In this changing and challenging world and development in science and technology in our world of today there are diverse ways in which one thoughts and emotions are being led astray or made to think in a way that is attractive and something different. We too find there are ways in which manipulations are done to suit the need of the one who creates. At times, it appears to be correct though it is not so. And we too are caught in this web of creations that we are easily made a prey to these alluring and enchanting movies and articles we find it difficult to reason with our intellect. This article is written with pain and to bring to light to the knowledge of all that a clear and proper understanding towards this needs publication. This is written at the interest of the thousands of people who are readers of newspapers and believe that what is written there seem to be true.
Few days back, a letter was received from a Pastor addressed to the Catholic Churches (Fathers) in Nagaland, and the partial content of letter is this, (…So it was on April 13,2017 morning at around 5:00 O’clock ,The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ said to me to convey to the Naga Catholic Christians to cut their/your relationships with Vetican Catholic because they are going after Lucifer worship.”……….. it was on 28th June 2017 at around 3:30 am. in a dream, I was taken to see Hanuman in a Catholic Church and said the Catholic worship it. Again I was taken to see Blue bottles (flies) and a man said, the Catholic worship the blue bottles. There were also many beetlenut trees in Catholic Church.”……..The above revelations and trust of God to convey to Catholic Christians in Nagaland made me hesited for many days but when I suddenly bought a new mobile(2nd week July), from there too I was surprised to see some confirmations from the messages and activities of Pope Francis in Vetican….”
A shock into my faith and feeling sorry for fellow Christian, I deem it a privilege and duty to respond and to educate people who have wrong thoughts and make people to go astray or lead people to darkness. In this article the genesis of the word ‘licifer’ and the how it is used in the history has been studied and is brought to the knowledge of the public for proper and clear understanding.
After having gone through the sources, it is seen that in the Easter Proclamation of the Catholic Church, where the word “Lucifer” is used. The Easter Proclamation both in English and in Latin is here and only the part of it is published here to understand the text where the word ‘lucifer’ is used
| May this flame be found still burning by theMorning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who, coming back from death’s domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exsultet) |
Flammaseiuslúcifermatutínusinvéniat: ille, inquam, lúcifer, qui nescitoccásum. Christus Fíliustuus, qui, regréssus ab ínferis, humánogéneriserénusillúxit, et tecum vivit et regnat in sæculasæculórum.R/ Amen. |
The word ‘lucifer’ is misunderstood and misinterpreted by those half-baked so called the enlightened, that today many controversies are being brought to the public. The word ‘lucifer’ means ‘morning star’. It is not darkness or evil power as it has been portrayed.
This article is written so that many may able to know the gradual development of the word ‘lucifer’. As we know the language is complex system of communication, the meaning and understanding various from culture to the time of the people. In order to understand the origin or age of human language we need to go back to study of human species like the fossil record, evidence, etc.
The origin of the name “Lucifer”
The Pre-Christian philosophers writings prove that “heôsphoros”, the word in Greek Old Testaments in Isaiah 14:12, is the Greek word for the morning star, Venus. Here are just a few:
Homer, Iliad book 23, line 227 – book 23, line 229 (c. 800 B.C.): uses “êmos“ heôsphoros”. Hesiod, Theogony line 381 – line 382 (c. 700 B.C.): also uses Heôsphoron. Plato, Laws section 821c (c. 350 B.C.): Heôsphoron, etc., and later, the early church Fathers and other Christian writers, up to A.D. 1000,used and mean ‘lucifer’tosatan, also meant the morning star, Venus (the last star to be seen before the day break). From A.D. 231, in Origen’s Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book I, chapter 13: Lucifer, star of the morning, fell from heaven. Gregory of Nyssa (A.D. 382) –, Against Eunomius, Book I, chapter 22: “as the Scripture says in the description of the fall of the morning star, the mysteries on which subject are revealed by our Lord to His disciples: “I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven.”
St. Augustine’s well-known (A.D. 419) work City of God, Book VII, chapter 15 (“Concerning Certain Stars Which the Pagans Have Called by the Names of Their Gods”): There is that brightest of them all which is called by them Venus, and yet they will have this same Venus to be also the moon: —not to mention how Venus and Juno are said by them to contend (struggle) about that most brilliant star, as though about another golden apple. For some say that Lucifer belongs to Venus, and some to Juno. But, as usual, Venus conquers. Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy (A.D. 524), Book IV: “In just divisions of time does the evening star foretell the coming of the late shadows, and, as Lucifer, brings back again the warming light of day.”
“Lucifer’ in Hebrew, Greek and Latin
The Hebrew translation of “Lucifer” in Isaiah 14:12 in the King James Version(KJV) is heylel (hay-lale’, and literally means “shining one”, “morning star”, “light bearer”, etc. The King James Version (KJV), isalso known as the King James Bible (KJB). it is an English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England that begun in 1604 and completed in 1611 and it is followed till today.
St. Jerome (c. 347-420) who was a scholar, Translator and Theologian, understood the meaning of the Hebrew word heylel, and translated it into “lucifer”, the Latin word meaning “light bearer” (from the Latin lux “light” and ferre “to bear or bring”). “lucifer”, at the time of the Vulgate (the earliest translation from Hebrew and Greek) made by Saint Jerome and even at the time of the KJV translation, meant “morning star” or “day star” in reference to Venus. Jerome and some others before him thought the passage was referring to Satan in addition to the king of Babylon, and because of this, the use the word “lucifer” made the transition from a term referring to Venus to also refer to Satan. In other words, it was because of some peoples’ misinterpretation of the passage that “Lucifer”, the “morning star”, began to be thought of as referring to Satan. in addition to its existing meaning.
Early church fathers believed that “Lucifer” is not a formal name of the devil, but instead denotes only the state from which he has fallen. Thus, depending on context, “lucifer” could refer to various things, such as Venus, Satan, Jesus, an angel, a pagan deity, the morning – basically anything that “bears light”.
Although “Lucifer” only occurs once in the KJV, it also occurs multiple times in the bible, afew citations are made here,
Job 11:17 (KJV) “And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.”
Psalms 110:3 (KJV) “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.”
2 Peter 1:19 (KJV) “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: “
So, we learn that the name “Lucifer” in the KJV is more of a transliteration (a new word derived from a foreign word). This transliteration is not even from the original Hebrew, but instead from the Latin. If “Lucifer” in the KJV is strictly a proper name for Satan, it has to be understood or interpreted that the Bible (KJV) has changed its meaning. The term “Lucifer” in the KJV has confused many people today, because the historical meaning has largely been forgotten or unknown. However, the use of the word “lucifer” is perfectly acceptable if one can understand what “lucifer” really means.
Evidence from the KJV
In the Edition of the KJV, there is a marginal note for the words “O Lucifer”, “Or, O daystarre”,clearly the KJV translators themselves meant or understood of the Hebrew word and provided “daystarre” as additional translational meaning. Similarly, the marginal note in the 1672 edition of the KJV says “for the morning star that goeth before the sun is called Lucifer”.
‘But “morning star” is Christ’s title….’
Many KJV-only supporters object to the use of the New International Version (NIV) Bible “morning star” and the New American Standard Bible (NASB) “star of the morning” to refer to Satan in Isaiah 14:12, saying that the title is Christ’s alone. However, the KJV itself is quite clear that it isn’t:
Job 38:7 (KJV) “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
Ecclesiasticus 50:6 (KJV Apocrypha) “He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full: “
In Job 38:7, the KJV indicates that this is not just a title for Christ, as it is also given to other angelic beings. Ecclesiasticus 50:6 gives the title to the high priest Simon son of Onias (even though many, including KJV-onlyists don’t consider Ecclesiasticus to be scripture, it still shows that the KJV translators had no problem using “morning star” for someone other than Christ). One could return the “argument” and say that if “morning star” is only Christ’s title, then the KJV tell us there are many Christs because of these verses! (Of course that is ridiculous, but no more ridiculous than saying the NIV and NASB are equating Christ and Satan). Whether Isaiah 14:12 refers to Satan or not, it is not such a stretch to suggest that “morning star” or a similar term may be applied to Satan, since he too is considered by many to previously be an angel, and can still appear as such. Consider:
2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV) “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Therefore, to accuse the NIV and the NASB of giving “Christ’s title” to Satan is to accuse the KJV of giving Christ’s title to angels and men. Of course, we then see that “morning star” is simply a title that can be given to others as well. If it can be given to angels and men, it could be given to Satan as well – depending on context, of course.
2 Peter 1:19 (KJV) “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: “
In 2 Peter 1:19, the English words “day star” are translated not from the Greek words for day (“hemera”) and star (“aster”), but rather from the singular Greek word “phosphorus”. And what word appears in Isaiah 14:12 in all Greek translations of the Old Testament? “eosphoros”, the alternate spelling for “phosphorus”. If “morning star” is a translational error because “morning” and “star” don’t appear explicitly in the original languages, then the KJV is in error in 2 Peter 1:19 for the same reason.
Therefore, it is important to remember that this is an interpretational issue of the passage, not a translational issue of the single word “heylel”. In the light of research above and the proof from the bible itself, it shall enable or help one to put to rest the understanding of the word or term ‘Lucifier’of Isaiah 14:12.
To further our understand and knowledge on“…The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ said to me…”
what is this spirit? (Latin: spiritus, spirare, “to breathe”; Greek: pneuma). As these names show, the principle of life was often represented under the figure of a breath of air. The breath is the most obvious symptom of life, its cessation is the invariable mark of death; invisible and impalpable, it stands for the unseen mysterious force behind the vital processes.
What Are Evil Spirits? The Bible has many names for these spirits: Deaf and dumb spirit (Mark 9:17-29), Evil spirit (Luke 7:21; Acts 19:12-13), Foul spirit (Mark 9:25), Lying spirit (II Chronicles 18:20-22), Perverse spirit (Isaiah 19:14; Romans 1:17-32), Seducing spirit (I Timothy 4:1), Spirit of an unclean devil (Luke 4:33), Spirit of antichrist (I John 4:3), Spirit of bondage (Romans 8:15), Spirit of death (I Corinthians 10:10, 15:26), Spirit of divination (Acts 16:16), Spirit of error (I John 4:6), Spirit of jealousy (Genesis 4:5-8; Numbers 5:14), etc.
Pope Benedict in his writings has argued that faith and reason are both necessary for the human person to understand the reality and live properly. Yes, in fact, religion is faith and faith is needed to purify reason, and reason to purify faith. Therefore, in religion we need Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason). This reciprocal relationship between faith and reason is a constant theme in Catholic intellectual history, and it explains why the Catholic intellectual traditionsare so rich, strong and full, perhaps unlike anything else in the world. Sola Scriptura itself will not be enough to know the truth without rationale.
The formation to priesthood and religious life consist of Philosophical and Theological studies and training to balance faith and reason to properly understand the scriptures and traditions. If the Catholics were to be worshipers of ‘Lucifer’ it is to the knowledge of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, that there won’t be 51 Naga priests and 200 Naga sisters from different tribes to make their life in the service of the Gospel.
Historical Account
Historically, the Catholic Church began with the teachings of Jesus Christ (c. 4 BC – c. AD 30). Christianity spread throughout the early Roman Empire, despite persecutions due to conflicts with the pagan state religion. In 313, the struggles of the Early Church were lessened by the legalisation of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine I. In 380, under Emperor Theodosius I, Catholicism became the state religion of the Roman Empire by the decree of the Emperor, which would persist until the fall of the Western Empire, and later, with the Eastern Roman Empire, until the Fall of Constantinople that is how the Christianity gradually spread and today Christianity has been divided into nearly 33,000 (Thirty three thousand) denomination in the world confusing and making people to interpret and prophesy in the way one feels advantage for oneself.
To my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, as it is written in the Bible, many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many (Mark 13:6). “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The gift of truth excels all other gifts and it shall set us free from the errors and darkness of misunderstanding for it is written, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 (King James Version (KJV).
Rev. Fr. Thomas Toretkiu, Bishop’s House, Kohima, Nagaland,
thomastoretkiu@gmail.com
