I contain multitudes part 9 and 10

• I Contain Multitudes – Parts 1 and 2
• I Contain Multitudes Parts 3 and 4
• I contain multitudes, Parts 5 and 6
• I contain multitudes, Parts 7 and 8

I Contain Multitudes (Part 9)

by Larry Fyffe

There are interpretations of Daniel’s four creatures that differ from the aforementioned possibilities.

Some Christain interpretations proclaim that the symbols mean ~  firstly, the empire of  Babylonia; secondly, of Persia; thirdly, of Greece: and finally, of the Roman Empire.

The last empire is hallmarked by bad human beings like Nero, but also by the good  “Son of Man” which brings us back to Isaiah’s “Immanuel” who’s later interpreted as Jesus – not as, for example, the suggested Hezekiah.

Four wings appear on the creatures in Ezekiel’s Old Testament vision:

And this was their appearance
They had the likeness of a man
And every one had four faces
And everyone had four wings
Ezekiel's 1: 5, 6)

Six wings in Isaiah’s vision; the number of creatures not mentioned:

Each had six wings
With twain he covered his face
With twain he coverd his feet
And with twain he did fly
(Isaiah 6: 2)

And six wings in John's New Testament vision:
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him
And they were full of eyes within
And they rest not day and night
Saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Which was, and is, and is to come"
(Revelation 4:8 )

The latter two prophets announce the coming of somebody, anybody ~

Could it be Immanuel, or could it be Jesus?

In his  masterpiece below, the singer/songwriter gives us his best advice ~

If you don't know the answer, don't ask the question:
Beat a path of retreat up them spiral staircases
Past the tree of smoke, past the angel with four faces
Beggining God for mercy, and weeping in unholy places
(Bob Dyan: Angelina)

Just remember what the dormouse said:

And I stood upon the sand of the sea
And saw a beast rise up out of the sea
Having seven heads and ten horns
And upon his horns ten crowns
And upon his heads the name of blasphemy

I Contain Multitudes (Part 10)

Jupiter becomes the chief god of the Romans, and their rulers seek deification as the “son of god”.

Greek gods, like Zeus, be immortal; but for the most part, humans are mere mortals.

Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon; declares himself the “dictator” of the Roman Republc; he’s supported by General Mark Antony.

It’s cold in the winter month of January in northern Italy; Aurora, sister of Helios (the Sun god) and Selene (the Moon god), be the Roman goddess of the Dawn:

I crossed the Rubicon on the fourteenth day
Of the most dangerous month of the year
At the worst time, and at the worst place
That's all I seem to hear
I got up early
So I could greet the goddess of the dawn
I painted my wagon, abandoned all hope
And I crossed the Rubicon
(Bob Dylan: Crossing The Rubicon)

After Caesar’s death by Brutus, Antony rises in power, forms a coalition; marries the sister of Octavian, the first Roman Emperor-to-be.

Herald the Great is appointed to rule over land from which the Hellenists have been ousted; his son Herald inherits a part thereof; refuses to condemn Jesus, steps aside because Jerusalem is not within his jurisdiction.

Drifter Jesus escapes death, at least for a while:

Outside,  the crowd was stirring
You could here it from the door
Inside the judge was stepping down
While the jury cried for more
(Bob Dylan: Drifter's Escape)

Saith the Holy Bible:

And Herald with his men of war
Set Him at nought, and mocked Him
Arrayed Him in a gorgeous gown
And sent Him again to Pilate
(Lukes 23:11)

Cleopatra, the Hellenistic Queen of Egypt cements her position too: she combines belief in the Egyptian goddess Isis with that of the moon goddess of Greek mythology.

After the death of Julius,  with whom she has a male child, Cleo sets her eyes on Antony:

Isis, oh Isis, you're a mystical child
What drives me to you is what drives me insane
I still can remember the way that you smiled
On the fifth day of May in the drizzling rain
(Bob Dylan: Isis)

They name their children Helios, Selene, and Ptolemy.

To make a long story short, things go awry everywhere, and the two love birds  commit suicide.

Egypt, like Judea, becomes part of the Roman Empire.

—————

We also have a Facebook page that is quite lively, with over 11,000 subscribers.  You can find us at Untold Dylan Facebook.