The Rosicrucan Christ of the Heart
While Rosicrucians are devout and hence do constitute a body of "religious" individuals throughout the world, the Rosicrucian organization is not trying to form another church or another religious movement.
It is not to be expected that a Rosicrucian will abandon his membership in the church of his selection, attend no church, or accept the Rosicrucian Order as a church. Since the Order does not operate as a church and does not encourage its members to abandon their church connections, it cannot be said to be either competing with the church or attempting to fulfill its function. There is, nevertheless, a deep religious spirit back of Rosicrucian philosophy, and Rosicrucians throughout past centuries were notably spiritual, religious, and devout in their practices.
Rosicrucian philosophy is nonsectarian. Every Rosicrucian has a great love for the God of the Universe, the Supreme Being, or the Supreme Architect. Rosicrucian teachings do not incline members to a special sectarian interpretation of God or religion. The Christian religion gives considerable emphasis to the deity, divinity, and superior powers and distinctions of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God. That makes the Christian religion and its denominations sectarian.
On the other hand, there are millions of Buddhists who also believe in a Supreme God, Supreme Architect, or Supreme Being. He is not another God although through misunderstanding many believe that Buddha himself is worshipped as God.
Many Rosicrucians in the past, and perhaps a majority in the early centuries, were Christians and worshipped Jesus the Christ. Throughout the Western world today, thousands of Rosicrucians are devout Christians; yet they do not find in our work anything that detracts from their own devotion to the Christian doctrines. We also have Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, and others who find that our work does not interfere at all with their religious devotion or their sectarian ideas.
In most early Rosicrucian manuscripts, there are many references to the Lord Jesus, and Jesus the Christ. In the book of Rosicrucian Secret Symbols, a reprint of an ancient book of Rosicrucian symbolism, there are many diagrams referring to the Christ. Rosicrucians, however, both ancient and modern, have a slightly different understanding of Jesus the Christ than do those who are simply adherents of the Christian religion. Rosicrucians make a distinction between Jesus as a human individual, incarnated on earth as the Son of God, and the Christ spirit, or the Christ.
Every Rosicrucian will gradually come to understand that the Christ spirit, or the Christ symbolizes a principle, a power, a divine character, presented to us in the Christian Bible. Like many Rosicrucians of ancient times, those of today who are Jews, Moslems, or Buddhists admire, love, respect, and worship the idea of the Christ principle, the Christ spirit and the Christ without accepting Christian sectarian doctrines. To the Rosicrucian, it is important to understand that in the soul and spirit of every man there is a portion of the God consciousness or of the God mind, wisdom, and power. That is the Christ spirit or the Christ.
Orthodox Christian doctrines state that eternal life and redemption from original sin are dependent upon the acceptance of Jesus the Christ as Lord and Savior. It is not enough, state these doctrines, that an individual be godly, obey the Ten Commandments strictly, and worship God sincerely; for, while such a life may free from commission of sin, the individual himself still shares with mankind the inherited burden of original sin. Of this he cannot rid himself until he takes Jesus into his heart and accepts him as a personal Savior and redeemer.
Rosicrucians differ here. They claim that it is possible for man to live a godly life without having adopted Jesus the Christ as his personal Savior. Throughout the earth, there are millions who have not been and probably never will be Christians because they know little about the Christian religion. Centuries before Jesus the Christ was born, there were millions who lived good lives. They could not be justly condemned to eternal punishment for not accepting a person not yet created. They could not accept the Christian religion before there was such a thing, and they could not accept Jesus as a Savior before he was born, made incarnate, or revealed to them. The Christian, however, has as much right to his doctrinal beliefs and interpretations as anyone, and it is not within our province to discuss who is right or wrong.
Rosicrucians feel that instead of insisting that every individual ADOPT Jesus the Christ as his Savior, it would be better to awaken, and ENTHRONE the Christ spirit already dwelling within us. Ancient Rosicrucians came to realize that Jesus the Christ as a divine principle, spirit, or power in the lives of men, is not something external to man, dwelling in space and awaiting discovery and adoption, but that the Christ spirit is already a part of our consciousness although we may have failed to recognize it or to work in harmony with it.
The average Rosicrucian who analyzes the matter will agree with the Christian doctrines to this extent: Until a man recognizes this Christ spirit, awakens it, quickens it, and lives in accordance with it, he is lost and cannot find the eternal kingdom of peace and light, love, and life. In that regard, therefore, the Christ spirit or the Christ can become the redeeming Savior, the redeeming power for each of us.
From this point of view, Rosicrucians do not regard the Christ as a person who lived as a human being or as a special form of divinity not resident in any human body before. This does not mean that a Rosicrucian will deny that a human being such as the one represented in the Christian doctrines as Jesus did live. It is immaterial from the Rosicrucian point of view whether there ever was a special and only begotten Son of God born on earth as the only true and real Christ and who had the only Christ spirit within him. Whether or not there was such a historical person has no bearing upon the fact that in the soul and divine spirit of each of us resides some of the essence, mind, power, spirit of this great Christ. This spirit within is like a person imprisoned in the sanctuary or cathedral of the soul in each of us. Because of our lack of recognition, lack of understanding and desire to abide by the wisdom, divinity, and spirit of that Christ, the Christ within us cannot function, guide, and lead us to fulfillment.
There is a difference between the idea of ADOPTION and that of RECOGNITION. Christian doctrines would have us believe that the Christ resides outside of us in the spiritual kingdom and that we must bring into our consciousness something that is not already there. Rosicrucians, on the other hand, believe that the Christ spirit is born in us and resides in us from the moment that the soul enters the body, but that we must ENTHRONE it within our hearts and consciousness by our understanding recognition. It is much like saying that we must adopt God as the Supreme Being in the universe instead of recognizing that He already is. God exists everywhere, and is within the soul and body of every individual. We do not have to adopt Him into our lives, but we do have to recognize, obey, and enthrone Him.
This leads us to the conclusion, according to the earliest Rosicrucian teachings, that man has within his divine consciousness two divine principles and powers-the God principle and power, and the Christ principle and power. Therefore, man can live, move, and have his being physically and mentally without the recognition and enthronement of Jesus the Christ, but not so happily and successfully as otherwise, for once he understands the Christ principle within him, he finds new power and new possibilities that lead to an eternal existence.
It is the Christ spirit or the Christ within that represents the psychic and divine. It is the Christ within that enables us to heal, to project our thoughts, to sense the thoughts of others, to control matters external to ourselves, and to regulate conditions within our bodies. The moment the Rosicrucian begins to develop his psychic powers, abilities and tendencies, he awakens, quickens, and gives recognition to the Christ within him.
This understanding of religious and divine principles will not make a devout Christian any the less reverential toward the historical Jesus the Christ. It will merely give him a greater and better understanding of who or what that character was, why he represented an ideal earthly form of the Christ spirit, and how he was the "only begotten Son of God." Undoubtedly that character came to earth to reveal the Christ principle in all of us and to point "the way" to eternal life and salvation; but the Christ is still with us and in us, though impotent-because of our lack of recognition and enthronement of him.
The idea, therefore, that there must be a second coming of the great historical character of Jesus to earth to save the world is not the understanding Rosicrucians have. The second coming of Jesus the Christ is the coming of recognition within our own soul and consciousness of the Christ spirit or of the Christ.
As the Christian's "adoption or acceptance" of Jesus as a personal Savior starts a new life for him, so will the recognition and enthronement of the Christ within begin a new cycle of life for you and bring you nearer the ideal life than anything else.
Who will accept Christ as your own Savior today, and realize “He was there all the while” waiting to show you his “Second Coming?”
Blessings!
Marked Elect
Monday, August 14, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
More About Karma from the late Guru, Charan Singh
The Law of Karma
The world is a place in which we learn. Is that called karma? What do we learn in this world? To feel unhappy? To be a part of this agony? What are we learning? What advantage are we taking now from our experiences in our previous births? Do we remember them? Are we not repeating the same mistakes which we repeated in our last birth?
How much have we learned from these mistakes? Nothing. So how are we learning?
We are just reaping the fruit of what we have sown. We even do not learn from the mistakes in this life, what to say of our past lives. This world is a field of karmas. Whatever we have sown, we reap, and whatever we sow now, we reap here in the future.
We have come here again and again to fulfil those desires, to reap the fruit of the seeds that we have sown in our previous births, and while reaping we also sow for the next birth, and the excess also increases our stored lot. That is karma.
Question from a Desciple: "Master, if a man acts like a beast will he have to come back as a beast?"
Ans: " He may have been a beast in his last life and is still carrying all those instincts in him. Or he may come back again as a beast. Our own karma decides that. According to the karma theory, man can merge back into his Source, the Lord from whom he originally came, and he can also go back into a lower species such as an animal or even below that, to which he may have descended in a previous life and come up to the status of a human being again.
The Lord does not find excuses to send us back. He gives us opportunity after opportunity to improve, to go ahead. But if we refuse to make use of this opportunity, we can go back.
Our attachments, our unfulfilled desires, our karmas can pull us down. We do not like to think so, but that is a fact."
Question: " Maharaj Ji, is it possible to have unconscious attachments without really realizing it?"
Ans: "Sometimes we are not aware of our attachments. We feel that we are detached, but when the situation arises, we realize how much we are attached. Our present attachments as well as our previous attachments can bring us back to this earth, because unless all our karmas, unless all our attachments are loosened, we cannot go up. We may have some previous attachments of past births which may still be strong and for which we still have to give an account. They may even pull us back to this world. " Ques: "Even if we do make progress?"
Anns: "Even if we do make progress. But we will, of course, go ahead, not backwards. We will be born in much better circumstances where we can clear our karmic accounts in a much better way. Once we make a start, we will always go ahead, not backwards at all. There are no failures in Sant Mat. But unless our attachments are loosened, we cannot go back Home. And all this meditation takes care of our previous attachments also. When we think that we are not making progress, we do not know actually what progress we are making, how much we have to pierce through in order to get to the light."
"We all have a store of karmas from previous births, and unless we clear those karmas from previous births, as well as our fate karma and do not sow for the future, how can we go back?
Meditation takes care of all those stores of karmas. By meditating we are loosening those attachments, and when they are being cleared, sometimes in meditation we see many types of faces coming before us of gents and ladies, moving about."
" We do not know who they are. Those are our previous relations, our previous attachments. We are not to pay any attention to them. We are just to keep ourself in meditation. Automatically they will cease to come before us. Their accounts with us are being cleared in this way. Only if we still have very strong attachments left at the time of death, then we are brought back into this world to clear them."
Ques: " Astrologers claim that when one is born in a certain month of the year, one is given a certain type of life and guaranteed a certain way of living. Is this true or not?"
Ans: " If you know what is going to happen to you, what difference will it make? Nothing can be changed. We will have to face what is in our destiny. So why add to our agony by knowing beforehand what we are going to face? If one is told that he is going to have an accident two years before it is to happen, one is living in that anxiety and agony for two years. Whereas if he did not know in advance, it may have bothered him for perhaps only two or three hours.
What is the use of it all? Astrology is a definite science, which very few have mastered, so mostly these predictions are not correct. One should not dabble in these things. Whatever has to come, will come, so why bother about it?"
Ques: "If we do something for someone and it turns out badly, and we find out that we were wrong and were truly sorry, does that rectify anything?"
Ans: " We should honestly, with the best of intentions, try always to do good. Then if it turns out differently, we should not worry. We should take it as our pralabdh karma, fate or destiny.
There is nothing to rectify. The thing that had to happen, has happened. Our conscience is clear. We have not done it knowingly. But we should not try to justify such weaknesses. When we are honest in our efforts to do good, then it is up to the Lord. W e cannot help it if it takes another shape."
Ques: "Regarding animals and our relations to them, is it detrimental to our own progress to have affection for an individual animal?"
Ans: " It depends upon the attachment. If you are attached to an animal, naturally it will pull you down. If the animal is attached to you and you are not attached to the animal, but you are attached to something much better than the animal, then you may pull that animal up.
If we are meditating, we are attached to that Sound so strongly that it is pulling us, and if the animal is attached to us, we will also pull him along with us."
Ques: Is it possible to rise to some level where you can negotiate with the mind and these attachments and balance them without actually having to live through the karma?"
Ans: " We can always burn our karmas. They can always be destroyed. That is the purpose of meditation. Otherwise we would have taken hundreds of lives to fulfil those karmas. But by meditation it can be done in one, or two, or three lives, and four at the most. The object of meditation is to destroy those karmas, to clear those karmas. Kabir says that if you have a big stack of hay, it takes only one matchstick to burn the whole lot. Similarly, one little portion of Shabd, an atom of it, burns thousands and millions of our karmas. We actually burn or destroy and rise above them, and do not make new ones in the process. These old karmas have relations with our mind. When with the help of Shabd our mind goes back to its origin, these karmas just drop down. However rusty a knife may be, if you hold it against a revolving grindstone, all the rust is removed. The knife again shines like new. It becomes pure. That is the condition of the soul when it leaves the mind after coming in touch with the Shabd."
Ques: "What is the reason for not remembering what has happened?"
Ans: "If you remember what has happened, what has brought you back into this world, you will not repeat those mistakes. That means you will never come back to this earth again, but will go back to the Lord. In that case, eventually everyone would do so, and the creation would come to an end. If we all know why we are here, which bad habits or which bad karmas have brought us here, we will stop doing those bad karmas. Kal ( The negative power) has received certain boons, prerogatives, certain advantages. That is why this whole universe is going on.
One of the boons granted to him was that all creatures forget their past. Those boons are essential for the continuance of this universe. Since the Lord wants this universe to go on, naturally we have to forget all that has happened in our previous lives, for which we are here now. "
Ques:" Why would the soul want to come back here from the superior planes, knowing how much suffering and misery is here?"
A ns: "Even now, we do not want to go back. We see suffering all around us. If anyone tells you to prepare yourself, you are going to die, are you prepared to die at once? We say, "No, we have so many things to do yet." So even now we are not prepared to leave in spite of all the suffering in this world. We may think we are prepared to die, but realize that we are not when faced with the situation. Knowing that we are weeping and suffering, knowing that we are so miserable and unhappy, still we are not doing anything to get rid of this condition. We are doing the same things again and again. We are not taking lessons from that deed we have done in the past birth for which we are suffering now. We are victims of the senses, just the same as we used tobe. We are not taking any lessons from the past. Nobody does.When the situation arises we do the same thing, and we are again sorry. We have forgotten the reason why we are unhappy."
Ques: "Do I understand correctly that at a certain point in the unfoldment we are able to review all the past karmas? If so, is it necessary, and is it of any advantage?"
Ans: " We do know about our whole past when we go beyond Trikuti, the second stage. When the soul gets released from the mind, your past will be crystal-clear to you, as if you are looking in a glass. This is possible only when you go beyond the second stage, and then perhaps you will not be interested in knowing your past. You are not interested at all. You are rather looking ahead, and not at the back. You do not feel inclined to see what sins you have been committing, nor what you have had to go through. You are not concerned. Only those who reach their True Home obtain everlasting joy and peace. They break out of the cycle of birth and death forever, and return at last to the Father, thereby escaping the repeated torture of the Messenger of Death."
Ques: "With whose grace do we gain admission to the Court of the Lord? Surely not by our own efforts. Alone we can do nothing. We can never, by ourselves, traverse the uncharted terrain of the inner path. We owe everything to the immeasurable grace of the Master. He showers his blessings on us by joining us with the Shabd and Nam, removing all our doubts, and pulling us out of this quagmire of illusion. It is our Master who puts us on the right Path and awakens in our mind abiding love and devotion for the Lord. Blessed with his infinite grace, through meditation, we seek, we find, and we knock. All beings in the world are helpless puppets in the hands of destiny. There is nothing that they can accomplish by their own efforts."
"Those on whom the Lord wishes to shower his mercy and grace are given the gift of the human form. Out of these fortunate souls, he draws the attention of the marked ones( Marked Elect) to himself. These are the souls whom he, in his supreme bounty, wishes to deliver from doubt and delusion, whom he wishes to call back to his Mansion by joining them with the Light and Sound. It is the Lord's will which is supreme. It is His will that is "done on earth as it is in heaven". Man is helpless. Not till he himself takes us into his fold are we redeemed through the Master's grace. And that grace is showered on us through his gift of devotion and love, which eventually tunes us to him and draws us to our home to merge with the Lord forever..
- "Die to Live" by Maharaj Charan Singh
The world is a place in which we learn. Is that called karma? What do we learn in this world? To feel unhappy? To be a part of this agony? What are we learning? What advantage are we taking now from our experiences in our previous births? Do we remember them? Are we not repeating the same mistakes which we repeated in our last birth?
How much have we learned from these mistakes? Nothing. So how are we learning?
We are just reaping the fruit of what we have sown. We even do not learn from the mistakes in this life, what to say of our past lives. This world is a field of karmas. Whatever we have sown, we reap, and whatever we sow now, we reap here in the future.
We have come here again and again to fulfil those desires, to reap the fruit of the seeds that we have sown in our previous births, and while reaping we also sow for the next birth, and the excess also increases our stored lot. That is karma.
Question from a Desciple: "Master, if a man acts like a beast will he have to come back as a beast?"
Ans: " He may have been a beast in his last life and is still carrying all those instincts in him. Or he may come back again as a beast. Our own karma decides that. According to the karma theory, man can merge back into his Source, the Lord from whom he originally came, and he can also go back into a lower species such as an animal or even below that, to which he may have descended in a previous life and come up to the status of a human being again.
The Lord does not find excuses to send us back. He gives us opportunity after opportunity to improve, to go ahead. But if we refuse to make use of this opportunity, we can go back.
Our attachments, our unfulfilled desires, our karmas can pull us down. We do not like to think so, but that is a fact."
Question: " Maharaj Ji, is it possible to have unconscious attachments without really realizing it?"
Ans: "Sometimes we are not aware of our attachments. We feel that we are detached, but when the situation arises, we realize how much we are attached. Our present attachments as well as our previous attachments can bring us back to this earth, because unless all our karmas, unless all our attachments are loosened, we cannot go up. We may have some previous attachments of past births which may still be strong and for which we still have to give an account. They may even pull us back to this world. " Ques: "Even if we do make progress?"
Anns: "Even if we do make progress. But we will, of course, go ahead, not backwards. We will be born in much better circumstances where we can clear our karmic accounts in a much better way. Once we make a start, we will always go ahead, not backwards at all. There are no failures in Sant Mat. But unless our attachments are loosened, we cannot go back Home. And all this meditation takes care of our previous attachments also. When we think that we are not making progress, we do not know actually what progress we are making, how much we have to pierce through in order to get to the light."
"We all have a store of karmas from previous births, and unless we clear those karmas from previous births, as well as our fate karma and do not sow for the future, how can we go back?
Meditation takes care of all those stores of karmas. By meditating we are loosening those attachments, and when they are being cleared, sometimes in meditation we see many types of faces coming before us of gents and ladies, moving about."
" We do not know who they are. Those are our previous relations, our previous attachments. We are not to pay any attention to them. We are just to keep ourself in meditation. Automatically they will cease to come before us. Their accounts with us are being cleared in this way. Only if we still have very strong attachments left at the time of death, then we are brought back into this world to clear them."
Ques: " Astrologers claim that when one is born in a certain month of the year, one is given a certain type of life and guaranteed a certain way of living. Is this true or not?"
Ans: " If you know what is going to happen to you, what difference will it make? Nothing can be changed. We will have to face what is in our destiny. So why add to our agony by knowing beforehand what we are going to face? If one is told that he is going to have an accident two years before it is to happen, one is living in that anxiety and agony for two years. Whereas if he did not know in advance, it may have bothered him for perhaps only two or three hours.
What is the use of it all? Astrology is a definite science, which very few have mastered, so mostly these predictions are not correct. One should not dabble in these things. Whatever has to come, will come, so why bother about it?"
Ques: "If we do something for someone and it turns out badly, and we find out that we were wrong and were truly sorry, does that rectify anything?"
Ans: " We should honestly, with the best of intentions, try always to do good. Then if it turns out differently, we should not worry. We should take it as our pralabdh karma, fate or destiny.
There is nothing to rectify. The thing that had to happen, has happened. Our conscience is clear. We have not done it knowingly. But we should not try to justify such weaknesses. When we are honest in our efforts to do good, then it is up to the Lord. W e cannot help it if it takes another shape."
Ques: "Regarding animals and our relations to them, is it detrimental to our own progress to have affection for an individual animal?"
Ans: " It depends upon the attachment. If you are attached to an animal, naturally it will pull you down. If the animal is attached to you and you are not attached to the animal, but you are attached to something much better than the animal, then you may pull that animal up.
If we are meditating, we are attached to that Sound so strongly that it is pulling us, and if the animal is attached to us, we will also pull him along with us."
Ques: Is it possible to rise to some level where you can negotiate with the mind and these attachments and balance them without actually having to live through the karma?"
Ans: " We can always burn our karmas. They can always be destroyed. That is the purpose of meditation. Otherwise we would have taken hundreds of lives to fulfil those karmas. But by meditation it can be done in one, or two, or three lives, and four at the most. The object of meditation is to destroy those karmas, to clear those karmas. Kabir says that if you have a big stack of hay, it takes only one matchstick to burn the whole lot. Similarly, one little portion of Shabd, an atom of it, burns thousands and millions of our karmas. We actually burn or destroy and rise above them, and do not make new ones in the process. These old karmas have relations with our mind. When with the help of Shabd our mind goes back to its origin, these karmas just drop down. However rusty a knife may be, if you hold it against a revolving grindstone, all the rust is removed. The knife again shines like new. It becomes pure. That is the condition of the soul when it leaves the mind after coming in touch with the Shabd."
Ques: "What is the reason for not remembering what has happened?"
Ans: "If you remember what has happened, what has brought you back into this world, you will not repeat those mistakes. That means you will never come back to this earth again, but will go back to the Lord. In that case, eventually everyone would do so, and the creation would come to an end. If we all know why we are here, which bad habits or which bad karmas have brought us here, we will stop doing those bad karmas. Kal ( The negative power) has received certain boons, prerogatives, certain advantages. That is why this whole universe is going on.
One of the boons granted to him was that all creatures forget their past. Those boons are essential for the continuance of this universe. Since the Lord wants this universe to go on, naturally we have to forget all that has happened in our previous lives, for which we are here now. "
Ques:" Why would the soul want to come back here from the superior planes, knowing how much suffering and misery is here?"
A ns: "Even now, we do not want to go back. We see suffering all around us. If anyone tells you to prepare yourself, you are going to die, are you prepared to die at once? We say, "No, we have so many things to do yet." So even now we are not prepared to leave in spite of all the suffering in this world. We may think we are prepared to die, but realize that we are not when faced with the situation. Knowing that we are weeping and suffering, knowing that we are so miserable and unhappy, still we are not doing anything to get rid of this condition. We are doing the same things again and again. We are not taking lessons from that deed we have done in the past birth for which we are suffering now. We are victims of the senses, just the same as we used tobe. We are not taking any lessons from the past. Nobody does.When the situation arises we do the same thing, and we are again sorry. We have forgotten the reason why we are unhappy."
Ques: "Do I understand correctly that at a certain point in the unfoldment we are able to review all the past karmas? If so, is it necessary, and is it of any advantage?"
Ans: " We do know about our whole past when we go beyond Trikuti, the second stage. When the soul gets released from the mind, your past will be crystal-clear to you, as if you are looking in a glass. This is possible only when you go beyond the second stage, and then perhaps you will not be interested in knowing your past. You are not interested at all. You are rather looking ahead, and not at the back. You do not feel inclined to see what sins you have been committing, nor what you have had to go through. You are not concerned. Only those who reach their True Home obtain everlasting joy and peace. They break out of the cycle of birth and death forever, and return at last to the Father, thereby escaping the repeated torture of the Messenger of Death."
Ques: "With whose grace do we gain admission to the Court of the Lord? Surely not by our own efforts. Alone we can do nothing. We can never, by ourselves, traverse the uncharted terrain of the inner path. We owe everything to the immeasurable grace of the Master. He showers his blessings on us by joining us with the Shabd and Nam, removing all our doubts, and pulling us out of this quagmire of illusion. It is our Master who puts us on the right Path and awakens in our mind abiding love and devotion for the Lord. Blessed with his infinite grace, through meditation, we seek, we find, and we knock. All beings in the world are helpless puppets in the hands of destiny. There is nothing that they can accomplish by their own efforts."
"Those on whom the Lord wishes to shower his mercy and grace are given the gift of the human form. Out of these fortunate souls, he draws the attention of the marked ones( Marked Elect) to himself. These are the souls whom he, in his supreme bounty, wishes to deliver from doubt and delusion, whom he wishes to call back to his Mansion by joining them with the Light and Sound. It is the Lord's will which is supreme. It is His will that is "done on earth as it is in heaven". Man is helpless. Not till he himself takes us into his fold are we redeemed through the Master's grace. And that grace is showered on us through his gift of devotion and love, which eventually tunes us to him and draws us to our home to merge with the Lord forever..
- "Die to Live" by Maharaj Charan Singh
THE LAW OF KARMA
THE LAW OF KARMA
The law of karma is NOT a law of resentment, retribution, or retaliation; it does not seek to cause equal suffering for any amount of suffering created; it does not seek to cause rejoicing to equal any joy given to us by others; but it does bring to our consciousness a keen realization of the nature of our acts.
To some, it can cause such realization only through suffering, to others, it may make its impression in some other way. But, the real object, always, is to make us conscious of what we have done and the consequences of those acts, and the bearing upon the whole scheme of things. Its greatest effect is in causing us to make compensations for the wrongs we have done or to benefit by the good that we have done.
Once we have a solid realization of our error, regret it, and determine not to repeat it, the Law of Karma is fulfilled and will no longer force its impression on us. And once we have a keen realization of the good that has come from a good act and find ourselves rewarded because of our good acts, the Law of Karma. Will cease operating in that particular case until, once again, we do another good act.
The fear of karma principally exists in the belief that karma is of one kind. I don’t mean by this that some individuals imagine that karma always produces the same circumstances or uses the same methods for its accomplishments. They do, however think that the purpose of karma, or the end which it serves, is always the same, namely, “discipline or punishments”, or, at least that it manifests as “trouble, worry, strife”, and physical or mental sufferings.
If you really think about it, How many individual whom you know and who are aware of the mystical and Cosmic Law of Karma ever say when they are very happy over some good fortune, “This is my karma”? In all probability, they look back to a series of related causes and point out how, through their own past efforts, their own ability and initiative, the results they now are enjoy are forthcoming. They take particular pride in accepting the honor themselves for the rewards or joyful experience had at the time. However, let misfortune fall on the average individual who has some general knowledge and if he is unable to point directly to the contributing natural cause of his problem, he immediately attributes it to the Law of Karma. Therefore, the word “Karma” becomes a nasty word, associated with punishment to many such people.
As students of mysticism, we shouldn’t make Karma a “monster” to be dreaded. We shouldn’t think of it as some demon spirit that is seeking to ensnare our lives and from which we can never have the assurance of safety. Rather, we should consider it in its true light. Karma is not an intelligence or a genie of some kind who keeps men and women under constant observation, waiting to pounce on them and in satanic delight, impose severe penalties for their actions or non-actions. Karma is a Cosmic Law; it is “impersonal,” it functions according to its inherent nature. It has no more personal consciousness than, for instance, the law of gravity. It has a purpose to fulfill under the direction of the Cosmic Mind. The conditions the law imposes upon humans depend on how they react to it, since, they invoke the law by their own conduct.
There is no way the Law of Karma can be altered through the principle of “directing.” In every case, the Law of Karma will carry on its purposes and intentions to the one end it always has in mind: to teach us a lesson and thereby help us to evolve.
The Law of Karma’s greatest effect is in causing us to make compensation for the wrongs we have committed or to benefit by the good that we may have done.
Karma causes no long periods of suffering, unless the individual does not realize the lesson to be learned or does not try to make amends for what he has done.
Rather then try to direct karmic outcomes, we shouldn’t attempt to divert the real purpose of karmic action, but, rather to cooperate with it. If we realize that a lesson is being impressed on us by some karmic action, then we can properly use the laws and principles of direction to change the course of the karmic action into some channel or phase of manifestation that will help us to make compensation or bring about the conclusion of it, sooner or later, as may be necessary.
Karmic action should not be confused with Fate. No true mystic can believe in fatalism, except the fate one creates oneself. Each of our acts writes a decree for some future day.
If we want to try and keep score, we should try to find one important act that we have committed which was wrong or harmful to another, for which no karmic action seems to have yet occurred, and direct that its action come NOW while we make some compensation in some form by doing a good act to another. This will eliminate a future problem arising unanticipated. A good act for which no karmic reward has been sensed, may be directed to such a future time as we may select.
The confession of a wrongdoing must be accompanied by a REVERSAL of conduct. We should avoid subsequent similar acts and in our own way, try to compensate for the injuries we have done. In this way, we manifest the right spirit and the karmic event will, in all probability, then come to and end, and marked by the Cosmic, “PAID IN FULL!”
When performing any new action, we should never think that that action is the result of a karma from a past life, but, we should consider that every single NEW action we start, will have a new consequence in the future, either in this life, or future realms of existence.
We should all try to give ourselves a break, and be nice to ourselves, and others, treating ourselves as Co-Creators, members of The Royal Priesthood of The Elect, Teachers of Righteousness, Relievers of suffering; Channels of Wisdom; Humble, yet, Heirs to Eternal Life.
“We should love God with our whole minds, and our Souls, and love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Blessings!
Marked Elect
The law of karma is NOT a law of resentment, retribution, or retaliation; it does not seek to cause equal suffering for any amount of suffering created; it does not seek to cause rejoicing to equal any joy given to us by others; but it does bring to our consciousness a keen realization of the nature of our acts.
To some, it can cause such realization only through suffering, to others, it may make its impression in some other way. But, the real object, always, is to make us conscious of what we have done and the consequences of those acts, and the bearing upon the whole scheme of things. Its greatest effect is in causing us to make compensations for the wrongs we have done or to benefit by the good that we have done.
Once we have a solid realization of our error, regret it, and determine not to repeat it, the Law of Karma is fulfilled and will no longer force its impression on us. And once we have a keen realization of the good that has come from a good act and find ourselves rewarded because of our good acts, the Law of Karma. Will cease operating in that particular case until, once again, we do another good act.
The fear of karma principally exists in the belief that karma is of one kind. I don’t mean by this that some individuals imagine that karma always produces the same circumstances or uses the same methods for its accomplishments. They do, however think that the purpose of karma, or the end which it serves, is always the same, namely, “discipline or punishments”, or, at least that it manifests as “trouble, worry, strife”, and physical or mental sufferings.
If you really think about it, How many individual whom you know and who are aware of the mystical and Cosmic Law of Karma ever say when they are very happy over some good fortune, “This is my karma”? In all probability, they look back to a series of related causes and point out how, through their own past efforts, their own ability and initiative, the results they now are enjoy are forthcoming. They take particular pride in accepting the honor themselves for the rewards or joyful experience had at the time. However, let misfortune fall on the average individual who has some general knowledge and if he is unable to point directly to the contributing natural cause of his problem, he immediately attributes it to the Law of Karma. Therefore, the word “Karma” becomes a nasty word, associated with punishment to many such people.
As students of mysticism, we shouldn’t make Karma a “monster” to be dreaded. We shouldn’t think of it as some demon spirit that is seeking to ensnare our lives and from which we can never have the assurance of safety. Rather, we should consider it in its true light. Karma is not an intelligence or a genie of some kind who keeps men and women under constant observation, waiting to pounce on them and in satanic delight, impose severe penalties for their actions or non-actions. Karma is a Cosmic Law; it is “impersonal,” it functions according to its inherent nature. It has no more personal consciousness than, for instance, the law of gravity. It has a purpose to fulfill under the direction of the Cosmic Mind. The conditions the law imposes upon humans depend on how they react to it, since, they invoke the law by their own conduct.
There is no way the Law of Karma can be altered through the principle of “directing.” In every case, the Law of Karma will carry on its purposes and intentions to the one end it always has in mind: to teach us a lesson and thereby help us to evolve.
The Law of Karma’s greatest effect is in causing us to make compensation for the wrongs we have committed or to benefit by the good that we may have done.
Karma causes no long periods of suffering, unless the individual does not realize the lesson to be learned or does not try to make amends for what he has done.
Rather then try to direct karmic outcomes, we shouldn’t attempt to divert the real purpose of karmic action, but, rather to cooperate with it. If we realize that a lesson is being impressed on us by some karmic action, then we can properly use the laws and principles of direction to change the course of the karmic action into some channel or phase of manifestation that will help us to make compensation or bring about the conclusion of it, sooner or later, as may be necessary.
Karmic action should not be confused with Fate. No true mystic can believe in fatalism, except the fate one creates oneself. Each of our acts writes a decree for some future day.
If we want to try and keep score, we should try to find one important act that we have committed which was wrong or harmful to another, for which no karmic action seems to have yet occurred, and direct that its action come NOW while we make some compensation in some form by doing a good act to another. This will eliminate a future problem arising unanticipated. A good act for which no karmic reward has been sensed, may be directed to such a future time as we may select.
The confession of a wrongdoing must be accompanied by a REVERSAL of conduct. We should avoid subsequent similar acts and in our own way, try to compensate for the injuries we have done. In this way, we manifest the right spirit and the karmic event will, in all probability, then come to and end, and marked by the Cosmic, “PAID IN FULL!”
When performing any new action, we should never think that that action is the result of a karma from a past life, but, we should consider that every single NEW action we start, will have a new consequence in the future, either in this life, or future realms of existence.
We should all try to give ourselves a break, and be nice to ourselves, and others, treating ourselves as Co-Creators, members of The Royal Priesthood of The Elect, Teachers of Righteousness, Relievers of suffering; Channels of Wisdom; Humble, yet, Heirs to Eternal Life.
“We should love God with our whole minds, and our Souls, and love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Blessings!
Marked Elect
Reincarnation: God's Mercy to Reprobates!
The following Article is taken from a book written by a Baptist Minister, Dr. Julian Johnson, who wrote "Path of The Masters." I am a firm believer in the Doctrines of Reincarnation and Karma. They are the Eastern verson of the Western Calvinistic Doctrine of "Predestination, Election, Reprobation, and Total Depravity of Man.
Meet Dr. Julian Johnson:
REINCARNATION EXPLAINS MUCH
If karma and reincarnation are a little difficult to understand, especially among Western people to whom the whole idea is rather new, on a little reflection it will be found the only rational explanation of some of the most complicated problems of life.
For example, why does some useless old man linger on for years, a burden to himself and everyone else, while a beautiful child, full of promise and joy, has to die suddenly?
A matter of fact only karma and reincarnation offer any satisfactory explanation.
To resort to the inscrutable decrees of deity, arbitrarily interfering in the affairs of human life, is to invite despair and unbelief. But, as a matter of fact, the parents are to understand that the child was, from the very beginning, allotted just that brief span of life, due to his own past karma, and they must be thankful that the child was 'loaned' to them for that brief period.
The child, due to its own karma, had been allotted just that length of life and no more. That time being finished, it had to go. That short life was only one scene, just a brief appearance upon the stage of its career. This little act had to be played. It was also one episode in the life of the parents. That much of karma in the lives of both parents and child had to be paid. When it was paid, there was no further need for the child to remain here, any more than an actor should remain on the stage when his act is finished. No answer except karma and reincarnation .
Again, why do some people enter this life with such terrible handicaps, while others, apparently less worthy, are born in the lap of fortune? Why are some children born with superior intelligence, while others are hopelessly dull? Why are some born with criminal tendencies, while others come into it with a lively sense of purity, justice and love?
These and a hundred other questions press themselves upon us all, and they have no answer, except in the scheme of karma and reincarnation. This is not the first life of all of those people, and so each one enters this life bringing with him all of his inherited tendencies.
Our inherited tendencies: Masters call these inherited tendencies sanskaras. Each one comes with a definite programme outlined for him, according to his past record. This is his fate karma. That programme he must carry out. When the last act of that programme has been performed, the scene closes. The end comes. It must come. Moreover, the end cannot come until the last act of his preordained life has been performed. He then passes to another life. There again his future is assigned to him, on the basis of his own earnings.
In this manner every individual marks time in the grand calendar of the ages. The only thing that can ever bring this monotonous routine to an end is the meeting with a living Master. When a man has this opportunity, it implies a good fate karma, and that the supreme crisis of his long career has come. His deliverance is close at hand.
No injustice, If a student feels inclined to ask why all men have not the opportunity to meet a Master, the answer is, again, their karma. They have not earned that privilege. No man can meet a Master until he has earned the right. And when they have earned the right, there is no power in the world that can keep them away from the Master - not even the stormy waters of the seven seas.
There is no injustice in this thing. Never mind if you think some who never meet the Master are much better people than some who do meet Him. We have not sufficient data to judge who is most worthy. If people are favoured in India, when so many good people in Europe and America have no such opportunity, it is because these people in India have earned the right. God only knows how many long, weary ages they have waited and suffered and worked, only to be born here with but little of this world's goods, and even poor mental equipment, yet with hearts filled with love, ready to follow the Master with no misgivings, no mental pulling back. They may have nothing else, many of them. They may be poor and ignorant; but they have much good karma, and so they find themselves at the Master's feet.
The right to meet a Master
On the other hand, a man or a woman in Europe or America may have great intelligence, wealth and position, yet his karma of past lives may not have entitled him to meet a Master in this life. That is why they do not meet Him. It is not because they live so far away. It may be asserted without qualification, that if a thousand men and women, or even one alone, in America, were fully prepared to meet a Master, they would find Him, even if He had to come across the seas to them.
When any man or woman has earned the. right to stand before a Master, there is no power in the universe that can keep him away from the Master. The two must meet. But in every case it is good karma that brings the soul to the Master.
It is well known among advanced students of the occult that: "When the chela is ready, the Guru appears. " We may be asked, what is the final goal of good karma? The answer is that it will bring the individual to the Master. That is the extreme good fortune, the very highest reward of good karma. His early liberation from the Wheel is then assured. However, reason as we may, the final and only conclusive proof of the doctrine of karma and reincarnation comes when one enters the inner worlds and there beholds its operation for himself. It is then not a question to be settled by academic disquisitions, or by logic or beliefs. Like all other teachings of the Masters, this is founded upon observation and personal experience, upon sight and hearing, upon positive knowledge. These things are as well known to the Masters as are the common phenomena of wheat growing or house building. They behold them in operation, and therefore they need not guess.
When anyone enters the higher fields of knowledge, he is able to watch the operation of karma and reincarnation. With clear vision he is able to see its application to others, as well as to himself. At that stage everyone is able to see clearly his own past lives. He distinctly remembers them. It is then that he knows that he has lived before, and he knows just where and when he lived. Also he knows his karmic earnings and losses. He can see exactly how the law of karma and reincarnation works out in his long succession of lives - how he came and went, times without number, always bringing with him his unsettled accounts. He remembers just how he suffered, or enjoyed, according to his debits and credits. He knows that always he had to pay, pay to the uttermost.
The great law is then no mere theory to him.
- Dr. Julian Johnson
Meet Dr. Julian Johnson:
REINCARNATION EXPLAINS MUCH
If karma and reincarnation are a little difficult to understand, especially among Western people to whom the whole idea is rather new, on a little reflection it will be found the only rational explanation of some of the most complicated problems of life.
For example, why does some useless old man linger on for years, a burden to himself and everyone else, while a beautiful child, full of promise and joy, has to die suddenly?
A matter of fact only karma and reincarnation offer any satisfactory explanation.
To resort to the inscrutable decrees of deity, arbitrarily interfering in the affairs of human life, is to invite despair and unbelief. But, as a matter of fact, the parents are to understand that the child was, from the very beginning, allotted just that brief span of life, due to his own past karma, and they must be thankful that the child was 'loaned' to them for that brief period.
The child, due to its own karma, had been allotted just that length of life and no more. That time being finished, it had to go. That short life was only one scene, just a brief appearance upon the stage of its career. This little act had to be played. It was also one episode in the life of the parents. That much of karma in the lives of both parents and child had to be paid. When it was paid, there was no further need for the child to remain here, any more than an actor should remain on the stage when his act is finished. No answer except karma and reincarnation .
Again, why do some people enter this life with such terrible handicaps, while others, apparently less worthy, are born in the lap of fortune? Why are some children born with superior intelligence, while others are hopelessly dull? Why are some born with criminal tendencies, while others come into it with a lively sense of purity, justice and love?
These and a hundred other questions press themselves upon us all, and they have no answer, except in the scheme of karma and reincarnation. This is not the first life of all of those people, and so each one enters this life bringing with him all of his inherited tendencies.
Our inherited tendencies: Masters call these inherited tendencies sanskaras. Each one comes with a definite programme outlined for him, according to his past record. This is his fate karma. That programme he must carry out. When the last act of that programme has been performed, the scene closes. The end comes. It must come. Moreover, the end cannot come until the last act of his preordained life has been performed. He then passes to another life. There again his future is assigned to him, on the basis of his own earnings.
In this manner every individual marks time in the grand calendar of the ages. The only thing that can ever bring this monotonous routine to an end is the meeting with a living Master. When a man has this opportunity, it implies a good fate karma, and that the supreme crisis of his long career has come. His deliverance is close at hand.
No injustice, If a student feels inclined to ask why all men have not the opportunity to meet a Master, the answer is, again, their karma. They have not earned that privilege. No man can meet a Master until he has earned the right. And when they have earned the right, there is no power in the world that can keep them away from the Master - not even the stormy waters of the seven seas.
There is no injustice in this thing. Never mind if you think some who never meet the Master are much better people than some who do meet Him. We have not sufficient data to judge who is most worthy. If people are favoured in India, when so many good people in Europe and America have no such opportunity, it is because these people in India have earned the right. God only knows how many long, weary ages they have waited and suffered and worked, only to be born here with but little of this world's goods, and even poor mental equipment, yet with hearts filled with love, ready to follow the Master with no misgivings, no mental pulling back. They may have nothing else, many of them. They may be poor and ignorant; but they have much good karma, and so they find themselves at the Master's feet.
The right to meet a Master
On the other hand, a man or a woman in Europe or America may have great intelligence, wealth and position, yet his karma of past lives may not have entitled him to meet a Master in this life. That is why they do not meet Him. It is not because they live so far away. It may be asserted without qualification, that if a thousand men and women, or even one alone, in America, were fully prepared to meet a Master, they would find Him, even if He had to come across the seas to them.
When any man or woman has earned the. right to stand before a Master, there is no power in the universe that can keep him away from the Master. The two must meet. But in every case it is good karma that brings the soul to the Master.
It is well known among advanced students of the occult that: "When the chela is ready, the Guru appears. " We may be asked, what is the final goal of good karma? The answer is that it will bring the individual to the Master. That is the extreme good fortune, the very highest reward of good karma. His early liberation from the Wheel is then assured. However, reason as we may, the final and only conclusive proof of the doctrine of karma and reincarnation comes when one enters the inner worlds and there beholds its operation for himself. It is then not a question to be settled by academic disquisitions, or by logic or beliefs. Like all other teachings of the Masters, this is founded upon observation and personal experience, upon sight and hearing, upon positive knowledge. These things are as well known to the Masters as are the common phenomena of wheat growing or house building. They behold them in operation, and therefore they need not guess.
When anyone enters the higher fields of knowledge, he is able to watch the operation of karma and reincarnation. With clear vision he is able to see its application to others, as well as to himself. At that stage everyone is able to see clearly his own past lives. He distinctly remembers them. It is then that he knows that he has lived before, and he knows just where and when he lived. Also he knows his karmic earnings and losses. He can see exactly how the law of karma and reincarnation works out in his long succession of lives - how he came and went, times without number, always bringing with him his unsettled accounts. He remembers just how he suffered, or enjoyed, according to his debits and credits. He knows that always he had to pay, pay to the uttermost.
The great law is then no mere theory to him.
- Dr. Julian Johnson
Origin of Pre-Tribulation Rapture
The following is taken from a little Booklet I happened to come accross years ago, by a Baptist Minister named John Bray. Prior to studying it, I was a believer in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church, as is the present belief system of most Penticostal and Evangelical Christians. But, Rev. Bray's research changed my mind to the extent, of my resigning from the Assemblies of God Denomination where I was a Licensed Minister. Many years has passed since then, and I have taken on many new beliefs to add to my baggage, but still, I am not one of those Christians looking to be "Beemed Up" any time now, to meet Christ in the air!
Blessings,
Marked Elect
THE ORIGIN OF THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE TEACHING
By John L. Bray
There are many, many people today who believe in a PreTribulation Rapture. That is, they believe that the Second Coming of Christ will be divided into two separate phases or stages, separated by a period of seven years (or some, 3-1/2 years) during which there will be a Great Tribulation Period, and during which the Antichrist will be revealed and will rule in the world.
They call this first phase the "Rapture", at which time Christ will raise the bodies of the Christian dead and change the bodies of the living Christians and catch them both up into the clouds to meet him in the air and return with them to Heaven to remain during the Tribulation period.
They call the second phase, the "Revelation", which occurs at the end of the Tribulation period, at which time Christ descends from Heaven again, this time with all the saints with him, to destroy the Antichrist, judge the living nations, and set up a Millennial kingdom and the saints reign with him a thousand years. This is the concept as taught in the Scofield Reference Bible notes, etc.
Though many believe and teach this Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory, they erroneously do so, because neither Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, nor any of the other writers of the Bible taught this. Nor did the early church fathers, nor any others for many hundreds of years.
IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE TEACHING WHICH SO PREVALENT TODAY!
Did you know that the teaching of the Rapture being separated from the Revelation by an intervening period of time has been taught only since 1812?
Did you know that this intervening period of time between the Rapture and the Revelation was first taught to be just 45 days, and later expanded to 7 years?
Did you know that when this above teaching first started, it was taught that only SOME Christians would be caught up at the Rapture-that is, that there would be only a Partial Rapture?
Did you know that NONE of this was ever taught prior to 1812, and that all forms of Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching were developed since that date? I mean by this that NO New Testament Rapture writer taught a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, NONE of the early church fathers taught it, n0 Catholic Church creed taught it, n0 Protestant Church creed nor Reformer taught it, n0 other group or person ever published such teachings BEFORE 1812?
1 want to take you not too far back in history to a book which taught for the FIRST TIME EVER the things which I have just menoned. And this book was first published in 1812.
The book to which I refer is entitled, "The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty," written by Emmanuel Lacunza, a Jesuit priest from Chile, writing under the assumed name of Rabbi Juan Josafat Ben-Ezra as a converted Jew, and first published in Spain in 1812. This book was later translated into English by Rev. Edward Irving and published in London, England, in 1827.
When this book was first published, the seeds were sown for the development and growth of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, the Mid-Tribulation Rapture, and the Partial Rapture theories which are all being taught today.
In this book Lacunza taught that Christ will appear in the sky, raise certain Christian dead and catch up the living ones; then bring judgments and wrath upon the earth; and then at least 45 days after His appearance and when all these judgments are over and Antichrist and his followers are destroyed, He will descend to the earth itself with His saints to set up his Millennial kingdom. This particular part of the book was my main interest, on account of my research into the origin of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory.
I had never seen any references by anyone to statements by Lacunza (the author of this book) except very briefly by a Canadian minister, Duncan McDougall, who is now dead, and who said he had not seen the original edition of Irving's translation, but had a copy of a cheap abridgement of it published in 1833. (The review and quotations which I make in this book are from the original translation published in 1827.)
My information about Lacunza's teachings was very limited. I became interested in knowing more about this book, especially if he were the first person ever to teach a Two-Stage Second Coming of Christ. After I had learned of Lacunza and his teaching, I secured a few xeroxed copies of some of the pages of the book from the Lutheran Seminary Library archives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which I quoted in my previous little book on, "The Great Tribulation?"
However, these pages were not in any condition for good reproduction. I was inclined to take a trip to Philadelphia just to get to see this entire book if it were possible, as I did not know at that time where another single copy of the book was in existence.
However, I had read somewhere that Oxford University in Oxford, England, had in their Library the world's largest collection of apocalyptic literature. I was to be in meetings in England in May, 1982, and Oxford was not far from where I was going. I determined to stop there on my way and spend a couple of days doing some research and to check more in detail on this particular book if they had it in their archives.
After flying all night from Miami to London, I took a train to Oxford and then walked just two blocks with my suitcase and briefcase to the Royal Oxford Hotel. That afternoon, after a brief nap to recover somewhat from the all-night ride of the night before, I went looking for the Oxford University Bodleian Library. It was within walking distance. I learned there that I could not get in to do any reading without an official reader's card, and that office was about to close. I hurried over to the admissions office and explained my situation. After a time of filling out forms I was given a passcard, and then went back to the Library.
Oxford University is actually made up of more than twenty various colleges in the city of Oxford, and the Library itself is a tremendous one and consists of several large buildings. I went to the catalogue department to see a listing of all their books in the pre-1920 section, and when I found what I wanted I was told that I would have to fill out an application for any book wanted and come back the next day at 11 o'clock to be able to secure the book and read it. The next morning I was there. I asked if they would xerox copies of the pages I wanted after I had read them, but they were unable to do so that day. I did not want to wait nor risk taking a chance at not getting what I wanted for sure, so from I 1 o'clock that morning until 10 o'clock that night I sat glued to my chair reading and copying passages from the book by Lacunza and one other book.
Lacunza's book was in two volumes, over 900 pages, with a long discourse by Edward Irving the translator in front of it. It was published in London in 1827, being translated from the 1812 Spanish edition. The copy was old and worn, fallen apart into two sections, and separated at the middle of the two volumes, with the covers loose and separated from the book. The librarian had tied a string around it to hold it all together. As I handled it, parts of some of the pages were so brittle that small pieces kept falling off. It was discovered later the condition of the book would not allow the pages to be xeroxed.
I never left the building even one time to go out and get a bite to eat nor even a drink of water. At 10 o'clock when they closed, I was the last one there, and they were waiting on me to leave. I left the Library, stopped by a hot dog stand and picked up a hamburger and a hot dog and cold drink, then headed back to the hotel where I stayed up until nearly 4 a.m. getting my notes all sorted out and in order.
Next morning I caught another train and went on my way to Cinderford where I started preaching the next day. These notes were mostly all typed out while I was in meetings during the next week, in the home of my hosts, Mr. and Mrs. David Lambourne.
It was always a desire of mine to study at Oxford University someday, anyway!
So this little book is the result of my two days' visit to Oxford University Library in England. Up until now it seems, FOR SOME REASON, no one has given to the Christian public a COMPLETE summary or review of Lacunza's teachings on this subject. Why has not the full teaching by this Catholic Jesuit priest on this subject, writing under an ASSUMED NAME, been exposed to Bible students long before now? Now that I had this material, I felt obligated to share it with many others who might not have the same opportunity which I did; and I felt also that I had a further responsibility in helping others to understand more about how this Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching really got started.
Emmanuel Lacunza and the Book He Wrote
Emmanuel Lacunza (or Manuel de Lacunza y Diaz), a Chilean theologian of Spanish descent (born in Santiago, Chile, July 19, 1731, and died at Imola, Italy, June 17, 1801), became a member of the Jesuit order in 1747 at the age of 16. When the Jesuits were expelled from Spain and its colonies in 1767, he went to Italy, where the balance of his life was spent in writing a commentary on the Second Coming of Christ.
Rev. Edward Irving, a Presbyter of the Church of Scotland, who had been the assistant to Dr. Chalmers in Glasgow, translated this book of Lacunza from the Spanish in 1826, and it was published in English by L.B. Seely and Son, Fleet Street, London, in 1827. In England, Irving was pastor of the Regent Square Presbyterian Church in London. Irving said, This book, entitled 'La Venida del Mesias en Gloria y Majestad,' I.e. 'The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty,' was, so far as I can learn, first printed in Spain in the year 1812, in three volumes, during the short period of the Cortez, from which edition our translation is made." (Preliminary Discourse, page xv).
Lacunza wrote this book under the assumed name of Rabbi Ben-Ezra as a "converted Jew". The book was finished in 1790, and then circulated in manuscript form before it was published at Cadiz, Spain, in 1812. This was during the time of Cortez in Spain, and after Cortez the book was suppressed, and as much as possible withdrawn from circulation. Lacunza died in June 1801, before the book was ever published in book form. Later it was published in London, Mexico, Paris and elsewhere, and translated into various languages. The 1812 edition was in abridged form, and then a complete Spanish edition was published in London in 1816 in four volumes. It was from the 1812 Spanish edition that Edward Irving made his translation in 1826, as he said, after a copy of the book got into England and into his hands.
Lacunza Taught That The Rapture Will Be "Much Before His Arrival At The Earth" In this book, Lacunza said, in this comments on I Thess. 4:13-18: "From these words of the apostle, which he himself gives us to know, that he spoke by the word of the Lord, we derive two truths of the utmost Importance; first, that when the Lord returns from heaven to earth, upon his coming forth from heaven, and MUCH BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL AT THE EARTH, he will give his orders, and send forth his commandment as King and God omnipotent; which is all signified in these words, With a shout, (In the vulgate, Jus su, i.e. by the order) with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. At this voice of the Son of God, those who hear it, shall forthwith arise, and, as saith the Evangelist St. John (chapter u. 25.) 'those who hear shall live.' "(CAPITALS are mine, here and elsewhere, for emphasis). (Vol. 1, Part I, c. VI, p. 99).
The above is the statement of Lacunza which first caught my attention and caused me to seek for more material from this book, as to his teaching on this subject.
Then he said concerning those Christians who are living when Christ appears and the Christian dead are raised: "The second truth, which we derive from the text of St. Paul, is, that after the raising up of those dead WHO ARE IN CHRIST, the living who in that day likewise beong to Christ, (who, according to the other notices which we find in the gospels, cannot be many, but will be very FEW, as we shall see in the proper place,) all those of THIS CLASS then living shall be joined to the dead in Christ already raised, shall ascend from the earth and go to receive Christ; 'then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.' " (Vol. 1, Part 1, c. vi., page 100).
So we see that in both of these passages quoted, Lacunza taught that when Christ first comes from Heaven the dead in Christ will be raised and the living Christians will be caught up to meet Christ, and that this will all occur MUCH BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL AT THE EARTH. How much "before" we shall quote later.
Lacunza Taught That Immediately After The Rapture, the Judgments of God On the Earth Will Take Place. Lacunza taught that when Christ appears from Heaven (the very moment He touches the atmosphere of our earth), and "MUCH BEFORE" He comes to the earth, the dead in Christ will be resurrected and rise, and the living Christians will be caught up. While the saints are with Him up above the world's atmosphere, He will then begin to bring about the judgments of wrath upon the earth and its inhabitants.
Here are Lacunza's exact words in statements from his book proving that he taught that immediately ("the very moment") when Christ appears from Heaven, and before He comes to the earth, the Christian dead will be raised and the living Christians caught up, while the saints are with Him above the world's atmosphere, then next immediately ("forthwith") will begin that period when God's judgments and wrath are poured out on the inhabitants of the world, the same period which is part of what is called "The Great Tribulation Period" by modern-day PreTribulation Rapturists, and these things to happen BEFORE He comes on down to the earth with His saints: "Then, at his coming from heaven to earth, (and, as I figure it to myself,) AT THE VERY MOMENT OF HIS TOUCHING THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR GLOBE, there shall happen in It, in the first place, the resurrection of all those saints 'who shall be counted worthy of that age and of the resurrection from the dead ...the few worthy of that name who shall still be found alive upon the earth, for their uncorrupted faith and righteousness, shall be caught up along with the dead saints who are just raised, and shall ascend along with them 'to meet the Lord in the air.'...
"Things being then in this state, and the Lord having nothing in the whole orb of the earth to contemplate .... there shall FORTHWITH BEGIN TO BE ACCOMPLISHED over this orb of the earth ALL THOSE GREAT AND HORRIBLE THINGS which are announced for that day.... " (Vol. 2, Part III, pp. 215-216).
What are these "great and horrible things" to happen on earth of which he speaks? The Scriptures he uses to show what will happen BETWEEN the Rapture of the saints and His actual coming to the earth with the saints, are as follows:
Isaiah 24:13-14, 17-20; Rev. 14:19; Isaiah 59:17, 18; Isaiah 63:6. Also Isaiah 13:9; Isaiah 14:9, 11; Jeremiah 30: 23, 24; Malachi 4:1.
You are aware that these are the same passages as used by those today who believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture to describe The Great Tribulation Period which they say follows the Rapture. In the Scofield Reference Bible, Scofield has "The great tribulation" title over Isaiah 24:17-20. He designates the passage where Rev. 14:19 is found, "Vision of Armageddon." He labels Isaiah 63:6, "The day of vengeance". A couple of others he titles, "The day of the Lord". The passage in Rev. 14:19 is in that period of time in the book of Revelation which is called by Pre-Tribulation Rapturists, "The Great Tribulation Period," which ends with the coming of Christ to the earth. All of these things, says Lacunza, begin happening immediately after Christ appears above the atmosphere of this world and raises the worthy saints from the dead and catches up the living saints to be with them.
He does not say at this point how long all this will take, but he does say, "MUCH BEFORE" Christ comes to the earth. And he does tell us the duration elsewhere, after he has studied further. Also, he does not say in his book at exactly what chronological point in the book of Revelation he places the Rapture, but at one place in his book he did say, "It is then, my friend, not only probably, but as it were, evident that the Apocalypse of St. John, OMITTING AT PRESENT THE THREE FIRST CHAPTERS, is a prophecy wholly directed to the coming or revelation of Jesus Christ." (Vol. 1, Fart 11, page 201). So then, the Rapture according to Lacunza must occur sometime after the first three chapters of Revelation and before these dreadful judgments of God begin to occur on the earth.
Pre-Tribulation Rapturists today, of course, believe that the Rapture takes place at Rev. 4:1, immediately following the first three chapters.
Lacunza Taught That This Time of Tribulation and Judgment On the Earth Will Last for At Least 45 Days What would be the length of time involved for this part of the "tribulation" period to take place, according to Lacunza? Remember, he said that the first appearance of Christ from Heaven when He raises the worthy Christians up to meet Him would be "MUCH BEFORE" His actual descent to the earth, and that in between there would be those "horrible things" which will come on the earth. How much time does he assign to this expression, "MUCH BEFORE"?
Lacunza at first said that he did not know how long this tribulation period would last; but evidently after further study he had more to say about a definite time period. At the first he said, "This great day being at length concluded, (THE TIME OF THE DURATION OF WHICH WE KNOW NOT,) the horrible tempest being overpast, all the impious the sinful being exterminated thence...." (Vol. 2, Part III, ch. v., page 249).
Then in the very next chapter of his book, after greater reflection, he puts an "Addition" in his book, which says: "Although It was said at the beginning of the fourth section that it is UNCERTAIN how long the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD'S COMING will endure, that is, the commotion, perturbation, and agitation of our globe; yet having now read with greater reflection the xlith chapter of the prophet Daniel, it appeareth to me certain that It cannot endure a shorter time than the space of FORTY-FIVE NATURAL DAYS. Whoever readeth this chapter shall at once perceive, without the possibility of a doubt, that it is a prophecy wholly directed to the last times, VERY IMMEDIATE UPON THE COMING OF THE LORD, forasmuch as there are announced therein these two capital points only; first, the vocation and conversion of the Jews; second, THE ANTICHRISTIAN TEMPTATION AND TRIBULATION OF THE GENTILES. OF THIS LATTER the prophet, or the angel who speaks to him, says, that it shall endure !n all its force TWELVE HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS, WHICH IS FORTY AND THREE MONTHS. 'And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.' Dan. xit. 11. Which days being concluded, (doubtless In the first beginning of the day of the Lord,) these words are added, which have ever appeared to me an impenetrable mystery; 'Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days;'Dan. xii. 12. the difference between which two periods is exactly forty and five."
"In this examination It is very natural that some may be struck with another kind of enigma, which though accidental to the point in hand, might yet occasion a degree of embarrassment; which is, that the prophet Daniel makes the ANTICHRISTIAN TRIBULATION to last for a THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS, or forty and three months, whereas St. John in his Apocalypse assigneth to it only the duration of one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is thirty days less. This difficulty occasioned me in other times not a little embarrassment, until I recollected those words of Matthew xxiv. 22. 'And except those
days shall be shortened.' As St. John wrote after this prophecy and promise of Christ, he sets down the time of THAT GREAT TRIBULATION as actually abreviated, and so strikes off thirty days from the time that it was to endure according to the prophecy of Daniel. In a pestilence or conflagration so great and universal, appeareth It to thee a slight mercy to assuage the fire thirty days before the time of its appointed duration, that all flesh might not perish?" (Vol. 2, Part III, chap. 6, pages 250-251).
Keep in mind that Lacunza had said that when Christ first appears, "AT THE VERY MOMENT OF HIS TOUCHING THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR GLOBE, there shall happen in it, in the first place, the resurrection of all those saints 'who shall be counted worthy of that age and of the resurrection from the dead ............................... and THEN "there shall FORTHWITH BEGIN TO BE ACCOMPLISHED over this orb of the earth ALL THOSE GREAT AND HORRIBLE THINGS which are announced for that day...." (Vol. 2, Part III, page 215).
This period of time following the Rapture during which those things take place before Christ actually comes on down to the earth is described by Lacunza as being of the length of time at which he finally arrived-not less "Than the space of forty-five natural days". But these things were not to happen on the earth until Christians had been caught up to meet Christ in the air, and only after all these things were accomplished would Christ then actually come to earth.
So we see here very clearly taught what was a two-stage Second Coming of Christ with an intervening period of at least 45 days of tribulation and judgments in between the two stages. True, the period was only 45 days, but it was not long after this book was published that the period of time became 3-1/2 years, and then finally 7 years. And it was FIRST taught in this book published in Spanish in 1812, and in English in 1827.
Lacunza Taught That the 45 Days of Tribulation andJudgments Upon the Earth Bring About the Final Destruction of Antichrist and His Followers "...there Is no doubt that the greater part of the human race shall perish; those, in the first place, who had in any way gathered themselves together under the fourth beast of Daniel, or pertained to the two beasts of the xiith chapter of the Apocalypse. Of these I hold it for certain that no one shall remain alive; for thus I see it expressed in both prophecies; 'And I beheld,' says Daniel of the fourth beast, 'till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.' Dan. vii. 11. 'These both,' with John of his two beasts, 'were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth:' Rev. xix. 20, 21...."(Vol. 2, Part III, ch. 1, page 217).
So, Lacunza taught a Rapture of worthy Christians, following which the Lord lets loose His terrible and horrible judgments on the earth which lasts for 45 days and culminates in the destruction of all those who have followed the Antichrist and the false prophet, plus the casting of the Antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire.
Lacunza Taught That the Rapture Will Be a PARTIAL Rapture.
In the following quotation from Lacunza's book, we see how he believed that even though all saved people would at some time enter into the kingdom of God, he denied that they who just barely got in would have part in the first resurrection even, and certainly would never be able to reign together with Christ:
"We do not therefore deny that all faithful Christians who observe the precepts of God, or at least offer true repentance for their sins, shall at some time enter into the kingdom of God. BUT IT MAY VERY WELL BE DENIED THAT THOSE WHO IN THIS WAY SHALL HARDLY ENTER INTO LIFE, OR INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, SHALL BE OR CAN BE KINGS OR REIGN TOGETHER WITH CHRIST. IT MAY BE AND OUGHT TO BE DENIED THAT THESE SHALL HAVE ANY PART IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION.... "' (Vol. 2, Part 111, p. 267).
Dave MacPherson, author of "The Incredible Cover-up" (mentioned elsewhere in this book) wrote me that he believed I am the only one who has ever called Lacunza a partial rapturist, and that every historian he has read calls him a pre-millennialist, the only kind of pre-millennialist that lived prior to 1830. Because of the tremendous amount of research that Mr. MacPherson has done on this subject, I can believe him that I am the only one who has ever called Lacunza a partial rapturist. Even Edward Irving the translator of the book did not mention this fact. However, the facts stand out as clear as day, as shown by the various quotations I will give directly from Lacunza's book on this matter. They speak for themselves.
After the above quotation, Lacunza went on to ask "Of those Christians then WHO DO NOT PERTAIN TO THIS PRIVILEGED CLASS, what shall be the lot in that day? IF THEY ARE NOT TO HAVE A PART WITH THE GREAT SAINTS IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION, what shall be their portion?" (Vol. 2, Part III, Chap. VII, page 267).
He answers this question later, as I shall quote more in full later as we discuss that particular matter. But this shows his separation of Christians into different classes, only part of whom will be caught up when Christ first appears. His idea was that if a Christian were not of extraordinary worthiness, he would not be resurrected at the coming of Christ; he would not reign with Christ; and he would not even have part in the holy city. "This holy city must be composed ONLY OF SAINTS OF EXTRAORDINARY SANCTITY...." (Vol. 2, Part III, Chap. VII, page 26'7).
So far as I know, this is the first published teaching ever on a "split" Rapture of just worthy Christians, or as some call it, a "Partial Rapture".
Elsewhere, Lacunza tells us more about his teaching concerning a differentiation of Christians as to their worthiness, so as to arrive at a conclusion that only the worthy ones are to be resurrected when Christ first appears:
"Lastly: In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John, I read the promise of the Lord four times repeated-AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY: a very remarkable promise, which Jesus Christ certainly makes not to men without distinction, NOR EVEN TO ALL CHRISTIANS, but to those expressly, and THOSE ALONE, who should profit in this doctrine, his example, his counsels, his death, and, above all, in the sacrament of his body and blood. Now if all men, without distinction, are to arise, in one company and at the same time, what particular grace is this he holds discourse? If it be the resurrection to life only which is promised, then as little would that grace be so specially theirs, as that very many to whom certainly he did NOT refer, shall NOT share it along with them: FOR EXAMPLE, THE INNUMERABLE COMPANY, WHO DIE AFTER BAPTISM BEFORE THE DAWN OF REASON, AND ALL WHO AT THE HOUR OF DEATH FIND ROOM FOR REPENTANCE, THOUGH THEY HAVE BEFORE LIVED FAR FROM HIS LAW AND DOCTRINE. If all these are likewise to rise to life eternal, what SPECIAL grace doth he promise to the FORMER?
"The instruments or documents which we have presented in this dissertation, if they be seriously considered and combined with one another, appear more than sufficient to prove that God hath promised in his word, to raise many other saints besides those already raised, before the general resurrection; consequently, the idea of the resurrection of the flesh, in one company and at the same time, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, is an idea which is so far from being just that it appeareth absolutely indefensible." (Vol. 1, Part I, p. 114).
By the expression, "to raise many other saints, besides those already raised before the general resurrection, " we see once again Lacunza's attempt to provide a foundation for his new teaching of a Rapture of select saints prior to the coming of Christ to the earth, as well as before the general resurrection which he believed was to be after the Millennium.
But here also Lacunza taught that only a select number of Christians would be involved in this special resurrection, and that others-such as those "who die after baptism before the dawn of reason, and all who at the hour of death find room for repentance, though they have lived far from his law and doctrine, " will not be raised until later. Here we see that Lacunza separates Christians into different categories on the basis of their worthiness, and not on the basis of the merits of Christ. We must remember that he was a Catholic, and this was Catholic reasoning, in a sense. (He even says that worthiness to fit one for the "special" resurrection (Rapture) at the appearing of Christ, involves partaking of "the sacrament of his body and blood"). This concept is the basis for the kind of rapture belief as espoused later by Margaret MacDonald and others, including Robert Norton who wrote later on that Margaret MacDonald was the first one to advance the idea of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Margaret MacDonald and Robert Norton both taught a partial rapture, that is, that not all Christians would be caught up at the Rapture, as we shall see later.
See also in this following quotation again how Lacunza believed that only certain Christians will be resurrected when Christ comes:
He first poses a question, "Shall the saints who shall come with the Lord to our earth, risen and completely blessed, consist of ALL who have been saved hitherto?" And then he answers that question by explaining who will be raised, but limiting the resurrection only to certain worthy Christians; that is, he says that not all Christians are "in Christ" in such a way as to be included in this resurrection:
....they that are Christ's at his coming', I Cor. xv. 23. In order that this expression, those who are Christ's, may not have a very wide and definite extension given to it, AS IF IT SPOKE OF ALL WHO SHOULD BE SAVED, the same apostle explains it in another place by these formal words, 'but they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its corruption and lusts.' Gal. 1:24. And thinkest thou, friend, that all Christians who have been saved to this day, or shall be saved from this time forth, are or shall be in Christ in such a manner?" (Vol. 2, Part III, p. 265).
Lacunza Taught That Those Christians Not Raptured When Christ Comes Are Left On the Earth to do Through the 45 Days of Tribulation and Judgments.
In a previous quotation given, Lacunza taught that "no one shall remain alive" at the end of the 45 days of tribulation and judgments upon the earth, when at last the Antichrist and all his followers are destroyed. However, Lacunza went on to say:
"But although I hold it to be certain, that OF THIS CLASS OF PEOPLE there shall not one single Individual be left alive; so, in the same manner and with the same foundation, it appeareth to me certain that there shall remain alive MANY INDIVIDUALS, NOT ONLY of those who shall then pertain to true Christianity (as are those who go in the clouds to meet Christ,....) but likewise of those pertaining to the first beasts, and WHO HAVE NOT JOINED THEMSELVES TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FOURTH. " (Vol. 2, Part III, ch. 1, page 217).
According to Lacunza, those Christians who are not caught up in the Rapture will certainly be left on earth to go through the time of these horrible things which will come on the earth, until such time as Christ comes down to the earth after destroying the Antichrist and his followers. But they will be left alive, though all others will be destroyed, according to Lacunza.
ONLY THE MOST WORTHY CHRISTIANS WILL ESCAPE THIS DREADFUL PERIOD; others not raptured will go through it. For some Christians, therefore, it will be a PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE
Rev. John Bray
Blessings,
Marked Elect
THE ORIGIN OF THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE TEACHING
By John L. Bray
There are many, many people today who believe in a PreTribulation Rapture. That is, they believe that the Second Coming of Christ will be divided into two separate phases or stages, separated by a period of seven years (or some, 3-1/2 years) during which there will be a Great Tribulation Period, and during which the Antichrist will be revealed and will rule in the world.
They call this first phase the "Rapture", at which time Christ will raise the bodies of the Christian dead and change the bodies of the living Christians and catch them both up into the clouds to meet him in the air and return with them to Heaven to remain during the Tribulation period.
They call the second phase, the "Revelation", which occurs at the end of the Tribulation period, at which time Christ descends from Heaven again, this time with all the saints with him, to destroy the Antichrist, judge the living nations, and set up a Millennial kingdom and the saints reign with him a thousand years. This is the concept as taught in the Scofield Reference Bible notes, etc.
Though many believe and teach this Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory, they erroneously do so, because neither Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, nor any of the other writers of the Bible taught this. Nor did the early church fathers, nor any others for many hundreds of years.
IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE TEACHING WHICH SO PREVALENT TODAY!
Did you know that the teaching of the Rapture being separated from the Revelation by an intervening period of time has been taught only since 1812?
Did you know that this intervening period of time between the Rapture and the Revelation was first taught to be just 45 days, and later expanded to 7 years?
Did you know that when this above teaching first started, it was taught that only SOME Christians would be caught up at the Rapture-that is, that there would be only a Partial Rapture?
Did you know that NONE of this was ever taught prior to 1812, and that all forms of Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching were developed since that date? I mean by this that NO New Testament Rapture writer taught a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, NONE of the early church fathers taught it, n0 Catholic Church creed taught it, n0 Protestant Church creed nor Reformer taught it, n0 other group or person ever published such teachings BEFORE 1812?
1 want to take you not too far back in history to a book which taught for the FIRST TIME EVER the things which I have just menoned. And this book was first published in 1812.
The book to which I refer is entitled, "The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty," written by Emmanuel Lacunza, a Jesuit priest from Chile, writing under the assumed name of Rabbi Juan Josafat Ben-Ezra as a converted Jew, and first published in Spain in 1812. This book was later translated into English by Rev. Edward Irving and published in London, England, in 1827.
When this book was first published, the seeds were sown for the development and growth of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, the Mid-Tribulation Rapture, and the Partial Rapture theories which are all being taught today.
In this book Lacunza taught that Christ will appear in the sky, raise certain Christian dead and catch up the living ones; then bring judgments and wrath upon the earth; and then at least 45 days after His appearance and when all these judgments are over and Antichrist and his followers are destroyed, He will descend to the earth itself with His saints to set up his Millennial kingdom. This particular part of the book was my main interest, on account of my research into the origin of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory.
I had never seen any references by anyone to statements by Lacunza (the author of this book) except very briefly by a Canadian minister, Duncan McDougall, who is now dead, and who said he had not seen the original edition of Irving's translation, but had a copy of a cheap abridgement of it published in 1833. (The review and quotations which I make in this book are from the original translation published in 1827.)
My information about Lacunza's teachings was very limited. I became interested in knowing more about this book, especially if he were the first person ever to teach a Two-Stage Second Coming of Christ. After I had learned of Lacunza and his teaching, I secured a few xeroxed copies of some of the pages of the book from the Lutheran Seminary Library archives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which I quoted in my previous little book on, "The Great Tribulation?"
However, these pages were not in any condition for good reproduction. I was inclined to take a trip to Philadelphia just to get to see this entire book if it were possible, as I did not know at that time where another single copy of the book was in existence.
However, I had read somewhere that Oxford University in Oxford, England, had in their Library the world's largest collection of apocalyptic literature. I was to be in meetings in England in May, 1982, and Oxford was not far from where I was going. I determined to stop there on my way and spend a couple of days doing some research and to check more in detail on this particular book if they had it in their archives.
After flying all night from Miami to London, I took a train to Oxford and then walked just two blocks with my suitcase and briefcase to the Royal Oxford Hotel. That afternoon, after a brief nap to recover somewhat from the all-night ride of the night before, I went looking for the Oxford University Bodleian Library. It was within walking distance. I learned there that I could not get in to do any reading without an official reader's card, and that office was about to close. I hurried over to the admissions office and explained my situation. After a time of filling out forms I was given a passcard, and then went back to the Library.
Oxford University is actually made up of more than twenty various colleges in the city of Oxford, and the Library itself is a tremendous one and consists of several large buildings. I went to the catalogue department to see a listing of all their books in the pre-1920 section, and when I found what I wanted I was told that I would have to fill out an application for any book wanted and come back the next day at 11 o'clock to be able to secure the book and read it. The next morning I was there. I asked if they would xerox copies of the pages I wanted after I had read them, but they were unable to do so that day. I did not want to wait nor risk taking a chance at not getting what I wanted for sure, so from I 1 o'clock that morning until 10 o'clock that night I sat glued to my chair reading and copying passages from the book by Lacunza and one other book.
Lacunza's book was in two volumes, over 900 pages, with a long discourse by Edward Irving the translator in front of it. It was published in London in 1827, being translated from the 1812 Spanish edition. The copy was old and worn, fallen apart into two sections, and separated at the middle of the two volumes, with the covers loose and separated from the book. The librarian had tied a string around it to hold it all together. As I handled it, parts of some of the pages were so brittle that small pieces kept falling off. It was discovered later the condition of the book would not allow the pages to be xeroxed.
I never left the building even one time to go out and get a bite to eat nor even a drink of water. At 10 o'clock when they closed, I was the last one there, and they were waiting on me to leave. I left the Library, stopped by a hot dog stand and picked up a hamburger and a hot dog and cold drink, then headed back to the hotel where I stayed up until nearly 4 a.m. getting my notes all sorted out and in order.
Next morning I caught another train and went on my way to Cinderford where I started preaching the next day. These notes were mostly all typed out while I was in meetings during the next week, in the home of my hosts, Mr. and Mrs. David Lambourne.
It was always a desire of mine to study at Oxford University someday, anyway!
So this little book is the result of my two days' visit to Oxford University Library in England. Up until now it seems, FOR SOME REASON, no one has given to the Christian public a COMPLETE summary or review of Lacunza's teachings on this subject. Why has not the full teaching by this Catholic Jesuit priest on this subject, writing under an ASSUMED NAME, been exposed to Bible students long before now? Now that I had this material, I felt obligated to share it with many others who might not have the same opportunity which I did; and I felt also that I had a further responsibility in helping others to understand more about how this Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching really got started.
Emmanuel Lacunza and the Book He Wrote
Emmanuel Lacunza (or Manuel de Lacunza y Diaz), a Chilean theologian of Spanish descent (born in Santiago, Chile, July 19, 1731, and died at Imola, Italy, June 17, 1801), became a member of the Jesuit order in 1747 at the age of 16. When the Jesuits were expelled from Spain and its colonies in 1767, he went to Italy, where the balance of his life was spent in writing a commentary on the Second Coming of Christ.
Rev. Edward Irving, a Presbyter of the Church of Scotland, who had been the assistant to Dr. Chalmers in Glasgow, translated this book of Lacunza from the Spanish in 1826, and it was published in English by L.B. Seely and Son, Fleet Street, London, in 1827. In England, Irving was pastor of the Regent Square Presbyterian Church in London. Irving said, This book, entitled 'La Venida del Mesias en Gloria y Majestad,' I.e. 'The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty,' was, so far as I can learn, first printed in Spain in the year 1812, in three volumes, during the short period of the Cortez, from which edition our translation is made." (Preliminary Discourse, page xv).
Lacunza wrote this book under the assumed name of Rabbi Ben-Ezra as a "converted Jew". The book was finished in 1790, and then circulated in manuscript form before it was published at Cadiz, Spain, in 1812. This was during the time of Cortez in Spain, and after Cortez the book was suppressed, and as much as possible withdrawn from circulation. Lacunza died in June 1801, before the book was ever published in book form. Later it was published in London, Mexico, Paris and elsewhere, and translated into various languages. The 1812 edition was in abridged form, and then a complete Spanish edition was published in London in 1816 in four volumes. It was from the 1812 Spanish edition that Edward Irving made his translation in 1826, as he said, after a copy of the book got into England and into his hands.
Lacunza Taught That The Rapture Will Be "Much Before His Arrival At The Earth" In this book, Lacunza said, in this comments on I Thess. 4:13-18: "From these words of the apostle, which he himself gives us to know, that he spoke by the word of the Lord, we derive two truths of the utmost Importance; first, that when the Lord returns from heaven to earth, upon his coming forth from heaven, and MUCH BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL AT THE EARTH, he will give his orders, and send forth his commandment as King and God omnipotent; which is all signified in these words, With a shout, (In the vulgate, Jus su, i.e. by the order) with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. At this voice of the Son of God, those who hear it, shall forthwith arise, and, as saith the Evangelist St. John (chapter u. 25.) 'those who hear shall live.' "(CAPITALS are mine, here and elsewhere, for emphasis). (Vol. 1, Part I, c. VI, p. 99).
The above is the statement of Lacunza which first caught my attention and caused me to seek for more material from this book, as to his teaching on this subject.
Then he said concerning those Christians who are living when Christ appears and the Christian dead are raised: "The second truth, which we derive from the text of St. Paul, is, that after the raising up of those dead WHO ARE IN CHRIST, the living who in that day likewise beong to Christ, (who, according to the other notices which we find in the gospels, cannot be many, but will be very FEW, as we shall see in the proper place,) all those of THIS CLASS then living shall be joined to the dead in Christ already raised, shall ascend from the earth and go to receive Christ; 'then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.' " (Vol. 1, Part 1, c. vi., page 100).
So we see that in both of these passages quoted, Lacunza taught that when Christ first comes from Heaven the dead in Christ will be raised and the living Christians will be caught up to meet Christ, and that this will all occur MUCH BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL AT THE EARTH. How much "before" we shall quote later.
Lacunza Taught That Immediately After The Rapture, the Judgments of God On the Earth Will Take Place. Lacunza taught that when Christ appears from Heaven (the very moment He touches the atmosphere of our earth), and "MUCH BEFORE" He comes to the earth, the dead in Christ will be resurrected and rise, and the living Christians will be caught up. While the saints are with Him up above the world's atmosphere, He will then begin to bring about the judgments of wrath upon the earth and its inhabitants.
Here are Lacunza's exact words in statements from his book proving that he taught that immediately ("the very moment") when Christ appears from Heaven, and before He comes to the earth, the Christian dead will be raised and the living Christians caught up, while the saints are with Him above the world's atmosphere, then next immediately ("forthwith") will begin that period when God's judgments and wrath are poured out on the inhabitants of the world, the same period which is part of what is called "The Great Tribulation Period" by modern-day PreTribulation Rapturists, and these things to happen BEFORE He comes on down to the earth with His saints: "Then, at his coming from heaven to earth, (and, as I figure it to myself,) AT THE VERY MOMENT OF HIS TOUCHING THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR GLOBE, there shall happen in It, in the first place, the resurrection of all those saints 'who shall be counted worthy of that age and of the resurrection from the dead ...the few worthy of that name who shall still be found alive upon the earth, for their uncorrupted faith and righteousness, shall be caught up along with the dead saints who are just raised, and shall ascend along with them 'to meet the Lord in the air.'...
"Things being then in this state, and the Lord having nothing in the whole orb of the earth to contemplate .... there shall FORTHWITH BEGIN TO BE ACCOMPLISHED over this orb of the earth ALL THOSE GREAT AND HORRIBLE THINGS which are announced for that day.... " (Vol. 2, Part III, pp. 215-216).
What are these "great and horrible things" to happen on earth of which he speaks? The Scriptures he uses to show what will happen BETWEEN the Rapture of the saints and His actual coming to the earth with the saints, are as follows:
Isaiah 24:13-14, 17-20; Rev. 14:19; Isaiah 59:17, 18; Isaiah 63:6. Also Isaiah 13:9; Isaiah 14:9, 11; Jeremiah 30: 23, 24; Malachi 4:1.
You are aware that these are the same passages as used by those today who believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture to describe The Great Tribulation Period which they say follows the Rapture. In the Scofield Reference Bible, Scofield has "The great tribulation" title over Isaiah 24:17-20. He designates the passage where Rev. 14:19 is found, "Vision of Armageddon." He labels Isaiah 63:6, "The day of vengeance". A couple of others he titles, "The day of the Lord". The passage in Rev. 14:19 is in that period of time in the book of Revelation which is called by Pre-Tribulation Rapturists, "The Great Tribulation Period," which ends with the coming of Christ to the earth. All of these things, says Lacunza, begin happening immediately after Christ appears above the atmosphere of this world and raises the worthy saints from the dead and catches up the living saints to be with them.
He does not say at this point how long all this will take, but he does say, "MUCH BEFORE" Christ comes to the earth. And he does tell us the duration elsewhere, after he has studied further. Also, he does not say in his book at exactly what chronological point in the book of Revelation he places the Rapture, but at one place in his book he did say, "It is then, my friend, not only probably, but as it were, evident that the Apocalypse of St. John, OMITTING AT PRESENT THE THREE FIRST CHAPTERS, is a prophecy wholly directed to the coming or revelation of Jesus Christ." (Vol. 1, Fart 11, page 201). So then, the Rapture according to Lacunza must occur sometime after the first three chapters of Revelation and before these dreadful judgments of God begin to occur on the earth.
Pre-Tribulation Rapturists today, of course, believe that the Rapture takes place at Rev. 4:1, immediately following the first three chapters.
Lacunza Taught That This Time of Tribulation and Judgment On the Earth Will Last for At Least 45 Days What would be the length of time involved for this part of the "tribulation" period to take place, according to Lacunza? Remember, he said that the first appearance of Christ from Heaven when He raises the worthy Christians up to meet Him would be "MUCH BEFORE" His actual descent to the earth, and that in between there would be those "horrible things" which will come on the earth. How much time does he assign to this expression, "MUCH BEFORE"?
Lacunza at first said that he did not know how long this tribulation period would last; but evidently after further study he had more to say about a definite time period. At the first he said, "This great day being at length concluded, (THE TIME OF THE DURATION OF WHICH WE KNOW NOT,) the horrible tempest being overpast, all the impious the sinful being exterminated thence...." (Vol. 2, Part III, ch. v., page 249).
Then in the very next chapter of his book, after greater reflection, he puts an "Addition" in his book, which says: "Although It was said at the beginning of the fourth section that it is UNCERTAIN how long the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD'S COMING will endure, that is, the commotion, perturbation, and agitation of our globe; yet having now read with greater reflection the xlith chapter of the prophet Daniel, it appeareth to me certain that It cannot endure a shorter time than the space of FORTY-FIVE NATURAL DAYS. Whoever readeth this chapter shall at once perceive, without the possibility of a doubt, that it is a prophecy wholly directed to the last times, VERY IMMEDIATE UPON THE COMING OF THE LORD, forasmuch as there are announced therein these two capital points only; first, the vocation and conversion of the Jews; second, THE ANTICHRISTIAN TEMPTATION AND TRIBULATION OF THE GENTILES. OF THIS LATTER the prophet, or the angel who speaks to him, says, that it shall endure !n all its force TWELVE HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS, WHICH IS FORTY AND THREE MONTHS. 'And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.' Dan. xit. 11. Which days being concluded, (doubtless In the first beginning of the day of the Lord,) these words are added, which have ever appeared to me an impenetrable mystery; 'Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days;'Dan. xii. 12. the difference between which two periods is exactly forty and five."
"In this examination It is very natural that some may be struck with another kind of enigma, which though accidental to the point in hand, might yet occasion a degree of embarrassment; which is, that the prophet Daniel makes the ANTICHRISTIAN TRIBULATION to last for a THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS, or forty and three months, whereas St. John in his Apocalypse assigneth to it only the duration of one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is thirty days less. This difficulty occasioned me in other times not a little embarrassment, until I recollected those words of Matthew xxiv. 22. 'And except those
days shall be shortened.' As St. John wrote after this prophecy and promise of Christ, he sets down the time of THAT GREAT TRIBULATION as actually abreviated, and so strikes off thirty days from the time that it was to endure according to the prophecy of Daniel. In a pestilence or conflagration so great and universal, appeareth It to thee a slight mercy to assuage the fire thirty days before the time of its appointed duration, that all flesh might not perish?" (Vol. 2, Part III, chap. 6, pages 250-251).
Keep in mind that Lacunza had said that when Christ first appears, "AT THE VERY MOMENT OF HIS TOUCHING THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR GLOBE, there shall happen in it, in the first place, the resurrection of all those saints 'who shall be counted worthy of that age and of the resurrection from the dead ............................... and THEN "there shall FORTHWITH BEGIN TO BE ACCOMPLISHED over this orb of the earth ALL THOSE GREAT AND HORRIBLE THINGS which are announced for that day...." (Vol. 2, Part III, page 215).
This period of time following the Rapture during which those things take place before Christ actually comes on down to the earth is described by Lacunza as being of the length of time at which he finally arrived-not less "Than the space of forty-five natural days". But these things were not to happen on the earth until Christians had been caught up to meet Christ in the air, and only after all these things were accomplished would Christ then actually come to earth.
So we see here very clearly taught what was a two-stage Second Coming of Christ with an intervening period of at least 45 days of tribulation and judgments in between the two stages. True, the period was only 45 days, but it was not long after this book was published that the period of time became 3-1/2 years, and then finally 7 years. And it was FIRST taught in this book published in Spanish in 1812, and in English in 1827.
Lacunza Taught That the 45 Days of Tribulation andJudgments Upon the Earth Bring About the Final Destruction of Antichrist and His Followers "...there Is no doubt that the greater part of the human race shall perish; those, in the first place, who had in any way gathered themselves together under the fourth beast of Daniel, or pertained to the two beasts of the xiith chapter of the Apocalypse. Of these I hold it for certain that no one shall remain alive; for thus I see it expressed in both prophecies; 'And I beheld,' says Daniel of the fourth beast, 'till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.' Dan. vii. 11. 'These both,' with John of his two beasts, 'were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth:' Rev. xix. 20, 21...."(Vol. 2, Part III, ch. 1, page 217).
So, Lacunza taught a Rapture of worthy Christians, following which the Lord lets loose His terrible and horrible judgments on the earth which lasts for 45 days and culminates in the destruction of all those who have followed the Antichrist and the false prophet, plus the casting of the Antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire.
Lacunza Taught That the Rapture Will Be a PARTIAL Rapture.
In the following quotation from Lacunza's book, we see how he believed that even though all saved people would at some time enter into the kingdom of God, he denied that they who just barely got in would have part in the first resurrection even, and certainly would never be able to reign together with Christ:
"We do not therefore deny that all faithful Christians who observe the precepts of God, or at least offer true repentance for their sins, shall at some time enter into the kingdom of God. BUT IT MAY VERY WELL BE DENIED THAT THOSE WHO IN THIS WAY SHALL HARDLY ENTER INTO LIFE, OR INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, SHALL BE OR CAN BE KINGS OR REIGN TOGETHER WITH CHRIST. IT MAY BE AND OUGHT TO BE DENIED THAT THESE SHALL HAVE ANY PART IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION.... "' (Vol. 2, Part 111, p. 267).
Dave MacPherson, author of "The Incredible Cover-up" (mentioned elsewhere in this book) wrote me that he believed I am the only one who has ever called Lacunza a partial rapturist, and that every historian he has read calls him a pre-millennialist, the only kind of pre-millennialist that lived prior to 1830. Because of the tremendous amount of research that Mr. MacPherson has done on this subject, I can believe him that I am the only one who has ever called Lacunza a partial rapturist. Even Edward Irving the translator of the book did not mention this fact. However, the facts stand out as clear as day, as shown by the various quotations I will give directly from Lacunza's book on this matter. They speak for themselves.
After the above quotation, Lacunza went on to ask "Of those Christians then WHO DO NOT PERTAIN TO THIS PRIVILEGED CLASS, what shall be the lot in that day? IF THEY ARE NOT TO HAVE A PART WITH THE GREAT SAINTS IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION, what shall be their portion?" (Vol. 2, Part III, Chap. VII, page 267).
He answers this question later, as I shall quote more in full later as we discuss that particular matter. But this shows his separation of Christians into different classes, only part of whom will be caught up when Christ first appears. His idea was that if a Christian were not of extraordinary worthiness, he would not be resurrected at the coming of Christ; he would not reign with Christ; and he would not even have part in the holy city. "This holy city must be composed ONLY OF SAINTS OF EXTRAORDINARY SANCTITY...." (Vol. 2, Part III, Chap. VII, page 26'7).
So far as I know, this is the first published teaching ever on a "split" Rapture of just worthy Christians, or as some call it, a "Partial Rapture".
Elsewhere, Lacunza tells us more about his teaching concerning a differentiation of Christians as to their worthiness, so as to arrive at a conclusion that only the worthy ones are to be resurrected when Christ first appears:
"Lastly: In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John, I read the promise of the Lord four times repeated-AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY: a very remarkable promise, which Jesus Christ certainly makes not to men without distinction, NOR EVEN TO ALL CHRISTIANS, but to those expressly, and THOSE ALONE, who should profit in this doctrine, his example, his counsels, his death, and, above all, in the sacrament of his body and blood. Now if all men, without distinction, are to arise, in one company and at the same time, what particular grace is this he holds discourse? If it be the resurrection to life only which is promised, then as little would that grace be so specially theirs, as that very many to whom certainly he did NOT refer, shall NOT share it along with them: FOR EXAMPLE, THE INNUMERABLE COMPANY, WHO DIE AFTER BAPTISM BEFORE THE DAWN OF REASON, AND ALL WHO AT THE HOUR OF DEATH FIND ROOM FOR REPENTANCE, THOUGH THEY HAVE BEFORE LIVED FAR FROM HIS LAW AND DOCTRINE. If all these are likewise to rise to life eternal, what SPECIAL grace doth he promise to the FORMER?
"The instruments or documents which we have presented in this dissertation, if they be seriously considered and combined with one another, appear more than sufficient to prove that God hath promised in his word, to raise many other saints besides those already raised, before the general resurrection; consequently, the idea of the resurrection of the flesh, in one company and at the same time, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, is an idea which is so far from being just that it appeareth absolutely indefensible." (Vol. 1, Part I, p. 114).
By the expression, "to raise many other saints, besides those already raised before the general resurrection, " we see once again Lacunza's attempt to provide a foundation for his new teaching of a Rapture of select saints prior to the coming of Christ to the earth, as well as before the general resurrection which he believed was to be after the Millennium.
But here also Lacunza taught that only a select number of Christians would be involved in this special resurrection, and that others-such as those "who die after baptism before the dawn of reason, and all who at the hour of death find room for repentance, though they have lived far from his law and doctrine, " will not be raised until later. Here we see that Lacunza separates Christians into different categories on the basis of their worthiness, and not on the basis of the merits of Christ. We must remember that he was a Catholic, and this was Catholic reasoning, in a sense. (He even says that worthiness to fit one for the "special" resurrection (Rapture) at the appearing of Christ, involves partaking of "the sacrament of his body and blood"). This concept is the basis for the kind of rapture belief as espoused later by Margaret MacDonald and others, including Robert Norton who wrote later on that Margaret MacDonald was the first one to advance the idea of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Margaret MacDonald and Robert Norton both taught a partial rapture, that is, that not all Christians would be caught up at the Rapture, as we shall see later.
See also in this following quotation again how Lacunza believed that only certain Christians will be resurrected when Christ comes:
He first poses a question, "Shall the saints who shall come with the Lord to our earth, risen and completely blessed, consist of ALL who have been saved hitherto?" And then he answers that question by explaining who will be raised, but limiting the resurrection only to certain worthy Christians; that is, he says that not all Christians are "in Christ" in such a way as to be included in this resurrection:
....they that are Christ's at his coming', I Cor. xv. 23. In order that this expression, those who are Christ's, may not have a very wide and definite extension given to it, AS IF IT SPOKE OF ALL WHO SHOULD BE SAVED, the same apostle explains it in another place by these formal words, 'but they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its corruption and lusts.' Gal. 1:24. And thinkest thou, friend, that all Christians who have been saved to this day, or shall be saved from this time forth, are or shall be in Christ in such a manner?" (Vol. 2, Part III, p. 265).
Lacunza Taught That Those Christians Not Raptured When Christ Comes Are Left On the Earth to do Through the 45 Days of Tribulation and Judgments.
In a previous quotation given, Lacunza taught that "no one shall remain alive" at the end of the 45 days of tribulation and judgments upon the earth, when at last the Antichrist and all his followers are destroyed. However, Lacunza went on to say:
"But although I hold it to be certain, that OF THIS CLASS OF PEOPLE there shall not one single Individual be left alive; so, in the same manner and with the same foundation, it appeareth to me certain that there shall remain alive MANY INDIVIDUALS, NOT ONLY of those who shall then pertain to true Christianity (as are those who go in the clouds to meet Christ,....) but likewise of those pertaining to the first beasts, and WHO HAVE NOT JOINED THEMSELVES TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FOURTH. " (Vol. 2, Part III, ch. 1, page 217).
According to Lacunza, those Christians who are not caught up in the Rapture will certainly be left on earth to go through the time of these horrible things which will come on the earth, until such time as Christ comes down to the earth after destroying the Antichrist and his followers. But they will be left alive, though all others will be destroyed, according to Lacunza.
ONLY THE MOST WORTHY CHRISTIANS WILL ESCAPE THIS DREADFUL PERIOD; others not raptured will go through it. For some Christians, therefore, it will be a PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE
Rev. John Bray
ETERNAL SECURITY THESIS: CONCLUSION-THE END
“CONCLUSION” of Eternal Security Thesis
The contents of this thesis is not anything new, but, systematically has been in the Church since it began, at Pentecost. And, as can be expected, there are always at least two extreme positions of “any” doctrine; and sometimes, several other positions in the middle. It was not my purpose to document the position of every group concerning their theology on the subject, or, for that matter, even apply any labels.
The sole purpose is to state MY position, of which I am firmly founded and committed to. I have reached the point where I am now at, having arrived here, through a path where I had once been on the extreme OPPOSITE view of everything I now firmly believe, concerning this subject!
There are hundreds of volumes of scripturally sound, scholarly works supporting the doctrine of this thesis in Christian libraries, all over the world. The opposite views, usually are supported by very superficial scholarship, usually based on experimental Christianity, rather than by being supported by sound Bible exposition.
I firmly admit , that in order to have arrived at the place I am presently at, has taken literally thousands of hours of diligent study on the subject, but, it certainly has been worth the effort! God has given me a firm faith and a solid foundation! It is with prayerful expectancy, that those who read this thesis, will receive it, as being firmly grounded in the Word of God, and will feel totally secure in the Lord, and if not, that this thesis will have served as a stepping stone to “wet the appetite” enough, so that those who have not yet reached the point of feeling Eternally Secure forever, in Christ, will continue to investigate the available volumes of study matter on the subject, and their creeds, systematic scholarship, etc.
If I have presented any heretical teachings here, I openly invite, and ask to be corrected, in any area where I have misunderstood. All objections brought to my attention, will be prayerfully re-studied again, to examine if I have missed the correct meaning. To those this thesis may have ministered to, I Praise His Name that He has thought to illuminate your spirit with the perfect peace and joy which the Doctrine of Eternal Security brings.
“But you are not in the flesh, but, in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” “Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:9,16) May the Peace of God bring Joy into your hearts, as you search your own inner regions, in order to have the reunion with your own hidden Master Who has been continuously Calling YOU to dine at His Table of Grace.
THE END…………,or the beginning for some.
Blessings!
Marked Elect
The contents of this thesis is not anything new, but, systematically has been in the Church since it began, at Pentecost. And, as can be expected, there are always at least two extreme positions of “any” doctrine; and sometimes, several other positions in the middle. It was not my purpose to document the position of every group concerning their theology on the subject, or, for that matter, even apply any labels.
The sole purpose is to state MY position, of which I am firmly founded and committed to. I have reached the point where I am now at, having arrived here, through a path where I had once been on the extreme OPPOSITE view of everything I now firmly believe, concerning this subject!
There are hundreds of volumes of scripturally sound, scholarly works supporting the doctrine of this thesis in Christian libraries, all over the world. The opposite views, usually are supported by very superficial scholarship, usually based on experimental Christianity, rather than by being supported by sound Bible exposition.
I firmly admit , that in order to have arrived at the place I am presently at, has taken literally thousands of hours of diligent study on the subject, but, it certainly has been worth the effort! God has given me a firm faith and a solid foundation! It is with prayerful expectancy, that those who read this thesis, will receive it, as being firmly grounded in the Word of God, and will feel totally secure in the Lord, and if not, that this thesis will have served as a stepping stone to “wet the appetite” enough, so that those who have not yet reached the point of feeling Eternally Secure forever, in Christ, will continue to investigate the available volumes of study matter on the subject, and their creeds, systematic scholarship, etc.
If I have presented any heretical teachings here, I openly invite, and ask to be corrected, in any area where I have misunderstood. All objections brought to my attention, will be prayerfully re-studied again, to examine if I have missed the correct meaning. To those this thesis may have ministered to, I Praise His Name that He has thought to illuminate your spirit with the perfect peace and joy which the Doctrine of Eternal Security brings.
“But you are not in the flesh, but, in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” “Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:9,16) May the Peace of God bring Joy into your hearts, as you search your own inner regions, in order to have the reunion with your own hidden Master Who has been continuously Calling YOU to dine at His Table of Grace.
THE END…………,or the beginning for some.
Blessings!
Marked Elect
ETERNAL SECURITY THESIS: ONCE ENTERED, Part 3
“Once Having Entered Salvation, Absolute Eternal Security Is Guaranteed”, Part Three
The first area I would like to discuss are a few verses of Scripture which have caused much worry and concern in the church, and the recording is in Hebrews 6:4,5,6, “For it IMPOSSIBLE for those who were ONCE ENLIGHTENED AND HAVE TASTED of the Heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have TASTED the good work of God and the powers of the world to come, IF they shall FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.”
First, let me say right away, that those referred to in preceding verses were never genuine Christians, but, apostates. There are several reasons, although not too obvious. The first key is the word “IMPOSSIBLE.” It is never, ever, impossible to repent of ANY sin, no matter how serious. All Christians are given the assurance in John 1:9, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our sins, and TO CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness.” So, these verses certainly are not talking about backslidden Christians.
Simon Peter backslide and repented. (Matt.26:69-75) and was restored to fellowship (John 21:3-17) with the Lord. David sinned (2nd Samuel 11:1-27) repented, (Psalms 51:1-19) and was restored to fellowship with God. These people discussed were “professing” Christians, but not “possessing” Eternal Life.
Esau was a such example who sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27-34) and tried to repent later, but found it impossible. “He found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:16-17).
The other clue is in the word “tasted”. The Greek word for “tasted” is “guomi”, and is the same word used in Matthew 27:34, when Jesus “tasted” the wine mixed with gall. He would not take it in. The same applies to the apostates’ They tasted of the things of God, but, did not take them in. Their experiences were only superficial with no deep spiritual roots. The other less obvious fact mentioned in these verses, is, assuming those persons spoken of were real Christians, it did not say they actually DID fall away! It just gave a few warnings to “whomever” the shoe would fit IF they shall fall away vs. 6) also, they were contrasted apostates from real believers, because when the REAL believers were actually being addressed, it became obvious in Hebrews 6:9,10, “But, BELOVED, we are persuaded better things of YOU (the Elect), and things that accompany salvation, though we this speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward His Name, in that you have ministered to the saints, AND DO minister.”
So, those that “tasted”, tried the flavor of, but rejected it, but, they really NEVER did fall away!
The wicked will TRY to repent at the Great White Throne judgment )Rev.20:11-15), but, it WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE for them. Paul mentions several apostates like those, who were NEVER real believers to begin with. He talks about “some” having put away faith made shipwreck: of whom is Hymenes and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, and they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1st Timothy 1:19,20).Paul also mentions Demas, who was actually sharing the ministry with Paul (Col. 4:14; Phm. 24) but later showed his true colors of being an apostate! Paul says, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this PRESENT world, and is departed.” (2nd Timothy 4:10). John discussed those kinds of people in John 2:18,19. “Even now there are many antichrists whereby we know it is the last time. They went out FROM us, but were NOT OF US, for if they HAD been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they WERE NOT OF US.” In other words, from the beginning, there had been some apostates mixed in with the true believers, and they finally showed their true identity!
Another example is Peter who had been discussing false prophets and teachers in most of the 2nd chapter of 2nd Peter. Then, finally closing with the last three verses, he said, “for after THEY (the apostate meant) have escaped the pollutions (sins) of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteous, then, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.. But, it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb, the DOG is turned to his own vomit; and the SOW that was washed to her walling in the mire.” (2nd Peter 2:20-22).
Without reading the context of all the rest of the chapter, only looking at these verses, might seem to indicate they had believed fore a while, and then turned away. How ever, we know Peter was talking about false prophets who were never called by God in the first place, and though they heard the Gospel, and responded for a period, they never received the INNER CALL from Christ, because, notice, it said they were DOGS AND PIGS, not SHEEP! “My SHEEP HEAR MY voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). We are told what Jesus thought of dogs and pigs when He told His disciples, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet.” (Matt. 7:6). When Jesus was addressing the Canaanite woman who asked mercy of Him, He told her in Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (the Elect).” When she asked fore help again, He said in vs, 26, “it is not meant to take the children’s (Elect’s) Bread , and cast it to DOGS (apostates). Then, we are told in Revelations 22:14,15, “Blessed are they (the Elect) that DO His commandments, and that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For, without (or outside) are DOGS , and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murders, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Then, in Matthew 8:28-34, Jesus cast out demons from the Gergesene demoniacs, and sent them into a nearby herd of pigs! So, it should be obvious that it was not sheep which fell back into their old nature.
In Matthew 24:12,13, is said, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but, he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Again, this is only a final separating of the real and counterfeit, or the wheat from the tares.
Paul said in 1st Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit spiked expressly that in the latter times, SOME shall depart from the faith.” He means that they will fall away from doctrine, but, not from the Grace of God, because he continues about them, “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS.” ( Meats meaning food, here, or fasting indefinitely) Does this describe true believers? No, it certainly does not. No ,matter how much sin real believers are in, the Spirit of God never departs!
David, though deep in sin, still had the Holy Spirit in him, because when he was asking forgiveness, he said “TAKE NOT thy Spirit FROM me; restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.” (Psalms 51:12).
Then, another Scripture I have previously mentioned is 1st Timothy 2:3,4, when referring to “classes” of men, such as kings (vs.2) and all authority, says, “for this is good and acceptable in thy sight, oh God, our Savior; who will have ALL means all of the ruling class, because God is “no respecter of persons.” If someone asked you, “How many were at your church last night”, and you would reply, “Why, they were ALL there, not the entire town, or world. The same applies to ALL being used in that verse.
There are verses of Scripture, stating Jesus gave Himself a ransom for ALL. (1st Timothy 2:6). How ever, this meant ALL OF THE ELECT, because, it also says, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give His life as a ransom for MANY. (the Elect).
(Matt.20:28; Mark 10:45).
After Jesus preached a conflicting message, it is said some of the disciples left Him, (John 6:66) and followed Him no more. The word “disciple” means “learner”, so these learners were not necessarily believers, or they would have stayed.
In the Old Testament, there were many, supposedly, “holy” men, even doing priestly functions, who turned to apostasy. Nadad and Abihu were priests, (Exidus 19:6; 22:31) and were cut off in sin. (Leviticus 10:1-20; Numbers 16:1-3, 23-33). Saul even went into spiritualism when he turned away, and lost the Holy Spirit (1st Samuel 16:12-23), and died a suicide and cursed God. (1st Samuel 31:1-6; 1st Chronicles 10:13-14). Ananias and Sapphra lied to the Holy Ghost, and were struck dead by God (Acts 5:11). Many others coveted money and erred from the faith. (1st Timothy 6:10,21). Many young widows waxed cold toward Christ and cast off their FIRST faith and were damned (1st Timothy 5:11-13). Hymenaeus and Philetus erred from the faith and overthrew the faith of others. (2nd Timothy 2:17-19). All of these people were never genuinely saved to begin with, or they would have endured until the end. If all other scriptures around each of those mentioned are real, in every case, it can be seen that they were all apostates.
There is a teaching in some circles that it is impossible to be saved, and not know it, as one of the Elect. If a person is definitely saved, he will know it by the seal of the Holy Spirit. I believe each of the Elect know who and what they are; however, a reprobate will never know he is not of the Elect. As long as he breaths, he has a chance of becoming enlightened by God, because, ONLY God knows who are His!
Therefore, I, as a Minister of the Gospel, even believing in Predestination, Election, reprobation, and Eternal Security, feel perfectly justified into being able to walk into the street, and preach to anyone, and fully expect that SOME of those who hear the outer call of the Gospel will also hear the INNER CALL from God, Himself, and come to Christ After all, Jesus did say, MANY are CALLED, but FEW are CHOSEN!
No one can ever know if he is eternally lost! In God’s time table, He can call anyone any time He wills, which He has already predetermined to do. There are many other scriptures which also may, at first glance, “seem” to indicate Christians falling away, but I am convinced, they were apostates.
CONT. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Blessings!
Marked Elect
The first area I would like to discuss are a few verses of Scripture which have caused much worry and concern in the church, and the recording is in Hebrews 6:4,5,6, “For it IMPOSSIBLE for those who were ONCE ENLIGHTENED AND HAVE TASTED of the Heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have TASTED the good work of God and the powers of the world to come, IF they shall FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.”
First, let me say right away, that those referred to in preceding verses were never genuine Christians, but, apostates. There are several reasons, although not too obvious. The first key is the word “IMPOSSIBLE.” It is never, ever, impossible to repent of ANY sin, no matter how serious. All Christians are given the assurance in John 1:9, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our sins, and TO CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness.” So, these verses certainly are not talking about backslidden Christians.
Simon Peter backslide and repented. (Matt.26:69-75) and was restored to fellowship (John 21:3-17) with the Lord. David sinned (2nd Samuel 11:1-27) repented, (Psalms 51:1-19) and was restored to fellowship with God. These people discussed were “professing” Christians, but not “possessing” Eternal Life.
Esau was a such example who sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27-34) and tried to repent later, but found it impossible. “He found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:16-17).
The other clue is in the word “tasted”. The Greek word for “tasted” is “guomi”, and is the same word used in Matthew 27:34, when Jesus “tasted” the wine mixed with gall. He would not take it in. The same applies to the apostates’ They tasted of the things of God, but, did not take them in. Their experiences were only superficial with no deep spiritual roots. The other less obvious fact mentioned in these verses, is, assuming those persons spoken of were real Christians, it did not say they actually DID fall away! It just gave a few warnings to “whomever” the shoe would fit IF they shall fall away vs. 6) also, they were contrasted apostates from real believers, because when the REAL believers were actually being addressed, it became obvious in Hebrews 6:9,10, “But, BELOVED, we are persuaded better things of YOU (the Elect), and things that accompany salvation, though we this speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward His Name, in that you have ministered to the saints, AND DO minister.”
So, those that “tasted”, tried the flavor of, but rejected it, but, they really NEVER did fall away!
The wicked will TRY to repent at the Great White Throne judgment )Rev.20:11-15), but, it WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE for them. Paul mentions several apostates like those, who were NEVER real believers to begin with. He talks about “some” having put away faith made shipwreck: of whom is Hymenes and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, and they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1st Timothy 1:19,20).Paul also mentions Demas, who was actually sharing the ministry with Paul (Col. 4:14; Phm. 24) but later showed his true colors of being an apostate! Paul says, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this PRESENT world, and is departed.” (2nd Timothy 4:10). John discussed those kinds of people in John 2:18,19. “Even now there are many antichrists whereby we know it is the last time. They went out FROM us, but were NOT OF US, for if they HAD been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they WERE NOT OF US.” In other words, from the beginning, there had been some apostates mixed in with the true believers, and they finally showed their true identity!
Another example is Peter who had been discussing false prophets and teachers in most of the 2nd chapter of 2nd Peter. Then, finally closing with the last three verses, he said, “for after THEY (the apostate meant) have escaped the pollutions (sins) of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteous, then, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.. But, it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb, the DOG is turned to his own vomit; and the SOW that was washed to her walling in the mire.” (2nd Peter 2:20-22).
Without reading the context of all the rest of the chapter, only looking at these verses, might seem to indicate they had believed fore a while, and then turned away. How ever, we know Peter was talking about false prophets who were never called by God in the first place, and though they heard the Gospel, and responded for a period, they never received the INNER CALL from Christ, because, notice, it said they were DOGS AND PIGS, not SHEEP! “My SHEEP HEAR MY voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). We are told what Jesus thought of dogs and pigs when He told His disciples, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet.” (Matt. 7:6). When Jesus was addressing the Canaanite woman who asked mercy of Him, He told her in Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (the Elect).” When she asked fore help again, He said in vs, 26, “it is not meant to take the children’s (Elect’s) Bread , and cast it to DOGS (apostates). Then, we are told in Revelations 22:14,15, “Blessed are they (the Elect) that DO His commandments, and that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For, without (or outside) are DOGS , and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murders, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Then, in Matthew 8:28-34, Jesus cast out demons from the Gergesene demoniacs, and sent them into a nearby herd of pigs! So, it should be obvious that it was not sheep which fell back into their old nature.
In Matthew 24:12,13, is said, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but, he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Again, this is only a final separating of the real and counterfeit, or the wheat from the tares.
Paul said in 1st Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit spiked expressly that in the latter times, SOME shall depart from the faith.” He means that they will fall away from doctrine, but, not from the Grace of God, because he continues about them, “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS.” ( Meats meaning food, here, or fasting indefinitely) Does this describe true believers? No, it certainly does not. No ,matter how much sin real believers are in, the Spirit of God never departs!
David, though deep in sin, still had the Holy Spirit in him, because when he was asking forgiveness, he said “TAKE NOT thy Spirit FROM me; restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.” (Psalms 51:12).
Then, another Scripture I have previously mentioned is 1st Timothy 2:3,4, when referring to “classes” of men, such as kings (vs.2) and all authority, says, “for this is good and acceptable in thy sight, oh God, our Savior; who will have ALL means all of the ruling class, because God is “no respecter of persons.” If someone asked you, “How many were at your church last night”, and you would reply, “Why, they were ALL there, not the entire town, or world. The same applies to ALL being used in that verse.
There are verses of Scripture, stating Jesus gave Himself a ransom for ALL. (1st Timothy 2:6). How ever, this meant ALL OF THE ELECT, because, it also says, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give His life as a ransom for MANY. (the Elect).
(Matt.20:28; Mark 10:45).
After Jesus preached a conflicting message, it is said some of the disciples left Him, (John 6:66) and followed Him no more. The word “disciple” means “learner”, so these learners were not necessarily believers, or they would have stayed.
In the Old Testament, there were many, supposedly, “holy” men, even doing priestly functions, who turned to apostasy. Nadad and Abihu were priests, (Exidus 19:6; 22:31) and were cut off in sin. (Leviticus 10:1-20; Numbers 16:1-3, 23-33). Saul even went into spiritualism when he turned away, and lost the Holy Spirit (1st Samuel 16:12-23), and died a suicide and cursed God. (1st Samuel 31:1-6; 1st Chronicles 10:13-14). Ananias and Sapphra lied to the Holy Ghost, and were struck dead by God (Acts 5:11). Many others coveted money and erred from the faith. (1st Timothy 6:10,21). Many young widows waxed cold toward Christ and cast off their FIRST faith and were damned (1st Timothy 5:11-13). Hymenaeus and Philetus erred from the faith and overthrew the faith of others. (2nd Timothy 2:17-19). All of these people were never genuinely saved to begin with, or they would have endured until the end. If all other scriptures around each of those mentioned are real, in every case, it can be seen that they were all apostates.
There is a teaching in some circles that it is impossible to be saved, and not know it, as one of the Elect. If a person is definitely saved, he will know it by the seal of the Holy Spirit. I believe each of the Elect know who and what they are; however, a reprobate will never know he is not of the Elect. As long as he breaths, he has a chance of becoming enlightened by God, because, ONLY God knows who are His!
Therefore, I, as a Minister of the Gospel, even believing in Predestination, Election, reprobation, and Eternal Security, feel perfectly justified into being able to walk into the street, and preach to anyone, and fully expect that SOME of those who hear the outer call of the Gospel will also hear the INNER CALL from God, Himself, and come to Christ After all, Jesus did say, MANY are CALLED, but FEW are CHOSEN!
No one can ever know if he is eternally lost! In God’s time table, He can call anyone any time He wills, which He has already predetermined to do. There are many other scriptures which also may, at first glance, “seem” to indicate Christians falling away, but I am convinced, they were apostates.
CONT. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Blessings!
Marked Elect
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)