Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 40 -
THE TWELVE SMALL CABINETS WITH THE COVERED AS YET UNBLESSED SPIRITUAL DISHES. - THE FLOCK OF LOVELY MAIDENS, THE BEAUTIFUL MERCURIAN, THE PERFECTLY SHAPED NAKED VENUSIANS. - THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LORD'S BLESSING.
1
(Bishop Martin): "But now I remember that adjoining this hall there are still twelve cabinets into which the twelve doors lead. And there will be the somewhat ominous covered dishes. These cabinets I must inspect. So, in the name of the Lord, good luck, for who knows what these secret cabinets might reveal!
2
So, let me open door number one. Oh, oh, just look at this - there is my beautiful flock, shapely as ever! What a surprise; thus, dear eternity will not seem long at all. But now it means 'about turn'! This is already covered dish number one. I had better get on with door number two.
3
There it is! I'll open it carefully, in the name of the Lord, for one never knows what might be behind it. This door does not open as lightly as the previous one, but - thank God - I have opened it at last! In this cabinet, it is darker than in the first one, so I shall have to enter it.
4
Oh, oh, oh! What is this? This room is even larger than the entrance hall. And in the background I can discern a vast crowd of completely naked human beings of both sexes. How beautiful they are, especially the females.
5
Ah, one of them is approaching me. Should I wait for her? Oh, yes, I have to, for this dish is not covered. Oh, no, not a bit!
6
What a breathtaking beauty! The whiteness of the skin, the well-developed figure and bust! It is overwhelming! The softly rounded arms, the divine feet, and this heavenly beautiful face with the tender smile!
7
Oh, oh, I can't bear it! I must leave! But no, I can't, it is impossible, and maybe she wants to tell me something. Here she is already; quiet - she is going to say something!"
8
(The woman speaks): "You must be the owner of this house for whom we have been waiting all this time?"
9
(Bishop Martin): "Oh, yes, but no - not quite! I have only just come to live here. The owner would really be the Lord Jesus, Infinite God. What could I do for you all, and especially for you, you heavenly beauty, who surpasses all beauty of the whole of infinity?"
10
(The woman): "Do not praise me so much, for over there are many of my sex who are incomparably more beautiful than I, and I, as the least beautiful, was sent to meet you so as not to dazzle you too much in the beginning.
11
We are all human beings from the planet Mercury, as you, children of the Almighty, call it. As this is your house, it is up to you to keep us here that we might serve you, or to send us away. But we all beg you to have mercy upon us."
12
(Bishop Martin): "Oh, please, you heavenly, sublime and sweetest beauty - if there were many thousands of you, I wouldn't think of letting you go. Come to me, you loveliest of all Mercurians, and let me embrace you. Oh dear, you are getting more beautiful every moment, especially when you smile at me so charmingly."
13
(The woman): "You are the master, and I can only be your slave for ever! Therefore, I have to do as you wish, for your will must be sacred to all of us."
14
(Bishop Martin): "But my heavenly beauty, what is all this talk about slaves? From now on, you will be a queen of my heart! Come, oh come, you sweetest beauty! O God, this delight really takes my breath away!"
15
Bishop Martin is just going to embrace the beautiful Mer-curian, when I Myself tap him on the shoulder, saying: "Wait, My dear son Martin, this, too, is a covered dish! Only after I have blessed her for you can you embrace her - if you then still feel like it! I suggest an about turn here, too!"
16
(Bishop Martin): "Oh, You, my beloved Lord Jesus! I love You assuredly as much as anyone can love You, but I must tell You honestly that, in this instance, I would have preferred You to arrive a few moments later!"
17
(Say I): "Of this I am quite aware, and already I predicted to you that you would very soon feel like this, although at that moment you did not want to be separated from Me at any cost. However, I never forsake him who has taken Me into his heart. Therefore, follow Me quickly out of this room, then, when the time is right, the reason for this will be revealed to you. And you, woman, withdraw again!"
18
The woman does as told, and Bishop Martin follows Me, with a somewhat long face, but not unwillingly, to door number three.
19
When we come to this door, it opens by itself.
20
Bishop Martin looks inside, full of curiosity, and is amazed when he is faced with quite a new world of splendor, including a crowd of blessed spirits in the most perfect human shape. Their beauty has an almost stunning effect on our bishop.
21
(Only after a while, does Bishop Martin exclaim): "O Lord, You glorious Creator and Master of all things, all beings - human and angelic - this is breathtaking, too superb for human comprehension!
22
What does this mean? Who are these beings? Are they angels or blessed human spirits? Although they are also naked, their sunny white skin, their stature of perfect harmony, a sort of radiance enveloping them replaces a thousandfold the most splendid garments. I could not possibly imagine a more beautiful and sublime shape.
23
O Lord, no praise or honor can do You justice! You are holy, holy; heaven and earth are full of Your wonders! Glory be to You in all eternity!
24
I beg of You, let us proceed, for I cannot bear this magnificent sight any longer. Just tell me one thing if You will: What beings are these?"
25
(Say I): "Those are human beings from the planet you call Venus. They are meant to serve you, My children, whenever and wherever you require their services; this is their greatest bliss. Therefore, the more often and wiser you make use of them, the happier they will be.
26
However, these are not the only ones awaiting your orders. There are countless others, from other planets. But you'll have to learn how to use their services in all wisdom. This is all you have to know for the time being; further details will follow later.
27
This will give you an idea of what Paul hinted at when he said: 'Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him!'
28
While still on earth, you had no idea why the stars had such a mighty attraction for you. But now you see before you the magnet which so often drew you with magic power and called forth many a sigh of 'Oh, how beautiful!' from your then rather barren soul.
29
Behold, this is already a kind of service on the part of these beings if through their firm and unshaken will they sometimes influence receptive minds of men, turning them toward the stars. That they did also for you, before you knew them. And now they will do this to an even greater extent, since they have seen you, as you have seen them, although not too clearly as yet.
30
But now let us continue to door number four, where you will see something different and even more glorious. So be it!"
31
(Bishop Martin): "But Lord, why are these beautiful beings not allowed to approach us, and why must they first be blessed by You?"
32
(Say I): "My dear son Martin, have you never noticed on earth, when going for a walk along the bank of a river, that there were people doing exactly the same on the opposite bank? Would it have been possible for you, if you had felt like it, to cross over to them without a bridge or a boat? You'd say, no! But behold, in this world My blessing serves the same purpose a bridge or ship does on earth.
33
Neither on earth nor here in heaven can you do anything without Me! My blessing is My almighty will, My eternal word: 'Let there be!' - by which all that is was made. Therefore, it must also throw a bridge to all these beings to enable you to get to them and them to you without doing any harm. And everything has its right time, which I alone determine, or he to whom I reveal it."
34
(Bishop Martin): "But how was it possible for the lovely Mercurian to come so close to me that I would have embraced her if You had not prevented me, even though, as a covered dish, she had not been blessed by You as yet? What was it that had served her as a bridge? Or was that, too, only an illusion?"
35
(Say I): "My dear son Martin, be satisfied to know what I reveal to you, for it was forwardness that caused Adam's fall, and before him the first created and highest angelic spirits! Therefore, if you want to attain perfect bliss, you 11 have to follow My guidance completely, without overstepping the mark My love and wisdom have set for you.
36
When the right time comes, you will understand all this. This promise should suffice you, or you might find yourself on another sea which would cause you more trouble than the previous one! For, before you have a heavenly wedding garment, you are not yet a real citizen of heaven, only a poor sinner taken in out of mercy who can become a true citizen of heaven by following certain paths. Therefore, stop asking questions and follow Me to the fourth door. So be it!"
37
Bishop Martin slaps his own face and follows Me, regretting his forward question.
38
(But I comfort him, saying): "Do not be afraid! For every word that I speak to you shall mean eternal life for you, not your judgment! And now we are at door number four, which is opening by itself."