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Years ago when I began my studies into the "Jewish Jesus" I never dreamed that it would lead me to resign my Pastorate. Over the years of such study I never ceased to be literally mazed at what one can find when he begins to embark into such a dedicated study for the end of the road for such a study, if done correctly, is not Judaism as you might expect but rather Egypt, Astronomy, and the Stars. That probably makes no sense to the reader at this point but just hang on and you will see as you read.
It goes without saying that the New Testament states:
1 Cor 15:14 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (KJV)
Few ever come to understand correctly the above verse since they, through prior instruction and conditioning, take the verse "literally" never stopping to understand that the verse was written by the Gnostic Paul and referred to the awakening of "Karast consciousness" within a person's soul. We call it "Christ consciousness" today. But that is another study for another day but the verse serves purpose in this article by alerting us to the fact that "ALLEGORY" is often the method of expression of Divine Truths we find written in the New Testament. To try to read these select passages "literally" destroys their intended meanings. We must be on our toes when reading these religious texts. This above verse presumes that for a "raising" from the dead there has to be a "death" and of course Christianity teaches the "crucifixion of the Christ" as that presumed manner of death since being recorded in the New Testament and also mentioned in the writings of this Gnostic Paul and later gospel writers. But we should be on our toes as not only to whom the "identity" of this "Christ" really was as understood by the first century believer before Rome would alter it. Equally we must come to understand just what this idea of "crucifixion" of the "Son of God" meant to the first century believer let alone where the concept of this "crucifixion" originated. We as Christians and followers of "the Christ" grow up interpreting such verses "literally" never wondering for a second that other than a "literal" interpretation of such a verse was the intended meaning of the original writer some 2000 years ago.
1 Cor 15:46 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. (KJV)
Again the above verse lays before us a very important principle. The "natural" always preceded the "spiritual". The Ancients knew this very well as they shaped their "myths" and "legends" in such a way to capture "Divine Truths" and "Spiritual Insights" for all eternity derived from their observations of the natural world around them; literally above them in the Heavens and the world around them in Mother Nature. It is in these observations by the Ancients of the Heavens and Mother Nature that they "heard God speak to them" and received the message from the Divine One. It is in these observations that the Ancient Priests and Holy Men of Egypt saw and understood the "crucifixion in Heaven before the foundation of the world" which over thousands of years would be later applied to many prototypes of the "godman"; culminating with the last of them in the character of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. On the natural level these Holy Priests of Egypt witnessed this "crucifixion" every year at a special time in their calendar and applied the "Spiritual Truths" extrapolated from this observation to the "godman" within all mankind. We find such application of these "Celestial Truths" later written by great holy men down through history as told through the medium of allegory and myth describing the battle within man's soul between his "flesh" and his "spirit/soul" for mastery of his flesh.
Gal 5:24 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (KJV)
We see this very clearly in the above verse from the Gnostic Paul who never knew a "fleshly human Christ" but only the "Christ within" all mankind struggling to master the souls of mankind. Without the crucifixion of man's evil fleshly desires that war against his "Spirit" then "Christlikeness" was out of the question. Thus the teaching of repentance and obedience to the Laws of God we find in holy writ. But there is more, much more. Look at the next verse and THINK.
Rev 11:8 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (KJV)
Answer for yourself: Where was the "Lord" crucified? Did he say Egypt? Wait a minute. I thought it was supposed to be historically in Jerusalem but the verse says "Egypt"! Why Egypt? What is the connection if any?
Now a very big question.
Answer for yourself: Is is remotely possible that behind our "literalized Jesus Stories" that we can find prior "ALLEGORIES" which were the Ancients' expressions of "Divine Truths" and "Divine Concepts"? It is possible that what we read and interpret as "literal" concerning the "Jesus Story" today finds it origin in ancient stories and concepts that originated in Egypt over ten thousand years ago? It is remotely possible that because we have only examined the "Jesus Story" through the spectacles of a "literal interpretation" that we have totally misunderstood much of this "Jesus Story" and possible fallen into the hideous sin of idolatry and not known it? Does the Laws of Noah warn us to not be entangled with such idolatry?
Answer for yourself: More to the point what was this "crucifixion in Egypt" we just read about?
Answer for yourself: Did you notice the verse, Revelation 11:8, said this was a "spiritual" interpretation?
Answer for yourself: Does this exclude a "physical" crucifixion and interpretation?
Answer for yourself: Is it possible that this "spiritual" crucifixion in Egypt was the prototype for all other "crucifixions" as applied to solar gods and godmen down through history and even our Christian Jesus?
Answer for yourself: Is it remotely possible that our "literal interpretation" of the crucifixion of Jesus is in error and should only be interpreted "allegorically" as were all prior crucifixion of personified sungods before him?
Over the years of my study I have found that ignorance of science and ignorance of history are the two great origins of religious error. There is scarcely a tenet of religious faith now propagated to the world by the professed disciples of Christ but that, if subjected to a rigid test in the ordeal of modern science, would be found to contain more or less error. Vast accomplishments have been made in the fields of science, archeology, and history within the last half century, the moral lessons of which have done much to undermine and unsettle our popular Christian system of religious faith, and to bring into disrepute or effectually change many of its long-cherished religious dogmas. The scientific and historical facts thus brought before the intelligent public, have served as keys for explaining many of the doctrines comprised in the popular creed. They have poured a flood of light upon our whole system of religion as now taught by its popular representatives and clergy, which have had the effect to reveal many of its errors to those who have had the nerve, or the curiosity, to investigate it upon these grounds. Many of the doctrines and miraculous events which have always been assigned a divine emanation by the disciples of the Christian faith, are, by these scientific and historical disclosures, shown to be explainable upon natural grounds, and to have exclusively a natural basis. The crucifixion is but one of them! Some of them are shown to be solvable by recently developed 'spiritual laws,' while others are proven to be founded wholly in error.
I always wanted to be a "thinking believer". The intelligent community are now acquainted with many of these important facts, so that no man of science, equipped with the knowledge of modern scholarship today, can be found in this enlightened age who can popularly be termed a Christian. Notice carefully I said "equipped with knowledge". In acquiring such knowledge in my serious study over the years I would discover so many contrary and higher truths when compared with my inherited "religious beliefs" from childhood concerning Jesus as "the Christ" that over time the facts derived from studies of Biblical history, Biblical culture, the study of Gnosticism as well as Comparative Religions, Astronomy and Astrology, and Archeology, Science and Astronomy would motivate me to eventually resign my Pastorate. I was a man of "unclean lips" preaching a lie. No wonder the Jewish Rabbis teach that "study is the highest form of worship" for it truly reveals the knowledge of God and truth like nothing else. Tradition is wonderful but only if it reinforces the truth and not lies, errors, and selfish agendas of men. The changes and improvements in religious ideas now observant in the most intelligent portion of the community, are due in part to the rapid progress of scientific discovery and the dissemination of scientific knowledge in Christian countries.
For many centuries after the establishment of the Christian religion little was known of the oriental systems of worship. These religions, in fact, were scarcely known to exist, because they had long been veiled in secrecy. They were found, in some cases, enshrined in religious books printed or written in a language so very ancient and obscure, as to bid defiance for centuries to the labors of the most tireless, profound and learned archeological scholar to decipher it. That obstacle is today removed. Let me give you an example. The recent translation for the first time of the Hindoo Vedas into the English language (the oldest bible now extant or ever written) has revealed to the unwelcome gaze of the Christian reader the startling fact that "the heathen" had long been in possession of "holy books," possessing essentially the same character, and teaching essentially the same doctrines as the Christian bible -- there being, as Horace Greeley expressed it, "No doctrine of Christianity but what has been anticipated by the Vedas." (K. Graves, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors, Vol. II., Chap. I). If, then, this heathen bible, compiled, according to the Christian missionary, Rev. D.G. Allen, 1400 B.C., contains all the doctrines of Christianity, then away goes Christianity's claim that it is God's unique Divine Revelation and their claim that their Christian bible is an original bible and an original revelation, or even a work of divine inspiration. Bibles, I have found in my studies, are shown to be of heathen and human origin, instead of heavenly and divine authorship, as claimed for them by their respective disciples and denominations. The Christian bible is no exception to this statement. The Christian Bible, since being essentially like other bibles in expression of religious doctrines, must of had the same or a similar origin.
Answer for yourself: Is there a common origin for all religious doctrines we find in most Bibles today? Yes there is.
This fact obtained from years of study finally dawned on me and was startling to me as a Pastor but undeniable when my studies embarked upon serious study of comparative religions. Such a fact flies in the face of the claims of two hundred millions of Christian professors, who assert with unscrupulous boldness that every doctrine, principle and precept of their bible is of divine emanation. How utterly groundless and untenable is such a claim when arranged by the side of modern discoveries in religious history, archeology, and science!
Here is the real hard part. Equally unsupportable is the declaration that "there is no other name given under heaven whereby men can be saved, than that of Jesus Christ and him crucified," when viewed in the light of the modern scholarship. Scholars for over a century to date have explored the subject of "crucified sungods" to such a level that they have found unbelievable parallels between the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and all other prior "crucified sungods". Sir Godfrey Higgins in his Anacalypsis, Vol. I and II, and Kersey Graves in his The Worlds Sixteen Crucified Saviors, have both disclosed the history of nearly a score of crucified Gods and sin-atoning Saviors whom supposedly died for the sins of mankind. Thus, the two prime articles of the Christian faith, both Revelation and Crucifixion, are forever established as human and heathen conceptions.
Answer for yourself: Where did this "crucifixion" come from and where did the idea originate?
Answer for yourself: Why were these stories told about "godmen" crucified in the first place? Was there a "Spiritual Truth" behind them?
Answer for yourself: Were these crucifixions to be understood "LITERALLY" in the first place?
Answer for yourself: Or were they but allegories applied to the spiritual condition of mankind and his soul and ONLY meant to be interpreted as an "allegory" by the Ancients who gave us these Divine Concepts in the first place?
Answer for yourself: Did this "crucifixion" happen in the sky and the Heavens or on a wooden cross in some historical setting? Well we need to see the truth for ourselves.
We must start with the "Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified".
There are no written records to tell us who the first astronomers were, but one feels instinctively that, with the first stirrings of intelligence, man's gaze must have turned heavenwards. The regular rising and setting of the Sun and the waxing and waning of the Moon provided a method for measuring the passage of time and for predicting the changing of the seasons. The Egyptians began to study the stars very early on their history. They were among the first astronomers, and the temple of the sun god at Heliopolis became an important center for the study of astronomy. One of the earliest advanced civilizations, Ancient Egypt, had a rich religious tradition which permeated every aspect of society. As in most early cultures, the patterns and behaviors of the sky led to the creation of a number of myths to explain the astronomical phenomena. For the Egyptians, the practice of astronomy went beyond legend: huge temples and pyramids were built to have a certain astronomical orientation. Although many of the religious aspects of Egyptian life were known for centuries, it was not until recently that a number of archaeoastronomers attempted to find out how important astronomy really was in ancient Egypt.
Foremost of the archaeoastronomers, and one of the pioneers in the field, was Sir Norman Lockyer, a British astronomer who lived from 1836-1920 and extensively studied Egyptian astronomy. In his wonderful book The Dawn of Astronomy, Lockyer breaks ancient astronomy into three distinct phases. First, a civilization goes through the worship stage, where astronomical phenomena are viewed only as the actions, moods, and warnings of the gods. Next, a civilization progresses to using astronomy for terrestrial purposes, such as for agriculture or navigation. The final step is to study astronomy solely for the sake of gaining knowledge. The Ancient Egyptians started in the worship stage and eventually began to see how astronomy could help them in their everyday lives.
The Egyptian gods and goddesses were numerous and are pictured in many paintings and murals. The Ancient Egyptians believed in One God whom as self-produced, self-existent, immortal, invisible, eternal, omniscient, almighty, etc. This One God was REPRESENTED through the functions and attributes of "His" domain. These attributes were called the "neteru". The term "gods" and "goddesses" are a MISREPRESENTATION of the Egyptian term "neteru". When we ask, "Who is God?", we are really asking, "What is God?". The mere name of noun does not tell us anything. One can only define "God" through the multitude of "His" attributes, qualities, powers, actions. To know "God" is to know the numerous qualities of "God". The more we learn of these qualities (neteru), the closer we are getting to our Divine origin. Far from being a primitive, polytheistic form, this is the highest expression of monotheistic mysticism.
Certain gods, or expressions of the One God, were seen in the constellations, and others were represented by actual astronomical bodies. The horizon was extremely important to the Egyptians, since it was here that the Sun appeared and disappeared daily. The Sun itself was represented by several gods, depending on its position. A rising morning Sun was Horus, the divine child of Osiris and Isis. The noon Sun was Ra because of its incredible strength. The evening Sun became Atum, the creator god who lifted pharaohs from their tombs to the stars. The red color of the Sun at sunset was considered to be the blood from the Sun god as he died. After the Sun had set, it became Osiris, god of death and rebirth. In this way, night (darkness) was associated with death and day (light) with life, rebirth, and salvation). This reflects the typical Egyptian idea of immortality.
This idea of salvation was connected with light as the Sun was a SYMBOL of the Creator God to Egyptians. It was in this conquering of "darkness" that man no longer feared the dark and realized his salvation from God.
Central to this understanding of God, from the original Egyptian viewpoint from which all later earthly "theologies" evolve, is this God giving His life to "matter" (flesh) whereby we as His creation live.
Acts 17:28 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (KJV)
I have often said this verse is better understood as if "in us He lives and moves and has His being". You get the point.
The Sun, a picture or representative picture of this benevolent God to the Egyptian priests, was studied in unbelievable detail by the Egyptian priests and over time various astronomical concepts were derived from intense study of the path of the Sun in the Heavens. It is in such study that the Ancients came to see and understand the "crucifixion" of the Sun at the Vernal Equinox each year when the Sun "was crucified on the cross" for them. It is this Sun that rises from the death of darkness daily and gives his "life-saving" light and warmth to His creation. This "cross" is not to be understood as a literal wooden cross but a "cross in the sky" which we will study in the next article. It is from these celestial observations that originated with Egypt over 10,000 or more years ago, that all later "crucifixion" stories are taken and evolve. What was at first a celestial observation of the crossing of the Sun in its path through the sky where it path intersected the celestial equator of the earth, which occurs at the Vernal or Spring equinox, when the days and nights are of equal length, that the Ancients came to understand that the Sun was "crucified" on the Cross of the Zodiac. They called it a "Crossification".
Keeping with a Universal Law that "first the natural then the spiritual" this observable event that occurred in the Heavens yearly at the Vernal equinox was later "allegorized" to capture "Divine Truths" which we will look at momentarily as they apply to the Spiritual condition mankind who came to understand they they, as a species, were made in the image of this God in the first place. The messages derived from such observations by these Spiritual Ancients were applied to the soul of mankind for his spiritual growth and development. You might say this was the way Ancient Egypt under their "Karastlikeness" or as we hear today their "Christlikeness". Truly this is a profound understanding as the Ancients came to see through such observations of Celestial events coupled with parallel patterns and cycles in Mother Nature which also they came to realize occur within their own bodies. They came to see through these observations a deeper "spiritual truth" that they captured in their myths and legends which we fail to understand today; namely, the possibility of man's realization of his innate divinity upon earth. This celestial event that occurred at the Vernal equinox "was allegorized by Egypt and other nations to capture the "Divine Truths" related to the spirituality of mankind (he was to be born again in a higher spiritual state which would rule his fleshly state after the "death" of self) which over time with the demise and conquering of Egypt and the loss of it glorious knowledge and "gnosis" degenerated into a "LITERAL" understanding of a man on a wooden cross which is totally devoid of its original meaning. The story, known today as the "Jesus Story" had lost its true interpretation; its "gnosis". This celestial event explains why there are so many "crucified saviors" in almost every nation under the Sun; these early stargazers and early astronomers all saw the same things in the sky. This explains why an unbiased study of History will show you that there is not a shred of legitimate historical evidence anywhere that the "Jesus Story" originated as the biography of a historical man named Jesus, and quite a lot of evidence that it did not. Outside of this one forged book, the Roman Bible and the New Testament, there exists not one piece of unforged or unadulterated evidence for the historical existence of this man from Galilee. An unbiased through study of Comparative Religion will reveal to you that the basic plot of the "Jesus Story", from beginning to end, including the motif of a crucified savior, already existed in many other religions thousands of years prior to the alleged time of Jesus and if you continue such dedicated studies into Astronomy and Solar Mythology you will find that beyond any doubt the "Jesus Story" is nothing more than an allegory for what would naturally be the oldest and most important story humans would notice and write down, that of the annual passage of the seasons of the year (equinoxes and solstices) and the path of the Sun through the celestial sphere and the 12 Houses of the Zodiac during the year. What I found to be most incredible in such studies is the realization that the personification of the Sun through the sky and constellations of the Zodiac, as found in the story of ancient solar and lunar gods, follow in chronological procession through the year the exact chronology of the "Jesus Story" when personified from Matthew chapter 1 through chapter 28. This truly is amazing when you see it and settles beyond any doubt the identity of this "Jesus" whom we read about as if a historical person in the New Testament.
This knowledge has been know for centuries by too few due to the extreme censorship of the Roman Church and her daughter Protestantism. An awakening of robust individualism and serious study is needed today like never before in order to resist the pressure from groups that seek to impose organizational programs and policies on their members. Of course I refer to organized Christianity and their adulterated version of "the Christ". For seventeen hundred years Rome, whom has demanded blind obedience and allegiance from its followers, is now loosening the rigor of many of its strictures and courageous Catholic scholars are beginning to come forth and expose the errors of Catholic dogmas. The long history of the Roman Catholic Church exemplified its dogma that salvation could only be won through such allegiance to their dogmas; and every move toward individual freedom was for centuries met with excommunication, and even with death. Thereby the Church tacitly postulated dogma that allegiance to the Church is the highest form of liberty of the human spirit. So precious is the soul's right to this freedom and truth that for centuries the Church considered it a holy act to save a sold from eternal perdition, if it rejected the Roman pathway and dogmas, by destroying its body. Thank God that these days are fading and new hope of enlightenment is rising upon the world today through the dedicated efforts of Bet Emet Ministries and other ministries who devote themselves to recovering the long lost Spiritual Truths of the Ancients who first gave us these tragically "blurred spiritual concepts" which we inherited today in our Christian version of the "Jesus Story" and which the unlearned argue about today since lacking the "gnosis" to interpret them properly.
For us to understand the truth behind the "crucifixion" and how it was applied to these sungods, and even Jesus Christ as depicted in the New Testament, it is of paramount necessity that we study and read more. Failure to learn the truth behind this "crucifixion" before the foundation of the world along with other associated dogmas within the "Jesus Story" renders proponents of this false dogma of Rome as idolators. To do so then and acquire the knowledge and "gnosis" to properly understand this crucifixion as it was meant by the Ancients then it will be necessary to understand some Astronomy and in particular the Vernal Equinox thoroughly. To that we turn now in the next article in this series.
