JESUS signs of the coming reformer

A great panorama moved before their eyes, the scenes depicted on which were composed of all things that had transpired from the beginning of time—down and down in the world's history to our own day, and beyond it—

The Throne of Light

We saw three thrones. The largest of the three, in the centre, was gloriously bright, as if the light of ten thousand suns was thrown in upon it. On the right of that Throne of Light was another Throne, and on it we saw One whom we knew as our Lord the Prince—He whom we had just left, Jesus the Nazarene, wandering over Judea without a home to shelter him and sharing with his poor band the little that he had. 

Yet there on the right of the glorious Unseen One, He sat, while another High and Holy One sat on the left.

We seemed to form a part of the infinite host of happy and pure spirits that stood around that great Centre of Light, while the arches of Heaven resounded with the harmonies of innumerable silver trumpets, all proclaiming with one voice, the greatness, the goodness and the glory of the Invisible One, now sitting in council with the myriads of His Bright and Holy Ones, called together from the vast and glorious Kngdoms of the Universe of Spirit.

The Formation of Material Worlds Decreed

It was decreed—and the fiat of Heaven went forth to launch material worlds into the boundless ocean of space. Then we looked again, and we beheld the Mighty Ones at work amid the great Forces of Spirit until one great ball was formed, round which other great bodies, newmade worlds, took up their places. 

We saw the foundations of the Earth laid.

Let us pause while we look for a little into this great and wonderful operation of the Master's Hand. The foundations on which the Mighty Master built his worlds were thin gaseous vapours, brought together one after another until they became dense masses.

And such was the Earth.

We saw the likeness of smoke from burning wood, curling and curling out until it became one vast flame— on and on it rolled round greater orbs that had been made before, round and round flew the huge mass of fire and vapour and smoke with incalculable speed, and while it rushed on in its course, it got harder and harder. But ever onward went this blazing ball until hot and burning within and crusted without, it drew nearer and still nearer to its grand attracting body. On went this now misty globe until its dense vapours became waters, and now it got into a regular track, as it coursed round the sun. We looked again, and we saw in the circling ball of water, life in various forms. Then from the same great Council that first gave forth the fiat of Creation, there came the command—

Let chaos bring forth land—a fit place for the abode of Spirit!

Then we saw great mountains of rocks rise out of the waters—continents and seas were formed, and as we looked, gradually the dry land appeared, formed by the tear and wear of the rocks thrown up from the crust above the waters, and these in turn rushed into the new-formed hollows.

The Work of the Mighty Ones

Then as we looked down from our lofty position as spectators, we saw the Earth clad with verdure—another look, and we saw great plants and huge animals in the waters and on the land, then stage by stage of transformation, and animals of many kinds appeared to us, while the thick haze that had hitherto covered the Earth disappeared, and she smiled in gladness and in beauty.

Spirits begin the Mortal life

At length, we saw man take his appointed place. Spirit began the mortal life. To our view those happy mortals did not seem to be shut out from the consciousness of having been in a former and higher state of existence—they appeared to us to live in a close and constant communion with the spirit world—a continual ascending to and descending from it and happiness the blessed lot of man.

This was the Golden Age of the Grecian poets.

We saw that by natural law men increased in number on the Earth—their spiritual part supplied from on high. But though full-grown as spirits, when brought into contact with the material body, they became infants—all memory of previous life was blotted out—we saw, however, that as time wore on, they began (so intimate was the communion) to have glimpses of their spirit existence.

Influx of Pride—Decay of Spirit Intercourse

So, in our vision, we saw that as men multiplied and spread over the Earth, gathering flocks and herds, one wandering this way, the other that, they began to come together for worship in groves, but still in communion with the spirit world and in the enjoyment of all that flew from that communion. As time went on, we saw great and magnificent cities arise, but O—how unlike the workmanship of the great Architect! Then we saw mankind beginning to depart from the right way. There seemed to be a gradual falling away from spirit intercourse until there was but one here and there who were true worshippers of God.

Men became proud, self-sufficient, vain.

Then we saw the upsetting of laws, war and bloodshed, and mankind, once so peaceful and happy, became ravenous as beasts of prey. We saw man against man, nation against nation in hot religious strife, and ignorance and superstition covered the world in darkness.

Ah! why should man depart from the simplicity of truth, from the worship of the great Spirit, to whom alone all service, homage and honour is due! He seeketh not such for His own good, but for ours. All good things cometh from Him and He asketh nothing in return.

False Worship

Again, in our vision, we beheld a small company of true worshippers take up their abode on the banks of the Nile, where, in words simple and from the heart, but in a language not now understood, they sang hymns to the great Creator, the Invisible God. 

There these simple shepherds fed their flocks and herds in peace. 

We saw them building those cities, the ruins of which show the wisdom and the greatness that then existed. Then came their kings, the shepherd kings of Egypt, many of them good and great men, worshippers of the One Great Spirit. Then we saw another dynasty of kings, and Egypt rise in glory and splendour with her pharaohs, builders of mighty Temples, but with a worship dark and mysterious.

The World in Darkness

Then we saw other nations, erecting similar Temples, their worship in harmony with their ignorance, while the people, blinded by false teachers, fell down in prayer to idols the work of their own hands. Ah—why will men listen to the silly conceits of proud and selfish priests!

The Golden Age was swamped.

Communion with the good and great of the spirit world was almost at an end. But amid the thick spiritual darkness, we saw that light spring up here and there. Great reformers arose and did all they could to bring back their countrymen to the truth. Some of these were successful in their efforts. We saw them in Persia and in other nations of the east. 

But mankind went on in their deep degradation into the lowest depths.

Then I saw myself with my aged and venerated father, the humble and holy priest. I saw the old man instructing me, opening up my youthful mind to a knowledge of the symbols of Egyptian worship. All this I saw, and each one of us saw his own individual history in the vision. Then I beheld my beloved teacher pass away into the world of spirits. I saw myself awake and with burning soul, throwing to the winds all the forms of the old faith and thinking to overturn the superstition and priestcraft of Egypt by the sweep of my single arm. Alas! all I could do was but little. I saw my journey to Judea and the meeting with Jesus my Lord and Master.

Reflections on Jesus

The tidal wave of religious ideas had risen in the east, and as mankind went from one quarter to another, spreading themselves over the Earth, these ideas or notions were carried with them. Kings and priests entertained them, cherished them, and the people bent themselves in slavish submission to tyranny on the the one hand and priestcraft on the other. The thick darkness prevailed in many a region, and the benighted people groped their way and longed wearily for the daybreak. They knew not that the Light, destined to enlighten the world, had appeared in Judea—that true light, which we had seen dimly beginning to rise in Egypt, in Persia, and other eastern lands, and that the great Lightbringer (He whom we had seen sitting enthroned in glory) was even then wandering about with his poor followers without a house to shelter him, and often dependent on others for daily bread. 

Ah! how shall I tell you of his heart of love—how his great soul went out in deep compassion for even those who spurned him from their doors.

And now, in our vision, we saw him looking down upon Jerusalem while tears of bitter grief came from those wonderful eyes, as he bemoaned the condition and fate of the self-doomed city.

O great God! how can I forget those tears! That sad, sad face! Ah—how often had we seen him thus! Seldom he smiled, he seemed at all times as one ready to give up everything, life itself, for his fellowmen. Where, O—where, over all Earth's history, can you find one to compare with Jesus!

Falsehood glorified and Truth crucified

We saw the results of our mission to Egypt, and the dangers and difficulties I encountered on my return to Judea. We then saw our Lord and Master dragged by the wicked hands of his own countrymen and accused unjustly before a foreign judge—when even that Roman would have spared him, but for the turbulence and threatenings of the infuriated priests who howled like wolves for the lifeblood of him we loved so well. 

We saw the shameful death on Calvary. 

We saw the assembly of the followers of Jesus after the Crucifixion and Resurrection—no, not resurrection, for He was not dead. The spirit of our Master left the body behind and entered Hades to lead forth in triumph many of those who had been bound in darkness. Even amid the gloom of the dark regions light began to break in. The scene was changed and we saw that assembly broken up by fierce persecution and the faithful followers of Jesus scattered abroad.

Selling the Truth

We saw next the beautiful city of Jerusalem laid low, ravaged and made waste by the violence of her own children and by the iron bands of the besieger. We saw how those who had been driven out by persecution worked and strove even unto death on behalf of the truth. And then we witnessed the aged Hafed whose past career we had also seen, the Prince Archmagus of Persia, condemned to die. 

We saw his martyrdom. 

Then followed one after another, martyrs to the truth, gladly meeting death in diverse shapes for the sake of Jesus our Lord. 

All this we saw—even my own death.

Again the scene was changed. We perceived the True Light borne into many lands by the humble followers of Jesus—men who had nothing of the learning of Egypt, Persia or Greece. They went forth strong in the faith of their Master and with the power of his Spirit. Then, as we looked, we saw Rome, the mistress of the world, Rome, which had subdued the nations to her sway from Gaul on the west to India on the east, trampling under her iron hoofs all that stood in her way—we saw even this powerful nation, all-conquering, imperial Rome, accepting these truths. Next came the utter desolation of the once-famous Egypt and her great and marvellous buildings, while other countries, celebrated in history, became by the violence of men barren and wasted as the desert. Another change, and we saw great Rome herself, which had given laws to the peoples east and west, north and south, crushed and bleeding beneath the feet of northern hosts. Still further, we saw the western nations become Christians and blessed and made happy by the change. Time rolled on, again the dark clouds gathered, and the Light was once more quenched—liberty was groaning under the fetters of tyrants—

Ignorance prevailed, and the people sank into idolatry—priestcraft was at her old work, falsehood was honoured and glorified, while truth was despised—crucified. The laws of the Prince were even by those who bore his name, trampled beneath their feet. Again, there came another scene before us, and we witnessed the truth spreading widely, but as it branched out amongst the nations of the west, we saw many eager to mix up their own ideas with the simple doctrines of Jesus, thus hiding from the people the truths, which he had made free to all. 

When he spoke to the thousands of Judea, did he not speak so that a child could understand him? He would not have his light put under a bushel. Ah—no, He ever spoke simply, clearly, and though in parables at times, these were well understood by the people who listened to him. 

Then, as our vision continued, we saw those men, priests who professed to be the divinely-appointed guardians of the truth, selling that truth, as they have ever done, for the world's money and honour and power. They went, not out as we had done with our old cloaks round us, our feet unshod, and knowing not where to find our next meal. No! These false priests cared nothing for the people—they robbed them of their goods that they themselves might revel in sensuality and sloth. But while we continued to look, we beheld in the darkness a bright little spark burning. It has ever been thus in all the ages of the past—the True Light is never altogether quenched. Some humble one, none of earth's great men, when deceit and wickedness no longer prevail, but every man reads his brother's mind as he does his own.

—Hermes, the Egyptian

Hafed, Prince of Persia—His Experiences in Earth Life and Spirit Life