THE BAPTISM OF JOHN
In the Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece, lasting from 1,600 BC to 392 AD, the cleansing baptism in saltwater was part of the “lesser mysteries” and was done in the spring to coincide with the planting of crops. To coincide with the harvest in the fall, mature initiates performed the ordinances of the “greater mysteries” which included baptism by fire, symbolism of the marriage of the bridegroom and bride, and the ordinance of being received into the divine presence. Adam and Eve are the archetypes of the first of humankind to accomplish this initiatory cycle. Because he emerged onto land from the sea containing the seals of Pisces and Capricorn, Adam/Oannes, the first man, was a fish with legs. His first steps were in slick mire. The baptism of John (Oannes) recalls Father Adam and honors the pioneers of a new Great Age, the first seed of the reseeded world.
The second seal is the second day, when the twin intelligences of Adam and Eve left gestating in the womb of the Mother Eden and entered the world. Part fish and part human, Adam and Eve took their first breaths of terrestrial air when the cord that attached their navel to the placental tree of life was cut. Here, in the seal of Capricorn, the posterity of Adam and Eve received their first estate, generation after generation. Baptism symbolized the birth of these generations and their ascent into mortal experience. John (Oannes) baptizing with water is the performance of an earthly ordinance signifying advancement from the first to the second seal of the covenant path. It represented the turning away from the underworld of Aquarius and beginning the long ascent toward the Light. To turn in the right direction is to overcome sin. “The next day (the second day) John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, parenthesis added).
The light of Christ (the Sun) and the light of the celestial kingdom of the Father (the Sun) are one light. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). In one of the more esoteric passages of the New Testament John is acting as proxy for the Father (Oannes/Dagon/Osiris/Ea/Adapa/Saturn/Adam), the part man/part fish teacher that emerged from the saltwater sea to instruct his children in this, the first ordinance of Godliness. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light” (John 1:6-8). “And John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me” (John 1:15, emphasis added).
John teaches that Christ modelled the fulness of the life cycle offered to every human soul. In so doing he opened the seals of the covenant path and became the Firstborn of the Sons and Daughters Begotten of God:
“And I, John (the Baptist), bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; And he received not of the fulness at the first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not the fulness at the first. And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.
And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:11-15, parenthesis added).
In this account, the voice of Christ, bearing witness to John the Baptist’s words, went on to say,
“And it shall come to pass that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John. And I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name and in due time receive of his fulness. For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace. And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn. Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth; And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:18-24).
KAMRON COLEMAN ART 