Gifts of Heaven · Volume 1 · Chapter 96

About ‘Herod the fox’

7th December 1840, afternoon

Ans H. asked the Lord to explain the following two verses in the Gospel of Luke, ch. 13:32 f.: "And He said to them: 'Go and tell this fox: 'Behold, I cast out devils and make whole today and tomorrow. And on the third day I will finish My work – Yes, I must walk today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not fitting that a prophet should perish outside Jerusalem!"

[1] Is something so easy once again not understood? Oh ask your heart once, and you will immediately see the cunning, domineering "fox Herod" in it, who wants to rule first today in the flesh, tomorrow in the soul and on the third day in the spirit.

[2] It will be the worst thing for him to learn that I first judge the flesh by the power of My word, after I have taken out of it all impurity, wickedness and lust in all things – and then, secondly, enliven the soul through My grace – and then free the spirit through My love.

[3] So today you must be sifted in the flesh so that the fox of self-love does not notice, and tomorrow you must be freed in your soul from all the evil goiters that have grown into it from the flesh; So today you must be sifted in the flesh so that the fox of self-love does not feature, and tomorrow you must be freed in your soul from all the evil goiters that have grown into it out of the flesh; or in this life, after leaving the body and finally for and in heaven!

[4] But what has man to do with the "fox"? Or what has the educational progress to do with Herod? Behold, there is no undirected stage able to miss it's destiny. But only in the human being, freedom appears and through it the expression of the spirit in time for the resurrection for eternity. Therefore, Herod is neither a fox nor any other animal; but he wants to be cunning like a fox, without considering that I am even more cunning and know very well how to lure the parents of hell out of the house and then make My covenant with their daughters and kidnap them all into My kingdom; and afterwards I do not need to give account to anyone for what I do, and I care little for the fox. For I am a Lord and freely do what I will!

[5] Behold, this is the easy understanding of these two texts! But do also you with your "fox", as I did with Herod. Then you will soon become one with Me, your Lord and Master and Father! Amen.