotinus stared at Olympius for a few minutes, in an intimidating way, and called out (using the minds of the audience as a resonance and at the same time unifying the thought), 'Behold, his body shrivels like a purse!' Olympus, receiving the suggestion mentally, felt a great pain shoot through his body, and agreed that the mental strength and the power of suggestion of Plotinus was far superior to his own.
- Paracelsus (1493-1541), famous for saying, "the deciding factor in a cure is the Inner Doctor," was an alchemist, a doctor of medicine, and possibly a time traveller as well. He discovered the usefulness of mercury as a mean of allaying and ameliorating some of the symptoms of syphilis, and his innovative medical skills included stroking a patient's body with a natural magnet - a lodestone. This technique have been closely allied to an early form of proto-hypnosis, in which healing suggestions accompanied the moving magnet. He was at risk of being executed because of the various treatment methods he used, being Hypnosis one of them, were considered satanic.
- Valentine Greatrakes, known as 'the great Irish stroker', continued with Paracelsus' magnet techniques. He actually worked with Robert Boyle (1627-1691), who carefully noted Greatrakes's method of magnetic stroking. The technique consisted of drawing the pain from the afflicted part towards the end of the limb and then out of the body altogether.
- Maximilian Hell (1720-1792) was an astronomer and Jesuit priest who achieved cures through the use of magnets. Maximilian's healing methods consisted of applying magnetized steel plates to the patient's images of diseased organs or places where pain existed in the body, and 60% to 80% improvement were obtained in his patients' physical condition.
- Johann Joseph Gassner (1727-1779) was a Catholic priest at Klosterle and later at Pondorf, now part of Winklarn in Bavaria. He firmly believed that illness was caused by demons and evil spirits. Working as an exorcist, he cured patients by a process that involved driving out the evil spirits responsible for their illnesses.
- Friedrick Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) studied Hypnotism under Father Maximilian Hell, who despite his unusual surname, was a Jesuit. Mesmer believed that he could cure sick people by magnetizing their fluids. This was achieved by passing a hand along the length of the patient's body, from the top of the head to the soles of the feet. This would cause a convulsive effect, and the patient would then fall into a deep sleep. In 1774 , Mesmer gave one of his patients a dose of 'medicine' that contained a significant quantity of iron. He then ran magnets over her body, and the patient described her strange feelings. She said it was as if tides, or streams, of fluid energy were running through her body and she reported that she felt much better for several hours afterwards. Memer was not convinced that the magnets were solely responsible for her improvement. He developed a theory of 'animal magnetism' that involved healing power flowing from him to the patient. Louis XVI commissioned the 'Royal Academy of Sciences' to examine Mesmer's doctrines. He was discredited, ridiculed, and called a quack by the 'commission.' The patients' convulsions were considered 'immoral', despite the healing impact afterward. Mesmer died discouraged and in poverty.
- James Braid (1795-1860), and English ophthalmologist, observed experiments conducted by the magnetist, LaFontaine. He studied these experiments to disprove the ancient theory of Hypnosis that dealt with the view and behavior of the unseen world. After practicing the techniques on his wife, friend, and servant, however, he was able to make them fall asleep by staring at the button on the tip of his nose.
- Sigmund Freud confirmed the occurrence of Hypnosis, but was unable to perform it successfully on his clients and therefore discourage the use of it.
- Emile Coue developed the doctrine of self-hypnosis or auto-suggestion. He believed any individual can be a powerful hypnosis-therapist. He also proposed 3 laws of hypnosis-therapy: concentrated attention's law, the dominant effect's law, the dominant action's law.
- Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1893) was a neurologist who worked with many illnesses. He used a 'shock technique' to startle groups of people and cause them to fall into a hypnotic state.
- I.P. Pavlov believed that Hypnosis and the 'power of suggestion' are phenomena that are inherent in daily life.
The British Medical Association 'approved the study of hypnosis' in medical schools and postgraduate curricula, and 'approved its use' for psychiatric and surgical purposes.
The American Medical Association followed suit and integrated hypnosis into its curricula.
Doctors in World Wars I and II used Hypnosis to treat neuroses. During the Korean War, hypno-therapy and psychology became connected together.
Hypnosis can eradicate and replace long-established habits and attitudes that the patient wishes to change.
Although modern scientific and medical hypno-therapy is 2 or 3 centuries old, Hypnotism itself dates back for millennia. Although no named as such, some elements of Hypnosis are indistinguishable from certain trancelike states induced during ancient religious ceremonies involving rhythmic drumming, chanting, or deep meditation.
Hypnosis has been used in United States since the mid- 1800s, and was the subject of deep studies to many psychologists of the time like Sigmund Freud, Pierre Janet, and Alfred Binet among others.
The origin of hypnosis are inseparable from the history of the ancient cultures, including the Sumerian, Persian, Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman. All of them used Hypnosis in some form.
The Sumerian practiced Hynosis 4000 years before the Time of Christ, as described on cuneiform tablets. The 'priest of Erech' had a manuscript that proved that 'cures had been achieved' through Hypnotic therapy. The practice 3 levels or grades of Hypnotherapy: Light, Medium, and Deep.
In Egypt, the 'Ebers papyrus,' found through excavations in their sacred places, shows methods of Hypnosis that were used as a therapy tool. Priests were regarded as doctors in ancient Egypt, and they used the 'Power of Suggestion.' Patients would stare at metal discs, which created a 'fatigue' that would cause them to fall into a hypnotic sleep. This technique came to be known as 'fixation' and is commonly used in Hypnosis today.
In Greece, the individuals affected by some sort of unknown frequencies in their brains, went to sleep temples that were used as healing places, to restore the brain health or other maladies. The patients followed special diets, took special baths, and participated in special cleansing rituals. The priest told them about cures that helped others in their condition, which encouraged them mentally and stimulated their expectations for the same healing to occur with them.
In ancient Rome, doctors served as middlemen between the gods and the ill. Certain philosophers also began to use the 'power of suggestion' that was used by physicians.
In India, the Sanskrit book known as 'the Law of Manu,' the ancient science of India, defines 3 different levels of Hypnosis as the sleep-waking, dream-sleep, and ecstacy-sleep states.
Many of the healing techniques documented in the Old Testaments in the Scripture have been linked to hypnosis. In pre-Christian times, the Jews used professional exorcists. These practices are described as what we know today as Hypnosis.
In the 2nd century BC, a poet named Porphyrus reported an argument between 2 students, Plotinus and Olympius, over the beliefs of their masters regarding Hypnosis. To settle the disagreement, Olympius challenged Plotinus to prove his gift in the 'art of hypnosis.' People gathered around and watched attentively. Plotinus stared at Olympius for a few minutes, in an intimidating way, and called out (using the minds of the audience as a resonance and at the same time unifying the thought), 'Behold, his body shrivels like a purse!' Olympus, receiving the suggestion mentally, felt a great pain shoot through his body, and agreed that the mental strength and the power of suggestion of Plotinus was far superior to his own.
- Paracelsus (1493-1541), famous for saying, "the deciding factor in a cure is the Inner Doctor," was an alchemist, a doctor of medicine, and possibly a time traveller as well. He discovered the usefulness of mercury as a mean of allaying and ameliorating some of the symptoms of syphilis, and his innovative medical skills included stroking a patient's body with a natural magnet - a lodestone. This technique have been closely allied to an early form of proto-hypnosis, in which healing suggestions accompanied the moving magnet. He was at risk of being executed because of the various treatment methods he used, being Hypnosis one of them, were considered satanic.
- Valentine Greatrakes, known as 'the great Irish stroker', continued with Paracelsus' magnet techniques. He actually worked with Robert Boyle (1627-1691), who carefully noted Greatrakes's method of magnetic stroking. The technique consisted of drawing the pain from the afflicted part towards the end of the limb and then out of the body altogether.
- Maximilian Hell (1720-1792) was an astronomer and Jesuit priest who achieved cures through the use of magnets. Maximilian's healing methods consisted of applying magnetized steel plates to the patient's images of diseased organs or places where pain existed in the body, and 60% to 80% improvement were obtained in his patients' physical condition.
- Johann Joseph Gassner (1727-1779) was a Catholic priest at Klosterle and later at Pondorf, now part of Winklarn in Bavaria. He firmly believed that illness was caused by demons and evil spirits. Working as an exorcist, he cured patients by a process that involved driving out the evil spirits responsible for their illnesses.
- Friedrick Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) studied Hypnotism under Father Maximilian Hell, who despite his unusual surname, was a Jesuit. Mesmer believed that he could cure sick people by magnetizing their fluids. This was achieved by passing a hand along the length of the patient's body, from the top of the head to the soles of the feet. This would cause a convulsive effect, and the patient would then fall into a deep sleep. In 1774 , Mesmer gave one of his patients a dose of 'medicine' that contained a significant quantity of iron. He then ran magnets over her body, and the patient described her strange feelings. She said it was as if tides, or streams, of fluid energy were running through her body and she reported that she felt much better for several hours afterwards. Memer was not convinced that the magnets were solely responsible for her improvement. He developed a theory of 'animal magnetism' that involved healing power flowing from him to the patient. Louis XVI commissioned the 'Royal Academy of Sciences' to examine Mesmer's doctrines. He was discredited, ridiculed, and called a quack by the 'commission.' The patients' convulsions were considered 'immoral', despite the healing impact afterward. Mesmer died discouraged and in poverty.
- James Braid (1795-1860), and English ophthalmologist, observed experiments conducted by the magnetist, LaFontaine. He studied these experiments to disprove the ancient theory of Hypnosis that dealt with the view and behavior of the unseen world. After practicing the techniques on his wife, friend, and servant, however, he was able to make them fall asleep by staring at the button on the tip of his nose.
- Sigmund Freud confirmed the occurrence of Hypnosis, but was unable to perform it successfully on his clients and therefore discourage the use of it.
- Emile Coue developed the doctrine of self-hypnosis or auto-suggestion. He believed any individual can be a powerful hypnosis-therapist. He also proposed 3 laws of hypnosis-therapy: concentrated attention's law, the dominant effect's law, the dominant action's law.
- Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1893) was a neurologist who worked with many illnesses. He used a 'shock technique' to startle groups of people and cause them to fall into a hypnotic state.
- I.P. Pavlov believed that Hypnosis and the 'power of suggestion' are phenomena that are inherent in daily life.
The British Medical Association 'approved the study of hypnosis' in medical schools and postgraduate curricula, and 'approved its use' for psychiatric and surgical purposes.
The American Medical Association followed suit and integrated hypnosis into its curricula.
Doctors in World Wars I and II used Hypnosis to treat neuroses. During the Korean War, hypno-therapy and psychology became connected together.
Friday, September 9, 2016
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS.
The seven deadly sins in their current form are not found in the Bible, however there are biblical antecedents. One such antecedent is found in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 6, among the verses traditionally associated with King Solomon, it states: "There are '6 things' which the Lord hates, '7' which are an abomination to him: - Haughty eyes, - a lying tongue, - and hands that shed innocent blood, - a heart that devises wicked plans, - feet that make haste to run to evil, - a false witness who breathes out lies, - and a man who sows discord among brothers."
Another list, given by the Epistle to the Galatians, chapter 5, includes more of the traditional 7 sins:
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the Flesh, for the desires of the Flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the Flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. ... Now the works of the Flesh are plain: -fornication, -impurity, -licentiousness, -idolatry, -sorcery, -enmity, -strife, -jealousy, -anger, -selfishness, -dissension, -party spirit, -envy, -drunkenness, -carousing, -and the like. ... But the fruit of the Spirit is -love, joy, -peace, -patience, -kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law."
Still another list of things that God hates comes from Revelation, chapter 21. This list has 8 items, and includes 7 sins listed previously which states: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
There are 7 deadly sins in the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy (Dante's Hell). The story begins with the narrator, who is the poet himself, being lost in a dark wood where he is attacked by 3 beasts which he cannot escape. He is rescued by the Roman poet Virgil who is sent by Beatrice (Dantes ideal woman). Together, they begin the journey into the underworld or the 9th Circles of Hell.
Ranked in order, the 7 deadly sins are:
-Lust (Fornication), unlawful sexual desire, such as desiring sex with a person outside marriage. Dante's definition was 'excessive love of others,' and this reduced the love that a person could give God. Lust is placed in the 2nd circle of Hell, by Dante, where the punished souls, are blown around by a strong wind, without the hope of ever resting. This is because lust is so powerful, that it can blow one around without need or aim.
-Gluttony, wasting of food, either through eating too much food, drink or drugs, misplaced desire for food for its taste, or not giving food to the needy. 'Excessive love of pleasure' was Dante's definition. It is placed in the 3rd circle of Hell, by Dante, where the souls are forced to lie in a kind of slush, made by freezing rain, black snow, and hail. This used to symbolized what they made with their life.
-Greed (Covetousness, Avarice), greed is when somebody wants more things than the person needs or can use. Dante wrote that greed is too much 'love of money and power.' They are in the 4th circle. There, they are boiled in hot oil, it is the best oil that money can buy, but it is still pretty hot and they are turned into gold.
-Sloth, as a laziness, idleness and wastefulness of time that a person has. Laziness is hated because others have to work harder. Delay what God wants a person to do or not doing it at all. Makes the life of that person harder, because useful work does not get done. Like gluttony, it is a sin of waste, for it wastes time. Sloth is considered a state of equilibrium -one does not produce much, but one does not need much either. In Dante's theology, sloth is the 'failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind, and all one's soul.' They are in the 5th circle, where they are thrown into a snake pit where the indolent will have to move around to get the snakes off them eternally.
-Wrath (Anger, Hate) defined as an inappropriate (not right) feelings of hatred, revenge, or even denial, as well as punitive desires outside of justice. Dante's description was 'love of justice perverted to revenge and spite.' They are in the 5th circle as well. It is a combined circle of sloth and wrath. Their limbs are ripped apart, because the furious use their arms and/or legs in their act of violence.
-Envy (Jealousy) defined as hating other people for what they have. Dante wrote that envy is 'love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs.' In other words, thinking that the person himself should have more, even if it means someone else will have less because of him.
-Pride (Vanity) defined as the desire to be important or attractive to others or excessive love of self. Dante's definition was 'love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor.'
Some of this sins are connected. For example, 'pride' (love of self out of proportion) is needed for gluttony (the over-consumption or waste of food), as well as 'sloth', 'envy', and most of the others. Each of these sins is a way of not loving God and not loving others as much as oneself.
In philosophy, especially that of Aristotle, there is a desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency. For example, in the Aristotelian view, 'courage' is a virtue, but if taken to excess would manifest in recklessness, and, in deficiency, turn to cowardice.
The opposite of these 7 deadly sins are the 7 virtues: -chastity, -moderation, -charity, -zeal, -meekness, -generosity, and -humility, in corresponding order.
THE 7 SPIRITS OF THE 7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION.
In Revelation, in the vision of John, on the Greek Island of Patmos, Jesus Christ instructs his servant, to "write on a scroll what you see and send it to the 7 churches of Asia Minor: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
The purpose of the letters is to communicate with them and meet their needs revealing 7 different types of individuals in the form of churches throughout history and instruct them in God's Truth.
Each of the 7 churches describes issues that fit Christ's Church in any time in its history.
- Ephesus: the church that had forsaken its first love.
He speaks of the 7 stars and 7 lamp-stands. The lamp-stands symbolize the expectation that each of the 7 individuals have as a bright and shining light. The seven stars symbolize the 7 Guardian Spirits. Jesus emphasizes that he holds these stars in his right hand and they are secure in Him as well as dependent on Him.
Soul's Insight: "I know your deeds, hard work, and perseverance. You have not grown weary. I know what you are doing, and you are doing it well (and I know what you are refusing, and that you are right in your refusal). "
- Smyrma: the church that suffer persecution.
Jesus is the first and the last, the one who died and came to life again. He is the alpha and omega and everything in between. Jesus lives in the power of endless life.
Soul's Insight: "I know your afflictions and poverty, and yet you are rich. I know the challenging circumstances under which you live, and are destitute in material things, but are strong in faith and rich in spirit. Be encouraged."
- Pergamum: the church that needed to repent.
Jesus has the sharp, double-edged sword. He is in the position of authority and power and when he wields authority, it is a blessing for those who follow and a condemnation for those who do not.
Criticism: "Yet I hold this against you, 'You have held to teachings of traitors, ate food sacrificed to idols, committed sexual impurity, etc. You are leading (encouraging even) people away from the teachings from Jesus and moving people toward idolatry -putting created things before the creator (to be interested more in the temporal than in the spiritual). This leads to immoral behavior.' "
Soul's Insight: "I know where you live, where Satan has his throne, and you remain true to My Name."
- Thyatira: the church that have a false prophetess.
Jesus is one whose eyes are like blazing fire and his feet are like burnished bronze. He has penetrating insight and wisdom in all things. He is also swift to move and in action, and will perform quickly to do what needs to be done.
- Sardis: the church that have fallen asleep.
Jesus holds the 7 Spirits of God, the 7 stars, and the 7-fold Spirit of God. He holds those in leadership in his hands, and also provides the 7-fold Graces of the Spirit.
- Philadelphia: the church that endures patiently.
Jesus is the one who is Holy and True, who holds the key of David. What He opens, no one can shut; what He shuts, no one can open.
- Laodicea: the church with the lukewarm faith.
Jesus is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Jesus is the exclamation of what God is saying. He is faithful to all God is, totally true, and is the ruler of all God's creation. He has glorious authority.
Criticism: "Yet I hold this against you, 'You have such an exaggerated opinion of your importance and effectiveness, that it has become misleading. You are not even close to being the church that you think you are.' "
The letters follow identical formats, and each letter has 7 sections: 1) Greetings, 2) Descriptive title for Jesus, 3) Insights into the personal life, 4) Constructive criticisms, 5) Warnings and instructions, 6) Final exhortations, 7) Promises and assurances.
Jesus promises that, for those who overcome, there are untold blessings to come, and Jesus assures the individual, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Anyone who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, I will eat with him and they with me."
The purpose of the letters is to communicate with them and meet their needs revealing 7 different types of individuals in the form of churches throughout history and instruct them in God's Truth.
Each of the 7 churches describes issues that fit Christ's Church in any time in its history.
- Ephesus: the church that had forsaken its first love.
He speaks of the 7 stars and 7 lamp-stands. The lamp-stands symbolize the expectation that each of the 7 individuals have as a bright and shining light. The seven stars symbolize the 7 Guardian Spirits. Jesus emphasizes that he holds these stars in his right hand and they are secure in Him as well as dependent on Him.
Soul's Insight: "I know your deeds, hard work, and perseverance. You have not grown weary. I know what you are doing, and you are doing it well (and I know what you are refusing, and that you are right in your refusal). "
- Smyrma: the church that suffer persecution.
Jesus is the first and the last, the one who died and came to life again. He is the alpha and omega and everything in between. Jesus lives in the power of endless life.
Soul's Insight: "I know your afflictions and poverty, and yet you are rich. I know the challenging circumstances under which you live, and are destitute in material things, but are strong in faith and rich in spirit. Be encouraged."
- Pergamum: the church that needed to repent.
Jesus has the sharp, double-edged sword. He is in the position of authority and power and when he wields authority, it is a blessing for those who follow and a condemnation for those who do not.
Criticism: "Yet I hold this against you, 'You have held to teachings of traitors, ate food sacrificed to idols, committed sexual impurity, etc. You are leading (encouraging even) people away from the teachings from Jesus and moving people toward idolatry -putting created things before the creator (to be interested more in the temporal than in the spiritual). This leads to immoral behavior.' "
Soul's Insight: "I know where you live, where Satan has his throne, and you remain true to My Name."
- Thyatira: the church that have a false prophetess.
Jesus is one whose eyes are like blazing fire and his feet are like burnished bronze. He has penetrating insight and wisdom in all things. He is also swift to move and in action, and will perform quickly to do what needs to be done.
- Sardis: the church that have fallen asleep.
Jesus holds the 7 Spirits of God, the 7 stars, and the 7-fold Spirit of God. He holds those in leadership in his hands, and also provides the 7-fold Graces of the Spirit.
- Philadelphia: the church that endures patiently.
Jesus is the one who is Holy and True, who holds the key of David. What He opens, no one can shut; what He shuts, no one can open.
- Laodicea: the church with the lukewarm faith.
Jesus is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Jesus is the exclamation of what God is saying. He is faithful to all God is, totally true, and is the ruler of all God's creation. He has glorious authority.
Criticism: "Yet I hold this against you, 'You have such an exaggerated opinion of your importance and effectiveness, that it has become misleading. You are not even close to being the church that you think you are.' "
The letters follow identical formats, and each letter has 7 sections: 1) Greetings, 2) Descriptive title for Jesus, 3) Insights into the personal life, 4) Constructive criticisms, 5) Warnings and instructions, 6) Final exhortations, 7) Promises and assurances.
Jesus promises that, for those who overcome, there are untold blessings to come, and Jesus assures the individual, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Anyone who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, I will eat with him and they with me."
Sunday, August 28, 2016
JE'HOSH'A'PHAT AND HIS SYMBOLIC REIGN.
Je'Hosh'A'Phat, King of Judah, son of A'Sa and Azub'Ah daughter of Shil'Hi. He came to the throne at the age of 35, and reigned for 25 years, and was succeeded by his son Je'Ho'Ram.
1 KIngs 22 indicates that (1) Je'Hosh'A'Phat continue the religious policies of A'Sa and so was faithful to God, but he did not take the 'high places' away. (2) He made peace with the rulers of Israel. (3) He had 'ships of Tarshish' constructed for gold trade with Ophir, but the vessels were wrecked at Ezion-Geber.
2 Chronicles 20 construes this last matter differently, condemning Je'Hosh'A'Phat for collaborating with Ahaz'Iah in the venture and noting that the ships were built in Ezion-Geber, and destroyed after the prophet Eli-Ezer rebuked Je'Hosh'A'Phat for entering into an agreement with the Israelite king.
The reports about Je'Hosh'A'Phat's military alliances with Ahab against the Syrians, and with Jehoram against Moab, depict the king of Judah as a godly man, who insisted on hearing the Word of God's prophet before going into battle.
Chronicles enlarges the Kings account of Je'Hosh'A'Phat dramatically and depicts the king more favorable, reporting that he fortified, provisioned, and garrisoned his territories against Israel and other foreign powers, and because of that God blessed him with peace.
Chronicles reproduce with few changes the Kings' report about the Battle with Syria at Ramoth-Gilead, but it notes that the seer Jehu, son of Hanani, rebuked Je'Hosh'A'Phat for his alliance with Israel.
In addition, 2 Chronicles 20 describes Je'Hosh'A'Phat successful defense of his territory against an alliance of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites (inhabitants of Mount Seir), a narrative with superficial parallels to 2 Kings 3. Je'Hosh'A'Phat proclaimed a fast, appealed to God for help, and under the guidance of the Levite Jahazi-El led his people out for battle, where they found that their enemies had destroyed one another.
"Then Je'Hosh'A'Phat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Ko'Ha'Thites and the Kor'A'Hites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a Very Loud Voice."
"And they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Teko'a; and as they went out, Je'Hosh'A'Phat stood and said, 'Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and You Will Be Established; Believe His Prophets, and You Will Succeed.' "
"And when Je'Hosh'A'Phat had taken counsel with the people, He Appointed Those Who Were To Sing To The Lord and Praise Him in Holy Array, as they went before the army, and say, 'GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOR EVER.' "
"And When They Began To Sing and Praise, the Lord set an Ambush Against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."
"For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterlyand when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
When Judah came to the Watchtower of the Wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and behold,
they were dead bodies lying on the ground, none had escaped."
"When Je'Hosh'A'Phat and His People came to take the spoil from them, they found cattle in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were 3 days in taking the spoil, it was so much. On the 4th day they assembled in the Valley of Bera'Cah, for There They Blessed the Lord; therefore the Name of that place has been called the Valley of Bera'Cah to this day."
"Then they returned, Every Man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Je'Hosh'A'Phat at Their Head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord Had Made Them Rejoice Over Their Enemies. They came to Jerusalem, with Harps and Lyres, and Trumpets, to the House of the Lord."
"And the Fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord Had Fought Against The Enemies Of Israel. So the Realm of Je'Hosh'A'Phat was quiet, For His God Gave Him Rest Round About."
Finally, in Chronicles, Je'Hosh'A'Phat is portrayed as a diligent ruler concerned with the right religious observance of His People and the Administration of Justice in the Land. He sent princes, Levites, and priests into the cities of Judah to Teach The Book Of The Law Of God, and appointed judges throughout his kingdom, establishing in Jerusalem Levites, priests, and heads of families to judge disputes brought to them.
1 KIngs 22 indicates that (1) Je'Hosh'A'Phat continue the religious policies of A'Sa and so was faithful to God, but he did not take the 'high places' away. (2) He made peace with the rulers of Israel. (3) He had 'ships of Tarshish' constructed for gold trade with Ophir, but the vessels were wrecked at Ezion-Geber.
2 Chronicles 20 construes this last matter differently, condemning Je'Hosh'A'Phat for collaborating with Ahaz'Iah in the venture and noting that the ships were built in Ezion-Geber, and destroyed after the prophet Eli-Ezer rebuked Je'Hosh'A'Phat for entering into an agreement with the Israelite king.
The reports about Je'Hosh'A'Phat's military alliances with Ahab against the Syrians, and with Jehoram against Moab, depict the king of Judah as a godly man, who insisted on hearing the Word of God's prophet before going into battle.
Chronicles enlarges the Kings account of Je'Hosh'A'Phat dramatically and depicts the king more favorable, reporting that he fortified, provisioned, and garrisoned his territories against Israel and other foreign powers, and because of that God blessed him with peace.
Chronicles reproduce with few changes the Kings' report about the Battle with Syria at Ramoth-Gilead, but it notes that the seer Jehu, son of Hanani, rebuked Je'Hosh'A'Phat for his alliance with Israel.
In addition, 2 Chronicles 20 describes Je'Hosh'A'Phat successful defense of his territory against an alliance of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites (inhabitants of Mount Seir), a narrative with superficial parallels to 2 Kings 3. Je'Hosh'A'Phat proclaimed a fast, appealed to God for help, and under the guidance of the Levite Jahazi-El led his people out for battle, where they found that their enemies had destroyed one another.
"Then Je'Hosh'A'Phat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Ko'Ha'Thites and the Kor'A'Hites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a Very Loud Voice."
"And they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Teko'a; and as they went out, Je'Hosh'A'Phat stood and said, 'Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and You Will Be Established; Believe His Prophets, and You Will Succeed.' "
"And when Je'Hosh'A'Phat had taken counsel with the people, He Appointed Those Who Were To Sing To The Lord and Praise Him in Holy Array, as they went before the army, and say, 'GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOR EVER.' "
"And When They Began To Sing and Praise, the Lord set an Ambush Against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."
"For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterlyand when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
When Judah came to the Watchtower of the Wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and behold,
they were dead bodies lying on the ground, none had escaped."
"When Je'Hosh'A'Phat and His People came to take the spoil from them, they found cattle in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were 3 days in taking the spoil, it was so much. On the 4th day they assembled in the Valley of Bera'Cah, for There They Blessed the Lord; therefore the Name of that place has been called the Valley of Bera'Cah to this day."
"Then they returned, Every Man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Je'Hosh'A'Phat at Their Head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord Had Made Them Rejoice Over Their Enemies. They came to Jerusalem, with Harps and Lyres, and Trumpets, to the House of the Lord."
"And the Fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord Had Fought Against The Enemies Of Israel. So the Realm of Je'Hosh'A'Phat was quiet, For His God Gave Him Rest Round About."
Finally, in Chronicles, Je'Hosh'A'Phat is portrayed as a diligent ruler concerned with the right religious observance of His People and the Administration of Justice in the Land. He sent princes, Levites, and priests into the cities of Judah to Teach The Book Of The Law Of God, and appointed judges throughout his kingdom, establishing in Jerusalem Levites, priests, and heads of families to judge disputes brought to them.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
WHY THE IBIS IS MENTIONED IN THE SCRIPTURES?
The Ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the Order of the Pelicaniformes, also known as Ciguigne, Hibicis, Ibex, Ybeux. The bird stays near the edge of the water, looking for dead fish or other carrion to eat, because it does not know how to swim. They have long down curved bills, and usually feed as a group. Most species nest in trees. The Ibis is known for clearing the water from reptiles left by the inundation of the Nile.
The word Ibis comes from Greek, Latin, and Ancient Egyptian. According to the historian Josephus, Moses employed Ibises against serpents during a desert campaign in Ethiopia in his early life.
There is one, among other references in the Scriptures, God uses the bird to show humans the nature, instinct, and purpose each one of us has in his creation: "Who tells the Ibis when the Nile will flood, or who tells the rooster that rain will fall." If we use other translations, it will say, "Who has put wisdom in the innermost being or given understanding to the mind?" The teaching refers to the mind realm and indirectly to the domain of Thot, the Egyptian god of mind and memory.
Living on the banks of the Nile, the Ibis is an element of the ancient Egyptian landscape. Sculpted in the 4th BC, the bird was venerated and often mummified. Egyptians revered the Ibis as an incarnation of Thot, who was the scribe of the gods and the creator of language. In the town of Hermopolis, Ibises were reared specifically for sacrificial purposes and at Saqqara, archaeologists found mummies of 1 1/2 million ibises and hundreds of thousands of falcons.
The Ibis also was associated with certain disciplines: writing, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.
According to Herodotus and Pliny the Elder, the bird was invoked against incursions of winged serpents.
Herodotus (5th BC), in his History Book, wrote: There is a region moreover in Africa, situated nearly over the city of Buto, to which place I came to inquire about the winged serpents: and when I came thither I saw bones of serpents and spines in quantity so great that it is impossible to make a report of the number. The region in which the spines are scattered upon the ground is of the nature of an entrance from a narrow mountain pass to a great plain. which adjoins the plain of Egypt. At the beginning of spring winged serpents come flying from Arabia towards Egypt, but are met in this entrance (gorge) by the birds called Ibises, who forbid their entrance and kill them all. The Arabians assert, and the Egyptians also admit, that it is on account of the service the Ibis is hold in so much reverence.
The description of the Black Ibis which contends with the serpents is :- a bird of a deep-black color, with legs like a crane; -its beak is strongly hooked, and its size is about that of the land-rail.
The commoner sort, for there are two quite distinct species, has the head and the whole throat bare of feathers; its general plumage is white, but the head and neck are jet black, as also are the tips of the wings and the extremity of the tail; in its beak and legs it resembles the other species."
Pliny the Elder (1st BC), in his Natural History Book, wrote: "The Ibis is a bird from Egypt. It is all over black, with a bill very thick in the beginning, but ending in a point, for better seizing its pray, which is caterpillars, locusts, and serpents. It uses its curved beak to purge itself through the part by which it is most conducive to health for the heavy residue of foodstuffs to be excreted. The people of Egyp invoke the Ibis to guard against the arrival of snakes. The Ibis is born black at Pelesium, but is white everywhere else."
According to local legend the Northern Bald Ibis was one of the first birds that Noah released from the Ark as a symbol of fertility, and a lingering sentiment in Turkey helped the colonies there to survive long after the demise of the species in Europe.
The mascot of the University of Miami is the White Ibis. The Ibis was selected because of its legendary bravery during hurricanes. The ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to reappear once the storm has passed.
The word Ibis comes from Greek, Latin, and Ancient Egyptian. According to the historian Josephus, Moses employed Ibises against serpents during a desert campaign in Ethiopia in his early life.
There is one, among other references in the Scriptures, God uses the bird to show humans the nature, instinct, and purpose each one of us has in his creation: "Who tells the Ibis when the Nile will flood, or who tells the rooster that rain will fall." If we use other translations, it will say, "Who has put wisdom in the innermost being or given understanding to the mind?" The teaching refers to the mind realm and indirectly to the domain of Thot, the Egyptian god of mind and memory.
Living on the banks of the Nile, the Ibis is an element of the ancient Egyptian landscape. Sculpted in the 4th BC, the bird was venerated and often mummified. Egyptians revered the Ibis as an incarnation of Thot, who was the scribe of the gods and the creator of language. In the town of Hermopolis, Ibises were reared specifically for sacrificial purposes and at Saqqara, archaeologists found mummies of 1 1/2 million ibises and hundreds of thousands of falcons.
The Ibis also was associated with certain disciplines: writing, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.
According to Herodotus and Pliny the Elder, the bird was invoked against incursions of winged serpents.
Herodotus (5th BC), in his History Book, wrote: There is a region moreover in Africa, situated nearly over the city of Buto, to which place I came to inquire about the winged serpents: and when I came thither I saw bones of serpents and spines in quantity so great that it is impossible to make a report of the number. The region in which the spines are scattered upon the ground is of the nature of an entrance from a narrow mountain pass to a great plain. which adjoins the plain of Egypt. At the beginning of spring winged serpents come flying from Arabia towards Egypt, but are met in this entrance (gorge) by the birds called Ibises, who forbid their entrance and kill them all. The Arabians assert, and the Egyptians also admit, that it is on account of the service the Ibis is hold in so much reverence.
The description of the Black Ibis which contends with the serpents is :- a bird of a deep-black color, with legs like a crane; -its beak is strongly hooked, and its size is about that of the land-rail.
The commoner sort, for there are two quite distinct species, has the head and the whole throat bare of feathers; its general plumage is white, but the head and neck are jet black, as also are the tips of the wings and the extremity of the tail; in its beak and legs it resembles the other species."
Pliny the Elder (1st BC), in his Natural History Book, wrote: "The Ibis is a bird from Egypt. It is all over black, with a bill very thick in the beginning, but ending in a point, for better seizing its pray, which is caterpillars, locusts, and serpents. It uses its curved beak to purge itself through the part by which it is most conducive to health for the heavy residue of foodstuffs to be excreted. The people of Egyp invoke the Ibis to guard against the arrival of snakes. The Ibis is born black at Pelesium, but is white everywhere else."
According to local legend the Northern Bald Ibis was one of the first birds that Noah released from the Ark as a symbol of fertility, and a lingering sentiment in Turkey helped the colonies there to survive long after the demise of the species in Europe.
The mascot of the University of Miami is the White Ibis. The Ibis was selected because of its legendary bravery during hurricanes. The ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to reappear once the storm has passed.
RAVENS AND THEIR PECULIAR INTELLIGENCE.
The raven has long been associated with death and dark omens, but the real bird is somewhat of a mystery. Unlike its smaller cousin the crow, not a lot has been written about this remarkable bird.
The raven belongs to the most intelligent of all birds. To give some idea of its intelligence, if the average IQ for a human being is measured at the 100 mark, then the average IQ of a raven is 138.
Its linguistic skills are legendary, and the bird can understand as well as imitate human words. In captivity, ravens learn to talk better than parrots.
Ravens are able to mimic other noises like wolves or foxes to attract them to carcasses that the raven is not capable of braking open. When the wolf is done eating, the bird gets the leftovers. They also can trick animals out of their food by making another raven distract the animal while the one plotting it steals the food. They have few predators and live 17 years in the wild and up to 40 in captivity.
Ravens also make very sophisticated nonvocal signals. They gesture to communicate. The bird points with it beak to indicate an object to another bird, just as we do with fingers. They also hold up an object just to get another bird's attention.
Ravens can live in a variety of habitats, from snow to desert to mountains to forests. They are scavengers with a huge diet that includes fish, meat, seeds, fruit, carrion, and garbage. Despite their trickster nature, ravens feel empathy. When a raven's friend loses in a fight, the bird will console the losing bird. They also remember birds they like and will respond in a friendly way to certain birds for at least 3 years after seeing them. They also respond negatively to enemies and suspiciously to strange ravens.
Many Europeans cultures took one look at this large black bird known for its intense gaze and thought it as an evil act of the flesh. In France, people believed ravens were the souls of wicked priests, while crows were wicked nuns. In Germany, ravens were the incarnation of damned souls or sometimes Satan himself. In Sweden, ravens that croaked at night were thought to be the souls of murdered people who didn't have proper burials. And in Denmark, people believed that night ravens were exorcized spirits, and you'd better not to look up at them in case there was a hole in the bird's wing, because you might look through the hole and turn into a raven yourself.
Cultures from Tibet to Greece have seen the raven as a messenger for the gods. Celtic goddesses of warfare often took the form of a raven during battles. The Viking god, Odin, had two ravens, Hug'In (thought) and Mun'In (memory), which flew around the world every day and reported back to Odin every night about what they saw. The Chinese said ravens caused bad weather in the forest to warn people that the gods were going to pass by.
The raven's intelligence and its playful nature make the bird the ultimate symbol of the trickster. They have been observed in Alaska and canada using snow-covered roofs as slides. In Maine, USA, they have been seen rolling down snowy hills. They often play keep-away with wolves, otters, and dogs. Ravens make toys using sticks, pine cones, golf balls, or rocks to play with each other or by themselves. Sometimes they just taunt or mock other creatures because they feel funny.
Ravens love to lie in anthills and roll around so the ants swarm on them, or they chew the ants up and rub their guts on their feathers. Songbirds, crows, and jays do it too. Maybe the ants acts as insecticide and fungicide for the bird or have a soothing effect over the bird's skin.
Ravens will work together for the benefit of the group, and so have come to symbolize the benefits of teamwork.
Ravens mate for life and live in pairs in a fixed territory. When their children reach adolescence, they leave home and join other groups of young ravens. They live and eat together until they mate and pair off. Scientist have found higher level of stress hormones in teenage raven droppings than in the droppings of mated adults.
A raven appear several times throughout the Bible and are used as symbols of greater meaning because of the level of intelligence that the bird has, or because the bird was prolific in that time period. We have the most common verses using the raven and its applicable meaning:
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no store room nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! (Luke 12).
It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there (1Kings17). Every raven in its kind (Lev11).
He sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth (Gen8).
He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry (Psalm147).
The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it (Prov30).
His head is like gold, pure gold; his locks are like clusters of dates, and black as a raven (Sol.Songs 5).
But pelican and hedgehog will possess it, and owl and raven will dwell in it; and he will stretch over it the line of desolation and the plumb line of emptiness (Isaiah34).
Who prepares for the raven its nourishment when its young cry to God and wander about without food (Job38).
Ravens were used as sacrifices. God provided food for ravens. Ravens were unclean and not to be eaten. Ravens were described as having black color. Ravens are described as carnivorous. Elijah was fed by ravens. The plumage of the ravens illustrate the glory of Christ. The raven of the valley was called to execute punishment. Ravens are described as solitary in disposition and improvident. A raven was sent by Noah from the Ark.
The raven belongs to the most intelligent of all birds. To give some idea of its intelligence, if the average IQ for a human being is measured at the 100 mark, then the average IQ of a raven is 138.
Its linguistic skills are legendary, and the bird can understand as well as imitate human words. In captivity, ravens learn to talk better than parrots.
Ravens are able to mimic other noises like wolves or foxes to attract them to carcasses that the raven is not capable of braking open. When the wolf is done eating, the bird gets the leftovers. They also can trick animals out of their food by making another raven distract the animal while the one plotting it steals the food. They have few predators and live 17 years in the wild and up to 40 in captivity.
Ravens also make very sophisticated nonvocal signals. They gesture to communicate. The bird points with it beak to indicate an object to another bird, just as we do with fingers. They also hold up an object just to get another bird's attention.
Ravens can live in a variety of habitats, from snow to desert to mountains to forests. They are scavengers with a huge diet that includes fish, meat, seeds, fruit, carrion, and garbage. Despite their trickster nature, ravens feel empathy. When a raven's friend loses in a fight, the bird will console the losing bird. They also remember birds they like and will respond in a friendly way to certain birds for at least 3 years after seeing them. They also respond negatively to enemies and suspiciously to strange ravens.
Many Europeans cultures took one look at this large black bird known for its intense gaze and thought it as an evil act of the flesh. In France, people believed ravens were the souls of wicked priests, while crows were wicked nuns. In Germany, ravens were the incarnation of damned souls or sometimes Satan himself. In Sweden, ravens that croaked at night were thought to be the souls of murdered people who didn't have proper burials. And in Denmark, people believed that night ravens were exorcized spirits, and you'd better not to look up at them in case there was a hole in the bird's wing, because you might look through the hole and turn into a raven yourself.
Cultures from Tibet to Greece have seen the raven as a messenger for the gods. Celtic goddesses of warfare often took the form of a raven during battles. The Viking god, Odin, had two ravens, Hug'In (thought) and Mun'In (memory), which flew around the world every day and reported back to Odin every night about what they saw. The Chinese said ravens caused bad weather in the forest to warn people that the gods were going to pass by.
The raven's intelligence and its playful nature make the bird the ultimate symbol of the trickster. They have been observed in Alaska and canada using snow-covered roofs as slides. In Maine, USA, they have been seen rolling down snowy hills. They often play keep-away with wolves, otters, and dogs. Ravens make toys using sticks, pine cones, golf balls, or rocks to play with each other or by themselves. Sometimes they just taunt or mock other creatures because they feel funny.
Ravens love to lie in anthills and roll around so the ants swarm on them, or they chew the ants up and rub their guts on their feathers. Songbirds, crows, and jays do it too. Maybe the ants acts as insecticide and fungicide for the bird or have a soothing effect over the bird's skin.
Ravens will work together for the benefit of the group, and so have come to symbolize the benefits of teamwork.
Ravens mate for life and live in pairs in a fixed territory. When their children reach adolescence, they leave home and join other groups of young ravens. They live and eat together until they mate and pair off. Scientist have found higher level of stress hormones in teenage raven droppings than in the droppings of mated adults.
A raven appear several times throughout the Bible and are used as symbols of greater meaning because of the level of intelligence that the bird has, or because the bird was prolific in that time period. We have the most common verses using the raven and its applicable meaning:
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no store room nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! (Luke 12).
It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there (1Kings17). Every raven in its kind (Lev11).
He sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth (Gen8).
He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry (Psalm147).
The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it (Prov30).
His head is like gold, pure gold; his locks are like clusters of dates, and black as a raven (Sol.Songs 5).
But pelican and hedgehog will possess it, and owl and raven will dwell in it; and he will stretch over it the line of desolation and the plumb line of emptiness (Isaiah34).
Who prepares for the raven its nourishment when its young cry to God and wander about without food (Job38).
Ravens were used as sacrifices. God provided food for ravens. Ravens were unclean and not to be eaten. Ravens were described as having black color. Ravens are described as carnivorous. Elijah was fed by ravens. The plumage of the ravens illustrate the glory of Christ. The raven of the valley was called to execute punishment. Ravens are described as solitary in disposition and improvident. A raven was sent by Noah from the Ark.
Friday, August 19, 2016
WHY PAUL WENT TO TRO' AS?
TRO'AS was the principal port of North West Asia Minor. It was located about 20mi/32km South of the Helles'Pont (Dardan'Elles) and somewhat more than half that distance South of the traditional site of ancient Troy. In fact, Tro'as drew its name from Tro'ad, the term applied to that part of the region of Mysia that surrounded Troy.
Tro'as as a maritime city of Mysia was the chief city on the coast of the Aegean Sea, opposite the South east extremity of the island of Tenedos, and named after ancient Troy, which was at short distance from it (4mi/6.4km) to the North. It was a Macedonian and Roman colony of considerable importance, and was called Alexandria Tro'as.
Tro'as city was 1st built during the latter part of the 4th BC by Antigon'Us, one of the greatest generals of Alexander the Great, under the name of Antigon'Ea Tro'as. Lys'Imach'Us enlarged the city, and it became the chief port between Macedon' Ia and Asia Minor. The roads to the interior were good. For a time the Seleu'Cid kings made their homes here. Later, when the city became free, it struck its own coins, of which vast numbers are found; a common type is one upon which is stamped a graazing horse.
In 133 BC Tro'as came into the possession of the Romans, and thereafter the Region of Mysia became part of the Roman Province of Asia. Julius Caesar for a time designed to establish there the 'seat of his empire;' and Augustus and Constantine meditated the same project. Augustus further favored the city by making it a 'Roman colonia,' independent of the Roman provincial governor of Asia, and by exempting its citizens from both land and poll taxes.
Roman sentiment attracted them to Tro'as, the alleged 'seat' from whence Aeueas, the fabled progenitor of Rome's founder, originally migrated.
During Byzantine times Tro'as was the 'seat' of a Catholic Diocese, a territorial unit of administration.
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated in a larger unit, the 'diocese.'
With the adoption of Christianity as the Empire' s official religion in the 4th CE, the clergy assumed official positions of authority alongside the civil governors. A formal church hierarchy was set up, parallel to the civil administration, whose areas of responsibility often coincided.
With the collapse of the Western Empire in the 5th CE, the bishops in Western Europe assumed the large part of the role of the former Roman governors. A similar, though less pronounced, development occurred in the East, where the Roman administrative apparatus was largely retained by the Byzantine Empire.
Tro'as was visited several times by the apostle Paul and his companion 'the beloved physician,' and on one of these visits he left his cloak, some scrolls and parchments there after his 1st imprisonment.
On his 2nd journey, here Paul saw the 'vision of a man of Macedonia,' who appeared to him, saying, 'Come over, and help us'.
After leaving Ephesus on his 3rd journey Paul stopped in Tro'as and there then preached the Good News. He said, 'A door was opened to me in the Lord..' . After an undisclosed period of time, Paul was concerned about Titus because he didn't arrive on the prefixed time so he departed for Macedon'Ia, hoping to find him there. Paul spent that winter in Greece before returning again to Tro'as.
In the following spring Paul stayed 7 days in Tro'as ministering and spiritually building up the Spirit of Christian church. When assembled with them the night before leaving, and while Paul prolonged his speech, a young man named Eu-Tych-Us, who was seated at the third-loft window, fell asleep at midnight and tumbled to his death. Paul miraculously brought the boy back to life and continued conversing to the assembly until daybreak. The experience was taken as a reproof of carelessness and drowsiness in the spiritual teachings that lead to death (Acts 16,20; 2Cor.2; 2Tim.4).
It is likely that Paul visited Tro'as again after being released from house arrest in Rome. Then Paul wrote to Timothy during his 2nd imprisonment in Rome asking him to bring his cloak and certain scrolls and parchments that were left by Paul in the house of Carpus in Tro'as.
The land of ancient Tro'as is now a forest of magnificent oaks that has sprung up around it and extends over many miles. The walls enclose a rectangle. The rains are still large, and the harbor still traceable.
The name of the place is known now as 'Old Constantinople.'
Tro'as as a maritime city of Mysia was the chief city on the coast of the Aegean Sea, opposite the South east extremity of the island of Tenedos, and named after ancient Troy, which was at short distance from it (4mi/6.4km) to the North. It was a Macedonian and Roman colony of considerable importance, and was called Alexandria Tro'as.
Tro'as city was 1st built during the latter part of the 4th BC by Antigon'Us, one of the greatest generals of Alexander the Great, under the name of Antigon'Ea Tro'as. Lys'Imach'Us enlarged the city, and it became the chief port between Macedon' Ia and Asia Minor. The roads to the interior were good. For a time the Seleu'Cid kings made their homes here. Later, when the city became free, it struck its own coins, of which vast numbers are found; a common type is one upon which is stamped a graazing horse.
In 133 BC Tro'as came into the possession of the Romans, and thereafter the Region of Mysia became part of the Roman Province of Asia. Julius Caesar for a time designed to establish there the 'seat of his empire;' and Augustus and Constantine meditated the same project. Augustus further favored the city by making it a 'Roman colonia,' independent of the Roman provincial governor of Asia, and by exempting its citizens from both land and poll taxes.
Roman sentiment attracted them to Tro'as, the alleged 'seat' from whence Aeueas, the fabled progenitor of Rome's founder, originally migrated.
During Byzantine times Tro'as was the 'seat' of a Catholic Diocese, a territorial unit of administration.
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated in a larger unit, the 'diocese.'
With the adoption of Christianity as the Empire' s official religion in the 4th CE, the clergy assumed official positions of authority alongside the civil governors. A formal church hierarchy was set up, parallel to the civil administration, whose areas of responsibility often coincided.
With the collapse of the Western Empire in the 5th CE, the bishops in Western Europe assumed the large part of the role of the former Roman governors. A similar, though less pronounced, development occurred in the East, where the Roman administrative apparatus was largely retained by the Byzantine Empire.
Tro'as was visited several times by the apostle Paul and his companion 'the beloved physician,' and on one of these visits he left his cloak, some scrolls and parchments there after his 1st imprisonment.
On his 2nd journey, here Paul saw the 'vision of a man of Macedonia,' who appeared to him, saying, 'Come over, and help us'.
After leaving Ephesus on his 3rd journey Paul stopped in Tro'as and there then preached the Good News. He said, 'A door was opened to me in the Lord..' . After an undisclosed period of time, Paul was concerned about Titus because he didn't arrive on the prefixed time so he departed for Macedon'Ia, hoping to find him there. Paul spent that winter in Greece before returning again to Tro'as.
In the following spring Paul stayed 7 days in Tro'as ministering and spiritually building up the Spirit of Christian church. When assembled with them the night before leaving, and while Paul prolonged his speech, a young man named Eu-Tych-Us, who was seated at the third-loft window, fell asleep at midnight and tumbled to his death. Paul miraculously brought the boy back to life and continued conversing to the assembly until daybreak. The experience was taken as a reproof of carelessness and drowsiness in the spiritual teachings that lead to death (Acts 16,20; 2Cor.2; 2Tim.4).
It is likely that Paul visited Tro'as again after being released from house arrest in Rome. Then Paul wrote to Timothy during his 2nd imprisonment in Rome asking him to bring his cloak and certain scrolls and parchments that were left by Paul in the house of Carpus in Tro'as.
The land of ancient Tro'as is now a forest of magnificent oaks that has sprung up around it and extends over many miles. The walls enclose a rectangle. The rains are still large, and the harbor still traceable.
The name of the place is known now as 'Old Constantinople.'
Thursday, August 18, 2016
GOD AND THE MIND WORLD.
The study of dreaming, in the mind world, through the field of neuroscience, psychology, and even literature, still debates about why we dream but the plain fact is that the reasons are still mysterious.
When man was created he spent a great deal of time alone in the mind realm, and during that time God tested him. He was sent to name all the animal kingdom that resided at that level and with that name was kept forever. In other words the first man was sent to the mind realm to study the nature of every entity living in it through its behavior and naming them accordingly.
Always the symbolic way to represent the mind is using one of the 4 elements -water- because it gives us the idea of how the substance of the mind world is made of.
We read at the beginning of the scriptures that God divided the waters of the raging ocean that engulfed everything, in the mind realm, in total darkness making it clear that His Spirit was the only One able to move above the waters (everything is His creation).
The spirit of Light was the first to appear in that realm according to the will of God and He was pleased with what He saw. Its nature was righteous. He then separated the spirit of Light from the spirit of Darkness (Night). With this battle of Light and Darkness in the mind realm, the spirit of earth still was formless and desolate, as it is mentioned at the beginning of Genesis.
The raging ocean engulfed in total darkness gives us the idea of the rebel mind against God and being separated from Him in a total chaos that engulf everything. The nature of that spirit is vulnerability and quickness to accept an oppositional behavior. Then the mind of a believer needs to be tested in order to acquire strength to stand in what is right. The mind reveal wishes or emotions that we do not realize we have. Any dream, no matter how scary it would be, can be looked at as a way of getting something that we want.
When God separated the waters of the spirit of Light from the waters of the spirit of Darkness, the two different natures were defined by their waters, clean or unclean nothing in between.
Then God commanded,"Let there be a dome to divide the water and to keep it in two separate places."
The dome separated the water under it from the water above it. Then God made all the water below the dome come together in one place. In other words all the spirits belonging to that nature clumped together. Their nature made the land appear and the flesh of the earth was form and the water which had come together (mind), He named "Sea." God was pleased with what He saw.
Then God commanded that the flesh of the earth now with its own mind, produce all kind of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit. The earth produced according to God's will.
Then the waters above the dome were separated too in the same way God did with the land and the sea.
The Light and his beings were separated from the Night and his beings. Then lights appeared in the dome to show the time when Days, Years, and religious festivals would begin. Their shinning in the dome would give light to the earth.
Then God made the two larger lights, always maintaining a duality in His creation, the sun to rule over the Day and the moon to rule over the Night, separating Light from Darkness.
After the separation God commanded the water above the dome be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the element air be filled with birds (angels). So the great sea monsters, all kind of creatures that live in the water, and all kinds of birds, were created, lo live above the dome as their heavenly beings. God blessed them all and told the creatures that live in the water to reproduce and to fill the sea in the upper dome, and told the birds to increase in number.
After all of these had happened and we do not have any idea how long the process lasted, God then commanded the flesh of the earth produce all kind of animal life (instinct minds): domestic and wild, large and small, maintaining the dual pattern. So God made them all, and He was pleased with what He saw. If God is a Spirit, and He was pleased with it, means that His Creation was perfect in His Mind.
Then, after everything was in its right place, God said, "And now We will make human beings; they will be like Us and resemble Us." God is not speaking in singular, He is mentioning someone else.
Since God is the mastermind behind everything, He needed a speaker of His Will, and that was the spirit of Light, the Word, His own Son, Jesus Christ. The Mind and the Word.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
DEMON POSSESSION.
What are Demons? The definition of a demon is a malevolent spirit being, an unclean spirit, a fallen angel and comes from the Greek word "Coine" meaning "Daimonion." When we want to express the nature of their behavior, the ancient Greeks used the word "daiesthai" which literally means "to disturb" or "to divide" and denote an entity or spirit of supernatural power.
Demon possession is defined as the captive control and influence of a person by this malevolent spirit.
In Bible times demonized persons were afflicted in various ways: some were unable to speak, some were blind, some acted insane, and some possessed super human strength.
All were woefully mistreated by these invisible bullies. Men, women, and children were their victims.
Sometimes the agony was compounded when many demons gained possession of a person at the same time. When the demon was expelled, the person returned to a normal, sane state of mind.
It is quite interesting that during the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry, the demons themselves were the first ones to truly recognized that Jesus was more than a man, in other words Jesus' identity and addressed Him as the "Son of God," the "Holy One of God," and "Jesus, Son of the Most High God."
However, at no time Jesus allowed them to be witnesses in His behalf. On the other hand, a man who was set free from the power of the demons was encouraged to publish to his relatives "all the things God had for him."
There is a difference between demon possession and ordinary physical sickness and disease. Jesus had the power to cure both types of disorders. Some of Jesus' greatest miracles involved the setting of possessed persons who became free from captivity to the demons. Demons were powerless against Him and shudder with fear and trepidation before Him. They know that their ultimate fate is the lake of fire.
But not everyone was happy with this demon expelling work. The Pharisees accused Jesus of being in league with the ruler of the demons, Beel-Zebub, whereas in reality, as Jesus pointed out, they themselves were the offspring of the Devil.
Jesus openly confessed that the source of His mastery over the demons was God's Spirit. Jesus also gave authority over the demons to his 12 apostles, and later to the 70 that He sent out, so that "in the Name of Jesus" they too were able to free the demon-possessed. Even one not an immediate associate of Jesus or His apostles was able to exorcise a demon on the basis of Jesus' Name.
After the death of Jesus, the apostles continued to have this power. Paul, for example, ordered a "demon of divination" out of a slave girl, much to the anger of her money-loving owners. But when certain impostors, the 7 sons of a priest, named Sceva, attempted to cast out a demon in the name of "Jesus whom Paul preaches,"the demon-possessed man seized and severely mauled the 7 of them and stripped them naked.
We know that demons are powerful spirit beings that fell from grace and followed Satan and in their fall from grace became demons, and often the wild and uncontrolled conduct of mentally unbalanced persons is due to possession by these invisible minions of Satan.
Sometimes it is reported that spirit mediums have cast these demons out; this calls to mind what Jesus said: "Many will say to me in "that Day," 'Lord, Lord, did we not ... expel demons in your name?' And yet I will confess to them: "I never knew you!" Compelling reasons, then, for heeding the counsel, "Be watchful," and "Put on the complete suit of armor from God that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil and his demons."
Satan and his demons know the Bible better than we do and even they believe in God and shudder so just because someone says that they believe in God it does not mean that they are saved.
So, be careful when you try to free a person from the demon power. These are nothing to mess with.
Who are we to mess with spiritual powers? Even so, I heard people who say that they are able to cast out demons but no one is ever taught to do this or told to do this anywhere in the Bible neither by the apostles nor the 70 ones that were sent out. I do not say that exorcisms do not happen but it is very clear that supernatural forces are involved in it. It is compared to playing with lightning, a very dangerous thing indeed.
We have to acknowledge the fact that even "when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, who was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you.' " Peter warns us saying, "if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment."
Apparently the Holy Spirit was involved in the warning given to the apostle Paul that demons would infiltrate the church and teach their own doctrines. We do not have to look very far today to see that this is happening with increased speed in many of today's churches.
The day is coming when God will finally judge these demons but he will also judge the false prophets.
It means that there are no shortages of false prophets today who claim that God speaks to them and foretells the future. If they are not right then their fate will be the same as those spirits of uncleanness or demons which is exactly what they really are.
Demon possession is defined as the captive control and influence of a person by this malevolent spirit.
In Bible times demonized persons were afflicted in various ways: some were unable to speak, some were blind, some acted insane, and some possessed super human strength.
All were woefully mistreated by these invisible bullies. Men, women, and children were their victims.
Sometimes the agony was compounded when many demons gained possession of a person at the same time. When the demon was expelled, the person returned to a normal, sane state of mind.
It is quite interesting that during the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry, the demons themselves were the first ones to truly recognized that Jesus was more than a man, in other words Jesus' identity and addressed Him as the "Son of God," the "Holy One of God," and "Jesus, Son of the Most High God."
However, at no time Jesus allowed them to be witnesses in His behalf. On the other hand, a man who was set free from the power of the demons was encouraged to publish to his relatives "all the things God had for him."
There is a difference between demon possession and ordinary physical sickness and disease. Jesus had the power to cure both types of disorders. Some of Jesus' greatest miracles involved the setting of possessed persons who became free from captivity to the demons. Demons were powerless against Him and shudder with fear and trepidation before Him. They know that their ultimate fate is the lake of fire.
But not everyone was happy with this demon expelling work. The Pharisees accused Jesus of being in league with the ruler of the demons, Beel-Zebub, whereas in reality, as Jesus pointed out, they themselves were the offspring of the Devil.
Jesus openly confessed that the source of His mastery over the demons was God's Spirit. Jesus also gave authority over the demons to his 12 apostles, and later to the 70 that He sent out, so that "in the Name of Jesus" they too were able to free the demon-possessed. Even one not an immediate associate of Jesus or His apostles was able to exorcise a demon on the basis of Jesus' Name.
After the death of Jesus, the apostles continued to have this power. Paul, for example, ordered a "demon of divination" out of a slave girl, much to the anger of her money-loving owners. But when certain impostors, the 7 sons of a priest, named Sceva, attempted to cast out a demon in the name of "Jesus whom Paul preaches,"the demon-possessed man seized and severely mauled the 7 of them and stripped them naked.
We know that demons are powerful spirit beings that fell from grace and followed Satan and in their fall from grace became demons, and often the wild and uncontrolled conduct of mentally unbalanced persons is due to possession by these invisible minions of Satan.
Sometimes it is reported that spirit mediums have cast these demons out; this calls to mind what Jesus said: "Many will say to me in "that Day," 'Lord, Lord, did we not ... expel demons in your name?' And yet I will confess to them: "I never knew you!" Compelling reasons, then, for heeding the counsel, "Be watchful," and "Put on the complete suit of armor from God that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil and his demons."
Satan and his demons know the Bible better than we do and even they believe in God and shudder so just because someone says that they believe in God it does not mean that they are saved.
So, be careful when you try to free a person from the demon power. These are nothing to mess with.
Who are we to mess with spiritual powers? Even so, I heard people who say that they are able to cast out demons but no one is ever taught to do this or told to do this anywhere in the Bible neither by the apostles nor the 70 ones that were sent out. I do not say that exorcisms do not happen but it is very clear that supernatural forces are involved in it. It is compared to playing with lightning, a very dangerous thing indeed.
We have to acknowledge the fact that even "when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, who was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you.' " Peter warns us saying, "if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment."
Apparently the Holy Spirit was involved in the warning given to the apostle Paul that demons would infiltrate the church and teach their own doctrines. We do not have to look very far today to see that this is happening with increased speed in many of today's churches.
The day is coming when God will finally judge these demons but he will also judge the false prophets.
It means that there are no shortages of false prophets today who claim that God speaks to them and foretells the future. If they are not right then their fate will be the same as those spirits of uncleanness or demons which is exactly what they really are.
Monday, August 15, 2016
THE FIRST POWERFUL CURSE .
The desiring, threatening, or pronouncing evil upon someone or something is the basic idea of a number of Hebrew and Greek words in the Scriptures that are translated by the word 'curse' or similar expressions.
The 1st powerful curse employed was at the time of the Edenic rebellion and was directed by God against the instigator of the rebellion that used nature as an agent for his transgression.
The serpent was produced by the earth and was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made.
In other words, the nature of this animal is used as a symbolic comparison of human's nature influenced by the forces of good and evil.
The woman was the personification of God's church in the earth, according to man's will.
When God pronounced His Judgment, He said to the snake, "You will be punished for this, you alone of all the animals must bear this curse:
'From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offsprings will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel.'
The evil spirit of rebellion orchestrated by Satan is explained in 2 Corinthians 11. Paul speak about the False Apostles saying, 'You are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself.'
The nature of the first man, and Paul's is described like a pure virgin. The woman was form from man's rib in a symbolic representation of the nature of the Church of God in the earth.
Paul then says, 'I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ.'
Corruption entered into the body of God's Church through the woman's deceived mind and the seed of rebellion was planted in the human heart. Satan, in his crafty and deceiving way, made her belief in his preaching and became one to her in the same evil spirit.
Paul continue, 'You will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ -in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies. When you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us.'
The fact that the serpent represents the nature of man God uses this animal to teach us how Satan's evil spirit takes over man's nature and deceive it.
Then Paul says, 'When I preached the Good News of God to you, I humbled myself in order to make you -in your nature- important. I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those who believe about themselves being very special and so-called 'apostles' of yours. Perhaps I am an amateur in speaking comparing their ways, but certainly not in knowledge; we have made this clear to you at all times and in all conditions. I will go on doing what I am doing now, in order to keep those other 'apostles' from having any reason to boasting and saying that they work in the same way that we do. Those men are not true apostles -they are false apostles, who lie about their work and disguise themselves to 'look like' real apostles of Christ. Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of light! So it is no great thing if his servants disguise themselves to look like servants of righteousness. In the end they will get exactly what their actions deserve.'
The 1st powerful curse employed was at the time of the Edenic rebellion and was directed by God against the instigator of the rebellion that used nature as an agent for his transgression.
The serpent was produced by the earth and was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made.
In other words, the nature of this animal is used as a symbolic comparison of human's nature influenced by the forces of good and evil.
The woman was the personification of God's church in the earth, according to man's will.
When God pronounced His Judgment, He said to the snake, "You will be punished for this, you alone of all the animals must bear this curse:
'From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offsprings will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel.'
The evil spirit of rebellion orchestrated by Satan is explained in 2 Corinthians 11. Paul speak about the False Apostles saying, 'You are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself.'
The nature of the first man, and Paul's is described like a pure virgin. The woman was form from man's rib in a symbolic representation of the nature of the Church of God in the earth.
Paul then says, 'I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ.'
Corruption entered into the body of God's Church through the woman's deceived mind and the seed of rebellion was planted in the human heart. Satan, in his crafty and deceiving way, made her belief in his preaching and became one to her in the same evil spirit.
Paul continue, 'You will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ -in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies. When you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us.'
The fact that the serpent represents the nature of man God uses this animal to teach us how Satan's evil spirit takes over man's nature and deceive it.
Then Paul says, 'When I preached the Good News of God to you, I humbled myself in order to make you -in your nature- important. I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those who believe about themselves being very special and so-called 'apostles' of yours. Perhaps I am an amateur in speaking comparing their ways, but certainly not in knowledge; we have made this clear to you at all times and in all conditions. I will go on doing what I am doing now, in order to keep those other 'apostles' from having any reason to boasting and saying that they work in the same way that we do. Those men are not true apostles -they are false apostles, who lie about their work and disguise themselves to 'look like' real apostles of Christ. Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of light! So it is no great thing if his servants disguise themselves to look like servants of righteousness. In the end they will get exactly what their actions deserve.'
Saturday, August 13, 2016
R-OMAN-IAN MYTHS AND THE EVIL WORLD.
The creation stories in Romanian mythology are numerous and varied, from its ancient, Indo-European roots to a Christianization of the tale involving God and His enemy, Satan.
According to R-Oman-ian beliefs, God made the earth with the help of animals, while Satan was trying to thwart His plans. Before the earth existed, a boundless supernatural ocean called 'Apa Sam-Betei was the abode of God and the Devil (Nefar-Tatul), seen as master and servant rather than equals.
Upon deciding to create the earth, God sent Nefar-Tatul, his servant to bring a handful of clay from the ground of the World Ocean in His Holy Name.Nefar-Tatul set forth and tried to bring the clay to the surface in his name instead, but could not succeed until he brought it up in the Name of God.
As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid Himself down to sleep. Nefar-tatul then tried to push Him over the side, but the ever-expanding earth would hinder that. After trying to throw God off the earth in every one of the four cardinal directions, he shied away from the cross he drew in the ground himself.
Other accounts suggest that the Devil and his demons were once angels of God. The Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth.
Fearing that Heaven might be voided, the archangel Micha-El re-sealed it, thus freezing the demons that had not yet fallen to hell in place.
This account relates to the concept of 'soul customs,' where every soul is intercepted on its way to heaven by these demons, who forced it into hell. An old Romanian proverb says: "Do not speak badly of the Devil because you cannot know to whom you will belong."
According to popular Romanian mythology, it is not considered difficult to establish a connection with the Devil. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the soul of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. They use portal / crossroad or unclean places where they invoke his name out loud, in order to obtain his infernal aid.
Each wizard and witch has access to a Black Book which contains all the incantations, chants and magic formulas. Usually before dying, wizards or masters of the same rank pass on this knowledge to an apprentice, but sometimes such books remain without a master. When that happens, whoever finds the book have the choice of open it up or keep it closed. If the Black Book is open by an untrained person, he/she become a slave of the evil power governed by the Book.
When the Book is opened, demons appear immediately in front of it asking for work. Not knowing how to maintain them always busy, the demons end the life of the Book's possessor letting it to be placed in another and more skillful hand, otherwise the cycle continue.
It is said that only wizards and witches know what tasks to give to the devils by making them do things such as making ropes out of water and sand (craftiness along generations of people) or stopping rivers from flowing into the sea (lies that takes the Truth out of its way).
This information is used as a warning to all those who dare to play with evil forces without knowing the price that must be paid for the recklessness of their actions.
The epitome of dark myths and legends dwell deep within the wide forest of Romania, a country that was once brutal and full of mysteries.
These stories appear not only in Romanian mythology, but also in Ar-Oman-ian, Slavic Maced-Onian and Bulg-Ar-Ian mythologies.
God's 7 names are commonly addressed in Romanian's myths as the origin of God, which is explained in a Russian doll-type fashion. Before every God's name there was another God that formed Him.
Rabbinic Judaism describes in a different way the 7 holy names that, once written, should not be erased: YHWH, El (God), El-Ohim (Gods), El-Ohim (Gods), El-Oha (God), El Shadd-Ai, and Tz-Eva-Ot or S-Aba-Oth (Of Hosts).
According to R-Oman-ian beliefs, God made the earth with the help of animals, while Satan was trying to thwart His plans. Before the earth existed, a boundless supernatural ocean called 'Apa Sam-Betei was the abode of God and the Devil (Nefar-Tatul), seen as master and servant rather than equals.
Upon deciding to create the earth, God sent Nefar-Tatul, his servant to bring a handful of clay from the ground of the World Ocean in His Holy Name.Nefar-Tatul set forth and tried to bring the clay to the surface in his name instead, but could not succeed until he brought it up in the Name of God.
As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid Himself down to sleep. Nefar-tatul then tried to push Him over the side, but the ever-expanding earth would hinder that. After trying to throw God off the earth in every one of the four cardinal directions, he shied away from the cross he drew in the ground himself.
Other accounts suggest that the Devil and his demons were once angels of God. The Devil, however, tried to rebel, and, in response, God opened up the heavens so that he might fall to the earth.
Fearing that Heaven might be voided, the archangel Micha-El re-sealed it, thus freezing the demons that had not yet fallen to hell in place.
This account relates to the concept of 'soul customs,' where every soul is intercepted on its way to heaven by these demons, who forced it into hell. An old Romanian proverb says: "Do not speak badly of the Devil because you cannot know to whom you will belong."
According to popular Romanian mythology, it is not considered difficult to establish a connection with the Devil. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the soul of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. They use portal / crossroad or unclean places where they invoke his name out loud, in order to obtain his infernal aid.
Each wizard and witch has access to a Black Book which contains all the incantations, chants and magic formulas. Usually before dying, wizards or masters of the same rank pass on this knowledge to an apprentice, but sometimes such books remain without a master. When that happens, whoever finds the book have the choice of open it up or keep it closed. If the Black Book is open by an untrained person, he/she become a slave of the evil power governed by the Book.
When the Book is opened, demons appear immediately in front of it asking for work. Not knowing how to maintain them always busy, the demons end the life of the Book's possessor letting it to be placed in another and more skillful hand, otherwise the cycle continue.
It is said that only wizards and witches know what tasks to give to the devils by making them do things such as making ropes out of water and sand (craftiness along generations of people) or stopping rivers from flowing into the sea (lies that takes the Truth out of its way).
This information is used as a warning to all those who dare to play with evil forces without knowing the price that must be paid for the recklessness of their actions.
The epitome of dark myths and legends dwell deep within the wide forest of Romania, a country that was once brutal and full of mysteries.
These stories appear not only in Romanian mythology, but also in Ar-Oman-ian, Slavic Maced-Onian and Bulg-Ar-Ian mythologies.
God's 7 names are commonly addressed in Romanian's myths as the origin of God, which is explained in a Russian doll-type fashion. Before every God's name there was another God that formed Him.
Rabbinic Judaism describes in a different way the 7 holy names that, once written, should not be erased: YHWH, El (God), El-Ohim (Gods), El-Ohim (Gods), El-Oha (God), El Shadd-Ai, and Tz-Eva-Ot or S-Aba-Oth (Of Hosts).
ION - IA = SMYRN - A.
Ion-Ia is am ancient region of central coastal Ana-Tolia in present day Turkey, the region nearest Izmir, which was historically Smyrn-A.
The Ion-Ians were one of the 4 major tribes that the Greek considered themselves to be divided into, during Antiquity; alongside Dori-Ans, Aeol-Ians, and Acha-Eans.
In the Book of Genesis, Jav-An is a son of Jap-Heth (Greek: Iap-Heth = enlarge). Jap-Heth, one of the sons of Noah in the Abrahamic tradition, is considered to be the progenitor of Europeans and some As-Ian peoples.
In Greek mythology, Iap-Etus, also Jap-Etus (Wound, Piercer) is the one Titan mentioned by Homer in the "IL-Iad as being in Tartar-Us with Cron-Us. He is a brother of Cron-Us, who ruled the world during the Golden Age. Iap-Etus, the son of Uran-Us and Ga-Ia, and father (by an Ocean-Id named Cly-Mene or As-Ia) of At-Las, Prome-Theus, Epime-Theus, and Menoet-Ius.
The sons of Iap-Etus were regarded as mankind's ancestors, and as such some of humanity's worst qualities were said to have been inherited from these 4 gods, each of whom were described with a particular moral fault that often led to their own downfall. For instance, sly and clever Prome-Theus represent crafty scheming in the negative sense; the inept and guileless Epime-Theus, foolish stupidity; enduring At-Las, excessive daring; and arrogant Menoet-Ius, rash violence.
Horace December 8, 65 / November 27, 8 BC), a Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus, describes how "audax Iap-Eti genus / Ignem fraude mala gentibus intulit" meaning "the bold offspring of Iap-Etus brought fire to peoples by wicked deceit."
The Foundation Myth which was current in the Classical period suggested that the Ion-Ians were named after Ion, illegitimate child of Cre- Us-A, daughter of Erech-Theus and wife of Xuth-Us.
She conceived Ion with Apol-Lo then she abandoned the child. Apol-Lo asked Her-Mes to take Ion from his cradle. Ion was saved and raised by a priestess of the Delphic Oracle.
Xuth-Us was a son of Hellen and Orse-Is and founder, through his sons, of the Acha-Ean and Ion-Ian nations. He had two sons by Cre-Us-A: Ion, and Acha-Eus.
Xuth-Us was informed by the oracle that the first person he encountered when leaving the oracle would be his son, and this person was Ion. He interpreted it that he had fathered Ion, when, in fact, Apol-Lo was giving him Ion as an adoptive son.
In Sanskrit sources, the use of the word "Yona" appears in relation to the Greek kingdoms which neighbored or sometimes occupied the Pun-Jab region over a period of several centuries from the 4th BC to the 1st CE, such as the Seleu-Cid empire, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom and the Indo-Greek kingdom.
After Alexander the Great's invasion, the Greek settlements had existed in Eastern parts of Acha-Emen-Id empire, as neighbors to the Cambojas, a tribe of Indo-Iranian origin. The Cambojas are also described as a royal clan of the Sakas, the term used in Persian and Sanskrit sources for the Scyth-Ians.
The Scyth-Ians to the far North of Assyria were also called Saka Suni (Saka or Scythian sons).
The Maha-bha-Rata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Rama-Yana, contains prophecies that MLec-Cha (Barbarian) kings of the Sakas, Yavanas, Cambojas, Bahlikas etc. shall rule the earth unrighteously in Cali-Yuga ..." . This reference alludes to chaotic political scenario following the collapse of the Ma-Ur-Ya and Shunga empires in the Northern region and its subsequent occupation by foreign hordes such as of the Yonas, Cambojas, Sakas, and Pahlavas.
The Rama-Yadan records prophecies the 180 BC Yona attacks on Saket, Panchala, Mathura, and Pataliputra, against the Shunga empire: "After having conquered Saketa, the country of the Panchala and the Mathuras, the Yavanas, wicked and valiant, will reach Cusu-Madh-Vaja (the town of the flower-standard). The thick mud-fortifications at Pataliputra being reached, all the provinces will be in disorder, without doubt."
"Ultimately, a great battle will follow, with tree-like engines (siege engines). The Yavanas (Greeks) will command, the Kings will disappear. The Yavanas, intoxicated with fighting, will not stay in Madh-Adesa (the Middle Country); there will be undoubtedly a civil war among them, arising in their own country, there will be a terrible and ferocious war."
The Ion-Ians were one of the 4 major tribes that the Greek considered themselves to be divided into, during Antiquity; alongside Dori-Ans, Aeol-Ians, and Acha-Eans.
In the Book of Genesis, Jav-An is a son of Jap-Heth (Greek: Iap-Heth = enlarge). Jap-Heth, one of the sons of Noah in the Abrahamic tradition, is considered to be the progenitor of Europeans and some As-Ian peoples.
In Greek mythology, Iap-Etus, also Jap-Etus (Wound, Piercer) is the one Titan mentioned by Homer in the "IL-Iad as being in Tartar-Us with Cron-Us. He is a brother of Cron-Us, who ruled the world during the Golden Age. Iap-Etus, the son of Uran-Us and Ga-Ia, and father (by an Ocean-Id named Cly-Mene or As-Ia) of At-Las, Prome-Theus, Epime-Theus, and Menoet-Ius.
The sons of Iap-Etus were regarded as mankind's ancestors, and as such some of humanity's worst qualities were said to have been inherited from these 4 gods, each of whom were described with a particular moral fault that often led to their own downfall. For instance, sly and clever Prome-Theus represent crafty scheming in the negative sense; the inept and guileless Epime-Theus, foolish stupidity; enduring At-Las, excessive daring; and arrogant Menoet-Ius, rash violence.
Horace December 8, 65 / November 27, 8 BC), a Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus, describes how "audax Iap-Eti genus / Ignem fraude mala gentibus intulit" meaning "the bold offspring of Iap-Etus brought fire to peoples by wicked deceit."
The Foundation Myth which was current in the Classical period suggested that the Ion-Ians were named after Ion, illegitimate child of Cre- Us-A, daughter of Erech-Theus and wife of Xuth-Us.
She conceived Ion with Apol-Lo then she abandoned the child. Apol-Lo asked Her-Mes to take Ion from his cradle. Ion was saved and raised by a priestess of the Delphic Oracle.
Xuth-Us was a son of Hellen and Orse-Is and founder, through his sons, of the Acha-Ean and Ion-Ian nations. He had two sons by Cre-Us-A: Ion, and Acha-Eus.
Xuth-Us was informed by the oracle that the first person he encountered when leaving the oracle would be his son, and this person was Ion. He interpreted it that he had fathered Ion, when, in fact, Apol-Lo was giving him Ion as an adoptive son.
In Sanskrit sources, the use of the word "Yona" appears in relation to the Greek kingdoms which neighbored or sometimes occupied the Pun-Jab region over a period of several centuries from the 4th BC to the 1st CE, such as the Seleu-Cid empire, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom and the Indo-Greek kingdom.
After Alexander the Great's invasion, the Greek settlements had existed in Eastern parts of Acha-Emen-Id empire, as neighbors to the Cambojas, a tribe of Indo-Iranian origin. The Cambojas are also described as a royal clan of the Sakas, the term used in Persian and Sanskrit sources for the Scyth-Ians.
The Scyth-Ians to the far North of Assyria were also called Saka Suni (Saka or Scythian sons).
The Maha-bha-Rata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Rama-Yana, contains prophecies that MLec-Cha (Barbarian) kings of the Sakas, Yavanas, Cambojas, Bahlikas etc. shall rule the earth unrighteously in Cali-Yuga ..." . This reference alludes to chaotic political scenario following the collapse of the Ma-Ur-Ya and Shunga empires in the Northern region and its subsequent occupation by foreign hordes such as of the Yonas, Cambojas, Sakas, and Pahlavas.
The Rama-Yadan records prophecies the 180 BC Yona attacks on Saket, Panchala, Mathura, and Pataliputra, against the Shunga empire: "After having conquered Saketa, the country of the Panchala and the Mathuras, the Yavanas, wicked and valiant, will reach Cusu-Madh-Vaja (the town of the flower-standard). The thick mud-fortifications at Pataliputra being reached, all the provinces will be in disorder, without doubt."
"Ultimately, a great battle will follow, with tree-like engines (siege engines). The Yavanas (Greeks) will command, the Kings will disappear. The Yavanas, intoxicated with fighting, will not stay in Madh-Adesa (the Middle Country); there will be undoubtedly a civil war among them, arising in their own country, there will be a terrible and ferocious war."
Thursday, August 11, 2016
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?
The Biblical expression of the word "righteousness" is rendered as "justification." The fully explanation of the matter is found in the Christian Greek Scriptures, basically carrying the idea of "absolving" or "clearing" of any charge, holding as "guiltless," and hence "acquitting," or pronouncing and treating as righteous.
Paul, the apostle, speaks of God as being "proved righteous" in His Words" and winning when being judged by detractors. Paul stated that the person who dies is "acquitted from his sin,"having paid the penalty of death. Paul, in 2 Corinthians, chapter 10, shows to those who look at things according to their face value, the need to make a proper evaluation of matters, to look at both sides of the ledger, as it is. At the same time, Paul is concerned that 'no one should put to his credit" more than was correct as regard on his ministry. (2 Corinthians 12).
Jesus said that "wisdom is proved righteous by its works" and that, when rendered an account on Judgment Day, men would be "declared righteous" or "condemned by their words."
Jesus also said that the humble tax collector "who prayed repentantly"in the temple "went down"to his home "proved more righteous" than the boastful Pharisee praying at the same time.
Righteousness also refers to "an act of God" whereby one is accounted "guiltless," and in declaring a person "perfect in integrity,"and "judged worthy of the right of life."
The first man was perfect, righteous, and considered a son of God, by virtue of God's creation of him and was declared "very good" by His Creator. But man failed to maintain integrity before God and lost righteousness for himself and for his future offspring.
From among his descendants there came "men of faith" who "walked with the True God,"such as Noah, Enoch, and Job.
Of Abraham, it is stated that he exercised "faith in God" and it was "counted to him as righteousness."
The Greek understanding of the word "count" was used regularly in ancient times for numerical calculations such as in accounting, being used when referring both to something that was entered on the "debit side" of an account and also to something enetred on the credit side thereof.
In the Scriptures, in general, it is used to mean "reckon (group, class, or type), credit, count, rate, taking into account, esteem, and appraise,"
In 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, says that "Love does not keep 'account' of the injury."David, the Psalmist, is quoted in Romans, chapter 4, saying that "Happy is the man whose 'sin' God will by no means 'take into account.'"
Rahab of Jericho "manifested her faith by her works,"and so was "declared righteous,"and her life being spared when the city of Jericho was destroyed.
Paul, the apostle, speaks of God as being "proved righteous" in His Words" and winning when being judged by detractors. Paul stated that the person who dies is "acquitted from his sin,"having paid the penalty of death. Paul, in 2 Corinthians, chapter 10, shows to those who look at things according to their face value, the need to make a proper evaluation of matters, to look at both sides of the ledger, as it is. At the same time, Paul is concerned that 'no one should put to his credit" more than was correct as regard on his ministry. (2 Corinthians 12).
Jesus said that "wisdom is proved righteous by its works" and that, when rendered an account on Judgment Day, men would be "declared righteous" or "condemned by their words."
Jesus also said that the humble tax collector "who prayed repentantly"in the temple "went down"to his home "proved more righteous" than the boastful Pharisee praying at the same time.
Righteousness also refers to "an act of God" whereby one is accounted "guiltless," and in declaring a person "perfect in integrity,"and "judged worthy of the right of life."
The first man was perfect, righteous, and considered a son of God, by virtue of God's creation of him and was declared "very good" by His Creator. But man failed to maintain integrity before God and lost righteousness for himself and for his future offspring.
From among his descendants there came "men of faith" who "walked with the True God,"such as Noah, Enoch, and Job.
Of Abraham, it is stated that he exercised "faith in God" and it was "counted to him as righteousness."
The Greek understanding of the word "count" was used regularly in ancient times for numerical calculations such as in accounting, being used when referring both to something that was entered on the "debit side" of an account and also to something enetred on the credit side thereof.
In the Scriptures, in general, it is used to mean "reckon (group, class, or type), credit, count, rate, taking into account, esteem, and appraise,"
In 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, says that "Love does not keep 'account' of the injury."David, the Psalmist, is quoted in Romans, chapter 4, saying that "Happy is the man whose 'sin' God will by no means 'take into account.'"
Rahab of Jericho "manifested her faith by her works,"and so was "declared righteous,"and her life being spared when the city of Jericho was destroyed.
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