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IS THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY BIBLICAL?
Whenever a Christian asks the question if something is Biblical or not, then what this means is that they are asking if a particular doctrine or teaching that is being taught by your church denomination taught specifically in the Bible? In other words, is that Roman Catholic teaching on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary specifically taught in the Bible ITSELF? And the answer to this question is a no. The bodily assumption of Mary is NOT taught anywhere in the Holy Bible.
In fact, the Roman Catholic Church openly admits that the Assumption of Mary is NOT specifically taught in the Scriptures. Here is a quote from a Catholic website called International Marian Research Institute. The emphasis is mine.
“Assumption of Mary: Scriptural Support
Q: Describe the scriptural support for the dogma of Mary's Assumption.
A: Like the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception, the dogma of the Assumption is not explicitly stated in the Bible. The teaching that 'at the end of her earthly course, Mary was assumed into heavenly glory, body and soul' was dogmatically defined by Pius XII in 1950 in Munificentissimus Deus. This encyclical mentions many "holy writers who ... employed statements and various images and analogies of Sacred Scripture to illustrate and to confirm the doctrine of the Assumption...." (#29) Though admitting that these "theologians and preachers ... have been rather free ... in their use of expressions taken from Sacred Scripture to explain their belief in the Assumption" (#26), Pius XII maintained that in defining the dogma of Mary's Assumption, he merely fulfilled his divine commission to "faithfully propose the revelation delivered through the Apostles" not to "manifest new doctrine." (#12) The Catholic Church believes this dogma to have been present in Sacred Scripture or Apostolic Tradition, at least implicitly. Hence, scriptural interpretations accommodated to Mary by 'prophetic expandability' may be legitimate, not because of academic evidence or "any merely human effort" (#12), but as signs of the "protection of the Spirit of Truth" (#12) in the Church.
Some of the biblical texts used in the encyclical to illustrate the doctrine of Mary's Assumption include:”
And we will cover every one of the verses used by the Roman Catholic Church to TRY and prove that Mary was received up into heaven BODY and soul right after we review the FACTS.
But my point right now is that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is a MORTAL SIN if a Catholic does NOT keep the feast day or holy day of OBLIGATION concerning the celebrating a mass for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. And yet, the Roman Catholic Church openly admits that this MANDATORY, must be believed, church doctrine is NOT specifically taught in the Scriptures. THINK this though for yourself my dear Catholic brothers and sister in our Lord Jesus Christ. What I mean by this is, how can ANY church denomination make something to be a SIN when the Bible ITSELF does not teach that Christians must keep ANY day holy? Please read the study “IS MISSING CHURCH ON SUNDAY A SIN?” But for now, let us consider the FACTS.
FACT #1.
The Roman Catholic Church openly admits that BOTH the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary AND the dogma of the BODILY Assumption of Mary are NOT specifically stated in the Holy Bible.
Let us read that quote again from the International Marian Research Institute.
Like the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception, the dogma of the Assumption is not explicitly stated in the Bible
FACT #2.
This Roman Catholic doctrine was not made an official DOGMA unto 1950 which is over 1,900 years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and the start of the church. That is a LONG time to finally decide that this supposed early church teaching should be made mandatory to be believed lest a Catholic blasphemes God. THINK this through for yourself my dear Catholic brothers and sisters in the Lord. Why was it NOT a SIN for the first 1,900 years of the church if a Christian did NOT honor and highly exalt the Virgin Mary?
Let us read that quote again.
“The teaching that 'at the end of her earthly course, Mary was assumed into heavenly glory, body and soul' was dogmatically defined by Pius XII in 1950 in Munificentissimus Deus.”
That means that this teaching was not MANDATORY to be believed and KEPT by Catholics UNTIL the year 1950 which is around 1,900 years after the church was founded by Jesus.
FACT #3.
The Roman Catholic Church openly admits that how this doctrine of Mary being assumed bodily into heaven like Jesus was THROUGH their rather loosely interpreted Scriptures made by Christians starting in the second century. In other words, if the Catholic theologians are HONEST with their self and with God, then they would come right out and say that the verses used to try and support this doctrine of the assumption of Mary were taken OUT of the CONTEXT. That is what they mean by rather FREE or LOOSE interpretations of the Scriptures.
Let us read that quote again.
This encyclical mentions many "holy writers who ... employed statements and various images and analogies of Sacred Scripture to illustrate and to confirm the doctrine of the Assumption...." (#29) Though admitting that these "theologians and preachers ... have been rather free ... in their use of expressions taken from Sacred Scripture to explain their belief in the Assumption"
What this means is that Scripture, when taken out of their CONTEXT, can be twisted to say something that they are NOT TRULY saying. For example, some of the Jews who did not believe that Jesus was their Messiah accused Jesus of having a Devil. And those unbelieving Jews in Jesus, as their Messiah, said to the other Jews, why do you listen to this Jesus, for he has a Devil? That was THEIR belief. But, THEIR belief does NOT mean that it is Biblical.
And that is what this study in God’s WORD, the Holy Scriptures, is all about. It is about what every Roman Catholic needs to know, IF what they are being taught by the Roman Catholic Church is Biblical or if it is unbiblical. In other words, any Roman Catholic teaching or practice that is NOT specifically taught in the Scriptures in the NEW TESTAMENT, are nothing more than MAN-MADE church doctrines.
FACT #4.
Again, the Roman Catholic Church admits that this doctrine of the assumption of Mary MAY BE true. They admit that the Bible only IMPLIES the possibility of this doctrine. This means that the bodily assumption of Mary cannot be PROVEN from the Scriptures. And, therefore, this or any doctrine that is not specifically taught in the New Testament of the Bible must never be made a DOGMA to incite fear in Catholics as a must be believed teaching lest they SIN. In truth, the Roman Catholic Church relies heavily on church TRADITION, more so than on the Scriptures, for many of their teachings.
Let us read that quote again.
“The Catholic Church believes this dogma to have been present in Sacred Scripture or Apostolic Tradition, at least implicitly. Hence, scriptural interpretations accommodated to Mary by 'prophetic expandability' may be legitimate, not because of academic evidence or "any merely human effort" (#12), but as signs of the "protection of the Spirit of Truth" (#12) in the Church.”
In other words, those early fourth and fifth-century church writers EXPANDED the prophecies speaking of Jesus to ALSO include the Virgin Mary according to THEIR interpretations. Hence, there is NO SOUND Biblical academic evidence for the bodily assumption of the Virgin Mary.
However, there is much SOUND Biblical evidence to prove that the “prophetic expandable interpretations” are in ERROR. And thus the Bible ITSELF proves that the dogma of the Assumption of Mary is a FALSE teaching that directly CONTRADICTS what the Bible teaches. And we will cover those verses as we cover all the verses used by the Roman Catholic Church to try and support that their dogma of the Assumption of Mary MAY BE true. Whenever anyone says that something MAY BE true then you know that they do NOT have any SOUND BIBLICAL proof to support what they are teaching.
So let us continue with the quotes from the International Marian Research Institute. Again the emphasis is mine. I will also add a number by each Scripture. And we will come back to them one by one in the order that I have numbered them after we finish reading the rest of this article from the above Catholic website.
“Some of the biblical texts used in the encyclical to illustrate the doctrine of Mary's Assumption include:
#1. - Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified. (Ps 132:8)
#4.- [the Spouse of Canticles] that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of aromatic spices, of myrrh, and frankincense (Cant 3:6)
#3. - The Woman clothed with the Sun (Rev 12)
#2. - I will glorify the place of my feet. (Is 61:13)
#5. - Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved? (Cant 8:5)
Consider how these passages could be related to the Assumption dogma. Commentators often compared Mary to the bride in Canticles. Her arising like incense to God or coming up to lean on her beloved could be interpreted as assumption into Jesus' company. Mary was also likened to the Ark of the Covenant; since she contained the Eternal Word in her Womb. Hence, arising to rest with the Lord could allude to Mary's Assumption. The Woman of the Apocalypse appeared as 'a great sign in the heavens'. Mary is called 'Woman' in John's Gospel. At her Assumption, she is said to enter 'into heavenly glory'. Revelation 12 could be a poetic description of these facts. Finally, the place of the Lord's feet mentioned in Is 61, His resting place at the Incarnation, was Mary. The glorification mentioned could refer to glorification in heaven.
The encyclical also offers a number of scripturally based arguments of fittingness in support of Mary's Assumption. For example, the fullness of grace ascribed to Mary in Lk 1:28, and the accommodation of Gen 3:15 to her, indicate that Mary "was exempted from the fourfold curse that had been laid upon Eve." (#30) (e.g. bodily death and corruption) Also, the commandment to honor parents (cf. Ex 20:11) was seen to imply Jesus' care for Mary's body after her death (cf. #35). Finally, the bodily resurrection won by Jesus' Resurrection in which "Death is swallowed up in victory," (I Cor 15:54) is applicable to Mary as to all believers. However, because Scripture and Tradition indicate the close link between Jesus and His Mother on earth, the link between Jesus' bodily Resurrection and Mary's share in it was assumed to be equally close. None of this constitutes explicit Scriptural proof of the doctrine of Mary's Assumption. Its status as infallibly revealed dogma rests on the living authority of the Church as the interpreter of Scripture, especially as to its comprehensiveness and overall finality. However, the Catholic Church considers this Marian privilege to be "in wonderful accord with those divine truths given us in Holy Scripture." (#24)”
Again, you can clearly see that the Roman Catholic Church openly admits that the Assumption of Mary is NOT proven by Scriptures. And, therefore, one must interpret the Scriptures is a way that they SEEM to IMPLY that Mary ascended body and soul into heaven after her death.
Now, before we get into the verses used by the Roman Catholic Church to try and support their dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, both BODY and soul, let us look at some of the verses which PROVE that this Catholic doctrine cannot possibly be even remotely Biblical. In fact, these verses prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that the doctrine of the assumption of Mary directly CONTRADICTS what the Bible ITSELF teaches.
So you have a choice to make. Either keep on believing the FALSE teachings of the Roman Catholic Church that directly CONTRADICT what the Bible itself teaches in the New Testament. Or you can reject the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and become a BIBLICAL Christian to follow and obey what Jesus and his disciples taught us to believe and teach under the NEW COVENANT written in the NEW TESTAMENT.
Please read John 3:13.
“And no man (Speaking of no human being) has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man (Speaking of the now glorified Son of man, Jesus) which is in heaven.”
The Catholic apologists will try and argue that this was BEFORE Mary died. And, therefore, THEY interpret this verse to mean that Jesus only meant no man has ascended up to heaven before the Son of man. And thus, they wrongly interpret that Jesus is the FIRST one to ascend up to heaven both BODY and soul.
And here is WHY this Catholic apologist argument does NOT hold up against the Scriptures.
Please read Hebrews 11:39,40.
“All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.
40. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without US.”
This means that NO ONE, including Mary, will receive their new IMMORTAL body of flesh and bones as Jesus has NOW until we ALL receive our new immortal bodies at the SAME time. So according to the Scriptures, the Virgin Mary does NOT have a new glorified IMMORTAL body as YET.
And that means IF SO BE Mary ascended into heaven with BOTH here BODY and soul then it had to be with her MORTAL BODY.
Again, this is impossible according to the Scriptures.
Please read 1 Corinthians 15:49-54.
“Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.
50. What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our PHYSICAL BODIES cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
52. It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For WHEN the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. (In other words, NONE of us will receive our new glorified immortal bodies UNTIL the LAST trumpet, in the book of Revelation, sounds. And the last trumpet will not sound UNTIL Jesus returns. This means that only the SOUL of Mary is in heaven just the SAME as the souls of every other faithful Christian)
53. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Let us now closely examine the verses used to try and support the dogma of the Assumption of Mary at least by IMPLICATION and TRADITION.
#1. - Arise, O Lord, into your resting place: you AND the ARK, which you have SANCTIFIED. (Ps 132:8)
Obviously, this is a prophecy referring to Jesus. But Catholic theologians have INTERPRETED the phrase “you AND the ARK” to mean Jesus and your Mother Mary. And their reasoning is that the WOMB of Mary was a type or figure of the baby Jesus being in the ARK of Mary’s WOMB.
Remember, the Roman Catholic Church openly admits that the early church writers, from whom they quote as church TRADITION, were quite FREE in their INTERPRETATIONS of the Scriptures.
So how did Jesus SANCTIFY the WOMB of Mary? Where is the Scripture that says Jesus sanctified the womb of Mary? Jesus did not sanctify the womb of Mary. This verse has nothing to do with the Virgin Mary or her womb.
The context is speaking about the resting place of Yahweh, the Father, his SON, Jesus, and THOSE whom Jesus has sanctified. You see, the presence of Almighty God dwelt IN the ARK of the COVENANT in the Old Testament. And this was a shadow or a figure of Almighty God the Father DWELLING is Jesus during the days of his flesh.
This verse is NOT speaking of the resurrection of Jesus or the ascension of Jesus. But rather the word “arise” is referring to Yahweh the Father who is speaking to Jesus whon the Father gave his own name Yahweh in the future to come and take your place of rest, Yahweh my Son along with those whom you have sanctified. The Hebrew word translated as “ARK” carries the meaning of GATHERING. And the word translated as “sanctified” also means PRAISE. So this verse and the whole passage of Scripture is speaking of the New Heaven and the New Earth, when Almighty God himself comes DOWN from heaven, as prophesied in Revelation 21:1-8. I will quote this passage of scripture from the authorize Catholic Version of the Bible called the New Living Translation.
Revelation 21:1-8.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
2. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming DOWN from God OUT of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s HOME is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
4. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5. And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
6. And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty, I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.
7. All who are VICTORIOUS will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. (This is the ARK or the GATHERING of the PRAISE of Yahweh. This is Yahweh’s resting place or his home forever that he desires. Now read Psalm 132:14. “ THIS IS my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for THIS IS the home I desired.”)
8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Now let us read Psalm 132:8 being LEFT IN its CONTEXT to learn its TRUE meaning.
Please read Psalm 132:7-18.
“Let us go to the SANCTUARY of the LORD; (Speaking of the city of God, the New Jerusalem) let us worship at the footstool of his throne.
8. Arise, O LORD, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
9. May your priests be clothed in godliness; (Speaking of all the faithful VICTORIOUS Christians) may your LOYAL servants sing for joy.
10. For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you have anointed. (Speaking of Jesus)
11. The LORD swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. (Again, Speaking of Jesus)
12. If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, (Speaking of the children of Israel during that 1000 year reign of Jesus) then your royal line will continue forever and ever.”
13. For the LORD has chosen Jerusalem; he has desired it for his home.
14 “THIS IS my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for THIS IS the home I desired.
15. I will bless this city and make it prosperous; I will satisfy its poor with food.
16. I will clothe its priests with godliness; its faithful servants will sing for joy.
17. Here I will increase the power of David; my anointed one will be a light for my people.
18. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but he will be a glorious king.”
So you can see that Psalm 132:8 is NOT speaking of the ascension into heaven of Jesus and his mother Mary as being the ark. Rather the context of this verse is speaking of Yahweh, the FATHERS’ resting place. And that resting place is eferring to the New Heavens, the New Earth and God’s TABERNACLE. It is the the city of God, the New Jerusalem, coming DOWN OUT of heaven, down to the New Heaven and the New Earth that God will create in the FUTURE after the 1000 year reign of Jesus.
#2. - I will glorify the place of my feet. (Is 60:13)
The Roman Catholic Church interprets Mary’s womb as the resting place of Jesus, the eternal word made flesh. So, they are interpreting Jesus to be the FEET of Yahweh which I do agree is a correct interpretation. But I do NOT agree with the PLACE of Yahweh’s FEET being the womb of Mary.
First of all, be very cautious when anyone quotes only a PART of a verse. When we read the WHOLE verse and its CONTEXT, we find that this passage of Scripture is speaking about the world yet to come, when Jesus will rule for Yahweh for 1000 years.
Please read Isaiah 60:10-16 from the Douay Rheims Catholic Bible.
“And the children of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister to thee: for in my WRATH have I struck you, and in my reconciliation have I had mercy upon you. (When Jesus returns, he will execute the WRATH of Almighty God. So, the context of verse 13 has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the ascension of Jesus or any supposed assumption of the body and soul of Mary into heaven)
11. And your gates shall be open continually: they shall not be shut day nor night, that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to you, and their kings may be brought. (This is speaking of the 1000 year reign of PEACE in the world yet to come. This whole passage is yet FUTURE from OUR present day. Therefore, it is IMPOSSIBLE to correctly interpret any verse in this whole chapter to fit the TIME of the death of Mary)
12. For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve you, shall perish: and the Gentiles shall be wasted with desolation. (Still speaking of the TIME of the WRATH of God and the 1000 year reign of Jesus in the world yet to come)
13. The glory of Libanus shall come to you, the fir tree, and the box tree, and the pine tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary: and I will glorify the place of my feet. (The place of Yahweh’s feet is speaking about his Son, Jesus. Just like we are the arms, hands, and feet of Jesus being the BODY of Jesus Christ, his church, Jesus is the arm of Yahweh and the FEET of Yahweh. This verse has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the Virgin Mary. Keep reading and you will see that the TIME in which this prophecy will be fulfilled will begin with the WRATH of God and continue through to the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus)
14. And the children of them that afflict you, shall come bowing down to you, and all that slandered you shall worship the steps of your feet, and shall call you the city of the Lord, the Sion of the Holy One of Israel.
15. Because you were forsaken, and hated, and there was none that passed through you, I will make you to be an everlasting glory, a joy unto generation and generation: (This is about the Kingdom being RESTORED to Israel with Jesus as their King of kings.)
16. And you shall suck the milk of the Gentiles, and you shalt be nursed with the breasts of kings: (Meaning that the children of Israel will be taught the MILK of God’s word during the 1000 year reign of Jesus because they REJECT Jesus as their Messiah during THIS present world) and you shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
#3. - The Woman clothed with the Sun (Rev 12)
The Roman Catholic Church uses prophetic verses speaking of Jesus being born of a WOMAN and say that Mary is being called a WOMAN in the old Testament prophecies to try and tie Mary to the woman in Revelation chapter 12. They say that Revelation chapter 12 is a poetic symbolic language speaking of Mary. And partly they are correct. But this verse has NOTHING whatsoever to do with any kind of ASCENSION of Mary into heaven.
Let us read Revelation 12:1-6.
“And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (This is speaking of ISRAEL. The twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel. And the moon under her feet are the children of Ishmael and Esau. Please read the dream of Joseph found in Genesis 37:3-10. Joseph was a type or figure of Jesus who came out of the tribe of JUDAH. And that is why salvation is of the Jews. The tribe of Judah is symbolic for the church and the eleven tribes of Israel will be ruled over by Jesus and his saints, the faithful Christians in the world to come. So the woman is ISRAEL.)
2. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in pain to be delivered. (This child is speaking of God’s Messiah coming through the seed of the woman, ISRAEL. And the SEED of the WOMAN is the Virgin Mary)
3. And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven diadems.
4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son. (This is speaking of the end of days during the great tribulation. The devouring of God’s people, the Christians, and the Jews parallels when Satan used men to try and kill Jesus when he was two years old)
5. And she (Speaking of the SEED of the WOMAN Israel. The seed being the Virgin Mary) brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her SON was taken up to God and to his throne. (This is speaking of Jesus who is in heaven seated at the right hand of God on his Father’s throne)
6. And the WOMAN fled into the WILDERNESS, (So even IF the woman were to be interpreted as Mary this still has NOTHING whatsoever to do with Mary ascending into heaven either with her body or without her body. The WOMAN will flee into the WILDERNESS) where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her, a thousand two hundred sixty days.”
Verse six is speaking of the 3 1/2 years of great tribulation right before the second coming of Jesus Again. The TIMING of when this prophecy will yet be fulfilled is in the FUTURE of our present day right now. So again, this verse has nothing to do with the TIME around the death of Mary.
#4. - [the Spouse of Canticles] that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of aromatic spices, of myrrh, and frankincense (Cant 3:6)
Again, be very cautious when anyone quotes only a PART of a verse. And be even more careful when they REPLACE the part of the verse they left out with there OWN personal interpretation.
When we read this verse in its context you will find that the daughters of Jerusalem are the body of believing women, the BRIDE of Jesus Christ, that go up and NOT the single body and soul of Mary that ascends up to heaven.
Please read Song of Solomon 3:6 in its CONTEXT.
Solomon 3:5-8.
“Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
6. Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant? (Well, according to the Bible it is NOT the Virgin Mary being assumed into heaven bodily. The very next verse tells us who the “WHO” are that are coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke.)
7. Look! It is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel,
8. All of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night.”
This passage of Scripture is a hidden PROPHECY of Jesus coming in flaming fire taking vengeance upon the wicked at his second coming. None of these verses have anything to do with the Virgin Mary.
Let us examine the next verse used by the Roman Catholic Church to try and support the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary.
#5. - Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved? (Cant 8:5)
Let us read verses 4 and 5 together to see that verse 5 is speaking of the daughters of Jerusalem and NOT the Virgin Mary.
Solomon 8:4,5.
“Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
5. Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? (Who is the beloved of the children of Israel, the daughter of Jerusalem? It is their beloved Messiah who they REJECTED during the first coming of Jesus. The analogy of sleep and being aroused OUT of that sleep means that the daughters of Jerusalem will awake and RECOGNIZED Jesus as the Messiah AT his second coming and they will LEAN on their beloved Messiah) Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.”
Now you have to wonder WHY the Catholic apologist OMITTED that last part of verse 5 in their argument to try and prove that this verse is speaking of the Virgin Mary ascending into heaven with both her body and soul.
The MOTHER in this verse is the woman ISRAEL and her children are the daughters of Jerusalem meaning the children of Israel. And because the children of Israel, as a whole, reject Jesus as their Messiah during his first coming, Jesus said to them that their house would be left DESOLATE.
Please read Luke 13:34,35.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kill the prophets, and stone them that are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not!
35. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, You shall not see me, UNTIL the time comes when you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.”
This was a WARNING that Jesus gave to the Jews. Jesus also warned the Jews that the publicans and the harlots would enter the kingdom of heaven BEFORE them.
Please read Matthew 21:31.
“Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”
I say this because Jesus ALSO gave WARNINGS to the CHURCH. The seven churches in the book of Revelation can be pictures as Jesus warning the many different church denominations. And there is one church denomination, which to ME, in my own opinion, resembles the Roman Catholic Church. You decide for yourself as you read this WARNING from Jesus, himself, to the CHURCHES that had different works that are NOT pleasing to Jesus.
Please read Revelation 2:18-29.
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things say the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19. I know your works, and charity (Or love), and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first. (Jesus always compliments the church with the good things first before he points out their faults)
20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, (This phrase “that woman Jezebel” means ANY church that has FALSE teaching. BUT by the next phrase Jesus is speaking to a specific church that has a WOMAN) which calls herself a prophetess, (And this phrase “which calls herself a prophetess speak of a WOMAN that says she is INSPIRED) to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Now, the WOMAN can be a CHURCH, a literal woman claiming to be a prophet of God, and or a VISION of a WOMAN that teaches Christians to do things that CONTRADICTS God’s written word. So then, Jesus is speaking to those who BELIEVE and follow the TEACHING of the FALSE prophetess woman, whether she is a CHURCH, a VISION or a literal woman prophetess.)
21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; (Fornication here means putting things above and before God) and she repented not.
22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Repent means to STOP doing what is NOT pleasing to God)
23. And I will kill her children with death; (Meaning that this false church spans many generations) and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (So, let us be absolutely sure that our works are the SAME works that Jesus and his disciples teach us to do and not do under the NEW COVENANT written in the NEW TESTAMENT)
24. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, (Here we can see that Jesus is SPECIFICALLY speaking about church DOCTRINES that are NOT pleasing to him) and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25. But that which you have already hold fast till I come.
26. And he that overcomes, and keeps MY WORKS unto the end, (And NOT the works that are taught to Catholics in visions of Mary and church TRADITIONS, Jesus will only reward us with eternal life for obeying HIS WORKS unto the end) to him will I give power over the nations:
27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28. And I will give him the morning star.
29. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.”
Now, I realize that every Catholic will say that they are NOT worshiping IDOLS when they kneel before the statue of Mary when they pray. Every Catholic will say that they are praying to Mary in heaven and that they are NOT praying to the statue. And that is what Pagans say when they kneel and pray before the IMAGES of their gods. They are NOT praying to that IMAGE but rather they are praying to their gods represented by those images.
The truth, of the whole matter, is that Almighty God does not want us to have ANY images of him. And we are not to have images of others that we place before or above him. NOWHERE in the entire Bible are we taught to pray TO anyone except to Almighty God the FATHER. Even the Apostles of Jesus did not pray TO Jesus. Rather they prayed DIRECTLY TO Almighty God the Father.
Please read Acts 4:23-31.
“And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice TO God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God, which have made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25. Who by the mouth of your servant David has said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27. For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30. By stretching forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the NAME of your holy child Jesus. (So then, the disciples of Jesus always prayed TO the Father. But they also COMMANDED sickness, disease, and the devils to flee in the AUTHORITY OF the NAME of Jesus.)
31. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
The Bible teaches us that we are to honor Jesus EVEN AS we honor the Father. So praying to Jesus, talking to Jesus, giving thanks to Jesus, praising Jesus and worshiping Jesus is indeed BIBLICAL. But there is nothing in the Bible that teaches us to honor and exalt Mary even in the least sense let alone exalt Mary to equal status with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mary is NOT a co-redemptrix with Jesus. And Mary is NOT a co-mediator with Jesus. Please read the studies called “IS PRAYING TO MARY BIBLICAL?”, “IS PRAYING TO THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN BIBLICAL?”, “IS PRAYING THE ROSARY BIBLICAL?”, “IS PRAYING FOR THE DEAD BIBLICAL?” and here is a list of all the sound Biblical Bibles studies that I have concerning the topic “WHAT EVERY CATHOLIC MUST KNOW!”.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.
Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well.
Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to:
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Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ!
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