Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 129 -
MARTIN MEETS PETER AND JOHN. ABOUT THE NATURE OF LOVE AND WISDOM WITH THE SUNJJWELLERS.
After Martin has walked for quite a while and is wondering when the valley might appear, Peter and John the Evangelist come to meet him, greeting him in the friendliest manner. He immediately recognizes them, especially Peter, who was his first guide in the spirit-world, and he is overcome with joy to see Peter again for he had missed him for such a long time. After the first joy of the reunion, Martin says:
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(Bishop Martin): "But friend, brother, you rock of the Word of God, where have you been all this time? Why did you not come to me to the house the Lord has given me? If you had only been there, you would have been amazed at the inconceivable miracles the Lord worked there. However, I am overjoyed that you are with me again. You will now stay with me for a while, won't you?"
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(Says Peter): "Dearest brother, you know that all of us have but one will, and it is the Lord's will. All that He wills and orders is good. Infinity is vast and filled with His works, but we are His children and are like His arm. Therefore, we have to be here and there - wherever the Lord needs us! Whenever He needs us, we are there in a moment, be it billions of sun-distances, deeper down or higher up, it does not make any difference to us, for we know no distances as far as space is concerned.
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And so I have had very much to do after I left you, and could not come to you visibly. But now I, as well as our beloved brother, John, have a bit more leisure and so will stay with your party for quite a while. However, the Lord, our Father Jesus, is at all times our principal foundation, and we cannot be without His visible presence for too long, especially at times when He Himself is particularly active, emerging from His patience and forbearance.
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Oh friend, you cannot imagine all that is going on at present on the different globes, especially on the dear earth. That is also the reason why the Lord is becoming so active, and we shall soon be seeing things of which so far you have no idea. As we shall now descend into the vast valleys of the sun, you will be able to see what a crazy turn things are beginning to take here in the vast lands of the world of light. With this natural forward movement, it will take us still quite some time to reach the first valley, but you will be seeing wonders which at this stage you cannot even imagine, although you are already like me - a dweller in the third heaven.
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However, you must at all times keep in mind the concept, 'earnestness,' for the sun-dwellers are strange people! Their outer appearance is a reflection of the heavens, but within they are more cunning than foxes. They respect us pure children of God very highly, but if they detect in you the least sensual weakness, you will not easily get rid of them, as their wisdom is greater than you can imagine. But our brother here, he who has had a lot to do with them, will be able to tell you more details."
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(Says Martin): "Listen, my beloved brother, although your report is most interesting, I am not too anxious to meet these dwellers in the world of light so very soon if they are such queer fellows. That they are inconceivably beautiful, I know, having already had the fortune of seeing some of them from my house. But I did not know that under their beauty they conceal a kind of astute wisdom.
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The Lord has hinted as to how I should behave, which fully concurs with what you just told me, but about an astute slyness, nothing has been mentioned to me so far. May the Lord strengthen me and you, my dearest brothers. With your help, I hope to be able to deal with their cunning. To be trapped by those smooth, bright beauties of the sun - not on your life!"
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(Says John): "Brother, in love there is unity, and it is wide open to love! Thus love soon recognizes love. However, the ways of wisdom are infinite, and most likely no one, except the Lord, will ever fully know them. Therefore, an argument with wisdom should never be started without the Lord. He alone is familiar with all its ways, since all infinite wisdom has issued from Him. That is also why He alone is the path, the truth and life.
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You know that the Lord has given me the great gift of profound wisdom. He has given me a revelation of great depth and, because of that, also the peoples of all the suns and authority over countless spirits of profound wisdom, all of whom still draw from my abundance. And even I have been considerably embarrassed by the dwellers on this sun. If, in such moments, the Lord had not come to my assistance, I could have departed in disgrace.
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If I, who have had dealings with these sun-people for almost two thousand years, can sometimes be cornered by them, what chance would you have, meeting them for the first time?
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Look at the splendor of these mountains, at the rocks reaching up into the light-ether like huge diamonds, at the way this highland is adorned with the most glorious flowers, and how gently this path winds along like a gleaming rainbow! And still, all this glory is only a trifle compared to that harmony which a single glance of a sun-dweller in the valley will radiate.
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And on top of this, there is the harmony of each word from the purest throats of the glorious orators and singers of this world of light. I assure you, delight and amazement will render you speechless, quite unable to teach those who can silence you with a glance.
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If you want to get on with these indescribably beautiful and clear-headed sun-philosophers of both sexes, you have to appear outwardly quite indifferent, but in your heart you must be kindly disposed toward them. Then they will soon recognize in you a citizen of heaven, in possession of great might, and they will respect and love you.
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However, also their love differs considerably from ours, who are children of the Lord. It, too, is a kind of sincere affection, provided it is not ruined by wisdom. For, the moment love grows stronger than their light, the greater part of love begins to blaze, and this blazing flame of love unites with the inner light of wisdom and the result, instead of love, is just an increased wisdom, often colder than the south pole on earth.
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Therefore, love for the opposite sex, which used to be so important to you, will not get you anywhere with these sun-women. On the contrary, they are extremely insusceptible in this regard.
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Look, brother, if you observe strictly these rules, you will find a lot of happiness through these sun-dwellers, but otherwise you will meet with extreme embarrassment, similar to that caused to you by Satana when you wanted to kiss her in the presence of the Lord!"
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(Says Martin): "But, for heaven's sake, tell me - were you present at that time too?"
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(Says John): "Of course I was! Your house has vast galleries still unexplored by you, which accommodate a great number of spectators to watch the Lord in His mighty activity. Not I alone, but all the countless citizens of heaven witnessed that scene. Even among the sun-dwellers you will find many who will remind you of that incident should you ever forget yourself in any way."
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(Martin's face reflects his bewilderment, and after a while, he says): "Oh, what a dreadful business! Now all of you have witnessed that, and so have these fine sun-dwellers! What a situation! But now I don't care. Already on earth the sun has so often made me sweat and now, when I have the good luck to walk on its own ground in my spiritual body, I can expect all the more of it. I can feel it in advance that something is going to happen!"