KALKI, KRISHNA AND BALARAMA IN THE CATHOLIC BIBLE

[Guest guest]

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Bhakti Ananda Goswami

Vrndavan Brannon Parker

Friday, October 04, 2002 2:18 PM

WHY USE THE VULGATE AND DOUAY-RHEIMS BIBLE ?

 

 

IN THE CATHOLIC BIBLE, THE GOD OF THE JEWS APPEARS AS KALKI, KRISHNA

AND BALARAMA IN HIS GREAT TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, TO CHASTISE THE GREEK

AMBASSADOR HELIODORUS. HELIODORUS REPENTS AND MAKES VOWS TO GOD.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN THE SAME HISTORICAL TIME PERIOD, A GREEK

AMBASSADOR OF THE SAME RANK AND NAME HAS A VOTIVE COLUMN ERECTED IN

HIS NAME, TO SRI KRISHNA IN INDIA ! THUS WE SEE EVIDENCE OF THE

DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WORSHIP OF ELI OR TOB-YAHU IN

JERUSALEM, AND THAT OF HARI AND VASUDEVA IN INDIA DURING THAT ERA.

 

THE SECOND BOOK OF MACHABEES

 

This second book of MACHABEES is not a continuation of the history

contained in the first: nor does is come down so low as the first

does: but relates many of the same facts more at large, and adds

other remarkable particulars, omitted in the first book, relating to

the state of the Jews, as well before as under the persecution of

ANTIOCHUS. The author, who is not the same with that of the first

book, has given (as we learn from chap. 2.20, etc.) a short abstract

of what JASON of Cyrene had written in the five volumes, concerning

JUDAS and his brethren. He wrote in Greek, and begins with two

letters, sent by the Jews of Jerusalem to their brethren in Egypt.

********************************

 

2 Machabees Chapter 3

 

Heliodorus is sent by king Seleucus to take away the treasures

deposited in the temple. He is struck by God, and healed by the

prayers of the high priest.

3:1. Therefore, when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and

the laws as yet were very well kept, because of the godliness of

Onias, the high priest and the hatred his soul had of evil,

 

3:2. It came to pass that even the kings themselves and the princes

esteemed the place worthy of the highest honour, and glorified the

temple with very great gifts:

 

3:3. So that Seleucus, king of Asia, allowed out of his revenues all

the charges belonging to the ministry of the sacrifices.

 

Seleucus... Son of Antiochus the Great, and elder brother of

Antiochus Epiphanes.

 

3:4. But one Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who was appointed

overseer of the temple, strove in opposition to the high priest, to

bring about some unjust thing in the city.

 

3:5. And when he could not overcome Onias, he went to Apollonius, the

son of Tharseas, who at that time was governor of Celesyria, and

Phenicia:

 

3:6. And told him, that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of immense

sums of money, and the common store was infinite, which did not

belong to the account of the sacrifices: and that it was possible to

bring all into the king's hands.

 

3:7. Now when Apollonius had given the king notice concerning the

money that he was told of, he called for Heliodorus, who had the

charge over his affairs, and sent him with commission to bring him

the foresaid money.

 

3:8. So Heliodorus forthwith began his journey, under a colour of

visiting the cities of Celesyria and Phenicia, but indeed to fulfil

the king's purpose.

 

3:9. And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously

received in the city by the high priest, he told him what information

had been given concerning the money: and declared the cause for which

he was come: and asked if these things were so indeed.

 

3:10. Then the high priest told him that these were sums deposited,

and provisions for the subsistence of the widows and the fatherless:

 

3:11. And that some part of that which wicked Simon had given

intelligence of belonged to Hircanus, son of Tobias, a man of great

dignity; and that the whole was four hundred talents of silver, and

two hundred of gold.

 

3:12. But that to deceive them who had trusted to the place and

temple which is honoured throughout the whole world, for the

reverence and holiness of it, was a thing which could not by any

means be done.

 

3:13. But he, by reason of the orders he had received from the king,

said, that by all means the money must be carried to the king.

 

3:14. So on the day he had appointed, Heliodorus entered in to order

this matter. But there was no small terror throughout the whole city.

 

3:15. And the priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their

priests' vestments, and called upon him from heaven, who made the law

concerning things given to be kept, that he would preserve them safe,

for them that had deposited them.

 

3:16. Now whosoever saw the countenance of the high priest, was

wounded in heart: for his face, and the changing of his colour,

declared the inward sorrow of his mind.

 

3:17. For the man was so compassed with sadness and horror of the

body, that it was manifest to them that beheld him, what sorrow he

had in his heart.

 

3:18. Others also came flocking together out of their houses, praying

and making public supplication, because the place was like to come

into contempt.

 

3:19. And the women, girded with haircloth about their breasts, came

together in the streets. And the virgins also that were shut up, came

forth, some to Onias, and some to the walls, and others looked out of

the windows.

 

3:20. And all holding up their hands towards heaven made supplication.

 

3:21. For the expectation of the mixed multitude, and of the high

priest, who was in an agony, would have moved any one to pity.

 

3:22. And these indeed called upon almighty God, to preserve the

things that had been committed to them safe and sure for those that

had committed them.

 

3:23. But Heliodorus executed that which he had resolved on, himself

being present in the same place with his guard about the treasury.

 

3:24. But the spirit of the Almighty God gave a great evidence of his

presence, so that all that had presumed to obey him, falling down by

the power of God, were struck with fainting and dread.

 

3:25. For there appeared to them a horse, with a terrible rider upon

him, adorned with a very rich covering: and he ran fiercely and

struck Heliodorus with his fore feet, and he that sat upon him seemed

to have armour of gold.

 

3:26. Moreover there appeared two other young men, beautiful and

strong, bright and glorious, and in comely apparel: who stood by him,

on either side, and scourged him without ceasing with many stripes.

 

3:27. And Heliodorus suddenly fell to the ground, and they took him

up, covered with great darkness, and having put him into a litter,

they carried him out.

 

3:28. So he that came with many servants, and all his guard, into the

aforesaid treasury, was carried out, no one being able to help him,

the manifest power of God being known.

 

3:29. And he indeed, by the power of God, lay speechless, and without

all hope of recovery.

 

3:30. But they praised the Lord, because he had glorified his place:

and the temple, that a little before was full of fear and trouble,

when the Almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and gladness.

 

3:31. Then some of the friends of Heliodorus forthwith begged of

Onias, that he would call upon the Most High to grant him his life,

who was ready to give up the ghost.

 

3:32. So the high priest, considering that the king might perhaps

suspect that some mischief had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews,

offered a sacrifice of health for the recovery of the man.

 

3:33. And when the high priest was praying, the same young men in the

same clothing stood by Heliodorus, and said to him: Give thanks to

Onias the priest: because for his sake the Lord hath granted thee

life.

 

3:34. And thou having been scourged by God, declare unto all men the

great works and the power of God. And having spoken thus, they

appeared no more.

 

3:35. So Heliodorus, after he had offered a sacrifice to God, and

made great vows to him, that had granted him life, and given thanks

to Onias, taking his troops with him, returned to the king.

 

3:36. And he testified to all men the works of the great God, which

he had seen with his own eyes.

 

3:37. And when the king asked Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to

be sent yet once more to Jerusalem, he said:

 

3:38. If thou hast any enemy, or traitor to thy king dom, send him

thither, and thou shalt receive him again scourged, if so be he

escape: for there is undoubtedly in that place a certain power of God.

 

3:39. For he that hath his dwelling in the heavens, is the visiter

and protector of that place, and he striketh and destroyeth them that

come to do evil to it.

 

3:40. And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of thc

treasury, fell out in this manner

 

WHY USE OLDER CATHOLIC BIBLES?

 

 

HARI BOL FRIENDS !

 

PLEASE ACCEPT MY HUMBLE OBEISANCES.

 

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO USE THE

VULGATE (OR ITS EARLIER TRANSLATIONS) OR OTHER CATHOLIC (GREEK, ETC.)

BIBLES INSTEAD OF PROTESTANT OR PROTESTANT-INFLUENCED RECENT CATHOLIC

ONES.

 

THE LATIN ST. JEROME USED IN THE VULGATE LEFT NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER

THAT THE THEOPHANY OF THE LORD IN THE STORY OF HELIODORUS IN

MACHABEES WAS JUST THAT, AN ACTUAL APPEARANCE OF GOD ! AS RECENTLY

AS 100 YEARS AGO, TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC COMMENTARIES ON THE SEPTUAGINT

AND DEUTERO-CANONICAL ALEXANDRIAN CODEX STILL ACCEPTED THAT THE

EPIPHANY OR THEOPHANY IN 2 MACHABEES CHAPTER 3 WAS THE MOST

ASTOUNDING APPEARANCE OF GOD HIMSELF IN THE BIBLE !

 

THIS 'THEOPHANY' OF GODHEAD'S APPEARANCE, IS RETAINED IN THE DOUAY-

RHEIMS, BUT IN MORE MODERN BIBLES, EVEN SOME COUNTER-REFORMATION TYPE

CATHOLIC ONES, THESE APPEARANCES OF GOD HAVE BEEN REINTERPRETED AS

MERELY ANGELIC APPEARANCES. THUS MODERN ICONOCLASTIC IMPERSONALISM

IN THE FORM OF 'GERMAN HIGHER TEXTUAL CRITICISM' HAS BEEN CREEPING

FROM PROTESTANTISM INTO THE CATHOLIC FAITH, AND HAS NOW INFECTED SOME

EDITIONS OF THE CATHOLIC BIBLE ITSELF !

 

THIS IS WHY I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO FIND OLDER CATHOLIC BIBLES, IN

WHICH THERE IS NO CORRUPTIVE PROTESTANT MODERNIST 'GERMAN HIGHER

TEXTUAL CRITICISM' SCHOOL INFLUENCE.

 

THE HELIODORUS STORY OF THE THEOPHANY OF GOD IN HIS GREAT TEMPLE IN

JERUSALEM IS SO CLEARLY THAT OF KALKI AVATARA, AND THEN SRI KRISHNA

AND SRI BALARAMA, THAT IT IS STUNNING ! AUTHENTIC CATHOLICISM

PRESERVED THIS PROFOUND DOCUMENT FROM THE INTER-RACIAL PROTO-CATHOLIC

GREEK SEPTUAGINT 'OLD TESTAMENT' ALEXANDRIAN TRADITION, BUT THE

INVENTORS OF PROTESTANTISM REJECTED THAT ENTIRE TRADITION AND USED

LATE ANTI-PAGAN PALESTINIAN JEWISH SOURCES FOR THEIR RE-CREATION OF

THE BIBLE, WITHOUT THE EGYPTIAN, GREEK AND ROMAN 'PAGAN' INFLUENCES.

THUS THE PROTESTANTS CONSCIOUSLY SOUGHT, IN WRITING THEIR BIBLE, TO

PURGE IT OF ALL THESE SO-CALLED PAGAN INFLUENCES. THE RESULT IS THAT

THEY CREATED A BIBLE WHICH REFLECTS BOTH THE SPIRITUAL PRIDE AND

PREJUDICE OF THE RACIALLY INSULAR PALESTINIAN JEWS, WHO REJECTED

JESUS, AND ONE THAT REFLECTED THEIR OWN LATE ANTI-PAGAN (ANTI-

AFRICAN,GREEK AND ROMAN), AND ANTI-SEMITIC ANGLO RACISM. THE

PROTESTANT REVOLUTIONARIES THUS RE-IMAGINED THEIR PATRIARCHAL HERO-

JEWS AS SOME KIND OF RACIST ANGLOS ! THEY APPROPRIATED THE ANTI-

PAGAN PERSPECTIVE OF THE PALESTINIAN JEWS, AND PRESSED IT INTO THE

SERVICE OF THEIR ANGLO ANTI ROMANISM. THUS THEY RE-IMAGINED ALL OF

SALVATION HISTORY FROM THEIR ANTI-SOUTHERN EUROPEAN (ANTI-PAGAN GREEK

AND ROMAN) PERSPECTIVE.

 

ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL COMMENTARIES AND HISTORY THAT GO WITH THE

PROTESTANT KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE ALSO ARE OBSESSED WITH

THE 'PAGANISM' OF ROME AND CATHOLICISM, BUT IT IS THIS

VERY 'PAGANISM' THAT IS AT THE HEART OF THE UNITED SAMPRADAYAS OF

LORD JESUS CHRIST'S CATHOLIC / UNIVERSAL MISSION TO UNITE ALL THE

BHAKTAS / PEOPLE OF GOD !

 

'FOR IN CHRIST THERE IS NO SLAVE OR FREE, JEW OR GENTILE' ETC.

 

THUS FOR US TO RECLAIM THE HISTORICAL CONTINUITY OF MEDITERRANEAN

VAISHNAVISM WITH CATHOLICISM, MEANS THAT WE MUST GO BACK PAST THE

PERNICIOUS HISTORICAL INFLUENCE OF PROTESTANTISM AND RECOVER THOSE

PRECIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE FAITH LOST, MINIMIZED OR OBSCURED BY

PROTESTANTISM, ITS FORERUNNER GNOSTICISM, ITS ALLY MOHAMMEDANISM, AND

THE MODERNIST CATHOLIC CONCESSIONS TO THESE CORRUPTIONS.

 

THIS RECLAMATION BEGINS WITH REJECTING THE PROTESTANT BIBLE AND

READING THE OLDER CATHOLIC VERSIONS, WHICH ALL RETAIN THE SUPREMELY

IMPORTANT DOCTRINE / REVELATION OF GODHEAD AS 'THEOPHANY'

OR 'EPIPHANY' IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND DEUTERO-CANONICAL TEXTS /

APOCRYPHA. PLEASE READ THE STORY OF HELIODORUS AND THE THEOPHANY OF

GOD IN MACHABEES. EVERY VAISHNAVA INTERESTED IN JUDAISM OR

CHRISTIANITY SHOULD KNOW THIS STORY ! HELIODORUS WAS ALSO A VERY

REAL HISTORICAL FIGURE, KNOWN FROM EXTRA BIBLICAL SOURCES DUE TO HIS

INVOLVEMENT WITH THE SELEUCID EMPEROR. ALSO, THE FAMOUS HELIODORUS

COLUMN TO KRISHNA IN ANCIENT INDIA WAS APPARENTLY ERECTED IN HIS

NAME !

 

IF YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE MIRACULOUS TRANSLATION OF THE SEPTUAGINT AT

THE GREAT SERAPEUM IN ALEXANDRIA, AND THE ASTOUNDING WORK OF ST.

JEROME, ONE OF THE MOST DEVOTED AND BRILLIANT MEN WHO EVER LIVED, YOU

WILL BENEFIT GREATLY. ST. JEROME DID SIDE-BY-SIDE POLYGLOT

COMPARISONS AND TRANSLATIONS OF ALL THE KNOWN TEXTS OF THE BIBLE

AVAILABLE TO HIM. HE COMPARED THE ANCIENT LANGUAGES LIKE CHALDEAN,

HEBREW, OLD TESTAMENT GREEK ETC. IN A MOST MINUTE AND EXACTING WAY,

AND PRESERVED THE ANCIENT TRADITIONS, EVEN WHEN THESE SEEMED

CONTRADICTORY. IN OTHER WORDS, HE PRESENTED THE TEXT 'AS IT IS' JUST

LIKE SRILA PRABHUPADA PRESENTED THE REAL BHAGAVAD-GITA TO US !

 

THIS IS THE WAY TO PRESERVE AND PRESENT SACRED TRADITION, WITHOUT

ESSENTIAL CHANGE AND WITH METICULOUS REFERENCE TO THE TRADITIONAL

COMMENTARIES (SADHU), WHEN IT COMES TO ANY MATTER OF MEANING !

 

I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU A LITTLE TO UNDERSTAND MY PERSPECTIVE. I

LEARNED THE INVIOLABLE PRINCIPLE OF GURU, SHASTRA AND SADHU (G S S)

FROM OUR BELOVED SRILA PRABHUPADA, AND IT APPLIES IN ANY HISTORICAL

FIELD WHERE ONE IS TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT ANY DISCIPLINE OR SCHOOL OF

THOUGHT. THOUGHT, RELIGIOUS OR OTHERWISE, FLOWS IN BOTH WELL-

DEFINED CHANNELS AND UNCONTROLLED FLOODS THROUGH ALL OF HISTORY.

IF WE WANT TO DISCOVER AND STUDY IN THE DEEP CHANNELS OF ANCIENT

REVELATORY RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS, WE CANNOT WHIMSICALLY / ACCIDENTALLY

OR PURPOSELY STRAY OUTSIDE OF THESE ALL OVER THE PLACE, AS IF THERE

WAS NO SUCH THING AS THE TRADITION. WE MUST EXAMINE THESE G S S

TRADITIONS AS THEY ARE, AND ACCEPT THEIR CANON OF SCRIPTURE, "AS IT

IS". WITHOUT ADHERING TO THIS PRINCIPLE, WE WOULD BE INCAPABLE OF

UNDERSTANDING GAUDIYA VAISHNAVISM AS IT IS. WE WOULD BE DOOMED TO

MIXING IT IN AND CONFUSING IT WITH EVERY OTHER FORM OF 'HINDUISM'.

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER. WE CANNOT HOPE TO

UNDERSTAND SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU FROM SOURCES AND COMMENTARIES

OUTSIDE OF HIS OWN APOSTOLIC TRADITION, SO WHY DO WE THINK IT IS OK

TO GO TO OUTSIDERS TO UNDERSTND THE PERSON AND SALVIFIC LILA OF LORD

JESUS CHRIST ? EACH TRADITION MUST BE APPROACHED AS IT IS.

 

OFFICIAL CATHOLIC STATEMENT REGARDING THE PRINCIPLE OF GURU, SHASTRA

AND SADHU

 

The Vatican Council II in Dei Verbum (10), put it this way: "It is

clear, therefore, that in the supremely wise arrangement of God,

sacred Tradition, sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church

are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without

the others. Working together, each in its own way under the action

of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the

salvation of souls."

 

ALL GLORIES TO GURU, SHASTRA AND SADHU !

 

PAX AND PREMA !

 

YOUR ASPIRING SERVANT, BHAKTI ANANDA GOSWAMI