NEUOFFENBARUNG28 July 1847
[JS.01_001,01] Let us go to the sickbed of a great and exceedingly famous man of the world, a few hours before he passes into eternity. Let us take in at a glance how he conducts himself on this side and how he enters the world beyond, and how the two worlds meet and pass into one another. You will see at once, as clearly as sunlight, how entirely true the preceding cardinal rule is to what happens.
[JS.01_001,02] This man's deeds and actions in the world were of such a kind, and were performed on ground from which the answering echo generally whistles around the whole Earth like a hissing meteor, that they drew all eyes to themselves. They were heard at every point of the Earth because of the strong resonance of that ground, and were discussed and described at length, for and against, on enough paper to cover all Europe. Now this great man, this philanthropist, this zealous champion in name of his nation's political and ecclesiastical interests, lies stretched out on his bed, filled with despair and fear at the arrival of his last hour, which he no longer has the faintest hope of escaping.
[JS.01_001,03] In a kind of dull, most painful confusion, as a secret atheist he now sees the eternal extinction of his existence and now feels the imagined pains of decay. He has therefore stipulated in his will that he be embalmed. To prevent him from ever waking in the grave, his heart and entrails must be separated from his body. So that the time does not grow too terribly long for those separated parts, they must be laid to rest in places people visit from time to time.
[JS.01_001,04] But into these thoughts of annihilation mingles Catholicism with its stern threats of hell. The man had laughed at them inwardly while he imagined he had another hundred years to live. Now they return like Furies that had slipped away, and torment the mind of our dying man, who is aware of many a grave fault, quite dreadfully. Communion, anointing, unceasing prayers, many Masses and the loud ringing of bells cannot calm him. His soul sees the flames of the pit leap up ever more hideously and with ever more fearful eternity.
[JS.01_001,05] All his former manly strength flees, all his philosophy goes to pieces, and his breaking heart already sinks into the ever deepening night of death. Threatened on all sides by the utmost terror, the soul searches in his last few breaths for a spark of comfort in the dying furrows of the heart that once had so much earthly courage. Everywhere is empty. In place of comfort, either eternal annihilation or hell with all its horrors stares back at it.
[JS.01_001,06] That is how it looks on this side. Now let us take a look into the world beyond.
[JS.01_001,07] See, three veiled angels stand by a bed that looks just like our dying man's, and regard him with an unwavering gaze.
[JS.01_001,08] A now says to B, ‘Brother, I think his earthly life is over. No grapes will ever appear on this thorn hedge on Earth. See how his soul twists and writhes and finds no way out, and how stunted the poor spirit in it looks. Reach with your hand into the entrails already growing stiff and draw this pitiably wretched soul out of its night. I shall breathe upon it in the Lord's name and awaken it to this world. And you, brother C, then guide it by the Lord's ways to the place appointed for it, in accordance with the freedom of its love. Let it be done.’
[JS.01_001,09] Angel B reaches into our man's entrails and says, ‘In the name of the Lord, awake and be free, brother, according to your love. So be it.’
[JS.01_001,10] Now the mortal covering on this side sinks into the dust, and on the other side a blind soul rises.
[JS.01_001,11] Angel A steps up and says, ‘Brother, why are you blind?’ The newly awakened man says, ‘I am blind. Give me sight, if you can, so that I may find out what has happened to me, since all my pains have left me at once.’
[JS.01_001,12] A breathes upon the eyes of the awakened man, who opens them and looks about in utter astonishment. He sees no one but angel C and asks him, ‘Who are you? Where am I? What has happened to me?’
[JS.01_001,13] The angel replies, ‘I am a messenger of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, appointed to guide you in the Lord's ways if you wish. You have now died bodily for ever to the outer, material world and are in the world of spirits.
[JS.01_001,14] ‘Two paths are open to you here, the path to the Lord in the heavens or the path to the dominion of hell. How you will walk is now entirely up to you. You are quite free here and can do what you wish. If you let me guide you and follow me, you will do well. If you prefer to decide for yourself, you are free to do that too. But know that there is only one God, one Lord and one Judge here, and that is Jesus, who was crucified in the world. Hold to Him alone and you will come to true light and life. Everything else will be delusion and the appearance of your own imagination, in which you now live and hear this from me.’
[JS.01_001,15] The awakened man says, ‘Why, that is a new teaching, and it goes against the teaching of Rome, so it is heresy. You, who are trying to press it on me here in this lonely place, look more like a messenger from hell than from heaven. Go away from me and tempt me no further.’
[JS.01_001,16] Angel C says, ‘Very well. Your freedom releases me in the name of the Lord Jesus from my care for you. Let your light be given to you, then. So be it.’
[JS.01_001,17] Angel C vanishes. The newly awakened man enters the sphere proper to his nature and finds himself as though among his acquaintances in the world. He scarcely remembers what happened to him. He now lives, though in a world of illusion, as he did on Earth and goes on doing what he did there. He cares little for heaven or hell and still less for Me, the Lord. To him all three are vague absurdities like a dream image, and anyone who reminds him of them is sent away from his company.
[JS.01_001,18] From this first example you can see into what ‘water’ our great, famous man has fallen. The examples to follow will shed still clearer light on the matter.