First Israelite High Priest, Chief functionary of the Tabernacle and in the Temple rituals, and elder brother of Moses and brother of Miriam. He was the spokesman of Moses because he was slow of speech and of a slow tongue.
Aaron was the traditional founder of the hereditary Jewish Priesthood and an Old Testament type of Christ. As a High Priest, he alone entered the Holy of Holies once a year to offer incense during the ritual of atonement. The sacrificial ritual brought reconciliation of man and God. The main spiritual vehicles for atonement were considered to be repentance, prayer, hospitality, spiritual charity from sincere hearts, and good spiritual deeds. Suffering and death both were considered to have an atonement effect.
The Holy of Hollies (Hebrew: Kodesh Ha-Kodashim) was the most sacred area where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It was curtained off from the rest of the sanctuary, and inside was the foundation Rock at the very centre of the world, and it was the base on which the world was created. A rope was attached to his waist so that, if necessary, he could be brought out from the Holy of Hollies should he died. Even Satan did not dare to accuse Israel when the High Priest entered the Holy of Hollies, for the High Priest is said to be greater even than the archangels, since the latter can only plead for Israel with words, while the former can also intercede on their behalf with ritual deeds.
A High Priest excelled his fellow priests in strength, spiritual riches, wisdom, and appearance. The elaborate Old Testament description of his garments confirm the spiritual level that the High Priest needed to reach in order to be the only one qualified to enter the Holy of Hollies. His vestments included a turban or mitre; a breastplate set with 12 gems, one for each of the 12 Tribes of Israel, with the Urim and the Thummim in it; and a robe adorned with bells; and a censer boat that he alone could offer incense in the Holy of Hollies.
Aaron is depicted as a lover of Peace who would go in turn to each of the two parties to a quarrel and, by telling how sorry they felt because of it, he would apologize in the name of the other party, when they next met, their quarrel was over because each believed the other had apologized.
This characteristic made Aaron suitable as High Priest, whose sacrifices brought peace between Israel and their Father in heaven. It was said that a man without a wife (church) remained without atonement and that the spiritual People of Israel served as an atonement for the nations of the world.
Aaron was closely associated with Moses in events connected with the Exodus from Egypt. He was the possessor of a miraculous rod or wand which bursted into almond blossom overnight to vindicate him when his divine suitability of the exclusive right of hist tribe to the privileges of priesthood was challenged. Aaron and the head of each of the other tribes of Israel laid their staffs in the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron's rod blossomed and produced ripe almonds, a sign that the Tribe of Levi, of which he was the leader, had been divinely chosen for the office. (Numbers 17).
Aaron, like his brother Moses, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. When he died on the Mountain of Hor when he was 123 years old, it was through a kiss of the shek-hinah, a Hebrew word for "indwelling," meaning by the divine presence or immanence of God, the easiest form of death, and God Himself prepared his funeral bier and a golden candelabrum to light the way.(Numbers 20). He was the ancestor of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. (Luke 1).
He was also very popular among the Israelites, and this explain why "all the House of Israel" mourned him.
Symbolic of the great loss his death represented was the cessation of the Pillar of Cloud and of Fire, which until then had guided the Israelites through the desert because of Aaron's merits.
Although Aaron was responsible for making the Golden Calf, he did so because he did not want the Israelites to be guilty of the greater sin of killing their High Priest if he refused.
Aaron is one of the Seven Faithful Shepherds of Israel, a title given to outstanding biblical leaders, who are invited to the sukkah, a Hebrew word for Tabernacle, each evening as spiritual guests.
During the Festival of the Tabernacles (Sukkot) the spiritual Jews transferred their living quarters from the house to a Tabernacle, which was a makeshift booth whose roof was of branches or vegetation thin enough to let the rain in. People ate in it and many even slept in it. The Tabernacle was meant to remind the spiritual Jews of the booths in which their ancestors dwelt when they wandered in the wilderness during the Exodus, and of the clouds of glory which surrounded them. They were protected by God from the elements, and by remembering this, they are reminded that it is not the brick and mortar of the house which affords ultimate protection but God Himself.
Saturday, 30 July 2016
Saturday, 25 June 2016
THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
The Book of Daniel describes the coming of God's Kingdom vividly in terms of the destruction of every power which resists God and opposes the Divine Will.
The Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans introduces the theme "Justification by Faith,"describing that all men were born as sinners. Paul also describes the reason of the gross idolatry and immorality of the non-Jews as consequence of sin; yet by reason of display of God's power and as witness the one of their own Consciences, they were presented as sinners worthy of "Death."
In Romans, chapter 5, Paul explained that "Death" reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the "Transgression of Adam," who was a type of the One who was to come.
Sin came into the World through the transgression (sin) of one man and Death through sin, and so Death spread to all men because all men were born as sinners, since sin indeed was in the World before the Law was given, and sin was not counted as sin when there was no Law.
At the same time the Jews were the favored recipients of God's oracles, but equally sinners, with the difference that the non-Jews were sinners without the Law and perished without it, and the Jews were able to purified themselves because of the Law, and those who rebelled against the Law sinned against it and were judged it, "for not the hearers of the Law were just before God, but the doers of the Law were "Justified." These Free Gift is not like the Trespass. For if many Died through one man's transgression, much more power have the Grace of God and the free gift in the Grace of that One Man Jesus Christ abounded for many. For the Judgment following one Transgression brought Condemnation, but the Free Gift following Many Transgressions brought "Justification." Then as one man's Transgression led to Condemnation to all men, so One Man's Act of Righteousness brought Acquittal and Life in the Spirit to all men. Then as one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by One Man's Obedience many will be made Righteous. All of us who have been baptized into the spirit of Christ Jesus were baptized into His Death. We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into Death, so that as the Spirit of Christ was raised from the Death by the power of the Glory of the father, we too were granted the choice to Walk in Newness of Life.
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James wrote a warning against certain nominal Christians who threatened to undermine and destroy the Mystery of the Kingdom of God and the fellowship of the believers by their immoral character and conduct. Those who choose to follow in their path are being warned to the certain wrath of God's Judgment. Indeed the Old Testament bears witness to 6 Judgments of God upon such evil sins which were repeated in the same pattern in their character and conduct by these human bearers of such evil power.
As if to emphasizes their ripeness for God's Wrath, Jude adds a 12 fold description of their guilt. "They are Blemishes on your Love Feasts, as they boldly Carouse Together, Looking After Themselves; Waterless Clouds, carried along by winds; Fruitless Trees in late autumn, Twice Dead, Uprooted; Wild Waves of the Sea, casting up the Foam of Their Own Shame; Wandering Stars for whom the Nether Gloom of Darkness has been Reserved for Ever." "These men revile whatever they do not understand, and by those things that They Know by Instinct as Irrational Animals do, they are destroyed. ... For they Walk in the Way of Cain, and Abandon Themselves for the sake for The Sake of Gain to Balaam's error, and perish In Korah's Rebellion, in which God made the earth open up its mouth and swallow him and his two other comrades alive with all of their households and sent a powerful Fire that destroyed all of his followers. Be eager to contend for the Faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
The Mystery of the Messianic Mission is then that before the Messiah comes as the heavenly Son of Man with the Clouds of Heaven to establish the Kingdom over all the earth, He must first come in the power of Humility among men, and as a Suffering Servant of Death to die.
This was unheard of to the first century Jew's priestly class, who were challenged in their measure of faith. They looked for a Messiah who would come in Power and Victory over Death without taking in consideration the language of the heart that was sincere Love for one another, for admission to the priestly class had been secretly gained by some evil power who long ago were designated for its condemnation, ungodly entities whose mission is pervert the Grace of our God into licentiousness denying the power of the unfailing Love of God acting in our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Second Letter of John, he declares that he is rejoiced greatly because some of the children of the elect lady, whom he loves in Truth, are followers of it. Then he beg the lady to continue following the great commandment of loving one another, because this is the commandment heard from the beginning, that we have to follow Love. For many deceiver spirits have gone out into our World, men who will not acknowledge the coming of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ in the Spirit of Flesh; such a one is the power of that Deceiver spirit and the AntiChrist. "You have to look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a fully reward."
The Kingdom is to come in the Power of Love, sweeping before it all evil and every hostile rule, transforming the earth and ushering in a New Universal Order.
Isaiah 53 clearly predicts the sufferings of the Messiah. However, Messiah is not named as such in this passage, and the context specifically names Israel as God's Servant. It bears the spiritual position of God's chosen people in the Mighty Kingdom of God.
Jesus said in the Book of Revelation, chapter 22, "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and that they may Enter the City by the Gates. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood."
"I Jesus have sent my angel to you with This Testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star."
"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let him who hears say, 'Come.' And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the Water of Life without price."
"I warn every one who hears the Words of the Prophecy of this Book: If any one adds to them, God will add to him the Plagues described in this Book, and if any one takes away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy, God will take away His Share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City, which are described in this Book."
"Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!" The Grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen
The Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans introduces the theme "Justification by Faith,"describing that all men were born as sinners. Paul also describes the reason of the gross idolatry and immorality of the non-Jews as consequence of sin; yet by reason of display of God's power and as witness the one of their own Consciences, they were presented as sinners worthy of "Death."
In Romans, chapter 5, Paul explained that "Death" reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the "Transgression of Adam," who was a type of the One who was to come.
Sin came into the World through the transgression (sin) of one man and Death through sin, and so Death spread to all men because all men were born as sinners, since sin indeed was in the World before the Law was given, and sin was not counted as sin when there was no Law.
At the same time the Jews were the favored recipients of God's oracles, but equally sinners, with the difference that the non-Jews were sinners without the Law and perished without it, and the Jews were able to purified themselves because of the Law, and those who rebelled against the Law sinned against it and were judged it, "for not the hearers of the Law were just before God, but the doers of the Law were "Justified." These Free Gift is not like the Trespass. For if many Died through one man's transgression, much more power have the Grace of God and the free gift in the Grace of that One Man Jesus Christ abounded for many. For the Judgment following one Transgression brought Condemnation, but the Free Gift following Many Transgressions brought "Justification." Then as one man's Transgression led to Condemnation to all men, so One Man's Act of Righteousness brought Acquittal and Life in the Spirit to all men. Then as one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by One Man's Obedience many will be made Righteous. All of us who have been baptized into the spirit of Christ Jesus were baptized into His Death. We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into Death, so that as the Spirit of Christ was raised from the Death by the power of the Glory of the father, we too were granted the choice to Walk in Newness of Life.
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James wrote a warning against certain nominal Christians who threatened to undermine and destroy the Mystery of the Kingdom of God and the fellowship of the believers by their immoral character and conduct. Those who choose to follow in their path are being warned to the certain wrath of God's Judgment. Indeed the Old Testament bears witness to 6 Judgments of God upon such evil sins which were repeated in the same pattern in their character and conduct by these human bearers of such evil power.
As if to emphasizes their ripeness for God's Wrath, Jude adds a 12 fold description of their guilt. "They are Blemishes on your Love Feasts, as they boldly Carouse Together, Looking After Themselves; Waterless Clouds, carried along by winds; Fruitless Trees in late autumn, Twice Dead, Uprooted; Wild Waves of the Sea, casting up the Foam of Their Own Shame; Wandering Stars for whom the Nether Gloom of Darkness has been Reserved for Ever." "These men revile whatever they do not understand, and by those things that They Know by Instinct as Irrational Animals do, they are destroyed. ... For they Walk in the Way of Cain, and Abandon Themselves for the sake for The Sake of Gain to Balaam's error, and perish In Korah's Rebellion, in which God made the earth open up its mouth and swallow him and his two other comrades alive with all of their households and sent a powerful Fire that destroyed all of his followers. Be eager to contend for the Faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
The Mystery of the Messianic Mission is then that before the Messiah comes as the heavenly Son of Man with the Clouds of Heaven to establish the Kingdom over all the earth, He must first come in the power of Humility among men, and as a Suffering Servant of Death to die.
This was unheard of to the first century Jew's priestly class, who were challenged in their measure of faith. They looked for a Messiah who would come in Power and Victory over Death without taking in consideration the language of the heart that was sincere Love for one another, for admission to the priestly class had been secretly gained by some evil power who long ago were designated for its condemnation, ungodly entities whose mission is pervert the Grace of our God into licentiousness denying the power of the unfailing Love of God acting in our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Second Letter of John, he declares that he is rejoiced greatly because some of the children of the elect lady, whom he loves in Truth, are followers of it. Then he beg the lady to continue following the great commandment of loving one another, because this is the commandment heard from the beginning, that we have to follow Love. For many deceiver spirits have gone out into our World, men who will not acknowledge the coming of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ in the Spirit of Flesh; such a one is the power of that Deceiver spirit and the AntiChrist. "You have to look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a fully reward."
The Kingdom is to come in the Power of Love, sweeping before it all evil and every hostile rule, transforming the earth and ushering in a New Universal Order.
Isaiah 53 clearly predicts the sufferings of the Messiah. However, Messiah is not named as such in this passage, and the context specifically names Israel as God's Servant. It bears the spiritual position of God's chosen people in the Mighty Kingdom of God.
Jesus said in the Book of Revelation, chapter 22, "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and that they may Enter the City by the Gates. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood."
"I Jesus have sent my angel to you with This Testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star."
"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let him who hears say, 'Come.' And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the Water of Life without price."
"I warn every one who hears the Words of the Prophecy of this Book: If any one adds to them, God will add to him the Plagues described in this Book, and if any one takes away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy, God will take away His Share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City, which are described in this Book."
"Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!" The Grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen
Thursday, 16 June 2016
THE NEPHILIM.
The Nephilim were offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Deluge according to Genesis 6; they were said to later inhabit Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan according to Numbers 13. A similar biblical word with different vowel-sounds is used in Ezekiel 32 to refer to dead Philistine warriors.
The Nephilim are to be perceived as "those that cause others to fall down." The Dead Sea Scroll (Qumran) contains the earliest known reference to the phrase "children of Seth," stating that God had condemned them for their rebellion and other early references tell about how they mingled with the daughters of Cain.
In the Epistle of Jude, a parallel is draw to Genesis 6 and it refers to the paternity of Nephilim as heavenly beings who came to earth and had sexual relationship with women, creating a superhuman race.
The story of the Nephilim is further elaborated in the apocryphal Book of Enoch. It connect the origin of the Nephilim with fallen angels. It refers to both good and bad Watchers. The Watchers were angels dispatched to Earth to watch over the humans. They were surrounded by the demon spirit of lust and his legions, that attacked them and obtained victory over their spiritual bodies making them fall with lust for human women, and at the prodding of their leader, Satan, that illicitly controlled the human race, the offspring of the Fallen Watchers mating with the daughters of men, the Nephilim developed as savage race of giants who pillaged the earth and endanger humanity. Eventually God allows a Great Flood to rid the earth of the Nephilim, but first sending His Archangel to warn Noah so as not to eradicate the human race. The Watchers were bound "in the valleys of the earth" until Judgment Day.
The first Book of Enoch devotes much of its attention to the fall of the Watchers. The Second Book of Enoch addresses the Watchers who are in the Fifth Heaven where the Fall took place. The Third Book gives attention to the Unfallen Watchers. The Book is based in the interpretation of the Sons of God passage in Genesis 6, according to which angels descended their condition and married with human females, giving rise to a race of hybrids known as the Nephilim. The term "Irin" is primarily applied to disobedient Watchers who numbered a total of 200, and of whom their leaders are named, but equally Aramaic "Iri"("watcher" singular) is also applied to the Obedient Archangels who chain them, such as Raphael.
Watchers also are mentioned in both plural and singular forms in the Book of Daniel, chapter 4, making reference to their holiness. The term is introduced by Nebuchadnezzar who says he saw "a watcher, a holy one come down from heaven." He describes how in his dream the watcher says that Nebuchadnezzar will eat grass and be mad and that this punishment is "by decree of the Watchers, the demand by the Word of the Holy Ones" ... "the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men." After hearing the king's dream Daniel considers for an hour and then responds:"And because the king saw a Watcher, a Holy One, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cop down the Tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let Him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let His portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over Him,' this is the interpretation. O, king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an Ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.' "
The Nephilim are to be perceived as "those that cause others to fall down." The Dead Sea Scroll (Qumran) contains the earliest known reference to the phrase "children of Seth," stating that God had condemned them for their rebellion and other early references tell about how they mingled with the daughters of Cain.
In the Epistle of Jude, a parallel is draw to Genesis 6 and it refers to the paternity of Nephilim as heavenly beings who came to earth and had sexual relationship with women, creating a superhuman race.
The story of the Nephilim is further elaborated in the apocryphal Book of Enoch. It connect the origin of the Nephilim with fallen angels. It refers to both good and bad Watchers. The Watchers were angels dispatched to Earth to watch over the humans. They were surrounded by the demon spirit of lust and his legions, that attacked them and obtained victory over their spiritual bodies making them fall with lust for human women, and at the prodding of their leader, Satan, that illicitly controlled the human race, the offspring of the Fallen Watchers mating with the daughters of men, the Nephilim developed as savage race of giants who pillaged the earth and endanger humanity. Eventually God allows a Great Flood to rid the earth of the Nephilim, but first sending His Archangel to warn Noah so as not to eradicate the human race. The Watchers were bound "in the valleys of the earth" until Judgment Day.
The first Book of Enoch devotes much of its attention to the fall of the Watchers. The Second Book of Enoch addresses the Watchers who are in the Fifth Heaven where the Fall took place. The Third Book gives attention to the Unfallen Watchers. The Book is based in the interpretation of the Sons of God passage in Genesis 6, according to which angels descended their condition and married with human females, giving rise to a race of hybrids known as the Nephilim. The term "Irin" is primarily applied to disobedient Watchers who numbered a total of 200, and of whom their leaders are named, but equally Aramaic "Iri"("watcher" singular) is also applied to the Obedient Archangels who chain them, such as Raphael.
Watchers also are mentioned in both plural and singular forms in the Book of Daniel, chapter 4, making reference to their holiness. The term is introduced by Nebuchadnezzar who says he saw "a watcher, a holy one come down from heaven." He describes how in his dream the watcher says that Nebuchadnezzar will eat grass and be mad and that this punishment is "by decree of the Watchers, the demand by the Word of the Holy Ones" ... "the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men." After hearing the king's dream Daniel considers for an hour and then responds:"And because the king saw a Watcher, a Holy One, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cop down the Tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let Him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let His portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over Him,' this is the interpretation. O, king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an Ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.' "
WHAT DEMON POSSESSION MEANS?
Demon possession means the captive control and influence of a person by an invisible evil spirit that attacks people from without, or possesses the body, entering an individual's body and attacking it from within.
They cause diseases and sickness of all kind, although not all sickness may be attributed to them. In the Gospel of Mark, vividness of detail is an outstanding characteristic given to this matter, and not to be found in Matthew's or Luke's account of the same event.
Mark 1:32 ... at sundown, they brought to him All who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 -And the whole city was gathered together about the door (Galilee). 34 -And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Mark 2:6 Now some of the Scribes were sitting there (a home in Caper'Na-Um), questioning In their hearts, 7 -"Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His Spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus In your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"...
Mark 1:21 And they went into Caper'Na-Um; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His Teachings, for He Taught them as One Who had authority, and not as the Scribes. 23 -And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, "What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You Are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, :Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 -And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
They cause diseases and sickness of all kind, although not all sickness may be attributed to them. In the Gospel of Mark, vividness of detail is an outstanding characteristic given to this matter, and not to be found in Matthew's or Luke's account of the same event.
Mark 1:32 ... at sundown, they brought to him All who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 -And the whole city was gathered together about the door (Galilee). 34 -And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Mark 2:6 Now some of the Scribes were sitting there (a home in Caper'Na-Um), questioning In their hearts, 7 -"Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His Spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus In your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"...
Mark 1:21 And they went into Caper'Na-Um; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His Teachings, for He Taught them as One Who had authority, and not as the Scribes. 23 -And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, "What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You Are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, :Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 -And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
Sunday, 5 June 2016
ASTROLOGERS, WHO WERE THEY?
Astrologers (As-Trol'o-gers), the word has the root meaning "to divide," to point to those entities or forces that divided the heavens into configurations in order to control the supernatural powers, have insight, and achieve great wisdom over those subjected to them.
The word "g'zar" occurs only in that part of the Book of Daniel written in Aramaic, in which the use of the word is understood as a division, to point out to those entities, having authority and power over their controlled region.
The astrologers were the ones who had the insight, wisdom and knowledge to understand the language of these entities and, by observation from the position of the stars at the hour of birth, determined the fate of the soul of each individual, influencing the way in which the perception of things were done in each human being, therefore determining the person's character and attitudes towards himself and the World around him, forming its own universe of rules in the physical realm that served as a mirror of its own and personal spiritual path.
Israel, in its spiritual stage, being under the direct guidance of God and through their position as the chosen ones to act as the priests of His kingdom based on free will and sincere hearts to choose God as their spiritual King and Father, were and still are able to annul the influence of these forces or entities trying to overcome their divine power and making them slaves of them.
Pharaoh, was informed by his astrologers that the person who would redeem the spiritual Israelites from slavery, would succumb to Water. Then, he, believing that he can control it, ordered that all the Israelite children be cast into the Nile.
However, the downfall of Moses, predicted by the Pharaoh's astrologers, came about when he struck the Rock to bring forth Water in the desert, instead of speaking to it.
Israel, the name given to Jacob after he wrestled with the Angel of God (Gen. 32), means "he who has struggled with the Word of God." The understanding of this meaning give us the reason why Moses struck the Rock instead of talking to it, and the subsequent coming of the Son of God, to achieve victory over the authorities, forces and entities that blocked the Way from being free to accept the Truth and obtain the grace of our salvation, made possible by Jesus Christ, by being resurrected by the power of God from the world of the dead and ascended to the highest heaven to exercise authority over the whole creation and establish the new world order for God's Kingdom, things that could not be possible through the law of Moses. Jacob's spiritual descendants known as the Children of Israel or Israelites, and the spiritual Land promised to them by God is what Jesus Christ as the Son of God obtained victory and when He comes again it will be the Land of Spiritual Israel.
When the ten tribes broke away under Jeroboam, to form an independent Northern Kingdom after the death of King Solomon, these authorities took the name Israel, leaving the Southern Kingdom with the name Judah from which the term Jew originated. Then the designation "Children of Israel" eventually became "the House of Israel," "the People of Israel," and then "Israel," as a collective name of all Jews, whether born of matrilineal descent from Jacob or converted to the faith of Judaism. "Israel" thus became both a religious and ethnic concept incorporating all those subjects to the "Law of Moses."
When the Son of God came, He established a New Covenant, based on Love and Obedience to the Word of God, and then we are able to be called "the spiritual People of Israel," and be renewed in spirit through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to the world and was sacrificed by the world and died and was resurrected by the power of God, becoming the only One able to mediate between worlds and restore the Order of Things as it was way before the Creation and it will be in dominion forever.
We as the spiritual People of Israel have to be characterized by three qualities: Love, Faith, and Hope, but the greater of all three is our expression of Love, because through the divine Love of God the Universe was created. We have the status of princes in God's eyes and are to be regarded as the sons of the prophets who have "spiritual wisdom" and "insight" into "the correct Way" in which "the Word of God" should be carried out. Even if we sin, we does not lose our status as a spiritual child of the "New Covenant" and we must still try to be a member of "the kingdom of priests and a Holy Nation."
God himself and through his Son, Jesus Christ, guides our destiny, and his chosen people are not under the control of any astrological force or entity. Our spiritual Land is specifically favored by God, who keeps it constantly under His Surveillance, and its very air makes people wise.
The word "g'zar" occurs only in that part of the Book of Daniel written in Aramaic, in which the use of the word is understood as a division, to point out to those entities, having authority and power over their controlled region.
The astrologers were the ones who had the insight, wisdom and knowledge to understand the language of these entities and, by observation from the position of the stars at the hour of birth, determined the fate of the soul of each individual, influencing the way in which the perception of things were done in each human being, therefore determining the person's character and attitudes towards himself and the World around him, forming its own universe of rules in the physical realm that served as a mirror of its own and personal spiritual path.
Israel, in its spiritual stage, being under the direct guidance of God and through their position as the chosen ones to act as the priests of His kingdom based on free will and sincere hearts to choose God as their spiritual King and Father, were and still are able to annul the influence of these forces or entities trying to overcome their divine power and making them slaves of them.
Pharaoh, was informed by his astrologers that the person who would redeem the spiritual Israelites from slavery, would succumb to Water. Then, he, believing that he can control it, ordered that all the Israelite children be cast into the Nile.
However, the downfall of Moses, predicted by the Pharaoh's astrologers, came about when he struck the Rock to bring forth Water in the desert, instead of speaking to it.
Israel, the name given to Jacob after he wrestled with the Angel of God (Gen. 32), means "he who has struggled with the Word of God." The understanding of this meaning give us the reason why Moses struck the Rock instead of talking to it, and the subsequent coming of the Son of God, to achieve victory over the authorities, forces and entities that blocked the Way from being free to accept the Truth and obtain the grace of our salvation, made possible by Jesus Christ, by being resurrected by the power of God from the world of the dead and ascended to the highest heaven to exercise authority over the whole creation and establish the new world order for God's Kingdom, things that could not be possible through the law of Moses. Jacob's spiritual descendants known as the Children of Israel or Israelites, and the spiritual Land promised to them by God is what Jesus Christ as the Son of God obtained victory and when He comes again it will be the Land of Spiritual Israel.
When the ten tribes broke away under Jeroboam, to form an independent Northern Kingdom after the death of King Solomon, these authorities took the name Israel, leaving the Southern Kingdom with the name Judah from which the term Jew originated. Then the designation "Children of Israel" eventually became "the House of Israel," "the People of Israel," and then "Israel," as a collective name of all Jews, whether born of matrilineal descent from Jacob or converted to the faith of Judaism. "Israel" thus became both a religious and ethnic concept incorporating all those subjects to the "Law of Moses."
When the Son of God came, He established a New Covenant, based on Love and Obedience to the Word of God, and then we are able to be called "the spiritual People of Israel," and be renewed in spirit through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to the world and was sacrificed by the world and died and was resurrected by the power of God, becoming the only One able to mediate between worlds and restore the Order of Things as it was way before the Creation and it will be in dominion forever.
We as the spiritual People of Israel have to be characterized by three qualities: Love, Faith, and Hope, but the greater of all three is our expression of Love, because through the divine Love of God the Universe was created. We have the status of princes in God's eyes and are to be regarded as the sons of the prophets who have "spiritual wisdom" and "insight" into "the correct Way" in which "the Word of God" should be carried out. Even if we sin, we does not lose our status as a spiritual child of the "New Covenant" and we must still try to be a member of "the kingdom of priests and a Holy Nation."
God himself and through his Son, Jesus Christ, guides our destiny, and his chosen people are not under the control of any astrological force or entity. Our spiritual Land is specifically favored by God, who keeps it constantly under His Surveillance, and its very air makes people wise.
Thursday, 19 May 2016
MYSTERY RELIGIONS.
Mystery Religions refer to a pattern of religious expression. They consists in initiation rituals in which the initiate has an extraordinary experience about which participants are forbidden to speak afterwards.
Elements of these rituals include: things spoken, recitations, or enactments of ritual words or the things shown, cult objects often hidden in a basket and things performed through ritual actions or dramatic enactments of them.
The word "Mystery," from the Greek "Myein," meaning "to close," indicates the initiate's closed eyes, later opened to see what was revealed in the ritual, as well as the initiate's closed mouth keeping secrecy since beyond the common factors of the initiation rituals the mystery religions varied in origin and organization since the ancient times.
The various themes figured in the initiations are: life and death, suffering, sexuality, fertility, and well being.
We can find about these mystery religions from very ancient times. The Scripture mentions cases in which spirits possessed the mind of human beings and used it as a means of communication between the two worlds, the world of the spirits and the world of the living.
In the Book of Acts, chapter 16, the Scripture mention a place known as a 'prayer place,' in which a female slave dominated by an elemental spirit, predicted the future.
The Assyrian city, Nineveh, founded by Nim-Rod, "a mighty hunter in opposition to God," together with Reho-Both-Ir, Calah and Resen, constituted a good example of how these mystery religions worked as the central power of its greatness, and based on the mystery of its rituals, it reached the control of the collective mind of all his subjects. The place was known as "a city of bloodshed,"for the Assyrians waged many wars of conquest and employed brutal methods in order to kill the warriors entrusted with mighty powers and absorbed it in order to make them the mightiest ones in the whole world. The archaeological findings include thousands of cuneiform tablets from Ash-Ur-Banipal's library and the ruins of the palaces of both Senna-Cherib and Ash-Ur-Banipal.
Their palaces were made of impressive structures, and hold a magnificent and imposing materialistic spirit. Its halls were calculated to make upon the stranger who visited it for the first time, the abode of the Assyrian kings.
The entrance had a portal in which the visitor was ushered through it. It was guarded by colossal lions, or bulls, of white alabaster, the symbolic representation of their power. In the first hall, the visitor found himself surrounded by the sculptured records of the empire whereabouts: Battles, sieges, triumphs, the exploits of the chase, the ceremonies of their religion, all of them portrayed on the walls, sculptured in alabaster, and painted in gorgeous colors. Under each picture were engraved, in characters filled up with bright copper, inscriptions describing the scenes presented.
Above the sculptures were painted other events, such as, the king attended by his eunuchs and warriors, receiving prisoners, entering in alliances with other monarchs, or performing some sacred duty. These representations were inclosed in colored borders of elaborated and elegant design. The emblematic Tree, winged Bulls, and monstrous Animals, were amongst the ornaments.
At the upper end of the hall was the colossal figure of the king in adoration before the supreme deity, or receiving from the eunuch the holy cup. He was attended by warriors bearing his arms, and by the priests or presiding divinities. His robes, and those of his followers, were adorned with groups of figures, animals, and flowers, all painted with brilliant colors.
The visitor trod upon alabaster slabs, each bearing an inscription, recording the titles, genealogy, and achievements of the great king. Several doorways forming gigantic winged lions or bulls, or the figures of guardian deities, led into other apartments, which again opened into more distant halls. In each were new sculptures. On the walls of some were processions of colossal figures, armed men and eunuchs following the king, warriors laden with spoils, leading prisoners, or bearing presents and offerings to the gods. On the walls of others were portrayed the divinities of the sky: winged priests, or presiding divinities, standing before the sacred trees.
The ceilings were divided into square compartments, painted with flowers, or with the figures of animals. Some were inlaid with ivory, each compartment being surrounded by elegant borders and mouldings. The beams, as well as the sides of the chambers, were gilded, or plated, with gold and silver; and the rarest woods were used for the woodwork. Square openings in the ceilings of the chambers admitted the light of day.
God's prophet Jonah, declared impending doom for Nineveh because of the spiritual wickedness of its inhabitants. However, since the people, including the king, repented, God spared the city. The Biblical description of Nineveh indicated that the city had a circunference of about 13 km/8mi.
Just as today, that part of London which lies within its ancient boundary is very different from what is called 'greater London', a term which includes the suburbs and denotes a much larger area, so the people who lived far away from Assyria understood by the word "Nineveh" what is now known as "the Assyrian triangle", which stretches from Khorsabad in the North to Nimrod in the South, and with an almost unbroken string of settlements, cover a distance of more or less 26 miles.
A stele of Ash-Ur-Banipal discovered quite recently in the archaeological excavations at Nimrod, recorded that he invited to a banquet the fabulous number of 69,574 guests. Nineveh was twice the are of Nimrod. These findings prove the amount of religious power the Assyrians displayed and the pride invested in them as a result of it.
Although they repented at the preaching of Jonah, the Ninevites relapsed and again took their wicked ways. It was some years after Senna-Cherib had been murdered at Nineveh in the house of his god Nisroch and God's prophet Nahum foretold the total destruction of the city because of its evil power.
With these descriptions of their symbolic way of practicing their mystery religions it is suggested that the same steps still exist in the World of today and the free will that every individual have in choosing the path of its own destiny, determine the future of its eternal soul. To whom you serve is the question that every one has to ask inside your own heart, and the consequences of what happens when we serve the passions of the flesh, we have Nineveh and its destruction.
Elements of these rituals include: things spoken, recitations, or enactments of ritual words or the things shown, cult objects often hidden in a basket and things performed through ritual actions or dramatic enactments of them.
The word "Mystery," from the Greek "Myein," meaning "to close," indicates the initiate's closed eyes, later opened to see what was revealed in the ritual, as well as the initiate's closed mouth keeping secrecy since beyond the common factors of the initiation rituals the mystery religions varied in origin and organization since the ancient times.
The various themes figured in the initiations are: life and death, suffering, sexuality, fertility, and well being.
We can find about these mystery religions from very ancient times. The Scripture mentions cases in which spirits possessed the mind of human beings and used it as a means of communication between the two worlds, the world of the spirits and the world of the living.
In the Book of Acts, chapter 16, the Scripture mention a place known as a 'prayer place,' in which a female slave dominated by an elemental spirit, predicted the future.
The Assyrian city, Nineveh, founded by Nim-Rod, "a mighty hunter in opposition to God," together with Reho-Both-Ir, Calah and Resen, constituted a good example of how these mystery religions worked as the central power of its greatness, and based on the mystery of its rituals, it reached the control of the collective mind of all his subjects. The place was known as "a city of bloodshed,"for the Assyrians waged many wars of conquest and employed brutal methods in order to kill the warriors entrusted with mighty powers and absorbed it in order to make them the mightiest ones in the whole world. The archaeological findings include thousands of cuneiform tablets from Ash-Ur-Banipal's library and the ruins of the palaces of both Senna-Cherib and Ash-Ur-Banipal.
Their palaces were made of impressive structures, and hold a magnificent and imposing materialistic spirit. Its halls were calculated to make upon the stranger who visited it for the first time, the abode of the Assyrian kings.
The entrance had a portal in which the visitor was ushered through it. It was guarded by colossal lions, or bulls, of white alabaster, the symbolic representation of their power. In the first hall, the visitor found himself surrounded by the sculptured records of the empire whereabouts: Battles, sieges, triumphs, the exploits of the chase, the ceremonies of their religion, all of them portrayed on the walls, sculptured in alabaster, and painted in gorgeous colors. Under each picture were engraved, in characters filled up with bright copper, inscriptions describing the scenes presented.
Above the sculptures were painted other events, such as, the king attended by his eunuchs and warriors, receiving prisoners, entering in alliances with other monarchs, or performing some sacred duty. These representations were inclosed in colored borders of elaborated and elegant design. The emblematic Tree, winged Bulls, and monstrous Animals, were amongst the ornaments.
At the upper end of the hall was the colossal figure of the king in adoration before the supreme deity, or receiving from the eunuch the holy cup. He was attended by warriors bearing his arms, and by the priests or presiding divinities. His robes, and those of his followers, were adorned with groups of figures, animals, and flowers, all painted with brilliant colors.
The visitor trod upon alabaster slabs, each bearing an inscription, recording the titles, genealogy, and achievements of the great king. Several doorways forming gigantic winged lions or bulls, or the figures of guardian deities, led into other apartments, which again opened into more distant halls. In each were new sculptures. On the walls of some were processions of colossal figures, armed men and eunuchs following the king, warriors laden with spoils, leading prisoners, or bearing presents and offerings to the gods. On the walls of others were portrayed the divinities of the sky: winged priests, or presiding divinities, standing before the sacred trees.
The ceilings were divided into square compartments, painted with flowers, or with the figures of animals. Some were inlaid with ivory, each compartment being surrounded by elegant borders and mouldings. The beams, as well as the sides of the chambers, were gilded, or plated, with gold and silver; and the rarest woods were used for the woodwork. Square openings in the ceilings of the chambers admitted the light of day.
God's prophet Jonah, declared impending doom for Nineveh because of the spiritual wickedness of its inhabitants. However, since the people, including the king, repented, God spared the city. The Biblical description of Nineveh indicated that the city had a circunference of about 13 km/8mi.
Just as today, that part of London which lies within its ancient boundary is very different from what is called 'greater London', a term which includes the suburbs and denotes a much larger area, so the people who lived far away from Assyria understood by the word "Nineveh" what is now known as "the Assyrian triangle", which stretches from Khorsabad in the North to Nimrod in the South, and with an almost unbroken string of settlements, cover a distance of more or less 26 miles.
A stele of Ash-Ur-Banipal discovered quite recently in the archaeological excavations at Nimrod, recorded that he invited to a banquet the fabulous number of 69,574 guests. Nineveh was twice the are of Nimrod. These findings prove the amount of religious power the Assyrians displayed and the pride invested in them as a result of it.
Although they repented at the preaching of Jonah, the Ninevites relapsed and again took their wicked ways. It was some years after Senna-Cherib had been murdered at Nineveh in the house of his god Nisroch and God's prophet Nahum foretold the total destruction of the city because of its evil power.
With these descriptions of their symbolic way of practicing their mystery religions it is suggested that the same steps still exist in the World of today and the free will that every individual have in choosing the path of its own destiny, determine the future of its eternal soul. To whom you serve is the question that every one has to ask inside your own heart, and the consequences of what happens when we serve the passions of the flesh, we have Nineveh and its destruction.
Monday, 9 May 2016
THE HEBREW MONSTER "LEVI-ATHAN."
Levi-Athan is a sea monster mentioned 6 times in the Old Testament. In the Book of Job, chapter 41, the monster is described in detail as follows:
"Can you pull Levi-Athan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he keep begging for your mercy? Will he speak to you with gentle words? Will he make an agreement with you to take him as your slave for life? Can you make a pet of him like a bird or put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders barter for him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? If you lay a hand of him, you will remember the struggle and never do it again! Any hope of subduing him is false; the mere sight of him is overpowering. No-one is fierce enough to rouse him."
"Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me."
"I will not fail to speak of his limbs, his strength and his graceful form. Who can strip off his outer coat? Who would approach him with a bridle? Who dares open the doors of his mouth, ringed about his fearsome teeth? His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. His snorting throws out flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn. Firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from his mouth. Strength resides in his neck; dismay goes before him. The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. His chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. When he rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before his thrashing."
"The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron he treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make him flee, sling stones are like chaff to him.
A club seems to him but a piece of straw, he laughs at the rattling of the lance. His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing-sledge."
"He makes the depths churn like a boiling cauldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind he leaves a glistening wake; one would think the deep had white hair. Nothing on earth is his equal, a creature without fear. He looks down on all that are haughty; he is king over all that are proud.
In Psalm 74, the Scripture mentions that God is said to break the heads of Levi-Athan in pieces before giving his flesh to the people of the wilderness.
In Psalm 104 God is praised for having made all things, including Levi-Athan; and Isaiah 27:1 Levi-Athan is called the "wriggling serpent" who will be killed at the end of time.
"Can you pull Levi-Athan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he keep begging for your mercy? Will he speak to you with gentle words? Will he make an agreement with you to take him as your slave for life? Can you make a pet of him like a bird or put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders barter for him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? If you lay a hand of him, you will remember the struggle and never do it again! Any hope of subduing him is false; the mere sight of him is overpowering. No-one is fierce enough to rouse him."
"Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me."
"I will not fail to speak of his limbs, his strength and his graceful form. Who can strip off his outer coat? Who would approach him with a bridle? Who dares open the doors of his mouth, ringed about his fearsome teeth? His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. His snorting throws out flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn. Firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from his mouth. Strength resides in his neck; dismay goes before him. The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. His chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. When he rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before his thrashing."
"The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron he treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make him flee, sling stones are like chaff to him.
A club seems to him but a piece of straw, he laughs at the rattling of the lance. His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing-sledge."
"He makes the depths churn like a boiling cauldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind he leaves a glistening wake; one would think the deep had white hair. Nothing on earth is his equal, a creature without fear. He looks down on all that are haughty; he is king over all that are proud.
In Psalm 74, the Scripture mentions that God is said to break the heads of Levi-Athan in pieces before giving his flesh to the people of the wilderness.
In Psalm 104 God is praised for having made all things, including Levi-Athan; and Isaiah 27:1 Levi-Athan is called the "wriggling serpent" who will be killed at the end of time.
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