Ancient Traditions of the Messiah

(1) Descendents of Aaron
"The word 'Messiah' comes from the Hebrew verb 'to anoint', which itself is derived from the Egyptian word messeh, 'the holy crocodile'. It was with the fat of the messeh that the Pharaoh's sister-brides anointed their husbands on marriage. The Egyptian custom sprang from kingly practice in old Mesopotamia."
- Sir Laurence Gardner, "The Hidden History of Jesus and the Holy Grail" (from a lecture given at the Ranch, Yelm, Washington, 30 April 1997)

"Remarkably and characteristically, the term Mashiah - of which 'Messiah' is the Anglicized form - had preceded the Messianic concept by many centuries. Originally, in Biblical usage, it simply meant 'anointed', and referred to Aaron and his sons, who were anointed with oil and thereby consecrated to the service of God."
- Raphael Patai, The Messiah Texts

Rest of link....

www.mystae.com...

This site looks at some of the more familiar aspects of the bible from a historical perspective.

Any thoughts?

I find it interesting reading this and seeing where certain aspects of the bible and judiasm have assimilated beliefs from other sources

for example

"It seems that, following the conquest by Cyrus, the Jews had progressively adopted the Zoroastrian belief in the matter of eschatology, for the ideas of reward and punishment following death begin to appear in Hebrew literature from this period, and, later still, the concept of complete separation of good from the evil - familiar from the Zoroastrian Gathas - is one that figures prominently in some Christian texts concerning eschatology. (It is also interesting that one word for heaven - 'paradise' - which begins to appear in Jewish literature at this time, and is also found in the writings of the early Christians, derives from the Persian word for 'garden'.)"

I wonder how much the bible has actually absorbed from other sources over time , to morph into the book as we know it today?

Another way of looking at it is that these common themes have a meaning related to having been the result of a common origin. That hidden by the elite of every society are the very clear parallels evident in each system of belief.

This could in reality be the basis of knowledge for what are often termed "secret societies," these parallels when investigated and ascertained to their fullest extent. Do seem to offer insight into God and reality, pertaining to illumination and transcendence.

Any thoughts?




[Edited on 28-9-2003 by Toltec]

seeing as the bible has over 500 prophacies in which all but 30 have een fuffiled, and that Jesus actually claimed to be more than a messiah but God himself, y do u compare it with other sources? The Jews were waiting for a messiah that would change things for them, they were looking for someone to come to overthrow the romans instead Jesus came and overthrew the powers of sin, hell and death. The bible talks in a way that people of the time could relate to, it says in ephesians bout armour of God, one of those pieces is a shield that could put out all the burning arrows of the enimy (this was refering to the roman shield but was only using the roman shield as an example). In the past their were many great biblical characters that reflected parts of Jesus life, it was a sign of things to come, not a sign of curruption in the bible. I know the word to be true because it is Gods voice to the world. I believe Judaism to be from God but that the old covenent didnt work, for no-one can be made rightious without a pure sacrifice and there is no-one but God himself who is pure. Thas why Jesus came to die.

Toltec,

The secret societies in fact did influence much of what we believe today and they have knowledge of what was, is and will be that greatly transcends that of the average person..,

but,

knowledge is not the only way to salvation or the reposession of the soul existance again.

Illumination is the deception that leads down the wrong path because it limits in the end and leads to lack of existance as the subject pursues physicality and mastery of the universe. This is impossible because pure knowledge and mastery is only achieved by taken a route of faith.


Adrianay,

the bible is a great trove of knowledge and especially the new testaments words of christ, the teacher. But I fear that much of it is corrupted and subject to great interpretation. Christ said the way to reunification with the one, god was to treat everyone as your brother. Meaning that one must take the path of 'service to others' rather than 'service to self.'

The secret societies are a treasure trove of knowledge and even power in this realm but they are limiting. One must know this before going in.

Theneo pertaining to the matter of Illumination perhaps we are applying the term with different meaning. I am referring to the development of awareness, which in and of its self is not related to issues in regards to mastery of the Universe in the context you are discussing.

What all systems of belief do suggest is that God created physicality as a result he is its only master.

To avoid such confusion I will apply other terms.

Any thoughts?

Yes we both agree here.

Awareness is fine but it is still limiting. You cannot understand what you are incapable of understanding. You cannot see what you are incapable of seeing. Awareness of the physical in itself is limiting. That is the paradox, we strive to understand all and we can understand a great deal but behind the curtain we can never know what is going on.

Yes the one' created physicality in order to test and improve itself, the act of creating is a process of improvement and refinement. To a degree we must excel in the physical realm but we cannot leave it unless we desire to, it's called freewill. One can become enmeshed here and never want to leave especially if everything is going good. That is the problem which one must avoid.

My impression is these issues and there defined meaning is reflected clearly within the context of all ancient text.

That mankind sought and engaged in an effort to apply that meaning to materialistic things. Has been the result of, not only the downfall of cultures.

But as well, the stagnation of what can best be described as the original quest and the reasons man (masses) has strived to achieve throughout history.

My point is that all systems of belief have elements, which are inherently valid, and points, which are not.

What has gone wrong is those valid points have been applied to ways of thinking and goals. Which in and of themselves are limited in scope and relevance to there true potential.

The texts I am referring to are those in each culture, who's meaning are parallel to those of others, but do not suggest issues related to separateness (except of course in relation to Man and God).

Any thoughts?


[Edited on 28-9-2003 by Toltec]

YES....mulberryblueshimmer (post # 193346)...the J-C compilation is just that....a 'way' was found for the preservation of traditions & myths from around the region & possibly the globe!!

consider the HOPI tradition of a similar sounding entity:
MAASAW:
the other 'brothers' of the Hopi people, went East-over the waters of the rising sun (Atlantic ocean) in the days after the Ice but before the Flood....
might these 'brothers' of a different skin be popluations in middle east & asia minor? babalyon/persia/palestine/israel/turkey???

also strange, the Cheerokee, preserve a fuzzy linkage to ancient hebrew also....
maybe one of youse might want to explore potential linkages in history...

is there any more information regarding the closness of the earliest cultures in "modern"/"newworld" history?...