Phoenix Bird

The Origin of the Phoenix Symbol A mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years: often an emblem of immortality or of reborn idealism or hope. The story of the phoenix begins in ancient Egyptian mythology and was later developed in the Phoenician, Indian and Greek traditions. The phoenix is a sacred firebird with beautiful feathers of gold and red or purple and blue. A phoenix lives for 500-1,000 years and then builds itself a nest of myrrh twigs. The nest of myrrh and the phoenix burn fiercely until they are reduced to ashes. Myrrh is a resinous sap that releases heavy, bitter-smelling smoke when ignited. Myrrh was used by the ancient Egyptians to embalm the dead and was also burned as a religious sacrifice. Historically, myrrh has often been worth more than its weight in gold. The Phoenix as a Symbol of RebirthAfter this purification, a phoenix egg or a young bird appears, renewing the life cycle of the bird and making the phoenix virtually immortal and invincible. The phoenix also has the ability to regenerate itself when wounded. In the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the phoenix is a stork-like bird called the “benu”. Bennu probably derives from the word weben, meaning "rise" or "shine." (Out of ashes to beauty). Legends also speak of the phoenix—a bird of beauty from the first paradise. The phoenix legend commemorates a bird that was raised to new life out of the ashes of fire. Some think it is only a myth, but the phoenix bird is mentioned in the Book of Job. The Hebrew word KHOL has two meanings. Many translations say sand but it can also be translated phoenix bird. In this corrected translation it is indicating resurrection hope. Job 29:18,Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix.’ Strong's Number H2344 matches the Hebrew חוֹל (chowl ),which occurs 23 times in 23 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV Job is recalling the fire phoenix legend, wherein the phoenix bird dies in fire and rises to new life from the ashes of death. Job is comparing himself to a bird that dies in the nest—only to rise again at a future time just like the phoenix bird. The phoenix is therefore a symbol of future resurrection to new life ( Out of ashes to beauty). We know anything that advances G-d’s purpose is possible. G-d can create life when He chooses—green herb, animal, human, or spirit. Any new-life from non-life is a divine act of creation, whether a first-creation or a later (resurrection). The phoenix bird can be explained as G-d’s prophetic symbol of future resurrection. From the beginning G-d has done miracles in all ages, more than was ever written in the Bible or in any other book. Job 5:8-9, As for me, I would seek G-d, and to G-d I would commit my cause. He does great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number. John 21:25, But there are also many other things that Y’Shua did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. The phoenix was one of G-d’s creations from the beginning. Animals do not have resurrection power in themselves but they can be resurrected from death if G-d chooses—just like humans, there will be animals in heaven. G-d has chosen to resurrect a phoenix bird to serve as a resurrection hope and inspiration for all of humanity everywhere. Phoenix in chapter 25 of the First Epistle of Clement: 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. The Jews believe that the phoenix was the only creature who refrained itself from eating the forbidden fruit and it did so by setting itself on fire. Because it preferred to die than to sin, it was risen from its ashes after 3 days, signifying winning over temptation and renewing itself from sacrifice The phoenix signifies rebirth or a new beginning which is derived from the ashes of the past. The dying and rising after 3 days is also very similar to the resurrection of Y’Shua HaMashiach. The fire represents death and turbulence, and the rising phoenix bird symbolizes victory over death or the troubles of life! Also represents rebirth/resurrection/new beginning, which means no matter how difficult the past might have been for you, no matter how many difficult situations you would have gone through, no matter how many people or situations have tried to break you down, you still emerge as a winner defeating all the challenges of life!