Whether you are a Heterosexual or LGBTQI+ Christian, the RAINBOW and the UNICORN are symbols of God's Promise and Strength for your life
09/08/2018
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Rainbow represents God’s Covenant with the earth to NEVER destroy
it again with flooding waters.
The Bible begins with a rainbow and ends with a rainbow:
- In the Book of Genesis it says: The Rainbow of God's Promise shines across the world.
- In the Book of Revelation it says: The Emerald Rainbow shines around the Throne of God in heaven.
Rainbows occur when sunlight refracts and reflects through air
containing water droplets, which usually occurs during or right after rain.
These bows appear in the part of the sky that is opposite the sun.
While it is true that rainbows contain the seven primary colors
delineated by Newton, they also display a whole continuum of light from red to
violet and even beyond what our eyes can detect.
One of Isaac Newton's famous experiments, using a prism, proved that
white is a composition of all the colors generated by a rainbow. As the sum,
white symbolizes the complete and perfect nature of God's righteousness and
mercy.
…from that which
appeared to be His waist, I saw something like fire; and there was brightness
and a remarkable radiance [like a halo] around Him. As the appearance of
the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the
surrounding radiance. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory and
brilliance of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell face downward and I
heard a voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:27-28
Look at the
rainbow, exceedingly beautiful in its brightness, and
bless the one who made it.
It encircled the sky with a glorious ring; the Lord’s hands stretched it out. Sirach 43:11-12
It encircled the sky with a glorious ring; the Lord’s hands stretched it out. Sirach 43:11-12
Simon, Onias’
son, was a great high priest. During his life, he
repaired the house and, in his time, strengthened the temple’s defenses. He made
the foundation for the courtyard wall, a high fortification for the temple
enclosure. In his time, he dug out a storage basin
for water,
a reservoir with a circumference like a lake’s. He gave forethought to keeping his people from disaster, and he strengthened the city against sieges. How glorious he was as the people thronged around him when he came out from behind the curtain and left the temple! Like a morning star in the midst of a cloud, like the full moon at the time of a feast,
like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like a rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds, like a rose blossom in springtime, like lilies by streams of water, like a fresh shoot of the incense tree in the summertime, like fire and incense in an incense burner, like an object of hammered gold adorned with all sorts of precious stones, like an olive tree sprouting fruit, and like a cypress towering to the clouds. Sirach 50:1-10
a reservoir with a circumference like a lake’s. He gave forethought to keeping his people from disaster, and he strengthened the city against sieges. How glorious he was as the people thronged around him when he came out from behind the curtain and left the temple! Like a morning star in the midst of a cloud, like the full moon at the time of a feast,
like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like a rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds, like a rose blossom in springtime, like lilies by streams of water, like a fresh shoot of the incense tree in the summertime, like fire and incense in an incense burner, like an object of hammered gold adorned with all sorts of precious stones, like an olive tree sprouting fruit, and like a cypress towering to the clouds. Sirach 50:1-10
The Emerald Rainbow shines
around the Throne of God in heaven
And He who sat
there appeared like [the crystalline sparkle of] a jasper stone and [the fiery
redness of] a sardius stone, and encircling the throne there was a
rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald. Revelation 4:3
Then I saw
another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed in a cloud, with a
rainbow (halo) over his head; and his face was like the sun, and his feet
(legs) were like columns of fire; and he had a little book (scroll) open in his
hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land…
Revelation 10:1-2
As we end our brief reflection on
Rainbows in the Bible, we could conclude that, in spite of the different
possible interpretations, the
meaning of the rainbow in the Bible is certainly positive: it takes us
back to the manifestations of a God who fearlessly confronts the negative
aspects of reality and of the human heart, to care for his creatures and fill
them with life.
Rainbows appear after mighty storms, when things look their worst. Just
when the sky is darkest, out of heaven a rainbow appears. God 1st sent the
rainbow to Noah, as a sign that his word is true.
The rainbows message still speaks to me and you. The rainbow is a sign
of God’s promise, that He will guide us through any storm. When you feel
battered by life’s storms and you are filled with doubt. Just remember God’s RAINBOW
is coming and He’ll be there for you.
We can see how
much God longs for His followers to see how much He cares about keeping His
Promises even in the Walls of the NEW JERUSALEM.
The wall was
built of jasper; and the city was pure gold, transparent like clear crystal. The foundation stones of the wall of the city were adorned with
every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the
second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh,
chrysolite (yellow topaz); the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth,
chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each separate gate was
of one single pearl. And the street (broad way) of the city was pure gold, like
transparent crystal. Revelation 21:18-21
The Unicorn from the Bible and through history
The word
"unicorn" appears to be a translation of the Hebrew term "Re'em"
which refers to an unknown animal depicted as fleet, fierce, indomitable, with
distinguishing armor of the brow. This mysterious and awful horned beast of the
Hebrews seemed to the seventy translators (the Septuagint) to be like the
strange and remote unicorn of Greek writings. Thus, the writings of Greek
historians and taletellers became accepted as the inspired word of God. In all
likelihood, the Re'em was the Bos Primigenius, a wild
buffalo, native to the area of Mount Lebanon, which became extinct in the
sixteenth century. The myth of the unicorn as a special creature was
perpetuated by the early Christian tradition of viewing the physical world as
an allegory of spiritual truth. God created the physical world merely as a
reflection of goodness, so all things were embodiment's of moral significance.
During this time, many moral animal tales were created to teach moral truth
much as Aesop's Fables seem to do. These stories were collectively referred to
as the Christian Beast Epic. The work was later known in Europe as the Bestiary
and attributed to Physiologus since the original text often began with the
statement "the naturalist (physiologus) says..."
The horn of the unicorn is said to have the ability to repel poison.
Thus, the creature was hunted. It is a fierce creature which could best be
captured with a virgin. Philippe de Thaun, a twelfth century Anglo-Norman poet,
describes the method of capturing the unicorn. One should place a virgin in the
forest with her breast uncovered. The scent will be perceived by the unicorn
who will come and kiss the breast and then fall asleep in her lap. The hunter
may then kill or capture the beast in its sleep. Honorius of Autum (1100's)
uses the hunt of the unicorn as an analogy in one of his sermons. The unicorn
gives up its fierceness to a virgin just as Christ gives up his divinity
through a virgin in order to become human. In human form, He can be found by
those who love him (hunters). Other Christian writers point to Biblical
references of the unicorn as symbols of Christ. St. Ambrose quotes Deuteronomy
"his horns are like the horns of unicorns. . ." and says "Christ
is meant be this (animal) and the horn denotes Christ's cross" (Migne.
col. 346). St. Basil (330 - 379) says that the horn represents the glory and
power and salvation of Christ.
The European tradition of the hunt for the unicorn is depicted in
numerous works of art, so the tale bears repeating here. The unicorn is small
like a kid (goat), but surprisingly fierce. With its singular sharp horn, this
creature cannot be captured by a hunter; but it can be tricked. If a virgin is
left alone in the woods, the unicorn will come to her and lay its head upon her
lap. If she strokes the unicorn, it will fall asleep. Then, it can be captured
by the hunters and taken to the castle of the king where the beast can be kept
in captivity.
What is most intriguing about this myth is the symbolism of the
unicorn's affinity for a virgin, the reason for leading the beast to the king,
and the necessity of tricking the creature with an elaborate ruse.
Further, this small goat-like unicorn with cloven hooves is quite
dissimilar to the large, ass-like solid-hoofed, dangerous unicorn of Greek
writings.
Apparently, two separate traditions of the unicorn merge in the Middle
Ages: the naturalist perspective of Ctesias and the moral tales attributed to
Physiologus.
The Christian tale of the virgin capture of the unicorn forms an allegory
to the Incarnation of Christ in the Physiologus account.
In its simpler versions this interpretation likens the unicorn directly
to Christ: its one horn is said to signify the unity of Christ and the Father;
its fierceness and defiance of the hunter are to remind us that neither
Principalities nor Powers nor Thrones were able to control the Messiah against
His will; its small Stature is a symbol of Christ's humility and its likeness
to a kid of His association with sinful men. The virgin is held to represent
the Virgin Mary and the huntsman is the Holy Spirit acting through the Angel
Gabriel. Taken as a whole, then, the story of the unicorn's capture typifies
the Incarnation of Christ."
Ancient, non-Christian, tales of the capture of the unicorn include a
more sexual element to the story. The maiden bears her breasts, and the unicorn
sucks them. While thus engaged, the maiden can grasp the horn of the unicorn
and thereby capture it. Then, the unicorn can be taken by the huntsmen. Some
twelfth century writings declare that the process is more successful if the
virgin is completely naked because, according to Alanus de Insulis, the power
of the virgin over the unicorn stems from the vast difference in their humours
and the propensity for opposites to attract. This sexual connotation is
retained in some accounts and incongruously made to fit Christian morality as
is reflected in the Syriac version of the Physiologus story.
"There is an animal called dajja, extremely gentle, which
the hunters are unable to capture because of its great strength. It has in the
middle of its brow a single horn. But observe the ruse by which the huntsmen
take it. They lead forth a young virgin, pure and chaste, to whom, when the
animal sees her, he approaches, throwing himself upon her. Then the girl offers
him her breasts, and the animal begins to suck the breasts of the maiden and to
conduct himself familiarly with her. Then the girl, while sitting quietly,
reaches forth her hand and grasps the horn on the animal's brow, and at this
point the huntsmen come up and take the beast and go away with him to the king.
Likewise the Lord Christ has raised up for us a horn of salvation in the midst
of Jerusalem, in the house of God, by the intercession of the Mother of God, a
virgin pure, chaste, full of mercy, immaculate, inviolate."
The unicorn is a proud, noble, powerful, fiercely courageous creature that
is also gentle, beneficent to his fellow creatures, and happily serene in the
end. The unicorn can be seen in art throughout time and it has come to
symbolize many things, both Christian and secular. This powerful, mystical
beast is depicted in many ways, but it always retains its single magical horn,
and the love that Medieval and Modern people hold for the creature.
Bible
verses referring to the Unicorn
The Lord God led
him out of Egypt, whose strength is like a unicorn Numbers 23:22
God led him out
of Egypt, whose strength is like an unicorn; the sons of Israel shall waste, or
devour, (the) heathen men, their enemies; and they shall break the bones of
them, and pierce (them through) with (their) arrows. Numbers 24:8
His glory is
like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of
unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth:
and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of
Manasseh. Deuteronomy 33:17
Make thou me
safe from the mouth of a lion; and my meekness from the horns of unicorns.
Psalm 22:21
And mine horn
shall be raised as an unicorn; and mine eld (age shall be) in plenteous mercy.
Psalm 92:10
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his
band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Job 39:10
He maketh them
also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. Psalm 29:6
And the unicorns
shall come down with them and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall
be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. Isaiah 34:7
The reference’s used throughout the
Bible concerning Rainbows and Unicorns are representations to mankind that we
have a LOVING and CARING GOD who’s STRENGTH can help you get through any STORM
in your life. Through His Son Christ Jesus we can obtain SALVATION for our
souls and HEALING for our bodies.
Don’t get caught up in the imagery – Get
excited about the FACT that your HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES and CARES for you and HE
IS A GOD who KEEPS HIS PROMISES…
May your life be full of Rainbows and Unicorns,
No comments:
Post a Comment