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In the Old Testament the waving of palms occurred during the Feast of
Tabernacles. This sacred statute was at the very heart of the Hebrews’
religion. In the northern autumn, at the end of the harvest, the Day of
Atonement was celebrated on the 10th day of the seventh month Trishri. The
Feast of Tabernacles followed on 15th – 22nd of the same month:
“And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of the goodly trees,
branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook;
and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.” Lev. 23:40.
“And they kept eight days with gladness, as in the feast of tabernacles,
remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles,
when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts. Therefore
they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, they sang psalms unto
him that had given them good success in cleansing his place. They ordained
also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should be
kept of the whole nation of the Jews.”
The waving of palms was only associated with the sacred autumnal
ceremonial and was never a part of the Old Testament northern hemisphere’s
spring events of Passover. For ideological supremacy the waving of palms
was deliberately dispatched to what is called Easter in the New Testament.
Institutional powers of the 3rd century had their own agenda. Forces of
absolute darkness decreed, at all costs, to alter the original of the early
spiritual Scriptures. This can now be conclusively documented. If of course
there has been a gross violation of the texts for ulterior purposes then this
can have wide implications.
This paper will contend that the Scriptures relied on essentially, what is
called, high level allegory, using layered type and antitype principles to
build up a recollection of illustrations. The principle of type/antitype should
be explained a little. Type is an object and is implicit. Sometimes it is a
pattern, a figure or pre-figuration. It can be an illustration, a shadowy
impression even a number. Antitype is subjective and explicit where the true
meaning of a type is revealed. Antitype gives a mental illumination to a
message veiled in type. This thesis proposes the Old and New Testaments
are intertwined to a very great degree. By the use of tracing methodology
and original word meanings, from lexical sources, the script’s thread and
intent is crystal clear. It is therefore not possible for the waving of palms to
have such flagrant seasonal inconsistency. This article will (hopefully)
demonstrate that those bent on literalizing, deliberately, have tried to adjust
texts for naked ideological dominance.
John 12:12 “On the next day” in English translations is one example. Note
the following translations. These all followed a remarkable change from the
original in about 3rd to 4th century A.D.
John Wycliffe Bible: 12:12 But on the morew a myche puple, that cam
togidere to the feeste dai, whanne thei hadden herd, that Jhesus cam to
Jerusalem, 12:13 token braunchis of palmes
Also King James, Douay Rheims, Noah Webster, Weymouth, Old English,
American Standard, Darby’s…Young’s Literal Translation have similar
some stating “On the morrow”.
All versions then go on to talk about the taking of branches of palms and
refer this to the Passover feast of the northern hemisphere’s spring
celebration, citing John 12:1, which reads from KJV “Jesus six days before
Passover came to Bethany”. For New Testament scholars John 12 appears to
set the scene alluding to Passover. By the time one reads verses 12-13 the
words “On the next day”, or equivalent as above, are used to confirm that on
the Sunday after the Saturday of John12.1 much people came waving palm
branches; thus erroneously verifying Palm Sunday in our psyche. This paper
will proceed to show you the result of the devious change of words in John
12:12-13 and later John12:14-15.
John 12:1-16. Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles given briefly here will
soon be followed by more detail.
1. Atonement
The first type in John 12 is illustrated with the raising of Lazarus. The
raising of Lazarus was a New Testament presentation and enlightenment of
the Old Testament Day of Atonement - the raising of Lazarus being the
equivalent of the cleansing of the temple. John 12:1 “Jesus six days before
Passover came to Bethany ( NOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE?) where
Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he (Jesus) raised from the dead.”
Passover is here superseded by atonement. With the coming of Messiah,
persecution and subjugation, the true pascal lamb was here. The raising of
Lazarus being resurrection pointed to the pinnacle of divine power. It was
the sublime redemption of human Creativity. It was paramount.
2. Feast of Tabernacles
Now to the second type of John 12. In the Old Testament the Feast of
Tabernacles follows a few days after Day of Atonement, in the northern
autumn. The carrying of palms was never associated with the vernal
equinox. The Feast of Tabernacles was a joyous occasion as it followed
reparation from wrong to reconciliation with God. It is the most solemn feast
of the Jewish sacred year.
The New Testament illuminates the meanings of the Old Testament types.
Here in John 12:12-13 the Feast of Tabernacles follows expiation with the
God of love. This was the important message. With the fall of man to a
captive of acquisition, called Cain in the Genesis story, the gradual evolution
to redeem the human conscience to its positive condition began. The Feast
of Tabernacles was a type of the joy that accompanies humanity’s salvation
through the grace of a harmonious indwelling uniting God. The scene of
Feast of Tabernacles is superimposed in John 12:12-13. An institutional
power replaced this picture with a phase. More details shall soon be given
regarding this claim.
John 12.1 “Jesus six days before Passover came to Bethany where Lazarus
was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”
“Six days before Passover”, we are told by scripture reckoning, would fall
on Saturday. Bethany, in the gospel pictorial, is where Lazarus (meaning
without help) was, having been raised from the dead. The words “without
help” indicate that the name Lazarus is a personification. The expression
“dead” is from the Greek word THNESKO or THANTOS, signifying
literally or figuratively, to die, or from THANO, past tense, has been dead.
As the narrative is a portrait of the raising of the helpless, depraved psyche,
to a more excellent level of hope and understanding the word “dead” is
figurative.
Having moved on from teaching by signs and symbols such as are in the
night sky (a very ancient practice that has been well and truly superseded)
the Hebrews devised a more sophisticated way to teach by using models and
dramatic graphic stories. This method was well endowed with advancing
societal images, figures, symbols, and glyphs. The service of the earthly
temple on the Day of Atonement exemplified the taking way of the tarnish
of idolatry (literalism) and indolence in mankind’s conditioned heart, giving
birth to new literacy and a moral awareness to think rationally with virtue. It
had nothing to do with a vicarious handover of initiative.
As the early verses of John 12 recall atonement, then, “On the next day” of
John 12:12 would seem out of place. It would appear to be the day after
atonement. To show that this is not the case an examination of the phrase,
“On the next day” from its original wording is necessary. By using lexical
sources it is possible to find the correct translation.
Firstly, it should be stated, the meaning of the word “day” depends on the
preceding word, eg next day – EPAURION. If it were “today” or “this day”
the derivation would be SEMEROY.
To begin, the words “next day” from the Greek is EPAURION and literally
implies tomorrow. By applying EPAURION literally “the next day”
becomes a deception. The next day, EPAURION, is from EPI meaning
superimposition (of time, place, order etc). It is dative case, having the
function of an indirect object, (parallels an original type as an example).
EPAURION is also made up of AURION being an adverb with ellipses or
HERMERA = a period. Ellipses meaning, an omission of something
understood. The omission of something understood refers back to the Old
Testament type. HEMERA also means a time between dawn and darkness or
24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned, by the Jews, as an
inclusion of the parts of both extremes = a period). See Strong’s
concordance.
The Feast of Tabernacles is the first superimposition of John 12. There are
two superimpositions and the second begins in verse 14. The reason for two
dominant unassimilated features is that it is written into the Hebrew’s sacred
law, quote - “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses shall he that
is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall
not be put to death.” Deut. 17:6.
John 12:14-15 “And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereupon; as
it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on
an ass’s colt” And where was it written?
It is well known that this quotation was borrowed as type from Zechariah
9:9. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:
behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just and having salvation: lowly,
and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
So, you see, there was no literal taking of branches of palm trees and no
Jesus sitting on an ass’s colt.
The detail of the war, between the House of Judah and the Selucids, is more
historically recorded in the Books of Maccabees, with a slant towards
victory coming with the help of their God.
However, dealing with the Kingdom of the Jews the latter part of the large
Old Testament “prophetic” books contribute to consciousness raising in
post-exilic Israel in their established method of colorful graphics, myth,
figures and symbols. Zechariah is one example. Some smaller “prophetic”
books (Joel for instance) deal solely with the post- exilic period in the same
philosophically incorporated pictorial – never intended to be taken literally.
It should be explained, the usage of the word “prophetic” does not mean, “to
be taken literally as though yet to happen”. Prophetic writers were coloring
past events, but making them conceptual shadows of spiritual matters – ever-
present.
Prior to the great event of Zech. 9:9 the writers having told of the Jewish
goal achieved, now proceed to describe foregoing events - “I will cut off the
chariot from Ephraim, and the house from Jerusalem, and the battle bow
shall be cut off and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion
shall be from sea even to sea and from river even to the ends of the earth.”
Zech. 9:10.
The Selucid chariots were cut off and the horses from Jerusalem, and the
battle bow cut off prior to the Jews great victory - 1 Macc. 4:28-34 (the
entire chapter should be read).
And he shall speak peace unto the heathen: Zech. 9:10. “Judas…left Joseph
and the Azarias captains of the people…in Judea…Unto whom he gave
commandment, saying, take ye charge of the people and see that ye make
not war against the heathen…” - see 1 Macc. 5:17-19.
As the writers of the Maccabees Books wrote semi-historically it could be
said, literally his (Maccabeus’) dominion eventually was from sea to sea,
from east of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea) to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the
river (possibly Litam River) even to the ends of the earth. But, the Book of
Zechariah is symbolical and seas or waters represent peoples (see Jer. 46:7-8
and Rev. 17:15 just to mention two instances). The word “river” from
NAHAR figuratively is prosperity. Zechariah’s statement is describing a
dominion of prosperous people.
Continuing to the victory scene, “When I have bent Judah for me, filled the
bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons O
Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man, the Lord (Jehovah,
Jewish national name of God) shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall
go forth as the lightning.” The scene - the Jews reconciled with justice.
Zech. 9:13-14.
The following chapters of Zechariah show the belief that idolatry and false
prophecies, bring disaster. Faithfulness and righteousness bring victory. The
writers anticipated a great future in emancipation as it extends in time
throughout the globe, believing then all will celebrate the true feast of
tabernacles - Zech 14.
The entire plan in changing John 12:12 was to introduce Sunday. Sunday
was nothing to do with the Hebrew message. The ancient Jewish law had set
aside the seventh-day of the week (Saturday) to commemorate Creation.
They called their God of creation Jehovah or Yahweh.
Note: This work received the apostolic blessing of Pope Pius X, Jan. 25,
1910 - EDS.
So by the time of John Wycliffe the insertion of the phrase, “On the next
day” was status quo. Going unchallenged it justified Psalm Sunday. It also
justified Sunday and the rebirth of the sun as well.
Dispensing with the subtly inserted and manipulated phrase, “On the next
day” extinguishes Palm Sunday, the very deception it was designed to
inaugurate. Conveniently incorporated into ancient spring festivals, when the
sun was seen to be above the equator shinning equal light to both
hemispheres, was the appropriate time to deceive the unwary with idolatrous
literal ritual.
The message of the spirited re-birth or atonement in the northern autumn
celebrated with the joyful waving of palm trees was destroyed. Literalism
adopted by ecclesiasticism (Christianism) has committed an aggressive
assault upon a plan to re-instate the uprightness of pristine integrity, which
the messianic body, personified by Jesus, proclaimed.