A few years back in a bible study group we were presented with The Truth Project, (1). I remember their eighth lesson was: “Unio Mystica: Am I Alone?”. ‘Unio mystica’, as defined by presenter Mr. Tackett (a Calvinist), is the mystical union between God and man. I heard before the term used by mystics of the Catholic Church & also in New Age writings, but it was first time I heard the word from an ‘Evangelical’ teacher. Now the term is becoming more & more common these days.
This ‘mystical union‘ is not taught in the Scriptures, but then, where it comes from? -We can find the origins of unio mystica teachings in Neo-Platonism, Kabbalah & Gnosticism. But then . . . why are some ‘Christian’ teachers pushing this doctrine in the Church, if isn’t biblical at all? Well, I believe it has been introduced in the Church to indoctrinate or initiate Christians into Jewish Mysticism or Kabbalah, the believe system of the soon coming Antichrist. (I will elaborate more in a future post in the Antichrist series).
Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner predicted, “The Christian of the future will be a mystic or will not exist at all.”
“Mysticism” is derived from the Greek μυω, meaning “I conceal”, and its derivative μυστικός, mystikos, meaning ‘an initiate’. The verb μυώ has received a quite different meaning in the Greek language, where it is still in use. The primary meanings it has are “induct” and “initiate“. Secondary meanings include “introduce“, “make someone aware of something”, “train”, “familiarize”, “give first experience of something” – Wikipedia
Unio Mystica found in Neo-Platonism & Paganism:
Henosis is the word for mystical “oneness”, “union”, or “unity” in classical Greek. In Platonism, and especially Neoplatonism, the goal of henosis is union with what is fundamental in reality: the One (Τὸ Ἕν), the Source, or Monad. Wikipedia
Greek philosopher of 3rd century Plotinus (founder of Neo-Platonism) taught that the supreme being, called The One, could only be encountered (have union) in an irrational state of ecstasy (trance) achieved through certain progressive steps of mystical contemplation.
Yoga (which means union) is all about the facilitation of this union.
Unio Mystica is found in the Talmud & Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism):
Kabbalah are occult mystical teachings aimed at achieving union with god (their god), in order to obtain godhood (Same lie that the serpent offered in the garden). They also teach that knowledge (gnosis) of the mysteries of the divine realm are essential for this union with god. But their deity who according to them give them gnosis is the serpent. Teachings about the serpent are found in the Talmud and Kabbalah, were states the snake is holy. Kabbalists are worshipers of the Serpent of the garden in Genesis, which in the Bible is identified as Satan. The Zohar says:
“The Holy Serpent is the fountainhead, root, and essence for all God’s sacred revelatory light.”
In Talmud & Kabbalah it has been a constant theme referring to the mystic who journeys to the divine realm of the 7 Palaces of Paradise to the throne of God. These ecstatic journeys to the other-world appeared first in Babylonian sources.
“Ma’asei Merkavah, the first distinctly mystical movement in Jewish history, appeared in the late Hellenistic period, after the end of the Second Temple period following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. It is a form of pre-Kabbalah Jewish mysticism, that teaches both of the possibility of making a sublime journey to God . . . Merkava/Hekhalot mysticism began after the end of the Second Temple period following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., when the physical cult ceased to function.
Hekhalot” (palaces), derives from the divine abodes seen by the practitioner following a long period of ritual purification, self-mortification, and ecstatic prayer and meditation. In their visions, these mystics would enter into the celestial realms and journey through the seven stages of mystical ascent: the Seven Heavens and seven throne rooms“. . . The mantra-like repetitive nature of the liturgies recorded in many of these compositions seems meant to encourage further ascent. -religion.wikia.org.
Central to their practice is the ‘Tree of Life’ which the mystic ascended symbolically trough meditation. They have 7 lower paths or gates, (that also correspond to the chakras taught in yoga), & 3 higher paths or mystical steps to achieve union with the divine.
Unio Mystica or mystical union with God is found in Gnosticism:
“According to Masonic historian Albert Pike, Gnosticism was an offshoot of Kabalism…. On page 626 of Morals and Dogma-the most esteemed work of Freemasonry-Pike states, “The Kabalah is the key of the occult sciences; and the Gnostics were born of the Kabalists” (p.249 The New World Order by Gary Kah).
Bridal mysticism promoted by Catholics, New Apostolic Reformation, IHOP, etc (Latter Rain Movement) is a Gnostic doctrine:
Teresa described the soul’s intense desire for God in the language of erotic passion. In this, she belongs to a long tradition of mystical experience that is known as bridal mysticism . . .
The symbolism of bridal mysticism is found already in early gnostic forms of Christianity, where the central sacrament is called the Bridal Chamber. There the feminine soul of the gnostic unites with the masculine spirit and is in this way spiritualized, that is, liberated from the limitations of mundane existence.
Related symbolism is found as well in the writings of the early Christian mystic Origen and the Neoplatonic mystic Plotinus. These three forms of mysticism are related and serve as the foundation for the history of mysticism in Christianity.
– ARAS (Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism)
The Bridal Chamber were the mystical union occurs is also described in the gnostic Gospel of Philip as the means to attain Christhood, & is also found in Gnostic gospel of Thomas.
Gnostic Jews tried to infiltrate the early church, and were considered heretics by the apostles. The Gnostics valued what they experienced and what they learned from ‘angels’ over Holy Scripture, this is the main reason apostle Paul warned about angels in Col. 2:18 & Gal.1:8, 2 Cor. 11:14. The Nicolaitans were also a Gnostic sect. Jesus said about them: “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” (Rev.2:6, 14-15).
Union Mystica is found in Catholicism:
Mystic nun Teresa of Avila & other Catholic mystics taught about Unio Mystica or marriage with Christ through exercises of contemplative prayer & meditation, but also the Bridal Chamber is taught along with Catholic adoration (Act of worship) of the Eucharist.
‘We were talking about the Eucharist and I pointed out to him that as a baptized Christian, he was part of the Body of Christ. And when he received the Eucharist, he would be receiving the Body of Christ. Which meant that Christ’s body would be inside him, while he was inside of Christ’s Body. And I asked him, “Does that sound like anything else to you?”. . . Without hesitation, he said, “Marriage.” And he wasn’t wrong.
. . . The Mass is our wedding banquet! In the Eucharist, Christ’s body joins with ours, and we become one flesh with God. When you approach the altar, do you understand that you are approaching you wedding chamber? When you receive Holy Communion, do you understand that you are a bride receiving her groom?’ – The Nuptial meaning of the Eucharist, by Catholic deacon Matthew Newsome.
But this is so wrong! Also it is spiritual fornication & union with a different spirit (not from God). Christ’s ‘Church‘ (symbolically the Bride) is still in the betrothal period & not married until the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Rev. 19:7-10), after Christ Himself comes for His (one) bride in a glorious & unique event (The entire Church at the same time & not separate individuals at different times as they teach). Until then, we remain faithful to Him.
The Council of Trent in the sixteenth century defined the meaning of the Eucharist as a real physical presence like this:
“the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore the whole Christ, is truly, really and substantially contained in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist“. (Session XIII, chapter IV)
Catholic worship the elements because they believe is the real presence. They also in same Council placed a curse on all Christians that don’t believe their doctrine:
“If anyone denies that in the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist are contained truly, really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ,[42] but says that He is in it only as in a sign, or figure or force, let him be anathema“. (Session XII, Canon I).
They burnt many people at the stake for rejecting this doctrine. They use next bible verses to support their teaching: Matt. 26:26-28, John 6:52-53: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” This is exactly what the Jews also misunderstood because they always took Jesus words meaning as physical things & not spiritual. But Jesus says right after statement that: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” vs 63. He was saying the meaning of His words were spiritual when talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.
When Jesus said, “I am the vine,” (John 15:5) or the ‘I’m the door‘ (John 10:7,9) was Jesus a literal vine or a literal door? Is the cup the actual new covenant, or only symbolic of it?
Besides, drinking blood was prohibited in the Mosaic Law (Lev. 17:14) & Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matt.5:17). But also in the New Covenant we are forbidden to drink blood Acts 15:20. The bread represented His body: “took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it. . this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me“
We Christians believe the communion is a memorial, a remembrance, a proclamation of His death until He comes, there is nothing there saying about transubstantiation, if this doctrine was necessary for salvation like Catholics teach then the Lord Himself would had explained it to us. Please prayerfully read the entire 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 .
The doctrine of transubstantiation (According to Catholic Catechism: Is a mystery “The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the literal Body and Blood of Christ.”) was declared as Article of Faith in 1215 A.D. this is almost 1200 years AFTER the Lord’s church was established. Later in 1415 it was decreed that only the bread should be administered to the people, and that only the priest should drink the wine for the people. But this is also contrary to Scripture. Paul commanded, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Vatican Council II Documents & their Catechism also declares
For in the sacrifice of the Mass Our Lord is immolated when ‘he begins to be present sacramentally as the spiritual food of the faithful under the appearances of bread and wine.’ It was for this purpose that Christ entrusted this sacrifice to the [Roman Catholic] Church, that the faithful might share in it both spiritually, by faith and charity, and sacramentally, through the banquet of Holy Communion. Participation in the Lord’s Supper is always communion with Christ offering himself for us as a sacrifice to the Father.
Only a Catholic priest can perform this mystery transformation of the wafer and wine which is called transubstantiation. Catholicism teaches their mass (which means ‘sacrifice’ ) is to be one and the same sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross & it is done repeatedly daily, weekly in reminiscent of the sacrificial altar of the Old Testament.
But the book of Hebrews says:
not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. Hebrews 9:25-28
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:10-12
Some ‘Evangelicals’ & ecumenical teachers these days are also comparing the pagan ‘Unio Mystica’ with the unity of believers that Jesus prayed for “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are (John 17:11). But Jesus here is not talking about a mystical union with God, but about unity in purpose & faith by believing in His Word. Please see more in John 17 Movement