Why were prophets and christians vegetarians? Part II

Vision of Peter: beasts on the mantel

Domenico Petti

As we´ve seen already, the inner teachings were vomited by the Hebrews, who demanded meat, which not only represents physical food but a more carnal view of the Torah.

And obviously, this happened again with the institutions that began to forge their own view of Christ, moved by lower passions.

Of course, the new laws and traditions of men also included human sacrifice, although in a new format. In this case it consisted in persecuting heretical christians or infidels, who were beheaded, chopped up, burnt alive or simply received a dosis of boiling lead through their throats. 

Prisciallianus and his six followers were the first vegetarian heretics condemned to death and beheaded by the Holy Church of Rome in 385 A.D.

Well known is the fact that one of the strategies to detect  Nazarenes, Ebionites and other genuine Christians was to capture them and offer them meat to see if they avoided it, and if they did, they were straight away taken as lambs into the slaughter house.

This was almost practiced inside the Church:

To the members of the clergy, whether presbyters or deacons, that abstain from meat, we command them to taste it and then, if they wish, they may abstain from it. But if they do not even ingest the vegetables cooked with meat, and do not obey this canon, they will be destituted from their rank (Point XIV, Canon of the Concilium of Anciara, 314 A.D).

Later on,  in 1441, the Ecumenic Concilium of Florence abolished officially the wise advices of the apostles relative to abstaining from eating sacrifices and blood (Acts 15:29). 

And the argument was clear enough to reveal how little the spiritual meaning of Scripture is understood.

The Holy Church of Rome, founded by the word of the Lord and Savior [who knows which and how]...Firmly believes, profeses and preaches that all creature of God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

According to the document of Florence, the custom of not consuming blood, pork and other things regarded as impure, are aspects of "discipline" that were only relative to recent converts of the early centuries, reason why it´s no longer valid. 

Obviously, this was not just disciple, but a question of vital health, without which there cannot be completion.

By their fruits, many have always regarded themselves to be above the criteria of Jesus Christ and the apostles, who already warned about false apostles who would plague and dominate the world, just for a while (2 Corinthians 11:13).

According to the document of Florence, the passages of Mark 7, Acts 10:9-15 and 1 Timothy 4:4 establish an open way to eat just anything, because all is blessed.

But let´s examine this by parts to see if it´s true:

When the pharisees complained before Jesus that his disciples did not wash their hands before eating, the Master replied:

Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from the outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach and is expelled? (Thus he declared all foods clean) (Mark 7:18-19)

First of all, even when supposing the last phrase is not one of the typical interpolations that populate the Gospels, declaring pure all foods is not strange. But in this case, "food" is just what is edible for humans, since the Master spoke with "humans"–or something similar. And according to the inspired Word, starting with Genesis 1:29 or Genesis 10, pork and blood are not human food, except for other creatures, naturally.

In any case, the passage does not speak of food, what makes one suspect it is an interpolation. And what is it referring to? Obviously, to possible germs or virus that would not affect an immune system that is not weakened by an unclean mind and heart:

What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness...(Mark 7:18-23 ESV).

Just to say it more clearly, would a pure hearted person be able to swallow a jar of petroleum without even feeling some tingling in the stomach? Who knows? May nothing would happen. But this person surely would not make it part of a daily diet.

This might be what Paul was referring in the letter to Titus:

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure (Titus 1:15).

According to the Kabbalah, those impurities do indeed make humans sick and are originated by "impure spirits" or residual energies  that belonged to past antediluvian humans: the Goborim, which with pride pursue power and honor, building towers of Babel; the lusty Nefilim that flood the media; the violent Anakim, that impose themselves by force; the Refaim, which infuse despair and lack of self-esteem, and the Amalekim, which seed doubt and therefore ignorance, keeping people away from the study of the Inner Teaching, the Universal Kabbalah.

The contents of the mind and the heart are precisely what must be sacrificed in the temple of the body, on all their levels, since an adulterous is also he who mixes himself with lower passions; a thief is also he who wastes energy hating others; a murderer is also he who kills the hope of others, etc.

Another passage mentioned in the Concilum of Florence was the letter to Timothy, quoted partially, for obvious reasons, since the complete version exposes the Church itself:

in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods [fasting?] that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 

Needless to say, even in those days the Word included passages such as Leviticus 11 or Deuteronomy 14, in which neither pork, nor blood, nor animal fat nor shellfish or scavengers are deemed as a holy food by the Word.

And with regard to abstaining from food, it makes more sense to think it refers to a forced fasting, which is a way of mortification or ritual sacrifice that benefits dark energies and not necessarily the body. 

Only when one knows how and why to fast one is capable of doing such thing in a healing way.

Some of the first Christians fasted on Wednesday and Friday in order to prepare themselves for the Shabat or Resting Day, which was also abolished and wrong understood.

Now it only remains to examine Acts 10:9-15, which is also popular and is often quoted as a dietary panacea.

The symbolic story comes to say that before receiving the visit of messengers sent by the Roman centurion Cornelius, Peter had a vision destined to prepare him to meet the Roman.

Rise, Peter, kill and eat!, the angel says to him showing a flying table full of animals.

But Peter said, By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has made clean, do not call common". This happened three times...

The vision comes three times due to a specific reason that does not go unnoticed for he who studies the context and its inner meaning. It´s pointing to the three spiritual centres (instinctive, emotional and mental) demanding subtle discernment.

The passage has nothing to do with food, but with ceasing to regard others as impure simply because they do not belong to the same religion.

Actually, it is Peter himself who interprets the vision correctly:

You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean (Acts 10:28 ESV).

Therefore, history and Scripture shows that the most faithful Christians have always been vegetarian, as a way of sacrificing carnal passions, and for health reasons, or even for another reason we will see in the following article. 

Why were the Prophets and first Christians vegetarians?

Garden of Eden. Hieronymus Bosch

El Prado Museum. Madrid

As we saw a few days ago, the ideal food of a humanity in harmony with the divine spirit is basically comprised of fruits, legumes and other seeds, as suggested in Genesis 1:29. 

This excludes the consumption of meat, which was not even accepted by prophets right after the last great catastrophe, which only led to the inclusion of natural (non-industrialized) "eggs", "milk" and "honey", since these may cover some nutricional deficiencies due to a harsh climate. A fact that was hidden with slight modifications and incorrect interpretations of Genesis 9, which contains clear indications:

But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood (Genesis 9:4 ESV).

Meat consumption was regulated later, as we will see. However, even though the human being has been thousands of years living in disharmony, inclined to eat animal protein due to planetary perturbations, the vegetarian diet, even if it´s ovo-lacto-vegetarian,  is still the best to overcome the literal carnal mind and enhance the development of spiritual capacities that can put us into contact with higher levels of being and bring heaven to earth, canceling future earthly perturbations. Always provided one understands how to become a true vegetarian without eating too much, without    destroyed certain foods through cooking and nurturing properly, both physically and spiritually.

According to Biblical prophecies, humans will return to the original vegetarian diet during what has been called the Millennium, a time of peace on earth in which many just souls may reincarnate if they wish. Associated to the World to Come, it´s a time when the physical level of the Earth will be generally reconnected to the Paradise of Eden, which humanity´s consciousness abandoned thousands of years ago. Although not everyone will live it this way and might be deceived by a "materialistic Millennium".

Now, without the need of waiting for the Millennium, many decided to live as if they were already in Paradise, also known as Abraham´s Bossom. But others lived as if they were already in the Kingdom of Heaven, which was never announced to the prophets previous to Jesus Christ / Yeshua ha Mashiaj. 

In fact, the followers of the Nazarene Messiah were not guided by the old "resurrection of judgement" (John 5:29, Hebrews 9:27), which implies the dissolution of the soul in parts that reincarnate in other persons, even in the Millennium.

By contrast, the followers of the Nazarene Master had heard from him about a Kingdom which is not of this world (John 18:36), and yet is omnipresent (Luke 17:21, Romans 14:17). And they also had heard about the "resurrection of life" (John 5:24-29), which takes place before physical death and continues after it, incarnating from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18), by means of acquiring celestial bodies (i.e lunar, solar and stellar), as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:40-47.

Unfortunately, this was not understood nor explained by the blind that dare to lead the blind without knowing what kind of pits lay ahead, putting themselves under the yoke of the deceptive God of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4), which governs inside and outside fallen man.

Since the great prophets and "genuine Christians" of the first century lived as if they were back in Paradise or even fully alive in the Kingdom of Heaven, they had no need for acting by mere obedience to written laws, for they manifested a spontaneous divine justice, by the divine conscious love that flew through them naturally. And this allowed them to feed on the "living seed bearing fruits" of the earth without the need to kill, being able to receive the divine spirit that heals the incurable, even a mere vitamin deficit. 

How many pretentious religious leaders and guides are able to live like that today?

Sadly, the systems of carnal religion can only be ruled by "carnal laws and traditions of men", and therefore be subject to the dominion of the God of this World, which simply plays the role of Testing Coach of Humanity, being comprised of contradictory forces of the stellar and planetary Nature: the so called angels, principalities, powers, dominions and spirits of the air mentioned in Romans 8:38 and Ephesians 6:6. 

In the Scriptures these forces receive many names, starting with the Lawgiver, Lord of Hosts (Isaiah 5:24) or Angel of the Lord (Exodus 23:20), continuing with the Accuser (Revelation 12:10), Prince of this World (John 16:11) or simply Adversary, i.e Satan (Job 2).

Some forces accuse and lead humanity to be slave of carnal world, whereas the The Lord of Hosts governs the Natural Law, demanding "energy of suffering" as payment for everything that violates natural laws codified in the Torah, including all one receives from Nature, as the carnal body and the consumption of flesh, even if it´s that of a turkey.

Hence the Master encouraged to pay energy debt as soon as possible:

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny (Matthew 5:25-26 ESV).

Later on we will see the exact reason why Moses had to offer a carnal Law which regulated meat consumption–a Law that was written by accusing angels, as Paul points in Galatians 3.

And in case someone still has any doubt about the vegetarianism of prophets and christians, here we have some quotes:

And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food...Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing (Ezekiel 47:12 ESV).

Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge...Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags...Buy truth, and do not see it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding (Proverbs 23:12-23 ESV).

those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24 ESV).

Christians abstained themselves from all animal flesh (Pliny the Younger, Letter to Trajan, Book X:9).

No streams of blood flowed at their place; no flesh was slaughtered and cut to pieces [...] One does not smell there the awful vapor of meats [...] one hears no racket and terrible noise (John Chrysostom, on exemplar Christians, Homily 96).

We, the Christians leaders, practice abstinence from the flesh of animals to subdue our bodies [...] the unnatural eating of flesh is of demonic origin [...] the eating of flesh is polluting [...] flesh-meats and wine serve as material for sensuality, and are a source of danger, sorrow, and disease. (John Chrysostom, on Matthew 22:1-4). [1]

Jerome, Father of the Church, tells us about the apostle Jacob and Jesus Christ concerning the issue of meats [2]:

James, the Lord´s brother, succeeds to the government of the Church, in conjunction with the apostles. He has been universally called the Just, from the days of the Lord down to the present time...He drank no wine or other intoxicating liquor, nor did he eat flesh; no razor came upon his head... (De Viris Illustribus).

The eating of meat was unknown up to the big flood, but since the flood they have the strings and stinky juices of animal flesh into our mouths, just as they threw in front of the grumbling sensual people in the desert. Jesus Christ, who appeared when the time had been fulfilled, has again joined the end with the beginning, so that it is no longer allowed for us to eat animal meat (Adversus Jovinianum 1:18, 2:6).

Among all the foods preferable are those that can be directly consumed without the need of cook them, since they are always available and ready to be eaten and are the most simple. This is the reason why apostle Matthew lived on grains, fruit from the trees, vegetables, without meat. And John, which kept a high self-control, ate leave sprouts and wild honey. As for the bloody sacrifices, I believe, were discovered by men who looked for a pretext to eat flesh, which they could have had without such kind of idolatry (Clement of Alexandria, Paidagogus II, 1:16).

The apostle Peter is attributed the following comment:

I live on bread and olives, to which I occasionally add some vegetables (Clementine Homilies, XII:6, V:6). 

We should not forget what apostle Jacob said to the gentiles who wanted to become followers of Christ:

abstain from the meats sacrificed to idols, from blood, the strangled and fornication (Acts 15:29). 

Of course, it´s necessary to read in-between lines and see the context. Foolish is he who does not discern and becomes a sectarian accuser, as it happens to some vegetarians, carnivorians or followers of who knows which spiritual sect.

It just suffices to admonish or point possible weak points in order to illumine darkness:

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another (Romans 15:14 ESV).

Without forgetting that:

Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge (1 Corinthians 8:3 NRSV).

To avoid the accusing or judgmental attitude based on the stony moral law is precisely what Jesus/Yeshua did, being later imitated by Paul, with regard to customs and food:

it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble (Romans 14:21 NRSV)

Paul saw there are aspirants who still experience a hard struggle against the flesh and harmful habits due to lack of understanding, and these could feel offended or confused seeing others with more experience of something which might seem a contradiction. Hence his words:

Food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:8-9 NRSV).

In a particular occasion someone with understanding may eat meat, for some specific reason, even if it´s something toxic, such as pork or shellfish.

For instance, some vegetarian teachers have sometimes eaten meat in order to break the "rigid mind" of some student. This was perhaps the case of Prince Siddharta, the Buddha, who supposedly died from eating pork, probably contaminated flesh. Who knows? But it would´ve been a great lesson.

Anecdotes apart, something different is that a spiritual aspirant turns meat into regular diet only to satisfy the demands of the stomaching Moloch.

This is actually was happened to the Jewish people in the desert, which did not understand the spiritual dimension of the teachings of Moses and demanded more literal teachings, mirrored on meat consumption:

Not the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel wept again and said: Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing all but this Manna to look at (Numbers 11:4 NREV).

Moses hallucinated in colors, finding hard to believe that people preferred a carnal life more than the deep knowledge about reality, starting from the perception of inner Divinity:

Where am I to get meat to give all this people? For they weep before me and say: Give us meat, that we may eat. I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me (Numbers 11 NREV).

This passage is key to understand why the written Law of Stone was introduced, including regulations concerning meat consumption, as we saw in the previous article.

Of course, the Nazarene Messiah lifted the carnal veil of the Law, showing the true Spiritual Law that sets us free, offering divine understanding and not just the spiritual Knowledge or Manna that Moses gave. But very few knew to see both sides, and became slaves of the carnal mind.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13 ESV). 

those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24 ESV).

Consequently, he who feels the Divine Conscience touching his inner side, stops feeling the attraction of meat consumption, and loses the taste for it, so to say, since one is already aware of the process that food underwent before reaching the table, and can´t avoid seeing in his spiritual mind how the animal has been tortured, killed and butchered, feeling thus aversion when taking a piece of dead flesh to the mouth.

And what´s more, such conscious aspirant knows what to eat and which steps are necessary to nurture the body without an excess load of food.

All this makes ironic that some of the self-proclaimed pastors and followers of Christ/Messiah confess to be lovers of lamb, or even bacon, fried blood and pork steaks, which would´ve been aberrant for the first christians :)

Nevertheless, as it was already pointed, this should not make anybody feel the obligation to become vegetarian. It is not enough to stop eating meat or fish. There are many elements involved and it is necessary to understand what one does.

Now, where did the misunderstanding began?

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end [the rigid obligations of written Law] (2 Corinthians 3:14 ESV). 

Without understanding the meaning of "lifting the veil of the Law" (Exodus 34:34), not wanting to understand Spiritual Law, all the Institutional Churches started to forge what´s known as "replacement theology", believing they were the new chosen recipients of Christ and supposedly fred from the Law. And indeed, they became new recipients, not for the Consciousness of the Messiah, but for the God of this World and its diabolic suggestions, what led to the creation of new traditions of men –as those denounced by Jesus Christ in Mark 7– and a new stone Law, with new rules, new and ravished temples of stone, new sacrifices and of course, new diets that do not even respect the wise regulations of health contained in the Torah, which offer the safe consumption of flesh and fish, avoiding blood, fat, pork, shellfish and other scavengers (Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14, etc). 

But let´s leave that for the next article, since it implies showing how the teachings of the prophets, even Jesus/Yeshua, had to do with the abolishment of carnal sacrifices and all it implies.

Contrary to what has been said, the Nazarene Master never ate lamb nor celebrated the Jewish Passover, since he was, as its epithet indicates, a Nazarene, and Nazarenes followed the Essene Passover, as it´s shown by the consciously introduced contradictions in the Gospels (see Jesus and the Essene Calendar in this blog).

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[1] http://www.all-creatures.org/murti/art-early-church-fathers.html

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_brother_of_Jesus#cite_note-62