"Marriage of the Lamb" in Greek Myth

 



John R. Salverda writes to Robert 'Bowie' Johnson Jr.:

 

Here's one for Bob about "Eden in Greek Myths"

Dear Bob,

 

I have been critical, and then a bit conciliatory, but now I will take a more commendatory stance toward your work. Your recognition of the association between the symbols of the Hesperides and the symbolisms that appear in the archetypal marriage of Adam and Eve shows remarkable insight on your part. However, I would like to suggest, that the scene portrayed in the myth of the marriage of Zeus and Hera, is less a recollection of the cosmogonic episode in the Book of Genesis, and more in anticipation of the apocalyptic "Marriage of the Lamb" that we see in the Book of Revelation.

In as much as the Lamb's marriage is the ultimate redress to the original sin, it too has it's associations with the symbolisms of the Hesperides. Receiving the "golden apples" as did Zeus and Hera at their wedding, is usually predicated upon destroying the dragon; "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth" (Revelations 12:9). Zeus, in his original form was a kind of sacrilegious "messianic" figure, the promised "son" who would reverse the original rebellion committed by his father (Kronos) against the god of Heaven (Ouranos): "he was destined to be overcome by his own son, strong though he was, through the contriving of great Zeus." (Hesiod, Theogony 453) "There was delivered to Kronos an oracle regarding the birth of Zeus which stated that the son who would be born to him would wrest the kingship from him by force" (Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 70. 1). "Saturnus received this oracle: ‘Best of kings, you shall be knocked from power by a son.’" (Ovid, Fasti 4. 197 ff.). "Gaea and Ouranos had given him prophetic warning that his rule would be overthrown by a son of his own, he took to swallowing his children at birth." (Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 4 - 5). Take note of this last quote from Apollodorus for comparison with the Scriptural description of the Messianic birth at Revelations 12:4, where the evil plan was to "devour her child as soon as it was born." Zeus, in his role at the celestial wedding and in obtaining the the often sought, heroic quest, of the golden fruit, is probably a blasphemous representation of the Messiah.

This being said, as Christ is a kind of Adam in his "Marriage of the Lamb," so Zeus is depicted at his wedding; "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:45 KJV). Whenever a god is elevated to the primary position of Greek theology, he becomes a kind of "Adam." This is probably because Adam serves as the prototype of all deified humans; "God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us" (Genesis 3:22 KJV).

 

....

For full discussion, see: http://genesisflood-amaic.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/re-our-post-prophet-elijah-as-greek.html