C
copland
Guest
Due to a recent thread concerning St. Clement and the Phoenix, I pondered on it today, and I was compelled to take a shot at pointing out some analogy to Scripture concerning what our 4th Pope said about the Phoenix. I confess, I am not an original thinker at all, so this outline I put together may not satisfy everyone. But I found some interesting parallels. Not that I consider St. Clement’s letter to be Scripture, but I do consider who he was, and I highly value his letter, along with the Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church.
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Let us consider that wonderful sign [of the resurrection] which takes place in Eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it builds itself a nest of frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices, into which, when the time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. But as the flesh decays a certain kind of worm is produced, which, being nourished by the juices of the dead bird, brings forth feathers. Then, when it has acquired strength, it takes up that nest in which are the bones of its parent, and bearing these it passes from the land of Arabia into Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis. And, in open day, flying in the sight of all men, it places them on the altar of the sun, and having done this, hastens back to its former abode. The priests then inspect the registers of the dates, and find that it has returned exactly as the five hundredth year was completed.
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**Wonderful sign which takes place in the East:** Compare this to the wonderful sign (Star) given to the Magi in the East(Matt. 2). -
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The **phoenix** can represent the Old Covenant; 500 was used for the measurement of the inner court for the Old Covenant alter of the Temple area in the Old Covenant (Ez. 42:15-20). **500 years-** St. Augusitne points out that “1000 years in Rev. 20:1-3 stands for all the years of the Christian era, a perfect number being used to indicate the fullness of time.(*City of God Chapter 20*)” If the Phoenix represents the Old Covenant, then the 500 years can be symbolic to the Old Testament era, since 500 is to 1000 limited, and though 500 would not be the fullness of time as 1000 is, but 500 is a large period of time when God dealt with man in a different era. -
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The **phoenix** can also represent the Magi in Matt. 2. Where the Phoenix “makes its nest of **incense and myrrh** into which it enters when its time is completed, and dies,” the Magi brought coffers to present with gifts of gold, **frankincense, and myrrh**.” As the Phoenix prepares to die, so did the Magi prepared to die to their old way of life, as every follower of our Lord Jesus Christ should (Col. 3:3). -
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**But as the flesh decays a certain kind of worm is produced:** The decaying flesh of the Old Testament brought about the worm, let us therefore acknowledge Christ to be the worm, because, moreover, in the Psalm, ‘*I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people *(Psalm 21:7).” He is a Worm because of the lowliness of the flesh which He assumed- perhaps, also because of His being born of a Virgin; for the worm is generally not begotten, but spontaneously originated in flesh.” Christ Himself is again prefigured, such as, by the publication of the Gospel from His mouth, all those things which flourished among the Israelites for a time, or with the shadowy symbolical meaning in that earlier time, are now deprived of their significance, and have withered away. And now that nation, having lost the kingdom, the priesthood, and the sacrifices formerly established in Jerusalem, all which privileges were a shadow of things to come.” [St. Augustine Letter CII. 35-36] 400AD And just as the Phoenix was flying in the sight of all men, Christ ascended into Heaven.
