Sunday, January 11, 2009

Pick a Word: Any Word

"Yea, he magnified 1431 (8689) [himself] even to the prince 8269 of the host 6635, and by him the daily 8548 [sacrifice] was taken away 7311 (8717) (8675) 7311 (8689), and the place 4349 of his sanctuary 4720 was cast down 7993 (8717).
And an host 6635 was given 5414 (8735) [him] against the daily 8548 [sacrifice] by reason of transgression 6588, and it cast down 7993 (8686) the truth 571 to the ground 776; and it practised 6213 (8804), and prospered 6743 (8689).
Then I heard 8085 (8799) one 259 saint 6918 speaking 1696 (8764), and another 259 saint 6918 said 559 (8799) unto that certain 6422 [saint] which spake 1696 (8764), How long [shall be] the vision 2377 [concerning] the daily 8548 [sacrifice], and the transgression 6588 of desolation 8074 (8802), to give 5414 (8800) both the sanctuary 6944 and the host 6635 to be trodden under foot 4823?
And arms 2220 shall stand 5975 (8799) on his part, and they shall pollute 2490 (8765) the sanctuary 4720 of strength 4581, and shall take away 5493 (8689) the daily 8548 [sacrifice], and they shall place 5414 (8804) the abomination 8251 that maketh desolate 8074 (8789). [Daniel 8:11-13]

And from the time 6256 [that] the daily 8548 [sacrifice] shall be taken away 5493 (8717), and the abomination 8251 that maketh desolate 8074 (8802) set up 5414 (8800), [there shall be] a thousand 505 two hundred 3967 and ninety 8673 days 3117. [Daniel 12:11].

Perhaps the reader has noticed that in each verse cited the word sacrifice is enclosed in [brackets] which means it was [added] by the translators. Of course, this refers to the animal sacrifices that were part of the Hebrew spiritual economy.
But to limit the meaning of daily to the sacrifice of animals as a sin offering is to severely limit the true meaning(s) of the verses.
The real abomination, the real application of the verses refers to the daily ministration of Jesus Christ and not the mere sacrifice of animals.
As our High Priest, Jesus is the one to whom we confess our sins ["If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1st John 1:9.]. This is part of the ministration of Christ in the temple in heaven that is so clearly explained in the book of Hebrews.
To fully understand these verses one has to understand how, and in which ways, the church of Rome has usurped the prerogatives of Christ and His daily ministration on our behalf.
For a brief glimpse of this usurpation I will take you to the writings of Fr. Alphonsus Liguori. Hang on!
"The dignity of the priest is also estimated from the power that he has over the real and the mystic body of Jesus Christ. With regard to the power of priests over the real body of Jesus Christ, it is of faith that when they pronounce the words of consecration the Incarnate Word has obliged Himself to obey and to come into their hands under the Sacramental Species. We are struck with wonder when we hear that God obeyed the voice of Josue----the Lord obeying the voice of man----and made the sun stand when He said move not, O sun, towards Gabaon...and the sun stood still. But our wonder should be far greater when we find that in obedience to the words of His priests----HOC EST CORPUS MEUM----God Himself descends on the altar, that He comes where ever they call Him, and as often as they call Him and places Himself in their hands, even though they should be His enemies. And after having come, He remains, entirely at their disposal; they move Him as they please, from one place to another; they may, if they wish, shut Him up in the tabernacle, or expose Him on the altar, or carry Him outside the church; they may, if they choose, eat His flesh and give Him for the food of others. "Oh how very great is their power." says St. Laurence Justinian, speaking of priests. 'A word falls from their lips and the body of Christ is there substantially formed from the matter of bread, and the incarnate word descended from heaven, is found really present on the table of the altar! Never did Divine goodness give such power to the Angels. The angels abide by the order of God, but the priests take Him in their hands, distribute Him to the faithful, and partake of Him as food for themselves.' "

Perhaps the reader better understands the depth of blasphemy in the way the church of Rome has taken away the daily ministration of Christ and (by claim of tradition) put Him at the disposal of mere men; "...even though they be His enemies..." (All quotes from "Dignities and Duties of the Priest", Chapter III, Grandeur of the Priestly Power, by St. Alphonsus Liguori, C.S.S.R. 27 Sept. 1696 - 01 Aug. 1787.
"Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church". Ignatious of Antioch, 1st c. a.d.
Judge for yourselves.
God Bless. e.c.

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