Beyond the Threshold

Deutscher Text Editorial note from the German edition 27 November 1848 The last account written in the series ‘Scenes from the World of Spirits’ (‘Deathbed Scenes’) describes, in two substantial volumes, the development in the world beyond of a prominent man in the political history of his time. Robert Blum was shot as a revolutionary…

Deutscher Text 31 May 1852 [JS.01_52.05.31,01] For a great many people whose heads and hearts are otherwise in the right place, if their faith is not especially strong, the momentous question still remains: is there another life after this brief earthly one, what form does it take, and will a person recognise himself as the…

Deutscher Text 18 February 1861 [JS.01_61.02.18,00] A person in the world beyond who had known Lorber during his lifetime was permitted to address Jakob Lorber directly and to tell him, for the first time on 18 February 1861, of his passage into the world beyond and his first stay in the sphere of the spiritual…

Deutscher Text 27 July 1847 [JS.01_47.07.27,01] Brother A. H. W. wishes to know how the passage from material life into spiritual life, or what is called life beyond, takes place, especially for those who were great in the world. [JS.01_47.07.27,02] This passage can be described very easily and quite naturally. [JS.01_47.07.27,03] See, what difference does…

Deutscher Text 28 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…

Deutscher Text 2 August 1847 [JS.01_002,01] Let us go to the sickbed of a scholar for whom, as you say, no herb grows that can keep him alive on Earth. Let us see how this second famous man fares in his last hours on this side, how he wakes on the other and which direction…

Deutscher Text 3 August 1847 [JS.01_003,01] Here we are again at the deathbed of a man who was very rich. He managed his wealth honestly, brought up his children as well as he could and always provided generously for the poor. Admittedly, for what he called an hour's amusement, he would sometimes remember those poor…

Deutscher Text 5 August 1847 [JS.01_004,01] Here is the last hour and early death of a dandy who knew little beyond smoking tobacco, gambling, gorging, guzzling, courting all the more attractive women, dancing superbly and playing waltzes on a grand piano for the benefit of those same ladies. And yet he had spent almost all…

Deutscher Text 6 August 1847 [JS.01_005,01] Here is another early death, that of a young heroine of fashion. She gave herself over to dancing too heartily at a ball, hoping to dance her way to a young and wealthy husband. All she danced her way to was an early death. [JS.01_005,02] A nineteen-year-old girl of…

Deutscher Text 10 August 1847 [JS.01_006,01] Look, we are in a splendid royal chamber. Everything here gleams with gold and silver, the most precious gemstones and paintings of the greatest value in the eyes of the world. The floor is laid with the finest Asian carpets. The large plate-glass windows are hung with curtains, any…