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.
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