Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Is The Bible's Book of Revelation A Plagiarism of the Sibylline Oracles Written in 510 BC?

The Sibylline Revelation.

Notes :

The ‘immortal priestess,’ Herophile, considered to be the greatest seer of pagan antiquity, lived in a cave in Cumae, in Campania, Italy, and delivered oracular prophecies while in a state of trance. She was known as the Cumaean Sibyl.

1, 2

Around 510 BCE, she offered nine volumes of her prophecies, called ‘The Mysteries of Isis and Osiris,’ to the seventh Roman king, Tarquin the Proud, at the very high price of three hundred gold pieces. When the king declined to buy them, the prophetess departed, and burned three volumes in the palace courtyard. She offered the remaining six books, at the original price, and once again the king declined to buy. Three days later, the Sibyl returned, publicly burned three more volumes, and then offered the three that remained to the king at the original asking price for all nine. There was much local gossip at these strange events, and, Tarquin’s curiosity aroused, he purchased the three volumes. The Sibyl then departed, and was not seen again.

3

She was subsequently known to history as the Sibyl of Tarquin, and her three volumes became highly prized in the Roman Empire. They were kept in a specially carved marble chest commissioned by Tarquin, lined with ‘the purple of kings.’

4

Priests were appointed to interpret the writings,and scribes were assigned to produce exact copies. The original collection was jealously guarded in the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, and frequently consulted by priests. In times of peril and disaster, the original copies were entrusted to curators, assisted by two Greek interpreters in reading the oracles aloud to the Senate. Tacitus recorded that statues of the Sibyl were idolised, and that ‘invocation was made, and lustral water was brought to wash her cella’ and her statue in the Capitol. Sometimes the statues were ceremoniously taken to the sea, and washed there.

5

The Sibyl’s writings, regarded as ‘the mouthpiece of the gods,’ were recognised as the most efficacious instruments in Roman religion, and were customarily observed and respected by all Romans.

6

The originals perished in the fire that destroyed the Temple of Capitolinusin 83 BCE, and were immediately replaced with copies from other temples. A special priestly college, called the Quindecimviri Sacris Faciundis, was set up by Julius Caesar, to take charge of the Sibylline books, and its sixteen members exercised great influence on decisions of state.

7

Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, directed the preparation of additional identical sets of the Sibyl’s oracles, and they were supplied to the Senate in Egypt, and to priests in all the Hellenised lands.

8

In 12 BCE, he transferred a special ‘pontifex’ collection to the Temple of Apollo, on the Palatine hill, where it remained until 405 CE. All this demonstrated their legal status, and their immeasurable worth,while misuse of the Sibyl’s oracles was punishable by death. For at least the first four centuries CE, the Sibylline Books were held to be the highest religious authority in the Roman Empire. So highly regarded were the Sibyl’s prophecies that the fourth century church usurped her second book, inserted narratives that dealt with Christian characters,and then said it was a divine revelation given to the apostle John by Jesus Christ from Heaven, and added it to their New Testament. 9 Church records state that Cerinthus ‘rewrote’ the original Sibyl’s prophecies to create a falsified version, that was adjusted again in the fourth century, when it was added to the New Testament. The early church was so concerned that the general populace would learn that its Book of Revelation was a forgery, that in 405 CE the Bishop of Rome ordered the Roman general Flavius Stilicho to burn as many copies of the Sibylline Books as he could find.

10

The Bishop of Alexandria, Dionysius (d.c. 204 CE), had much earlier denounced the Book of Revelation, as being “without sense or reason, a forgery by Cerinthus.”

Bishop Eusibius had confirmed Dionysius’ findings: “But Cerinthus, by means of a revelation which he pretended was written by a great man, falsely pretended to wonderful things.”

11

The original author of the Book of Revelation,the Cumaean Sibyl, though, was always highly regarded as a clairvoyant by the Roman Catholic church. Even today, she can still be seen, magnificently portrayed by Michelangelo,in a prime central position among the great patriarchs of the Bible stories depicted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican itself. A total of 278 verses of the Sibyl’s predictions are also found in the books of Exodus, Psalms, Isiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Zecheriah, indicating the high value placed on her forecasts by Old Testament authors. The Sibylline books were lost to history for many centuries, until the second book was discovered in the Vatican archives, some decades ago, by Edmond Szekely.

12

An Old Slavonic version was also found, in the the Habsburg Royal Library,and translated by Prof. Karl Fickler & Dr. Burgie Johansson.

Notes: 1.Society in Imperial Rome;

M. Massey, 1982, pg 103

2. Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol XIII;

1912, pg 720

3.Titus Livy (Livius),

also The Records of Rome, 1868,

available in the British Library

4. Pliny

5. Annals of Tacitus

15:44

6. Dictionary of Greek & Roman Antiquities

Sibyllini Libra

7. Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire;

Matthew Brunson; 1994, pg 584.

8. Funk & Wagnell’s New Standard Dictionary;

Sibylline Books, 1913.

9.Ecclesiastical History,

Eusebius, ii.10.Funk & Wagnall’s

New Standard Dictionary;

Sibylline Books; also

Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire;

Matthew Brunson; 1994, pg 396.

11.Ecclesiastical History, iii,28

Also

Catholic Encyclopedia.

Vol I (1907) pg 595.

12. Szekely’s discoveries were subsequently published in book form during various periods, under the following names:

The Essene Gospel of Peace, The Unknown Book of the Essenes, Lost Scrolls of the Essene Brotherhood,

and

Teachings of the Elect. Discovery of the Essene Gospel of Peace,

published posthumously in 1989, gives the history of Edmund Szekely’s work, and the story of his discoveries in the Secret Vatican Archives.

The above information has been summarised from material found in ‘The Crucifixion of Truth,’ by Tony Bushby, (Joshua Books,’04). Here, then, is the rediscovered sacred Sibylline book,in a version closely following the Fickler/Johansson translation of the Habsburg library’s Old Slavonic text, but put into contemporary language and layout, and with Roman copyists’ gender distortions corrected, so as to restore the conceptual integrity of the original work. Thus, for example, ‘brotherhood’ is rendered as ‘community’, ‘the Mother of All’ replaces ‘the Son of Man’, so as to return to Isis Her rightful place, and the Sibyl herself is addressed as ‘Woman.’ rather than ‘Man.’

This rendering of the text is copyright registered with the IP Rights Office Copyright Registration Service,Ref: 278933020. All Rights Reserved. The complete work, without alteration, additions or deletions, exactly as it is here, including the introduction and footnotes, may be copied, forwarded, and shared, for the benefit of all. It may not, however, be broadcast, published dramatised, or otherwise used for profit, in whole or in part, without prior written consent.

Numbers in the left margin below refer to the verses in the biblical book of Revelation which correspond to, having been constructed around, these passages.





                                             The Mysteries of Isis and Osiris

1:7 Behold, the Spirit of the Air shall bring Her, and every eye shall see Her. The Community, all the vast Community of the living, shall raise their voices as one, and sing, because of Her. Even so, Amen. 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, which was, and is, and shall be.” 1:12 A voice spoke, and I turned to see who it was that spoke to me. Turning, I saw seven golden candles, and, in the midst of their blazing light, one who seemed to be the Mother of All, clothed in white, white as snow. Her voice filled the air with the sound of rushing water, and in Her hands were seven stars, full of the flaming light of the heavens from whence they came. She spoke, Her face streaming light, blazing and golden, like a thousand suns. 1:17 She said, “Have no fear. I am the first, and the last. I am the beginning, and the end. 1:19 Write the things which you have seen, the things which are, which are yet to be, the mystery of the seven stars which fill My hands, and the seven golden candles, blazing with eternal light. The seven stars are the Spirits of your father, the Sun, and the seven candles are the Spirits of your mother, the Earth. The Spirit of humanity is a flame, streaming between starlight and glowing candle, a bridge of holy light, shining between the heavens and the Earth.” 1:20 She who said these things holds the seven stars in Her hands. She walks in the midst of the flames of seven golden candles. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear the words of Mother Isis. “To whoever overcomes, I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, that stands in the midst of the shining paradise of Eternity.” 4:1 Then I looked, and behold, a door was opened in the heavens, and a voice which sounded from all sides, like a trumpet, spoke to me,“Come up here,and I will show you what must be, in the future.” Immediately I was there, in spirit, at the threshold of an open door. I entered through the open door, into a sea of blazing light. In the midst of that blinding ocean of radiance was a throne, on which sat one whose face was hidden, and there was a rainbow about that emerald-like throne. Around the throne were thirteen seats, and upon these seats I saw thirteen elders sitting, clothed in white, their faces hidden by swirling clouds of light.

Seven lamps burned before the throne, the fire of our mother, the Earth, Seven stars shone before the throne, the fire of our father, the Sun. Before the throne was a sea of glass-like crystal, and reflected in it were all the mountains, and valleys and oceans of the Earth, and all the creatures living there. The thirteen elders bowed down before the splendour of the one who sat on the throne, whose face was hidden. Rivers of light streamed from their hands, one to the other, as they cried, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Mother of all Glory, Who was, and is, and is to come. You are worthy, O Great One, of glory, honour and power, for You created all that is.’ 5:1 Then I saw, in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne, whose face was hidden, a book, written within, and sealed with seven seals. I saw a Spirit, who was proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, to loose its seals?” 5:3 No-one in Heaven, on the Earth, or under the Earth was able to open the book, or even to look upon it. I wept, because the book could not be opened, and I could not read what was written there. One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Reach out your hand, and take the book, yes, this very book with seven seals. Open it, for it was written for you, - at once the lowest of the low, and the highest of the high.” I reached out my hand, touching the book.

Behold ! The cover was lifted, my hands touched the golden pages, my eyes beheld the mystery of the seven seals. I heard the voices of many Spirits round about the throne, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands upon thousands, singing with a loud voice, “All glory, and wisdom, and strength and power, for ever and ever, be to the one who shall reveal the Mystery of Mysteries.” I saw swirling clouds of golden light, stretching like a fiery bridge between my hands, the hands of the thirteen elders, and the feet of the one who sat on the throne,whose face was hidden. I opened the first seal, and beheld the Spirit of the Air. Between her lips flowed the breath of life. She bowed over the Earth, and gave to man the inspiration of Wisdom. Man breathed in. When he breathed out, the sky darkened, the sweet air became foul and fetid, and clouds of evil smoke hung low over all the Earth. I turned my face away in shame. 6:3 I opened the second seal, and beheld the Spirit of Water. Between her lips flowed the water of life She bowed over the Earth, and gave to man an ocean of Love.

Man entered the clear and shining waters.When he touched the water, the clear streams darkened, the crystal waters became thick with slime, the fish lay gasping in the foul blackness, and all creatures died of thirst. I turned my face away in shame. 6:5 I opened the third seal, and beheld the Spirit of Fire.Between her lips flowed the light of life. She bowed over the Earth, and gave to man the fires of Power. The strength of the Sun entered into the heart of man. He took the power, and made with it a false sun. He spread abroad the fires of destruction, burning the forests, laying waste the green valleys, leaving only the charred bones of his brothers. I turned my face away in shame. 6:7 I opened the fourth seal, and beheld the Spirit of Joy. Between her lips flowed the music of life. Bowing over the Earth, She gave to man the song of Peace, and peace and joy, like music, flowed through the soul of man. He heard nothing but the harsh discord of sadness and discontent. He lifted his sword, and cut off the hands of the peacemakers, lifted it once again, and cut off the heads of the singers. I turned my face away in shame. 6:9 I opened the fifth seal, and beheld the Spirit of Life. Between her lips flowed the covenant between all that lives and humanity. She bowed over the Earth and gave to man the gift of Creation.

The forests and trees were burnt up, and all green grass shriveled to cinders. 8:8 The second Spirit sounded, and, as it were, a great mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea. Blood rose from the Earth as a vapour. 8:10 The third Spirit sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning as if it were a lamp. It fell upon the rivers and fountains, turning them to bitter poison. 8:12 The fourth Spirit sounded, and there was a great earthquake. The Sun turned black, a sackcloth of hair, and the Moon became as blood. 9:1 The fifth Spirit sounded, and the stars of heaven fell to earth, even as a fig tree casts her unripe figs, when shaken by a mighty wind. 9:13 The sixth Spirit sounded - the heavens departed like a rolled up scroll. Over the whole Earth there was not one tree, one flower, one blade of grass. I stood on the Earth, and my feet sank into the soil, soft and thick with blood, stretching as far as the eye could see. Over all the Earth was silence. 10:1 The seventh Spirit sounded, and I saw a mighty being come down from the heavens, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was upon his head, his face was like the sun, his feet pillars of fire. In his hand was an open book.

He set his right foot upon the sea, and he set his left foot on the earth,crying with a loud voice, wonderous to hear, “Woman, would you have this vision come to pass ?” I answered, “You know, O Holy One, that I would do anything that these terrible things might not happen.” He spoke, “Man has created these powers of destruction. He has brought them into being from his own mind. He has turned his face away from the Spirits of his Father Sun and his Mother Earth - he has fashioned his own destruction.” I asked, “Then is there no hope, bright Spirit ?”A blazing light streamed like a river from his hands, as he answered, “There is always hope, O you for whom Heaven and Earth were created,” 10:5 The Spirit, standing on the sea and on the earth, lifted up his hand to the heavens. He swore by the One who lives for ever, who created the Heavens, all that is in them, the Earth, all within her, the sea, and all it contains, that there should be time no longer, but that, in the days of the voice of the seventh Spirit,when he shall begin to sound, the Mystery of absolute unity should be revealed to those who have eaten of the Tree of Life, which stands forever, in the Eternal Sea.The voice spoke again, saying, “Go, take the book, which is open in the hands of the Spirit who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
There fell upon men a great hail out of the heavens, every stone about the weight of a gold talent. A mighty Spirit took up a stone, like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus, with violence, shall the great city be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. The voice of harps, and musicians, and pipers, and of singers and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, whatever his craft, shall be found any more in you. The sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you. The light of a candle shall shine no more in you. The voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more at all in you. For your merchants were the great men of the Earth. By your sorceries all men were deceived.In you was found the blood of prophets, saints, and of all who were slain upon the Earth.” My brothers laid hold of my hand, struggled out of the slimy pit, and stood, bewildered, on the sand. The skies opened, washing their naked bodies with rain. I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder. I heard the music of a great many harps,singing, as it were, a new song before the throne. 14:6 I saw a Spirit flying in heaven, having songs of day and night, the everlasting teaching to preach to them that dwell on the Earth,
until they climb from the pit of slime, and stand, naked, and washed by the rain, before the throne. The Spirit cried, “Fear the Almighty, and give glory to the Absolute, for the hour of judgement is come. Worship the Mother of the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the fountains of the waters”. 19:11 I saw the heavens open, and beheld a white horse. He that rode him is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. He was cloaked in blazing light, and his feet were bare. His name is the Word of Truth. The Holy Community followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. They entered the Eternal Garden, in whose midst is the Tree of Life. The rain-washed, naked throngs came before them, trembling, to receive their judgement. Their sins were many, for they had defiled the Earth, destroyed the creatures of land and sea, poisoned the ground, fouled the waters and the air, and buried alive the mother who had given them birth. But I did not see what befell them, for my vision changed.
21:1 I saw a new Heaven, and a new Earth, for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away. I saw the Holy House of the Community of Life coming down, out of the Heavens, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, “Lo, the mountain of your Father is established above all mountains,and the house of your Mother is exalted above the hills. All people shall flow into it. Come, let us go up the mountain, and to the house of your Mother. You shall walk in his paths, she shall teach you of her ways. The Way shall go forth, out of the Holy Congregation. Behold, Heaven’s House is here with you. He himself shall dwell with you, and you shall be his people. She herself shall be with you, and you shall be her children. She shall wipe away all tears from your eyes. There shall be no more fear of death, neither sorrow nor crying, nor shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. Those who made war shall beat their swords into ploughshares, their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore, for the former things are passed away.” 22:13 The voice spoke again, “Behold, I make all things new. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give freely to the one who is athirst, of the fountain of the water of life.

Whoever overcomes shall inherit all things - I shall be your parent, and you My child. But the fearful and unbelieving,the abominable, murderers and liars, shall dig their own pit, burning with fire and brimstone.” Again my vision changed. I heard the voices of the Holy Community, raised in song, saying, “Come, let us walk in the light of the Way”. I saw the Holy House, and all of the people streaming into her. This house needs no sun, nor moon to shine upon her, for divine glory illumines her. I saw the pure, crystal clear river of the Water of Life, flowing from the throne of the Source of all that is. In the river stands the Tree of Life, bearing fourteen different kinds of fruit, and yielding her fruit to those who would eat of it. The leaves of the Tree are for the healing of the people. There is no night there, they need no candle, nor the light of the sun, for the Almighty gives them light, and they shall live for ever and ever. I have reached the inner vision, and by the grace of Your spirit within me, I have heard Your wondrous secret. Through Your mystic insight
You have caused a spring of knowledge to well up within me – a fountain of power, pouring forth living waters, a flood of love, and of all-embracing wisdom, like the splendour of Eternal Light.


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1 comment:

  1. It about time that the truth come out the book of revelation, it don't make no sense!

    ReplyDelete