| (Copyright 2023) by Ray Daly (Lincoln, North Dakota) |
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| Leadup to this Article: Ray writes: I mailed a few pages from “Wikipedia” today. I would like them back if you won’t have any use for them. But I asked you and Darwin to take note of a specific paragraph. I am going to quote it here as well. Keep in mind that the 1st century Jews were not expecting a Messiah to come and die for them, but to come and be their king. The quote: “Like so many God’s…in Babylon. In Babylon Mithra [Persian name] was identified with Shamash, the sun god…. Mithra was also the God of Cyrus [Persian king], who was considered the MESSIAH/Christos [the “Lamb” sacrifice] by the JEWS DURING THEIR CAPTIVITY.” And they brought him with them when some of them returned to Judea. This is why they no longer observed Passover. And in several Scriptures, the Jews “Passover is called the FIRST DAY OF UB. Because they still “ate the lamb on that day”. Laura writes: This is the only email you sent me today and again where is the link for the page you got this information off of. It isn’t that we wouldn’t use this but where is your proof (link to page on Wikipedia). Ray writes: I think I mentioned that I “mailed” the material to you. But it was the “slo-mo” mail system. You should have it in a few days. I honestly do not recall the source of the material that listed the workings of Mithras, but I have researched so many sources of ancient writings. I used to get material from a source called “Atlantis Rising”. They were out of Montana. They gave materials and references to so many “ancient” writings. As well, I sent a “large” box of many of my books, booklets, and articles I received and researched to a fellow in Michigan who wanted to “start a library”, in which Biblical sources could be read by the public. He failed on that, and basically has wandered from one area to another. I think he finally started a church in Tennessee. Anyway, again, Scripture supports the Jews having already encountered a “messiah”, and it is why they looked for the “king” to come. Laura writes: We got your stuff yesterday. What point are you trying to prove with this stuff? Are you trying to prove that Jesus is a Myth? Or are you trying to prove something else? Ray writes: Not at all. Jesus was real, and so was the “Messiah/Christos” that the Jews in Babylon accepted as their Messiah/Christos”. To put it another way. The Jews in Babylon would NEVER have accepted the Babylonian “Bel”, or the same as the Persian “Mithras”, unless he was of the tribe of Judah. Because, if he was not of Judah, then he could not be the future “KING” of Israel. I knew you would have a hard time with this topic, so I am in the process of further explaining whom it was that was said “Messiah/Christos” in OT times. Will send it in a couple of days. The Attachment is my final point on the meanings of the “Jews Messiah/Christos” of the OT. ——————————————– Article Starts The above is a continuation of the topic that was in Wikipedia, regarding the specific words that I emphasized to you earlier. Those words being as follows. And the theme of this contact are those underlined. “In Babylon, Mithra [a Persian usage] was identified with Hamash [?], the sun god…Mithra was also the God of Cyrus, [and] who was considered the MESSIAH/CHRISTOS by the Jews during their captivity.” In an e-mail message to you I pointed out that the Jews would never have accepted their “Messiah/Christos/Lamb” from any other tribe, than he which would originate from the kingly line of Judah. Of which David is the most noteworthy. And note in the following what The Almighty has to say about this line, and whom it would be that would come from it. Isa. 7:13. “And [the LORD] said. Hear now, O house of David [re: the kingly line from whom Jesus was to come]. Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary [1]my [LORD] [2]God also? V.14. Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin [just as Mary in a later time] shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” We’ll come back to Immanuel in a bit. In the 730’s BC, king Pekah of Ephraim, and the Aramite [tribe from whence came Abraham] king Pekah, seeking kingship for themselves, invaded Judah. And they both took captives. Pekah was encouraged to return his, but Rezin carried his to Syria, and settled them in and around Damascus. Now, “I believe” that amongst the captives of Rezin, was Immanuel and his mother. Keep in mind that Immanuel was born of a virgin. Shortly about the time of the birth of Immanuel, the armies of Assyria invaded the territories east of the Jordan, and across from Samaria. They took captive the two and one half tribes living there, the descendants of Abraham, via his second wife, Keturah, a number of mixed Gentile peoples, AND also the Aramite’s, after killing Rezin. I could give you the areas in which Assyria settled those peoples, but I will only point out the one “peoples”. That being the captives from Judah, which were settled in Babylon. I believe, based on the beginning words of this report, “the “Messiah/Christos”, that Immanuel and his mother were among them. As the following supports. In the early 600’s BC, Babylon rebelled against Assyria. Prior to this time, both nations were “Baal and Sunday worshippers”. But after this, Babylon ceased worshipping Baal, and began worshipping “Bel”. They also quit observing Sunday, and began observing the seventh day. (Which, they continued to do, even after most Babylonians fled to the areas around Rome after their Persian defeat.) They ceased observing the Sabbath, officially in 321 AD. Now, keeping in mind that, if the above is accurate, then in the 1st century AD, when Jesus came along, they would not have been expecting a “second Messiah/Christ. They would have been expecting “their King” to come. Mat. 1:23. “Behold, a virgin [Mary] shall bring forth a son. And they [the Jews] shall call his name EMMANUEL!” They already had their Lamb, and were expecting a virgin birth, which would bring them their “King”. Let’s continue with when Jesus was making his final trip into Jerusalem. He begins his trip via riding on an “ass/donkey”. Along with the ass was her “colt”. Then, when he came near to Jerusalem, many of the citizens came to meet him, and put him on said “foal”. Or, upon the asses “MULE”. Why the “mule”? Well, as it shows in the following, a “mule” was the symbol of kingship in OT times. There came a time when David was near death. As a result, one of his sons [the eldest?], named Absalom, mounted on a “mule”, and begin to claim kingship to all of Israel. He died by riding into a crotch of a tree and was left hanging there, with “someone” killing him while he hung. But now note what David did, when he heard of his son Absalom’s death. 1 Kings 1:33. David said…Cause Solomon my son, to ride upon MINE MULE [kingly sign], and bring him to Gihon. V.34. And let Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet anoint him their king over Israel.” You can read the following verses from the NT, regarding the Jews expecting their “Messiah/Christos” coming, via a mule, rather than another “Lamb”. Mat. 21:5; 27:11, 29, 37, 42. Luke 19:38. John 12:13, 15; 19:14, 19-21. On your shoulders. I’m done. |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Messiah/Christos Article by Ray Daly Comments by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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| The Article: Leadup to this Article: Ray writes: I mailed a few pages from “Wikipedia” today. I would like them back if you won’t have any use for them. But I asked you and Darwin to take note of a specific paragraph. I am going to quote it here as well. Keep in mind that the 1st century Jews were not expecting a Messiah to come and die for them, but to come and be their king. The quote: “Like so many God’s…in Babylon. In Babylon Mithra [Persian name] was identified with Shamash, the sun god…. Mithra was also the God of Cyrus [Persian king], who was considered the MESSIAH/Christos [the “Lamb” sacrifice] by the JEWS DURING THEIR CAPTIVITY.” And they brought him with them when some of them returned to Judea. This is why they no longer observed Passover. And in several Scriptures, the Jews “Passover is called the FIRST DAY OF UB. Because they still “ate the lamb on that day”. Laura Adds: The pages Ray sent to us were not from Wikipedia as he claims. He sent 4 pages from a website address of http://www.truthbeknown.com/mithra.htm As near as I can figure the woman on this website does not seem to believe in Christ and the website is about Greek Mythology and Pagan gods. Though it is called Truth Be Known, not exactly the place to go to learn about Christ. If you are into Satan, it is probably a great website for that. Then he sent 6 pages from a website address of http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/mithra.html which is also in regard to Pagan gods. Now, I will agree that both websites have a lot to say in regard to Pagan gods, but that is not the point of this newsletter. We are not here to study Pagan gods or the websites we may find them on. We are here to study the Bible and I believe that if you studied the Bible even half as hard as you study these Pagan websites you might understand what the Bible actually says because you are not going to get that knowledge from studying Satan or his minions the Pagan gods. Also, in case you do not understand this point, not every website on the internet is called “Wikipedia”. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that is contributed too by many sources, including those in the Church of God. It actually contains quite a bit of truth, but you also have to be careful there in believing it is all truth because it probably is not. The only true source of “Truth” is your Bible. I suggest you read it instead of filling your head with the things of Satan. For the paragraph Ray quoted, apparently even Ray did not like parts of the paragraph in his quote as he crossed a few things out of it. The full quote is here: “Like so many gods, Mithra was the light and power behind the sun. In Babylon, Mithra was identified with Shamash, the sun god. Christian authority and biblical commentator Matthew Henry (18th Century) stated that “Mithra, the sun,” was the god of King Shalmaneser V of Assyria, who in the 8th century BCE conquered Samaria and “carried away the Israelites.” Mithra was also the god of Cyrus, conqueror of Babylon, who was considered the Messiah or Christos by Jews during the “Captivity.” In fact, Mithra is Bel, the Mesopotamian and Canaanite/Phoenician Sun god, who is likewise Marduke the Babylonian god who represented both the planet Jupiter and the sun. According to Clement of Alexandria’s debate with Appion (Homily VI, ch. X) Mithra is also Appolo.” The part Ray crossed out in the papers he sent is in bold black above and of course he did not quote the entire paragraph, because it probably does not fit the fictional story he is trying to weave here. As far as the Passover goes, the Jews during the Babylonian captivity even though not allowed at that time to keep the Passover, did not forget Passover or when it was kept. See Ezra 6:19-22 below: Ezr 6:19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. Ezr 6:20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. Ezr 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, Ezr 6:22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. The Article: Laura writes: This is the only email you sent me today and again where is the link for the page you got this information off of. It isn’t that we wouldn’t use this but where is your proof (link to page on Wikipedia). Ray writes: I think I mentioned that I “mailed” the material to you. But it was the “slo-mo” mail system. You should have it in a few days. I honestly do not recall the source of the material that listed the workings of Mithras, but I have researched so many sources of ancient writings. I used to get material from a source called “Atlantis Rising”. They were out of Montana. They gave materials and references to so many “ancient” writings. As well, I sent a “large” box of many of my books, booklets, and articles I received and researched to a fellow in Michigan who wanted to “start a library”, in which Biblical sources could be read by the public. He failed on that, and basically has wandered from one area to another. I think he finally started a church in Tennessee. Anyway, again, Scripture supports the Jews having already encountered a “messiah”, and it is why they looked for the “king” to come. Laura writes: We got your stuff yesterday. What point are you trying to prove with this stuff? Are you trying to prove that Jesus is a Myth? Or are you trying to prove something else? Ray writes: Not at all. Jesus was real, and so was the “Messiah/Christos” that the Jews in Babylon accepted as their Messiah/Christos”. To put it another way. The Jews in Babylon would NEVER have accepted the Babylonian “Bel”, or the same as the Persian “Mithras”, unless he was of the tribe of Judah. Because, if he was not of Judah, then he could not be the future “KING” of Israel. I knew you would have a hard time with this topic, so I am in the process of further explaining whom it was that was said “Messiah/Christos” in OT times. Will send it in a couple of days. The Attachment is my final point on the meanings of the “Jews Messiah/Christos” of the OT. ——————————————– Article Starts The above is a continuation of the topic that was in Wikipedia, regarding the specific words that I emphasized to you earlier. Those words being as follows. And the theme of this contact are those underlined. “In Babylon, Mithra [a Persian usage] was identified with Hamash [?], the sun god…Mithra was also the God of Cyrus, [and] who was considered the MESSIAH/CHRISTOS by the Jews during their captivity.” In an e-mail message to you I pointed out that the Jews would never have accepted their “Messiah/Christos/Lamb” from any other tribe, than he which would originate from the kingly line of Judah. Of which David is the most noteworthy. And note in the following what The Almighty has to say about this line, and whom it would be that would come from it. Isa. 7:13. “And [the LORD] said. Hear now, O house of David [re: the kingly line from whom Jesus was to come]. Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary [1]my [LORD] [2]God also? V.14. Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin [just as Mary in a later time] shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” We’ll come back to Immanuel in a bit. Laura Adds: Isa 7:13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:13-14 is a future prophecy about Christ himself and not about a Pagan god. I think you better get your eyes checked. There were not and never were two Christ’s born to virgins for example, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament. And your little play on words with “Immanuel and later Emmanuel” also proves nothing of what you are trying to tell us all. The Article: In the 730’s BC, king Pekah of Ephraim, and the Aramite [tribe from whence came Abraham] king Pekah, seeking kingship for themselves, invaded Judah. And they both took captives. Pekah was encouraged to return his, but Rezin carried his to Syria, and settled them in and around Damascus. Now, “I believe” that amongst the captives of Rezin, was Immanuel and his mother. Keep in mind that Immanuel was born of a virgin. Shortly about the time of the birth of Immanuel, the armies of Assyria invaded the territories east of the Jordan, and across from Samaria. They took captive the two and one half tribes living there, the descendants of Abraham, via his second wife, Keturah, a number of mixed Gentile peoples, AND also the Aramite’s, after killing Rezin. I could give you the areas in which Assyria settled those peoples, but I will only point out the one “peoples”. That being the captives from Judah, which were settled in Babylon. I believe, based on the beginning words of this report, “the “Messiah/Christos”, that Immanuel and his mother were among them. As the following supports. In the early 600’s BC, Babylon rebelled against Assyria. Prior to this time, both nations were “Baal and Sunday worshippers”. But after this, Babylon ceased worshipping Baal, and began worshipping “Bel”. They also quit observing Sunday, and began observing the seventh day. (Which, they continued to do, even after most Babylonians fled to the areas around Rome after their Persian defeat.) They ceased observing the Sabbath, officially in 321 AD. Now, keeping in mind that, if the above is accurate, then in the 1st century AD, when Jesus came along, they would not have been expecting a “second Messiah/Christ. They would have been expecting “their King” to come. Mat. 1:23. “Behold, a virgin [Mary] shall bring forth a son. And they [the Jews] shall call his name EMMANUEL!” They already had their Lamb, and were expecting a virgin birth, which would bring them their “King”. Laura Adds: Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Look in other Bible versions and you will see that some translation use Emmanuel and some use Immanuel in Matthew 1:23. You cannot use this spelling of Immanuel/Emmanuel to make two virgin births or two Christs. Isaiah 7:13-14 and Matthew 1:23 are both talking about Christ and Christ alone. The Article: Let’s continue with when Jesus was making his final trip into Jerusalem. He begins his trip via riding on an “ass/donkey”. Along with the ass was her “colt”. Then, when he came near to Jerusalem, many of the citizens came to meet him, and put him on said “foal”. Or, upon the asses “MULE”. Why the “mule”? Well, as it shows in the following, a “mule” was the symbol of kingship in OT times. There came a time when David was near death. As a result, one of his sons [the eldest?], named Absalom, mounted on a “mule”, and begin to claim kingship to all of Israel. He died by riding into a crotch of a tree and was left hanging there, with “someone” killing him while he hung. But now note what David did, when he heard of his son Absalom’s death. 1 Kings 1:33. David said…Cause Solomon my son, to ride upon MINE MULE [kingly sign], and bring him to Gihon. V.34. And let Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet anoint him their king over Israel.” You can read the following verses from the NT, regarding the Jews expecting their “Messiah/Christos” coming, via a mule, rather than another “Lamb”. Mat. 21:5; 27:11, 29, 37, 42. Luke 19:38. John 12:13, 15; 19:14, 19-21. On your shoulders. I’m done. Laura Adds: Ray, you do not understand the things you read for the most part. I am not saying you are totally void of truth because even evil people are not totally void of truth. I do not believe you are an evil person purposely teaching things that are untrue. I believe that you believe what you write for people to read but you do it all with a lack of wisdom, understanding and knowledge, three elements you can only get from God in order to discern what you are reading. This whole thing for the most part is pure fiction. There are some things within which may be true, but the way that you put them together makes it a work of fiction. Read your Bible instead of all this other foolishness. The only place you will ever find truth is in the Bible. |
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