Can you be saved if you don't believe in Unicorns?
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Well Sarah, as Christians we know certain things the so called scientists and historians are only just finding out, we are standing on the top and each decade which passes by the unbelievers are slowly proving us right and catching up with us.
Athiests mock Christians. no prizes for getting that right, so yes atheist mock us that we think unicorns were real.
It wasnt that long ago scientists scorned the idea of giant squid, yet we now have concrete evidence they do exist.
Athiests mock Christians. no prizes for getting that right, so yes atheist mock us that we think unicorns were real.
It wasnt that long ago scientists scorned the idea of giant squid, yet we now have concrete evidence they do exist.
Strong concordance; reh-ame'; a wild bull from its conspicuousness. related to rise. Hebrew pictoral language can be applicable meaning beginning strength of protection. Or close definition thereof.
Numbers 23:22 (KJV)
[SUP]22 [/SUP]God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
By all the scriptures, it is relating to strength. It is not a mythical animal as seen as a white horse with one horn. This is actually an animal of great strength. It is a representation of God's strength. There is a Bible verse that I think will help to understand the comparisons.
John 3:12 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
I don't really understand why the question.
Numbers 23:22 (KJV)
[SUP]22 [/SUP]God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
By all the scriptures, it is relating to strength. It is not a mythical animal as seen as a white horse with one horn. This is actually an animal of great strength. It is a representation of God's strength. There is a Bible verse that I think will help to understand the comparisons.
John 3:12 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
I don't really understand why the question.
There were dinosaurs, but I believe that the unicorn was made up by the Greeks, since they love to create tales. They probably had read the scriptures and couldn't distinguish what type of creature it was since they had never had been down south to be able to had seen a Rhino and so as the Jews and which they haven't been in the south part of the world but their ancestors had did. So I'm guessing that they'd compared it with the astrological sign of the capricorn, but instead a goat, they used a horse.
Here's some photo of the mammals of ancient Egypt.
http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/131/1316678663.pdf
Exodus 3:17And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’
Here's some photo of the mammals of ancient Egypt.
http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/131/1316678663.pdf
Exodus 3:17And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’
N
I did a little reading online about Unicorns , I also looked up these words in their Hebrew. And I learned a little about Ephraim's emblem.
As each tribe camped around the tabernacle (circa 1400 B.C.) they gathered under four main brigade emblems. Judah in the east, Reuben (south), Ephraim (west), and Dan to the north.
In a vision , both Ezekiel and John described four living creatures that supported the throne. They were the man, lion, ox and eagle, which represented the brigade emblems encompassing the tabernacle (See EZEKIEL 1:10; REVELATION 4:7).
Reuben was identified with the man, Judah the lion, Ephraim the ox (or bullock) and Dan the eagle. The completion of the camp was established with two other tribes camped under these emblems also.
(( You can read more about the Israels encampment in Numbers 2. And a little from this article = Encampment of the Tribes - Life's Handbook ))
Newer versions of the Bible correct this word. But I use the K.J.V where the correction needs to be made. So I'm going to do this with a Strong's Concordance, it shows the meaning right from the Hebrew. ( This also shows the Strong's as a valuable tool for a Bible student )
I will highlight words that I am looking for.
Deuteronomy 33:16-17
King James Version (KJV)
16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
( Genesis 48:3-20 )
17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns : with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
bulllock -
H7794
shôr
shore
From H7788 ; a bullock (as a traveller ). wall used by mistake for H7791 : - bull ({-ock}) {cow} {ox} wall [by mistake for H7791 ]................
Unicorns -
H7214
re'êm re'êym rêym rêm
{reh-ame'} {reh-ame'} {rame} rame
From H7213 ; a wild bull [color](from its conspicuousness ): - unicorn.
((We see the Hebrew is clear. its Wild Ox... I also read this word Reme is singular . But, I read that there are multi horns mentioned there. So that might be something else to take note of. Ox have two horns. ))
Ephraim -
H669
'ephrayim
ef-rah'-yim
Dual of a masculine form of H672 ; double fruit ;
{Ephrajim} a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from {him} and its territory: - Ephraim Ephraimites
So in All other places in the K.J.V, with the word ''unicorn(s)" is used ; are all also be translated WILD OX
Numbers 23:22
Numbers 24:8
Deuteronomy 33:17
Job 39:9
Job 39:10
Psalms 22:21
Psalms 29:6
Psalms 92:10
Isaiah 34:7
As each tribe camped around the tabernacle (circa 1400 B.C.) they gathered under four main brigade emblems. Judah in the east, Reuben (south), Ephraim (west), and Dan to the north.
In a vision , both Ezekiel and John described four living creatures that supported the throne. They were the man, lion, ox and eagle, which represented the brigade emblems encompassing the tabernacle (See EZEKIEL 1:10; REVELATION 4:7).
Reuben was identified with the man, Judah the lion, Ephraim the ox (or bullock) and Dan the eagle. The completion of the camp was established with two other tribes camped under these emblems also.
(( You can read more about the Israels encampment in Numbers 2. And a little from this article = Encampment of the Tribes - Life's Handbook ))
Newer versions of the Bible correct this word. But I use the K.J.V where the correction needs to be made. So I'm going to do this with a Strong's Concordance, it shows the meaning right from the Hebrew. ( This also shows the Strong's as a valuable tool for a Bible student )
I will highlight words that I am looking for.
Deuteronomy 33:16-17
King James Version (KJV)
16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
( Genesis 48:3-20 )
17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns : with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
bulllock -
H7794
shôr
shore
From H7788 ; a bullock (as a traveller ). wall used by mistake for H7791 : - bull ({-ock}) {cow} {ox} wall [by mistake for H7791 ]................
Unicorns -
H7214
re'êm re'êym rêym rêm
{reh-ame'} {reh-ame'} {rame} rame
From H7213 ; a wild bull [color](from its conspicuousness ): - unicorn.
((We see the Hebrew is clear. its Wild Ox... I also read this word Reme is singular . But, I read that there are multi horns mentioned there. So that might be something else to take note of. Ox have two horns. ))
Ephraim -
H669
'ephrayim
ef-rah'-yim
Dual of a masculine form of H672 ; double fruit ;
{Ephrajim} a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from {him} and its territory: - Ephraim Ephraimites
So in All other places in the K.J.V, with the word ''unicorn(s)" is used ; are all also be translated WILD OX
Numbers 23:22
Numbers 24:8
Deuteronomy 33:17
Job 39:9
Job 39:10
Psalms 22:21
Psalms 29:6
Psalms 92:10
Isaiah 34:7
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Did you know that the Egyptians thought that the horn of a rhino was magical? Does it sound familiar? Now we know where did the stories of unicorn has derrived from.
Read the part about the rhino on this site.
http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/131/1316678663.pdf
Read the part about the rhino on this site.
http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/131/1316678663.pdf
Isaiah 34:5-8 (KJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
Sounds as if the "unicorn" is also likened unto heavenly beings to exact God's judgement on disobedience.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
Sounds as if the "unicorn" is also likened unto heavenly beings to exact God's judgement on disobedience.
N
There is no mention in the Bible of our salvation being contingent upon whether or not we believe in unicorns. I do however, believe our salvation is contingent upon whether or not we believe on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. While the Bible is the divinely inspired, inerrant Word of God, there have been poor translations of certain words (e.g., unicorn). Furthermore, while God's Word is objective, mankind's interpretation of God's Word is often times subjective, due to a noble attempt of finite beings seeking to understand the truth of an infinite being. Is there any wonder there are so many different denominations and doctrines pertaining to Scripture, and yet everyone with a distinct view believes their own view to be the correct one, at least, most hope they have the correct view of Scripture. However, one's salvation is not contingent upon perfect theology/doctrine either.
I doubt very highly when we get to heaven that God will say, "You are abound in the grace of my son . . . but wait a moment! It looks like you did not believe in unicorns, so you cannot enter my kingdom. Grace is only sufficient for those who believe unicorns exist!"
Could you imagine how many people would not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven, merely because of a disagreement over the translation of a single word of Scripture? That sounds completely absurd, doesn't it? I believe God often extends more grace to us than we think He should or that we deserve. And grace is grace because it is free and not something which one has to earn, and it is given even if you don't believe in unicorns.
Grace and Peace!
I doubt very highly when we get to heaven that God will say, "You are abound in the grace of my son . . . but wait a moment! It looks like you did not believe in unicorns, so you cannot enter my kingdom. Grace is only sufficient for those who believe unicorns exist!"
Could you imagine how many people would not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven, merely because of a disagreement over the translation of a single word of Scripture? That sounds completely absurd, doesn't it? I believe God often extends more grace to us than we think He should or that we deserve. And grace is grace because it is free and not something which one has to earn, and it is given even if you don't believe in unicorns.
Grace and Peace!
I think the bible is truth, even in the physical things it reports, and we need to accept that if we are truly born again. God uses the actual happenings to explain the spiritual of our world. But sometimes it is purely history God is using to explain to us, and sometimes it is just allegory, and we need to be able to figure out when each is used.
I think if we get to heaven and we say that we read your word, and we were so smart we could figure out when it was truth and when it wasn't, we aren't going to make it.
I think if we get to heaven and we say that we read your word, and we were so smart we could figure out when it was truth and when it wasn't, we aren't going to make it.
The problem in this particular case is that the word in the text isn't unicorn. It's רֶאֵם (re'em). So, do I think here the Bible is speaking allegorically? No. I think the re'em is a creature that either does exist, or did exist. Do I think it is a unicorn (i.e. horned horse)? No. It is much more likely to be something much more mundane than that. Unicorn comes from the Septuagint translation of re'em (monokeros), which was a word that came to be used to describe Greek mythological creatures, and was perpetuated into the middle ages by the latin equivalent unicornis, and eventually by the KJV using the anglicised unicorn. So now we understand the word to have the association of horned horses, where the original didn't have horses in mind. That aspect was read into the text at a later date, with influence from other cultural ideas and mythologies.
