THE BOOK OF MORMON, THE BOOK OF ENOCH, AND THE HIDDEN MYSTERY OF THE SECRET COMBINATIONS REVEALED

THE HIDDEN MYSTERY OF THE SECRET COMBINATIONS REVEALED:

The Book of Mormon warns of a secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands that is built up by that same person who deceived our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the garden.  Over the years many scholars have only touched on the nature of these secret combinations, but the origin of these secret combinations is much more ancient and insidious than people imagine. In fact when many people discover the well laid plans by some of these secret combinations they find that the plans have been implemented over a long period of time-in fact a period of time and with a continuity that exceeds the life span of a mortal man.

Much knowledge has been lost, destroyed, or hidden as a result of the writings of ancient Israel going through the hands of a great and abominable assembly (of both Jews and Gentiles) who sought to exert dominion over the people.  Among this knowledge was the Book of Enoch.  During the second temple period, this book was accepted by the Jews as scripture.  Later the book was suppressed and hidden from the masses of Jews by rabbinic influences who felt that the masses were either not worthy or able to understand the record of Enoch.

Many of the early Christians and Church Fathers also accepted the Book of Enoch as scripture, but due to many of the same reasons as the rabbis claimed they also removed the book from what is now the Bible and replaced it with the Book of Revelation. Only in recent years has the importance of the Book of Enoch begun to be realized. Unbeknownst to many, this Book was held in such high esteem that seven copies were found among the library of the Dead Sea Scrolls and since then other copies or fragments have been found in other libraries in various countries.  In fact in the very opening of the Book it states that it was written for a far off generation and the days of tribulation:

"The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the elect ⌈⌈and⌉⌉ righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked ⌈⌈and godless⌉⌉ are to be removed. 2. And he took up his parable and said--Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, ⌈which⌉ the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is for to come." (1 Enoch 1:1-2)

The importance of this record cannot be overstated as not only do we find the New Testament heavily dependent on this record but there is also found hidden knowledge that support the Book of Mormon and many of it's mysteries.

THE SINS OF THE WATCHERS

Among the knowledge of the Fathers preserved by ancient Israel is an account of a group of angels who rebelled against God and fell to the earth only there to enact plans to exert dominion over the new creation.  This band of angels were part of a larger group known as The Watchers, sometimes called The Archons, The Nephilim, etc.  Not wanting to accept God's plan that established Adam and his posterity as those chosen by God to have dominion over this sphere, these angels took secret oaths and covenants whereby they would supplant Adam and his posterity on the earth.

In the Torah/Genesis it reads:

"1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 ¶ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them."

These sons's of God (the B'nai Elohiym) were those beings that later came to be known as the Watchers, Archons, etc.  Whereas Christianity attributes much of the evil of this world to Adam and his fall, ancient Israel attributes the presence of evil in this world to the actions or sins of these Watchers. From the Book of Enoch (which was once widely accepted as scripture by both Judaism and early Christianity), it records that this group of 200 beings swore an oath to their leader Semjaza whereby they would put their plans into action.

It is from the Book of Enoch that we find a record of their actions and of their secret oaths whereby they would exert dominion and obtain the earth as their inheritance:

"1.And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. 2. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.' 3. And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: 'I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.' 4. And they all answered him and said: 'Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.' 5. Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. 6. And they were in all two hundred; who descended ⌈in the days⌉ of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations (curses should they violate the oath) upon it. 7. And these are the names of their leaders: Sêmîazâz, their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl, Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl, Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl, Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl, Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl, Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl, Sariêl. 8. These are their chiefs of tens.

It is from this forgotten record of the Book of Enoch (which the NT quotes over 100 times) that we find an account of the identities of these beings and their secret works among mankind:

"And these are the chiefs of their angels and their names, and their chief ones over hundreds and over fifties and over tens].

The name of the first Jeqôn: that is, the one who led astray ⌈all⌉ the sons of God, and brought them down to the earth, and led them astray through the daughters of men.

 And the second was named Asbeêl: he imparted to the holy sons of God evil counsel, and led them astray so that they defiled their bodies with the daughters of men.

And the third was named Gâdreêl: he it is who showed the children of men all the blows of death, and he led astray Eve, and showed ⌈the weapons of death to the sons of men⌉ the shield and the coat of mail, and the sword for battle, and all the weapons of death to the children of men. And from his hand they have proceeded against those who dwell on the earth from that day and for evermore.

And the fourth was named Pênêmûe: he taught the children of men the bitter and the sweet, and he taught them all the secrets of their wisdom. And he instructed mankind in writing with ink and paper, and thereby many sinned from eternity to eternity and until this day.  For men were not created for such a purpose, to give confirmation to their good faith with pen and ink.  For men were created exactly like the angels, to the intent that they should continue pure and righteous, and death, which destroys everything, could not have taken hold of them, but through this their knowledge they are perishing, and through this power it is consuming me.

And the fifth was named Kâsdejâ: this is he who showed the children of men all the wicked smitings of spirits and demons, and the smitings of the embryo in the womb, that it may pass away, and [the smitings of the soul] the bites of the serpent, and the smitings which befall through the noontide heat, the son of the serpent named Tabââ‘ĕt.  And this is the task of Kâsbeêl, the chief of the oath which he showed to the holy ones when he dwelt high above in glory, and its name is Bîqâ.  This (angel) requested Michael to show him the hidden name, that he might enunciate it in the oath, so that those might quake before that name and oath who revealed all that was in secret to the children of men. 15. And this is the power of this oath, for it is powerful and strong, and he placed this oath Akâe in the hand of Michael. And these are the secrets of this oath . . .

And they are strong through his oath:
And the heaven was suspended before the world was created,
And for ever.

And through it the earth was founded upon the water,
And from the secret recesses of the mountains come beautiful waters,
From the creation of the world and unto eternity.

And through that oath the sea was created,
And as its foundation He set for it the sand against the time of (its) anger,
And it dare not pass beyond it from the creation of the world unto eternity.

And through that oath are the depths made fast,
And abide and stir not from their place from eternity to eternity.
And through that oath the sun and moon complete their course,
And deviate not from their ordinance from eternity to eternity.
 And through that oath the stars complete their course,
And He calls them by their names,
And they answer Him from eternity to eternity." (1 Enoch 69:3-21)

From the Book of Enoch we find these beings bound their oath by imprecations or swearing by the name of YHVH.  According to to the teachings of found in the Book of Enoch and other writings of ancient Israel, swearing by the name of YHVH has the power to bind these beings. This same thought is expressed in the Torah as an edict upon all Israel:

"If a man makes a vow to YHVH or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips." (Numbers 30:3)

According to the teachings of the Fathers it was not Adam's actions in the Garden that brought about  the evils we see in the word but the actions of this group of Watchers and their interactions with mankind. As a result, God sent the Flood to cleanse the earth of the evils that they had spread.  It was also taught that in response to these secret combinations of the Watchers, God gave the law (Torah) as the foundation stone upon which mankind would be protected and his dominion would be established on the earth.

THE WATCHERS AND THE BOOK OF MORMON:

The Prophet Writers of the Book of Mormon record that the downfall of their nation was the result of the works of darkness of the Gadianton Robbers. These conspirators entered into secret oaths and covenants whereby they could exact dominion over the people and the land.  As recorded in the record of Helaman:

"Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit—

Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth.

And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell.

Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time.

Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time.

 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men." (Helaman 6: 26-30)

It appears that these Watchers (immortal beings), who were both before and after the great floods, continued to work their secret plans of dominion through mankind.  Interestingly enough the Book of Mormon records that the secret oaths and covenants did not come from the records in their posession but were revealed to Gadianton by the same being or beings (as ha-satan in Hebrew can refer to the singular or plural) that are referred to in the record of Enoch.

Even the Jaredites were not free from their influence as in Ether 8 in records that the records of the Jaredites contained an account of these secret works:

" Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk with her father, and said unto him: Whereby hath my father so much sorrow? Hath he not read the record which our fathers brought across the great deep? Behold, is there not an account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms and great glory?" (Ether 8:9)

Here Mormon records that the Jaredites used the same oaths that existed from old.  Jared and his brother predated the Nephites and were contemporary with the post flood epic of the Tower of Babel. If these things existed from "old" or ancient times, then these plans came from those beings, The Watchers" who enacted them before the flood whereby they could also obtain power and dominion on the earth.

Mormon continues:

"And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God (referring to the Watchers);

For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.

And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people, and they are had among the Lamanites.

And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi.

And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.

Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.

Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.

For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the evil one, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.

26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved." (Ether 8:9-26)

SWEARING BY THE NAME

Like the Watchers who made an oath by the name of YHVH we also see this same pattern found in Moses' account where Satan put Cain under an oath to obtain all that his brother Abel had.  This pattern of making an oath by the name of YHVH was a principle of power and dominion taught in ancient Israel as well.  By placing someone under an oath and sealing it by the name of YHVH a covenant relationship of power and dominion was created.  A covenant which was binding by the laws of God's courtroom and before the very elements of nature themselves.

"And it came to pass that Cain took one of his brothers’ daughters to wife, and they loved Satan more than God.

And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it, they shall surely die; and this that thy father may not know it; and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands.

And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his commands. And all these things were done in secret.

 And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness." (Moses 5:28-31)


We see here that Satan also placed Cain under oath by the name of God whereby all of his oaths would be required of him like unto the oaths taken by The Watchers.  In doing so Satan was able to obtain legal dominion over Cain and any who entered into a covenant relationship like him. It comes as a surprise to many who are unfamiliar with the teachings of ancient Israel that the Adversary would use God's own legal protocol to obtain legal dominion.  But these fallen angels or group of Watchers stood and administered in these self same courts in Heaven.  They are familiar with the laws and legal protocol that even God himself enacted and which he cannot break. Their knowledge of Heaven's protocol gives them a great advantage and should mankind enter into these binding oaths with them they can present their case before the throne of Heaven on the day of judgment and legally claim all that come under their dominion.

THE WATCHERS ARE STILL AT WORK TODAY

This group of Watchers is still at work today.  In fact if we examine the sins attributed to the "quorum" of 5 Satan we may notice some striking similarities to many of society's issues we see today:


Sexual Immorality:

 And the second was named Asbeêl: he imparted to the holy sons of God evil counsel, and led them astray so that they defiled their bodies with the daughters of men.

Warfare:

And the third was named Gâdreêl: he it is who showed the children of men all the blows of death, and he led astray Eve, and showed ⌈the weapons of death to the sons of men⌉ the shield and the coat of mail, and the sword for battle, and all the weapons of death to the children of men. And from his hand they have proceeded against those who dwell on the earth from that day and for evermore.

Propaganda and the Manipulation of the Masses:

And the fourth was named Pênêmûe: he taught the children of men the bitter and the sweet, and he taught them all the secrets of their wisdom. And he instructed mankind in writing with ink and paper, and thereby many sinned from eternity to eternity and until this day.  For men were not created for such a purpose, to give confirmation to their good faith with pen and ink.  For men were created exactly like the angels, to the intent that they should continue pure and righteous, and death, which destroys everything, could not have taken hold of them, but through this their knowledge they are perishing, and through this power it is consuming me.

Abortion, Spiritualism, and Witchcraft:

And the fifth was named Kâsdejâ: this is he who showed the children of men all the wicked smitings of spirits and demons, and the smitings of the embryo in the womb, that it may pass away, and [the smitings of the soul] the bites of the serpent, and the smitings which befall through the noontide heat, the son of the serpent named Tabââ‘ĕt.  And this is the task of Kâsbeêl, the chief of the oath which he showed to the holy ones when he dwelt high above in glory, and its name is Bîqâ.  This (angel) requested Michael to show him the hidden name, that he might enunciate it in the oath, so that those might quake before that name and oath who revealed all that was in secret to the children of men.

We see these same parallels described by the prophet Mormon regarding the Nephites:

"And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again.

And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land, even unto the fulfilling of all the words of Abinadi, and also Samuel the Lamanite....

And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the prophet; for behold no man could keep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land.

Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation in all the land because of these things, and more especially among the people of Nephi." (Mormon1:19, 2:10)

THE MAGICAL ARTS AND WITCHCRAFT:

It seems almost comical to our "modern" and highly "evolved" society that anyone would take the idea of magic art and witchcraft seriously.  The very words conjur images of Harry Potter, Lord Voldemort, magic wands, dazzling light shows and special effects, eye or newt and hummingbird tonque potions-and these popular images of the magic arts while entertaining may also serve as a distraction to the true nature of the spiritual magic arts. But in the ancient world, and in the mind of an Israelite, the "magic art" had to do with the manipulation of natural laws, spiritual laws and power, and how a person or entitiy obtained such power. It required a relationship- a covenant relationship- between the material and physical with the ultimate object of obtaining power and dominion.

Covenant relationships whether between God and Man or Satan and man are all entered into upon the basis of the same eternal laws.  By entering these relationships a pattern of dominion is established and an exchange of life occurs.  This exchange of life is more literal than people think-albeit without the dazzling light shows and special effects that may be witnessed with the mortal eye. It was in the act of bringing people under their Dominion that Satan, who had been cut off from the source of all light and truth (ie. life), would find sustenance and power-and mankind would be both his agents and food source:

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one. Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers. But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth." (D&C 93:36-40)

Here the Prophet Joseph Smith literally reiterates an ancient principle found in both the Books of Enoch and in Ancient Israel--Light and truth foresake the evil one.  In fact the evil ones come and feed off of the light and truth of every man, woman, and child through "disobedience and the traditions of their fathers".  We literally come under the dominion of those we chose to obey.  How do we know who we obey?  WHOSE LAW ARE YOU KEEPING?  TO WHOM DO YOU PAY ALLEGIANCE? 

By obeying the Torah or Commandments of God we come under the dominion of God and as a result an exchange of life occurs between God and Man.  It is through his relationship of covenant love and law that life-light and truth are exchanged.  At the same time, as we place ourselves under obedience to the Evil One and his servants we come under their dominion- they take from us life, light, and truth and in doing so they obtain the powers of "god" or an "angel of light".  As with all covenants an exchange of something MUST take place and with the evil ones the exchange is life and light to sustain while they give those who follow them power and dominion in this world. In ancient Israel to bring up your children in light and truth was to bring them up in observance of God's commandments which placed them under the dominion of YHVH and brought them more life, light, and truth:

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)

Strangely enough the Watchers understand this principle and they work through mortal agents to manipulate this system.

YET SOMETHING EVEN MORE INSIDIOUS:

As stated previously, it was in the act of bringing people under their Dominion that Satan, who had been cut off from the source of all light and truth (ie. life), would find sustenance and power-and mankind would be both his agents and food source.   This exchange of life is very real and could be likened to say a "spiritual vampire" who brings his prey under his dominion and then feeds of them until there is no life left and they become like unto them.  In fact entire systems have been created by these Watchers and their Agents to feed off the light and truth of those they bring under their dominion:

Systems of Priestcraft- Wherein Men (ie. false teachers and prophets) set themselves up as the light (2 Nephi 26:29) or Hebraicaly system where men set themselves and their authority above God and his law making their words law to the people.

Gadianton Robbers:  Those that create secret financial, miltary, and governmental systems to kill and get gain? (pretty much an apt description of various groups and special interests in America).

King Men: Setting up a political King for gain. (False or lawsless presidents, corporate pharoahs, creating a form of feudalistic government, oligarchies, etc).

And the list could probably go on and on.  Both the immortal Watchers and their mortal agents like parasites feed off the people who in a sense are both their physical and spiritual food source. Even groups and churches started or approved of by God have throughout history been infiltrated and controlled by these influences all the while doing everything they do under the NAME of God.  The end result however is destruction.

Part 2:  THE BINDING OF THE WATCHERS AND THE NAME OF YHVH.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

THE BOOK OF MORMON AND THE FOUR ETERNAL WORLDS (Part 1)

Unlocking the mysteries of the Book of Mormon requires that we put on our Israelite eyeglasses.  In doing so we begin to see the hidden dimension of the Book of Mormon as a record designed to communicate the Science of the Fathers.  One such marker is the phrase "And my Father dwelt in a tent" that appears 4 times in the account of 1st Nephi (see 1 Nephi 2:15, 1 Nephi 9:1, 1 Nephi 10:16, 1 Nephi 16:6).

These 4 utterances by Nephi serve as prophetic markers that correlate to 4 Worlds of the Tree of  Life and the mysteries of ascension to God demonstrated by the following:

ATZILUT– The World from which all things emanate.  This is sometimes called the timeless or eternal world.  The place of no separation from God.  It corresponds to the element of Fire.  In the scriptures it corresponds to the Sod level of interpretation. Its human expression is the embrace of oneness with the divine. It is the world through which all other worlds are sustained. 

BERIAH– The World of Creation also called the realm of the Divine Throne.  This world is sometimes called the world shaped by wisdom and understanding.  The world where intelligence senses its own existence.  It corresponds to the element of Air.  In the scriptures it corresponds to the Derash level of interpretation.  Its human expression is reasoning, contemplation, intellect. Here is the divine expression of Mercy, Power, and Beauty.

YETZIRAH– The World of Formation.  The world where form and shape begins. It corresponds to the element of Water. In scriptures it corresponds to the Remez level of interpretation.    Here is the divine expression of Endurance/Long suffering, Glory/Power, and Foundation (the balancing of the masculine and feminine).

ASSIYAH - The World of Action.  The world in which we now live (Malkut). It is the world of the five senses. It corresponds to the element Earth.  In scriptures it corresponds to the Peshat or literal level of interpretation. 

The base of the Tree (starting at the bottom)  commences with this world or Kingdom (Malkut- symbolized by earth/rock) and is represented by world of Assiyah (based on the Hebrew passage of Isaiah 43:7). 

Nephi's account commences with the ecstatic vision of Lehi wherein a pillar of Fire (Atzilut) comes and dwells upon a Rock (Malkut). THE ASCENT THROUGH THE 4 WORLDS IS WHAT IS KNOWN AS BEING BORN AGAIN.

LEHI AND ATZILUT

The account of Lehi in the record of his son Nephi is a living record of this knowledge passed down by the Fathers. It contains the unadulterated principles of true ascension and connection with Heaven.  It contains the path whereby all may connect with Heaven above and manifest Heaven (even Zion) here on earth.

“Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people. And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.” (1 Nephi 1: 5-6)

Nephi commences his narrative with the advent of many prophets coming to the people of the great city of Jerusalem prophesying that they must repent or be destroyed. (1 Nephi 1:4)  As a result of the conditions of sin and iniquity that existed among the people, the Prophet Lehi went forth and prayed unto the Lord with all his heart (kavanah- desire) in behalf of his people.  In doing so, Lehi exercised the great principle revealed by the Fathers- As Above so below, As below so above.  His stirring prayer of desire here on earth caused a stirring in Heaven.  In doing so he became a vessel to contain the light of God to bestow upon others for life and salvation.

The response from the throne of God in the World of Atziluth is demonstrated in the pillar of fire (the corresponding element of Atzilut) that came down and dwelt upon a rock (Asiyah-earth).  As passed down by the Fathers it has been taught that the things of Atzilut or the Sod level of experience are of such a great and marvelous nature that they are beyond the faculties of the five human senses.  The truth of this teaching is attested to as “… because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.  And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.” (1 Nephi 1: 6-7)

LEHI AND BERIYAH

“And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.” (1 Nephi 1:8)

By offering his prayer of real intent or desire, Lehi became a vessel for the spirit of God to fill to bestow upon others.  In becoming this vessel, he was carried away in a vision and ascended into the World of Beriyah.  This is realm of the Divine Throne that was sometimes referred to as the High Place of Eden where Angels (Malakim) of the highest order are to be found in the attitude of worshipping God.  This same World is also found in the visions of John (Rev. 4:2-4, 7:10-11), Isaiah (6:1), Ezekiel (1:1,26), and Alma (36:22) among many others.

“And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.” (1 Nephi1:9-10)

It is in this world of Beriyah that the Sephirah of Tiphareth (Beauty) is expressed.  Tiphareth/ Tiferet is typified by the sun and corresponds to the Messiah of Israel.

As Beauty is an attribute of God it is typified by Messiah. In Messiah the true beauty of God is found wherein the power of Justice and attribute of Mercy is balanced wherein Justice is not robbed and Mercy claimeth her own.” (Alma 42:24)

LEHI AND YETZIRAH

“And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read. And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.

And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem—that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.

And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him.” (1 Nephi 1:11-15)

In receiving the book from the One who stood before Lehi, we find the formation of a spiritual creation and prophecy of judgment that God would declared upon Jerusalem that would find its fulfillment in the physical world.  It is in this world of formation that we find the faculties of the heart (compassion, fear, and desire) as exemplified in the prophesied destruction of Jerusalem and merciful compassion extended to those that come unto the Messiah.

LEHI AND ASSIYAH

“Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.

And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.

And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.” (1 Nephi 18-19)

Assiyah is the World of Action.  It is the world in which we live.  After Lehi had connected with God and his spirit descended back into this world, he took the light that he received and began to bestow this light of salvation upon others.  In this case the Jews in Jerusalem.  Like the prophets of old he stood as a vessel of light in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.  As a result they sought to kill the light because it testified of their awful and fallen condition.

© 2018 Robert Kay

All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

THE BOOK OF MORMON AND THE KEYS TO OBTAINING THE RECORD OF HEAVEN

The receipt of the Ruach Elohiym (Holy Ghost) is a gift sought after not only in modern times but in ancient times as well.  The Ruach Elohiym is what is known as the Record of Heaven. The gift of life and transformation given by the Spirit of God was first recorded by Adam:

"Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment."  (Moses 6:61)

The concept of the Record of Heaven filtered down through various cultures by other names such as Ruach Elohiym, Ruach ha Kodesh, the Akashic Records, the Aether (ether), the vault of the Gods, the Book of Life, and many others.  Encoded in the first journey of Nephi and his brothers to retrieve the Plates of Laban (Lavan- Lavan ha Elyon-Celestial Whiteness Purity) or "Record of the Jews" is a guide book to obtaining this Record of Heaven like the ancients.

The Journey to Obtain the Record

The journey of the sons of Lehi represent  submission and subduing of the natural or carnal man wherein one can the breach the wall or barrier that separates us from the Celestial Treasury that contains the Record of Heaven.  Laban represents our Adversary or a Mighty One, the epitome of ego and the source of the carnal in the world, who stands between us and the record.  Attempts to secure our connection with Heaven through carnal, egotistical, and idolatrous means only succeed in getting us thrust out by this mighty Adversary.

Nephi who represents the spiritual child of God goes into his place of correction (the cavity of a rock) where the natural man is divided from the spiritual man.  In true childlike humility, trust, and submission he goes forward not knowing what to do but trusting that God has the ability to reduce his Adversary and source of the carnal man to powerlessness wherein he then is given instructions by two witnesses-the voice of the spirit in unity with the Law of God.

In obedience to the instructions given by the voice of these two witnesses, he succeeds in cutting off the authority, wisdom, and understanding of his Adversary.  In doing so he can assume the condition and status of a celestial being or mighty one to pass by the servants who guard the Celestial Treasury symbolized by servant Zoram who guards the Treasury in Jerusalem to obtain the Record of Heaven.  The Celestial Treasury representing the source of all human spirits even the dwelling place of God and the Record of Heaven representing the connecting spirit of God that comes with all the knowledge and power to manifest the power of God according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.

The Testimony and the Law

“And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.” (1 Nephi 4:6)

In their previous attempts to gain the records, the sons of Nephi attempted to approach their adversary and obtain the records after the manner of the natural or carnal man.  Their request based on pedigree was met with expulsion.  Their attempt to purchase the records through the self-righteousness of their idols, riches, status, and other precious things was also met with their expulsion and failure to obtain the record.

The Voice of the Spirit:

This time Nephi having separated himself from the natural or carnal man begins his ascent as a child of God who approaches his adversary like King David (A man after God’s own heart) - trusting, self-less, seeking not his own, not being puffed up in self.  He approaches his Adversary with the heart of a child filled with Tzedekah (Charity- see Moroni 7:45).  With this heart of altruism, he leans not upon his own understanding but upon the voice of the spirit—being led step by step by God’s voice not know beforehand what he was going to do, but walking in trusting obedience to God’s instructions to go up and obtain the record.

“Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine.  And when I came to him I found that it was Laban. And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel. And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.” (1 Nephi 4:7-10)

Nephi as a child of God did not declare war upon his adversary nor did he enter the city with an intent to take Laban’s life.  As has been illustrated, our Adversary is Mighty and formidable, in and of ourselves we have no power to defeat him .  It is God who delivers the Adversary into the hands of the spiritual child with the Adversary being rendered powerless symbolized by his falling to the earth drunk.  Nephi explains that when he found his Adversary he was drunken with wine.

Wine represents the Light of Wisdom (Chokmah).  For a spiritual/child of God vessel prepared to receive the wine the wine becomes light to the soul.  For a carnal and natural man, the light of wisdom reduces him to the level of an animal.  The more light given to the natural or carnal man, the more animalistic he/she becomes.  The more light given to the child of God, the more pure and refined he or she becomes. The blade of the sword represents the power to correct the disconnection and disharmony between God and man. The hilt of the sword being forged of pure gold symbolizes the power to change the pure ego/natural man into its opposite or spiritual child of God.  The voice of the spirit compelled Nephi to a course of action that would cause him to slay his Adversary. His first and natural response was to shrink back.

The Law:

“And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property. And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands; Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief. And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.” (1 Nephi 4:12-14)

Despite what many think, Nephi was not commanded to commit pre-meditated murder.  His act was based upon the laws of the goel ha’dam (avenger of blood).  This is established by the voice of the spirit evoking the law of God in Exodus 21:12-13, “He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death  and if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.”

In the ancient mind, Nephi is rising to the level of wisdom.  In witnessing Laban fallen to the earth before him, Nephi has reached the place of complete awareness of what is happening inside of him.  His obedience to the voice of the spirit is not done in a vacuum.  He slays his Adversary, a symbol of the natural man and ego, by making his decision on the basis of the voice of the spirit and God’s law.

In the mind of an Israelite, the law of God represents the physical manifestation of the character and attributes of God in this physical world.  It is through the law of God that operates in the physical world that the voice of the spirit is given physical manifestation in the world in which we live.

The manner of destroying the natural man comes through the action of two witness: the voice of the spirit and the Law.  This is the higher meaning of the scripture, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20)  As we make our ascent from the carnal to the spiritual child of God, there are many influences that can lead us down paths far from our destination of the promised land. 

“Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law. And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass. And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments. Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.” (1 Nephi 4:15-18)

In the mouths of two or more witnesses all things are established and in the case of ascension it is no different.  The spirit testifies according to the commandments and the commandments of God’s law give the instructions from the spirit physical manifestation in this world.  Remember, the plates of brass on this level of interpretation represent the Record of Heaven.  The commandments of God according to his law are engraven upon the Record of Heaven so that light and structure come together in functional oneness.  It is God’s commandment that we receive the Record of Heaven and it is thus obtained by heeding the voice of the spirit unity with God’s law-one testifying of the other.  In cutting off the head of Laban who represents an Adversary and also the epitome of one in their fallen animalistic condition Nephi cuts of the head and ruling triad of his Adversary’s power- his crown/authority (Kether), His wisdom (Chokmah), and his understanding (Binah).

“And after I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my loins. And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury. And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments and also the sword girded about my loins. And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them. And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban.   ” (1 Nephi 4:19-20)

After slaying his Adversary, Nephi transforms himself by taking on the garments and armor of Laban.  Donning the garments of superior authority, wisdom, and understanding Nephi symbolically transforms into a being of supernal or celestial whiteness- a new being.   In his new identity, he is able to access the treasury of Laban.  The celestial treasury (Otzer in Hebrew) refers to the source of every human soul.  In his new identity, he is able to pass by the servant who holds the keys to this treasury.   Obtaining the Record of Heaven from the Celestial Treasury symbolizes our connection and lifeline to God as, “it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment. And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.”

According to the teachings of the Fathers, every human soul is part of God; like children to their father.  Part of our journey in returning to God is to effect what is called tikkun or the restoration to God. Having subdued the carnal nature and being transformed he is able to assume a new identity in garments and power (sword) he is able to pass by the servant as if he were a mighty or heavenly being who has a right to the Record of Heaven.  Having obtained the Record of Heaven they are then prepared to go down into the wilderness to their Father’s tent or tabernacle of dwelling.

© 2018 Robert Kay

All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

THE MYSTERY OF THE LIAHONA AND THE 32 PATHS OF WISDOM

" I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days." (1 Nephi 1:1)


The Book of Mormon as an Israelite record captures and embodies multi-dimensional aspects of the word of God.  Not only is it the record of a "fallen people" but contains a record of "the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also." (D&C 20:9)  The declaration that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the gospel" is important because to the mind of an Israelite the "gospel" or besorah is a declaration from God to his people designed to provide them with instructions on how to walk through the wilderness of mortality back into his presence.  Part of the purpose of this declaration is to restore the science of the Fathers (even Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).

 When the Prophet Nephi stated that he had been "taught somewhat in all the learning of my father" and that he was "favored of the Lord" and had a "great knowledge of of the goodness and mysteries of God" in true Israelite fashion he was also communicating to his Israelite audience that he was taught in the knowledge or science of the Fathers as which came through and was taught to him by his father Lehi.  It was his possession and using of this ancient knowledge that allowed him to have "knowledge" or in Israelite thought, direct experience of the goodness and the mysteries of God.

ENTERING THE REST OF THE LORD- THE PATHWAYS OF WISDOM

In ancient Israel it was taught that God manifested himself in the act or states of creation and re-creation (aka. rest).  Indeed the Sabbath day and the Appointed High Sabbaths of Israel are deeply connected to this principle.  It is from this understanding that we receive the teaching of "entering the rest of the Lord (YHVH)" as exemplified by the prophet Alma in his description of the Holy Order (manner/pattern):

"Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb. Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God." (Alma 13:11-12)

The idea of "rest" and entering into the "rest of YHVH" finds its roots in the Exodus of the children of Israel wherein YHVH declared to Moses:

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

Following the Hebraic thought we then trace the usage of this word where it first appears in Genesis 2:15:

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." (Genesis 2:15)

Here the word 'put' is actually the Hebrew word nuwach or rest.  The idea being communicated that Adam was placed in the Garden wherein he found rest or the presence of YHVH.  This motif is further supported by the Prophet Alma wherein he recounts the fall of Adam and plan of redemption:

"And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word" (Alma 12:37)

These states of revelation, creation, and rest came to be connected to path to the Tree of Life and in Israel walking the path or the Exodus through the Wilderness to the Mountain of the Lord (YHVH) at Sinai.  The knowledge of walking in the pathways was transmitted verbally in the Schools of the Prophets and in various sects of Judaism. The teaching was transmitted later in what came to be known as the 32 Paths of Wisdom; sometimes called the Pathways of the Heart.

The 32 paths of wisdom are connected to the Hebrew word for heart or Lev (לב) that has the gematria value of 32.  The teaching refers to the 32 pathways referencing the first 32 places in Genesis where name of God (Eloheim אלהים) is referenced.  The 22 letters plus 10 sephirot which God used to create the world also refer to the 32 paths or levels of consciousness by which man experiences and connects with God. These pathways form the connectors or strait path of the Tree of Life that lead to the presence of God and is pictured in the following graphic:

While the above diagram demonstrates a two dimensional pattern it was taught that the tree of life was meant to be viewed from a multi-dimensional pattern. Rather than just a two dimensional road map the tree of life was often related to image of a sphere or world. :

 Within the sphere or in the inner part of the tree were two legs, trunks, or spindles that represented the powers of creation-The Light of Mercy and the Light of Wisdom. The connecting point of the two by which they functioned was faith or desire:

Through these two spindles or creative forces of Mercy and Wisdom it was taught that all creation came into existence. The light of faith represented by desire is carried out and manifested in the world through the Wisdom and Mercy of God.

THE LIAHONA AND THE PATHS OF WISDOM

The Liahona is connected to this ancient teaching of the 32 Pathways of Wisdom. Woven into the Nephite account of the Liahona is the hidden teaching of ancient Israel that instructs the Israelite in journeying through the wilderness back into the presence of God.   The teaching and account contain many symbols designed to communicate principles of deep importance and ancient origin. When examined, understood and practiced the principles lead the disciple through paths to the more fertile parts in this wilderness where the traveler obtains further light and knowledge, divine sustenance, gifts of the spirit, and angelic ministration. 

In his record, the Prophet Nephi records the following:

"And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness." (1 Nephi 16:10)

The ball which came to be called Liahona was a living embodiment of the tree of life and the guiding force through the pathways of wisdom which is still preserved today in Judaism in what came to be know as the 32 Paths of Wisdom.  While Nephi records the literal events surrounding the discovery and use of the Liahona, the story is recorded and encoded with ancient Israelite knowledge regarding the process by which a person navigates their wanderings in the wilderness, their places of rest, and their coming into the presence of YHVH and ultimately being let to the Land of Promise.

By following the the directions of the ball of "curious workmanship" that was found at the "tent door" (ancient Israelite literary markers connected with the science of the fathers), the prophet Lehi and his family were led in the "more fertile parts" of the wilderness until they came to a place of rest:

"And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents for the space of a time, that we might again rest ourselves and obtain food for our families." (1 Nephi 16:16-17)

Just as Lehi and Nephi were led by the Liahona to a place of rest, the ancient teaching of the 32 pathways is also found in the "restings" of the children of Israel. It is no coincidence that there are 32 resting places recorded of the children of Israel when they went forth from Egypt (Numbers 33:1-50). These travels also correspond to 32 stages of spiritual progression that create the Tikkun Olam (repair of the world) or healing for the House of Israel and the world.

The principles by which the pointers/spindles of the Liahona worked were described by Nephi thus:

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them. And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things." (1 Nephi 16:28-29)

This spiritual principle of navigation through the wilderness of God was further explained by the Prophet Alma:

"And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.  And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe  that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day. Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions. And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise." (Alma 37:38-45)

THE DIRECT COURSE- THE CENTER PILLAR- AND THE SECRET OF MESSIAH

The direct path or center pillar was the pillar or pathway of harmony that balanced the attributes of Wisdom and Understanding, Severity and Mercy, Power and Long Suffering. This direct pathway or pillar contained the secret of the Messiah and the Knowledge of God and leads to the Land of Promise or Presence of God.

There is much more that could be said regarding this ancient principle as it relates to the account of Nephi- the direction they traveled, their sufferings, the breaking of their bows, obtaining instruction to obtain food, and being brought to the Land Bountiful.  From beginning to end, the account and the journey teach us ancient principles of spiritual progression and the pathways of awareness/consciousness that leads one to experience the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  What is important to understand is that far from being just an ancient compass, the Liahona leads the Israelite reader to a deeper understanding of navigating the wilderness of mortality and the world of the spirit through the more fertile parts until one reaches the Presence of God.

© 2018 Robert Kay



All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

AN ISRAELITE APPROACH TO THE BOOK OF MORMON

The language of Hebrew captures and embodies multi-dimensional aspects of the word of God.  As a functional language it is designed to be uttered by our physical tongue but embedded in this language is the system of mathematics, geometry, chemistry, physics, grammar, etc. passed down from Adam and the first civilization.  

In a way the language itself is like a winding staircase or a divine helix of DNA that contains the essential building blocks of creation.  The knowledge of ascent through these dimensions was been preserved and transmitted by the Prophets of Israel.  The ascent through the four worlds or dimensions is taught to this day in Israel through a system of interpretation called PaRDeS.  PaRDeS in an acronym formed from the initials of the four levels or approaches to understanding the revelations of God:

1. Peshat – The simple, literal meaning of the word or account.
2. Remez – The allegorical or symbolic meaning of the word or account.
3. Deresh – A comparative meaning as compared to similar occurrences, accounts or teachings.
4. Sod (pronounced with a long O sound)– The secret, esoteric, or mystical meaning


For many the Book of Mormon yet remains a sealed book.  When we think of a sealed book we often see images of ancient scrolls or plates bound by some kind of material or metal band that forbids a person from opening the book.  While this is one type of seal, to the mind of an Israelite a sealed record can also be a record whose true meaning and interpretation is not yet understood or revealed. The Book of Mormon is such a record. It is a sealed record to many because while the literal (peshat) account is the literal story of Lehi and his descendants, we miss the deeper dimensions of light hidden in plain sight.

Peshat:

To demonstrate and apply this science of ancient Israel, let us examine the following scripture: “And my father dwelt in a tent” (1 Nephi 2:15).  As we discussed earlier, sometimes the greatest of truths are hidden in plain sight.  How many times have you as a reader read through the Book of Mormon and simply passed over this one sentence verse, “And my father dwelt in a tent.”  The verse seems very straight forward, simple and literal.  In reading this verse, it may draw images of desert Bedouins living in their tents in a desert wilderness surrounded by camels and stock.  The very simple and literal (Peshat) reading of this verse is that Lehi literally dwelt in a tent.

To the initiated mind of an Israelite, this verse reveals so much more about the man Lehi and lends itself to a great truth of this hidden science.

Remez:

As we increase our awareness, we can begin to make the conscious associations demonstrated by the second dimension or level of interpretation.  In this dimension, an Israelite begins to ask, “Where has God revealed these things in the covenant God made with the Fathers”: (The TaNaKh – The Torah –Five Books of Moses, The Neviim –the Prophets, or the Ketuvim – the Writings). The verse, “And my father dwelt in a tent”, directs the Israelite mind to the Mishkan or “tent of dwelling” often called the “tabernacle in the wilderness” or the “tabernacle of Moses”.   The parallels in the stories of Lehi leading his family in an Exodus from Jerusalem into the wilderness and Moses leading the children of Israel on their Exodus from Egypt into the wilderness are not accidental.  In fact in true Israelite fashion, Nephi weaves these parallels into his account to compact great revelations about his Father, His Father’s connection with God, and essential knowledge preserved for his posterity on how they must also walk with the God of their Fathers.

The tabernacle (tent) in the wilderness is the appointed place where God would meet with Moses and Aaron. Here the glory of God (Shekinah) would dwell.  Here Moses would ascend into the presence of God by (1) “The Way” or outer gate of the tabernacle, to pass by the furnishings of (2) the outer court, in preparation to enter the (3) inner court or Holy Place, to then come before (4) The Holy of Holies or Throne of God.  In this tent of dwelling instructions and decrees were delivered from God to his righteous ones.  In this tent of dwelling, the officiating priests stood as ministering servants or angels to assist in bringing the people into a condition of oneness (at-one-ment) with God.  It is here that the earthly journey of ascension began and as a type symbolically ended with the reality of heavenly ascension realized.

The tabernacle in the wilderness serves as an allegory that Nephi draws upon. With this ancient connection established between Lehi and Moses, the verse, “And my Father dwelt in a Tent” takes on greater significance. In the world of Israel, this verse communicates that Lehi was a Tsadik (a holy or righteous one) who walked in the same pathway of the Holy Order such as Moses, Abraham, Noah, Enoch, and Adam.  As he dwelt in a tent in the wilderness, he communed with God.  He received revelations, commandments, and decrees for his people.  In fact in those places where Nephi relates that his “father dwelt in a tent” such as 1 Nephi 2:15, 9:1, 10:16, and 1 Nephi 16:6 (four distinct instances) we find connected four distinct manifestations of God to both Lehi and Nephi filled with simple commands, ancient allegory, divine instruction, and the hidden/esoteric teachings of ascension in their unadulterated form.

Deresh:

With the new dimension of understanding and consciousness added upon us from Remez, the next or third dimension of understanding begins to unfold.  The mind of an Israelite is then drawn to examine similar occurrences and teachings related to the tabernacle in the wilderness.  These occurrences and teachings have historical precedent, legal precedent, and instructional precedent as passed down by inspired teachers.  One such ancient teaching associated with concepts of a tabernacle or tent has to do with an ancient teaching regarding prayer.

The concept of dwelling in a tent while foreign to many in the West is common place among cultures in the Middle East and Orient.  In Israel, all of God’s people were commanded to be tsaddikim (holy men and women), “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6)  Even as Moses declared, “would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!”

Like ancient Israel camping in tents in the wilderness, a tsaddik or holy man would often be found living outside the bounds of the cities in the caves and tents of the wilderness.  In doing so these men lead a consecrated or set apart existence similar to Moses dwelling in the Tabernacle enwrapped in the Glory of the Lord (Shekinah).  This set apart walk with God was embodied with the wearing of the four cornered garment known as a tallit.








The tallit is a four cornered garment that serves as a reminder that the wearer is wrapped in the authority of Heaven. It was every man and woman’s private Mishkan or Tabernacle.  It symbolized the righteous dominion and authority of Heaven over the wearer and a place of retreat from the world.  To this day, modern observant Jews are seen in the attitude or prayer under the tallit worshipping in their private tents (tabernacles) the God of Creation.

With this understanding of Israelite culture and teaching, our understanding can then be drawn to a great teachings from the Prophets and the Messiah:

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:5-6, 3 Nephi 13:6

“And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.” (Alma 33:7)
“But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.” (Alma 34:26)

When we hear these scriptures in our modern tongue our minds are often drawn to images of going into our bedrooms, going into our literal closets, and closing the door so no one can see us pray.  In ancient Israel whether Nephite or Jews, there was no physical concept of a closet like we think of today.  The word closet refers to the “secret chambers” which then brings the mind to remembrance of the Holy Place and Holy of Holies in the tabernacle.  When a man covers his head with his tallit for prayer this tent or secret place is what is being referred to as “entering into thy closet” ( i.e. secret chambers/place)- a living witness of a tsaddik or holy man/woman dwelling in a tent and connecting with God.

Sod:

The sod level of interpretation pertains to the mysteries or hidden things of God.  They pertain to those things of the divine throne or council of heaven. In the wisdom of God, great truths have been hidden from the world.  In the preserved science of ancient Israel, we are spiritual beings tabernacled in mortal element in this physical world (Malchut).  “Don’t you know that you yourself are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives within you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)

Just as the Glory of God filled the physical tabernacle in the wilderness, so too do we as spiritual beings that are part of and eternally connected to God dwell in physical tabernacles.  The temple in all its physical glory represents the physical body of man and woman whose spirit has awakened and connected with the temple of God above. It represents the soul of a quickened individual in a state of at-one-ment with God, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing and the glory of kings to search out a matter!” (Proverb 25:2) As all Israel was called to be a nation of kings and priests to God, then it was the glory of kings to search out the concealed things of God. Like Lehi’s tent in the wilderness, we are called to walk the path of the tsaddik (righteous) and to enter the gateway of the tent and experience true oneness with the God who created us.  We go within the tent to receive wisdom, understanding, mercy, justice, judgment, enduring vitality, glory, and oneness with God.

© 2018 Robert Kay


All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

NEPHI AND THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS IN THE LAND OF BOUNTIFUL

“And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness. And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters. And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.  ” (1 Nephi 17:4-6)

Lehi and his family traveled in the wilderness of correction for eight years prior to coming to the land they called Bountiful.  In the wilderness our carnal/natural state is revealed. It is also the place where we can correct and come into greater connection with God here in our temporary tabernacle/tent of wandering.  The number eight represents the culmination or fulfillment of their correction.  It represents a time when the person is prepared to receive the light.  It represents a time when the person’s soul is large enough and pure enough to receive eternal life or the land of promise.  Eight years in the wilderness represent the end of correction (tikkun).

After their travel in the wilderness, Lehi and his family arrive at a land that they called Bountiful because of its much fruit and wild honey.  The symbol of fruit and honey is reminiscent of the Feast of Yom Teruah/ Rosh Hashanah.  This Feast of Israel occurs in the seventh month (Tishri) right after the sixth month (named the month of Elul post Babylonian Captivity).  This month is a time of repentance in preparation for the Fall Feasts (Appointed Times) of Israel that commence with Rosh Hashanah.

According to tradition, after the incident of the Golden Calf and Moses breaking of the first set of tablets, Moses ascended Mount Sinai on the first day of Elul for a period of forty days.  After he ascended the Mountain of the Lord, he then descended to the camp of Israel at the base of the mountain forty days later on Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah.  To this day, Jewish tradition celebrates Rosh Hashanah by dipping fruit (apples) in honey.  In ancient Israel the symbol of fruit dipped in honey was a symbol of correction and the putting off of the natural man.  It represented the sweetness of a restored relationship, and a place of serenity and plenty.  This place of serenity and plenty is represented by Nephi’s declaration of Bountiful.

Like Israel who went through a period of correction, Nephi records that they too came to a place of bounty, sweetness, and serenity after their period of correction as represented by the afflictions and difficulties they experienced.   The spiritual state of correction and change leads to a condition of bounty, sweetness, and serenity where they could see the many waters that separated them from the land of promise; the waters representing the barrier that separates the earth from the Throne of God as demonstrated in Genesis:

And God said, Let there be a firmament (dome or barrier) in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” (Genesis 1:6-8)

This place of Bountiful serves as a place of ascending the mountain of God. Here in Bountiful Nephi ascends the Mountain of the Lord to receive instructions.  Later this ascension is paralleled by his descendants in third Nephi who ascended the Mountain of Lord at the Temple in the Land of Bountiful where the Lord manifested himself to all the people.  The physical temple in ancient Israel being a symbol for the Mountain of the Lord:

“And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.” (3 Nephi 11:1)

“And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.” ( 1 Nephi 17:7-8)

The Prophet Nephi had ascended the Mountain of the Lord in varying degrees of intimacy during his correction in the wilderness.  In Bountiful he is once again commanded to ascend in preparation for their journey to the Land of Promise that represents the Throne of God. With each ascent into the mountain Nephi is also ascending in intimacy with God.  This is also known as ascending the tree of life or ascending the rungs of Jacob’s ladder.  In typical Israelite fashion Nephi draws upon the imagery and incident of these high and holy appointed times that restores key insights into increasing our intimacy of God.

© 2018 Robert Kay

All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Understanding The Jewish Book of Revelation (Part 1)

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." (Revelation 8:12)

Much of Christian and Mormon theology finds its roots in varying interpretations of the Book of Revelation.  Every year we see books and fiery preachers arrive on the scene with new interpretations of this Book for the current audience of the day.  These books and sermons are filled with warnings, admonitions, and interpretations usually relating the many symbols and scenes portrayed in the Book of Mormon as applying to our current situation.  We hear interpretations that like, "The Mark of the Beast is your Social Security Number or A giant computer located in Washington, or A system of forced microchip identification system."  We hear interpretations like Barrack Obama is the Anti-Christ or Hilary Clinton is the Anti-Christ...."  and on and on and on.

But while the purveyors of Christian and Mormon books hear their cash registers go CHA-CHING$$$$ everytime there is a new "BLOOD MOON" or shooting star, it may help our sanity and our pocket books to understand that the Book of Revelation is a Jewish Book.  It was received and communicated by the Apostle John who was a Jew and communicated in classic Jewish Fashion.  To understand the message of this Jewish Book means we need to understand not only the nature of Jewish Prophecy but also the nature of Jewish Prophetic/Poetic language.

TO WHOM WAS THE BOOK WRITTEN AND WHEN:

Despite all the rhetoric and misinterpretation over the past two thousand years Jewish Prophetic tradition teaches that the prophecy and its' content must be interpretated first in relation to the people and the time period in which the prophecy/vision was delivered.  While the book teaches cyclical patterns that repeat throughout past and the future, it was meant to be understood in the context of the people and time it was given.

TO WHOM:

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."  (Revelation 22:16)

This testimony of John was given to the "churches" or assemblies of believers in Messiah (both Jew and Gentile) in the various locations such as Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, Pergamos, etc. that existed at that time.


THE WHEN:

When God communicated the vision to the Apostle John it was literally meant as instruction and warning for the people in his day.  As the record relates at both the beginning and the end of the record:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John..." (Revelation 1:1)

and

"And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done." (Revelation 22:6)


Despite what many say when the YHVH or the Angel of YHVH states unto John in approximately somewhere between 35 and 70 AD that these things are SHORTLY TO COME TO PASS.  He may actually mean what he says in that these things are meant to be immediately understood to occur in that generation in which it was given.  SHORTLY IS NOT 2000 YEARS LATER.

So to properly understand the JEWISH BOOK OF REVELATION the p'shat or literal level of the record should be taken and read at face value.  In other words all of the prophecy recorded in what we call the Book of Revelation had an immediate fulfillment in the generation in which it was given. This does not mean that the Book does not have a futuristic application.  It means that we must understand the message, the cycle being taught, and the definition of the symbols in the time, culture, and language including the people to whom it was delivered first.

Now this may sound strange because if the Book of Revelation has already taken place then where is Christ coming in the clouds of Heaven and What Happened to the Millenium?  We will get to that!

Before we can understand the rich Jewish symbolism contained in the book we must also understand the nature of the Jewish Prophetic Poetry in which the vision is communicated.

JEWISH PROPHETIC/POETIC LANGUAGE:

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." (Revelation 8:12)


Over the years there have been many interpretations given of this scripture.  At face value it has been interpreted to mean the sun will not shine, volcanic or nuclear clouds will blot out the sun, meteors and comets will pelt the earth, etc etc.  In fact in the last decade alone we have had such a frenzy of OMEN and SIGN salesmen appear on the scene scaring the hell out of people because of Blood Moons, Eclipses, and other varying "signs" or astronomical events in the Heavens.

In doing so they are often unaware of the rich poetic language of Ancient Israel and the methods of communication used to convey messages of importance and severity to the audience of that day.  Unlike we who can turn on the  television and SEE visible images of death, murder, destruction, hurricanes, bad weather, and warfare wherein our minds are able to directly comprehend the importance and severity of the events we see now with our eyes, the believers in the days of apostle John did not have these methods of communication.

As a result, a rich  language of metaphor and symbol developed in Israel that was used by the prophets to convey the same importance and severity.   It was a way of telling a story or an event that occurred using the "artwork" of prophetic language and symbol.  So in exploring this scripture in Revelations 8:12 it may also be useful to know that these same symbols were used by earlier Israelite prophets in regard to other events:

In regard to the political downfall of Babylon, the Prophet Isaiah uses the same artistic prophetic devices:

"The burden of Babylon...

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." (Isaiah 13: 1, 8-10)

The Kingdom of Babylon existed as a kingdom both before and after its fall.  The language of the stars of heavens and the constellatoins not giving light and the sun darkened actually refer political fall of the political rulers and government of the kingdom of Babylon.  The use of images such as stars in the heavnes, constellations, and the sun were common Middle Eastern symbols for rulers/governments.

Lest we think this type of prophetic/poetic language is unique, consider that the prophet Ezekiel prophesied the same thing in regard to Egypt in regard to their political fall:

"And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.

The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity. At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity." (Ezekiel 30:16-18)

It may shock many to find out that the same poetic images were used in describing the political fall/upheaval of Babylon and Egypt as nations (AKA: THE DAY OF THE LORD). If we take the JEWISH BOOK OF REVELATION at it's word the immediate message to the Jews was that their political fall was on its way.  In fact, it was fulfilled every "yod and brush stroke or jot and tittle" in 70 AD in the Jewish wars with Rome, the destruction of the temple, and the relatively immediate events thereafter.  In our western, linear, Greek mind we read this Jewish Record and attempt to take language that was mean to communicate imagery and apply to specific rulers, leaders, and events happening right now.  The nature of Israelite prophecy is that the cycle of pride, corruption, and righteousness is meant to be understood and applied to our time.  The literal labeling of events and people in our time as "THE Battle of Armegeddon/THE Mark of the Beast or THE Anti-Christ" is a misuse, misunderstanding, and misapplication of Israelite Prophetic/Poetic Linguistic devises.

TRADITION!

Christian tradition and theology often clouds (no pun intended) the Israelite understanding of the message of the Jewish Book of Revelation. The "LAST DAYS INDUSTRY" in America is a billion dollar industry and every few years new books with new signs and interpretations appear to appease and scare the frightened masses.  But if we understand the nature of Israelite language and symbolism the message of the Book of Revelation ceases to be a message of the end of the world.  Instead it can be understood as it was meant to be- A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST wherein it teaches the cycles of Righteousness and Iniquity of varying Nations with whom God has had dealings.  Many people have spent their lives and means in a form of emotional, mental, and spiritual paralysis planning, arming, and waiting for the actual events portrayed in Jewish artistic language to happen.  They hide and plan in fear waiting for these events all the while taking no action to uphold righteous laws, principles, and government because why should they worry we are just waiting for cataclysmic events and planetoids to pelt the earth and in the end Jesus will come and fix it all.  But that is NOT the message of the JEWISH BOOK OF REVELATION.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

© 2018 Robert Kay



All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.