Gifts of Heaven · Volume 2 · Chapter 297

A memorable record

13th June 1843

Written down by Anselm Hüttenbrenner, partly based on oral narrative, partly on small notes by Jakob Lorber. On February 18, 1842, when Jakob Lorber had just written on the 159th sheet of the work and had reached the place where Naëme speaks to Jehovah: "But I am anyway a sad fruit of the night and of sin, and I already bear within me eternal death as the ever sure punishment for sin.” – there appeared to the scribe of the Word of God his musical friend, the conductor and orchestra director Ed. H., who died on September 15, 1841 at the age of 75, of very gloomy and pale appearance, poor, dressed, and spoke to Jakob Lorber:

"Dear brother, I feel bad! I and several others who are with me, we are like stray dogs. We must suffer enormous hunger. I live on old, hard pieces of bread, which I find in my skirt pocket, as often as I starve. Others are much worse off, they eat rotten wood, some even eat their own filth.” Jakob Lorber admonished his friend that he should only turn to the Lord Jesus, then he would already get more and better food. The next day, on February 19, 1842, E. H. came back to Jakob Lorber and told him that he had seen a colossal-sized woman with a lovely face on a stage. Her feet were almost as thick as a half-barrel. At first she appeared to him dressed, but then she appeared to him completely naked, and he, E. H., was always forced to look at her. Jakob Lorber indicated to his friend that he should only turn his eyes away from this naked female person and should therefore look faithfully upon the Lord. This naked figure was an external manifestation of E.H.'s own fleshly lust through the help of the Lord. When asked what it looked like where E. H. was now, he said that the place where he was staying was a very sad one. One sees no mountains, no houses, no animals, no plants; everything is shrouded in thick fog. On his third visit, E. H. told us that he had finally discovered a narrow valley between two high mountains, but that it was narrowing so much that he could not continue walking, but could only see a friendly area through a crevice. And if he could also penetrate through this crevice, he still would not be able to reach that beautiful landscape because he would have to pass a deep body of water first. On the fourth visit, on February 21, E.H. reported with joy that he had fortunately passed through the crevice and across the water into that graceful region where a small, neat town was located. To his no small amazement, he found a violin shop there, and in it he found the most magnificent violins by Amati, Guarneri and Stradivari, instruments "to kiss"! Jakob Lorber told him not to immerse himself in the contemplation of these favorite instruments, but to think only of the Lord. For the fifth time, on February 22, E.H. came back and said that he had come from that small town to a rather large city, where today Handel's cantata "Timothy" is being performed by a numerous music society. He could not stay long with Jakob Lorber today, his friends had already gone to where the cantata was performed, and he would soon have to hurry there as well; for he was burning with desire for this musical enjoyment. Jakob Lorber, however, kept him from attending this concert and said that he should not be deterred from seeking the Lord by any kind of enjoyment.

On February 23, E.H. did not appear to Jakob Lorber. However, he came to Jakob Lorber for the sixth time on February 24, 1842, and said that he could not come yesterday because of blindness. For he had arrived at a burning city, and the heavy smoke had robbed him of his sight to this day. Jakob Lorber replied to his visitor: When you should come again to the burning city, then only speak the following words immediately, and it will instantly become better with you, and the harsh "smoke", as you said, will never blind your eyes. But these are the mighty words: 'Oh You my most merciful Lord Jesus, I did not recognize myself as a great sinner and fool for so long! Look down mercifully upon me, great sinner and dead one, who have erred greatly, and help me, admittedly a sinner most unworthy of your help, out of this great need of mine. Oh send down to me only one of the least servants of Your mercy into this depth of perdition, and do not let me perish completely, but protect me from the flames and the smoke of this great city! Your holy will be done! Amen.” E.H. then asked: "What does this burning city mean?" Jakob Lorber said: "Behold, dear friend, this is the wicked world within us! Be unconcerned and trust in the Lord Jesus, and things will soon get better with you. Today a messenger will surely be sent to you from the Lord.” E.H. further asked whether he could also pray the "Our Father". "Yes," replied Jakob Lorber, "that goes without saying! If you can pray the holy Lord's Prayer, then at least do that! It will bring you great benefit!" E.H.: "May I come to you whenever I want?" Jakob Lorber: "You can come when you want! You know that I always enjoy it when you come!” E.H.: "You, but your housewife has no faith at all!" Jakob Lorber: "Let's leave the housewife! In the vast creation of God all kinds of herbs with healing powers grow!” E.H.: "Can I stay with you?" Jakob Lorber: "You can stay here as long as you like, can and may. Yes, yes – you do not have a spiritual association yet. Therefore just stay. But now I must go back to my work!” (This visit on February 24 took place from 9 to 1/2 10 in the morning, when Jakob Lorber was just about to continue the main work) On March 5, 1842, at 2:30 p.m., on the morning of the seventh visit, E.H. appeared to Jakob Lorber only for a few moments while he was giving a piano lesson – and said to him: "Dear brother, I do not want to disturb you! I do have a guide, but I can do what I want. Perhaps I will come back to you tonight." E.H. looked smaller that day than the previous times. He did not come in the evening. On the morning of March 7, 1842, E.H. came to Jakob Lorber for the eighth time with the words: "Good morning, good morning, dear friend!" Jakob Lorber answered this greeting with the same words and asked E.H. how he had gotten along with the "guide" and how he had fared in the meantime. E.H. told that his leader was not a dry brother and nothing less than a Jesuit. He was a quite merry companion, and left him full freedom to do whatever he wanted. He had visited the theater with the guide, and they had also come to a society where quartets were played. He, E.H., had also performed a solo on the violin. Then they were taken to a vineyard where the most select wines were served and where very charming girls were present. Unfortunately, however, after drinking the very best wine, he lost his sight again, and everything around him became as foggy and dark as at the beginning. Jakob Lorber replied to this: "So you were in possession of full freedom! Did you turn away from all the luxuriance told to me where your guide has led you to and instead, according to my instructions, turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, the crucified one, everywhere?” Answer: "I forgot all about that!" Jakob Lorber: "Yes, my dear friend, see, you were greatly missed! And your second way will be more difficult than the first! Why then did you not listen to me and did not follow my words?”

E.H.: "What should I do now?" Jakob Lorber: "What you should do now? Do you still have the little prayer? (E.H. confirms it) – Well, pray it incessantly, even as long as it takes until it becomes light again around you and the Lord will perhaps send you a guide again!” But then be wiser and let him lead you nowhere but to the Lord alone! If, in order to tempt you, he wanted to lead you somewhere else, then ask him that he may only lead you to the Lord through word, advice and deed!” E.H. affirmed that from now on he only wanted to seek the Lord and that he himself would not even follow the archangel Michael if he wanted to lead him somewhere else than to the Lord. Jakob Lorber replied: "Yes, friend, remain eternally faithful to this your resolution! The Lord be with you!" Finally E.H. asked when he could come back? Jakob Lorber: “Anytime, whenever you want! Farewell in God! Amen.” On March 18, 1842, about 3/4 7 o'clock in the evening, I, Ans.H., sat with Jakob Lorber in the inn "The green pastures". We had just finished a conversation and had been quiet and thinking for a few minutes, when Jakob Lorber suddenly took me by the arms and said: "You, H. is back again!" I looked at Jakob Lorber during his vision and his spiritual conversation and found that his face became somewhat discolored and his gaze changed noticeably. The presence of the guest from Hades might have lasted about 5 to 7 minutes, when Jakob Lorber told me the contents of his conversation with E.H. as follows: E.H. asked: "Where are you now, dear brother?" Answer: "At the green pastures." E.H. : "Are you alone?" Answer: "No! Your good friend Anselm Hüttenbrenner is sitting next to me." E.H.: "Give him my best regards!" I asked Jakob Lorber what E.H. looked like and what his position was. Jakob Lorber said that his appearance was friendly and that he floated above the armchair standing to his, Lorber's, right. E.H. then told at this his ninth coming that he had recognized his present leader. It was his great- great-grandfather. But the greatest miracle is that Christ is God and man! He, E.H., would now soon enter a college where he would receive instruction about Christ. Finally, he said that he died badly because he died without faith in Christ. On March 20, 1842, after 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Jakob Lorber left the house of Ans. H. through Wickenburg street towards the Ketten bridge. On the way, E.H. came to him again – it was the tenth time – and said: "Brother! I feel so heavily loaded! My guide may not tell me what it is that is pressing me so hard." Jakob Lorber said on this: "I have no prohibition to tell you what's bothering you. Behold, it is the cross of Christ! But consider it a great grace of the Lord that He now burdens you with His cross, since you did not feel like carrying it in the world!” E.H. replied: "Yes, yes, I can see that. I get it, you are right!" On April 23, 1842, in the afternoon at 1/2 4 o'clock, Jakob Lorber washed his eyes with water in the bedroom of the Ans. H., E.H. appeared to him to be extraordinarily small, not much more than a foot high, with a friendly face. He said on this eleventh visit that he still had the same guide, he was not far from heaven. But he had not yet seen the Lord. Everyone who has not become a child on this earth must become a child, otherwise he cannot reach the Lord. "The likes of us", he continued, "is just like a whore who, through excessive enjoyment, has been filled with all kinds of garbage and infectious substances. If their body parts are not completely cleansed and put back in order, such a whore cannot become a mother. Just so it is with our spirit, which is also cleansed of all mud and, having expanded too much into the sensual, must first be driven into a corner, i.e., become small, in order then to be able to begin to grow anew. Further, E.H. said that he had seen a great fire. Now he did not yet know what that meant. Tomorrow, however, he would certainly come back and hopefully be able to provide information about it.

On April 25, 1842, at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, E.H. came to Jakob Lorber for the twelfth time and told him: "The fire that I saw the last time has enveloped me. And now that I am standing in this fire, I no longer see it. But it still burns me unspeakably strong. But I am becoming stronger and greater in this fire! At first the pain was unbearable. But as much as it burns me from the outside, it also does so in my heart. I tell you, dear brother, in this fire I want to remain forever. But now I must go again, and I will tell you more of this next time. Farewell!" On May 3, 1842, in the evening after 1/2 9 o'clock, I played Ans.H.'s, piano. Jakob Lorber listened. And during this time E.H., handsome and taller than before, appeared to him. The friend said that the fire he was surrounded by, meant the struggle of his passions with the love of the Lord. The outer, burning fire is the passions, the inner, soothing fire is the love of the Lord. After he had been purified by this fire, he saw himself transported to a very barren area, naked and abandoned by all. There he sank into a deep sleep and into a beautiful dream, which is not a dream, but reality. He was on the border of the children's realm, where it was so wonderful that he wanted to stay there forever. His guide had come to him and said that he, E.H., could, if he wanted to, speak here with all those spirits that he only ever wished to speak to, including Beethoven, Handel, etc. E.H. however, did not ask for this at all, but just continued looking at a beautiful light that shone in the morning area of the children's realm. And he hoped to see the Lord in this light. He now wanted to see nothing else but the Lord. Finally E.H. said that he would only come to Jakob Lorber two more times. On July 8, 1842, in the afternoon at about 4 o'clock, Jakob Lorber saw in the room of the Ans. H. saw E.H. again for the fourteenth time. He told him that he was still on the border of the children's realm, where he saw very shiny areas. He also still saw a very bright light over a mountain range in the east of the children's realm. But he could not yet see the Lord. He still has the same guide. But sometimes another guide comes to him, but he has a quite ordinary appearance. This second guide speaks only to the first guide but not at all with him, E.H.. Jakob Lorber indicated to E.H., that he should pay special attention to this second guide (who always comes from the children's kingdom). E.H. then said that he was now only allowed to come to Jakob Lorber once more. His appearance was cheerful, his clothing grayish-blue. On August 23, 1842, at 1/2 8 o'clock in the morning, E.H. came to Jakob Lorber for the fifteenth and last time and said that he was in a society of his own kind and that everyone had his own guide there, but that they sometimes went away and then come back. He has not yet been able to talk to the other, ordinary guide. This one speaks only with the other guides, who seem to have a special esteem for him. He, E.H., by the way, is well. Jakob Lorber did not see E.H. this time, but only felt his presence and heard him speak. Since E.H. has not spiritually approached Jakob Lorber since August 23, 1842, this "protocol" is considered closed. Graz, on June 13, 1843, Ans. H.