Ancient Egyptian beliefs about the Afterlife endured for more than 3,000 years.
Grave goods were intended to provide the deceased with the spiritual and physical support needed for smooth passage to eternity.
Wrapped around the mummy's neck, beads helped restore breath through the symbolism of their colors. Blue, Green and Black called up Water and Sky, Vegetation, and Youth. White, Yellow and Red stood for Sun, Light, Fire and Blood.
A small human funerary figures named "Shabti" were placed in tombs among the grave goods intended to act as servants for the deceased that carried out the tasks required in the underworld. They were made of clay, wood, or stone; early ones were sometimes made from wax also. While shabtis manufactured for the rich were often miniature works of art, the great mass of cheaply ones were made from single molds with little detail.
It is thought that the term meant "follower" or "answerer" because the figurine "answered" for the deceased person and performed all the routine chores of daily life for its master in the afterlife that the gods had planned for them. Then, it was necessary for the owner's name and titles to be inscribed on the shabti, along with the phrase sending them to action, written in the hieratic script. Some of them wore wigs and jewelry like living people, but as workers in the Afterlife, they hold a hoe in their shoulders and a basket on their backs, implying they were intended to farm for the deceased.
The inscription often contained the 6th chapter of the Book of the Dead, translated as : "Illumine the Osiris (name of the deceased), whose word is truth. Hail "shabti" figure! If the Osiris (name of the deceased) be decreed to do any of the work which is to be done, let everything which stand in the way be removed from him -whether it be to plough the Fields, or to fill the channels with water, or to carry sand from East to West. The shabti figure replied,"I will do it, verily I am here when you call."
The figurine was believed to animate after the dead had been judged, and work for the dead person as a substitute labourer in the Field of Osiris.
Nebseni, the draughtsman in the The Temple of Ptah says, "Oh you shabti figure of the scribe Nebseni, son of the scribe Thena, and of the lady of the lady of the house Muthrestha, if I be called, or if I be judge to do any work whatever of the labors which are to be done in the Underworld -behold, for your opposition will there be aside -by a man in his turn, let the judgment fall upon you instead of upon me always, in the matter of sowing the Fields, of filling the water-courses with water, and of bringing the sands of the East to the West." The shabti answers, "I am here and will come wherever you bid me."
The High Priest of Ptah was referred to as the Greatest of the Masters of the Craftsmen. This title refers to Ptah as the patron god of the craftsmanship, metalworking, carpenters, shipbuilders, sculpture and architects. Ptah was known as the Creator god par excellence of the perceptible World. He was considered the artisan responsible for the fashion and maintenance of the Physical Universe. He fashioned and shaped the material World. From the Middle Kingdom onwards, Ptah was one of the five major Egyptian gods with Ra, Isis, Osiris, and Amun.
Ptah was the maker, out of the appropriate substance, of an order of spiritual entities that constantly opposed and thwart the human race, because they had all of them bounded to the rules of existence in the material world. The order resided in the lower world, of which Ptah was the prince, controlling the Valleys and Rivers and the changing from body to body that occurred in the World of the Dead.
Ptah is sometimes represented as a dwarf, naked and deformed, or in the guise of a man with green skin, contained in a shroud sticking to the skin, wearing the divine beard, and holding a scepter combining the 3 powerful symbols of ancient Egyptian religion: - the "Was" (Power) scepter, - the sign of Life, "Ankh," - the "Djed" (stability) pillar. This 3 combined symbols indicated the 3 creative powers of the god. His worship exceeded the borders of the country and was exported throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. Thanks to the Phoenicians, we find figurines of Ptah in Carthage, capital of an empire that dominated the Mediterranean Sea.
From the Old Kingdom, Ptah quickly absorbed the appearance of Sokar and Tatenen, ancient deities of the Memphis Region. His form of Sokar is found contained in its white shroud wearing the specific feathered crown of the Egyptian deity Osiris. It combined the Hedjet, the crown of Upper Egypt, with curly red ostrich feathers on each side of the crown for the Osiris cult. In this capacity, Ptah represented the god of the necropolis of Saqqara and other famous sites where the royal pyramids were built. Gradually Ptah formed with Osiris a new deity called Ptah-Sokar-Osiris. Statuettes representing the human form, half-human, half-hawk, or simply in its falcon form will be systematically placed in tombs to accompany and protect the dead on their journey to the West. His Tatenen form is represented by a young vigorous man wearing a crown with 2 tall plumes that surround the solar disk. He embodied the underground fire that rumbles and raises the earth. He was particularly revered by metalworkers and blacksmiths. In this form, Ptah was the master of ceremonies for "Heb Sed," a ceremony traditionally attested to the first 30 years of the Pharaoh's reign. The festival were held to rejuvenate the Pharaoh's strength and stamina while still sitting on the throne, celebrating the continued success of the Pharaoh.
The festival implied elaborated temple rituals and included processions, offerings, and such acts of devotion as the ceremonial raising of the "Djed" (stability), the base or sacrum of a bovine spine, representing strength, potency and duration of the Pharaoh's rule. The most lavish, judging by the surviving inscriptions, were those of Ram'Esses II and Amen'Hotep III. The festival still was celebrated by the later-Libyan-era kings such as Shoshenq III, Shoshenq V, Osorkon I, who had his second festival in his 33rd year, and Osorkon II, who constructed a massive temple at Bubastis complete with a red granite Gateway decorated with scenes of this jubilee to commemorate his own festival.
Akh'Enaten made many changes to cult practices in order to remove the stranglehold on the country by the Priests of Amun-Ra, whom he saw in his own eyes as corrupt. His reformation began with his decision to celebrate his first Sed Festival in his 3rd year, to gain an advantage against the powerful temple, since a Sed Festival was a royal jubilee intended to reinforce the Pharaoh's supernatural powers and cult leadership. At the same time he also moved his capital away from the city that these Priests controlled.
Saturday, 21 January 2017
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
THE NATURE OF EDOM.
EDOM is the name of a nation, a geographical region, and a person in Old Testament times. The name,
Edom, is derived from a root word meaning "red, ruddy"and was the secondary name or byname given to Esau, the elder of the twins born to Isaac and Rebekah; the younger was Jacob. (Gen36:1)
The Genesis 25 story of Esau's birth gives 3 clues to his being called "Edom" or "Red." It was applied to him because of his appearance at birth having a very ruddy color ; and then by associating the name with the red stew he got from his brother, Jacob, by selling his birthright to him. And the final clue is that a similar color prevailed in the appearance of the rock and soil formations in parts of the land of Edom that his descendants later inhabited.
Sometime during Jacob's 20-year stay in Haran, Esau (Edom) had begun to establish himself in the land of Seir, "the field of Edom."(Gen32:3) Thus, even before the death of his father (Gen35:29), Esau began to fulfill Isaac's prophetic blessing, directing his attention away from the fertile soils around Hebron and beginning to "live by his sword," along with the 400 men under his command. (Gen27 : 39,40; 32:6,8) He still maintained residence in the Hebron area, not transferring definitely to the mountainous region of Seir until after his father's death. By then his family has grown and his possessions were great. (Genesis 36: 6-8)
The land of Seir had previously been the domain of Horites (Gen 14:6; 36:20-30), but Esau's sons dispossessed the Horite sheiks and took over the region. (Deut 2:12) Thereafter the land became known as the land of Edom, though the older name of Seir still continued to be in use. (Num 24:18)
Genesis 36 includes a list of kings who ruled the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites. The same chapter lists wives and descendants of Esau as well as some Horite lists.
The Edomites as descendants of Esau were basically a Semitic race, but with a strong Hamitic strain. This was due to Esau and its nature itself and the marriage with 2 wives being from Hamitic Canaanite stock (Hittite and Hivite), only one of all being Semitic, through Abraham's son Ishmael.
At any rate, the Edomites, and Lot's descendants (Moabites and Ammonites) were related to the Israelites and originally they also practiced circumcision (Jeremiah 9; Ezekiel 32). God referred to them as Israel's "brothers"and Edomite land rights were to be held inviolate by the Israelites advancing through the Wilderness," since GOD had granted Edom's descendants Mount Seir as a holding.(Deut2)
According to Number 20 during the wilderness wanderings the "king of Edom" refused to permit the Israelites safe passage through his land, forcing them to circumvent Edom. Moses requested permission for Israel to travel over the King's Road through Edom. This road, called "the King's Highway,"was from the Gulf of Aqabah on up to Damascus in Syria, following the edge of the High Plateaus lining the East Side of the Arabah when traversing Edom. Along the King's Highway were to be found the major cities of Edom, including Bozrah and Petra (connected with Scriptural Sela).
2 Kings 14 says, "In the 2nd year of the reign of Jeho'Ash son of Jeho'Ahaz as king of Israel, Amaz'Iah son of Jo'Ash became king of Judah at the age of 25 and he ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Jeho'Addin from Jerusalem. He did what was pleasing to the Lord, but he was not like his ancestor King David; instead, he did what his father Jo'Ash had done. He did not tear down the pagan places of worship, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. As soon as Amaz'Iah was firmly in power, he executed the officials who had killed his father, the king. However, he did not kill their children but followed what the Lord had commanded in the Law of Moses: "Parents are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their children, and children are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their parents; people are to be put to death only for a crime they themselves have committed."Amaz"iah killed 10,000 Edomite soldiers in Salt Valley; he captured the city of Sela in battle and called it Jokt'Heel, the name it still has."
A "route"also led from the Negeb (Isaiah 30 described it as a land of hard conditions, a haunt of lions, leopards and snakes) over to Petra, continued East through Ma'An on the edge of the Arabian Desert, connecting there with another "route" running North and South. Over "these roads" passed rich cargoes from Egypt, Arabia, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Toll collected from camel or donkey caravans traversing the roads likely contributed greatly to Edom's wealth. Weary desert travelers also paid for food and lodging upon reaching Edom. Petra became a rich trading city, rivaling Damascus in importance.
The "steep escarpment" or wall of the Plateau that faced the Arabah gave the main stronghold of Edom excellent protection from that direction. The "deep canyon" of Zered Valley impeded invasion from Moab (however Amos 2 says:"They dishonored the bones of the king of Edom by burning them to ashes"). A "chain of fortresses" faced the desert to the more vulnerable East, providing defense against Midianite and other tribes. Additionally the "clefts"that cut into the mountains and Plateaus are walled in by unscalable "red sandstone cliffs"forming forbidding gorges. With good reason GOD's prophecy through Jeremiah speaks of the "Edomites" as confidently "residing in the retreats of the crag, holding the height of the hill," and like "an eagle in its nest." (Jeremiah 49).
The prophets Joel and Amos pronounced GOD's positive condemnation of Edom for its "unrelenting fury" expressed against Israel by the unmerciful use of the sword. Edom by its vicious opposition to GOD's covenant people, had forfeited its right to the land it had held by Divine Warrant.
The Edomites sealed their doom when Babylonians conquered Judah and Jerusalem and their hatred was clearly revealed as they rejoiced at Judah's tragedy, urged on her devastators (Ps 137:7), and, in their enmity and desire for revenge, even turned over Judean escapees for slaughter by the Babylonians.
They joined other neighboring peoples in plundering the land, and planned to take over the abandoned country of Judah and of Israel, speaking boastfully against GOD. For this, GOD directed His Prophets
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Obadiah to assure Edom that "its rejoicing" would be short-lived.
As the Prophet Isaiah had earlier foretold, the sword-welding Edomites would come under GOD's own Sword of Justice and Judgment, all classes, great and small, becoming like sacrificial animals devoted to destruction (Isaiah 34).
Edom, is derived from a root word meaning "red, ruddy"and was the secondary name or byname given to Esau, the elder of the twins born to Isaac and Rebekah; the younger was Jacob. (Gen36:1)
The Genesis 25 story of Esau's birth gives 3 clues to his being called "Edom" or "Red." It was applied to him because of his appearance at birth having a very ruddy color ; and then by associating the name with the red stew he got from his brother, Jacob, by selling his birthright to him. And the final clue is that a similar color prevailed in the appearance of the rock and soil formations in parts of the land of Edom that his descendants later inhabited.
Sometime during Jacob's 20-year stay in Haran, Esau (Edom) had begun to establish himself in the land of Seir, "the field of Edom."(Gen32:3) Thus, even before the death of his father (Gen35:29), Esau began to fulfill Isaac's prophetic blessing, directing his attention away from the fertile soils around Hebron and beginning to "live by his sword," along with the 400 men under his command. (Gen27 : 39,40; 32:6,8) He still maintained residence in the Hebron area, not transferring definitely to the mountainous region of Seir until after his father's death. By then his family has grown and his possessions were great. (Genesis 36: 6-8)
The land of Seir had previously been the domain of Horites (Gen 14:6; 36:20-30), but Esau's sons dispossessed the Horite sheiks and took over the region. (Deut 2:12) Thereafter the land became known as the land of Edom, though the older name of Seir still continued to be in use. (Num 24:18)
Genesis 36 includes a list of kings who ruled the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites. The same chapter lists wives and descendants of Esau as well as some Horite lists.
The Edomites as descendants of Esau were basically a Semitic race, but with a strong Hamitic strain. This was due to Esau and its nature itself and the marriage with 2 wives being from Hamitic Canaanite stock (Hittite and Hivite), only one of all being Semitic, through Abraham's son Ishmael.
At any rate, the Edomites, and Lot's descendants (Moabites and Ammonites) were related to the Israelites and originally they also practiced circumcision (Jeremiah 9; Ezekiel 32). God referred to them as Israel's "brothers"and Edomite land rights were to be held inviolate by the Israelites advancing through the Wilderness," since GOD had granted Edom's descendants Mount Seir as a holding.(Deut2)
According to Number 20 during the wilderness wanderings the "king of Edom" refused to permit the Israelites safe passage through his land, forcing them to circumvent Edom. Moses requested permission for Israel to travel over the King's Road through Edom. This road, called "the King's Highway,"was from the Gulf of Aqabah on up to Damascus in Syria, following the edge of the High Plateaus lining the East Side of the Arabah when traversing Edom. Along the King's Highway were to be found the major cities of Edom, including Bozrah and Petra (connected with Scriptural Sela).
2 Kings 14 says, "In the 2nd year of the reign of Jeho'Ash son of Jeho'Ahaz as king of Israel, Amaz'Iah son of Jo'Ash became king of Judah at the age of 25 and he ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Jeho'Addin from Jerusalem. He did what was pleasing to the Lord, but he was not like his ancestor King David; instead, he did what his father Jo'Ash had done. He did not tear down the pagan places of worship, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. As soon as Amaz'Iah was firmly in power, he executed the officials who had killed his father, the king. However, he did not kill their children but followed what the Lord had commanded in the Law of Moses: "Parents are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their children, and children are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their parents; people are to be put to death only for a crime they themselves have committed."Amaz"iah killed 10,000 Edomite soldiers in Salt Valley; he captured the city of Sela in battle and called it Jokt'Heel, the name it still has."
A "route"also led from the Negeb (Isaiah 30 described it as a land of hard conditions, a haunt of lions, leopards and snakes) over to Petra, continued East through Ma'An on the edge of the Arabian Desert, connecting there with another "route" running North and South. Over "these roads" passed rich cargoes from Egypt, Arabia, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Toll collected from camel or donkey caravans traversing the roads likely contributed greatly to Edom's wealth. Weary desert travelers also paid for food and lodging upon reaching Edom. Petra became a rich trading city, rivaling Damascus in importance.
The "steep escarpment" or wall of the Plateau that faced the Arabah gave the main stronghold of Edom excellent protection from that direction. The "deep canyon" of Zered Valley impeded invasion from Moab (however Amos 2 says:"They dishonored the bones of the king of Edom by burning them to ashes"). A "chain of fortresses" faced the desert to the more vulnerable East, providing defense against Midianite and other tribes. Additionally the "clefts"that cut into the mountains and Plateaus are walled in by unscalable "red sandstone cliffs"forming forbidding gorges. With good reason GOD's prophecy through Jeremiah speaks of the "Edomites" as confidently "residing in the retreats of the crag, holding the height of the hill," and like "an eagle in its nest." (Jeremiah 49).
The prophets Joel and Amos pronounced GOD's positive condemnation of Edom for its "unrelenting fury" expressed against Israel by the unmerciful use of the sword. Edom by its vicious opposition to GOD's covenant people, had forfeited its right to the land it had held by Divine Warrant.
The Edomites sealed their doom when Babylonians conquered Judah and Jerusalem and their hatred was clearly revealed as they rejoiced at Judah's tragedy, urged on her devastators (Ps 137:7), and, in their enmity and desire for revenge, even turned over Judean escapees for slaughter by the Babylonians.
They joined other neighboring peoples in plundering the land, and planned to take over the abandoned country of Judah and of Israel, speaking boastfully against GOD. For this, GOD directed His Prophets
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Obadiah to assure Edom that "its rejoicing" would be short-lived.
As the Prophet Isaiah had earlier foretold, the sword-welding Edomites would come under GOD's own Sword of Justice and Judgment, all classes, great and small, becoming like sacrificial animals devoted to destruction (Isaiah 34).
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
WHO WERE THE NAZIRITES? Part 2.
LIFETIME NAZI'RITES were those APPOINTED as Nazi'Rites BY GOD FOR LIFE, being SINGLE OUT BY HIM FOR SPECIAL SERVICE.
Lifetime Nazi'Rites took NO VOWS and were NOT BOUND BY limited period of TIME, the days of which were recalculated from the beginning if, by any reason, the sacred appointed was voided before being completed. For these reasons GOD's COMMANDMENTS for them DIFFERED somewhat from His Requirements FOR VOLUNTARY service.
SAMSON was such a GOD-APPOINTED LIFETIME Nazi'Rite, having being divinely appointed to BE SUCH BEFORE HIS CONCEPTION. Even with HIS MOTHER it was not a discretionary matter; because her son would be a Nazi'Rite, she WAS COMMANDED BY THE ANGEL TO OBSERVE SPECIAL REGULATIONS -not to drink wine or intoxicating liquor or to eat anything unclean during her pregnancy. (Judges 13:2-14; 16:17)
Regarding Samson the regulation was that "no razor should come upon his head." However, no prohibition was placed on his touching dead bodies. Hence, Samson's killing a lion, or his slaying 30 Philistines and then stripping the corpses of their garments, did not profane his service. On still another occasion, with GOD's approval, he killed a 1,000 of the enemy "with the jawbone of a male ass."
(Judges 14 and 15)
In SAMUEL's case it was his mother Hannah, who made a Nazi'Rite Vow, setting apart her yet not conceived child for GOD's service. To GOD she said in prayer: "If you will without fail ... give to your slave girl a male offspring, I will give him to GOD all the days of his life, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and no razor will come upon his head." (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 22, 28)
JOHN the BAPTIST is regarded as a Nazi'Rite chosen by God. Of all the vows permitted under the law there was "ONE FREE WILL VOW" that was specific and called "the Nazi'Rite Vow" meaning to separate themselves unto the LORD" and was provided by GOD AS TEACHER.
For nearly 400 years GOD had not spoken through the Prophets since they did not follow HIS TRUE WORSHIP. (Isaiah 29:10) It was GOD's will the appointment of John and not to be contaminated by the corrupt religious system of his day. He was a Nazi'Rite from birth and was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb of his mother. While he was born into a priestly family, he did not take his father's name, nor his work (Luke 1). More subtly, in the Gospel of Matthew John is linked with the spirit of Elijah, especially in relation to his appearance (2 Kings 1) and his mission in the middle of the corruption of the House of Judah and Israel. John did not even know that Jesus was the promised Messiah until the specific moment that he baptized Him and The Holy Spirit let him to know. Then when he was in prison, it happened again, that he could not even recognized Him as the One. John's mission as the forerunner of Jesus was accomplished and the rest was not under his control. He as a Prophet did not perform any miracles, because his service was different in nature, he was the one baptizing with the Waters of Repentance. His Nazi'Rite appointment was specific and was fulfilled.
SAMSON, SAMUEL, and JOHN the BAPTIST were among those Nazi'Rites whom GOD Himself raised up, as HE says by the mouth of His Prophet Amos: "I GOD KEPT RAISING UP SOME OF YOUR SONS AS PROPHETS AND OF YOUR YOUNG MEN AS NAZIRITES." However, they were not always accepted or respected, and wayward Israel even tried to break their integrity to GOD.
(Amos 2: 11,12)
It is written that when the full measure of Israel's sins reached their limits and GOD removed all of them, the false and unfaithful Nazi'Rites within JERUSALEM did not escape the sweep.
Jeremiah describes how the once spiritually healthy and strong Nazi'Rites turned black as their skin shriveled up on their bones due to the terrible famine. (Lamentations 4:7-9)
Lifetime Nazi'Rites took NO VOWS and were NOT BOUND BY limited period of TIME, the days of which were recalculated from the beginning if, by any reason, the sacred appointed was voided before being completed. For these reasons GOD's COMMANDMENTS for them DIFFERED somewhat from His Requirements FOR VOLUNTARY service.
SAMSON was such a GOD-APPOINTED LIFETIME Nazi'Rite, having being divinely appointed to BE SUCH BEFORE HIS CONCEPTION. Even with HIS MOTHER it was not a discretionary matter; because her son would be a Nazi'Rite, she WAS COMMANDED BY THE ANGEL TO OBSERVE SPECIAL REGULATIONS -not to drink wine or intoxicating liquor or to eat anything unclean during her pregnancy. (Judges 13:2-14; 16:17)
Regarding Samson the regulation was that "no razor should come upon his head." However, no prohibition was placed on his touching dead bodies. Hence, Samson's killing a lion, or his slaying 30 Philistines and then stripping the corpses of their garments, did not profane his service. On still another occasion, with GOD's approval, he killed a 1,000 of the enemy "with the jawbone of a male ass."
(Judges 14 and 15)
In SAMUEL's case it was his mother Hannah, who made a Nazi'Rite Vow, setting apart her yet not conceived child for GOD's service. To GOD she said in prayer: "If you will without fail ... give to your slave girl a male offspring, I will give him to GOD all the days of his life, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and no razor will come upon his head." (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 22, 28)
JOHN the BAPTIST is regarded as a Nazi'Rite chosen by God. Of all the vows permitted under the law there was "ONE FREE WILL VOW" that was specific and called "the Nazi'Rite Vow" meaning to separate themselves unto the LORD" and was provided by GOD AS TEACHER.
For nearly 400 years GOD had not spoken through the Prophets since they did not follow HIS TRUE WORSHIP. (Isaiah 29:10) It was GOD's will the appointment of John and not to be contaminated by the corrupt religious system of his day. He was a Nazi'Rite from birth and was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb of his mother. While he was born into a priestly family, he did not take his father's name, nor his work (Luke 1). More subtly, in the Gospel of Matthew John is linked with the spirit of Elijah, especially in relation to his appearance (2 Kings 1) and his mission in the middle of the corruption of the House of Judah and Israel. John did not even know that Jesus was the promised Messiah until the specific moment that he baptized Him and The Holy Spirit let him to know. Then when he was in prison, it happened again, that he could not even recognized Him as the One. John's mission as the forerunner of Jesus was accomplished and the rest was not under his control. He as a Prophet did not perform any miracles, because his service was different in nature, he was the one baptizing with the Waters of Repentance. His Nazi'Rite appointment was specific and was fulfilled.
SAMSON, SAMUEL, and JOHN the BAPTIST were among those Nazi'Rites whom GOD Himself raised up, as HE says by the mouth of His Prophet Amos: "I GOD KEPT RAISING UP SOME OF YOUR SONS AS PROPHETS AND OF YOUR YOUNG MEN AS NAZIRITES." However, they were not always accepted or respected, and wayward Israel even tried to break their integrity to GOD.
(Amos 2: 11,12)
It is written that when the full measure of Israel's sins reached their limits and GOD removed all of them, the false and unfaithful Nazi'Rites within JERUSALEM did not escape the sweep.
Jeremiah describes how the once spiritually healthy and strong Nazi'Rites turned black as their skin shriveled up on their bones due to the terrible famine. (Lamentations 4:7-9)
WHO WERE THE NAZIRITES? Part 1.
A Nazi'Rite was a dedicated, separated, or single out individual trained to perform a specific task.
There were 2 classes of Nazi'Rites: those who volunteered and those who were such by divine appointment. Either men or women could take THE VOW to GOD to live as Naza'Rites for a period of time. However, if a daughter's father or a wife's husband heard the vows of their respective females, they could cancel the vows if they did not approve. (Numbers 30: 1-8)
The regulations governing volunteer Nazi'Rites are found in the Book of Numbers.
NUMBER 6: "Any of you, male or female, who MAKE A SPECIAL VOW to become a Nazi'Rite and DEDICATE YOURSELF TO the LORD shall ABSTAIN FROM WINE and BEER. You shall not drink any kind of drink made from grapes or eat any grapes or raisins. As long as you are a Nazi'Rite, you shall not eat anything that comes from a grapevine, not even the seeds or skins of grapes.
As long as YOU ARE UNDER the Nazi'Rite VOW, you MUST NOT CUT YOUR HAIR OR SHAVE. You are BOUND BY THE VOW FOR THE FULL TIME that YOU ARE DEDICATED TO THE LORD, and you shall let your hair grow. YOUR HAIR IS THE SIGN of your dedication TO GOD, and YOU MUST NOT DEFILE YOURSELF BY GOING NEAR A CORPSE, not even that of your father, mother, brother, or sister. YOU ARE CONSECRATED TO THE LORD.
IF your CONSECRATED HAIR IS DEFILED because you are right beside someone who suddenly dies, YOU MUST WAIT 7 DAYS and then SHAVE YOUR HEAD; and so YOU BECOME ritually CLEAN. On the 8TH day you shall BRING 2 DOVES OR 2 PIGEONS TO the PRIEST AT the ENTRANCE OF the TENT of the LORD's PRESENCE. The PRIEST shall OFFER ONE AS a SIN OFFERING and THE OTHER AS a BURNT OFFERING, to perform the ritual PURIFICATION FOR YOU because OF YOUR CONTACT WITH A CORPSE. On the SAME DAY YOU SHALL RE-CONSECRATE YOUR HAIR and REDEDICATE TO THE LORD YOUR TIME AS A NAZI'RITE. The PREVIOUS PERIOD OF TIME DOES NOT COUNT, because your consecrated hair was defiled. AS A REPAYMENT OFFERING you shall BRING a 1YEAR OLD LAMB.
The person taking this Special Vow was meant "to live as a Naza'Rite to GOD," that is dedicated, separated from the way of the World and gaining spiritual strength to serve GOD and be able to stand close to HIM. It was not meant to be for the plaudits of men due to a showy display of fanatical asceticism. The requirements laid on the Nazi'Rites had special significance in the unseen world, and deep meaning in the Worship of GOD. Like the High Priest who, because of his Holy Office, was to touch no dead body, even that of his closest relatives, so too the Nazi'Rite. The High Priest as well as the under priests, due to the serious responsibility of their offices in the unseen World, were forbidden to drink the wine of the World or intoxicating liquor when performing their sacred duties before GOD.
(Leviticus 10:8-11; 21:10,11)
Furthermore, the Nazi'Rite "should prove Holy by letting the locks of the hair of his head grow," such serving as a crowning sign of his spiritual strength by which all could quickly recognize his Holy Nazi'riteship. The same Hebrew word "Nazir" was used in regard to the spiritual significance about the "unpruned" vines during the Sacred Sabbath and Jubilee Years. (Leviticus 25:5,11) Also the gold plate on the front of the turban of the High Priest, engraved with the Words "HOLINESS BELONG TO GOD," was called "the holy sign of dedication" coming from the same Hebrew root word "Nazir." (Exodus 39:30, 31) Likewise, the official headpiece or diadem worn by Israel's anointed kings was also called a "Nezer." (2 Samuel 1:10; 2 Kings 11:12)
When the specified duration of the VOW CAME TO AN END, the Nazi'Rite presented himself to the priests before the Tent of Meeting, bringing along the prescribed sacrifices consisting of a Young Ram for a Burnt Offering, a Female Lamb for a Sin Offering, and a Ram for a Communion Sacrifice. He also was to bring a basket of unfermented (unleavened) cakes and wafers that were well oiled, together with the proper grain and drink offerings. In addition to these necessary sacrifices, the Nazi'Rite brought such other offerings to the sanctuary as he could afford. Next, the NAZI'RITE HAD THE LONG HAIR CUT OFF and it was PLACED ON THE FIRE UNDER THE COMMUNION SACRIFICE, and then portions of the offerings were placed in his hands by the officiating Priest and WAVED BY THE PRIEST AS A WAVE OFFERING BEFORE GOD.
It appears that in time spiritually wealthy individuals were able to provide the necessary means for sacrifices as an act of charity, for persons of little means. This seemed to be the recognized custom that the apostle Paul took advantage of upon arriving in JERUSALEM at the end of his 3rd tour. To allay the false rumors that Paul had been "teaching all the Jews among the nations ... not to walk in the solemn customs" of the Jewish nation, Paul's Christian brothers recommended the following plan.
"We have 4 men with a Vow upon themselves," they told Paul, "Take these men along and cleanse yourself ceremonially with them and take care of their expenses, that they may have their heads shaved." (Acts 21: 20-26)
There were 2 classes of Nazi'Rites: those who volunteered and those who were such by divine appointment. Either men or women could take THE VOW to GOD to live as Naza'Rites for a period of time. However, if a daughter's father or a wife's husband heard the vows of their respective females, they could cancel the vows if they did not approve. (Numbers 30: 1-8)
The regulations governing volunteer Nazi'Rites are found in the Book of Numbers.
NUMBER 6: "Any of you, male or female, who MAKE A SPECIAL VOW to become a Nazi'Rite and DEDICATE YOURSELF TO the LORD shall ABSTAIN FROM WINE and BEER. You shall not drink any kind of drink made from grapes or eat any grapes or raisins. As long as you are a Nazi'Rite, you shall not eat anything that comes from a grapevine, not even the seeds or skins of grapes.
As long as YOU ARE UNDER the Nazi'Rite VOW, you MUST NOT CUT YOUR HAIR OR SHAVE. You are BOUND BY THE VOW FOR THE FULL TIME that YOU ARE DEDICATED TO THE LORD, and you shall let your hair grow. YOUR HAIR IS THE SIGN of your dedication TO GOD, and YOU MUST NOT DEFILE YOURSELF BY GOING NEAR A CORPSE, not even that of your father, mother, brother, or sister. YOU ARE CONSECRATED TO THE LORD.
IF your CONSECRATED HAIR IS DEFILED because you are right beside someone who suddenly dies, YOU MUST WAIT 7 DAYS and then SHAVE YOUR HEAD; and so YOU BECOME ritually CLEAN. On the 8TH day you shall BRING 2 DOVES OR 2 PIGEONS TO the PRIEST AT the ENTRANCE OF the TENT of the LORD's PRESENCE. The PRIEST shall OFFER ONE AS a SIN OFFERING and THE OTHER AS a BURNT OFFERING, to perform the ritual PURIFICATION FOR YOU because OF YOUR CONTACT WITH A CORPSE. On the SAME DAY YOU SHALL RE-CONSECRATE YOUR HAIR and REDEDICATE TO THE LORD YOUR TIME AS A NAZI'RITE. The PREVIOUS PERIOD OF TIME DOES NOT COUNT, because your consecrated hair was defiled. AS A REPAYMENT OFFERING you shall BRING a 1YEAR OLD LAMB.
The person taking this Special Vow was meant "to live as a Naza'Rite to GOD," that is dedicated, separated from the way of the World and gaining spiritual strength to serve GOD and be able to stand close to HIM. It was not meant to be for the plaudits of men due to a showy display of fanatical asceticism. The requirements laid on the Nazi'Rites had special significance in the unseen world, and deep meaning in the Worship of GOD. Like the High Priest who, because of his Holy Office, was to touch no dead body, even that of his closest relatives, so too the Nazi'Rite. The High Priest as well as the under priests, due to the serious responsibility of their offices in the unseen World, were forbidden to drink the wine of the World or intoxicating liquor when performing their sacred duties before GOD.
(Leviticus 10:8-11; 21:10,11)
Furthermore, the Nazi'Rite "should prove Holy by letting the locks of the hair of his head grow," such serving as a crowning sign of his spiritual strength by which all could quickly recognize his Holy Nazi'riteship. The same Hebrew word "Nazir" was used in regard to the spiritual significance about the "unpruned" vines during the Sacred Sabbath and Jubilee Years. (Leviticus 25:5,11) Also the gold plate on the front of the turban of the High Priest, engraved with the Words "HOLINESS BELONG TO GOD," was called "the holy sign of dedication" coming from the same Hebrew root word "Nazir." (Exodus 39:30, 31) Likewise, the official headpiece or diadem worn by Israel's anointed kings was also called a "Nezer." (2 Samuel 1:10; 2 Kings 11:12)
When the specified duration of the VOW CAME TO AN END, the Nazi'Rite presented himself to the priests before the Tent of Meeting, bringing along the prescribed sacrifices consisting of a Young Ram for a Burnt Offering, a Female Lamb for a Sin Offering, and a Ram for a Communion Sacrifice. He also was to bring a basket of unfermented (unleavened) cakes and wafers that were well oiled, together with the proper grain and drink offerings. In addition to these necessary sacrifices, the Nazi'Rite brought such other offerings to the sanctuary as he could afford. Next, the NAZI'RITE HAD THE LONG HAIR CUT OFF and it was PLACED ON THE FIRE UNDER THE COMMUNION SACRIFICE, and then portions of the offerings were placed in his hands by the officiating Priest and WAVED BY THE PRIEST AS A WAVE OFFERING BEFORE GOD.
It appears that in time spiritually wealthy individuals were able to provide the necessary means for sacrifices as an act of charity, for persons of little means. This seemed to be the recognized custom that the apostle Paul took advantage of upon arriving in JERUSALEM at the end of his 3rd tour. To allay the false rumors that Paul had been "teaching all the Jews among the nations ... not to walk in the solemn customs" of the Jewish nation, Paul's Christian brothers recommended the following plan.
"We have 4 men with a Vow upon themselves," they told Paul, "Take these men along and cleanse yourself ceremonially with them and take care of their expenses, that they may have their heads shaved." (Acts 21: 20-26)
Monday, 2 January 2017
JOHN THE BAPTIST OF REPENTANCE.
John the Baptist was born just 6 month before the Birth of Jesus Christ. A Nazarite from birth, he could not drink any alcohol, cut his hair, and other restrictions. (Numbers 6)
His father Zechariah was a Priest and member of the priestly Order of Abijah of the House of Aaron, who served at Jerusalem's Temple. The Paternal House of Abijah was chosen by lot to head the 8th Division during king David's day, and thereafter it was known as the "Order of Abijah."
His mother Elizabeth, related to Jesus' mother Mary, was of the daughters of Aaron. Elizabeth was unable to conceive and both, she and her husband, were 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. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the Hour of the Incense. The Burning of the Incense represented the Testing in Spirit of each one of them. And there appeared to Zechariah an angel of the LORD standing on the Right Side of the Altar of the Incense. And he was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
The Angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ".. And he said to the angel, "How shall I know this."
And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the Presence of GOD; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this Good News. And, behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the Day that these things come to pass, because YOU DID NOT BELIEVE MY WORDS, WHICH WILL BE FULFILLED IN TIME." (Lucas 1)
The Scripture prophecy foretold of JOHN coming and of him being like a voice crying in the Wilderness in the spiritual power of Elijah. (John 1:19-23; Matthew 17:10-13)
John spent most of his life living in a mountainous area of Judah that was between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. His died was strict and he dressed rather roughly (like Elijah-Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6; 2Kings1:8). He had an effective and popular ministry which drew the attention of Priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herod Antipas (Roman ruler of Galilee and Perea) and others. (Matthew 3:7; Mark 6:16-19, etc). He also drew his share of disciples. The first two people Jesus called to follow him were first followers of John the Baptist. (John 1:35-39)
John's students were so zealous for him that when they saw Jesus baptizing more people they told John about it -as if something was wrong. John assured those who followed him that "The One after me must increase, but I must decrease." (Juan 3:26-30). In time they eventually approached Jesus with a question that had puzzle them "Why do we and Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
(Matthew 9:14) . JESUS responded using a wedding analogy to explain the difference (9:15).
His ministry began when he was 30. It lasted for about 3 years until he was put in prison by Herod Antipas for speaking out against his unlawful marriage. Because of a promise Herod made to his wife's daughter Salome, he had John the Baptist beheaded just before the Passover.
After Herod tossed John into prison, he began to hear about the Deeds of the CHRIST, he sent some of his disciples to him. "Tell us," they asked JESUS, "Are YOU the One John said was going to come or should we expect someone else?" JESUS answered, "Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. How HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NO DOUBTS ABOUT ME!"
-MARK 1:7 says, "John the Baptist announced to the people, 'The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie His Sandals. I baptize you with water of repentance, but HE will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT.'"
-MALACHI 3 says, "Behold, I send MY MESSENGER to PREPARE THE WAY BEFORE ME, and the LORD WHOM YOU SEEK will SUDDENLY COME TO HIS TEMPLE; the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT in whom you delight, behold, HE IS COMING," says THE LORD OF HOSTS. But WHO CAN ENDURE the DAY OF HIS COMING, and WHO CAN STAND WHEN HE APPEARS?
For HE IS LIKE A REFINER'S FIRE and LIKE FULLERS' SOAP; He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and HE WILL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI AND REFINE THEM like gold and silver, TILL THEY PRESENT RIGHT OFFERINGS TO THE LORD as in the Days of old and as in former years. (3:1-4)
DEUTERONOMY 18 says, "The LORD your GOD WILL RAISE UP for you A PROPHET like me (Moses) FROM AMONG YOU, from your brethren -TO HIM YOU SHALL HEED- just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the Day of the Assembly, when you said, 'LET me NOT HEAR AGAIN THE VOICE OF THE LORD MY GOD, OR SEE THIS GREAT FIRE ANY MORE, LEST I DIE.'
And the Lord said to me (Moses), "THEY HAVE RIGHTLY SAID ALL that they have spoken. I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM A PROPHET like you from among their brethren; and I WILL PUT MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, AND HE SHALL SPEAK TO THEM ALL THAT I COMMAND HIM. And WHOEVER WILL NOT GIVE HEED TO MY WORDS WHICH HE SHALL SPEAK IN MY NAME, I MYSELF WILL REQUIRE IT OF HIM."
"But the Prophet who presumes to speak a Word in My Name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same Prophet shall die." (18:15-20)
"And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the Word which the Lord has not spoken?' -when a Prophet speaks in the Name of the Lord, IF THE WORD DOES NOT COME TO PASS OR COME TRUE, that IS a WORD which THE LORD HAS NOT SPOKEN; the Prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him." (18: 21-22)
His father Zechariah was a Priest and member of the priestly Order of Abijah of the House of Aaron, who served at Jerusalem's Temple. The Paternal House of Abijah was chosen by lot to head the 8th Division during king David's day, and thereafter it was known as the "Order of Abijah."
His mother Elizabeth, related to Jesus' mother Mary, was of the daughters of Aaron. Elizabeth was unable to conceive and both, she and her husband, were 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. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the Hour of the Incense. The Burning of the Incense represented the Testing in Spirit of each one of them. And there appeared to Zechariah an angel of the LORD standing on the Right Side of the Altar of the Incense. And he was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
The Angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ".. And he said to the angel, "How shall I know this."
And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the Presence of GOD; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this Good News. And, behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the Day that these things come to pass, because YOU DID NOT BELIEVE MY WORDS, WHICH WILL BE FULFILLED IN TIME." (Lucas 1)
The Scripture prophecy foretold of JOHN coming and of him being like a voice crying in the Wilderness in the spiritual power of Elijah. (John 1:19-23; Matthew 17:10-13)
John spent most of his life living in a mountainous area of Judah that was between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. His died was strict and he dressed rather roughly (like Elijah-Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6; 2Kings1:8). He had an effective and popular ministry which drew the attention of Priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herod Antipas (Roman ruler of Galilee and Perea) and others. (Matthew 3:7; Mark 6:16-19, etc). He also drew his share of disciples. The first two people Jesus called to follow him were first followers of John the Baptist. (John 1:35-39)
John's students were so zealous for him that when they saw Jesus baptizing more people they told John about it -as if something was wrong. John assured those who followed him that "The One after me must increase, but I must decrease." (Juan 3:26-30). In time they eventually approached Jesus with a question that had puzzle them "Why do we and Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
(Matthew 9:14) . JESUS responded using a wedding analogy to explain the difference (9:15).
His ministry began when he was 30. It lasted for about 3 years until he was put in prison by Herod Antipas for speaking out against his unlawful marriage. Because of a promise Herod made to his wife's daughter Salome, he had John the Baptist beheaded just before the Passover.
After Herod tossed John into prison, he began to hear about the Deeds of the CHRIST, he sent some of his disciples to him. "Tell us," they asked JESUS, "Are YOU the One John said was going to come or should we expect someone else?" JESUS answered, "Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. How HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NO DOUBTS ABOUT ME!"
-MARK 1:7 says, "John the Baptist announced to the people, 'The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie His Sandals. I baptize you with water of repentance, but HE will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT.'"
-MALACHI 3 says, "Behold, I send MY MESSENGER to PREPARE THE WAY BEFORE ME, and the LORD WHOM YOU SEEK will SUDDENLY COME TO HIS TEMPLE; the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT in whom you delight, behold, HE IS COMING," says THE LORD OF HOSTS. But WHO CAN ENDURE the DAY OF HIS COMING, and WHO CAN STAND WHEN HE APPEARS?
For HE IS LIKE A REFINER'S FIRE and LIKE FULLERS' SOAP; He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and HE WILL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI AND REFINE THEM like gold and silver, TILL THEY PRESENT RIGHT OFFERINGS TO THE LORD as in the Days of old and as in former years. (3:1-4)
DEUTERONOMY 18 says, "The LORD your GOD WILL RAISE UP for you A PROPHET like me (Moses) FROM AMONG YOU, from your brethren -TO HIM YOU SHALL HEED- just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the Day of the Assembly, when you said, 'LET me NOT HEAR AGAIN THE VOICE OF THE LORD MY GOD, OR SEE THIS GREAT FIRE ANY MORE, LEST I DIE.'
And the Lord said to me (Moses), "THEY HAVE RIGHTLY SAID ALL that they have spoken. I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM A PROPHET like you from among their brethren; and I WILL PUT MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, AND HE SHALL SPEAK TO THEM ALL THAT I COMMAND HIM. And WHOEVER WILL NOT GIVE HEED TO MY WORDS WHICH HE SHALL SPEAK IN MY NAME, I MYSELF WILL REQUIRE IT OF HIM."
"But the Prophet who presumes to speak a Word in My Name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same Prophet shall die." (18:15-20)
"And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the Word which the Lord has not spoken?' -when a Prophet speaks in the Name of the Lord, IF THE WORD DOES NOT COME TO PASS OR COME TRUE, that IS a WORD which THE LORD HAS NOT SPOKEN; the Prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him." (18: 21-22)
TIME OUT OF TIME = DEEP SLEEP.
In the frame of the Unseen World, "dreaming" is understood as time out of time. Every person essentially exists eternally in it. This eternal part existed before the life of the individual begins, and continues to exist when the life of the individual ends.
There are a number of verses in the Scripture referring to this stage of deep sleep, as follows :
ISAIAH 29 : THE FATE OF JERUSALEM.-
"GOD's Altar, JERUSALEM itself is doomed! The city where David camped is doomed! Add another year, and another year; let the Feasts and Festivals run their round (time out of time), and then GOD will bring disaster on the city called "GOD's Altar, and JERUSALEM will be to Me like an Altar. There will be weeping and wailing, and the whole city will be like an Altar covered with blood. GOD will attack the city, surround it, and besiege it. JERUSALEM will be like A GHOST struggling to speak from UNDER the GROUND, a MUFFLED VOICE coming FROM the DUST. But the multitude of your foreigners (false souls) will be blown away like dust, and the multitude of their terrifying armies (ruthless spirits) will fly away like straw. And in an instant, suddenly, YOU, JERUSALEM, will BE VISITED by the LORD OF HOST, and unexpectedly HE will RESCUE you with violent thunder storms and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the FLAME OF A DEVOURING FIRE. And the multitude of all THE NATIONS (false souls and ruthless spirits) THAT FIGHT AGAINST GOD'S ALTAR, all that fight against her, and their weapons and equipment -EVERYTHING WILL VANISH LIKE A DREAM, LIKE SOMETHING IMAGINED IN THE NIGHT." (1-7)
GENESIS 2 : THE GARDEN OF EDEN.-
"When GOD made the Universe, there were no plants on the earth and no seeds had sprouted, because HE HAD NO SENT ANY RAIN, and THERE WAS NO ONE TO CULTIVATE THE LAND, but WATER WOULD COME UP FROM BENEATH the SURFACE and WATER THE GROUND.
Then GOD TOOK some SOIL FROM THE GROUND and FORMED A MAN OUT of IT, HE BREATHED LIFE giving breath INTO HIS NOSTRILS and MAN BEGAN TO LIVE. Then the GOD PLANTED a GARDEN in Eden, in the East, and there HE PUT the MAN He had formed. HE MADE all kinds of beautiful TREES grow there and produce GOOD FRUIT. In the MIDDLE of the garden STOOD the TREE that gives LIFE and the TREE that gives KNOWLEDGE of what is good and what is bad."(4-9) ... "GOD placed the MAN in the Garden of Eden to CULTIVATE it and to GUARD it. GOD told him, 'You may EAT the FRUIT OF ANY TREE in the garden, EXCEPT the TREE of KNOWLEDGE of what is good and what is bad. YOU MUST NOT EAT the FRUIT OF that TREE, IF YOU DO, YOU WILL DIE the SAME DAY." (15-17)
"Then GOD said, 'IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN to LIVE ALONE. I will MAKE a suitable COMPANION TO HELP HIM. So HE TOOK some SOIL from the GROUND and FORMED ALL the ANIMALS and all the BIRDS. Then HE BROUGHT THEM TO the MAN TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD NAME THEM; and that is how they all got their names. So the man named all the birds and all the animals, BUT NOT ONE OF THEM WAS A SUITABLE COMPANION TO HELP HIM.
Then GOD MADE the MAN FALL INTO a DEEP SLEEP, and WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING, GOD TOOK OUT ONE OF the MAN's RIBS and CLOSED UP the FLESH.
GOD FORMED a WOMAN out of the rib and BROUGHT HER TO HIM." (18-22)
There are a number of verses in the Scripture referring to this stage of deep sleep, as follows :
ISAIAH 29 : THE FATE OF JERUSALEM.-
"GOD's Altar, JERUSALEM itself is doomed! The city where David camped is doomed! Add another year, and another year; let the Feasts and Festivals run their round (time out of time), and then GOD will bring disaster on the city called "GOD's Altar, and JERUSALEM will be to Me like an Altar. There will be weeping and wailing, and the whole city will be like an Altar covered with blood. GOD will attack the city, surround it, and besiege it. JERUSALEM will be like A GHOST struggling to speak from UNDER the GROUND, a MUFFLED VOICE coming FROM the DUST. But the multitude of your foreigners (false souls) will be blown away like dust, and the multitude of their terrifying armies (ruthless spirits) will fly away like straw. And in an instant, suddenly, YOU, JERUSALEM, will BE VISITED by the LORD OF HOST, and unexpectedly HE will RESCUE you with violent thunder storms and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the FLAME OF A DEVOURING FIRE. And the multitude of all THE NATIONS (false souls and ruthless spirits) THAT FIGHT AGAINST GOD'S ALTAR, all that fight against her, and their weapons and equipment -EVERYTHING WILL VANISH LIKE A DREAM, LIKE SOMETHING IMAGINED IN THE NIGHT." (1-7)
GENESIS 2 : THE GARDEN OF EDEN.-
"When GOD made the Universe, there were no plants on the earth and no seeds had sprouted, because HE HAD NO SENT ANY RAIN, and THERE WAS NO ONE TO CULTIVATE THE LAND, but WATER WOULD COME UP FROM BENEATH the SURFACE and WATER THE GROUND.
Then GOD TOOK some SOIL FROM THE GROUND and FORMED A MAN OUT of IT, HE BREATHED LIFE giving breath INTO HIS NOSTRILS and MAN BEGAN TO LIVE. Then the GOD PLANTED a GARDEN in Eden, in the East, and there HE PUT the MAN He had formed. HE MADE all kinds of beautiful TREES grow there and produce GOOD FRUIT. In the MIDDLE of the garden STOOD the TREE that gives LIFE and the TREE that gives KNOWLEDGE of what is good and what is bad."(4-9) ... "GOD placed the MAN in the Garden of Eden to CULTIVATE it and to GUARD it. GOD told him, 'You may EAT the FRUIT OF ANY TREE in the garden, EXCEPT the TREE of KNOWLEDGE of what is good and what is bad. YOU MUST NOT EAT the FRUIT OF that TREE, IF YOU DO, YOU WILL DIE the SAME DAY." (15-17)
"Then GOD said, 'IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN to LIVE ALONE. I will MAKE a suitable COMPANION TO HELP HIM. So HE TOOK some SOIL from the GROUND and FORMED ALL the ANIMALS and all the BIRDS. Then HE BROUGHT THEM TO the MAN TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD NAME THEM; and that is how they all got their names. So the man named all the birds and all the animals, BUT NOT ONE OF THEM WAS A SUITABLE COMPANION TO HELP HIM.
Then GOD MADE the MAN FALL INTO a DEEP SLEEP, and WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING, GOD TOOK OUT ONE OF the MAN's RIBS and CLOSED UP the FLESH.
GOD FORMED a WOMAN out of the rib and BROUGHT HER TO HIM." (18-22)
Sunday, 1 January 2017
THE HITTITES UNDER NOAH'S CURSE.
The curse upon Canaan, imposed by the Scriptural patriarch Noah, concerned Noah's drunkenness and the accompanying shameful act perpetrated by his son Ham, the father of Canaan. The "vine" is used in the Scripture to signify spiritual goodness.
The concept of the curse finds its origins in Genesis 8: "Noah built an Altar to the LORD; Noah took 'one of each kind of ritually clean animal and bird,' and 'burned them whole' as a sacrifice on the Altar.
The odor of the sacrifice pleased the LORD, and HE said to HIMSELF :
'NEVER AGAIN WILL I PUT THE EARTH UNDER A CURSE BECAUSE OF WHAT PEOPLE DO; I KNOW THAT FROM THE TIME THEY ARE YOUNG THEIR THOUGHTS ARE EVIL. '
'NEVER AGAIN WILL I DESTROY ALL LIVING BEINGS, AS I HAVE DONE THIS TIME.'
As long as the World exists, there will be A TIME OF PLANTING AND A TIME FOR HARVEST.
There will ALWAYS BE COLD AND HEAT, SUMMER AND WINTER, DAY AND NIGHT."
In Genesis 9, GOD make a Covenant with Noah and his sons, "GOD blessed NOAH and his sons and said, 'Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth. All the animals, birds, and fish (the elements in the seen and the unseen worlds and the elemental spirits in it) will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food." (1-3) Noah who was a farmer, was the FIRST MAN to plant a VINEYARD.
In Matthew 21, JESUS spoke in parables the meaning concerning a vineyard and a fig-tree in this way,
"When JESUS went into the Temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. HE overturned the table of the moneychangers and the stools of those who sold pigeons, and said to them, 'IT IS WRITTEN IN THE SCRIPTURE that GOD SAID, "My TEMPLE will be called A HOUSE OF PRAYER."But you are making it a hideout for thieves!"(12-13) ... Listen to another parable JESUS said, "There was once a landowner who planted a Vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a Watchtower. Then he rented the Vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip. When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent his slaves to the tenants to receive his share of the harvest. The tenants grabbed his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stone another. Again the man sent other slaves, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all he sent his son to them. "Surely they will respect my son," he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, "This is the owner's son. Come on, let's kill him, and we will get his prosperity!" So they grabbed him, threw him out of the Vineyard, and killed him. Now, when the owner of the Vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants? JESUS asked. "HE will certainly kill those evil men," they answered, "and rent the Vineyard out to other tenants, who will him his share of the harvest at the right time."(33-41).
It is noteworthy that the curse was made by Noah and not by GOD. Noah cursed the nature of the offense and in a symbolic sequence it shows Noah's authority compromised since being under a Covenant with GOD, Noah, as a High Priest, was suppose to be the first one to exercise self-control.
After Noah became drunk and Ham dishonoring his father, by seeing the nakedness of his father, upon awakening Noah pronounced a curse on Ham's youngest son, his grandson Canaan, stating that his offspring would be the servants of servants. Of Ham's four sons, Canaan fathered the Canaanites, while Mizraim fathered the Egyptians, Cush the Cushites, and Phut the Lybians. The same 4 are mentioned in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, as the 4 races known by the Egyptians.
The Scripture indicates that Noah restricted his curse to the offspring of Ham's youngest son Canaan, Noah's grandson, for the transgression of his father, and it was not extended to Ham's other sons. According to the Covenant's rules in place over Noah and his descendants, the curse was force to be placed in that specific way. Ham is mentioned as his youngest son in terms of the spiritual rank marked by his deeds. The transgression put him lower in the ladder and with the additional sin of inviting his brothers to commit the same aggravated and degrading deed. Ham's god was not the GOD of Shem.
Canaan's descendants, according to the Scripture, include: Sidonians, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, Hamathites.
The Hittites are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as 2nd of the 11 Canaanite nations under the name of 'children of Heth,' who lived near Hebron. Heth means "that who GOD strengthened."
Hittites appear in the Scripture several times as living near Canaan since the time of Abraham to the time of Ezra after the return from the Babylonian exile. The nature of Noah's drunkenness and the dishonorable action of his own youngest son is expressed in a number of circumstances in the Scripture involving the Israelite's way of following GOD's WORD.
The concept of the curse finds its origins in Genesis 8: "Noah built an Altar to the LORD; Noah took 'one of each kind of ritually clean animal and bird,' and 'burned them whole' as a sacrifice on the Altar.
The odor of the sacrifice pleased the LORD, and HE said to HIMSELF :
'NEVER AGAIN WILL I PUT THE EARTH UNDER A CURSE BECAUSE OF WHAT PEOPLE DO; I KNOW THAT FROM THE TIME THEY ARE YOUNG THEIR THOUGHTS ARE EVIL. '
'NEVER AGAIN WILL I DESTROY ALL LIVING BEINGS, AS I HAVE DONE THIS TIME.'
As long as the World exists, there will be A TIME OF PLANTING AND A TIME FOR HARVEST.
There will ALWAYS BE COLD AND HEAT, SUMMER AND WINTER, DAY AND NIGHT."
In Genesis 9, GOD make a Covenant with Noah and his sons, "GOD blessed NOAH and his sons and said, 'Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth. All the animals, birds, and fish (the elements in the seen and the unseen worlds and the elemental spirits in it) will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food." (1-3) Noah who was a farmer, was the FIRST MAN to plant a VINEYARD.
In Matthew 21, JESUS spoke in parables the meaning concerning a vineyard and a fig-tree in this way,
"When JESUS went into the Temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. HE overturned the table of the moneychangers and the stools of those who sold pigeons, and said to them, 'IT IS WRITTEN IN THE SCRIPTURE that GOD SAID, "My TEMPLE will be called A HOUSE OF PRAYER."But you are making it a hideout for thieves!"(12-13) ... Listen to another parable JESUS said, "There was once a landowner who planted a Vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a Watchtower. Then he rented the Vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip. When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent his slaves to the tenants to receive his share of the harvest. The tenants grabbed his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stone another. Again the man sent other slaves, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all he sent his son to them. "Surely they will respect my son," he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, "This is the owner's son. Come on, let's kill him, and we will get his prosperity!" So they grabbed him, threw him out of the Vineyard, and killed him. Now, when the owner of the Vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants? JESUS asked. "HE will certainly kill those evil men," they answered, "and rent the Vineyard out to other tenants, who will him his share of the harvest at the right time."(33-41).
It is noteworthy that the curse was made by Noah and not by GOD. Noah cursed the nature of the offense and in a symbolic sequence it shows Noah's authority compromised since being under a Covenant with GOD, Noah, as a High Priest, was suppose to be the first one to exercise self-control.
After Noah became drunk and Ham dishonoring his father, by seeing the nakedness of his father, upon awakening Noah pronounced a curse on Ham's youngest son, his grandson Canaan, stating that his offspring would be the servants of servants. Of Ham's four sons, Canaan fathered the Canaanites, while Mizraim fathered the Egyptians, Cush the Cushites, and Phut the Lybians. The same 4 are mentioned in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, as the 4 races known by the Egyptians.
The Scripture indicates that Noah restricted his curse to the offspring of Ham's youngest son Canaan, Noah's grandson, for the transgression of his father, and it was not extended to Ham's other sons. According to the Covenant's rules in place over Noah and his descendants, the curse was force to be placed in that specific way. Ham is mentioned as his youngest son in terms of the spiritual rank marked by his deeds. The transgression put him lower in the ladder and with the additional sin of inviting his brothers to commit the same aggravated and degrading deed. Ham's god was not the GOD of Shem.
Canaan's descendants, according to the Scripture, include: Sidonians, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, Hamathites.
The Hittites are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as 2nd of the 11 Canaanite nations under the name of 'children of Heth,' who lived near Hebron. Heth means "that who GOD strengthened."
Hittites appear in the Scripture several times as living near Canaan since the time of Abraham to the time of Ezra after the return from the Babylonian exile. The nature of Noah's drunkenness and the dishonorable action of his own youngest son is expressed in a number of circumstances in the Scripture involving the Israelite's way of following GOD's WORD.
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