Palm Branches as a Symbol of Victory
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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The palm-branch, which the seer of the Apocalypse puts into the hands of the elect, is the sign of victory
in heaven in Christ's presence.
"After this I looked and there before me was a
great multitude that no one could count, from every nation,
tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in
front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding
palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9)
In 1688 it was decided by the Congregation of Rites that the
palm when found depicted on catacomb tombs was to be regarded as
a proof that a martyr had been interred there. Subsequently this
opinion was acknowledged by Mabillon, Muratori, Benedict XIV and
others to be untenable; further investigation showed that the
palm was represented not only on tombs of the post-persecution
era, but even on pagan tombs.
Palm
branches on tomb stone from the catacombs
Early Christian Symbols of the Ancient Church
Copyright © 1985-2010 Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
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