Yesterday, I discussed my belief that words are being subtly manipulated by esotericism, particularly concerning the concept of Baal worship. Baal, a deity often associated with the sun and considered a pagan god.
*See post "Exploring Covert Teachings Through Esoteric Magic"
We also have the incident of the "upside-down Bible" in 2020 and Pope John Paul's encounter with the upside-down cross during his visit to Israel in 2000.
*Note that the cross serves as a symbolic representation of the connection between heaven (the divine realm) and earth (the earthly realm), with its intersecting vertical and horizontal lines.
The vertical line points upward, signifying the connection to the divine or spiritual realm, where higher powers, gods, or the transcendent exist.
On the other hand, the horizontal line stretches across, symbolizing the earthly realm, where humans reside and experience life.
The point where these lines intersect signifies a meeting place between the divine and the earthly, suggesting a bridge or connection between these two realms as with the Obelisk discussed yesterday. This concept is prevalent in various cultures and religions, illustrating the idea of a link between the mundane world and the sacred or spiritual dimensions of existence.
I later found myself pondering the identity of the "Queen of Heaven", a figure seemingly revered by Roman Catholics and so, I found myself delving into the worship of Baal once more.
In ancient Near Eastern mythology and religion, the designation "Queen of Heaven" held significant reverence and was often attributed to a goddess known as Asherah or Astarte. Across various ancient cultures in Babylon, Canaan, and Phoenicia, and other peoples of the Levant, Asherah/Astarte occupied a prominent position in the pantheon of deities.
Regarded as a mother goddess, Asherah/Astarte embodied concepts of fertility, love, and the natural cycles of life. Often depicted as a nurturing and protective figure, she symbolized the earth's abundance and the vitality of existence. As the Queen of Heaven, she was believed to reign over the celestial realm, influencing the stars, the moon, and the seasonal rhythms.
In Canaanite religious practices, Astarte emerged as a key figure, embodying attributes of love, beauty, and fertility. Linked to the natural cycles, she was perceived as the source of fertility for both the land and its inhabitants. As a fertility goddess, she was thought to bestow blessings of abundance, prosperity, and growth upon her worshipers.
Within the worship of Baal, a central deity in Canaanite and Phoenician religion, Asherah/Astarte often assumed the role of his consort or counterpart. Together, they represented divine forces responsible for sustaining the land's fertility (crops) and safeguarding the well-being of the people.
So basically both are pagan gods, lesser gods, to whom they offered human sacrifices in exchange for "prosperity "also previously known as daimons, the word demon is derived originally from the ancient Greek term "daimon," which referred to supernatural beings. But neither are the Almighty., in fact Baal is the TRUE God's "adversary" which means Satan in Hebrew.
Then I studied Pope Benedict XVI's hat in the photo below;
Photo By Kancelaria Prezydenta
Here's a closer look:
The picture shows a woman surrounded by nature, with a glowing sun behind her head. This simple image represents the idea of a divine female presence in the natural world, symbolizing fertility, growth, and the nurturing qualities of the Earth, holding a cross.
I also note that Jesus never claimed that Peter was the rock on which he built his church. He said " "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18).
Jesus also said: to Peter:
In the original Greek version of Matthew 16:23, the verse reads:
ὑπαγε ὀπίσω μου, Σατανᾶ· σκάνδαλον εἶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων. (Hupage opisō mou, Satana; skandalon ei emou, hoti ou phroneis ta tou theou alla ta tōn anthrōpōn.)
Translated into English, this passage means:
Get behind me, Satan; you are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.
Why does the Pope therefore assert that Peter was the "rock" and that he is Peter's successor when Jesus said the above and also the following;
In the original Greek version of 1 Corinthians 10:4, it reads:
καὶ πάντες τὸ αὐτὸ πομπεύσαντες πνευματικὸν ἔπιον πόμα, ἔπεινον ἐκ πνευματικῆς ἀκολουθοῦσης πέτρας· ἡ δὲ πέτρα ἦν ὁ Χριστός.
Translated into English:
"And all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ."
If Baal was a sun god what does scripture say about worshipping the sun?
In the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, there are several instances where the worship of the sun, moon, and stars is condemned. One notable example can be found in the book of Deuteronomy 4:19, which is part of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible:
And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven."
This passage warns against the temptation to worship celestial bodies, emphasising that these creations of God are not to be worshipped but rather recognised as part of God's creation. Worshipping the sun, moon, or stars is considered idolatry, which is strongly condemned throughout scripture.
Overall, the Bible teaches monotheism and condemns the worship of anything other than the one true God, including the worship of celestial bodies like the sun.
So why these:
The worship of celestial bodies such as the sun and the moon has been historically associated with various forms of pagan and occult practices, including certain forms of witchcraft. In some traditions, these celestial bodies are viewed as symbols of power, deity, or sources of spiritual energy.
Throughout history, different cultures have incorporated sun worship and moon worship into their religious and spiritual practices. For instance, ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Mayans had elaborate sun and moon cults.
In modern witchcraft or neopagan traditions, there may be practices that involve honoring or working with the energies associated with the sun and the moon, but it's essential to note that not all forms of witchcraft involve worshiping celestial bodies directly. Many modern practitioners may instead see these bodies as symbols of natural cycles or sources of inspiration.
It's important to recognise that witchcraft is a diverse and complex practice, and beliefs and practices vary widely among individuals and groups.
Leviticus 26:30 in the Old Testament, from the Hebrew say:
"I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you."
This translation adheres closely to the structure and wording of the original Hebrew text.
And a translation of Ezekiel 6:4 from the Old Testament is:
"And your altars shall be desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken; and I will cast down your slain men before your idols."
So which doctrine does the Roman Catholic Church follow?
Let's provide the essence of what various translations convey regarding false doctrines:
Deuteronomy 18:20: "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die."
Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
1 Timothy 4:1-2: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron."
2 Peter 2:1-3: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
Again, I'll leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.
Until next time.
Comments