When the ambiguity that exists in the literal interpretations of our Sacred Texts is removed, we are left with ONE spiritual TRUTH.
“It is He who has revealed to you the Book. Some of its verses are precise in meaning-they are the foundation of the Book— and others ambiguous. Those whose hearts are infected with disbelief follow the ambiguous part, so as to create dissension by seeking to explain it.” The Holy Qur’an
The word ambiguous means susceptible to multiple interpretations. The discord among Christians and Muslims is due to their literal interpretations. They follow the ambiguous part, not building upon the true spiritual foundation, resisting the holy spirit, through which they would receive a spiritual interpretation of the Book.
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the holy spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.” The Holy Bible
In resisting the holy spirit of their heart, their spiritual eyes and ears are shut, preventing a spiritual understanding of the Word or Book, which would bring unity instead of division. If the holy spirit does reveal a literal interpretation, it is ultimately for the purpose of seeking its deeper spiritual meaning, which carries the blessings of life and peace through its application.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garment; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessings, even life for evermore.” The Holy Bible
Aaron symbolizes the Word of God, which is why he spoke for Moses, who was “slow of speech.” Aaron’s beard symbolizes the wisdom of God’s Word. It is not our knowledge or understanding of the written Word that makes us wise. Or our physical obedience to literal interpretations over millennia. It is the action we apply to the spiritual instruction found in the Word or Book, revealed through the Spirit of God, which Moses symbolizes. Spirit and Word— the precious spiritual ointment or anointing.
The ambiguous parts of the Quran are those parts that have been assigned multiple literal interpretations, which continue to be discussed, debated, and followed by “those whose hearts are infected with disbelief,” wasting precious time, and adding to the negative and destructive energy in the earth. Disbelief is not something that takes place in the mind. Disbelief is something that takes place in the heart. Disbelief is spiritual disobedience— failing to obey the spiritual works encoded in the verses of the Book. The word ambiguous means doubtful, uncertain, to wander about. When we seek literal interpretation over spiritual interpretation, choose mind-body disciplines over a heart-discipline, offer carnal sacrifices instead of spiritual sacrifices, we become as Cain, wandering about, getting nowhere spiritually, our world becoming uncertain, which the children of Israel illustrated for us by wandering about in the wilderness, choosing carnal service through their obedience to the carnal law, which could not make them perfect.
“The Holy Spirit thus signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” The Holy Bible
The way into the holiest place of all, symbolizing the heart, is not made known to us as long as the first tabernacle, symbolizing the carnal mind, still stands, which continues to assign literal interpretations to the words of the Book. The carnal acts taking place in the previous “era of Isaac” (animal sacrifice, baptisms, ritualistic baths, anointing, fasting, healing, speaking in tongues, casting out devils, etc.) are now, in what is the third and final “era of Jacob,” to take place spiritually. Any physical demonstrations of these are now considered mockery, the negative meaning of the word Isaac. These carnal acts have no power to purify the mind, and stand in the way of us entering into the holiest of all, where we offer up the spiritual sacrifices that purify our heart. The time of spiritual reformation is now!
“… if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather than, when he saith, Wash, and be clean? And then he went down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” The Holy Bible
The number seven pertains to the spiritual, to the spiritual process through which we are made spiritually clean. So the children of Israel, refusing to obey the spiritual instruction, which would have purified their hearts, remained in bondage to the carnal law for 1500 years, after which time they were to fulfil the carnal law by obeying the spiritual instruction for salvation that the Messiah brought them, of which the carnal law is a figure or pattern. But they rebelled once again, unable to grasp the spiritual concept, which would have made them free. Not only of their physical bondage to the carnal law, but of their spiritual bondage to the seven spiritual impurities of their heart.
“Do you not yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” The Holy Bible
Physical things do not defile the man. Neither can they purify him. Putting ourselves under the law of controlling our mind and body may stop the external acts. But it does not put a stop to the internal acts. Thinking we have taken care of the problem, we relax, entering a state of false peace. We find this in the story of the man who swept his house clean, unaware of the seven unholy spirits or impurities in his heart.
“When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.” The Holy Bible
These seven abominations, symbolized by the seven nations the children of Israel were to drive out of the promised land, are the spiritual enemies residing in our spiritual temple or mosque!
“Drive them out of the places from where they drove you. Idolatry is more grievous than bloodshed. But do not fight them within the precincts of the Holy Mosque unless they attack you there; if they attack you put them to the sword. Fight against them until the idolatry is no more and God’s religion reigns supreme.” The Holy Qur’an
We are to drive these spiritual enemies out of the places that they have driven us. And they have driven us to some very painful and destructive places in our life. And yet, it will be the enemies that work in these dark places, through the havoc they wreak in our life, that will drive many back to their heart as they begin to question the circumstances of their life. These spiritual enemies have attacked us within the precincts of the Holy Mosque, which like the Holy Temple, symbolizes the Heart. We are to put them to the sword, which is to hold them up against what the sword symbolizes, which is truth. And what did Abraham ultimately sacrifice with his sword? The ram, symbolizing idolatry—the worshipping of idols or images. Spiritual idolatry is the worshipping of false beliefs. We are to fight against these until TRUTH reigns supreme in that spiritual temple or mosque called the heart.
Written by Sandra L. Butler © 2000
THE BIBLE DECODED 