Question Authority II

2003-9-13 19:30:00

Larry writes:
The one thing that disappointed me in your reply was the fact that you evaded the most important question. What did this Apollonius of Tyana ever say or do that is recorded that indicate he was someone taking a "5th initiation"?

JJ:
Actually, I do not think I have "evaded" a question since I have been teaching the Keys. In this case I did not notice the question was there. It followed a quote from me and I thought my words were the end of your post.

There are many questions I do not answer because I just do not have the time to cover them all well. This is why I tell readers that if I seem to ignore a question important to them to ask again.

You make a good point, Larry. There is just one piece of information needed to give us a complete picture. This is relating to the huge difference between Jesus as a teacher and Apollonius, which is this.

Jesus was a third degree initiate (working on his fourth) but was overshadowed by the Christ, a sixth degree initiate (working on his seventh).

Because of this we actually only have as record of a couple sentences that the disciple Jesus spoke. Most of the words which were recorded were from the Christ as evidenced from these scriptures:

"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." John 12:49

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:10

"For I have given unto them THE WORDS WHICH THOU GAVEST ME; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." John 17:8

Here Jesus clearly tells us that the great and eternal words he spoke were not his own but from the one who "dwelleth" within him.

These eternal words thus did not come from the third degree initiate Jesus but from the sixth degree initiate, the Christ. Even if Jesus did return as Apollonius, his words and acts would not have had the repercussions as did the higher initiate, the Christ.

We do have some of the words and acts of Apollonius and they are quite impressive. His deeds were perhaps more impressive than his teachings.

Verifying the historical accuracy of the words and deeds attributed to Apollonius are difficult, as it is with Jesus. One difference is that there are enough historical references to Apollonius that there is no question (in the eyes of historians) that he was a true historical person.

There were numerous writings about him that were destroyed by zealous Christians which did not want any competing historical person to take away from the dominance of Jesus as a worker of miracles.

Most of what we know about Apollonius was written by his disciple Damis who traveled by his side and recorded details from personal experience. Unfortunately the original writings of Damis were destroyed, but the essence was preserved by the writer Philostratus who was commissioned by the empress Julia Domna around 205 AD. This point is a historical fact that tells us that numerous materials about Apollonius were available.

There are some pretty fascinating accounts surrounding Apollonius that remind one of a figure like Jesus.

For instance, here is an account of an appearance before the emperor Domitian

"When nearly one hundred years old, he was brought before the Emperor at Rome, accused of being an enchanter. He was taken to prison. While there he was asked when he would be at liberty? 'To-morrow, if it depends on the judge; this instant, if it depends on myself.' Saying this, he drew his leg out of the fetters, and said, 'You see the liberty I enjoy.' He then replaced it in the fetters.

"At the tribunal he was asked: 'Why do men call you a god?'

"'Because,' said he, 'every man that is good is entitled to the appellation.'

"'How could you foretell the plague at Ephesus?'

"He replied: 'By living on a lighter diet than other men.'

"His answers to these and other questions by his accusers exhibited such strength that the Emperor was much affected, and declared him acquitted of crime; but said he should detain him in order to hold a private conversation. He replied: 'You can detain my body, but not my soul; and, I will add, not even my body. Having uttered these words he vanished from the tribunal, and that same day met his friends at Puteoli, three days' journey from Rome. From the Monkey of Christ Chapter 20

Here are some other points of interest.

(1) Some accounts report he was born of a virgin accompanied by the singing of angels.
(2) He was reported to appear in several towns within one day that were several days journey apart.
(3) He cast out devils and healed the sick
(4) He was said to read minds
(5) It was said he could speak every language on the planet.
(6) Many called him the Son of God.
(7) The voice of God spoke approving words as he entered the temple of Diana.
(8) He rose a girl from the dead
(9) There are accounts that he rose from the dead and appeared to disciples.
(10)The modern pictures of Jesus are said to be patterned after the image on the numerous ancient statures of Apollonius.

Early Christian zealots attempted to destroy every reference to Apollonius. Many writings about him were destroyed in the various destructions of scrolls at the Library at Alexandria.

Even so, he is currently enjoying a resurrection of popularity and it is quite possible that a few hundred years from now that the teachings and acts of Apollonius will be restored to their rightful place, where his name and deeds will "not pass away."


When I was crossing the border into Canada, they asked if I had any firearms with me.
I said, "Well, what do you need?"
Steven Wright