Gifts of Heaven · Volume 2 · Chapter 227

False and real following

26th May 1842

Jakob Lorber chose John 7:13 for consideration: "But no-one spoke freely of Him out of fear of the Jews." Ans. H. chose Luke 13:30: "And behold, they that are last, they will be first. And they who are first, they will be last."

[1] They feared to confess Him freely, since their minds were full of fear of the Jews. Behold, these are the last, even if they are also the first, to whom the gospel went, since they fear people more than Me.

[2] But those who, although they are not witnesses, in later times and in remote places only get the word, but accept it at once and are ready to defend it with their lives as soon as it is challenged from somewhere – these are the last in time and therefore also in place, but according to the deed, they are the first. For they have no fear of the Jews or of the world. For the word tells them in their heart that I am mightier than all worldliness and Judaism and than the darkness of all priesthood.

[3] But the Pharisee is afraid of Judaism and does not want to make an enemy of it as long as it is still rich and powerful in gold and cruelly tyrannical – and as long as it still has great honorary offices and very much gold-bearing positions to give away.

[4] But when Judaism falls apart, what will well the weather-twisting Pharisee do? I say: He will indeed turn the coat according to the wind, but he will therefore never be the first, but the absolutely last. Why then? Oh, the answer is easy to find.

[5] A stupid girl gives this answer to her lover, who says to her: "But don't say anything about our relationship to anyone! "Why?" she asks and says: "That gives me trouble! If you really loved me, you would not be afraid to tell anyone that you love me. But you pay homage to several and do not want to spoil it with them. Therefore you have this fear! You were the first to whom my heart got attached, but you are the last one who will participate in my love! Behold, is this not a perfectly good answer to the above question?

[6] But I tell you: The same answer I will indeed give to those who will be such Pharisees against Me and therefore are afraid of Judaism, because their temporal advantages are tied to it as: Honor, a worldly good name and still a lot of other things, which are an abomination before Me.

[7] I say: Such "first ones" will once very strongly be the last ones! But those who cling to Me in everything and do not fear the world at all out of love for Me; these will then also be by far the first.

[8] And therefore also the successors will stand higher than the witnesses of My grace – since they will not fear Judaism like the Pharisees.

[9] Such is very much to be considered – even in this time! Amen.