Origin of Baal - Rumor notes 42 supplement

 

Well, the chief god of ancient Babylon was Marduk. This description of Marduk is from the

Encyclopedia Britannica:

Originally, he seems to have been a god of thunderstorms. A poem, known as Enuma elish and

dating from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar I (1119–1098 BCE), relates Marduk’s rise to such

preeminence that he was the god of 50 names, each one that of a deity or of a divine attribute.

After conquering the monster of primeval chaos, Tiamat, he became Lord of the Gods of

Heaven and Earth. All nature, including humanity, owed its existence to him; the destiny of

kingdoms and subjects was in his hands…

Marduk’s star was Jupiter, and his sacred animals were horses, dogs, and especially the so called dragon with forked tongue, representations of which adorn his city’s walls. On the oldest

monuments Marduk is represented holding a triangular spade or hoe, interpreted as an emblem

of fertility and vegetation. He is also pictured walking or in his war chariot. Typically, his tunic is adorned with stars; in his hand is a sceptre, and he carries a bow, spear, net, or thunderbolt.

Kings of Assyria and Persia also honoured Marduk… in inscriptions and rebuilt many of their

temples.

Marduk was later known as Bel, a name derived from the Semitic word baal, or “lord.” Bel had

all the attributes of Marduk, and his status and cult were much the same….

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Marduk

What were the attributes of Marduk:

Creator and supreme god

He was the god of weather

He was dragon-like and had a forked tongue—symbolic of a liar?

He was the god of fertility

And, Marduk became known as Baal, and who was Baal?

Baal was the son of El (i.e. El-ohim or El-Shaddai). He was the god of weather. Often called,

‘Almighty’ and “Lord of the Earth.” Baal was the god who brought rain, thunder, lightening,

who fertilized the earth, controlled the sun and brought the harvest.

Baal fought the great serpent leviathan as well as battled against Mot, the god of death. And

most amazing of all, it was taught that Baal died in his battle with Mot and rose from the dead

to bring life to earth.

So what was the problem with worshipping a god who was the “husband and protector of

Israel,” the son of El, who controlled the weather, who brought rain, sunshine, and fertility,

who blessed with full harvest, who warred against the great serpent and death, who died and

was resurrected to bring us life? What was wrong with this god?

Baal required appeasement—Baal required something be offered him in order to appease

wrath, prevent punishment and engender blessings.

Baal became:

Zeus to the Greeks

Jupiter to the Romans—remember Marduk’s star was Jupiter

Thor to the Norse people

Jesus Christ to all those who worship a god that like Baal requires appeasement,

payment, propitiation of a human sacrifice in order not to kill

This is why God prophesied through Malachi that before the second coming of Christ the prophet

Elijah must come again. Why? Just like Elijah confronted Baal worship millennia ago, so too the people of God today, must confront Baal worship and call people to choose between two versions of

God.

Just like Israel went into captivity to Babylon—so too Christianity is today in the captivity of Babylon.

Minds are held captive by Marduk, by Baal, by Satan himself when the lie is taught that God’s law

functions like human law and thus God is the source of inflicted pain and suffering unless He is paid

the blood of a human sacrifice.

Today, we are to be like Elijah, calling people out of Baal worship, calling people out of Babylon, out

of this false legal theological system of worship and back to worship “Him who made the heavens,

earth, sea and fountains of water.”

http://www.comeandreason.com/files/ss_lessons-2018/2018_Q2_L02_notes.pdf