Is Mecca Mentioned in The Bible?

January 15, 2024

In the world of Islamic scholarship, many learned Muslim men have claimed that Mecca (the most holy city of Islam) is mentioned in the Bible. And these Muslim scholars cite the 84th chapter of the book of Psalms, located in the Old Testament, as the basis for their argument. For in Psalms 84:6, it is written, “Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.” Now the key word in this Biblical verse is “Baca,” which, when translated from the original Hebrew into English, means “weeping.” However, the actual meaning of the Arabic word “Mecca” may not in fact mean “weeping,” yet this has not deterred the scholars of Islam from turning to the Qur’an in order to substantiate their claims. For in the 3rd surah of the Qur’an titled Aal-i-Imraan verse 96, it is explained as saying, “Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah – blessed and a guidance for the worlds” (Qur’an, Aal-i-Imraan, 3:96). Now the exact phonetic form for “Mecca” in the Qur’an in 3:96 is pronounced as”Bakkah” with a b and not with an m. But this slight linguistic deviation is explained away by Muslim scholars as they point out how during the time of Muhammad, in the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula, the b and the m (in the dialect of the Arabic spoken then and there) were interchangeable. Thus, these aggravating factors spark confidence in the hearts of the Muslims as to the legitimacy of the Qur’an as the authoritative word of God and to the religion of Islam as the only genuine faith. That being said, the following presentation will not be an attempt to defend or support Islam, but rather it will serve as an objective study into Islamic claims, function as an intellectual exercise into linguistics, and most importantly it will be guided by an Orthodox Christian understanding of the scriptures.

Now, in the various translations of the Hebrew Bible into English, it is interesting to note that the Hebrew word “Baca” (written in Psalms 84:6) is left untranslated into its English counterpart. However, as we have already discussed, the Hebrew word “baca” or “baka” is commonly translated into English as “weeping.” Furthermore, there are other instances in the Old Testament where “baka” is used, but not all translations associate it with the English equivalent of “weeping.” For example, in II Samuel 5:23-24, the original Hebrew does use “weeping” to describe a certain type of tree. However, in the King James Version (KJV), these “weeping” trees are translated as “mulberry” trees and in the New International Version (NIV), they are referred to as “balsam” trees. In I Chronicles 14:13-16, we encounter “baka” trees again, and similarly, the original Hebrew translates them as weeping trees. However, the King James Version translates them as mulberry trees, and the NIV as balsam trees. Interestingly, in the Greek Septuagint, the trees mentioned in I Chronicles are referred to as pear trees, even though the Septuagint uses the word “weeping” in II Samuel, just like the original Hebrew. But to further expand upon the significance of the valley of Baca, its relationship with weeping, and how it ties into the territory of Mecca, we must first examine the properties of the baka or balsam tree.

Regarding the valley of Baca mentioned in Psalms 84:6, it is widely accepted that this valley is associated with weeping. However, due to the poetic language used in the Psalms, it is possible that this valley of weeping carries with it a metaphorical or figurative meaning and may not specifically refer to a physical location. Nevertheless, in eastern Lebanon, which shares a border with the Holy Land, there is a fertile agricultural region known as the Bekaa Valley. While the Arabic word “Bekaa” sounds similar to the Hebrew word “Baca,” we cannot definitively claim that the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon is synonymous with the “valley of Baca” mentioned in the Bible. On the other hand, it is certain that the balsam tree grows in and is native to the region of Israel/Palestine. Historical records and accounts suggest that the balsam tree may have also grown in the areas surrounding Mecca at some point in history. The balsam tree is renowned for producing a resin with aromatic and medicinal properties, and is referred to as the “Balm of Gilead” in the book of Jeremiah 8:22. This resin was also a highly valued commodity in ancient times. Considering the balsam tree’s ability to emit a moist substance it is appropriately categorized as a weeping tree, and because of this it can also be easily understood why the valley of Baca (or balsam) means the place of weeping.

As we have already established, the holy Muslim city of Mecca is referenced in the Qur’an in surah Aal-i-Imran (3:96). Additionally, the name Mecca is also mentioned in the 48th surah of the Qur’an, titled Al-Fath, in verse 24 (48:24). Now, what is important for English-speaking people to know is that the word “Mecca” has an official English spelling used by the government of Saudi Arabia, which differs from how it is commonly spelled by non-Muslim Westerners. Instead of spelling it as “M-E-C-C-A,” the proper English transliteration is spelled as “M-A-K-K-A-H,” which is a more accurate pronunciation derived from the original Arabic. By considering this pronunciation, it becomes more evident why Muslims attribute the Hebrew term “Baca” as the equivalent to the Arabic “Makkah,” thus supporting the Islamic claim that Mecca (or Makkah) is indeed mentioned in the Holy Bible. It is also interesting to note the phonetic similarity between the Hebrew name “Micah,” a prophet in the Old Testament, and the Arabic name “Mecca.” Although Micah and Mecca are not an exact match, their similarity demonstrates the linguistic familiarity held between the Hebrew of the Bible and the Arabic of the Qur’an.

Based on the available information, it is reasonable to interpret the Biblical term “valley of Baca” as the “valley of weeping.” However, there are two possible interpretations to consider. On one hand, the valley of weeping may have allegorical significance. On the other hand, “Baca” in the Bible could be synonymous with the Muslim city of Mecca. In the Bible, when it describes people passing through the valley of Baca, Muslims may interpret this as pilgrims on Hajj walking around the Kaaba, the holiest structure in Islam. Biblically speaking, the Psalmist uses the valley of Baca as a symbolic representation of individuals who navigate a difficult and sorrowful path in life. Conversely, Muslims associate the name of this valley with a literal indication of a dry and arid region, similar to the conditions found in and surrounding Mecca. Consequently, it is up to those seeking the truth to determine whether the Arabic word Mecca is indeed mentioned in the Bible or if the Hebrew word Baca is merely a linguistic coincidence when compared to other similar-sounding words and phrases found within the Semitic languages of Hebrew and Arabic.

 

References:

Brenton. The Septuagint with Apocrypha: Greek and English. (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, Ltd., 1851).

Green, J.P. The Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible. (Lafayette, IN: Sovereign Grace Publishers, 2000).

Maulana Muhammad Ali. The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and Commentary.(Dublin, Ohio: Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at Islam Lahore Inc., 2002).

Strong, J. The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2010).

The Jewish Publication Society of America. The Holy Scriptures, According to the Masoretic Text. (Philadelphia, PA: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

Zondervan. The NIV Study Bible. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1995).

The Gadarene Demoniac

December 4, 2023

During the days when our most precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ walked upon the earth, by His descent from heaven and through His incarnation from the most blessed Virgin Mary, did the Son and Word of God not only preach the good news of salvation, but He also performed many miracles such as the healing of the sick, the granting of sight to the blind, and He even spiritually liberated those possessed with unclean spirits. One such example, taken from the holy Gospels, where Christ delivers someone severely troubled by demonic possession, is known as the story of the Gadarene Demoniac. This story of a man possessed with many unclean spirits is found in the 5th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Mark, and it is also found in the 8th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke. Though this story is told in two separate books, the accounts concerning the Gadarene Demoniac are nearly identical in both of these Gospels. For in each version of the story do we see the demon revealing it’s name as “Legion,” because many evil spirits were in control of this poor man’s soul and body. Jesus would ultimately cast out the devils living in the man and send these unclean spirits into a herd of swine that were feeding nearby. In the following presentation we will examine the significance of the name “Legion” and explore the possibilities of why the Lord allowed these unclean spirits to enter a herd of unclean animals, and explain the reason why Jesus instructed the man whom He delivered to spread this miracle, whereas at all other times Christ told the people whom He healed to keep these miracles a secret.

As the story begins, Jesus and His disciples arrive at the other side of the Sea of Galilee and enter the country of the Gadarenes. Now the exact location of the Gadarenes is a subject of debate among scholars. However, it is generally believed to have been situated on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the vicinity of modern-day Kursi in northern Israel. This area, known as the Decapolis (a group of ten cities), was predominantly inhabited by Gentiles during the time of Christ. It is also worth noting that the Gadarenes themselves were most likely an ethnic group or a people associated with the region rather than belonging to a specific country. The term “Gadarenes” therefore primarily refers to the inhabitants of the area rather than describing this territory as a municipal entity. Continuing with the Gospel story, do we see that no sooner had Jesus and the disciples embarked upon this region when they were met by a man coming out of the tombs, who was possessed with an unclean spirit (Mark 5:1, 2). The Bible goes on to illustrate how this demon possessed man lived among the tombs, wore no clothes, and could not be tamed. For when he was bound with chains and shackles, this man had the supernatural strength to pull apart the chains and break the shackles. And each day and each night was he in the tombs and in the mountains crying out, and he also had the habit of cutting himself with stones. Overall this poor person was greatly suffering in a most terrible condition.

After the Lord encountered the demon possessed man, Jesus went on to have a short dialog with the devil living inside the man, where the demon reveals that it’s name is, “Legion: for we are many” (Mark 5:9). Since the unclean spirit here calls himself “Legion” this has led many scholars to conclude that there were many demons in possession of the man and not just one. In fact during the time of Christ, when Judea was occupied by the Roman Empire, a legion was referred to as a military rank nominally composed of 6,000 soldiers. So if the demons living inside the man were called Legion, then this poor soul may have been possessed by 6,000 evil spirits! Now during this conversation between Christ and the demons, these unclean spirits beg the Lord not to send them into the abyss, but into a great herd of swine that were feeding nearby. Jesus gave them permission, “…and the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea (Mark 5:13). Now according to the Law of Moses pigs are unclean animals and were forbidden to be eaten of by the children of Israel. The Bible also describes the “Legion” in Mark 5 as an unclean spirit. So the fact that an unclean spirit desired to possess the flesh of an unclean animal, keenly demonstrates the carnal depravity of the demons.

What is interesting to consider here is how the devils had no authority to enter the swine by their own will, but only after they were granted to possess the pigs by the Lord’s permission. This demonstrates that nothing ever happens in this world without God either willing something to happen, or allowing something to happen. Though the righteous judgments of the Lord may stand outside of the realm of human understanding, us mortals can be assured that God is love and has our best interests in mind, even if it appears that at times God is being unfair towards His creation. Remember there are consequences for our actions and what we reap is what we sow. So in the end it is us sinners who are truly to blame for our own mistakes and shortcomings which cause us to suffer, and the blame should not be shifted towards God. However, we should also remember that the Lord is merciful, so what looks like a curse may in fact be a blessing in disguise. Going further, when a person experiences an injustice this is considered by the Saints to be a very great thing. For as St. Paisios the Athonite said, “there is nothing sweeter, than to suffer injustice.” Just as Christ Himself suffered and was crucified, so too did he rise gloriously from the dead. And if we too are patient in our own afflictions, then can we be comforted with the confidence that we will also enjoy a better resurrection.

Returning to the healing of the Gadarene Demoniac, it must be understood how Christ did not allow the man to be one of His disciples, but instead instructed the man to go home to his friends, and to tell everyone of all the great things that the Lord had done for him, and how God had compassion on him. The man in turn was obedient to the Lord’s instructions and published to all those in Decapolis the great things that Jesus had done for him, and all the people marveled (Mark 5:19, 20). What is most unusual concerning this particular miracle however, is that Christ told the man to tell others about it, when at all other times Jesus instructed those He healed to keep the miracle a secret. However, as Christians we do know how great a sin it is to deny Christ. So the fact that the man confessed Christ openly, especially to a people who didn’t want Jesus in their country, then it is revealed how blessed this man was, who just previously had been suffering in an unbelievably wretched condition. For instead of denying Christ the man confessed Christ, even before a people who were against Christ (Mark 5:17).

In conclusion, from what we have covered in this story of the Gadarene Demoniac, it is evident that the forces of evil are powerless before the almighty authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. For after Christ rose from the dead, He informed His disciples that all power in heaven and in the earth has been given unto Him (Matthew 28:18). Just as the demons could not enter the herd of pigs without Christ’s permission, so too does nothing happen in this life without the Lord either willing it or allowing it to happen. God is love, but He is also a judge, so we humans shouldn’t take the mercy and compassion of the Lord lightly. God is our Father and deserves respect. Just as God has commanded us to honor our earthly parents, so should we humans also render the proper adoration and obedience towards our heavenly Father. Also, as Christians we should always display the courage of confessing Christ when necessary, even before people who are opposed to Christ. The Gadarene Demoniac shines as a praise worthy example of what it means to confess Christ in a situation where doing so wasn’t the popular thing. Young Christians living in modern society may be hesitant to confess Christ openly, in the fear of being mocked, ridiculed, or laughed at. However, when a man is not ashamed of Christ, then Christ is not ashamed of him. For the martyrs even chose death rather than to deny Christ and live. So let us who consider ourselves Christians always be ready to confess Jesus even when doing so is unpopular. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed (Romans 10:11).

 

References:

Ancient Faith Study Bible. (Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019).

Orthodox Study Bible (Elk Grove, CA:St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology, 2008).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

The Sons of God and The Daughters of Men

November 13, 2023

In the sixth chapter of the book of Genesis do we read about the sons of God marrying the daughters of men, and how giants were birthed as a result of these mixed martial unions (Genesis 6:1-4). Now because the Bible says that the males who married the daughters of men were the sons of God, this has led many to conclude that these particular men weren’t human men at all, but were in fact fallen angels. However, scripture informs us that angels are not made of flesh, but instead God has made His angels spirits (Hebrews 1:7). If fallen angels did indeed have sexual intercourse with human women then these evil spirits would have needed physical bodies in order to do so, primarily male bodies at that. But if God clothed fallen angels with the flesh of men, then would that also mean that God clothed other angels with the flesh of women? But if God only imparted male bodies for the fallen angels to incarnate into, then they would of had no other choice but to lust after human women because there were no female angels for them to marry. However, in the Holy Gospel do we see Christ clearly explaining how angels don’t marry. For concerning the physical properties of the humans who will be redeemed in the world to come, Christ said of them that, “…in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). Now since Jesus said that angels don’t marry then how could the sons of God mentioned in Genesis 6, who are recorded as getting married, truly be fallen angels and not human men? Let us continue to breakdown this Biblical controversy and hopefully the mystery will be unveiled.

Now if the sons of God in Genesis 6 were really fallen angels with male genitalia, then why did they go through the process and procedure of a formal wedding ceremony, when these lawless demon men could have just raped the human women without any need for a lawful marriage service? Additionally, if fallen angels took on flesh at one point in time then they would have needed God to give them bodies. But what would be God’s reason for giving rebellious spirits a body of flesh, especially since there are no Biblical verses which supports the belief that God created female angels for the male angels to marry? But as we have already discovered angels don’t marry, so this provides an even stronger argument to refute the theory which teaches that angels once slept with human women. Plus, since God created the angels as spirits then there must be a fixed amount of these immaterial beings who have existed from the beginning of creation. This means that God doesn’t continue to create angels, so there is no need for angels (fallen or beneficent) to procreate in order for more angels to be birthed. For angels did not come into this world through physical procreation, but by the divine power and the creative will of God.

Additionally, in this fallen world in which we live in, it is understood that all flesh whether it be human, animal, fish, or fowl, all of us who live will eventually die. However, if the fallen angels were granted fleshly bodies beginning from the time before the Flood, then does this mean that these fleshly angels died physically at some point in time, or have they been alive for millennia? Now scripture informs us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). It is also written that the sting of death is sin (1 Corinthians 15:56). So if the angels who sinned put on human flesh, then wouldn’t their physical bodies have eventually grown old and died one day, just as the bodies of humans and all other fleshly beings are subject to decay and death? Also, if the fallen angels did indeed die physically, then will they also be brought out of their tombs at the Resurrection of the Dead, along with every human being who has ever lived? This cannot be the case, for in the New Testament it is written that God has reserved everlasting chains and darkness towards the angels who fell from grace (Jude 1:6). We also know from the very words of Christ Himself, that hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). So it is evident that there is no resurrection for the fallen angels because they are spirits who have no fleshly body. But as we shall see, the fallen angels can enter living fleshly bodies in the supernatural occurrence known as demonic possession.

Now in the 5th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Mark, do we read how Christ encountered a man possessed with an unclean spirit. Jesus goes on to have a short dialog with the devil living inside the man, where the demon reveals that his name is, “Legion: for we are many” (Mark 5:9). Since the unclean spirit here calls himself “Legion” this has led many scholars to suppose that there were many demons in possession of the man and not just one. In fact during the time of Christ, when Judea was occupied by the Roman Empire, a legion was referred to as a military rank nominally composed of 6,000 soldiers. So if the demons living inside the man were called Legion, then this poor soul may have been possessed by 6,000 evil spirits! This demonstrates how more than one fallen angel can live inside a fleshly body, whereas the theory of the fallen angels of Genesis 6 seems to express that only one evil spirit can be in possession of one fleshly body. Now during this dialog between Christ and the demons, these unclean spirits beg the Lord not to send them out of the country, but into a great herd of swine that were feeding nearby. Jesus gave them permission, “…and the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea (Mark 5:13). Now according to the Law of Moses pigs are unclean animals and were forbidden to be eaten of by the children of Israel. The Bible also describes the “Legion” in Mark 5 as an unclean spirit. So the fact that an unclean spirit desired to possess the flesh of an unclean animal, keenly demonstrates the carnal depravity of the fallen angels. It also shows that the fallen angels are powerless to procreate and in turn roam the air in the search for a house of flesh to enter (Matthew 12:43-45).

Concerning the unclean spirits, there is a theory which teaches that the unclean spirits are not fallen angels at all, but are rather the souls of the giants who were begotten from the fallen angels. This theory goes on to state that when the giants were destroyed by the waters of the Flood, their spirits lived on within this earthly realm and became what we know as demons. Thus making the firm distinction that fallen angels are not synonymous with unclean spirits. However, as we have already pointed out angels (whether good or bad) are by nature spiritual entities and cannot procreate. Yet some schools of thought are very adamant in their stance that fallen angels did in indeed sleep with human women, even when scripture is provided which debunks their theory. On the other hand, they also use scripture to support their claims. For example, to back up the doctrine of the sons of God in Genesis 6 as being angels, a quote from the 38th chapter of Job is referenced which reads that at the beginning of creation “all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Though it is true that angels have been referred to in the Bible as the sons of God, this distinction can also be associated with men who obey God’s will. For as the Gospel of John reveals, “…as many as received Him [Jesus], to them gave He power to become the sons of God…” (John 1:12). Also in Genesis chapter 4 the men stemming from the righteous lineage of Seth are recorded as calling upon the name of the LORD (Genesis 4:26). So here we see that both angels and men who serve the Lord faithfully are considered sons of God, but not those who disobey the Lord such as the fallen angels who, by their wickedness, have relinquished their designation as servants and sons of God.

When it comes to the days after the Flood, do we see giants popping up again. For even Genesis 6 says that there were giants after the Flood. Some people will use this verse to support their theory that angels have the power to fall from grace and acquire a human male body. But if we examine the results of unlawful sexual activity among human men and human women, can we better discern where the giants truly came from. For according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, when Noah and his family were on the Ark all the couples were forbidden to engage in marital relations. However, Ham broke this law and in turn fathered Canaan while aboard the Ark. It is interesting to note that after the Flood we see Noah cursing Canaan, the son of Ham, for Noah cursed Canaan after his father Ham uncovered Noah’s nakedness. Later we see that one of Ham’s descendants fathered Nimrod, who the Septuagint calls a giant. Further on in the Biblical narrative do we see that when the children of Israel went to inherit the promised land called Canaan (the same name as the Canaan whom Noah cursed), the people living there were a race of giants (Numbers 13:32-33). Since the descendants of Seth intermarried with the daughters of Cain a mutation occurred, and since Ham broke a law of chastity a curse was produced. So the practice of elicit and unlawful human sexual activity, is the only plausible conclusion to come to as to how the giants (the mighty men of renown) were birthed.

 

References:

Brenton. The Septuagint with Apocrypha: Greek and English. (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, Ltd., 1851).

Brown, R.K. The Book of Enoch. (Nashville, Tennessee: James C. Winston Publishing Company, Inc., 1997).

Rose, Fr. Seraphim. Genesis, Creation, and Early Man. (Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alska Brotherhood, 2011).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

Jannes & Jambres: The Egyptian Magicians

October 16, 2023

When the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob appeared unto the prophet Moses from the midst of the burning bush, the LORD instructed Moses to go down into Egypt and speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt commanding him to free the Hebrew slaves from their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 3). However, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not hearken unto the word of the LORD, and in turn he would not release the children of Israel from their servitude. But ultimately, due to Pharaoh’s pride and his unwillingness to obey the Lord’s commandments, the one true God of Israel would sorely punish the land of Egypt with all kinds of divers plagues, numbering ten in all. Yet even though Moses performed miracles by the power of the almighty God, the magicians in Pharaoh’s court were also able to perform similar signs through their own sorceries. But as we shall see the Egyptian magicians, even with all their enchantments, would prove powerless when positioned against the omnipotence of the God of the Hebrews. So, in the end it is forever evident that good does indeed always triumph over evil, and that darkness is continuously and will perpetually be extinguished by light. The attempt of this presentation will strive to compare and contrast the black magic of the Egyptian magicians, with the awesome holiness of God and the virtue of His righteous servants the prophets.

As previously mentioned, the Egyptian magicians were empowered by the dark arts enabling them to conjure up enough witchcraft to mimic some of the miracles which came forth from God through Moses. For example, when standing before Pharaoh Moses cast down his rod and it became a serpent, then the Egyptian magicians threw down their rods and they also became serpents. However, the serpent staff of Moses swallowed up the serpent staffs of the Egyptians, revealing the supremacy of Yahweh over the forces of darkness (Exodus 7:10-12). Also, when Moses turned the waters of the river Nile into blood, the Egyptian magicians managed to turn water into blood as well. Likewise, when Moses brought forth the plague of frogs, the Egyptian magicians possessed the means to do the same. But when Moses brought forth the plague of lice, the Egyptian magicians were powerless to duplicate this wonder. And they came to Pharaoh explaining to him how they could not perform this miracle. For after failing to match what Moses brought forth, the Egyptian magicians were forced to confess that this sign was the finger of God (Exodus 8:18-19).

Now the term “finger of God,” that the Egyptian magicians used to describe the supernatural power of the Lord God of Israel, which they themselves were unable to harness, is found in only two other places in all of the Old Testament and in just one verse within the New Testament. For example, when God gave Moses the ten commandments upon Mount Sinai it is recorded that the two tables of stone, upon which displayed the ten commandments, were written with the finger of God (Exodus 31:18 & Deuteronomy 9:10). And in the New Testament Gospel according to St. Luke, do we read how Christ Himself uttered the term “finger of God” when disputing with the Pharisees over His divine authority to cast out devils (Luke 11:14-20). What is interesting to note here, is that even though the Egyptian magicians were pagan idol worshipers they still possessed enough honesty and integrity to acknowledge the supremacy of God. Whereas the Pharisees, who claimed to be children of God, were in fact hard hearted just like prideful Pharaoh. The hypocrisy of the Jews in this account should stand out as a warning to all Christians not to fall into the trap of vain glory, and must also remind believers to approach the Lord with a humble heart in order to give God the glory and not resist the Holy Spirit by turning away from Jesus with a hardened heart.

Now when it comes to the Egyptian magicians who stood against Moses, nowhere in the Old Testament are they identified by name. However, in the New Testament their names are indeed revealed. For in 2 Timothy 3:8, St. Paul records the names of two of the Egyptian magicians who withstood Moses as Jannes and Jambres. In addition to this New Testament identifier, an extra-Biblical source also provides the name of at least one of the Egyptian magicians who stood against Moses. And this ancient document is known as the Damascus Document. The Damascus Document is an ancient Hebrew text that is part of the Cairo Geniza, and which was also discovered among the various manuscripts which make up the vast library of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In this account the two Egyptian magicians are referred to as Yohanah and his brother, for only one of them is identified by name. The fact that St. Paul knew their names as Jannes and Jambres may be due to the Apostle’s education at the feet of a leading authority in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel who was a Pharisee and a doctor of the law (Acts 22:3). The Greek name for the Egyptian magician Jannes is evidently a derivative of the Hebrew name Yohanah which is also referred to as, Yohannes. Though the name of the other brother is not provided in the Damascus Document, his name was later referred to as Jambres based on the Hebrew root mrh, meaning: “to agitate or rebel.”

In conclusion, from what has been presented in the book of Exodus it is clearly revealed that there are indeed dark forces in this world which wrestle against mankind. However, the devils can only influence us if we let our guard down. Through spiritual carelessness a person can become influenced by demonic powers, but most of all people usually become demon possessed through the practice of the dark arts of Satanism and black magic. For many people who are involved in witchcraft are not only able to cast spells upon others, but the voodoo practitioners themselves usually fall victim to the very spirits they conjure and in the end find themselves in the very bondage they directed towards their enemies. For while a warlock may think to himself that he is very powerful, and may even pride himself as a controller of spirits, yet unbeknownst to him the devils are in control of his very soul and are laughing and making fun of him the whole time. On the other hand, Jesus Christ now possesses all power and authority in heaven and upon earth (Matthew 28:18). And when it comes to the works of the devil versus the power of God, it is written, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). So, when placed against the almighty power of God the might of Satan is proven powerless before the LORD, with the forces of darkness eternally out-shined by Christ, Who is the light.

 

References:

Schiffman, L.H. & VanderKam, J.C. Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2000).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

Jesus Christ & Jacob’s Ladder

September 25, 2023

When opening our Bibles to the beginning of the twenty-eighth chapter of the book of Genesis, do we read that after the Hebrew patriarch Isaac blessed his son Jacob, who’s name would later be changed to Israel and who would ultimately become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, did Isaac charge Jacob not to take a wife from among the daughters of Canaan. Instead Isaac instructed Jacob to arise and go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel the grandfather of Jacob on his mother’s side, and to take a wife for himself from among the daughters of Laban, Jacob’s uncle; his mother’s brother. Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and then went out on his journey unto Padanaram. The Bible goes on to say that, “…Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it” (Genesis 28:10-12). Now even though this angelic vision is written in the Old Testament, the imagery of angels ascending and descending is expressed once more in the holy scriptures, but this time in the New Testament. For when speaking to His disciple Nathanael, Christ declared, “…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:51). Now from what the Bible teaches us Christ is the mediator between God and man, bridging heaven with earth. Continuing on this trail of thought it would also appear that the person of Jesus Christ is indeed the physical manifestation of the vision known as Jacob’s Ladder, and quite possibly even its prophetic fulfillment.

When comparing Jacob’s vision of the ladder which stretched from the earth up to heaven, with Christ who came down from heaven to earth, a most beautiful typology of the Old and New Testaments is revealed. For when Jacob awoke out of his sleep, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place…and he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:16-17). From these verses it can be strongly argued that this terrestrial dwelling place or house of God on earth, known as Bethel, would serve as the foreshadowing of the coming of Christ, Who would dwell among men upon our own physical plane near the same geographical region where Jacob first had his vision several centuries earlier. For as it is written concerning the incarnation of Christ, “…the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Going further, some translations of the Bible state that the Word of God tabernacled among us, which is a direct reference to the tabernacle that once housed the ark of the covenant, upon which rested the earthly presence of the God of heaven. For the flesh which Christ took from His most pure and holy mother, would serve as an earthly tabernacle that contained within it the very essence of the Lord God of heaven and earth. So it was that the incarnation of the Son and Word of God was a divine descent from heaven above unto the earth below.

Returning to Jacob’s dream of the ladder which stretched from the earth up to heaven, we see how Jacob was not solely impressed with the vision that he saw, but also with the place wherein he dreamt it. For the Bible says that after we awoke from his sleep, “Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel” (Genesis 28:18-19). Now the Hebrew name “Bethel” means the “House of God” for even Jacob himself stated as such, and even went on to say that it was the very gate of heaven. Now Jacob had his divine dream in the territory of Palestine, the location known today as the Holy Land, and it was also in this same piece of real-estate that Jesus Christ preached His message of repentance and proclaimed the good news of God’s free gift of everlasting life. For as Christ bowed the heavens by His descent and became man, making His earthly dwelling place in the land of Judah, was Jacob’s vision revisited and ultimately fulfilled. For throughout Christ’s ministry, He only traveled within the territories of Galilee and Judah. For as Jesus said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). For it was the plan of the Messiah to get His own house in order first before He sent out His disciples into all the earth to preach the Gospel. For in the era of the New Testament Jacob’s Ladder would be replaced with the fisherman’s net, drawing many men from all nations into the House of God.

When touching upon the imagery of angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man, uttered by Christ Himself, it would seem that the powers of heaven accompanied Jesus while He tarried here on the earth. Evidence of an angelic presence surrounding Christ is found within the Gospels. For after Jesus was tempted by the devil, the Bible says that, “…angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11). So from this verse it is evident that Christ was indeed surrounded by the heavenly hosts all the while He walked the earth, making this aspect of Christ’s terrestrial presence another archetype of Jacob’s Ladder. Additionally, Christ was not simply ministered to by angels, but had the power to command the angelic ranks to defend Him and fight against His enemies at will. An example of this is found when the Savior was betrayed by Judas. For when Jesus was being arrested, Peter started to fight them off, but Christ admonished him by saying how if He so desired He could pray to the Father and be given more than twelve legions of angels to come and fight against His enemies (Matthew 26:53). So from these passages taken from the New Testament the magnitude of Jacob’s Old Testament vision is made even more profound. For Christ not only bridges the gap between heaven and earth, but also brings with Him the presence of the holy angels. Just as an Orthodox Christian is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism, the newly illumined is also assigned a guardian angel who invisibly watches over and protects the Christian throughout their entire life.

From what has been outlined thus far in this presentation concerning the symbology of Jacob’s Ladder with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, it is clear that our Creator has always desired to be in communion with mankind. This relationship between God and man also seems to be involved with angels who carry messages from God to man and back to God again. For the word angel derives from the Greek angelos, a translation of a Hebrew word meaning “messenger.” So from this understanding we see the important role angels play in God’s plan for the salvation of mankind, and how heaven and earth communicate with one another. It is the power of prayer which keeps this relationship alive. For by communing with Christ, man experiences the grace of God and ultimately achieves the salvation of his soul. Christ came down to lift us up. The Orthodox Church even teaches that God became a man, so that man could become a god. Going further, the monastics of the church, who have taken up the angelic habit will one day replace the seat that Lucifer lost when he fell from grace. Thus many men and women in the age to come will be included within the ranks of the heavenly hosts, and may even experience the holiness of angelic purity beginning in this life. So as believers who are seriously seeking our salvation may we all cling to Christ as we zealously attempt to climb the ladder of divine ascent.

 

References:

Holy Apostles Convent. The Orthodox New Testament. (Buena Vista, CO: Holy Apostles Convent, 2008).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).