A brother asked about Info on Baalzebul ,and I know him quite well ,so this is what I shall talk on today....we should start with The Testament of Solomon,as it was considered a veritable handbook of evocation. This masterful text fully expounds and crystallizes an exorcistic formula which existed from at least the second century BCE and continued to be a major influence in other related texts beyond the fifth century CE The formula begins with the identification of the demon: the demon is asked its name, to which the demon replies its name. This is followed by a question that places the demon into an astrological schema. This may include descriptive elements and is followed by a description of the physical appearance and abode. The demon is also quizzed about its deeds, powers and activities. The rite is concluded by the demon disclosing the name of the binding angel who thwarts it. The demon is thus bound to come at the summoning of the exorcist due to this original contract between them. In his Testament, the first demon dealt with by Solomon is named Ornias. Ornias is constrained, Solomon then gives the demon his ring and says 'Away with thee, and bring me hither the prince of all the demons.' Solomon then tells 0rnias 'And go to Beelzeboul who has kingship over the demons and throwing the ring upon Bee/zeboul's chest tell him the King Solomon calls thee. The Lord God of Israel, who has given me this authority, with wisdom and power from God, by means of this signet.' Solomon then questions the summoned demon 'Who art thou?' to which the demon replies 'I am Beelzebub.' The ruler of the demons then promises that he will bring all the spirits in bonds before Solomon. Once Beelzeboul is contracted he becomes the agency to bring forth all the other demons or spirits, including the demons 0nos~eris and Asmo8eus. Later Beelzeboul is summoned again and he describes how he was the only one left from the fallen angels, originally the first angel, in the first heaven, and that he controls all those in Tartarus, and of his child who will come in triumph when he is ready. Then Solomon questions the Prince 'What is thy employment?' to which he replies 'I destroy kings, I ally myself with foreign tyrants, and my own demons I set on to men, in order that the latter may believe in them and be 10st.And the chosen servants of God, priests and faithful men, I excite unto desires for wicked sins, and evil heresies, and lawless deeds; and they obey me, and I bear them on to destruction. And I inspire men with envy, and desire for murder, and for wars and sodomy, and other evil things and I will destroy the world. I bring about jealousies and murders in a country, and I instigate wars.' Solomon asks 'Tell me in which star you reside.' The Prince replies 'The one called by men the Evening Star.' 'Tell me by what angel thou art frustrated.' And he answered: 'By the holy and precious name of the Almighty God, called by the Hebrews by a row of numbers, of which the sum is six hundred and forty-four, and among the Greeks it is Emmanuel.' Solomon then orders Beelzeboul to work on the construction of the Temple and receives further astrological discourse. Thus, the ring is used initially to constrain the first demon, but after the Prince of Demons is subdued and promises to bring another demon to be bound before Solomon, the ring is used sparingly. This is followed by the identification question 'Who are you?' and 'What is your name?' to which the demon replies with a self-identification 'I am ... ' or 'I am called ... · or 'My name is .. .' or 'I am known by the name .. .' This is followed by a self-characterization by the demon which may include astrological correspondence, then a description, the physical appearance, activities, dwelling place, etc., then the name of the thwarting angel, then the sealing or contract, and the employment or commissioning of them to do some task or work. In the case of their employment in the Testament, one of the many different tasks relates to the construction of the Temple.
An example highlighting the idea of demonic flux in relation to authority is found in the writings of Johannes Wierusl6 (c.l515-1588) in which a demonical Commonwealth is seen in full development. In many respects this reflected existing political tensions and the movement towards the ascendancy of parliamentary over monarchical powers in the sixteenth century. Weirus describes a great revolution taking place in Hades; .Satan has been dethroned and Beelzeboul has assumed his place. In reaction • .Satan forms an opposition party with himself as head.The now Emperor of Hades. Beelzeboul. was said to have been worshipped by the people of Canaan in the form of a fly. hence he establishes 'The Order of the Fly' - the only Order of Knighthood which appears to have existed among the demons.The inhabitants of the Empire of Hell were said to have numbered 44.435,156. A qabalistic parallel to these two opposing parties is to be found in the representation of the Qlipoth of Kether as expounded in The Book of the Black Serpent' and applied in the teachings of the magical order of the Golden Dawn. Here an inversion of the unity of the first sphere of the Tree of Life belonging to Thaumiel the 'bicephalous ones' is ruled by the two contenders Satan and Moloch.The dyadic nature of the demonic is also reflected in the name 'Diabolus',whose etymology from the Greek reveals dia, that is two, and bolus, that is morsel ' ... for he kills two things, the body and the soul."
From a dualist perspective, demons are the agencies of God; they were seen as 'customs officers' to the souls of the dead and goalers for those who fell through sin, via their own free will. This function satiated the malicious nature of the demon, profited from their hatred of humanity, and fulfilled their love of inflicting pain and suffering. All misfortune, caused by demons or not, was considered the fault of the individual. If a man was being tormented by demons he was beyond hope. as this was the will of God. Herein lies a paradox. for demons as the agents of God could provide the means by which others were ensured of salvation. but they themselves were beyond salvation. In this light Beelzeboul becomes the irredeemable redeemer.As Lucifenians we may disregard all or part of this Mythology as the Black Flame guides us,I've found it is best just to call him up and ask direct. That's just a taste of the Info on the Old man....Copyright 2015 Vincent Piazza
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