some big things in the bible

[anti_nietzsche]

Hey there,

some weeks ago I found something really deep in the bible, in the old testament. im still very baffled by it but after I found these things I had these angelic visitations big time and had small visions and such.

I hope I can be concise enough to describe everything. First off, please try to read the early books of the bible in a metaphorical way. For example, when they say someone must be stoned, this doesn't mean throwing a stone until someone is killed, it means speaking to those people in ways that get through to them. for example, if someone committed adultery, then maybe (not always) men and women would gather and try to speak in ways that the adulterer was hit by them, and felt remorse. Harsh scolding was really the last resort, most of the time love and kindness and truth were enough.

The book of Judges in the Young's Literal Translation speaks of a "mouth of the sword" by which cities were conquered. Couldn't that refer IN FACT to the sword of the spirit that Paul spoke about? That these cities were "talked" into love and submission to Jehovah? The book of Joshua, again in the YLT translation, also speaks about such things, entire cities were "devoted" to Jehovah, which feels like being missioned and such. A heap of stones that was erected over someone who had been evil might refer to stories, songs and gossip about someone and his life, maybe about how hard it was or how difficult it was with the evil face someone had or the madness he struggled with and couldn't understand.

The book Joshua speaks about someone's heart melting before God. Might that refer to someone falling in love with God? We just need to take the entire law spiritually, I guess, almost every word but "the". The bible speaks about this in the book of Revelation where Sodom and Egypt are told be understood spiritually, and Jesus himself once said he only spoke in parables to people.

Why did the Jews loose this? Well, I don't know, but perhaps it was like life, we may have a perfect youth, but then usually troubles come. It's like the paradise story, first purity and innocence, then trouble. I guess the Benjamin incident in the book of Judges brought much confusion to ancient Israel. Suddenly other peoples had no fear of them anymore and invaded them. The Israelites thought, ok, we must have sinned because God send war to us. Then they sat down and thought, if the others win against us in war they must have a better righteousness. So they adopted alien practices and began to take the law literally. And stoned offenders in the way pagans stoned or otherwise killed offenders. And thats how we get to the prophets where Israel is always accused of pagan practices and possessing no real righteousness.

Please read the book of Isaiah, it speaks about God wanting to act against the sea of Egypt, which is for me about salafi islam. Islam is not meant as a bad religion, but it has strayed far and doesn't understand sweet and peaceful Allah anymore and don't practice their salam greeting in the truth often. Isaiah also speaks about God calling Egypt and Babylon his people. It's like these lands also knew God in their early past, having had a history much like Israel, first perfection, then trouble, then usually decay. I've read that in Egypt they had a monotheism at first centering on the sun god athos - there is a "sun psalm" in the bible (Psalm 104), that the Jews took with them from Egypt. I think Egypt wasn't really bad at first before the magickery and witchcraft and mummifications arrived. Many of the pharaos loved God.

Same with Babylon. Ever read the Gilgamesh Epos? This is a really cool story and when Yahweh and Jesus want to show that these countries are also God's people that would mean that they had also been God's people in the ancient past and also really until now.

What do you think about this? Please give me some thoughts.

[ded2daworld]

" First off, please try to read the early books of the bible in a metaphorical way. For example, when they say someone must be stoned, this doesn't mean throwing a stone until someone is killed, it means speaking to those people in ways that get through to them."

Don't ask us to look at the old testament in a metaphorical way. The people were stoned to death. Period.

The assertion that enemy cities were "talked into love" is IMO, absurd.
I'd go on but you keep saying "maybe it really meant this or maybe it really meant that. Perhaps and could be and might have" Oy vey!

God is not helpless - he tells it like it is. You aren't sposed to change him to how you think he should have acted but rather to accept God at his word :2c: :Peace2:

[Lazarus Short]

We really need to rely on context to decide if a bit of text in the Bible is meant to be understood as being literal, prophetic, metaphorical, or whatever.  God employs many modes in communicating through His Word.  I think God even means things to be understood on multiple levels, for like Him, His Word is multi-layered and multi-dimensional.  It is far more complex than any simple explanation can cover, although simple explanation can derive much truth and wisdom. 

In view of the above, I believe literalist and metaphorical-ist views of the events of the OT may both be correct in different ways.  God meant the literal events to illustrate eternal truths, and things of the Spirit.  The Play progresses scene by scene, act by act, until the central Theme becomes clear to all, and we are actors in that Play (as Shakespeare said).

Yes, all ancient cultures were monotheistic at first, but fell to degeneration.  The Egyptians for instance, had a deity they depicted as (IIRC) a ram-headed man, who made men and women on a potters wheel, just like in the Bible.  God's plan was to call out people to counter that falling-away.  Thus, in the reign of Nimrod, when the tower fell and mankind became scattered, God raised up Abram to begin the work. 

[Colleen]

To me this seems to say that even as Christ is hidden in the OT in the sacrifices , even though they took place literally,these things are a revelation of what happens in the spirit. I get it. Beautiful!

[redhotmagma]

" First off, please try to read the early books of the bible in a metaphorical way. For example, when they say someone must be stoned, this doesn't mean throwing a stone until someone is killed, it means speaking to those people in ways that get through to them."

Don't ask us to look at the old testament in a metaphorical way. The people were stoned to death. Period.

The assertion that enemy cities were "talked into love" is IMO, absurd.
I'd go on but you keep saying "maybe it really meant this or maybe it really meant that. Perhaps and could be and might have" Oy vey!

God is not helpless - he tells it like it is. You aren't sposed to change him to how you think he should have acted but rather to accept God at his word :2c: :Peace2:

Please don't go spiritualizing this spiritual book. That's just crazy. Metaphor?  Never. Ancient people never used allegory or metaphor. Oy vey!

Maybe just maybe your 20th century American mind can't comprehend the prescientific mind of the east?

Maybe it's you who doesn't understand what God is saying?


Anti Nietzsche the spirit gives life bro.  :thumbsup:

[redhotmagma]

Now I believe God spoke those "spiritual" words to the people...and just like Peter trying to defend with a literal sword and Jesus rebuking him and healing the slaves ear, in the same way Israel did not hear what the spirit was saying. 

  :Peace2:

[dajomaco]

What is sacred?

Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy
(perceived by religious individuals as associated with the divine)
[1] or sacred (considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion;
or inspiring awe or reverence among believers in a given set of spiritual ideas).
[2] In other contexts, "objects are often considered 'holy' or 'sacred' if used for spiritual purposes",
[3] such as the worship or service of gods. These terms can also be used in a non-spiritual
or semi-spiritual context ("sacred truths" in a constitution).
[4] It is often ascribed to people
("a holy man" of religious occupation, "holy prophet" who is venerated by his followers),
objects ("sacred artifact" that is venerated and blessed ),
[5] times ("holy days" of spiritual introspection, such as during winter holidays),
[6] or places ("sacred ground", "holy place").
[7]


Is what we call the Bible, sacred ?
IMO No.

What I believe to be sacred is my mind, reading the bible and the holy
spirit showing my spirit the divine aspects of the God that became Man.

Without the Holy Spirit interpreting the word.
There is nothing sacred about the bible.
We can read it what ever way we want.

We could read it as a fairy tale to our children.
If the holy spirit is part of the process ,
the Child will know that this is no Fairytale.
But the very word of Almighty God.   

[jabcat]

My Word will not return to Me void.

For the [logos-saying-word] word of God [is]alive and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

[shawn]

" First off, please try to read the early books of the bible in a metaphorical way. For example, when they say someone must be stoned, this doesn't mean throwing a stone until someone is killed, it means speaking to those people in ways that get through to them."

Don't ask us to look at the old testament in a metaphorical way. The people were stoned to death. Period.

The assertion that enemy cities were "talked into love" is IMO, absurd.
I'd go on but you keep saying "maybe it really meant this or maybe it really meant that. Perhaps and could be and might have" Oy vey!

God is not helpless - he tells it like it is. You aren't sposed to change him to how you think he should have acted but rather to accept God at his word :2c: :Peace2:

Please don't go spiritualizing this spiritual book. That's just crazy. Metaphor?  Never. Ancient people never used allegory or metaphor. Oy vey!

Maybe just maybe your 20th century American mind can't comprehend the prescientific mind of the east?

Maybe it's you who doesn't understand what God is saying?


Anti Nietzsche the spirit gives life bro.  :thumbsup:

Amen.  We must be willing to have our eyes opened.  IMO, the most spiritually significant meaning within the Bible, is below the surface...symbolic...metaphoric.  I think where many get into dispute is one looks at one layer...and that layer speaks and deals with them.  Another sees another layer...that layer deals with their spirit.  Both truth, but the multi-dimensional nature of the Bible is able to reach into the individual heart.  The problem comes when I grow arrogant and dismissive when given some understanding.  I must respect and listen because my own arrogance can so easily dismiss the truth given to another.

Do I believe people were stoned?  Yes.  I believe people were physically stoned for certain sins.  But, I can also see what AN is talking about...how this text can be applied to us today.

[redhotmagma]

I think where many get into dispute is one looks at one layer...and that layer speaks and deals with them.  Another sees another layer...that layer deals with their spirit.  Both truth, but the multi-dimensional nature of the Bible is able to reach into the individual heart.  The problem comes when I grow arrogant and dismissive when given some understanding.  I must respect and listen because my own arrogance can so easily dismiss the truth given to another.

I am definitely guilty of this