It's a wonder that psychics, sensitives, intuitives, seers, prophets and the Holy Wise don't take themselves, and the position they have, a great deal more seriously.  With the churches and clergy in catastrophic collapse, having failed us all spectacularly, the Inspired are all that believers and wanderers alike have in this world for spiritual guidance.

And this world is itself in a state of catastrophic renewal!!  We need not move so hesitantly through the birth of the new world age; Aquarius is visibly rising, as promised, and with its so the hope of all Christians!  Though the churches are empty and secular humanism morphs into outright atheism, yet we of the spirit still triumphantly rise!

The anchors and symbols of Aquarian Christianity are everywhere, guiding us without and within as we approach greater understanding of our mission on earth and in heaven.

We first meet the sign of Aquarius in the Gospel of Mark , where in 14:13 we read, So He sent two of His disciples and told them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'…

Luke 22:10 He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters".

This man with a jug makes no other appearance in the Gospel, and was unknown to the apostles; he just was there on the way to Jerusalem exactly where and when Our Savior needed him. To unbelievers, the mans appearance is totally random and suspicious, baffling them; but to the wise who follow The Way, he is easily identifiable him as the first symbol and sign of Aquarius the water bearer in Our Saviors journey.

He appears here right in time, right in line for us to follow too, as Jesus directed us 'to follow him into the house that he enters.'

Aquarius is also identified with the handsome Greek youth Ganymede, of whom the king of the gods and the heavens become enraptured. Zeus abducted the young man by assuming the form of an eagle and spiriting him away to the heavens, where he became the cup bearer of the archetypes, gods, and heroes of the zodiac. This can be seen as a gay interlude for Zeus, which may account for the sudden rise in interest and concern for gay rights in the Aquarian Age.

Plato however points out that according to Socrates, Ganymede is actually ganu-"taking pleasure," and med-, "mind." Ganymede, he points out, was not the catamite of Zeus, but that the relationship was platonic though deep and intense. The king of the gods loved the young man for his psyche, mind or soul, as evinced by the etymology of his name.

Ganymede later was recognized by the Egyptians as the catalyst of the fountains of the Nile, the life-giving and fertilizing river which meant life or death. Thus, the cup bearer of heaven had close connections to rain, rivers and bodies of water, as well as the water supply on earth.

Is Ganymede, gay or not, the good friend, trusted and loyal, of the gods of ancient days, in the Christian Gospel? Certainly he is.

Mark 14: 35 And He went on a little and fell on the ground, and was praying that if it was possible that this hour might pass from Him. And He said, ''Abba, my father, you can do everything. Make this cup pass from Me." A bit later, in 14:

51, 'A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.'

Don't be so quick to dismiss this as a gratuitous lurid detail; this little item has been puzzling orthodox Christianity for two thousand years.

Why did Jesus use that particular phrase, 'the cup'? And how could anyone know what Jesus said in prayer to His father? Everyone was asleep!! They had deserted Him in His agony. There was, further, no time to speak privately to His followers as He was immediately arrested and had no further recourse to them until after He had risen.

It's obvious, when you consider that Jesus is the king of heaven, and the cup is mentioned because the cup bearer is not far behind.

Thus we can consider Ganymede as the angel of the cup.

Directly across from Aquarius is the constellation Leo, the sign of the King; within this constellation lies a smaller cluster of stars called Crater, Latin for 'the Cup.'

The stars of the constellation Aquarius are named Sadalmelik, the lucky stars of the king, Sadalsuud, the luckiest of lucky stars, and Sadachbia, lucky star of the home.

Perhaps the most encouraging symbol of the new age appears with the woman at the well, the Samaritan.  Found in John 4, verses 1 through 41, this story centers around another figure with a jar, a water bearer, a source of water or deep wisdom, and a confrontation with Jesus that confirms universal salvation.

³⁹ Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” ⁴⁰  So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.

'He told me everything I ever did... and because of his words many more became believers.'  Does this sound like words that you, a psychic and seer, have heard spoken of you?  Then you are doing the Lords works, and much more is expected of you!!!

The doctrine of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ is sadly a neglected topic in our pulpits today, but it is one of the most important for the Christian. This doctrine pertains to the future inheritance of the Christian, and it is a central theme of the Bible. Yet, the great majority of churches rarely preach or teach on this doctrine. It is incorrectly assumed that all Christians will be co-heirs with Christ in his coming kingdom and all crowns and rewards are automatic. While it is true that all Christians will have God as their inheritance, there is an inheritance from the Lord that is not automatic.

There are several aspects of the doctrine of rewards such as the prize for the overcomers, treasures in heaven, praise and honor from Christ, co-reigning with Christ, participation in the wedding banquet, and a special class of resurrection. All of these aspects seem to be directly linked to the five crowns that are to be awarded to the faithful overcomers at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They are earned rewards.

Only those Christians who have earned all five crowns will qualify for "the prize" that Paul talked about (Phil 3:14). The prize is the "full reward," and those believers who obtain it will be selected as the Bride of Christ. This is the highest level of the three levels of service in the kingdom. A chart is given at the end of this article to help the reader understand the importance of faithful service to the Lord Jesus Christ in the current age.

There will be many positions of service in the kingdom of God the Son, and the rank of each Christian who qualifies to enter the kingdom will be determined by faithfulness while on earth. Contrary to popular opinion, the phrase "enter the kingdom" does not refer to a person’s spirit salvation in the evangelical sense (i.e., the kingdom of God the Holy Spirit). The phrase literally means to enter into the king’s dominion, and it refers to Christians who qualify to reign and rule with Jesus Christ in his millennial kingdom (i.e., the kingdom of God the Son). This privilege is directly related to the doctrine of rewards which depends upon the manner in which the Christian lives his life during the current age. This is the salvation of a person’s soul.

The current age is a time when God is taking a people out of the Gentiles "for his name" (Acts 15:14) so they can be tested for the purpose of filling positions in the kingdom of God the Son. There will apparently be three levels of service in the kingdom, and these levels of service appear to be linked to the five crowns. Clearly those who enter the kingdom will have won "stephanos crowns" at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but it is not absolutely clear about the ranks of the crowns. However, some delineation of ranking order is suggested as the crowns appear to be related to the three levels of service in the kingdom.

The first and basic crown that is required for entrance into the kingdom of God the Son is the "crown of life." It must be remembered that the crowns are earned rewards and do not pertain to the new birth experience which is entrance into the kingdom of God the Holy Spirit. Salvation of a person’s spirit through faith in Jesus Christ can never be lost. Crowns can be lost and the Scriptures attest to this fact. The crown of life is referred to in the following Scriptures:

James 1:12 (KJV) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Rev 2:10 (KJV) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Rev 3:11 (KJV) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

The crown of life will be awarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ to those Christians who are "faithful," "love him," and "hold fast." These are Christians who lose their lives to Christ that they might gain them in eternity. This is the salvation of the soul.

Luke 9:23-24 (KJV) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

The crown of life will be awarded to those Christians who have their souls saved at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is a salvation based on works. (This is very different from the salvation of the spirit which is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, without any works of any kind). The salvation of the soul, represented by receiving the crown of life, is a reward to those Christians who seek the Lord and overcome the flesh through confession of sin and filling of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 1:9)

Rev 3:5 (KJV) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

The Book of Life is greatly misunderstood by the majority of preachers and teachers. The book of life is the basis for rewards in heaven, not entrance into heaven. Every believer’s name was written in the book of life "from the foundation of the world" (Rev 17:8). These are all the ones chosen by God for salvation. Everyone who has his name in this book has the potential for living a life under the control of the Holy Spirit resulting in the crown of life or a reward for good works.

Having one’s name blotted out of the book of life does not mean the loss of salvation in the evangelical sense, but the loss of the crown of life or the loss of reward. This crown is a basic requirement for entrance into the kingdom of Jesus Christ and for earning one or more of the other four crowns. Jesus personally described how this crown is earned in the following Scriptures:

Mat 10:39 (KJV) He that findeth his life (i.e., soul) shall lose it: and he that loseth his life (i.e., soul) for my sake shall find it.

Mat 16:27 (KJV) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Verse 27 above clearly establishes that the salvation of the soul is a result of works, and it is directly related to the crown of life. Thus, the loss of the crown of life is the loss of the soul and the loss of reward and not the loss of the salvation of the spirit which is a free gift from God. If man must maintain good works in order to keep this salvation, then it would not be a free gift nor would it be by grace. Salvation is by grace, but rewards are according to works.

Numerous Christians will be in heaven whose names were blotted out of the book of life. These are the Christians who lost all of their reward by living a life controlled by the soulical or flesh nature. Their lives will have been a waste, but their spirits will be saved. There are many examples of this in the Bible.

Saul is a primary type of the Christian who loses his life and his crown by disobedience. Other Old Testament types who lost their inheritance by disobedience are Reuben who lost his double portion because of sin, Esau who sold his birthright for a meal of red stew, and Lot who lost his reward because he loved the things of the world. All of these men were saved spiritually, but they lost their rewards in the coming messianic kingdom.

Every Christian who wins the crown of life is an overcomer and will reign and rule with Jesus Christ in the millennial kingdom. Those Christians winning only this crown will be ruling from the third level in the kingdom, and they will reign over the cities of the earth.

The parable of the pounds in Luke 19:11-27 is a picture of the "good servant" who has been faithful "in a very little." He will reign over the cities of the earth. This servant is in contrast to the "good and faithful servant" who will be made "ruler over many things" in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-25:30. The "good and faithful servant" will be reigning from the second level in the kingdom. The incorruptible crown and the crown of righteousness appear to be linked to the "good and faithful servant." The reader may want to refer to the chart at this point in order to grasp the subtle differences in the degrees of faithfulness and the degrees of responsibility in the millennial kingdom.

1 Cor 9:24-27 (KJV) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The incorruptible crown is awarded on the basis of winning a spiritual race that is marked out by God for each believer. It is a daily race of "putting off" the sins of the flesh which then allows the believer to "put on" the fruits of the spirit (Col 3). This requires self-discipline of the body which is used by the Holy Spirit to manifest the life of Christ. This life is dependent on the filling of the Holy Spirit through confession of sin and a sensitivity to the leading of the Lord.

There is a difference in being "in Christ" and having "Christ in us." All Christians are in Christ, but Christians winning this Crown have Christ in them. The winner of this crown has been successful in denying the fleshly desires and appetites of the body. He has been successful in "crucifying the flesh" (Gal 5:22-24).

This crown is tied in with the "good and faithful servant" who will be "ruler over much" (Matt. 25:21). According to the following Scripture, it is also apparently a prerequisite for winning the crown of righteousness:

2 Tim 4:7-8 (KJV) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

In order to summarize and place these crowns in perspective up to this point, it is important to understand that the crown of life pertains to the soul while the incorruptible crown is connected to the body. Thus, the believer who fights a good fight and finishes the course (i.e., he overcomes sin that affects body, soul, and spirit) will have won the crown of life and the incorruptible crown. It is now possible to win the crown of righteousness which is a higher award in the second level of the kingdom. In order to win this crown, the believer must not only "fight a good fight" and "finish his course," but he must also "keep the faith."

The keeping or guarding of the faith is required for winning the Crown of Righteousness. This is not the common faith connected to salvation in the evangelical sense but the faith that speaks of Christ’s coming kingdom and produces good works through those who hope in Him. This is why verse 8 above says this crown will go to those Christians who "love his appearing." Thus, those Christians who are alert to and anxiously looking for the return of Jesus are the ones who are keeping the faith. These are Christians who are daily occupied with Jesus Christ through his Word and anticipate his return.

Many Christians perform "good works," but they do them in the power of the flesh. To the observer who sees only the "outward appearance," these works do not appear any different than good works in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even the Christians performing these works do not realize that they are merely wood, hay, and stubble. These works will perish in the fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Even Peter resorted to the arm of flesh when he cut off the soldier’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemene.

The primary test for determining the quality of these works is the motive behind the works, for God "looketh on the heart." Many works are performed by Christians for the purpose of exalting and glorifying self. They are performed in order to receive praise and honor from men and not from God. The parable in Luke 19:12-27 pictures the outcome of a servant who performs works in the power of his own flesh. This servant kept his pound laid up in a napkin (i.e., sweat cloth). This servant is called wicked—not slothful—and he loses all reward the same as the servant who hid his talent in the ground (Mat. 25:14-30). The servant who hid his talent in the ground was called wicked and slothful (i.e., he did not even work in the power of the flesh).

Many Christians who work hard in the Church and occupy positions of leadership are going to be surprised when they appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ and learn that they were hiding their pounds in the sweat cloths of self-effort.

Christians often get caught up in works that are to be seen by men rather than God. Some times it is even hard for Christians to know their own true motives. That is why David prayed for God to search his heart and show him any evil ways. Many Christians find it hard to say "no" when asked to help. They are afraid of what people think. They get caught up in pleasing a pastor or friends rather than God. We are told to fear God and not men. It should be remembered that God’s yoke is light and not heavy. If one’s yoke feels heavy or burdensome, then it may be the yoke of man rather than God.

Many of these hard working believers are Laodicean Christians who do not realize that they are "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" (Rev. 3:17). They are too busy to study their Bibles. The common thread for these Christians is a lack of knowledge about the deeper things in Scripture. They relate everything to basic evangelical salvation and think all rewards are automatic. They lack understanding of the deeper truths of God’s Word pertaining to the salvation of the soul and the doctrine of rewards.

The Crown of Rejoicing and the Crown of Glory are the two highest crowns awarded to Christians for their faithfulness in seeking the Kingdom of Heaven. It is commonly thought that seeking the Kingdom of Heaven is seeking to be born again, but this is incorrect. Only believers are able to seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and it should be the ambition of every Christian.

The Crown of Rejoicing will be awarded on the basis of soul winning and not spirit winning as is commonly thought among Christians. Evangelism (i.e., witnessing to the unsaved) is a very important work, and there will be rewards for those Christians who evangelize with the correct motives. Unfortunately, much witnessing about Jesus is done out of guilt, coercion by pastors, self-exaltation, and various other reasons, but the true motive should be love for the Lord Jesus Christ and a desire to please our Lord and Savior by being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. A strong desire to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit will give the believer boldness in witnessing.

The true soul winner is the Christian who wins saved people to a life of obedience by teaching them the deeper truths (i.e., epignosis) of Scripture. Soul winning involves teaching and motivating Christians to be overcomers. Spirit winning saves man from the penalty of sin, but soul winning saves man from the power of sin.

Spirit winning gets the believer into heaven, but soul winning gets the believer into the kingdom of heaven. Spirit winning involves a salvation that can not be lost, but soul winning involves a salvation that can only be attained by persevering in good works until the end. Spirit winning involves a gift that is without cost, but soul winning involves a prize that is worked for, and it is very costly. The rewards, however, are very great and far surpass the costs involved.

The highest or first level of rule in the kingdom belongs to the Bride of Christ, and this level will be composed of Christians who have won the soul winning crown which is called the Crown of Rejoicing. This crown is described in the following Scripture:

1 Th 2:19 (KJV) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

The Thessalonians were very faithful Christians—unlike the Corinthians—and Paul had high hopes of them entering the Kingdom of God the Son. The following Scripture is only one that confirms this to be true:

2 Th 1:5 (KJV) Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Paul was greatly pleased that the Thessalonians had a mature faith, and they persevered under persecutions and trials. Paul was confident that their souls (i.e., lives) would be saved because of their faithfulness and that they would be part of the Kingdom of God the Son.

Paul was also confident about the Philippians and their perseverance unto the saving of the soul according to the following Scripture:

Phil 4:1-3 (KJV) Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

The above Scripture confirms that Paul is confident that their names will not be blotted out of the book of life. Note again that the book of life is clearly linked with works and not grace.

It is important to understand that soul winning involves a great deal more than memorizing a few Scriptures and an opening line to determine if someone has been spiritually reborn (i.e., they have entered the Kingdom of God the Holy Spirit). Soul winning involves knowing God by knowing the Scriptures and meditating upon them night and day. It involves being filled with the Holy Spirit and leading other Christians into the spirit-filled life. It involves Bible study, prayer, praise and worship, and it entails more than showing up at visitation on Monday nights. Soul winning requires a daily walk with Christ and an abiding in Christ so that He can work through the believer.

1 Pet 5:1-4 (KJV) The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The second crown in the highest level of rule is the Crown of Glory, and it is possibly the highest ranking crown of all. This crown will go to those faithful shepherds over a flock. The elders are those who are spiritually mature in the Church. It was thought that they represented pastors and teachers who are responsible for feeding the flock, but in fact it is any Christian who has matured in the faith and who exercises his spiritual gift in serving the body of Christ. These are the Christians whom God has placed in charge over the other servants according to Matthew 24:25.

All Christians are responsible for feeding and edifying the body of Christ by utilizing their spiritual gifts. Those Christians who exercise their gifts will be assigned positions of responsibility in feeding other Christians at the appropriate time. In addition, it seems inconsistent that God would offer a crown to only those Christians who have the gifts of prophecy and teaching or to ordained pastors of local churches. Certainly all pastors should win this crown, but this seems doubtful in the current Laodicean Church Age.

It seems certain that only a small percentage of those in the Church will qualify to win this crown. Indeed, most of those in the Church are spiritual babes in Christ and never even give it a thought that they will stand before Jesus Christ at the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an accounting of their lives. Numerous Christians will have their names blotted out of the book of life because they will not be accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God the Son. There are numerous Scriptures that warn of this possibility.

The Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus Christ

This text was first discovered in its entirety in 1896, then was rediscovered as part of the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. The papyrus dates from the middle fourth century and the text perhaps from middle second. In it Jesus supposedly teaches the twelve apostles and seven women the secret about the underlying reality of the universe. The text describes God as awesome and indescribable and that God doesn't look like a human, nor does he resemble creation. It also describes Christ as immortal and everlasting. Scholars claim the material is actually a redaction of a much earlier Gnostic work called Eugnostos the Blessed, also from the Nag Hammadi library.

The Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus Christ

And he said: "Peace be to you, My peace I give you!" And they all marveled and were afraid. The Savior laughed and said to them: "What are you thinking about? Are you perplexed? What are you searching for?"
Philip said: "For the underlying reality of the universe and the plan."
The Savior said to them: "I want you to know that all men are born on earth from the foundation of the world until now, being dust, while they have inquired about God, who he is and what he is like, have not found him. Now the wisest among them have speculated from the ordering of the world and (its) movement. But their speculation has not reached the truth. For it is said that the ordering is directed in three ways, by all the philosophers, (and) hence they do not agree. For some of them say about the world that it is directed by itself. Others, that it is providence (that directs it). Others, that it is fate. But it is none of these. Again, of the three voices I have just mentioned, none is close to the truth, and (they are) from man. But I, who came from Infinite Light, I am here - for I know him (Light) - that I might speak to you about the precise nature of the truth. For whatever is from itself is a polluted life; it is self-made. Providence has no wisdom in it. And fate does not discern. But to you it is given to know; and whoever is worthy of knowledge will receive (it), whoever has not been begotten by the sowing of unclean rubbing but by First Who Was Sent, for he is an immortal in the midst of mortal men."

Matthew said to him: "Lord, no one can find the truth except through you. Therefore teach us the truth."
The Savior said: "He Who Is is ineffable. No principle knew him, no authority, no subjection, nor any creature from the foundation of the world until now, except he alone, and anyone to whom he wants to make revelation through him who is from First Light. From now on, I am the Great Savior. For he is immortal and eternal. Now he is eternal, having no birth; for everyone who has birth will perish. He is unbegotten, having no beginning; for everyone who has a beginning has an end. Since no one rules over him, he has no name; for whoever has a name is the creation of another."

(BG 84, 13-17 adds: He is unnameable. He has no human form; for whoever has human form is the creation of another).

"And he has a semblance of his own - not like what you have seen and received, but a strange semblance that surpasses all things and is better than the universe. It looks to every side and sees itself from itself. Since it is infinite, he is ever incomprehensible. He is imperishable and has no likeness (to anything). He is unchanging good. He is faultless. He is eternal. He is blessed. While he is not known, he ever knows himself. He is immeasurable. He is untraceable. He is perfect, having no defect. He is imperishability blessed. He is called 'Father of the Universe'".

Philip said: "Lord, how, then, did he appear to the perfect ones?"
The perfect Savior said to him: "Before anything is visible of those that are visible, the majesty and the authority are in him, since he embraces the whole of the totalities, while nothing embraces him. For he is all mind. And he is thought and considering and reflecting and rationality and power. They all are equal powers. They are the sources of the totalities. And their whole race from first to last was in his foreknowledge, (that of) the infinite, unbegotten Father."

Thomas said to him: "Lord, Savior, why did these come to be, and why were these revealed?"
The perfect Savior said: "I came from the Infinite that I might tell you all things. Spirit-Who-Is was the begetter, who had the power a begetter and a form-giver`s nature, that the great wealth that was hidden in him might be revealed. Because of his mercy and his love, he wished to bring forth fruit by himself, that he might not his goodness alone, but (that) other spirits of the Unwavering Generation might bring forth body and fruit, glory and honor, in imperishableness and his infinite grace, that his treasure might be revealed by Self-begotten God, the father of every imperishableness and those that came to be afterward. But they had not yet come to visibility. Now a great difference exists among the imperishables."

He called out, saying: "Whoever has ears to hear about the infinities, let him hear!"; and "I have addressed those who are awake." Still he continued and said: "Everything that came from the perishable will perish, since it came from the perishable. But whatever came from imperishableness does not perish but becomes imperishable. So, many men went astray because they had not known this difference and they died."

Mary said to him: "Lord, then how will we know that?"
The perfect Savior said: "Come (you) from invisible things to the end of those that are visible, and the very emanation of Thought will reveal to you how faith in those things that are not visible was found in those that are visible, those that belong to Unbegotten Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!

"The Lord of the Universe is not called 'Father', but 'Forefather', the beginning of those that will appear, but he (the Lord) is the beginningless Forefather. Seeing himself within himself in a mirror, he appeared resembling himself, but his likeness appeared as Divine Self-Father, and Confronter over the Confronted ones, First Existent Unbegotten Father. He is indeed of equal age the Light that is before him, but he is not equal to him in power.

"And afterward was revealed a whole multitude of confronting, self-begotten ones, equal in age and power, being in glory (and) without number, whose race is called 'The Generation over Whom There Is No Kingdom' from the one in whom you yourselves have appeared from these men. And that whole multitude over which there is no kingdom is called 'Sons of Unbegotten Father, God, Savior, Son of God,' whose likeness is with you. Now he is the unknowable, who is full of ever-imperishable glory and ineffable joy. They all are at rest in him, ever rejoicing in ineffable joy in his unchanging glory and measureless jubilation; this was never heard or known among all the aeons and their worlds until now."

Matthew said to him: "Lord, Savior, how was Man revealed?"
The perfect Savior said: "I want you to know that he who appeared before the universe in infinity, Self-grown, Self-constructed Father, being full of shining light and ineffable, in the beginning, when he decided to have his likeness become a great power, immediately the principle (or beginning) of that Light appeared as Immortal Androgynous Man, that through that Immortal Androgynous Man they might attain their salvation and awake from forgetfulness through the interpreter who was sent, who is with you until the end of the poverty of the robbers.

"And his consort is the Great Sophia, who from the first was destined in him for union by Self-begotten Father, from Immortal Man, who appeared as First and divinity and kingdom, for the Father, who is called 'Man, Self-Father', revealed this. And he created a great aeon, whose name is 'Ogdoad', for his own majesty.

"He was given great authority, and he ruled over the creation of poverty. He created gods and angels, archangels, myriads without number for retinue, from that Light and the tri-male Spirit, which is that of Sophia, his consort. For from this, God originated divinity and kingdom. Therefore he was called 'God of gods' and 'King of kings'.

"First Man has his unique mind, within, and thought - just as he is it (thought) - (and) considering, reflecting, rationality, power. All the attributes that exist are perfect and immortal. In respect to imperishableness, they are indeed equal. (But) in respect to power, they are different, like the difference between father and son <, and son> and thought, and the thought and the remainder. As I said earlier, among the things that were created, the monad is first.

"And after everything, all that was revealed appeared from his power. And from what was created, all that was fashioned appeared; from what was fashioned appeared what was formed; from what was formed, what was named. Thus came the difference among the unbegotten ones from beginning to end."

Then Bartholomew said to him: "How (is it that) was designated in the Gospel 'Man' and 'Son of Man'? To which of them, then, is this Son related?"
The Holy One said to him: "I want you to know that First Man is called 'Begetter, Self-perfected Mind'. He reflected with Great Sophia, his consort, and revealed his first-begotten, androgynous son. His male name is designated 'First Begetter, Son of God', his female name, 'First Begettress Sophia, Mother of the Universe'. Some call her 'Love'. Now First-begotten is called 'Christ'. Since he has authority from his father, he created a multitude of angels without number for retinue from Spirit and Light."

His disciples said to him: "Lord, reveal to us about the one called 'Man', that we also may know his glory exactly."
The perfect Savior said: "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. First Begetter Father is called 'Adam, Eye of Light,' because he came from shining Light, and his holy angels, who are ineffable (and) shadowless, ever rejoice with joy in their reflecting, which they received from their Father. The whole Kingdom of Son of Man, who is called 'Son of God,' is full of ineffable and shadowless joy, and unchanging jubilation, (they) rejoicing over his imperishable glory, which has never been heard until now, nor has it been revealed in the aeons that came afterward, and their worlds. I came from Self-begotten and First Infinite Light, that I might reveal everything to you."

Again, his disciples said: "Tell us clearly how they came down from the invisibilities, from the immortal to the world that dies?"
The perfect Savior said: "Son of Man consented with Sophia, his consort, and revealed a great androgynous light. His male name is designated 'Savior, Begetter of All Things'. His female name is designated 'All-Begettress Sophia'. Some call her 'Pistis'.

"All who come into the world, like a drop from the Light, are sent by him to the world of Almighty, that they might be guarded by him. And the bond of his forgetfulness bound him by the will of Sophia, that the matter might be through it to the whole world in poverty, concerning his (Almighty's) arrogance and blindness and the ignorance that he was named. But I came from the places above by the will of the great Light, (I) who escaped from that bond; I have cut off the work of the robbers; I have awakened that drop that was sent from Sophia, that it might bear much fruit through me, and be perfected and not again be defective, but be through me, the Great Savior, that his glory might be revealed, so that Sophia might also be justified in regard to that defect, that her sons might not again become defective but might attain honor and glory and go up to their Father, and know the words of the masculine Light. And you were sent by the Son, who was sent that you might receive Light, and remove yourselves from the forgetfulness of the authorities, and that it might not again come to appearance because of you, namely, the unclean rubbing that is from the fearful fire that came from their fleshly part. Tread upon their malicious intent."

Then Thomas said to him: "Lord, Savior, how many are the aeons of those who surpass the heavens?"
The perfect Savior said: "I praise you (pl.) because you ask about the great aeons, for your roots are in the infinities. Now when those whom I have discussed earlier were revealed, he provided ....

[pages 109 and 110 are missing, replaced here by the corresponding section in the Berlin Gnostic Codex (no.8502), the beginning of which is somewhat different from the final partial sentence of III 108 (the broken off sentence)]

[BG107]: "Now when those whom I have discussed earlier were revealed, Self-begetter Father very soon created twelve aeons for retinue for the twelve angels. All these are perfect and good. Thus the defect in the female appeared."

And said to him: "How many are the aeons of the immortals, starting from the infinities?"
The perfect Savior said: "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. The first aeon is that of Son of Man, who is called 'First Begetter', who is called 'Savior', who has appeared. The second aeon (is) that of Man, who is called 'Adam, Eye of Light'. That which embraces these is the aeon over which there is no kingdom, (the aeon) of the Eternal Infinite God, the Self-begotten aeon of the aeons that are in it, (the aeon) of the immortals, whom I described earlier, (the aeon) above the Seventh, that appeared from Sophia, which is the first aeon.

"Now Immortal Man revealed aeons and powers and kingdoms, and gave authority to all who appear in him, that they might exercise their desires until the last things that are above chaos. For these consented with each other and revealed every magnificence, even from spirit, multitudinous lights that are glorious and without number. These were called in the beginning, that is, the first aeon and and . The first called 'Unity and Rest'. Each one has its (own) name; for the aeon was designated 'Assembly' from the great multitude that appeared: in one, a multitude revealed themselves. Now because the multitudes gather and come to a unity we call them 'Assembly of the Eighth.'It appeared as androgynous and was name partly as male and partly as female. The male is called 'Assembly', while the female is called 'Life', that it might be shown that from a female came the life for all the aeons. And every name was received, starting from the beginning.

"For from his concurrence with his thought, the powers very soon appeared who were called 'gods'; and the gods of the gods from their wisdom revealed gods; from their wisdom revealed lords; and the lords of the lords from their thinkings revealed lords; and the lords from their power revealed archangels; the archangels from their words revealed angels; from them, semblances appeared, with structure and form and name for all the aeons and their worlds.

"And the immortals, whom I have just described, all have authority from Immortal Man, who is called 'Silence', because by reflecting without speech all her own majesty was perfected. For since the imperishabilities had the authority, each created a great kingdom in the Eighth, (and) also thrones and temples (and) firmaments for their own majesties. For these all came by the will of the Mother of the Universe."

Then the Holy Apostles said to him: "Lord, Savior, tell us about those who are in the aeons, since it is necessary for us to ask about them."
The perfect Savior said: "If you ask about anything, I will tell you. They created hosts of angels, myriads without number, for retinue and their glory. They created virgin spirits, the ineffable and unchangeable lights. For they have no sickness nor weakness, but it is will. [BG 115,14 adds here: And they came to be in an instant.]

"Thus the aeons were completed quickly in the heavens and the firmaments in the glory of Immortal Man and Sophia, his consort: the area from which every aeon and the world and those that came afterward took (their) pattern for their creation of likenesses in the heavens of chaos and their worlds. And all natures, starting from the revelation of chaos, are in the Light that shines without shadow, and joy that cannot be described, and unutterable jubilation. They ever delight themselves on account of their unchanging glory and the immeasurable rest, which cannot be described among all the aeons that came to be afterward, and all their powers. Now all that I have just said to you, I said that you might shine in Light more than these."

Mary said to him: "Holy Lord, where did your disciples come from, and where are they going, and (what) should they do here?"
The Perfect Savior said to them: "I want you to know that Sophia, the Mother of the Universe and the consort, desired by herself to bring these to existence without her male (consort). But by the will of the Father of the Universe, that his unimaginable goodness might be revealed, he created that curtain between the immortals and those that came afterward, that the consequence might follow ... [BG 118:] ... every aeon and chaos - that the defect of the female might , and it might come about that Error would contend with her. And these became the curtain of spirit. From aeons above the emanations of Light, as I have said already, a drop from Light and Spirit came down to the lower regions of Almighty in chaos, that their molded forms might appear from that drop, for it is a judgment on him, Arch-Begetter, who is called 'Yaldabaoth'. That drop revealed their molded forms through the breath, as a living soul. It was withered and it slumbered in the ignorance of the soul. When it became hot from the breath of the Great Light of the Male, and it took thought, (then) names were received by all who are in the world of chaos, and all things that are in it through that Immortal One, when the breath blew into him. But when this came about by the will of Mother Sophia - so that Immortal Man might piece together the garments there for a judgment on the robbers - then welcomed the blowing of that breath; but since he was soul-like, he was not able to take that power for himself until the number of chaos should be complete, (that is,) when the time determined by the great angel is complete.

"Now I have taught you about Immortal Man and have loosed the bonds of the robbers from him. I have broken the gates of the pitiless ones in their presence. I have humiliated their malicious intent, and they all have been shamed and have risen from their ignorance. Because of this, then, I came here, that they might be joined with that Spirit and Breath, [III continues:] and might from two become one, just as from the first, that you might yield much fruit and go up to Him Who Is from the Beginning, in ineffable joy and glory and honor and grace of the Father of the Universe.

"Whoever, then, knows the Father in pure knowledge will depart to the Father and repose in Unbegotten Father. But whoever knows him defectively will depart to the defect and the rest of the Eighth. Now whoever knows Immortal Spirit of Light in silence, through reflecting and consent in the truth, let him bring me signs of the Invisible One, and he will become a light in the Spirit of Silence. Whoever knows Son of Man in knowledge and love, let him bring me a sign of Son of Man, that he might depart to the dwelling-places with those in the Eighth.

"Behold, I have revealed to you the name of the Perfect One, the whole will of the Mother of the Holy Angels, that the masculine multitude may be completed here, that there might appear in the aeons, the infinities and those that came to be in the untraceable wealth of the Great Invisible Spirit, that they all might take from his goodness, even the wealth of their rest that has no kingdom over it. I came from First Who Was Sent, that I might reveal to you Him Who Is from the Beginning, because of the arrogance of Arch-Begetter and his angels, since they say about themselves that they are gods. And I came to remove them from their blindness, that I might tell everyone about the God who is above the universe. Therefore, tread upon their graves, humiliate their malicious intent, and break their yoke and arouse my own. I have given you authority over all things as Sons of Light, that you might tread upon their power with your feet."

These are the things the blessed Savior said, and he disappeared from them. Then all the disciples were in great, ineffable joy in the spirit from that day on. And his disciples began to preach the Gospel of God, the eternal, imperishable Spirit. Amen.

The Dialogue of the Saviour

The single surviving copy of the Dialogue of the Savior was discovered within the Coptic library at Nag Hammadi in 1945. Despite its badly damaged state, it represents an important stage of development in the Sayings Gospel tradition. The "dialogue" is an expansion of the pure sayings collections like the Gospel of Thomas or Q; the teachings of Jesus are narrated in response to questions from his disciples. This trend continued its development in the extended discourses of the Gospel of John. Although the sayings have parallels in all four canonical gospels as well as Thomas, it is unlikely that the Dialogue is directly dependent upon any of them; the sayings source may have been composed as early as the mid-first century.

In addition to the sayings, the author seems to have used at least three other sources: a creation myth, a catalog of cosmological wisdom, and an apocalyptic revelation. The combination of these, as well as an introductory Gnostic prayer, forms a complete lesson in eschatology, despite its lack of smooth transitory elements. The term "Savior" is probably a late addition by the final redactor.

The teachings in the Dialogue were probably intended for Christian initiates preparing for baptism. We are told how to attain the knowledge necessary for our souls to make the heavenly journey, of which the saved may know but cannot "see" while still possessing a body of flesh. Like most Gnostic teachings, the text was kept secret and was never accepted by the developing orthodox Church.

The Dialogue of the Savior

The Savior said to his disciples, "Already the time has come, brothers, for us to abandon our labor and stand at rest. For whoever stands at rest will rest forever. And I say to you, be always above [...] time [...] you [...] be afraid of [...] you [...] anger is fearful [...] arouse anger [...] but since you have [...] they accepted these words concerning it with fear and trembling, and it set them up with governors, for from it nothing was forthcoming. But when I came, I opened the path, and I taught them about the passage which they will traverse, the elect and solitary, who have known the Father, having believed the truth and all the praises while you offered praise.

"So when you offer praise, do so like this: Hear us, Father, just as you heard your only-begotten son, and received him, and gave him rest from any [...] You are the one whose power [...] your armor [...] is [...] light [...] living [...] touch [...] the word [...] repentance [...] life [...] you. You are the thinking and the entire serenity of the solitary. Again: Hear us just as you heard your elect. Through your sacrifice, these will enter; through their good works, these have saved their souls from these blind limbs, so that they might exist eternally. Amen.

"I will teach you. When the time of dissolution arrives, the first power of darkness will come upon you. Do not be afraid and say "Behold! The time has come!" But when you see a single staff ... (3 lines indecipherable) ... understand [...] the work [...] and the governors [...] come upon you [...]. Truly, fear is the power [...]. So if you are going to be afraid of what is about to come upon you, it will engulf you. For there is not one among them who will spare you or show you mercy. But in this way, look at the [...] in it, since you have mastered every word on earth. It [...] take you up to the [...] place where there is no rule [...] tyrant. When you [...] you will see those who [...] and also [...] tell you [...] the reasoning power [...] reasoning power [...] place of truth [...] but [...]. But you [...] truth, this [...] living [...] and your joy [...]. So [...] in order that [...] your souls [...] lest it [...] the word [...] raise... (3 lines indecipherable) ... For the crossing place is fearful before you. But you, with a single mind, pass it by! For its depth is great; its height is enormous [...] single mind [...] and the fire [...] [...] all the powers [...] you, they [...] and the powers [...] they [...][...] soul [...] [...] in everyone [...] you are the [...] and [...] forget [...] son [...] and you [...][...]."

Matthew said, "How [...][...]?"
The Savior said "[...] the things inside you [...] will remain, you [...]."
Judas said, "Lord [...] the works [...] these souls, these [...], these little ones, when [...] where will they be? [...] the spirit [...]?"
The Lord said, "[...] receive them. These do not die, [...] they are not destroyed, for they have known their consorts and him who would receive them. For the truth seeks out the wise and the righteous."

The Savior said, "The lamp of the body is the mind. As long as the things inside you are set in order, that is, [...], your bodies are luminous. As long as your hearts are dark, the luminosity you anticipate [...] I have [...] I will go [...] my word [...] I send [...]."
His disciples said, "Lord, who is it who seeks, and [...] reveals?"
The Lord said to them, "He who seeks [...] reveals [...]."
Matthew said, "Lord, when I [...] and when I speak, who is it who [...] and who listens?"
The Lord said, "It is the one who speaks who also listens, and it is the one who can see who also reveals."

Mary said, "Lord, behold! Whence do I bear the body while I weep, and whence while I [laugh]?"
The Lord said, "[...] weeps on account of its works [...] remain and the mind laughs [...][...] spirit. If one does not [...] darkness, he will be able to see [...]. So I tell you [...] light is the darkness [...] stand in [...] not see the light [...] the lie [...] they brought them from [...]. You will give [...] and [...] exist forever. [...][...] ever. Then all the powers which are above, as well as those below, will [...] you. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth over the end of all these things."

Judas said, "Tell us, Lord, what was [...] before the heaven and the earth existed."
The Lord said, "There was darkness and water, and spirit upon water. And I say to you [...] what you seek after [...] inquire after [...] within you [...] the power and the mystery [...] spirit, for from [...] wickedness [...] come [...] mind [...] behold [...][...]."
[...] said, "Lord, tell us where the [...] is established, and where the true mind exists."
The Lord said, "The fire of the spirit came into existence [...] both. On this account, the [...] came into existence, and the true mind came into existence within them [...]. If someone sets his soul up high, then he will be exalted."
And Matthew asked him, "[...] took [...], it is he who [...]."
The Lord said, "[...] stronger than [...] you [...] to follow you and all the works [...] your hearts. For just as your hearts [...], so [...] the means to overcome the powers above, as well as those below [...]. I say to you, let him who possesses power renounce it and repent. And let him who [...] seek and find and rejoice."

Judas said, "Behold! I see that all things exist [...] like signs upon [...]. On this account did they happen thus."
The Lord said, "When the Father established the cosmos, he [...] water from it, and his Word came forth from it, and it inhabited many [...]. It was higher than the path [...] surrounds the entire earth [...] the collected water [...] existing outside them. [...] the water, a great fire encircling them like a wall. [...] time once many things had become separated from what was inside. When the [...] was established, he looked [...], and said to it, 'Go, and [...] from yourself, in order that [...] be in want from generation to generation, and from age to age.' Then it cast forth from itself fountains of milk and fountains of honey, and oil and wine and good fruits, and sweet flavor and good roots, in order that it might not be deficient from generation to generation, and from age to age. And it is above [...] standing [...] its beauty [...] and outside there was a great light, powerful [...] resemble it, for it [...] rules over all the aeons above and below. [...] was taken from the fire [...] it was scattered in the [...] above and below. All the works which depend on them, it is they [...] over the heaven above and over the earth below. On them depend all the works."
And when Judas heard these things, he bowed down, and he [...], and he offered praise to the Lord.

Mary hailed her brethren, saying, "Where are you going to put these things about which you ask the son [...]?"
The Lord said to her, "Sister, [no one] will be able to inquire about these things except for someone who has somewhere to put them in his heart. [...] to come forth [...] and enter [...], so that they might not hold back [...] this impoverished cosmos."

Matthew said, "Lord, I want to see that place of life, [the place] where there is no wickedness, but rather, there is pure light!"
The Lord said, "Brother Matthew, you will not be able to see it as long as you are carrying flesh around."
Matthew said, "Lord, even if I will not be able to see it, let me know it!"
The Lord said, "Everyone who has known himself has seen it in everything given to him to do, [...] and has come to [...] it in his goodness."

Judas responded, saying, "Tell me, Lord, how it is that [...] which shakes the earth moves."
The Lord picked up a stone and held it in his hand, saying "What am I holding in my hand?"
He said, "It is a stone."
He said to them, "That which supports the earth is that which supports the heaven. When a Word comes forth from the Greatness, it will come on what supports the heaven and the earth. For the earth does not move. Were it to move, it would fall. But it neither moves nor falls, in order that the First Word might not fail. For it was that which established the cosmos and inhabited it, and inhaled fragrance from it. For [...] which do not move, I [...] you, all the sons of men. For you are from that place. In the hearts of those who speak out of joy and truth, you exist. Even if it comes forth in the body of the Father among men, and is not received, still it [...] return to its place. Whoever does not know the work of perfection, knows nothing. If one does not stand in the darkness, he will not be able to see the light. If one does not understand how fire came into existence, he will burn in it, because he does not know the root of it. If one does not first understand water, he knows nothing. For what use is there for him to be baptized in it? If one does not understand how blowing wind came into existence, he will blow away with it. If one does not understand how body, which he bears, came into existence, he will perish with it. And how will someone who does not know the Son know the Father? And to someone who will not know the root of all things, they remain hidden. Someone who will not know the root of wickedness is no stranger to it. Whoever will not understand how he came will not understand how he will go, and he is no stranger to this cosmos which will [...], which will be humiliated."

Then he [...] Judas and Matthew and Mary [...] the edge of heaven and earth. And when he placed his hand upon them, they hoped that they might [...] it. Judas raised his eyes and saw an exceedingly high place, and he saw the place of the abyss below. Judas said to Matthew, "Brother, who will be able to climb up to such a height or down to the bottom of the abyss? For there is a tremendous fire there, and something very fearful!" At that moment, a Word came forth from it. As it stood there, he saw how it had come down. Then he said to it, "Why have you come down?"
And the Son of Man greeted them and said to them, "A seed from a power was deficient, and it went down to the abyss of the earth. And the Greatness remembered it, and he sent the Word to it. It brought it up into his presence, so that the First Word might not fail."
Then his disciples were amazed at all the things he had said to them, and they accepted them on faith. And they concluded that it is useless to regard wickedness.

(38) Then he said to his disciples, "Have I not told you that like a visible voice and flash of lightning will the good be taken up to the light?"
Then all his disciples offered him praise and said, "Lord, before you appeared here, who was it who offered you praise? For all praises exist on your account. Or who is it who will bless you? For all blessing derives from you."

(40) As they stood there, he saw two spirits bringing a single soul with them in a great flash of lightning. And a Word came forth from the Son of Man, saying, "Give them their garment!" And the small one became like the big one. They were [...] those who received them [...] each other. Then [...] disciples, whom he had [...].
Mary said, "[...] see evil [...] them from the first [...] each other.
The Lord said, "[...] when you see them [...] become huge, they will [...]. But when you see the Eternal Existent, that is the great vision."
They all said to him, "Tell us about it!"
He said to them, "How do you wish to see it? By means of a transient vision or an eternal vision?" He went on and said, "Strive to save that which can follow you, and to seek it out, and to speak from within it, so that, as you seek it out, everything might be in harmony with you. For I say to you, truly, the living God [...] in you [...] in him."

Judas said, "Truly, I want [...]."
The Lord said to him, "[...] living [...] dwells [...] entire [...] the deficiency [...]."
Judas said, "Who [...]?"
The Lord said to him, "[...] all the works which [...] the remainder, it is they which you [...]."
Judas said, "Behold! The governors dwell above us, so it is they who will rule over us!"
The Lord said, "It is you who will rule over them! But when you rid yourselves of jealousy, then you will clothe yourselves in light and enter the bridal chamber."
Judas said, "How will our garments be brought to us?"
The Lord said, "There are some who will provide for you, and there are others who will receive [...]. For it is they who will give you your garments. For who will be able to reach that place which is the reward? But the garments of life were given to man because he knows the path by which he will leave. And it is difficult even for me to reach it!"

Mary said, "Thus with respect to 'the wickedness of each day,' and 'the laborer is worthy of his food,' and 'the disciple resembles his teacher.'" She uttered this as a woman who had understood completely.

The disciples said to him, "What is the fullness, and what is the deficiency?"
He said to them, "You are from the fullness, and you dwell in the place where the deficiency is. And lo! His light has poured down upon me!"

Matthew said, "Tell me, Lord, how the dead die, and how the living live."
The Lord said, "You have asked me about a saying [...] which eye has not seen, nor have I heard it, except from you. But I say to you that when what invigorates a man is removed, he will be called 'dead'. And when what is alive leaves what is dead, what is alive will be called upon."
Judas said, "Why else, for the sake of truth, do they and live?"
The Lord said, "Whatever is born of truth does not die. Whatever is born of woman dies."

Mary said, "Tell me, Lord, why I have come to this place to profit or to forfeit."
The Lord said, "You make clear the abundance of the revealer!"
Mary said to him, "Lord, is there then a place which is [...] or lacking truth?"
The Lord said, "The place where I am not!"
Mary said, "Lord, you are fearful and wonderful, and [...] those who do not know you."

Matthew said, "Why do we not rest at once?"
The Lord said, "When you lay down these burdens!"
Matthew said, "How does the small join itself to the big?"
The Lord said, "When you abandon the works which will not be able to follow you, then you will rest."

Mary said, "I want to understand all things, just as they are!"
The Lord said, "He who will seek out life! For this is their wealth. For the [...] of this cosmos is [...], and its gold and its silver are misleading."

His disciples said to him, "What should we do to ensure that our work will be perfect?"
The Lord said to them, "Be prepared in face of everything. Blessed is the man who has found [...] the contest [...] his eyes. Neither did he kill, nor was he killed, but he came forth victorious."

Judas said, "Tell me, Lord, what the beginning of the path is."
He said, "Love and goodness. For if one of these existed among the governors, wickedness would never have come into existence."

Matthew said, "Lord, you have spoken about the end of everything without concern."
The Lord said, "You have understood all the things I have said to you, and you have accepted them on faith. If you have known them, then they are yours. If not, then they are not yours."

They said to him, "What is the place to which we are going?"
The Lord said, "Stand in the place you can reach!"
Mary said, "Everything established thus is seen."
The Lord said, "I have told you that it is the one who can see who reveals."

His disciples, numbering twelve, asked him, "Teacher, [...] serenity [...] teach us [...]."
The Lord said, "[...] everything which I have [...] you will [...] you [...] everything."

Mary said, "There is but one saying I will speak to the Lord concerning the mystery of truth: In this have we taken our stand, and to the cosmic are we transparent."

Judas said to Matthew, "We want to understand the sort of garments we are to be clothed with when we depart the decay of the flesh."
The Lord said, "The governors and the administrators possess garments granted only for a time, which do not last. But you, as children of truth, not with these transitory garments are you to clothe ourselves. Rather, I say to you that you will become blessed when you strip yourselves! For it is no great thing [...] outside."

[...] said [...] speak, I [...]."
The Lord said, "[...] your Father [...]."

Mary said, "Of what sort is that mustard seed? Is it something from heaven or is it something from earth?"
The Lord said, "When the Father established the cosmos for himself, he left much over from the Mother of the All. Therefore, he speaks and he acts."

Judas said, "You have told us this out of the mind of truth. When we pray, how should we pray?"
The Lord said, "Pray in the place where there is no woman."
Matthew said, "'Pray in the place where there is no woman,' he tells us, meaning 'Destroy the works of womanhood,' not because there is any other manner of birth, but because they will cease giving birth."
Mary said, "They will never be obliterated."
The Lord said, "Who knows that they will not dissolve and ... [2 lines missing]?"
Judas said to Matthew, "The works of womanhood will dissolve [...] the governors will [...]. Thus will we become prepared for them."
The Lord said, "Right. For do they see you? Do they see those who receive you? Now behold! A true Word is coming forth from the Father to the abyss, in silence with a flash of lightning, giving birth. Do they see it or overpower it? But you are even more aware of the path, this one, before either angel or authority has [...] Rather, it belongs to the Father and the Son, because they are both a single [...]. And you will go via the path which you have known. Even if the governors become huge, they will not be able to reach it. But listen - I tell you that it is difficult even for me to reach it!"
Mary said to the Lord, "When the works [...] which dissolve a work."
The Lord said, "Right. For you know [...] if I dissolve [...] will go to his place."

Judas said, "How is the spirit apparent?"
The Lord said, "How is the sword apparent?"
Judas said, "How is the light apparent?"
The Lord said, "[...] in it forever."

Judas said, "Who forgives the works of whom? The works which [...] the cosmos [...] who forgives the works."
The Lord said, "Who [...]? It behooves whoever has understood the works to do the will of the Father. And as for you, strive to rid yourselves of anger and jealousy, and to strip yourselves of your [...], and not to ...
(next 18 lines virtually indecipherable)
... he will live forever. And I say to you [...], so that you will not lead your spirits and your souls into error."

The Didache: Teachings of the 12 Apostles

The Didache claims to have been authored by the twelve apostles. While this is unlikely, the work could be a direct result of the first Apostolic Council, c.50 C.E. (Acts 15:28). Similarities to the Apostolic Decree are apparent, and the given structure of the church is quite primitive. Also, the description of the Eucharist (bread and wine) carefully avoids mention of the "body and blood of Christ," obviously being regarded as one of the secret mysteries of eary Christianity. Most scholars agree that the work, in its earliest form, may have circulated as early as the 60's C.E., though additions and modifications may have taken place well into the third century. The work was never officially rejected by the Church, but was excluded from the canon for its lack of literary value.

The complete text of the Didache was discovered in the Codex Hierosolymitanus, though a number of fragments exist, most notably in the Oxyrhynchus Papyri. It was originally composed in Greek, probably within a small community.

THE DIDACHE

The devout Christian sister Dion Fortune, who during the second world war took part in the magical Battle of Britain, recorded her participation in a book by the same name published in 1993. It has since gone out of print and the copies are fetching enormous prices; so I am going to paraphrase a bit here, to outline a process similar to that which saved the world from fascism, Hitler, and terrible spiritual evil in the 30s.

She organized those member of her Society of Light and sent letters to everyone involved once a week, as a connecting psychic link. A good idea; but the idea of a common egregor may I think work much better in these days of instant technology.

Our nations most recognizable icons are the cowboy, Uncle Sam, and the american eagle.

In occult understanding, that is a phoenix, the bird which never dies, but arises from its own ashes. You can see this on the US dollar bill, another recognizable and popular American icon; the phoenix is rising from the flames with the 13 arrows and the olive branch in its talons.

IMHO, this is our national egregor (see complete explaination below) and may be used as a focal point.

Dion instructed every recipient to set aside 15 minutes on a particular, agreed-upon day, for focusing. She told them to sit comfortably with their feet on the floor and their hands clasped to form a complete circuit, to accomplish their meditations.

(This is akin to kneeling, making the sign of the Cross, and putting ones hands together in prayer, which may find is much more composing, forceful, and safe.)

She recommends sitting facing the Capitol, which in our case is Washington D.C., or the White House. She instructed the participants to review the egregor immediately before the meditation starts, not too long beforehand, for maximum concentration. Her method is to relax, pay attention to your breathing, then focus on the egregor. Don't force a picture, but focus and let it form. Don't try to think of practical methods of application; stay in the spiritual dimension. See the egregor in your minds eye and slow your mind down until you feel rather than reason; listen to the egragor.

When you are firmly fixed, dedicate yourself in the name of God to the service of His Divine Plan. Let the will of God come through unimpeded. Relay on the angels who preside over the Cosmic Forces to do the work.

See yourself as part of the One, part of the egregor, which is part of the fabric of the sky, which is mantle of God which is the Universe. Invoke the name of God, and open yourself as a channel for the Light of the Cosmos. See the egregor again in your mind.

At the end of 15 minutes, pull yourself up and out and pronounce, 'it it done', or a suitable similar sentence. Ground yourself firmly, and close your psychic circuits down. This is as important as opening them up; if you don't ground, you will go around like a space cadet all day, and the work that your hands could have done will flial in the ethers.

If we, as persons of prayer, will set aside 15 minutes every Friday (Friday is the day of Netzach, or Victory) from 10 till 1015AM which is when most people have their first coffee break, we could make a profound change in the spiritual environment.

We all know and recognize that our nation faces unique challenges now, and in the days ahead. If you have read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, you are pretty savy as to the source of the trouble, and what it is capable of doing.

A long standing member of the Flock has suggested that we offer prayer, meditation, energy, Reiki, song, poem, light, and healing for our nation, its peoples, and all she stands for as the most important part of our spiritual work at this time.

America has given us, and the rest of the world, so much, and now she is in real trouble. We can rise and go to her aid.

I prefer the Sibley birth chart for the United States, as opposed the more popular 2AM birth time; the Sibley chart reflects best the history and changes faced by the US through its lifetime. I also read in real time, thus using sidereal astrology.

The chart reckoned by the tropical seasons is not so much different from the sidereal chart, only inasmuch as it is more detailed, and that detail is eerily accurate! Both charts indicate our national good humor and optimism, as well as our obsession with sports, especially if that sport involves horses! Sagittarius rising lets the world know that the USA is a natural cowboy, the icon that most often represents us at our best. A restless and freedom loving lot, we respect religion, education, and those who have traveled far in the world; we won't tolerate being ordered around or talked down to!

The sidereal chart shows us to have a Scorpio eagle rising, again, highly accurate for us and for our spiritual reality. The 20th degree of Scorpio fades into a Sagittarian first house, so there is little difference here, indeed, none to worry us!

With Pluto in the second house we know how to make do, make over, remake, and recycle; we are hardy pioneers who flourish despite the odds. With this placement we are a bit fixated on money, a little extravagant, and tend to make snap judgments, being quick minded and impatient. The natural nobility and promise of our Aquarian soul as represented by the moon at 5 degrees of this sign shines our from the third house of The Populace, or We The People. We desire freedom and liberty for all, whether or not they be our friends.

We love science and mathematics, big loud machines and anything shiny and fast, says our Uranus in the sixth house of Taurus; our versatility is proverbial, as is our eccentricity; we as a nation have real concern for the rest of the globe. Mars in Taurus lets everyone know we will defend what is ours. The sun in Gemini imbues us with that duality so noted by foreigners, and keen observers of American culture; we love what we love, and can put it away from us with an awful disassociation. We have the sun, Venus, and Jupiter all in a row in Gemini, in the seventh house of Others, proof that we as a nation have unexpected opportunity for exceptional service to others. Mercury in Cancer shows our patriotism, love of mom and apple pie big enough to be shared by everyone in the neighborhood, just like in Norman Rockwell's art.

Even our national reach for the medicine cabinet is here at the top of the chart with Neptune in detriment in Virgo. Strange dietary fads, our obsession with hygiene, and labor troubles emanate from here, as well as our spiritual faculties, for we are a spiritual people with visions and prophetic dreams.

Typically American, we have no planetary ruler; we are a nation of Laws, and those Laws have limits.

‘Jehovah made me his..

before his creation began…

I was at his side, a master craftsman,

delighting him day after day,

ever at play in his presence.’

Proverbs on Sophia (Ch.8 v.22,30 RV; NJB)

The Holy Spirit is a Christian translation of the spirit of Sophia, Wisdom, the female partner of Jehovah in the Old Testament. This makes the identification of the Holy Spirit with Uranus at Wisdom on the Tree of Life much clearer.

The recognition of the science of the spirits behind the portraits of these figures will prove invaluable in clarifying this age old question. It will also prove the value and validity of the Kabbalistic astrology of the Tree of Life in understanding Christian theology and particularly the obscure but fundamental theology of the Trinity.

This connection between the Holy Spirit and Sophia is often suggested, particularly in a feminist context, but it is not now well known. It is worth tracing a fascinating evolution which gives a revealing insight into how theology develops and how the Third Person of the Trinity has come into being. We will also need to reassess the character of the Second Person of the Trinity. Christ is more normally associated with Sophia, Wisdom but we shall try to understand how this confusion developed.

This insight might give us an appreciation of, for instance, how the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the Virgin Birth of Christ can be more helpfully understood in a theological perspective, appropriate to the educated, rational and comparatively sophisticated times we live in. Revealing the mechanisms behind the mysteries. If we understand how religion works we can understand how the spirits operate, how we work : we can understand God better and understand ourselves better.

In order to establish the primacy of astrology as the science of the spirits, it becomes necessary to challenge one of the fundamental concepts of the Christian Trinity : Christ as the Logos and the Wisdom of God.

In order to understand the history of the scriptures it becomes necessary to challenge another fundamental pillar of Christianity : the literal history of the Gospels.

The issues are raised in the frame of a faith based on rational fact, empirical and historical research.

While academic standards of scholarship are valued, these fundamental questions can only usefully be addressed in the larger context of modern life, the dawning of the new age and what this means to us all. Essentially these are not academic questions and will probably not be decided by scholarly opinion.

The Holy Spirit from Genesis

The Holy Spirit is far from a Christian invention and has been by God’s side from the very first. She first appears in the second verse of Genesis.

(We can refer to this Spirit as ‘she’ in recognition of her close identification with the female Sophia who, with the Assumption of Mary, now gives an equal, and long overdue, feminine balance in the heavenly realm, in the Christian Quaternity. The Third Person of the Trinity is referred to in the Gospels as ‘he’ but this ignores ‘her’ OT genesis and is not imperative. With the epoch-making announcement of the Assumption, it is perhaps specially appropriate to revert to a more modern, balanced view of the Quaternity, restoring Sophia to her proper recognition.)

Verse 2 of Genesis is properly translated by the New Jerusalem Bible as :

‘there was darkness over the deep, with a divine wind sweeping over the waters.’

The King James Version, no less correctly, has :

‘darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.’

Translators have recognised this single Hebrew word ruah can variously be translated, wind, breath and spirit and the choice is not always obvious.

We can recognise already we are dealing with a Spirit very close in nature to the Christian Holy Spirit which is associated with the wind and the air.

An Early Version of Pentecost

We find this same spirit of Yahweh makes an appearance in a more familiar role alongside the prophet Moses. But it is not Moses who starts prophesying with this inspiration :

‘Yahweh descended in the cloud. He (Moses) spoke to him and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied and could not stop.

Joshua said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them !’ Moses replied, ‘Are you jealous on my account ? If only all Yahweh’s people were prophets, and Yahweh had given them his spirit !’

Numbers Ch.11 v. 25,29.

This is the Spirit of inspiration and prophecy we shall meet repeatedly through the Old Testament and into the New. Prophecy in the Bible simply means ‘speaking on behalf of God’ which is no great feat if we speak good, honest truth, without fear or favour. Speaking from the heart. Telling it like it is. The kind of truth which will make the world a better place. Sometimes ‘prophesying’ in the Bible is simply proclaiming the glory of God, the wonders of Creation.

In the New Testament Christ echoes Moses and encourages us all to embrace this Holy Spirit. Perhaps these are times when truth is at a premium. False prophets raise a cacophony of false dreams, designed to please the people and please themselves.

This Moses episode is a wonderfully graphic description of the descent of the Spirit of God and it is remarkable the image of a cloud is chosen. The astrological spirit of the planet god Uranus is characterised by the Sign of Aquarius, the Water Carrier. The Water Carrier is the air Sign of the heavens, so called because the skies bring us the waters of life, the blessing of heaven, the rain. The clouds are the characteristic pitchers the Water Carrier is constantly pouring in images of this Sign : when ‘the heavens open.’

The cloud could not be a more appropriate image for this Spirit of truth, this Spirit of prophecy, this Spirit of God. If we want to consider this a mere coincidence, we must also extend this judgement to the fact the spirit is always described by a term which signifies the ‘air’ : in Hebrew ruah, in Greek pneuma, both signify wind, breath, spirit. It is for the same reason the Holy Spirit is portrayed as a dove, the purest creature of the element of the air.

The metaphysics of astrology is the most ancient science, its knowledge stretching back into the most distant mists. There are many things the ancient Jewish prophets and priests will not have known which we know now. The Tree of Life does not permit us to imagine astrology and metaphysics were one of these.

(Metaphysics is used here precisely as the science of the spiritual energies, beyond physics. This science recognises a higher, subtler dimension, really a parallel energy. Equally metaphysics recognises that the infinitely complex and subtle world revealed by sub-atomic physics confirms the physical world is merely the base, earth, level within the metaphysical hierarchy, the ascending levels, of the spirits. This metaphysical recognition is the basis for understanding all spiritual phenomena, lore and theology and appears to have been basic to ancient wisdom and knowledge.)

It is worth noting this gift of prophecy, this gift of speaking the truth for God, is not a matter of outward pride :

‘Now Moses was extremely humble, the humblest man on earth.’

Yet Jehovah says he is more than a prophet :

‘to him I speak face to face,

plainly and not in riddles,

and he sees Yahweh’s form.’

Numbers 12 v.3,8

If our truth is given us by God’s spirit, we have no cause for arrogance. We naturally measure ourselves against our best friend God, and recognise our mean worthlessness, His glory. And if we are not an empty vessel but puffed up with pride, what room is there for this quiet Spirit ? It will not be God’s truth we pronounce but our own.

The spirit of Uranus : the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Prophets, the Spirit of Wisdom

Astrologers will have no difficulty identifying this Spirit with the character of the spirit of Uranus, though what we are seeing here is the divine manifestation. The more mundane influence of Uranus in astrology is certainly marked by this gift of eloquence but does not usually attain these ecstatic, or prophetic heights.

Isaiah lived through some extraordinary times, almost a prerequisite for a major prophet, around 700 BC. This is not long after the first Books of the Bible were written down and it is not impossible Isaiah himself was involved in this as Chief Minister to the King and a man of some influence and learning. It is he who first prophesies the Coming Messiah in a famous passage which quickly turns into a hymn for the prophet’s friend, the holy spirit, the Spirit of Yahweh :

‘A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse,

a new shoot will grow from his roots.

On him will rest the spirit of Yahweh,

The spirit of wisdom and insight,

the spirit of counsel and power,

the spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh :

his inspiration will lie in fearing Yahweh.’

(11 v.2)

This is particularly significant as the first clear association with Wisdom, which we shall find a developing theme of no small significance. We find references throughout Isaiah to this spirit, as throughout the early period of the Bible. Unsurprisingly, since it is mostly recognised as the spirit which inspires prophets.

The prophet Ezekiel lived during the Jews Exile in Babylon and dates his first vision to around 590 BC. Ezekiel speaks for God saying, ‘I shall put a new spirit in them’ (11.19) and this is recognised as the first prophecy of the gift of the Holy Spirit which Isaiah has already identified with the new start of the new age and the new covenant which is the essence of the message of the New Testament. We find this message is repeated more and more urgently as the apocalyptic times of the dawn of the new age of Pisces draw close.

Ezekiel himself repeats this apocalyptic, new age message much more strongly when he repeats Isaiah’s prophecy of the final resurrection of the dead and again it emphasises the identification of ruah, the spirit of Yahweh, with breath (37 v.5,13,14) :

‘I am now going to make breath enter these bones , and you will live …. When I … raise you from your graves, my people, and put my spirit in you, and you revive.’

　

Prophesying Christian Baptism

In the previous chapter this spirit takes on an even more familiar role, in terms which later became formalised as the ritual of baptism (Ez. 36 v.25,26) :

‘I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; …. I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies…’

A century and a half after Ezekiel, Nehemiah (9 v.20,30) has not forgotten this Spirit and her character is clearly recognisable :

‘You gave them your good spirit to instruct them…

‘You warned them by your spirit through the prophets.’

It is generally recognised we find the Holy Spirit again acknowledged in Psalms (51 v.11 and 143 v.10) :

‘do not take away from me your spirit of holiness.’

‘may your generous spirit lead me on even ground.’

In the later prophets this Spirit is still known, in terms quite like those used of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Haggai 2 v.5) :

‘my spirit is present among you’

Prophesying Pentecost

This trend towards a popular inspiration reaches a full flowering in Joel (3 v.1-2), written over a century after the Jews’ return from the Exile in Babylon. It promises a fulfilment of Moses’ fervent wish for the spirit of God to reach every heart and give prophetic inspiration to every tongue. It looks forward to Isaiah’s new age and Pentecost with exactly this outpouring of the Spirit. This prophecy is quoted by Peter to explain the effects of the Pentecost descent of the Holy Spirit :

‘I shall pour out my spirit on all humanity.

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your old people shall dream dreams

and your young people shall see visions.

Even on the slaves, men and women,

shall I pour out my spirit in those days.’

This is the gift of the Holy Spirit which is waiting in every breath to be released by a confident heart, ready to speak truth for God : the simple truth which says nothing is impossible if we believe, and love is the only way to go.

St Paul is nothing if not a confident heart. He usefully puts all these dazzling inspirations in perspective : ‘And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains – if I am without love, I am nothing.’ (1 Cor. 13 v.2)

Seduced by Sophia : Heavenly Wisdom

In the centuries immediately before the Christian era we see a build up of recognition for the Holy Spirit and the full flowering of Sophia as Wisdom, acknowledged in the strongest terms as a divine partner of Jehovah. This is the period of the wonderful ‘Wisdom literature’ which is still a joy to read with a particularly modern and accessible message.

This wise advice can be surprisingly down to earth and more engaging than anything our prudish preachers can manage today, trying to convey the same message :

‘Find joy with the wife you married in your youth,

fair as a hind, graceful as a fawn :

hers the breasts that ever fill you with delight,

hers the love that ever holds you captive.

Why be seduced, my son, by someone else’s wife,

and fondle the breast of a woman who belongs to another ?’

Proverbs 5 v.18-20

Sometimes, as in the rather unecclesiastical Ecclesiastes, this message is so far from religious dogmatism commentators are surprised at its inclusion in the Bible. It reflects an inspired breadth, a wisdom, which accepts people reject dogma in the search for God and prefer a message which makes sense to them without the heavy hand of Establishment rhetoric.

For some the Established dogma is the way to God, for others the path is simple common sense, following our own best selves. God possibly prefers us to do good just because it makes good sense but the truth is we can be confident He just loves everyone immensely and knows it takes all sorts to make a world. St Paul expresses rather eloquently the idea of different inspirations reflecting a single, common spirit as we shall see below.

Wisdom Conquers with Humility

The dating of scripture is elusive but Sophia probably comes into Judaism with Alexander the Great. Alexander conquered everyone, past Afghanistan to the plains of the Punjab in north western India. Jerusalem was just a minor molehill which wisely threw open its gates. Alexander was renowned for his enlightened tolerance and interest in other religions.

So the story goes, the Jews were amazed to see this irresistible conqueror honouring their High Priest, Onias I, actually prostrating before him and saying he could aspire no higher than to be the son of such a lineage. A son of this lineage was Onias III who is recognised as the Messiah in the Book of Daniel and the Teacher of Righteousness and the Messiah by the Dead Sea sect, the Essenes. He was probably the historical model for the Gospel portrait of Christ. There are no other candidates. We return to this Teacher below.

It is hardly surprising the Jews welcomed Greek wisdom under such conditions. The personification of Sophia clarified and formalised the position of a Spirit which was already recognised as a vital part of the heavenly set up. For the next century and a half Alexander’s successors maintained this benevolent relationship, even maintaining the Temple services at their own expense.

Unfortunately this relationship deteriorated some time later when the Olympics, big money and, frankly, madness, mixed in a lethal cocktail, ending with the extraordinary execution of the Messiah and all hell breaking loose. By then Sophia was firmly established and so was the legacy of the Messiah. Two centuries later the Essenes, caretakers of the sacred flame, would ignite the fire of Christianity which still burns with a worldwide passion, Christianity. Sometimes still under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

All sorts of useful ruses are recognised in Bible writing and ascribing your best efforts to a famous name is the most common. Isaiah only wrote his first chapters which were added to more than once. This period includes the final chapters of Isaiah where we find a small but significant development in phrasing (63 v.10) :

‘they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit.’

It is hard to overestimate the importance of the dramatic new development of the Wisdom literature in the Scriptures. Entirely new themes and attitudes are explored with a challenging sophistication. It is perhaps a measure of our modern spiritual naivety this brilliant heritage is virtually ignored in favour of much older, more primitive biblical texts. It is the wisdom literature which paves the way for the Gospels’ supreme sophistication.

Sophia presents this Spirit as Yahweh’s partner on high :

‘Wisdom is with you…

She who was present when you made the world;

In ‘the holy heavens’ and on ‘your throne of glory.’

Yet she is also much more accessible to all men, just like the Holy Spirit :

‘Blessed are those who have discovered wisdom,

those who have acquired understanding.

Her ways are filled with delight

Her paths lead to all contentment.

She is a tree of life to those who hold her fast,

Those who cling to her have happy lives.’

Proverbs 3. 13,17,18

Wisdom literature : Sophia Personified

In the Book of Proverbs, Wisdom is praised and recommended extensively, chapter after chapter, sometimes abstractly as the wealth of the good man, sometimes personified as Sophia (Ch.8 v.4,7,8,11) :

‘I am calling you all people,

my words are addressed to all humanity…

My mouth proclaims the truth..

All the words from my mouth are upright…

Wisdom is more precious than jewels,

and nothing else is so worthy of desire.’

She is given a paean in her own praise (Ch.8 v.12,14,22,23) :

‘I am mistress of the art of thought

..I am perception : power is mine.

…Yahweh created me, first-fruits of his fashioning,

before the oldest of his works.

From everlasting I was firmly set,

from the beginning, before the earth came into being…

When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,

when he drew a circle over the surface of the deep..

when he assigned the sea its boundaries..

when he traced the foundations of the earth,

I was beside him, a master craftsman,

delighting him day after day,

ever at play in his presence,

at play everywhere on his earth,

delighting to be with the children of men.’

We have seen a different version of these lines opening this article, where Wisdom’s position as Jehovah’s female partner is given more rein. This New Jerusalem Bible translation, for all its academic authority, seems intent on suppressing this idea and there are certainly some compelling theological reasons for this. Every translator has a pet agenda, a view, to which a translation will more or less conform.

The Revised Version takes pains to justify its wording ‘Yahweh possessed me...’ and it is the more common translation. Not necessarily in a sexual sense, although there has long been a recognition of a union between Jehovah and Sophia. Jung sees this union as the precursor of the Birth of Jesus. Jung observes the unions of the gods are seldom infertile.

It is another passage from Wisdom which probably portrays her close association with Yahweh, Jehovah, most strongly (9 v.9,10,17) :

‘With you is Wisdom, she who knows your works,

she who was present when you made the world;

she understands what is pleasing in your eyes

and what agrees with your commandments.

Despatch her from the holy heavens,

Send her forth from your throne of glory

To … teach me what is pleasing to you;

Since she knows and understands everything…

And who could ever have known your will, had you not given Wisdom

And sent your holy Spirit from above ?’

The portrait is one of the closest intimacy, together from the beginning of the world, with a complete understanding, sharing even the same throne in heaven. Sophia is certainly repeatedly portrayed as the ideal wife for any man, particularly for Solomon, and it is impossible not to extend this suggestion to the heavenly realms. Wisdom, also called the Wisdom of Solomon is the last of the Wisdom Books in the Bible and may well not predate Christianity by many years. The recognition of this union may well presage the birth of a new divinity, initiating the Trinity.

We know the Jews recognised Jehovah’s partner as the Canaanite mother goddess, Asherah, at various times. Her image, a tree, was prominent in the Jerusalem Temple. This tree is widely identified with the Tree of Life and we have already seen Wisdom is identified with the Tree of Life in Proverbs 3 v.18. In Ecclesiasticus (24 v.13-17) there is a long passage identifying Sophia with various celebrated trees.

This association with the Tree of Life is quite appropriate if the common identification between Asherah and Sophia is accepted. The spiritual science of astrology is certainly under the celestial aegis of Sophia’s sophisticated Aquarian spirit. Asherah was also known as ‘Lady of the Stars of Heaven.’

In Proverbs 9 v.1 Wisdom has a seven-pillared house which recalls the menorah, the Jewish seven-branched candlestick, which symbolises the Tree of Life and the seven visible planets.

The Spirit of Creation

It is also the Revised Version which makes Wisdom the ‘master craftsman’ rather than Yahweh. But there is no doubt of the creative role of this powerful spirit whether this is explicitly as an active agent or more usually only by association with Yahweh.

It is remarkable to note how often Wisdom is associated with the Creation and particularly the creation of the heavens. This is a vital and repeated theme in the various portraits of this planet’s spirit around the globe. This emphasis immediately identifies Sophia with the ruah, the Spirit of God in the Creation story of Genesis (1.2)

We shall find this pre-eminent and comprehensive, ‘almighty’ creative power represented in the NT as the logos, ‘the Word,’ the definitive metaphysical expression of this universal Aquarian spirit of Uranus at Wisdom, Hockmah, on the Tree of Life. The NT readily associates the logos with Sophia, Wisdom, Hockmah. Hockmah is the original Hebrew name for the Sephira of Wisdom on the Tree. Equally it is the term used for Wisdom in the original Hebrew versions of the Wisdom literature.

Wisdom as ‘the holy Spirit’

Naturally it is the Book of Wisdom itself, otherwise known as the Wisdom of Solomon, where we find perhaps the richest exposition of the Spirit of Wisdom, the Holy Spirit (Ch.1 v.5-7 and 9 v.17) :

‘wisdom will never enter the soul of a wrong doer..

For the holy spirit of wisdom flees deceitfulness…

Wisdom is a spirit friendly to humanity..

The spirit of the Lord fills the world…’

‘Who could ever have known your will, had you not given Wisdom and sent your holy Spirit from above.’

There is already little room for doubt at this stage but this passage makes absolutely clear the identity and equivalence of these two different names for the Spirit of Hockmah, Wisdom, on the Tree of Life, the divine Spirit of the planet-god Uranus. Hockmah, Wisdom, Sophia is clearly identified with the ‘holy spirit’ and ‘the spirit of the Lord,’ Jehovah.

This identity proves a major embarrassment in the NT where the ‘spirit of the Lord’ is naturally identified with the Holy Spirit, the Third Person in the Trinity. But the spirit of Wisdom is clearly associated with the Logos, the Word, which is identified with Christ, the Second Person in the Trinity. So this OT identity between Wisdom and the Holy Spirit is rejected in the NT. Later we will try to explain this odd conflict.

We find another similar clear statement of Wisdom as the spirit of God, ‘a spirit holy,’ while ‘a breath of the power of God’ again directly identifies Wisdom with the ruah or Spirit of God which is breath, wind, air :

‘Now I understand everything, hidden or visible,

for Wisdom, the designer of all things, has instructed me.

For within her is a spirit intelligent, holy,

Unique, manifold, subtle,

Mobile, incisive…

Lucid, invulnerable…shrewd,

irresistible, beneficent, friendly to human beings,

steadfast, dependable, unperturbed,

almighty, all-surveying,

penetrating all intelligent, pure

and most subtle of spirits…

She is a breath of the power of God…

Although she is alone, she can do everything;

Herself unchanging, she renews the world,

And generation after generation, passing into holy souls,

She makes them into God’s friends and prophets.’

Wisdom 7 v.21-27

The last lines declare both an independent omnipotence and an individual inspiration which strikingly match the picture of the Logos in the opening of John’s Gospel. There is equally a clear identification with the role of the Holy Spirit.

Finally another characteristic definition where the inspiration and eloquence of this Spirit is emphasised :

‘Wisdom opened the mouths of the dumb

and made eloquent the tongues of babes.’ (10 v.21)

In Ecclesiastes (24 v.3) we find this classic image of the ruah, the Spirit and breath of God, again applied to Sophia. Wisdom takes over the role of this Spirit personified, although in some extraordinary imagery. This is the same characteristic imagery of the Water Carrier we found portraying this Spirit in the story of Moses above, the water carrying clouds of the Aquarian heavens on high. Wisdom is breath and a mist; as with Moses, a cloud come down :

‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,

and I covered the earth like a mist.

I had my tent in the heights,

And my throne was a pillar of cloud.’

Coming ‘from the mouth of the Most High’ also identifies her strongly with the logos, ‘the Word of God,’ a connection emphasised in the NT.

Evidence of Astrology ?

Uranus Gives Us the Word of Truth

All this unmistakably gives an astrologer a clear portrait of a spirit readily and definitively associated with the spirit of Uranus. The inspiration, eloquence, intelligence and friendliness are particularly characteristic of this spirit. Inspiration and eloquence are simply the characteristic gift and signature of mighty Uranus’ presence, when he is strong and on song.

This spirit also rules the Eleventh House, the House of society, where relationships can be formal and superficial but can be so much more genuine, really what you make them. The ‘players’ favourite game of ‘networking,’ where every man and every woman is a star and friendship is power.

Electro-magnetic Dynamic : Cosmic Wonder and Beyond

The spirits of astrology extend the full metaphysical spectrum from physical things to our everyday psychology, our minds, to the divine powers which rule the universe. On a physical level the spirit of Aquarius embraces the full range of electro-magnetic and higher spiritual energy which unites the stars and ultimately all matter on earth, not just the wonderful modern dynamos of current industrial materialism which have exploded into temporary world domination with the arrival of the new age.

This is a measure of the power of this spirit in mere human hands. This hint of the creative energy of this spirit provides the parallel portrait of this Spirit we have already recognised as the logos, ‘the Word’ : ‘almighty,’ ‘irresistible,’ ‘a breath of the power of God.’ (Ws. 7, above) We find this creative nature is pre-eminent in the representation of this spirit in other cultures. It is ‘the Creative, Heaven' in the Chinese Tao, Shiva, the Creator and Destroyer for the Hindus.

The same spirit of instinctive intelligence which inspires and orders our thought and speech, on a higher level on a greater stage this same spirit inspires and orders the eternal, unceasing dance of creation. Certainly both roles are readily identified with the spirit of the Water Carrier.

The Spirit of the New Age : Getting Together on the Internet

A measure of how this relatively crude physical energy can be transformed into a higher, greater, more powerful spirit might be gauged by the image of friendship, relationships. When we plug into the network of humanity, the potential is like plugging into the electricity supply, in Britain the National Grid. Only much more so.

The internet materialises and empowers this universal network of humanity. Powered by Aquarian electro-magnetic energy and circuitry, inspired by Uranian ingenuity and ruled by the new age spirit of liberation, independence and the love of free information, it brings unprecedented power to the people, the ability to broadcast without hierarchical control. Abused shamefully it may be, it is also used to great effect to leap forward into a new future, a one-world vision which is not get rich quick globalisation but the person to person unity of humanity.

One day, metaphysics and visionaries tells us, we may be united by the rather more sophisticated software of our psychic minds, the unlimited super nuclear energy of our hearts. This will do for now, a physical prototype.

(Metaphysics is used in this article precisely as the science of spiritual energies, beyond physics. This science recognises a higher, subtler dimension, really a parallel energy which is usually referred to quite unscientifically in the catch all phrase, ‘spirit’ or ‘spiritual.’

Equally metaphysics recognises that the infinitely complex and subtle world revealed by sub-atomic physics confirms the physical world is merely the base level, the earth spirit, within the metaphysical hierarchy, the ascending levels, of the spirits. This metaphysical recognition is the basis for understanding all spiritual phenomena, lore and theology and appears to have been basic to ancient wisdom and knowledge.)

Dove Power : Getting Together, Getting Prophetic

In February 2003 the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) joined other groups in organising a protest against plans for a brutal, ruthless and criminal invasion of Iraq to grab its mineral assets, particularly oil, for strategic and financial advantage.

With everyone logging on to the ‘technological logos,’ the international grid of the internet, this brought up to two million people, way beyond all bounds, onto the streets of London. The word spread and similar unanimity was achieved the same day in Madrid and Rome, other governments supporting this disgusting and blatant war crime, with massive demonstrations in the US itself and elsewhere round the globe. The war still went ahead, wisdom did not prevail, wisdom went begging in the streets. Ministers didn’t listen.

And truth has proved itself cruelly in the new Iraq, America’s Iraq.

Our leaders hide behind their piety, armoured in self-righteousness but politics always comes first. They use the Good News as a ritual excuse for abuse.

This Spirit will not go begging in the streets forever. The power of this Spirit will have its day, the people united will have their day. This was a relatively small cause, less than twenty million lives at stake, and an early trial of the power of truth to unite. We still have the future of this planet to settle some time soon : the truth will out and the people will out, and have their say. Ministers will listen.

This recalls the prophecy of Joel, endorsed, as we shall see, with interest by Christ in the Gospels (Joel 3 v.1-2) (John 14 v.12,16,17) :

‘I shall pour out my spirit on all humanity.

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy’

‘In all truth I tell you,

whoever believes in me

will perform the same works I do myself,

and will perform even greater works…

I shall ask the Father

and he will give you another Counsellor, the Holy Spirit,

to be with you forever,

the spirit of truth …

he is with you, he is in you.’

And we remember Moses’ heartfelt cry (Numbers Ch.11 v. 29) :

‘If only all Yahweh’s people were prophets, and Yahweh had given them his spirit !’

We might wonder whether we are not living to see Joel’s prophecy fulfilled on a greater scale. Certainly no less impressive a demonstration than the people of Jerusalem witnessed after Pentecost; and too, like Pentecost, testifying to the truth in a glorious rainbow coalition of languages ! Wouldn’t Moses have been pleased ?!

When literally millions come out together on the streets, worldwide, to speak truth to power, to prophesy against their leaders, a prophecy that proves only too true, this is a new age indeed, just beginning. This is the Spirit in action. A second Pentecost indeed ! It may yet prove a greater ‘outpouring of this Spirit.’

It is not for nothing the symbol of peace is the dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

This is why the Bible describes Wisdom as a Spirit of power and warns the gift of the Holy Spirit is not to be trifled with. If we deny God’s truth, whether we hear it within or on a larger stage, we are lost indeed, as we have seen, all to clearly.

Advertising Astrology’s Patron Deity

Astrologers have acknowledged this universal spirit of power, the power of truth and humanity, only too long. They are only waiting for the world to want to know.

This Aquarian energy is a spirit of relationships and humanity. Proverbs’ repeated images of Wisdom going out into the streets to address the people, to tell them her urgent truths, is particularly evocative and appropriate. Equally the internet is an ideal modern material manifestation of this new age energy whose relationships embrace independence and a free spirit above all else. Astrologers can readily recognise this distinctive and potent Aquarian spirit in its sharply etched theological portraits in different cultures around the globe.

Equally it is difficult not to turn this round and imagine astrologers wanting to tell the world about the wonderful, dynamic spirit of inspiration and creativity we all have within us; the powerful and inexhaustible spirit of Uranus. Urging us to make use of this planet’s innate inspiration by getting on the right wavelength, tuning into our inner truth and higher ideas, the fountain of these vital inspiring waters of life.

Modern astrologers could hardly make this call more eloquently or powerfully than the poetry we find in the Wisdom literature. They would certainly draw much the same portrait of this planet’s eloquent spirit, ‘friendly to humanity.’ (Ws. 7.23)

Almost certainly they would want to propose some kind of objective metaphysical, scientific expression for this spirit, probably inventing or adopting a term such as the logos to convey the principle of logic and reason which is definitive of this spirit. This would be defined as both individually inspiring and eloquent yet at the same time creative on a cosmological scale, essentially the creative principle and energy ordering the universe.

Modern astrologers might also choose more modern language and, for colour, point to the image of the dancing Shiva, Nataraj, Lord of the Dance, to illustrate the unlimited individual energy of this perpetual dynamic, on any floor, in any field. Coincidentally they would wax lyrical in remarkably similar biblical, unrestrained style. After all, Uranus is the god of the heavens, the stars, the patron deity of all astrologers, their favourite muse, indispensable inspiration and god. And his is the spirit of truth not to be denied.

The dawning Age of Aquarius is Uranus’ age, ruled by his Spirit, and he would not leave his star children, his disciples, his circle drawers (these astrologers), dumb in the publicity department if they did decide to advertise the goods on free offer, gratis, by the grace of God. We may say it’s all been done but brilliant as it is, this scripture is twenty centuries old and a new age seems to demand a fresh assessment. Especially of Aquarian Wisdom.

‘Thy Holy Spirit’ in the Dead Sea Scrolls

Before we compare briefly the presentation of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, we should look at the bridge between the two. We have already sampled scriptures which are a supremely sophisticated testament to the sages of the Old Covenant of Moses, the scribes of the old Bible. As the Kabbalah of the Tree of Life implicitly insists, these were men of knowledge, men of understanding, men of immense learning.

The New Testament is if anything an even more sophisticated scripture. It is no less redolent of the insights and imagery of the Tree of Life and is certainly the work of some supremely sophisticated sages, men of knowledge, men of understanding, men of immense learning. Biblical Scripture is only written this way.

The New Testament was not the product of a band of fishermen but of a school of supreme fishers of men. We find the prototype of the New Testament, in ideas and even precise phrases, in the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Essenes, the Holy Ones. The Essenes were certainly held in the highest esteem in Israel, above the Sadducees and even the learned Pharisees.

In the Scrolls we find the high esteem of Wisdom is maintained, along with a recognition of the Holy Spirit in terms which clearly anticipate and prepare the way for the Christian recognition in the New Testament. It is ‘thy Holy Spirit,’ still acknowledged as the Spirit of Jehovah, rather than ‘the Holy Spirit,’ which emphasises the spirit within. But it stands out as the missing link between the Wisdom literature and later prophetic writings and the bold new departure of the New Testament. The Scrolls certainly present a bold new departure themselves but the Gospels and Epistles take this a bit further still.

This is one of the Thanksgiving Hymns, possibly the work of the Essenes founder, the Teacher of Righteousness they recognised as the Messiah, the Christ. Perhaps not so different to the Christ we recognise, or don’t (Hymn 4 lines 11-12) :

‘And I know through the understanding

which comes from Thee,

that in Thy goodwill towards man

Thou hast increased his inheritance in Thy Holy Spirit

and thus Thou hast drawn me near to understanding of Thee.

And the closer I approach,

the more I am filled with zeal…’

This hymn contains a wonderful, authoritative affirmation of the spiritual evolution we recognised in the biblical literature for this spirit. God has ‘increased man’s inheritance’ of the Holy Spirit. As we have seen , this increase, this evolution, may still be going on. Something would be wrong if it wasn’t.

This next mention in another hymn celebrates the attribute of truth so familiar with this Spirit, linking it in a timeless fashion to our own inner wisdom, the song of our hearts (Hymn 18 l. 32) :

‘Thou hast upheld me with certain truth;

Thou hast delighted me with Thy Holy Spirit

And hast opened my heart till this day.’

The Damascus Document is one of the most important Scrolls and gives the clearest clues to the identity of the Teacher of Righteousness, almost naming the day (the Jewish priests were always good at their own history.) It contains an early recognition for this Spirit, again in close conjunction with truth (and the Teacher) (col. II l. 13) :

‘He made known His Holy Spirit to them by the hand of His anointed one (His Messiah, His Christ) and He proclaimed the truth to them.’

Dead Sea Astrology : the Sabbath Becomes ‘Stars Day’

There is no question the Essenes practiced astrology. They saw it as a spiritual science. A horoscope dictated the proportions of good and evil in a man (4Q186), though at this distance we should suspect there was rather more to it in practice. Nevertheless this rather judgemental measure seems to have been expressly repudiated when they transformed themselves into the Nazarenes :

‘For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.’ St John 3 v.34

It is equally appropriate in this context to notice what is being celebrated in the title of a Scroll devoted to the cycle of the calendar and called The Words of the Heavenly Lights. Generally ignored by commentators, this title leaves little doubt we’re into astral science, the logos of the stars, astrology. The science of the spirit of Wisdom.

This is dramatically confirmed by the calendar’s unprecedented departure from Jewish custom to celebrate the Sabbath on the fourth day, Wednesday. Because this was the day God created the heavenly lights (Genesis 1 v.14,16) :

‘And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years….

And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night : he made the stars also.’

Nothing was more important in ancient Judaism than the calendar which determined the celebration of the sacred festivals on the correct days, according to the Law. The Essenes were particularly zealous in this respect and constantly complained the Temple tradition in Jerusalem had got their festivals all wrong.

Yet their revolutionary accolade to astrology is not so strange and our modern calendars still testify the ancients’ acknowledgement of the power of the planets. Wednesday, Woden’s day, is translated in French as Mercredi, Mercury’s day. Woden is the Norse Mercury. European languages generally honour the seven visible planets in the days of the week.

Before modern technology has allowed us to acknowledge Uranus as the patron deity of star gazers, all these ‘occult’ arts were put with medicine under the wand, the Caduceus, of Mercury, Hermes, as Hermetics. There has always been the closest relationship between Uranus, the inspiration of ‘the Word,’ and the magician of words, Mercury.

The evidence of the Essenes’ interest in astrology is what we would expect from the authors of Christianity’s supreme metaphysical and Kabbalistic teaching. Their choice of a Sabbath on Wednesday resoundingly announces a leader, their Teacher of Righteousness, who was that passionate about the importance of these spiritual truths, the spiritual science of astrology. Messiahs should be keen on heavenly things.

A thousand years ago a Jewish sect in Israel began celebrating the Sabbath on Wednesday. It seems they had discovered some ancient scrolls and were so impressed by what they read, they changed their ways dramatically. Perhaps they found the Dead Sea Scrolls we didn’t, which explained, plain as day, astrology is the ‘golden road’ to God, or enlightenment, as the Tibetan Buddhists put it. Still, we’ve found enough of the puzzle.

The Holy Spirit and the Immaculate Conception

The Dead Sea sect are not being promoted here as an alternative source for Christianity because of their aptitude and interest in astrology. The Essenes do not provide an alternative origin for Christianity. They provide the only rational and historically credible origin for Christianity.

The stable, star and magi story are simply not historically plausible. Perhaps this is why these stories and even the massacre of hundreds of infants around Bethlehem, all these implausible ‘events’ are apparently long-forgotten when Christ is growing up and his family and neighbours are the last to give him any credit, to believe he is the Chosen One.

Taken literally the Gospel stories are especially implausible as the foundation for a sophisticated faith, particularly a dazzling astrological, Kabbalistic religion which has sustained faith for two thousand years.

When we read the Magi, the astrologers, attended the most sacred occasion of Christ’s birth, we might pause for thought. In the symbolic language of the Gospels, the language of parable, this signifies the role of the Essene magi, the Essene astrologers, closely associated with the birth of the infant Christianity.

The Virgin Mary has always been recognised as a symbol for the Church. In this case, at the very beginning, this was the pure, unspotted, white robed Holy Ones, the Essenes. As ‘the true sons of Zadok’ they were the true heirs of Onias III, arguably the last legitimate High Priest of the Jews at the Jerusalem Temple. The Essenes were the true heirs of the Temple tradition of Judaism. With a scrupulously preserved integrity.

The Immaculate Conception of Mary, ‘through the Holy Spirit,’ (Mt.1 v.18) represents the divine inspiration, or immaculate conception, of the Holy Ones, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Essenes changed their name to became the first Nazarene church which in due time brought this divinely inspired conception to birth : infant Christianity with the birth of a new God, the divinity of the Pisces Messiah, the Christ and the Saviour, a man who was at once God.

An Irrational Shadow Steamrollers the Scrolls into Holy Oblivion

Our modern commentators stop short of noticing any significance in the title of The Words of the Heavenly Lights. They wouldn’t want to upset anyone by suggesting this revered Jewish sect was strongly committed to astrology, whatever the evidence.

Our modern commentators stop short of noticing any significance at all in ‘the close parallels’ between the Essenes and the Nazarenes, the early Christians. There are no ‘close parallels.’ It is wholesale copying : principles, Messiah, texts, names, everything. Copied from a secret sect dedicated to protect their sacred mysteries. They want to preserve the Christian foundation of believing twenty impossible things before breakfast …and again before supper …and even just to die in peace. They want to preserve disbelief.

We shouldn’t blame to greatly. Truth always takes second place to preserving established power. In families, school, university, business, even friendships. Any truth which challenges accepted authority is simply ignored or ruthlessly squashed. When the established authority is the church we all know the history and things haven’t changed greatly even if ‘excommunication,’ and ‘being crucified’ have a rather less grave interpretation.

Whatever the evidence, they wouldn’t want to upset anyone by suggesting this brilliant Christian sect was built on a rational foundation by a revered Jewish sect, founded by a real flesh and blood, historical Messiah. Even though it was and it’s something we can believe in.

When this spirit changes, when we realise we have everything to gain from embracing new ideas, we will find everyone jumping on the bandwagon and our whole vision of things religious will change as in the twinkling of an eye. We will have a new heaven and a new earth. It’s that simple, when the time is right. The important thing is, it’s not a question of good sense or truth but of fitting in with what’s wanted.

We must always recognise the overwhelming weight of feeling tipping the scales when any judgement is being made on hefty questions. Feeling which is merely fronted by a superficial stab at rational analysis. This is natural and common to us all when we have vested interests, commitments of any kind. It is also a judgement rightly judged as prejudice. Yet crucially it is a weight of feeling which its subjects are entirely unaware of and would deny blind; honestly… and wrongly. We rarely recognise how far our unassailable deeper feelings dictate to our clever intellect, ardent rationalists least of all.

This is the axis of ‘thinking’ and ‘feeling’ according to Jung’s cross of the four functions. Air and water on the metaphysical Cross of the Elements. The opposite psychological function is the repressed ‘shadow’ and emerges on the blind side, always unacknowledged, often all too obvious to everyone else.

The top experts have spent years pretending the Gospels represent some kind of history, against all the evidence, and in the absence of any evidence whatsoever. Naturally they cannot listen to anything which suggests otherwise. Meanwhile all the innocent grown up children shout out, ‘The emperor’s got no clothes on ! This history’s a transparent sham !’ And stop believing. The show just carries on, regardless. Who cares about those unbelievers ?

It’s one thing when faith had nothing better to dress itself up in. All eyes were blinded by faith. Then we were given eyes to see more clearly. And, with sensational timing, God offered us a treasure of vestments in the Scrolls, an inestimable wealth of telling vellum, scriptures invaluable before the first millennium. Leather decorated with the exquisitely rich and dramatic patterns of Christianity’s true history : the life of the Messiah, our historical Christ. When we still prefer naked denial, there’s not much excuse. Just the pressure of convention.

Words of the Heavenly Lights

The Words of the Heavenly Lights is short and fragmentary, most of it lost, as most of the Scrolls are fragmentary at best, and mostly lost. We still find two references to Thy Holy Spirit (4Q504-6 V line 15; fragment 4 II line 5) :

‘For Thou hast shed Thy Holy Spirit upon us, bringing upon us Thy blessings…’

‘We know these through Thy Holy Spirit which Thou hast granted us…’

We also find a reference to the ‘fountain of living waters,’ a familiar phrase from the NT and a phrase we have already associated with the gift of the Water Carrier, the source of a spiritual truth ever fresh, the difference between a life lived with spirit and a living death.

These references in this scroll not only confirm the evolution of the NT concept of the Holy Spirit from the OT. This document proclaims astrology at the heart of its theology, for there is no more sensitive question than the calendar in Judaism. For the Essenes to change everything to acknowledge astrology is astonishing. It presents us with the strongest possible acknowledgement of the astrological tradition behind Judaism, the astrology of the Tree of Life behind the ancient Kabbalah Tradition.

The Essenes were obviously keen on the theology of the Holy Spirit. St John is the Gospel singled out as closest to the Essene style in many ways and it is certainly bursting with phrases taken from the Scrolls, a truth which will out. It is remarkable for its distinctive, rather Essenic emphasis on the calendar and the festivals. John’s Gospel is also jam packed with references to the spirit and the Holy Spirit, not to mention the logos … and Wisdom.

This is the power of this Spirit of truth which the scriptures relentlessly proclaim. It only takes a little Spirit for us to find our true selves : to discover the riches within, to trade make believe for the naked truth, translate wage slavery into liberation and turn looming doom into a brave salvation.

This honest Spirit is not one to leave us in want of a little truth. Rather it is inclined to shout it from the house tops.

Wisdom in the Scrolls’ Beatitudes

A passage sometimes proposed as the Essenes’ original version of the Beatitudes is dedicated to this Spirit of Wisdom, for there is no greater blessing. There are other Scrolls with even closer parallels to the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, but this is an appropriate example (4Q425 l.1-5) :

‘Blessed are those who hold to Wisdom’s precepts

and do not hold to the ways of iniquity….

Blessed are those who rejoice in her…

Blessed are those who seek her ….

Blessed is the man who has attained Wisdom,

and walks in the Law of the Most High.

He directs his heart towards her ways…’

Has the Wisdom Literature Hidden the History of the Passion ?

We find the Essenes readily embrace Sophia, as Hockmah, with extensive references in the Scrolls and there is every reason to suspect they were closely associated with the later tradition of the Wisdom literature. The Essene priests were refugees from the elite priesthood of the Jerusalem Temple and they or their forefathers would certainly have been involved with the earlier Wisdom scriptures. There is compelling evidence of an Essenic hand in major works such as Daniel and Enoch.

The last of these Books, Wisdom itself, contains a remarkable passage which appears to comment on the death of their Messiah, Onias III, and echoes his story in many respects. The fact the Book of Wisdom was probably written in Alexandria in Egypt does not necessarily diminish this impressive evidence of the involvement of the Essenes in the composition of the Wisdom literature. The Essenes were sophisticated operators and Onias’ son, Onias IV, fled to found a replica Temple in Egypt. This helps to explain the enthusiasm with which this literature is echoed in the NT.