Interpretation of Rev. 3:16
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@Jim Eshelman said
"Obviously not a reference to fellatio."
...you had to go there, didn't you
Actually, I was looking for a more ethical interpretation...it just seems odd to me that one would be accepted by taking a position or extreme opposition as well as one of agreement. KRVB's 'Gnostic/Buddhist/Manichaean' interpretation is certainly interesting!...is that a common interpretation?
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I'm not sure what's common. But yeah, this isn't a Middle Path kind of statement. I could certainly put my own interpretation on it, but I'm not sure I can say with confidence the exact implications at the time of writing / reception.
Best estimation: Christianity at that exact point in time needed activism to survive and flourish. This seems be saying, "Take a position! Be something! Go for it! Exceed! Don't relish mediocrity!"
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I have no particular qualifications to answer this, but since by coincidence I was thinking about this verse just a few days ago, I'll throw in my two cents: I think the admonition is to lead an actively religious life, either by doing good deeds in the world ("hot") or by withdrawing from the world and leading a monastic life of contemplation ("cold"), but don't just go to church and expect salvation to happen free of charge.
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According to some systems the reference to garments and raiments in Revelations 3 is an early Christian metaphor for the body of light one must generate and develop to have a vehicle for consciousness in the afterlife. Being hot or cold refers to the necessary attitude for developing this body of light.
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Taking into consideration only the line:
Out! THAT, which lacks passion
Out! THAT, which lacks contempt
Carried forth, pon the Air
THAT, which hath no care
Neigh, it is a swirling mare
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93,
Perhaps its more of a prodigal son (Luke) type of interpretation: it is better to be saved from iniquity and become especially pious than to just be a normal person who follows the rules. I think it really refers to the fact that its best to extremely passionate (hot or cold) or pious than simply a normal person of weak persuasions. I dont know, those Christian gospels sure are whacky...
IAO131
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@Aum418 said
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I dont know, those Christian gospels sure are whacky...
"Indeed...to be the alleged words of a supposed Christ they seem to vere a bit from the Middle Path - but even in that they somehow retain their merit. They're like a literary Rorschach...
616
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@KRVB MMShCh said
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@Aum418 said
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I dont know, those Christian gospels sure are whacky...
"Indeed...to be the alleged words of a supposed Christ they seem to vere a bit from the Middle Path - but even in that they somehow retain their merit. They're like a literary Rorschach...
616"
Whoever said Jesus follows the Middle Path?
IAO131
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@Aum418 said
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@KRVB MMShCh said
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@Aum418 said
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I dont know, those Christian gospels sure are whacky...
"Indeed...to be the alleged words of a supposed Christ they seem to vere a bit from the Middle Path - but even in that they somehow retain their merit. They're like a literary Rorschach...
616"
Whoever said Jesus follows the Middle Path?
IAO131"
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Mattew 7:13-14
616
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@KRVB MMShCh said
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@Aum418 said
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@KRVB MMShCh said
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@Aum418 said
"
I dont know, those Christian gospels sure are whacky...
"Indeed...to be the alleged words of a supposed Christ they seem to vere a bit from the Middle Path - but even in that they somehow retain their merit. They're like a literary Rorschach...
616"
Whoever said Jesus follows the Middle Path?
IAO131"
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Mattew 7:13-14
616"
...not to mention the fact that the Christ, like the Buddha, is a Parzuphim of Tiphareth, the poster child of the Middle Pillar.
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@Aum418 said
"Whoever said Jesus follows the Middle Path?"
The entire Sermon on the Mount seems to be orated from the Middle Pillar(or at least Tiphareth).
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@Red Eagle of Death said
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@Aum418 said
"Whoever said Jesus follows the Middle Path?"The entire Sermon on the Mount seems to be orated from the Middle Pillar(or at least Tiphareth)."
93,
I disagree - its quite unbalanced.
KRVB: Good quote. I could post probably 100 which are entirely unbalanced but that is a good one. Jesus being a dying & resurrected god he is surely a symbol of Tiphareth but what he preaches is very unbalanced in many respects. The poor opposed to the rich, the meek as opposed to prideful, the weak as opposed to poor, etc. The life vs death and good vs evil is enough to make one fall off a cliff from lack of balance
IAO131
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Yeah, the Sermon seems to be coming all from the Pillar of Mercy and continually points out the dangers of the Pillar of Severity. This seems very unbalanced unless his message was in order to counteract the legalism of the Pharisees.
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@Red Eagle of Death said
""So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Rev. 3:16
What does this verse mean to you guys?"
Well, hot food is of course the preference... But why the preference for cold over lukewarm? The passage would probably best be understood as hyperbole: "I'd rather you love me or hate me than be lukewarm because then at least we'd have something passionate to work with...."
From context, to be "hot" would be considered to have a passionate love for God. To be "cold" has to be guessed at a little, but the inference would seem to be the opposite of that passionate love for God. Being "cold" could represent a character of being angry with God and calling him to account for his deeds - like the main character in the book of Job.
Both the hot and cold disciples are being true to themselves and to what they know of God, and they are learning and advancing. The lukewarm disciples are stagnant. Perhaps the term "aspiration" could serve to make a modest connection between the concepts...?
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Looks to me like it's a fancy way of saying "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything," and depending on the preacher it may have been used like that by early Christians (i.e., as a corny saying nuns tell to Catholic school kids or some such thing).
As for Jim's initial response - hot or cold?...in the latter case something must be terribly wrong, lol.