"ever-Turning Fiery Sword"

Wonder what folks think about the "ever-turning fiery sword" that sits at the gate of the Garden of Eden? In my study this is associated with angels Iofiel and Michael.

Since it sits at the gate it must of importance, but we hear no explanation of what it is or does?

Thanks.

Brian

 

Did you attempt to ask this question to Myth Busters?

 

hoping to open a dialog about this topic.

 

http://biblehub.com/genesis/3-23.htm

Is this what you mean, from Genesis?
Only link I could find.

 

Arnold Fruchtenbaum sees the flaming sword as a manifestation of the shekinah, the visible presence .of God in the physical world--as in the flames of the burning bush in Genesis 3.. The sword is an instrument of God's judgment. Ezekiel 21. The Hebrew word is chereb , meaning a destructive tool, usually a sharp edged sword or knife. Posting it at the site of Eden and having it swing every which way symbolizes that humans can never get back in to eat of the Tree of Life--on their own power, at least. But I agree with the previous poster. Delving into the hidden meaning of stuff like this is a diversion from the real message. It's a metaphor.

 

You can decide what is and isn't metaphor; that's the flexibility of literary devices. Today, it's fashionable to think of many parts of the bible as metaphorical, as our scientific understanding of the universe grows in leaps and bounds, but had you lived 1,000 years ago, you may have struck the man across the face who dared suggest the flaming sword is not real enough to slice you in twine.

 

That's probably true, but that was then and this is now.

 

Thanks for posting. This is my reference from the Pentateuch, Jewish first five books of the bible.

[SIZE=12pt]From Genesis 3:24 we have the reference, “He drove the man out, and stationed east of Eden the Cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.” [/SIZE]

 

Chris: No I study all religions and think they all hold a piece of the truth. For me, it is about removing all those experiences we carry with us over lifetimes that get in the way of our connection with the universe. How do we identify our mental constructs of emotions that dictate our actions without us being conscious they do this? How do we identify and heal these things and clean up our energy so we can be more connected with the universe?

I think the ever-turning fiery sword is the key that gains us access to the garden. The garden for me is being in the world at peace in heart , soul and mind. Unaffected by the world around us. Being at our center in balance with all things around us on hearth and in the heavens.

What do you think of this?

Thanks. Brian

 

okiefreak. Nice quote. thanks for that. What if it is a reference to an actual tool we can use to heal?

What if it is a circle metaphor for the energetic relationships in the universe between heaven, earth and man? What if it can teach us how to heal and balance all this energy within ourselves so we can be at the center, balanced and whole?

Thanks.

Brian

 

Swords aren't generally associated with healing in most peoples minds.

 

But think of the image of Archangel Michael, he carries the sword and a scale(balance). Sword can be a metaphor to cut away that which no longer serves us.

 

What if:

Eons ago before any of us chose to come here, the God of your understanding/Universe gave us free well to choose to come or not. Those of us who chose came down here from above in spirit form to take on human form. If you read Genesis God creates Adam and Eve before he creates Earth. What if the act of coming to take on human form is the act of eating the apple and falling from grace and being put out of the Garden. Eden, I don't believe was ever a place on Earth, but a place inside each of us that we can return to.

My studies have been predominantly in Daoism and Judaism, but I have studied Hinduism, Buddhism and others once I found within Daoism and Judaism what I was looking for.

I believe the ever-turning fiery sword is spoken of in all religions and was the key to our return to this place within us.

So we choose to come to earth and we take on human form, and we begin to have human experiences. Think of some of the emotional experiences you have had this lifetime that you still carry with you. Do you still feel sad, angry, anxious or lack understanding about some things that have happened in your life? We all carry stuff with us. Image this unresolved stuff carried from lifetime to lifetime. Imagine have traumatic events happen to you that you didn't understand or process at the time. Imagine how much stuff our human emotional brain has written on our spirit that is unresolved that we carry with us from lifetime to lifetime and how much could accumulate over lifetimes.

I think when we first came we had a strong connection to our spiritual side and to our higher power. Over time this connect gets filled with all this unresolved stuff and we don't feel connected to that side of ourselves or our higher power.

What can we do to remember all this stuff and then when we identify something we need to heal, how do we do that, how do we change the energy that has been all this time. I believe this is what the ever-turning fiery sword is. It is the tool we can use to heal the trauma from our karmic self and as we do so we begin to feel a greater connect to the higher power within and without. As we heal we begin our return to center, balance, the garden within.

We exist in duality spirit/human. Heart/mind mind/heart are the two centers of consciousness. We lead with one or the other. Trauma pushes us into our mind and can dictate our choices based on things we do not consciously remember. As we remember we shift our consciousness from mind/heart center to heart/mind centered until we reach true balance within and without.

Be well. Go in the light.

Brian

 

The sword is usually associated with killing and warfare. In many places in the Bible it's certainly associated with things of that nature.

I just looked at a page of images of Michael, and in none of them does he carry a balance. I think you may be confusing Michael with the figure of Justice as portrayed in the Tarot cards and other places.

 

Nope, Michael is commonly depicted with the sword and a set of scales. Look at the old stuff.

http://www.hansmemling.org/Last-Judgment-Triptych,-central-panel-Maiestas-Domini-and-Archangel-Michael-with-the-scales-weighing-the-souls,-Detail-large.html