162# 第四则灵界经历
众灵之间兴起一场争辩：人若非从主而来，能否于圣言之中看见任何神学教义之真理。众灵皆承认，若非出于上帝，人便无从得见，因为经上明言：“若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得什么”（约3:27）。由是，争辩之焦点转向此事：人若不直接亲近主，是否仍能看见真理。一方主张，人必须直接亲近主，因为祂本身即是圣言；另一方则认为，人直接亲近父上帝，亦能看见教义之真理。争论遂首先集中于此：基督徒是否可以直接亲近父上帝，从而越过主而攀登上去？此举岂非不合宜之轻率、放肆与冒昧？因为主明明说：“若不借着我，没有人能到父那里去”（约14:6）。
然而，他们暂且搁下这一点，又提出说：人凭自己的属世之光，亦能从圣言中看见教义之真理。此说随即遭到驳斥。于是他们又坚持说，凡向父上帝祈祷者，也能看见真理。便有人在他们面前诵读圣言中的一段；他们随即跪下祈祷，求父上帝光照他们。对于方才在他们面前所读之圣言，他们说此处是真理，彼处亦是真理；然而他们所指认者却是伪谬。如此反复多次，直到令人厌倦；最终，他们承认自己不能看见。但另一方那些直接亲近主的灵，却能看见真理，并将真理告知他们。
【2】这场争辩如此判定之后，有些灵从深渊之中上来。他们起初显得像蝗虫，后来显出微小人形。他们就是在世时向父上帝祈祷，并确认唯独凭信仰称义者，也就是启9:1—11中所论到的那些灵。他们说，自己在清楚的光中看见：人唯独凭信仰、无须律法的行为便得称义；并且此事亦是从圣言中看见的。有人问他们所凭为何种信仰；他们回答说：“是对父上帝的信仰。”
然而，他们经过查验之后，有声音自天堂告知他们：他们从圣言中连一条教义真理也不知道。他们却反驳说，自己仍是在光中看见那些真理。于是有人告诉他们，他们乃是在虚妄之光中看见那些东西。他们便问：“什么是虚妄之光？”他们得知，所谓虚妄之光，乃是确认伪谬之光；此光对应猫头鹰与蝙蝠所处之光。对这类生灵而言，暗即是光，光即是暗。为证实此事，当他们仰望天堂，也就是仰望真光所在之处时，所见乃是暗；当他们俯视自己所出的深渊时，反倒看见光。
【3】他们因这证明而恼怒，说：如此看来，光与暗便不是什么真实之物，不过只是眼睛的状态；人不过由此才称光为光，称暗为暗。但有人向他们表明：他们所有的，乃是虚妄之光，也就是确认伪谬之光；并且他们的光不过是心智的活动，源于私欲之火，与猫眼之光并无不同。猫在夜间的地窖中，因捕鼠欲望炽烈，眼睛便显得如蜡烛一般发光。
他们听见这些话，便愤怒地说，自己不是猫，也不像猫，因为只要愿意，他们就能看见。但他们害怕被问到：既然能看见，为什么不愿意看见？于是便退去，降回自己的深渊。在那里的人，以及与他们相似的灵，天使也称他们为猫头鹰、蝙蝠，并且也称为蝗虫。
【4】他们回到深渊中的同伴那里，转述天使曾说：“我们不知道任何教义真理，连一条也不知道。”又说天使称他们为“猫头鹰、蝙蝠和蝗虫”。深渊之中便起了骚动。他们说：“让我们向上帝祈祷，求祂准许我们上去；我们必清楚证明，我们拥有许多教义真理，连天使长也会承认。”
因他们向上帝祈祷，便得了许可；于是他们上来，人数多达三百。他们在地上显现出来后说道：“我们在世时曾有名望，并广为人知，因为我们知道并教导唯独凭信仰称义的奥秘。借着诸多确认，我们不仅看见了光，甚至看见那光如耀目的光辉；如今在我们的房间里也是这样。然而，我们从曾到你们那里去过的同伴那里听说，那光并不是光，而是暗；原因是，照你们所说，我们没有任何来自圣言的教义真理。我们知道，圣言的一切真理都会发光；并且我们曾相信，当我们深入默想自己的奥秘时，心中所见的闪光正是由此而来。因此，我们要证明：我们有许多来自圣言的真理。”
他们又说：“我们岂不是有这一条真理：有三一，即父上帝、子和圣灵，并且人应当信三一吗？我们岂不是有这一条真理：基督是我们的救赎主和救主吗？我们岂不是有这一条真理：唯有基督是公义，唯有祂有功德；若有人想把祂的任何功德和公义归给自己，那人就是不义而不虔的吗？我们岂不是有这一条真理：凡有死的人，不能凭自己行任何属灵的善；凡本身为善的善，都是从上帝而来的吗？我们岂不是有这一条真理：确有邀功之善和伪善之善，而这些善都是恶吗？我们岂不是有这一条真理：善行终究是应当行的吗？我们岂不是有这一条真理：有信仰，人应当信上帝，并且各人照着自己所信的而有生命吗？除此之外，还有许多别的真理，都是从圣言而来。你们当中谁能否认其中任何一条？然而你们却说，我们在自己的研习场中没有任何真理，连一条也没有。你们这样责难我们，岂不是毫无缘由吗？”
【5】那时，他们得到回答：“你们所提出的一切，就其本身而言都是真理；但在你们那里，这些真理已经被歪曲。它们从一个伪谬的原则引出，因此在你们那里便成了伪谬。事情确是如此，我们也要使你们亲眼看见。离此不远有一处地方，天堂之光直接流入那里；那地方中央有一张桌子。若有一张纸，上面写着来自圣言的真理，并被放在桌上，那张纸便因写在其上的真理而发光如星。因此，你们把自己的真理写在纸上，让人把纸放在那张桌上，你们就会看见。”
他们便照此而行，把纸交给看守者。看守者将纸放在桌上，然后对他们说：“你们退开，观看这桌子。”他们退开观看，看哪，那张纸果然发光如星。看守者便说：“你们看见了，你们写在纸上的是真理；但你们再走近一些，把目光定睛在纸上。”他们便如此行；那时，光忽然消散，纸变成黑色，好像蒙上了炉中的煤烟。看守者又说：“你们用手摸这张纸，但要小心，不要碰到字迹。”他们这样做时，火焰便喷发出来，把纸烧尽了。
他们看见这些之后，有人对他们说：“如果你们碰到字迹，就会听见爆裂声，并烧伤你们的手指。”于是站在后面的人对他们说：“现在你们已经看见了：你们用来确认自己称义奥秘的那些真理，本身的确是真理；但在你们里面，却是被歪曲了的真理。”
他们这时仰望，看见天堂对他们显为血色，随后又显为幽暗；而在天使灵眼前，他们有的显得像蝙蝠，有的像猫头鹰，有的像鸱鸺。他们便逃回自己的暗中；那暗在他们眼前却虚妄地发光。
【6】在场的天使灵对此感到惊奇，因为他们以前并不知道那个地方，也不知道那里有那张桌子。那时，有声音从南方区域传来，对他们说：“到这里来，你们还会看见更奇妙的事。”他们便走近，进入一间屋室；那屋室的墙壁发光，仿佛由黄金构成。他们也在那里看见一张桌子，上面安放着圣言，四周按照天堂的形式镶嵌着宝石。
守护天使说：“圣言一被打开，就有难以言喻的皎洁之光从其中闪耀出来；同时，由于那些宝石，圣言上方和四周显出一道彩虹。当第三层天堂的天使来到这里时，圣言上方和四周显出的彩虹，是在红色平面上；当第二层天堂的天使来到这里观看时，彩虹是在蓝色平面上；当最低层天堂的天使来到这里观看时，彩虹是在白色平面上；当某个善灵来到这里观看时，则显出如大理石般斑驳的光彩。”这一切确实如此，也当着他们的眼显明出来。
守护天使又说：“若有歪曲过圣言的人走近，光辉首先会消散；若他更靠近，并定睛看圣言，周围便会变得像血一样。那时他会受到警告，必须离开，因为有危险。”
【7】然而，有一人在世时是唯独凭信仰称义教义的主要倡导者。他大胆走近，说：“我在世时并没有歪曲圣言。我在高举信仰的同时，也高举仁义；并且教导说，人处在信仰的状态中，若实行仁义及其行为，便由圣灵更新、重生并成圣；又教导说，那时信仰并不是孤立存在的，也就是说，不是没有善行的信仰；正如好树不会没有果子，太阳不会没有光，火不会没有热一样。我也责备那些说善行并非必要的人；此外，我还重视十诫的诫命，也重视悔改。这样，我以奇妙方式把圣言的一切都应用到信仰这一条款上；不过，我仍然发现并证明，唯有信仰才使人得救。”
他自信地声称自己没有歪曲圣言，便走近桌子，并且不顾天使的警告，触摸了圣言。那时，忽然有火夹着烟从圣言中喷出，并伴随巨响发生爆裂；他因此被抛到屋室一角，在那里躺了约有一小时，像死了一样。天使灵对此感到惊奇；但有人告诉他们：这位主教比其他人更高举仁义的善，称其为出于信仰；然而他所理解的仍不过是政治性的行为，也就是所谓道德的和公民的行为。这些行为是为了世界及其中的兴盛而应当行的，绝不是为了救恩而行的。此外，他还设想有一些来自圣灵的不可见行为，人对此毫无所知；这些行为在信仰的状态中被植入信仰里面。
【8】于是，天使灵彼此谈论歪曲圣言之事。他们一致认为：所谓歪曲圣言，乃是从圣言中取出真理，却将这些真理应用来确认伪谬；此举无异于把真理从圣言中抽离到圣言之外，并杀死它们。
例如：把上面那些从深渊中来的人所提出的一切真理，都应用于当今之信仰，并按照当今之信仰来解释它们；而这种信仰浸透着伪谬，以下将予以说明。又如从圣言中取出这条真理，即人应当实行仁义，并且应当向邻舍行善；但若有人由此确认说，善确实应当行，却不是为救恩之故而行，因为凡由人所行的善都不是善，乃是邀功之善，那么他就是把这条真理从圣言中拖到圣言之外，并屠杀了它。因为主在祂的圣言中吩咐每一个愿意得救的人：要爱邻舍，并出于爱向邻舍行善。其余各点也是如此。
162# 记事四：
一场争论在一些灵人中间产生，即：若不从主那里，人能否在圣言中看到任何神学的教义真理。他们都一致认为，若不从主那里，没有人能看到，因为：
若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得什么。（约翰福音3:27）
于是，问题出现了，即：如果不直接靠近主，能否做到这一点。一方说，必须直接靠近主，因为祂是圣言；而另一方说，当直接接近父神时，也可以看到真正的教义。因此，这场争论首先转向这一点：基督徒是否可以直接接近父神，从而越过主；或这是不是傲慢、鲁莽、大胆无礼，因为主说：
若不藉着我，没有人能到父那里去。（约翰福音14:6）
然而，他们把这一点搁置一边，声称人能通过自己的属世之光从圣言中看到真正的教义。这一点被弃绝了。然后，他们坚持认为，那些向父神祷告的人能看到这样的真理。于是，一部分圣言被念给他们，他们跪下求父神光照他们；论到从圣言中念给他们的经文，他们说，它包含这样那样的真理；但他们所说的是虚假。这个实验反复进行了几次，直到它变得令人厌烦；最后他们承认，这是无法做到的。而另一方面，那些直接靠近主的灵人看到了真理，并将它们传达给其他人。
当这场争论就此结束时，一些灵人从深渊里上来，起初看似蝗虫，后来看似侏儒。他们就是那些在世上向父神祷告，确认唯信称义教义的人，与启示录（9:1-11）论述的人是一样的。他们坚持认为，他们在清晰的光中从圣言中看到：人唯独凭信仰称义，无需律法的作为。当被问到凭什么样的信仰时，他们回答说：“凭对父神的信仰。”然而，经过检查，他们从天上被告知，他们不明白圣言中的一个教义真理。他们反驳说，他们仍在光中看到了自己的真理。他们被告知，他们是在一种昏昧或虚幻的光中看到了它们。他们问：“什么是昏昧或虚幻的光？”他们被告知，昏昧或虚幻的光就是确认虚假的光，这光对应于猫头鹰和蝙蝠所处的光，对它们来说，黑暗就是光，光就是黑暗。这一点通过以下事实被证实：当他们仰望天堂，就是光本身所在之处时，他们看到的是黑暗；当他们俯视他们所来自的深渊时，他们看到的是光。
他们对这一证明感到恼火，说，根据这种推理，光和暗无非是眼睛的状态，根据这种状态，光被称为光，暗被称为暗。但他们看到，他们的光是一种昏昧或虚幻的光，即确认虚假的光，这光无非是源于他们的欲望之火的心智活动，和猫的光差不多。在夜间的地下室，猫的眼睛因对老鼠的强烈食欲而看起来像蜡烛。听到这话，他们很生气，声称他们不是猫，也不像猫，因为他们若愿意，就能看到。但因担心会被问到为什么不愿意，他们就退下了，沉入他们的深渊。那些住在这个深渊里的人和像他们一样的人被天使称为猫头鹰和蝙蝠，以及蝗虫。
当他们回到深渊他们的同伴那里，告诉他们，天使说，他们不知道任何教义真理，一个也不知道；天使还叫他们猫头鹰、蝙蝠和蝗虫时，那里一片骚动。他们说：“让我们求神允许我们上去，我们会清楚地证明，我们有许多教义真理，连天使长自己也会承认。”他们向神祷告，得到允许；他们就上去了，人数多达三百人。当出现在地面上时，他们说：“在世上，我们都是鼎鼎有名的知名人士，因为我们知道并教导唯信称义的奥秘；从我们使用的证据中，我们不仅看到了光，还看到了它是灿烂的光芒，所以现在我们在我们的房间里看到了它。然而，我们从仍与你们在一起的同伴那里听说，这光不是光，而是黑暗，因为如你们所说的，我们没有来自圣言的教义真理。我们知道，圣言的每个真理都会发光，我们相信，当我们深入思考我们的奥秘时，我们的光芒就来自这个源头。因此，我们将向你们证明，我们拥有大量来自圣言的真理。”然后，他们继续说：“三位一体是存在的，它由父神、圣子和圣灵组成，人们当信三位一体，这个真理我们没有吗？基督是我们的救赎主和救主，这个真理我们没有吗？唯独基督是公义，功德唯独属于祂，凡想把基督的功德和公义归于自己的人，本身就是不义和邪恶的，这个真理我们没有吗？没有人能凭自己行任何属灵良善，本身为良善的一切良善都来自神，这个真理我们没有吗？有一种邀功的良善和虚伪的良善，这样的良善就是邪恶，这个真理我们没有吗？尽管如此，还是应做良善的作为，这个真理我们没有吗？像信仰这样的东西是存在的，人们当信神，每个人都有符合他信仰的生活，这个真理我们没有吗？此外，我们还有来自圣言的其它许多真理。你们谁能否认这些真理中的一个真理？然而，你们却声称，在我们的辩论中，我们根本没有真理，一个也没有。你们对我们作出这样的指控礼貌吗？”
但他们得到的答复如下：“你们所列举的这一切本身都是真理；但在你们中间，它们都是被歪曲的真理，被歪曲的真理就是虚假，因为它们源于一个虚假原则。我们会让你们清楚看到，事实就是这样。离这里不远有一个天堂之光直射的地方，在它的中心有一张桌子。每当写有来自圣言的某个真理的纸张被放在桌子上时，这纸就因上面所写的真理而像星星一样闪闪发光。因此，把你们的真理写在一张纸上，放在桌子上，你们就会看到。”他们照做了，并把那张纸交给一个守卫，守卫把它放在桌子上，并对他们说：“靠后站，看这张桌子。”他们就靠后观看，看哪！这张纸像星星一样闪闪发光。于是，守卫说：“你们看，你们写在纸上的都是真理。现在靠近一点，盯着这张纸。”他们照做了，突然间，光消失了，纸也变成了黑色，仿佛蒙上了一层炉灰。守卫进一步说：“用手摸这张纸，小心别碰到字迹。”当他们照做时，一团火焰喷出来，把那张纸烧毁了。看到这一幕，他们被告知：“你们若触碰到字迹，就会听到爆炸声，手指也会被烧伤。”站在后面的一些人说：“你们现在看到了，你们为证实你们称义的奥秘而滥用的真理本身是真理，但在你们那里，它们是被歪曲的真理。”然后，他们抬头仰望，天堂向他们显现，像血一样，随后又像幽暗；但在天使灵的眼里，这些灵人当中有的像蝙蝠，有的像猫头鹰，有的像其它夜鸟。因此，他们逃到了自己的黑暗之中，这黑暗在他们眼里闪烁着昏昧或虚幻的光。
在场的天使灵都很惊讶，因为他们以前对这个地方和那里的桌子一无所知。随后有声音从南边传到他们这里，说：“到这里来，你们会看到更奇妙的东西。”于是他们去了，并走进一个房间，房间的墙壁像金子一样闪闪发光；在那里，他们也看到一张桌子，上面摆着圣言，周围装饰着排列成天堂形式的宝石。天使守卫说：“当圣言被打开时，一道无法形容的光辉就会从中闪耀出来；同时从宝石中出现一道彩虹，在圣言的上面和周围。当来自第三层天堂的一位天使走近时，圣言上面和周围就会出现一道红色背景的彩虹；当来自第二层天堂的一位天使来观看时，一道蓝色背景的彩虹就会出现；当来自最低层天堂的一位天使来观看时，一道白色背景的彩虹就会出现；当一个善灵来观看时，像大理石一样的杂色光就会出现。”情况就是这样，这一点也向他们清楚演示了。天使守卫继续说：“当有歪曲圣言的人靠近时，首先，光辉会消失；然后，如果他走近并盯着圣言，圣言周围就会出现血；他会被警告离开，因为有危险。”
然而，有一个人在世上是唯信称义教义的主要作者，他大胆上前说：“我在世时没有歪曲圣言。我把仁爱和信仰一起高举，并教导说，在人实践仁爱，并做仁爱作为的信仰状态下，他会被圣灵更新、重生和圣化。在这种情况下，信仰不是孤单地存在，也就是说，不是与善行分离，或不是没有善行，就像好树不是没有果实，太阳不是没有光，火不是没有热一样。我也谴责那些声称善行没有必要的人。此外，在我的教导中，我坚持十诫和悔改的重要性，从而以一种奇妙的方式将圣言中的一切应用于信仰的主题；然而，我仍解释并证明了唯信得救。”这个人自信地断言他没有歪曲圣言，于是靠近桌子，不顾天使的警告，触碰了圣言。立刻就有火和烟从圣言中爆发出来，接着就是爆炸和撞击，把他扔到房间的一个角落里，他像死人一样在那里躺了将近一个小时。天使灵对此感到非常惊讶；但他们被告知，虽然这个领袖比其他人更高举仁之良善，好像这良善从信仰发出一样；但他只是指政治社会作为，或与社会有关的作为，这些作为也被称为道德和文明的，是为了世界和世俗的荣华富贵而做的，绝不是为了拯救。他还将作为理解为圣灵的某些隐藏的运作，而人对此一无所知，但在信仰的状态下，这些运作在信仰的行为中产生。
然后，天使灵彼此谈论了对圣言的歪曲。他们一致认为，歪曲圣言就是从圣言中选取真理，并将其用于证实虚假，这是把真理从圣言中拖出来，将其与圣言分离并杀害；例如，将来自深渊的灵人所引用的所有这些真理与当今信仰联系起来，并根据这信仰来解释它们。后面我们会说明，这种信仰充满了虚假。想想来自圣言的这个真理：当实行仁爱，当向邻舍行善。如果有人确认他的信仰，认为这是应该做的，但不是为了拯救而做的，因为人所行的一切良善都是为了功德，因而不是真正的良善，那么他就把这个真理从圣言中拖出来，将其与圣言分离并杀害。因为主在祂的圣言中吩咐所有想要得救的人：他必须爱邻舍，并出于爱向他行善。其它真理也是如此。
162. The fourth memorable occurrence. A dispute came up among spirits about whether any of us can see any theological or doctrinal truth in the Word unless we have help from the Lord. All agreed on one point: none of us can see truth in the Word unless we have help from God, because "we cannot receive anything unless it is given to us from heaven" (John 3:27). Therefore the topic of debate was whether any of us can see truth in the Word without going directly to the Lord. One side said that we have to go directly to the Lord because he is the Word. The other side said that we also see doctrinal truth when we go straight to God the Father.
A side topic came up for discussion: whether it is acceptable for any Christian to circumvent the Lord and go directly to God the Father. Someone asked, "Isn't that an improper, dangerous, insolent, and outrageous thing to do, since the Lord says that no one comes to the Father except through him" (John 14:6)?
So the spirits left this point alone. Next they said that we can all see doctrinal truth from the Word in our own earthly light. That was rejected. They insisted nonetheless that we can see truth if we pray to God the Father.
Something from the Word was read to them. They prayed on their knees for God the Father to enlighten them. In reference to the things that had been read to them from the Word, they stated that this or that point there was true, although it was really false. The experiment was repeated several times to the point where it became tiresome. They finally admitted that they could not do it.
Spirits on the side that went directly to the Lord, however, saw things that were true and taught the others.
[2] After the debate had been settled that way, up came some spirits from the abyss. They looked at first like locusts, then like little people. They were spirits who while in the world had prayed to God the Father and had convinced themselves that people are justified by faith alone. They were the same as the spirits depicted by Revelation 9:1-11.
They maintained that in a clear light and also on the basis of the Word they could see that we are justified by faith alone without having to do the works of the Law. They were asked, "By which faith?"
"Faith in God the Father," they answered.
After they were examined, however, they received word from heaven that they did not know even one doctrinal truth from the Word. They countered that they were in fact able to see their own truths in the light. They were told that the light they see them in is faint and deceptive.
"What is faint, deceptive light?" they asked.
They were informed, "Faint, deceptive light is a light that reinforces what is false. It corresponds to the light that owls and bats have - for them darkness is light and light darkness. "
This point was proven by the fact that when the spirits looked up to heaven, where true light exists, they saw darkness, and when they looked down to the abyss where they were from, they saw light.
[3] Irritated by this proof, they said that light and darkness do not really exist; they are just conditions of the eye. It is based only on conditions of the eye that we say light is light and darkness is darkness. It was demonstrated to them, however, that their light was faint and deceptive, a light that reinforced what is false. They were shown that their light was only an activity of their own mind that originated in the fire of their cravings, not unlike the light that cats have, whose eyes look like glowing candles when they are in pantries at night because of their burning appetite for mice.
Angry at hearing this, they said they were not cats and were not like cats, because they could [see] if they wanted to; but they left, because they were afraid of being asked why they did not want to. They made their way down into their abyss. (Those who are down there and others like them the angels call owls and bats, and also locusts.)
[4] When they arrived among their own kind in the abyss and told them, "Angels said we don't know any doctrinal truths, not even one; they called us owls, bats, and locusts, then a riot broke out. "
The spirits there then said, "Let's pray to God to be allowed to go up. We will clearly show we have many doctrinal truths that even the archangels themselves will acknowledge. "
Because they prayed to God, their request was granted. As many as three hundred came up. Once they appeared above the ground they said, "In the world we were famous, we were celebrities, because we knew and taught the secrets of justification by faith alone. On the basis of supporting evidence we saw not just light but a gleaming splendor. The same thing happens now in our little study areas. Yet we have heard from colleagues of ours who were with you that this light is not light but darkness, because according to you we don't have any doctrinal truths from the Word. We know that every truth in the Word shines. It has been our belief that this was the source of the gleaming when we were deeply meditating on our mysteries. Therefore we will demonstrate that we have truths from the Word in great abundance. "
They said, "Don't we have this truth, that there is a Trinity - God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and that we should all believe in the Trinity? Don't we have this truth, that Christ is our Redeemer and Savior? Don't we have this truth, that Christ alone is justice, and he alone has merit; and we are unjust and ungodly if we try to attribute any of his merit and justice to ourselves? Don't we have this truth, that no people alive can do anything spiritually good on their own, and everything that is truly good comes from God? Don't we have this truth, that there is such a thing as goodness done for reward, and also goodness that is hypocritical, and these types of goodness are actually evil? Don't we have this truth, that we nevertheless have to do good works? Don't we have this truth, that there is such a thing as faith, that we have to believe in God, and as we believe we have life? And many other things from the Word like that. Can any of you deny a single one of those truths? Yet you have said that in our debates there are no truths, not even one. Surely then your harsh statements against us are unwarranted. "
[5] "All the things you listed are truths in themselves," the angels answered, "but among you they have been falsified. They became false because of a false premise.
"We'll give you visible proof of what were asserting. There is a place not far from here where light flows straight in from heaven. In the middle of the place there is a table. When someone puts on the table a piece of paper that has a truth from the Word written on it, because of the truth written on it the piece of paper shines like a star. So write your truths on a piece of paper, allow it to be placed on the table, and you'll see. "
They did. They gave the piece of paper to a guard, who put it on the table. The guard then said to them, "Stand back and look at the table. "
They stood back and watched. Lo and behold, the piece of paper began to shine like a star.
Then the guard said, "You see that the statements you wrote on the piece of paper are true. Now come closer and stare at the piece of paper. "
They did. Suddenly the light vanished and the piece of paper became as black as if it had been coated with soot from a furnace.
Then the guard said, "Touch the piece of paper with your hands, but be careful not to touch the writing. "
When they did, the piece of paper burst into flames and burned up.
After they all saw that, they were told, "If you had touched the writing you would have heard roaring sounds and burned your fingers. "
Some who were standing at the back then said, "Now you see that the truths you have misused to support the mysteries of your justification are true in themselves, but for you they are falsified truths. "
The spirits glanced up at that point and heaven looked like blood to them, and then like thick darkness. To the eyes of angelic spirits some of the spirits from the abyss then looked like bats, some like night birds, some like horned owls. The spirits from the abyss ran off into their own darkness, which looked deceptively bright to their eyes.
[6] The angelic spirits who were there were amazed because they had not known anything about that place and the table there before. Then a voice came to them from the direction of the south saying, "Come here and you'll see something even more amazing. "
So they went. They came into a room with walls that were shining as if made of gold. The angelic spirits saw another table there. On it, the Word lay closed, surrounded by precious stones arranged in a form like heaven.
"When the Word is opened up," said the angel guard, "a light of inexpressible splendor shines out. At the same time, because of the precious stones, a kind of rainbow appears over and around the Word. When an angel from the third heaven comes here, the rainbow over and around the Word appears against a red background. When an angel from the second heaven comes here and looks, the rainbow appears against a sky blue background. When an angel from the lowest heaven comes here and looks, the rainbow appears against a shining white background. When a good spirit comes here and looks, a light appears that is varied like marble. "
The guard visibly demonstrated to them that this was the case.
The angel guard also said, "If any come along who have falsified the Word, first the brightness goes down. If they come close and stare at the Word, something like blood appears around the Word. They are then warned to leave because of danger. "
[7] Nevertheless, someone who had been a leading author in the world on the doctrine that we are justified by faith alone came boldly forward and said, "When I was in the world I didn't falsify the Word. I exalted goodwill along with faith. I taught that the Holy Spirit renews, regenerates, and sanctifies people who are in an ongoing state of faith that leads them to perform acts of goodwill. I taught that faith does not exist by itself, meaning without good works, just as a tree is not good without fruit, the sun without light, or fire without heat. I brought accusations against people who said that good works were not necessary. In addition, I enlarged the role of the Ten Commandments and repentance as well. In an amazing way, then, I applied everything in the Word to the topic of faith. Nevertheless, I revealed and demonstrated that it is faith alone that brings salvation. "
In complete confidence in his own assertion that he had not falsified the Word, he came up to the table. Despite a warning from the angel, he touched the Word. Flame and smoke suddenly shot out of the Word and there was an explosion with a loud bang that threw him into the corner of the room. For quite a few minutes he lay there as if he were dead.
The angelic spirits were astonished by this. It was explained to them that beyond everyone else he had been the main promoter of acts of goodwill as extensions of faith. Nevertheless, by acts of goodwill he had merely meant political activity (also called civic and moral activity) because this needs doing for the sake of the world and our prosperity in it; in his view such activity was unnecessary for our salvation. He also speculated that there is invisible work done by the Holy Spirit - work of which we know nothing - that is instilled in [the activation] of faith in our state.
[8] After that the angelic spirits talked to each other about falsification of the Word. They agreed on the point that to falsify the Word is to take truths out of it and use them to reinforce falsities, which is dragging truths out of and away from the Word and killing them. An example would be taking all the truths listed before by the spirits from the abyss, applying them to the modern-day faith, and explaining them from that point of view. (I will show later [178] that that faith is pregnant with falsities.)
Another example would be to take this truth from the Word: we have to live with goodwill and do what is good to our neighbor. We could reason that everything good that comes from ourselves is not really good since we hope to be rewarded for it, and on that basis convince ourselves that we ought to do what is good, but not for the sake of our salvation. If we adamantly espouse this point of view, however, we are dragging this truth out of and away from the Word and slaughtering it. In his Word, the Lord requires that all who want to be saved must love their neighbors and lovingly do them good.
The same goes for the rest of their list.
162. The fourth experience 1 .
A dispute arose among some spirits, whether anyone can see any truth on a matter of theological dogma in the Word, unless he is led to it by the Lord. They all agreed that no one can do this except by Divine guidance, because
A man cannot take anything unless it is given him from heaven, John 3:27.
So the argument was about whether anyone can do this, if he does not directly approach the Lord.
One party asserted that the Lord should be directly approached, because He is the Word. The other party held that the truth of doctrine is also seen when God the Father is directly approached. So the dispute centred on this preliminary point, whether any Christian is allowed to approach God the Father directly, and thus go over the Lord's head; and whether this is not improper and rash boldness and insolence. For the Lord says that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). But they left this point aside and said that man can see the truth of doctrine from the Word by his own natural enlightenment; but this view was rejected. So they insisted that it can be seen by those who pray to God the Father. A passage from the Word was read to them, and then they went down on their knees and prayed God the Father to enlighten them. About the passage read to them from the Word they said that certain things were true, when in fact they were untrue. This happened so many times they became tired of it, and at last admitted that they were unable to tell. However, the other party who directly approached the Lord were able to see the truth, and they told the others.
[2] When this dispute had been decided, some people came up out of the abyss, who looked at first like locusts, but later on like tiny people. They were those who in the world had prayed to God the Father, and convinced themselves of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. They were the same people as are described in Revelation (Revelation 9:1-11). They said that they could see in a clear light the doctrine that man is justified by faith alone without the actions prescribed by the Law, and that they could prove this from the Word. They were asked what faith this was, and they answered: 'Faith in God the Father.' But when they had been examined, they were told from heaven that they did not know a single truth of teaching from the Word. They retorted that they could still see their truths bathed in light.
Then they were told that they saw them by a deceptive light. 'What,' they asked, 'is this deceptive light?' They were told that deceptive light is that which comes from proving what is not true; it corresponds to the light enjoyed by owls and bats, who look upon darkness as light and light as darkness. This was proved to them by the fact that when they looked up to heaven, the source of true light, they saw only darkness, and when they looked down to the abyss from which they had come they saw light.
[3] This proof made them angry, and they said it showed that light and darkness have no real existence, but it is merely the condition of the eye that causes us to call light light and darkness darkness. However, it was shown that their light was the deceptive light which comes from proving what is not true; and that their light was only an activity of their minds arising from the fire of longings, of the same sort as the light enjoyed by cats, whose burning appetite for mice makes their eyes shine by night in cellars like candles.
On hearing this they said angrily that they were not cats or like them, since they could see if they wished. But then they went away, because they were afraid of being asked why they did not wish to see, and plunged into their abyss. The people there and those like them are also called by the angels owls and bats, as well as locusts.
[4] When they met their companions in the abyss and related that the angels had told them that 'we do not know any truth of teaching, not a single one,' and called them owls, bats and locusts, there was a riot. 'Let us pray God,' they said, 'to allow us to go up and we will give a clear demonstration that we possess many truths of teaching, which the archangels themselves will acknowledge.' Since they prayed to God, permission was granted, and they went up, to the number of three hundred.
When they appeared above ground, they said: 'In the world we were well-known and famous, because we knew and taught the secrets of justification by faith alone; and our proofs of this not only allowed us to see the light, but also to see it as a glittering sunbeam, and now we see it in the same way in our cells. Yet we have heard from our companions who visited you that this light is not light, but darkness, because you allege we have no truth of teaching from the Word. We know that every truth in the Word shines, and we have believed that that was what produced the glittering effect when we meditated profoundly on these secrets of ours. We shall therefore demonstrate that we have a vast supply of truths from the Word.'
'Do we not,' they said, 'possess this truth, that there is a Trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that we ought to believe in the Trinity? Do we not possess this truth, that Christ is our redeemer and saviour? Do we not possess this truth, that Christ alone is righteousness, and He alone has merit, and it is wrong and impious if anyone wishes to attribute to himself any of Christ's merit and righteousness? Do we not possess this truth, that no mortal can do of his own accord any spiritual good, and that all good which is good in itself is from God? Do we not possess this truth, that there exist meritorious good and hypocritical good, and that these forms of good are evil? Do we not possess this truth, that none the less good deeds should be done? Do we not possess this truth, that there exists faith, that one ought to believe in God, and that everyone has life in accordance with his belief? We have many truths besides from the Word. Can any of you deny a single one of them? Yet you said that we in our debates do not possess any truth, not a single one. Are you not unjustified in casting such reproaches at us?'
[5] But they received the reply: 'All the statements you quoted are in themselves true, but you have falsified them; by deriving them from a false principle you make them false. We shall give you a visual demonstration that this is so. Not far from here there is a place where the light pours down directly from heaven; in the middle there is a table, and when a piece of paper is placed on it which has a truth from the Word written on it, the paper is caused by the truth written on it to shine like a star. So write your truth on a piece of paper, put it on the table, and you will see.'
They did so and gave it to the custodian, who put it on the table and said to them: 'Go to a distance and watch the table.' They went away and watched, and suddenly the paper shone like a star. Then the custodian said: 'You see that what you wrote on the paper are truths; but come closer and fix your gaze on the paper.' They did so, and suddenly the light went out, and the paper became black as if it had been covered with soot from a chimney. 'Touch the paper with your hands,' the custodian went on, 'but be careful not to touch the writing.' On their doing so, the paper burst into flame and was burnt up. When they saw this, they were told: 'If you had touched the writing, you would have heard an explosion and would have burnt your fingers.'
Then they were told by those who were standing behind: 'You have seen now that the truths which you have misused to prove your secrets about justification are in themselves truths, but in your hands they have became falsified.' Then they looked up, and heaven appeared to them like blood, and later on like total darkness. In the eyes of the angelic spirits these people appeared some like bats, some like owls, some like horned owls. So they fled away to their regions of darkness, which in their eyes shone with a deceptive light.
[6] The angelic spirits present were surprised because previously they had known nothing of that place and the table it contained. Then a voice came to them from the southern quarter which said: 'Come this way and you will see something even more wonderful.' So they went and entered a room, the walls of which shone as if made of gold, and there too they saw a table on which was laid a copy of the Word, surrounded by precious stones in a heavenly pattern. The custodian angel said: 'When the Word is opened, a light shines out from it of indescribable brightness, and at the same time the precious stones give a rainbow effect above and around the Word. When an angel from the third heaven comes near, the rainbow appears above and around the Word on a red background; when an angel comes from the second heaven and looks at it, the rainbow appears on a blue background; when an angel from the lowest heaven comes and looks, the rainbow appears on a white background. When a good spirit comes and looks, there is a variegated effect of light like marble.' They were given a visual demonstration of these effects. The custodian went on to say: 'If anyone approaches who has falsified the Word, first of all the radiance disappears; and if he comes close and fixes his gaze on the Word, the surroundings change to the colour of blood. Then he is warned to go away, as it is dangerous.'
[7] However, a certain person who in the world had been a leading writer on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, came boldly up saying, 'When I was in the world, I did not falsify the Word. Together with faith I also upheld charity, and I taught that a person in a state of faith, in which he acts charitably and does what charity requires, is renewed, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I also taught that there is no such thing as solitary faith, that is, separated from good deeds, just as there is no good tree without fruit, no sun without light, and no fire without heat. I also criticised those who claimed that good deeds were not necessary. Moreover I paid great attention to the Ten Commandments and to repentance, and so made a remarkable application of everything in the Word to my tenets about faith, which still I showed and proved to be the means of salvation.'
Thus confident of his claim not to have falsified the Word he approached the table, and despite the angel's warning touched the Word. There was a sudden burst of fire and smoke from the Word, and a loud explosion was heard which threw him into a corner of the room, where he lay for some time as if dead. The angelic spirits were surprised at this, but they were told that this leader had gone farther than the rest in praising the good deeds of charity as the product of faith; but still he had not put into this category any but political deeds, what are also called moral and civic duties, which need to be performed for the world's sake and one's prosperity there, and have very little to do with salvation. He had also imagined the existence of invisible activity by the Holy Spirit, quite unknown to the person concerned, which is engendered in his faith when he is in that state.
[8] The angelic spirits held a discussion about the falsification of the Word, and agreed that falsifying the Word consists in taking truths from it and using them to prove untrue propositions; this is done by taking truths from the Word out of context and murdering them. For instance, this happens if one uses all the truths mentioned above by the people from the abyss to support the present-day faith, and if one explains them in the light of that faith. It will be shown later that that faith is impregnated with false ideas. Or again, if anyone takes from the Word this truth, that one should show charity, and do good to one's neighbour; if anyone then uses it to prove that these things should be done, but not in order to be saved, since all the good a person does is not really good, because it is a way of seeking merit, that man is dragging that truth from the Word out of context and butchering it. For the Lord in His Word lays the duty on everyone who wants to be saved of loving his neighbour and doing good to him from love. It is the same with the other truths.
Footnotes:
1. This section is repeated with minor changes from Apocalypse Revealed 566.
162. Fourth Memorable Relation:
A discussion arose among certain spirits, whether one can see any doctrinal truth of theology in the Word except from the Lord. They all agreed in this, that no one can except from God, because:
Man can receive nothing except it be given from heaven (John 3:27).
The discussion, therefore, was whether anyone can do this unless he go directly to the Lord.
On one side it was declared that the Lord must be approached directly, because He is the Word; and on the other that true doctrine may also be seen when God the Father is approached directly. The discussion therefore first turned to this point: Is it permissible for any Christian to approach God the Father directly, thereby climbing over the Lord; and is not this insolence and audacity unbecoming as well as rash, since the Lord says that:
No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)?
But they left this point, and said that man can see true doctrine from the Word by his own natural light. This was rejected. Then they insisted that it could be seen by those who pray to God the Father; and something from the Word was read to them, and upon their knees they prayed God the Father to enlighten them; and they said of what had been read to them from the Word that it contained such and such truth; but it was falsity. This was repeated until it became tiresome; and at last they confessed that it could not be done.
But those on the other side who approached the Lord directly saw the truths, and communicated them to the others.
[2] When this discussion had been thus ended, certain spirits ascended from the abyss who at first looked like locusts, and afterwards like dwarfs. They were such as in the world had prayed to God the Father, and had confirmed themselves in the doctrine of justification by faith alone. They were the same as those treated of in Revelation (9:1-11). They said that they saw in clear light, and also from the Word that a man is justified by faith alone without the works of the law.
They were asked, "By what faith?" They answered, "By faith in God the Father." But when they had been examined they were told from heaven that they did not know a single doctrinal truth from the Word. They retorted that still they saw their own truths in light.
They were told that it was a fatuous light in which they saw them. They asked, "What is a fatuous light?" They were told that a fatuous light is the light of the confirmation of what is false, and that it corresponds to the light in which are owls and bats, to which darkness is light and light darkness. This was confirmed to them by the fact that when they looked up to heaven, the abode of light itself, they saw darkness; and when they looked down to the abyss from which they came they saw light.
[3] Nettled by this confirmation they said that light and darkness then are nothing, being a mere state of the eye, according to which light is said to be light and darkness to be darkness. But it was shown that their light was a fatuous light, which is the light of the confirmation of what is false, and that it was nothing but an activity of the mind, arising from the fire of their lusts, not unlike the light with cats, whose eyes at night in cellars, from their burning appetite for mice, look like candles.
Enraged at hearing this, they said they were not cats and were not like cats, for they could see if they wished to.
But fearing they might be asked why they did not wish to see, they withdrew, and let themselves down to their abyss. Those in that abyss and those like them are called by the angels owls and bats and also locusts.
[4] When they had reached their companions in the abyss, and had told them that the angels had said "that we know no doctrinal truth whatever, not a single one; and they called us owls, bats, and locusts," a tumult arose there. And they said, "Let us pray to God for permission to ascend, and we will show clearly that we have many doctrinal truths, which the archangels themselves will acknowledge." And because they prayed to God, permission was given them; and as many as three hundred of them ascended.
And when they appeared above the ground they said, "In the world we were men of celebrity and renown, because we knew and taught the mysteries of justification by faith alone; and from confirmations we not only saw light, but saw it as a glittering radiance, and we see it so still in our cells; and yet we have heard from our companions who were still with you that that light is not light but darkness, for the reason, as you say, that we have no doctrinal truth from the Word. We know that every truth of the Word shines, and we have believed that our radiance, when we meditated profoundly upon our mysteries, came from that source. We will therefore demonstrate to you that we have truths from the Word in abundance." And they said, "Have we not this truth, that there is a trinity, consisting of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that men ought to believe in the trinity? Have we not this truth, that Christ is our Redeemer and Savior? Have we not this truth, that Christ alone is righteousness, and to Him alone belongs merit, and that any man who wishes to attribute to himself any of Christ's merit and righteousness is himself unrighteous and impious? Have we not this truth, that no mortal man is able of himself to do any spiritual good, but that from God is all good that is good in itself? Have we not this truth, that there are meritorious good and hypocritical good, and that such goods are evil? Have we not this truth, that good works ought nevertheless to be done? Have we not this truth, that there is such a thing as faith, and that men ought to believe in God, and that everyone has life according as he believes; besides many other truths from the Word? Which of you can deny a single one of these? And yet you declared that in our schools we have no truths at all, not even a single one. Have you not cast these charges against us ungraciously?"
[5] But they received this answer, "All these things that you have advanced are in themselves true; but with you they are truths falsified, which are falsities, because they are derived from a false principle. That this is so we will make clear to your sight. Not far from here is a place upon which the light of heaven falls directly, and in the center of it there is a table. Whenever any paper upon which some truth from the Word has been written is placed upon this table, the paper, because of the truth written upon it, shines like a star. Therefore write your truths on a paper, and let the paper be placed on the table, and you will see."
This they did, and gave the paper to a guard, who placed it on the table and said to them, "Stand back and look at the table."
They stood back and looked, and lo, the paper shone like a star.
Then the guards said, "You see that the things you have written on the paper are truths; but come nearer and fix your gaze upon it."
They did so, and suddenly the light vanished and the paper became black, as if covered with soot from a furnace.
The guard said further, "Touch the paper with your hands, but be careful not to touch the writing."
And when they did so a flame broke out and consumed the paper. When they had seen this they were told, "If you had touched the writing you would have heard an explosion and you would have burned your fingers."
Then those standing behind them said, "You now see that the truths which you abused to confirm the mysteries of your justification are truths in themselves, but that in you they are truths falsified."
Then they looked upward, and heaven appeared to them like blood, and presently like thick darkness; and in the eyes of the angelic spirits they appeared, some like bats, and some like owls, and some like horned owls; and they fled away into their own darkness, which to their eyes shone delusively.
[6] The angelic spirits who were present were astonished, for until then they had known nothing of that place or of the table there. And a voice then came to them from the southern quarter, saying, "Come hither, and you will see something still more wonderful."
And they went, and entered a chamber, the walls of which shone like gold, and there also they saw a table on which the Word lay, encircled with precious stones arranged in a heavenly form.
And the angel guard said, "When the Word is opened a light of ineffable brightness shines forth from it; and at the same time there is from the precious stones the appearance of a rainbow above and roundabout the Word. When an angel from the third heaven comes hither there appears above and around the Word a rainbow on a red ground; when an angel from the second heaven comes and looks, a rainbow on an azure ground appears; when an angel from the lowest heaven comes and looks, a rainbow on a white ground appears; when any good spirit comes and looks a variegation of light like marble appears." That this was so was also showed to them visibly.
The angel guard said further, "When anyone who has falsified the Word approaches, at first the splendor is dissipated, and then if he comes near and fixes his eyes on the Word, there arises an appearance of blood about it; and he is admonished to withdraw because there is danger."
[7] But a certain person who in the world had been a leading writer on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, came up boldly and said, "When I was in the world I did not falsify the Word. Together with faith I exalted charity and taught that a man in that state of faith in which he practices charity and its works is renewed, regenerated, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit; also that faith does not exist solitary, that is, separated from good works, as there can be no good tree without fruit, no sun without light, no fire without heat. I also rebuked those who said that good works are not necessary; and even obedience to the commandments of the Decalogue is not necessary; and I made repentance of great importance; and thus in wonderful manner applied everything in the Word to the subject of faith; and yet I made it clear and demonstrated that faith alone is saving."
Confident in this assertion that he had not falsified the Word, this man approached the table, and in spite of the warning of the angel he touched the Word; and suddenly out of the Word there went forth fire and smoke, and there was an explosion and a crash which hurled him to a corner of the room, where he lay like one dead for nearly an hour.
The angelic spirits were astonished at this; but they were told that although this leader had exalted more than others the goods of charity as proceeding from faith, yet he had meant nothing more than political social works, which are also called moral and civil, and which were to be done for the sake of the world and worldly prosperity, but by no means for the sake of salvation; also that he had assumed some hidden works of the Holy Spirit, of which man knows nothing, but which are generated in the act of faith in a state of faith.
[8] The angelic spirits then talked together about the falsification of the Word; and they agreed that falsifying the Word is taking truths therefrom and applying them to confirm falsities; whereby truths from the Word are dragged apart from it and slain; as for example, when any such truths as those quoted above by the spirits from the abyss are applied to the faith of the present day and are explained by that faith, which is impregnated with falsities, as will be shown hereafter; or, again, when one takes from the Word the truth that charity ought to be exercised, and that good ought to be done to the neighbor, and then adds confirmations to show that this ought to be done, but not for the sake of salvation (since no good done by man is good, because meritorious), he drags that truth from the Word apart from the Word, and slays it. For the Lord in His Word enjoins it on every man who wishes to be saved that he must love the neighbor, and from love do good to. So also with other truths.
162. The fourth experience. A dispute arose among some spirits as to whether a man can see any theological truth of doctrine in the Word except from the Lord. There was general agreement that no one can do so except from God, because, "A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven" John 3:27; whereupon the question arose whether this is possible, without approaching the Lord directly. On the one hand it was urged that the Lord ought to be approached directly, because He is the Word; and on the other it was said that true doctrine may be seen when God the Father is approached directly. The debate therefore turned upon this as the main point, whether a Christian may approach God the Father directly, and so pass over the Lord, or whether this is not insolence and presumption, indecent and ill-advised, since the Lord says, that no one cometh to the Father but by Him. However they left this point, and then it was declared that a man can see true doctrine from the Word by the light (lumen) of his own natural intelligence; but this was rejected. It was then urged that such truth can be seen by those who pray to God the Father. Thereupon a portion of the Word was read to them, and on their knees they prayed God the Father to enlighten them; and they declared what was the truth contained in the passage read to them from the Word; but what they said was falsity. This was repeated several times till they got tired, and finally they confessed their inability to discern truths. On the other hand those who approached the Lord directly saw the truth, and disclosed it to them.
[2] When this dispute was thus ended, there ascended from the abyss some spirits who appeared first like locusts, and afterwards like dwarfs. In the world they had prayed to God the Father and had confirmed in themselves the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and they were such as are referred to in Revelation 9:1-11. They maintained that they saw in clear light, and also from the Word, that a man is justified by faith alone without the works of the Law. Being asked by what faith, they replied: "By faith in God the Father." However, after examination, they were told from heaven that they did not understand a single doctrinal truth from the Word. When they insisted that they saw their truths in light, they were told that they saw them in a delusive light. "What is a delusive light?" they asked, and they were informed it is a light arising from the confirmation of falsity and corresponding to the light of owls and bats, to which darkness is light and light darkness.
[3] Proof of this was the fact that when they looked up towards heaven, where is Light itself, they saw darkness, and when they looked down towards the abyss, whence they came, they saw light. Annoyed at this proof, they said that by this reasoning light and darkness are nothing but states of the eye, according to which light is called light and darkness darkness. But it was shown them that theirs was a delusive light, arising from the confirmation of falsity, and that it was merely an activity of their mind, originating in the fire of their lusts, not unlike the light associated with cats, whose eyes, in cellars in the night, appear like blazing candles, because of their burning appetite for mice. When they heard this they became angry, and declared that they were neither cats nor like cats, for they could see if they wished; but fearing they would be asked why they did not wish, they retired and betook themselves to their abyss. Those who dwell there, and others like them, are called by the angels owls and bats, and also locusts.
[4] When they returned to their companions in the abyss, and reported what the angels had said, namely, that they did not know any truth of doctrine, not even one, and that they had been called owls, bats and locusts, a tumult arose; and they said: "Let us pray God for permission to go up, and we will prove clearly that we have many truths of doctrine, which the archangels themselves will acknowledge." As they prayed to God their prayer was granted, and they went up, to the number of three hundred. When they appeared above ground they said: "In the world we were celebrated and renowned because we knew and taught the mysteries of justification by faith alone; and from the proofs which we used we have not only seen the light, but have seen it as a brilliant radiance, and so we see it now in our rooms. Yet we have heard from our companions, who were with you, that that light is not light, but darkness, because, as you said, we have no truth of doctrine from the Word. We know that every truth of the Word shines brightly, and it is our belief that this is the source of our illumination when pondering deeply our mysteries. We will, therefore, prove that we possess truths from the Word in great abundance." Then they continued: "We have this truth, that there is a Trinity, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and that we ought to believe in the Trinity. We have this also, that Christ is our Redeemer and Savior. And this, that Christ alone is righteousness, and that merit is His alone; and that he is unjust and wicked who would ascribe to himself any of His merit and righteousness. We have this truth also, that no man can do any spiritual good of himself, and that all good, which is good in itself, is from God. And this, that there is a merit-seeking and a hypocritical good, and that such good is evil. And this, that good works ought to be done. And this, that there is faith, and that men ought to believe in God, and that every one has life according to his belief; besides many other truths derived from the Word. Which of you can deny any of these? And yet you said that in our schools we have not a single truth. Surely you are ungracious in making such a charge against us."
[5] They were then answered as follows: "All those things which you have advanced are true in themselves; but with you they are truths falsified, and these are falsities, because they are derived from a false principle. That this is so we shall give you ocular proof. Not far from here is a place upon which the light of heaven falls directly. In the centre of it there is a table, and if a paper is placed upon it on which is written a truth from the Word, the paper, by virtue of that truth, shines like a star. Therefore, write your truths on a paper, and let it be placed on the table, and you will see." They did so, and gave the paper to an attendant who placed it on the table. He then told them to move away and look at the table. They moved away and looked, and lo! the paper shone like a star. Thereupon the attendant said: "You see that those are truths which you have written on the paper. Now approach nearer, and fix your gaze on the paper." They did so, and suddenly the light disappeared, and the paper became black, as though covered with soot from a furnace. The attendant then said: "Touch the paper with your hands; but take care that you do not touch the writing." When they did so, a flame burst forth and consumed the paper.
When they had seen this they were told that if they had touched the writing, they would have heard a report, and would have had their fingers burnt. Then some who were standing behind said: "You see now that the truths you have misused to confirm the mysteries of your justification theory are truths in themselves, but in you they are truths falsified." They then looked upwards, and heaven appeared to them like blood, and afterwards like thick darkness; and they themselves appeared to the eyes of the angelic spirits, some like bats, some like owls and some like other birds of night. So they fled away into their own states of darkness, which shone in their eyes with a delusive light.
[6] The angelic spirits who were present were astonished, because they had before known nothing of that place and the table there; and presently a voice came to them from the southern quarter saying: "Come this way, and you will see something still more wonderful." So they went, and entered a room whose walls shone like gold; and they saw a table there also, upon which the Word lay, decorated all round with precious stones, arranged in a heavenly design. The angel attendant said: "When the Word is opened, a light of inexpressible brilliance shines from it; and at the same time from the precious stones there arises the appearance of a rainbow over and around the Word. When an angel from the third heaven approaches, there appears over and around the Word a rainbow on a red ground; when an angel from the second heaven approaches and looks at it, the rainbow appears on a blue ground; when an angel from the lowest heaven approaches and looks, the rainbow appears on a white ground; and when a good spirit approaches and looks, there appears a light variegated like marble." The truth of this was then demonstrated to them. The angel attendant continued: "Should any one approach who has falsified the Word, the brightness first vanishes. If he comes nearer and looks on the Word, there arises the appearance of blood around it, and he is then warned to depart, because there is danger."
[7] A certain man, however, who in the world had been a leading writer on the doctrine of justification by faith alone came up boldly and said: "While I was in the world I did not falsify the Word. I exalted charity together with faith, and taught that, in a state of faith in which a man exercises charity and does the works of charity, he is renewed, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In such a case, faith is not alone, that is, without good works, just as a good tree is not without fruit, the sun without light, and fire without heat. I also reproved those who declared that good works were unnecessary. Moreover, in my teaching I insisted on the importance of the Commandments of the Decalogue, and also of repentance; and thus in a wonderful way I made everything in the Word relate to the Article on Faith, which I still explained and proved to be alone saving."
In the confidence of his assertion that he had not falsified the Word, he approached the table, and, disregarding the warning of the angel, he touched the Word. Immediately fire and smoke burst forth from the Word, followed by a crash and an explosion, which hurled him into a corner of the room, where he lay for some time as if dead. The angelic spirits were much surprised at this, but they were informed that this leader more than others had exalted the good works of charity, as if proceeding from faith; but that he meant only those relating to society, called moral and civil, which have as their end the world and worldly prosperity, and which have no regard to salvation. By works too, he had understood some hidden operations of the Holy Spirit, about which man knows nothing, which are generated when he is in a state of faith.
[8] The angelic spirits then conversed with one another about the falsification of the Word. They agreed that to falsify the Word is to select truths from it and apply them to the confirmation of what is false, which is to separate them from the Word and destroy them; for example, to relate all those truths, quoted by the spirits from the abyss, to the faith of the present day, and to explain them in accordance with it. That this faith is impregnated with falsities will be shown in what follows. Consider this truth from the Word, that charity ought to be practiced, and that good should be done to the neighbor. If any one confirms his belief that this should be done, but not for the sake of salvation, since all such good which a man does is for the sake of merit and therefore not really good, he takes that truth from the Word, separates it from the Word, and destroys it. For it is the man who has his salvation in view that the Lord in His Word enjoins to love his neighbor, and from that love to do good to him. So also is it in other cases.
162. QUARTUM MEMORABILE.
Exorta est lis inter Spiritus, num quisquam possit videre aliquod verum doctrinale Theologicum in Verbo, nisi a Domino: in eo convenerunt omnes, quod nemo possit nisi a Deo, quia non potest homo sumere quicquam, nisi sit datum illi e Coelo, 1 Johannes 3:27, quapropter litebatur, num aliquis possit, nisi adeat immediate Dominum; dixerunt ab una parte, 2 quod Dominus directe adeundus sit, quia est Verbum; ab altera parte, quod etiam videatur verum doctrinale, cum Deus Pater immediate aditur; quare declinabat lis in hoc primum, num alicui Christiano liceat Deum Patrem immediate adire, et sic scandere supra Dominum, et annon hoc sit insolentia et audacia indecens et temeraria, quia Dominus dicit, quod nemo 3 veniat ad Patrem nisi per Ipsum, Johannes 14:6: sed hoc reliquerunt, et dixerunt, quod homo possit videre verum doctrinale ex Verbo a suomet lumine naturali, sed hoc rejectum est; quare institerunt, quod videri possit ab illis, qui ad Deum Patrem orant; et lectum est coram illis aliquid ex Verbo, et tunc orabant super genubus, ut Deus Pater illustraret illos, et ad verba quae lecta coram illis ex Verbo, dixerunt, quod hoc et illud esset verum ibi, sed erat falsum; ita aliquoties usque ad taedium; tandem fassi sunt quod non possint: at ab altera [parte], 4 qui immediate adiverunt Dominum, videbant vera, et informabant illos.
[2] Post hanc litem ita diremtam, ascenderunt aliqui ex Abysso, qui apparuerunt primum sicut Locustae, et postea sicut homunciones; erant, qui in Mundo oraverunt ad Deum Patrem, et Justificationem per solam fidem confirmaverunt; erant iidem, de quibus in Apocalypsi 9:1-11, agitur; hi dicebant, quod videant id quod homo justificetur per solam fidem absque operibus legis in clara luce, et quoque ex Verbo; interrogati sunt per quam fidem; responderunt in Deum Patrem; sed postquam explorati sunt, dictum est illis e Coelo, quod ne quidem unum Verum doctrinale ex Verbo sciant; at regesserunt, quod usque videant Vera sua, in luce; tunc dictum est illis, quod videant illa in luce fatua; quaesiverunt, quid est lux fatua, informati sunt, quod lux fatua sit lux confirmationis falsi, et quod illa lux correspondeat luci, in qua sunt Noctuae et Vespertiliones, 5 quibus tenebrae sunt lux, et lux sunt tenebrae: hoc confirmabatur per id, quod cum spectabant sursum ad Coelum, ubi ipsa Lux, viderent tenebras, et cum spectabant deorsum ad Abyssum, unde erant, viderent lucem.
[3] Ex hac confirmatione indignati dixerunt, quod sic Lux et Tenebrae non sint aliquid, sed modo status oculi, ex quo dicitur quod lux sit lux, et quod tenebrae sint tenebrae; at ostensum est, quod Lux fatua, quae est lux confirmationis falsi, illis esset, et quod lux eorum modo esset activitas mentis eorum oriunda ex igne concupiscentiarum, non absimilis luci felum, quorum oculi ex ardente appetitu murium in cellariis nocturno tempore apparent sicut candelae. His auditis irati dixerunt, quod non sint feles, nec sicut feles, quia possunt [videre] 6 si volunt; sed quia timebant interrogationem, cur non volunt, recesserunt; et demiserunt se in Abyssum suam; vocantur 7 etiam illi qui ibi, et similes illis, ab Angelis Noctuae et Vespertiliones, et quoque Locustae.
[4] Dum illi venerunt ad suos in Abysso, et narraverunt quod Angeli dixerint, quod nos non sciamus ullum verum doctrinale, ne quidem unum, et quod appellaverint nos Noctuas, Vespertiliones, 8 et Locustas, factus est ibi tumultus, et dicebant, oremus ad 9 Deum, ut liceat ascendere, et clare demonstrabimus, quod nobis sint multa vera doctrinalia, quae ipsi Archangeli agnoscent; et quia orabant ad Deum, data est venia, et ascenderunt usque ad trecentos, et visi supra terram dixerunt; nos fuimus in Mundo Celebres et Famigerati, quia novimus et docuimus arcana Justificationis per solam fidem, et ex confirmationibus non modo vidimus lucem, sed etiam illam sicut jubar coruscans, et similiter nunc in nostris cellis, et tamen audivimus ex sociis nostris, qui apud vos fuerunt, quod lux illa non esset lux sed tenebrae, ex causa quia non habemus, ut dixistis, ullum Verum doctrinale ex Verbo; scimus quod omne verum Verbi luceat, et credidimus quod inde sit coruscatio nostra dum arcana nostra profunde meditati sumus; quare demonstrabimus quod Vera ex Verbo nobis sint in multa copia; et dixerunt, annon hoc Verum nobis est, quod sit Trinitas, Deus Pater, Filius et Spiritus sanctus, et quod in Trinitatem credendum sit: annon hoc Verum nobis est, quod Christus sit noster Redemptor et Salvator: annon hoc Verum nobis est, quod Christus solus sit 10 Justitia, et quod Ipsi Soli sit Meritum, et quod injustus et impius sit, qui sibi aliquid meriti et justitiae Ipsius vult addicare: annon hoc Verum nobis est, quod nemo mortalium aliquod bonum spirituale possit facere a seipso, et quod omne bonum, quod in se bonum est, sit a Deo: annon hoc Verum nobis est, quod detur bonum meritorium, et hypocriticum, et quod illa bona sint mala: annon hoc Verum nobis est, quod usque bona opera facienda sint: annon hoc Verum nobis est, quod fides sit, et quod in Deum credendum sit, et quod quisque sicut credit, vitam habeat, praeter plura alia ex Verbo; quis vestrum potest negare unum ex illis, et tamen dixistis, quod nobis in nostris palaestris non sit aliquod Verum, ne quidem unum, annon nobis ingratiis talia objecistis.
[5] Sed tunc responsum tulerunt, omnia illa, quae attulistis, in se sunt vera, sed apud vos falsificata, quae ex principio falso trahunt quod sint falsa. Quod ita sit, etiam demonstrabimus ad oculum; est non procul ab hinc locus, in quem lux e Coelo directe influit; est in Medio ibi Mensa; dum super illa aliqua charta, cui Verum ex Verbo inscriptum est, ponitur, charta illa ex Vero inscripto lucet sicut Stella; inscribite, ergo vestra Vera chartae, et ponatur illa super Mensa, et videbitis: fecerunt ita, et dederunt illam custodi, qui posuit illam super Mensa, qui tunc dixit illis, removete vos, et spectate ad mensam, et removerunt se et spectabant, et ecce Charta illa lucebat sicut stella; et tunc dixit custos, videtis quod Vera sint, quae vos chartae inscripsistis; sed accedite propius et intuitum vestrum figite in charta, et fecerunt ita, et subito tunc lux disparata est, et charta facta est nigra, sicut fuligine fornacis superinducta: 11 et porro dixit custos, tangite chartam manibus vestris, sed cavete, ne tangatis scripturam; et cum fecerunt ita, flamma erupit et consumsit: postquam haec visa sunt, dicebatur illis, si tetigissetis scripturam, audivissetis strepitus, et combussissetis digitos vestros: et tunc dictum est illis ab adstantibus a tergo, vidistis nunc 12 quod veritates, quibus abusi estis ad confirmandum Justificationis vestrae Arcana, sint Veritates in se, sed quod sint Veritates falsificatae in vobis: illi tunc suspexerunt, et apparuit illis Coelum sicut sanguis, et postea sicut caligo; et illi visi sunt coram oculis Spirituum angelicorum, quidam sicut vespertiliones, 13 quidam sicut noctuae, et aliqui sicut bubones, ac aufugerunt in tenebras suas, quae coram oculis illorum fatue lucebant.
[6] Spiritus Angelici, qui aderant, mirati sunt, quia de loco illo et de mensa ibi non aliquid prius sciverunt: et tunc vox ad illos e meridionali Plaga venit, dicens, accedite huc, et videbitis adhuc mirabilius; et accesserunt, et intraverunt in Cameram, cujus parietes fulgebant sicut ex auro, et viderunt ibi quoque Mensam, super qua repositum jacuit Verbum, circum cinctum lapidibus pretiosis in forma coelesti: et dixit Angelus custos, dum aperitur Verbum, emicat inde lux candoris ineffabilis, et tunc simul ex lapidibus pretiosis apparet sicut Iris supra et circum Verbum: quando aliquis Angelus e Coelo tertio illuc venit, apparet supra et circum Verbum Iris in plano rubro; dum Angelus e Coelo secundo illuc venit, et spectat, apparet Iris in plano caeruleo; dum Angelus ex ultimo coelo illuc venit et spectat, apparet Iris in plano candido; dum aliquis spiritus bonus illuc venit et spectat, apparet variegatio lucis sicut marmoris; quod ita sit, etiam ad oculum illis ostensum est. Porro dixit Angelus custos, si quis accedit qui falsificaverat Verbum, tunc primum dissipatur splendor; et si appropinquat, et figit oculos in Verbo, fit sicut sanguis circum, et tunc monetur ut discedat, quia periculum 14 est.
[7] At quidam, qui in Mundo fuerat Auctor antesignanus doctrinae de Sola Fide justificante, audacter accessit, et dixit, ego, dum fui in Mundo, non falsificavi 15 Verbum; exaltavi una cum fide etiam Charitatem, et docui quod homo in statu fidei, in quo facit charitatem et ejus opera, a spiritu Sancto renovetur, regeneretur et sanctificetur, tum quod Fides tunc non detur solitaria, hoc est, absque bonis operibus, sicut non arbor bona absque fructu, sol absque luce, et ignis absque calore; et quoque culpavi illos, qui dixerunt quod bona opera non essent necessaria; ac insuper quod praecepta Decalogi, et quoque poenitentiam magnifecerim, et quod sic mirabili modo omnia Verbi inapplicuerim Articulo de Fide, quam usque solam salvificam esse detexi et demonstravi. Ille in fiducia assertionis suae, quod non falsificaverit Verbum, accessit ad Mensam, et contra monitum Angeli tetigit Verbum; at tunc subito effluxit ignis cum fumo ex Verbo, et facta est explosio cum fragore, ex quo ille conjectus ad angulum Camerae, et ibi jacuit per horulam sicut mortuus. Hoc mirati sunt Spiritus Angelici, sed dictum est illis, quod hic Praesul prae reliquis exaltaverit bona charitatis sicut procedentia ex Fide, sed quod usque non intellexerit alia Opera quam politica, quae etiam vocantur moralia et civilia, quae propter Mundum et prosperitatem ibi facienda sunt, et minime propter salutem; tum etiam quod supposuerit opera inconspicua a Spiritu Sancto, de quibus homo nihil scit, quae ingenerantur actui Fidei 16 in statu ejus.
[8] Tunc loquuti sunt Spiritus Angelici inter se de falsificatione Verbi, et in eo convenerunt, quod falsificare Verbum, sit desumere ex illo Vera, et applicare illa ad confirmandum falsa, quod est extrahere illa ex Verbo extra illud, et occidere; ut pro exemplo, omnia illa Vera, quae supra ab illis ex Abysso allata sunt, applicare ad Fidem hodiernam, et explicare ex illa; quae quod impraegnata sit falsis, in sequentibus demonstrabitur. Tum desumere ex Verbo hoc Verum, quod Charitas exercenda 17 sit, et quod bonum proximo faciendum sit, si tunc quis confirmat quod faciendum sit, sed non salutis causa, quoniam omne bonum ab homine non est bonum quia meritorium, ille trahit id Verum ex Verbo extra Verbum, et trucidat illud; quoniam Dominus in Verbo suo injungit cuivis homini, qui salvari vult, amare proximum et ex amore illi facere bonum. Similiter in reliquis.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: illi Coelo.
2. Prima editio: porte.
3. Cf. Apocalypsis Revelata 566[1]. Prima editio: nemo (absque italicis).
4. Sic Apocalypsis Revelata 566[1].
5. Prima editio: Vespertitiones.
6. Sic Apocalypsis Revelata 566[3].
7. Prima editio: voeantur.
8. Prima editio: Vespertitiones.
9. Cf. Apocalypsis Revelata 566[4]. Prima editio: a.
10. Cf. Apocalypsis Revelata 566[4]. Prima editio: fit.
11. Prima editio: superrinducta.
12. Prima editio: nune.
13. Prima editio: vespertitiones.
14. Prima editio: perieulum.
15. Prima editio: falsisicavi.
16. Sic Apocalypsis Revelata 566[7]: ingenerantur actui Fidei ubi in prima editione ingenerantur Fidei.
17. Prima editio: excercenda.