The Great Gospel of John
Volume 9
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
The Lord in the region of Caesarea Philippi
- Chapter 197 -
The presence of the angels with men.
Also the men from Joppe listened with the greatest attention to this very valid and instructive speech of Raphael, and they were surprised of the wisdom of the apparent young man.
2
Some of them asked: "Who can this nice looking young man be?"
3
The fisherman said: "How can you still ask? Did the 2 disciples in Joppe not tell us exactly that there was also a young man with the Lord, who is visible before all men and works great signs and wonders at the will of the Lord and who also gives men very wise lessons?
4
This young man must be an angel who serves the Lord, so that the Scripture would also be fulfilled on that point, where it is stated: 'At that time you will see how the angels of God will descend from the Heavens to Earth and will serve the Lord and men.' Look, my dear friends and companions, this is what the 2 disciples truthfully told us, and we can see now entirely the proof of what the 2 disciples said to us.
5
It is true that this young man has still not performed a sign before our eyes, but this we also do not need, because the very wise lesson, which he gave to the somehow too curious disciples and friends at the table of the Lord, is for us sufficient to conclude that this young man - from whose mouth comes so much truth and wisdom - is not a normal human being but must be a very high spirit. Is it now clear to you what kind of young man that is?
6
They all said: "Yes, friend, you are completely right. So it is and not otherwise, and we thank you for refreshing our memory. The 2 disciples told us so many things that we really did not remember that young man anymore. But now everything is again clear to us."
7
Then Raphael stood up and walked to the table of the men from Joppe, which made them feel somewhat embarrassed.
8
But he quickly reassured them by saying to them in a friendly voice (Raphael): "You really should not be afraid of me, for at the Lord's will I came to you after your conversation about me. For wherever real friends of the Lord are discussing about what is of the spirit of eternal love and truth, there also the angels of the Lord are always gathered in large groups around them.
9
I truly am not the only one who is near you, but there are still many more like me. Open up your eyes a bit wider, then you will see it for yourselves under the merciful permission of the Lord."
10
Then for a few moments the inner sight of the men from Joppe was opened and they saw as it were in a sea of light, numberless large groups of perfect spirits. And from those large groups of God's angels sounded as if from one mouth a mighty voice: 'Happy are those who have recognized the Lord, who love Him above all and faithfully act and live according to His word, for already in His flesh He is equal to us, and we are always prepared to serve Him in all brotherly love.'
11
Then the inner sight was taken away from the very astonished men from Joppe, for they were not able to bear it any longer in their flesh because of too great happiness.
12
When they could not see the angels anymore, the fisherman said: "O friend, was this reality or only some kind of dream, brought about by your indescribable beauty. For I have never seen such charming, beautiful human form as yours, which looks like those whom I have seen now for a few moments in the light of the Heavens."
13
Raphael said: "Friends of the Lord, that was not a dream, but the naked truth, you can be sure of that. Once you will be more completed in the spirit yourselves by your faith and especially by the pure love for the Lord, you will be able to see what you have seen now - constantly, on a higher level of light and life, very often and for a longer time. But for now, be satisfied with what you have seen and heard."
14
Then the fisherman said: "O beautiful friend from the Heavens of God. It is true that man lives since his birth in the midst of sheer wonders, and he himself is still the greatest wonder. But since he is constantly surrounded by numberless wonders, he is used to it, he takes little notice of it, and even less thinks about it as to what and why they are, and who the One is who partly is always bringing them to life again. And other wonders are brought to life for a longer time, and again others - so it seems - to keep them alive forever, like the Earth and its lands, mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, the moon, the sun and all the numberless stars.
15
But when new signs and wonders are happening before the eyes of men, as this is now the case with at the same time the presence of the Lord, then of course also the already long existing works of wonder of the Lord receive back their true value. Then the awakened men are noticing it and they glorify and praise the eternal great Creator of those numberless works of wonder. We ourselves are now looking at the nature with very different eyes than ever before.
16
Tonight we have seen again the air phenomena which are known to us and which we call by the name 'fata morgana'. Of course, we do not understand how and why they exist. But we know by experience that storms will follow. And until now we considered them to be warnings from Heaven - that one should bring himself into safety at such phenomenon. However, these phenomena will certainly have another, deeper meaning. If it is necessary for us, the Lord will give us also a light concerning this, and if it is not necessary, we will not be greedy for it, for from now on, only the will of the Lord should rule over us. We thank you for your visit."
17
Then Raphael said: "My dear friends and brothers in the Lord - the Creator and Father of us all from eternity - I still have to discuss a few things with you, since the point is now to do completely away with the old, extremely blind and stupid superstition.
18
You still do not know the Earth, and even less the moon, the sun and all the other stars. That is why I came to you to give you a correct and true light about this, and still about a lot of other things, for if someone has wrong ideas about the things and phenomena in the natural world, he never can impossibly completely grasp and understand the deeper, spiritual things. And since you are now also called to transmit the word and the light of life to other people, I will instruct you in the secrets of the visible natural world."
19
The men from Joppe were extremely glad with Raphael's offer, and as he did on other occasions, he presented everything illustratively for the sake of an easier and faster understanding, and there was no end to their amazement. And he explained them everything with a few words in a very understandable manner. Within 1 hour, the men from Joppe understood everything, and they praised My wisdom.