Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 190 -
MARTIN AND HIS COMPANIONS AT THE SITE OF DEVASTATION. SATAN IS CONDEMNED BY MARTIN. MARTIN PITIES THE WEEPING SATAN AND RELEASES HIM.
When Martin looks around to all sides, he no longer sees the house or the Lord; there is no one except his above-mentioned companions. He sees a scene of destruction. Smoke and columns of fire are rising from the devastated ground. Here and there, huge craters of thunderous fire have formed, out of which, from time to time, earth-sized glowing masses are thrown into the endless space. Many of them fall back with a thunderous noise, driving water into the vast, glowing craters and causing mighty explosions of steam. And all this is effected with enough force to shoot a world like this earth for millions of miles into space.
2
(Seeing this force from the fire-crater play with world-sized masses like the wind on earth with snow flakes, Martin says in astonishment): "Brothers, this is beyond the comprehension of a poor human spirit! What an inconceivable manifestation of strength! Tell me, is all this the work of the archfiend, Satan?"
3
(Says Peter): "It is, to be sure! We certainly are not helping him, nor are others of our kind. So we can only assume that he alone is responsible."
4
(Says Martin): "But where is he that we might go there and make an end to his activity?"
5
(Says Peter): "You need not worry about that, brother. He himself will honor you with his presence! Look, there he is already rising above that immense crater, glowing like liquid ore flowing from a furnace. Prepare yourself for his reception, but make sure he does not get too close to you or you might find it a bit too warm!"
6
(Says Martin): "Very well, brother, he will not proceed too far."
7
(Here, Martin addresses Satan with mighty words of judgment): "The might of the Lord within me shall keep you banned forever on that sea of fire, for the sake of gaining everlasting peace for all created beings! And to make it quite impossible for you to inspire any evil schemes, some world-sized mountains, as hard as diamonds, will cover you hermetically. So be it in the name of the Lord!"
8
(Martin has scarcely spoken these words, when they are already fulfilled. But, after a short while, Martin asks John): "Brother, you had the revelation which, in your time, you wrote down for the world and which was inspired by the Spirit of the Lord. Tell me now whether what I have done to this evildoer is right or otherwise."
9
(Says John): "Ask your own heart and through it, the order of God. You, too, are as old as this one whom you have now banned, and until the Lord took you in hand, you were nothing but evil. If the Lord did to you what you have now done to this evil spirit that was created simultaneously with you, would you be happy about it?"
10
(Says Martin): "O brother, that would be the most terrible thing that could happen to me. Tell me, is he also feeling pain in this state?"
11
(Says John): "I assure you, the most terrible, indescribable pain! Is it now a relief to you that this one is thus tormented?"
12
(Says Martin): "O brothers, no, no, he must not suffer pain! He is only meant to be inactive. Away with this cover and the heat!"
13
What Martin has ordered happens immediately, and Satan rises painfully on the still-steaming cinders of what had been the fiery crater, and weeps pitiably.
14
(Seeing this, Martin says): "Brothers, notwithstanding his wickedness from time immemorial, I am now extremely sorry for the poor devil. How would it be if we now called him to us and suggested ways by which he could improve his lot? He certainly does not lack intelligence, only the will. And wouldn't it be possible to bend this will with the help of his own intelligence? What do you think about it, dear brothers?"
15
(Says John): "You are quite right, for this is also the Lord's immutable will. But you will soon convince yourself that there is no other way to handle him than that of the long, continued judgment - which consists in the external, material creation. This weakens him more and more and, aware of his weakness and impotence, he must submit to a lot of things that he would never submit to while still in full possession of his strength, free and unjudged.
16
However, you may try your luck to convince yourself as to the state of his intelligence and will. Call him, and he will be here right away."