Visions Of The Spiritual World

8/12/2019 Visions Of The Spiritual World

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VISIONSOFTHE SPIRITUAL WORLD

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SPIRITUAL&0& LIFE, ITS DIFFERENT STATES OF EXIST-ENCE, AND THE DESTINY OF GOOD ANDa EVIL MEN AS SEEN IN VISIONSMACMIUAN AND CO., Limited

LONDON POMBAV - CALCUTTA MADRASMELBOURNE BYTHE MACMILLAN COMPANY SADHU SUNDAR SINGHNKW YORK BOSTON * CHICAGO

DALLAS SAN FRANCISCOTHE MACMILLAN CO, OF CANADA, Ltd.

TORONTO

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITEDST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON

1926

FOREWORDI feel it a very great privilege to be allowedto accede to the request of my friend, Sadhu

COPYRIGHT Sundar Singh, that I would write a briefforeword to his book Visions , because Ihope and believe that the little book willhelp many souls in their struggle to findReality, I wish that all who read the bookcould have the privilege, that we in thisDiocese and a number of people in Londonalso have, of knowing the Sadhu personally.The message of the book gets an added forcefrom the impression of a sweet sanity andsimplicity that is left in one's mind after atalk with the Sadhu.

PRINTS IN GREAT RTUTA1N. & K. CLARK, LIMITED, EDINBURGH

Inevitably, I think, some who read theBY book will feel impelled to ask the question:

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VISIONS What is the exact nature of these spiritualexperiences? What, for instance, was thepart played in them by the sub-consciousmind? Had what was seen in the ' Visions

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an objective reality? I have not the philosophical knowledge

that would enable me to give an answer tothese questions: and I am by no meanssure that, if I had it, I should feel that therewould be any profit in using it in this case.S, Paul was content to leave his deepestspiritual experiences without full explanation. Whether in the body or out of the body Icannot tell: God knoweth. The simplestview to my mind seems the truest. I readthe book in Manuscript one Sunday after-noon in Simla this summer, and as I triedafterwards to analyse my impression, I feltit was this. I felt that for me the veil,which normally shrouds the real world, hadbeen for a few moments lifted and that Ihad been allowed, through the help of

VISIONSwas, as it were, the sponsor of S. Mark'sGospel) as a coming of the Kingdom withpower. It consisted in the lifting of theveil which shrouds the unseen world, sothat the denizens of that world were visibleand audible to human eyes and ears, and inthe glory of the real Jesus shining throughthe veil of flesh.May it not be that this kind of experience

is still given sometimes to God's servants?I personally believe that the Sadhu's experi-ences recounted in these Visions weresomething of this kind: that for him, as forthese other servants of God, the veil whichshrouds the real was lifted, so that he sawour Lord as He really is, and that world.Messages that come as the result of suchexperiences must be reverenced, but theymust also be tested by reference to therevelation of God in Jesus Christ. I havetried my best to apply this test to thesemessages, and I find them in accord with

FOREWORDChrist's faithful servant, to see things as theyreally are. I do not know, but I am inclinedto think that my friend the Sadhu wouldhimself prefer that the visions should be explained in this completely simple way.As I let my mind dwell on what I had readin the little book, a passage of Scripture cameup over the margin of consciousness into myconscious mind, as recounting what was insome sense a parallel experience.

In all the conflicting opinions about thecoming of the Kingdom of God, we have ourBlessed Lord's own authority for its havingcome in one particular way. There besome here that shall not taste of death tillthey have seen the Kingdom of God comewith power. In both S. Mark's andS. Matthew's Gospels these words are soclosely linked on to the story of the Trans-figuration that I cannot doubt that theyinterpreted this memorable event in the lifeof the three chosen Disciples (one of whom

FOREWORDthat supreme revelation of God's characterwhich we have in our Lord's life and teach-ing. I therefore gratefully accept them asone more proof that God is still speaking toHis people, and I pray that this little bookmay open the eyes of many to the realworld that is all round us, to which weare too often blind, for closer is He thanbreathing, and nearer than hands and feet .

H. B. LAHORE.Simla,

6th August 1936.


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PREFACEIn this book I have attempted to write aboutsome of the visions which God has given me.Had I considered my own inclinations, Iwould not have published the account ofthese visions during my lifetime; but friends,whose judgment I value, have been insistentthat, as a spiritual help to others, the publica-tion of the teaching of these visions shouldnot be delayed. In deference to the wishof these friends this book is now presentedto the public.At Kotgarh, fourteen years ago, while I

was praying, my eyes were opened to theHeavenly Vision. So vividly did I see it allthat I thought I must have died, and that mysoul had passed into the glory of heaven;but throughout the intervening years these

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VISIONSvisions have continued to enrich my life. Icannot call them up at will, but, usuallywhen I am praying or meditating, sometimesas often as eight or ten times in a month, myspiritual eyes are opened to see within theheavens, and, for an hour or two, I walk inthe glory of the heavenly sphere with ChristJesus, and hold converse with angels andspirits. Their answers to my questions haveprovided much of the material that hasalready been published in my books, and theunutterable ecstasy of that spiritual com-munion makes me long for the time when Ishall enter in permanently to the bliss andfellowship of the redeemed.

Some may consider that these visions aremerely a form of spiritualism, but I wouldemphasise that there is one very essentialdifference. Spiritualism does presume toproduce messages and signs from spirits outof the dark, but they are usually so frag-mentary and unintelligible, if not actually

PREFACEdeceptive, that they lead their followers awayfrom, rather than to, the truth. In thesevisions, on the other hand, I see vividly andclearly every detail of the glory of thespiritual world, and I have the upliftingexperience of very real fellowship with thesaints, amid the inconceivably bright andbeautiful surroundings of a spiritual worldmade visible. It is from these angels andsaints that I have received, not vague,broken and elusive messages from the un-seen, but clear and rational elucidations ofmany of the problems that have troubled me.

This Communion of the Saints was afact so real in the experience of the earlyChurch, that it is given a place among thenecessary articles of their faith, as stated inthe Apostles' Creed . Once, in a vision,I asked the saints for a proof from the Bibleof this communion of saints, and was toldthat it was to be found clearly given inZechariah iii. 7-8, where those that were

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VISIONS PREFACEstanding by were not angels, nor men serve one another in love, and, in the efful-of flesh and blood, but saints in glory; and gence of God's glory, are eternally happy.God's promise, on condition of Joshua ful- The World of Spirits means that intermediatefilling His command, is that he will be state into which spirits enter after leaving thegiven a place of access to walk among body. By the Spiritual World is meant allthem (saints) that stand by , and these are spiritual beings that progress through thehis fellows the spirits of men made stages between the darkness of the bottomlessperfect with whom he could commune. pit and the throne of the Lord in light.There is repeated mention of Spirits,Saints and Angels in this book. The dis- I wish to express my sincere thanks totinction I would make between them is that the Rev. T. E. Riddle of the New ZealandSpirits are both good and bad, who after Presbyterian Mission, Kharar, Punjab, whodeath exist in a state intermediate between has journeyed up to Subathu to translateheaven and hell. Saints are those who have this book from Urdu into English. Mypassed on through this stage into the higher thanks are again due to Miss E. Sanders,sphere of the spiritual world, and have had of Coventry, for having corrected the proofsspecial service allotted to them. Angels are of this book.those glorious beings to whom all kinds of SUNDAR SINGH.superior service has been allotted, and amongthem are included many saints from other Subathu,worlds, as well as from this world of ours, July 1926.who all live together as one family. They

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CONTENTSForeword ....... PAGl tr

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CHAPTER ILife and Death ...... t

CHAPTER IIWhat Happens at Death: .... *{

CHAPTER IIIThe World of Spirits ..... i 3CHAPTER IV

Man's Help and Teaching. Now and aftekDeath ....... 2

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VISIONSCHAPTER V

Tke Judgment of Sinners

CHAPTER VITiik State of the Righteous and their Glorious

End

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CHAPTER VIIThe Aim and Purpose of Creation . , 58

VISIONSone form of existence into another is calledDeath, this never means that death finallyends life, or even that it adds to the life, ortakes away anything from it. It merelytransfers the life from one form of existenceto another. A thing that disappears fromour sight has not thereby ceased to exist.It reappears, but in another form and state.

Man can never be destroyedNothing in this whole universe was ever

destroyed, nor can it ever be, because theCreator has never created anything fordestruction. If He had wished to destroy it,He would never have created it. And ifnothing in creation can be destroyed, thenhow can man be destroyed, who is the crownof creation, and the image of his Creator?Can God Himself destroy His own image,or can any other creature do it? NeverIf man is not destroyed at death, then at oncethe question rises, where will man exist afterdeath, and in what state?

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I

CHAPTER ILIFE AND DEATH

LifeThere is only one source of LifeanInfinite and Almighty Life, Whose creativepower gave life to all living things. Allcreatures live in Him, and in Him will theyremain for ever. Again, this Life createdinnumerable other lives, different in kind,and in the stages of their progress man isone of these, created in God's own imagethat he might ever remain happy in Hisholy presence.

DeathThis life may change but it can never

be destroyed, and though the change fromI B

LIFE AND DEATHI shall attempt to give a brief explanation

from my own visional experiences, thoughit is not possible for me to describe all thethings which I have seen in visions of thespiritual world, because the language andillustrations of this world are inadequate toexpress these spiritual realities; and the veryattempt to reduce to ordinary language theglory of the things seen is likely to resultin misunderstanding. I have, therefore,had to eliminate the account of all thosesubtle spiritual occurrences, for which onlya spiritual language is adequate, and to takeup only a few simple and instructive incidentsthat will prove profitable to all. And sinceat some time or other every one will have toenter into this unseen spiritual world it willnot be without profit if we, to some extent,become familiar with it.


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CHAPTER IIWHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?

One day when I was praying alone, Isuddenly found myself surrounded by agreat concourse of spirit beings, or I mightsay that as soon as my spiritual eyes wereopened I found myself bowed in the presenceof a considerable company of saints andangels. At first I was somewhat abashed,when I saw their bright and glorious stateand compared with them my own inferiorquality. But I was at once put at ease bytheir real sympathy and love-inspired friendli-ness. I had already had the experience ofthe peace of the presence of God in my life,but the fellowship with these saints added anew and wonderful joy to me. As we con-

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VISIONSby the many new and beautiful things thatthey see around them, they imagine thatthey are visiting some country or city ofthe physical world, which they have not seenbefore. It is only when they have been morefully instructed, and realise that their spiritualbody is different from their former materialbody, that they allow that they have, in fact,been transferred from the material world tothe realm of spirits.

Another of the saints, who was present,gave this further answer to my question, Usually , he said, at the time of deaththe body gradually loses its power of feeling.It has no pain, but is simply overcome by asense of drowsiness. Sometimes in cases ofgreat weakness, or after accident, the spiritdeparts -while the body is still unconscious.Then the spirits of those who have livedwithout thought of, or preparation for,entering the spiritual world, being thussuddenly transferred into the world ofspirits, are extremely bewildered and in astate of great distress at their fate, so, for a

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WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?versed together I received from them answersto my questions relating to my difficultiesabout many problems that puzzled me. Myfirst inquiry was about what happens at thetime of dying and about the state of the soulafter death. I said, We know whathappens to us between childhood and oldage, but we know nothing of what happensat the time of death or beyond the gates ofdeath. Correct information about it can beknown only by those on the other side ofdeath, after they have entered the spiritualworld. Can you , I asked, give us anyinformation about this? To this one of the saints answered, Death

is like sleep. There is no pain in the passingover, except in the case of a few bodilydiseases and mental conditions. As anexhausted man is overcome by deep sleep, socomes the sleep of death to man. Deathcomes so suddenly to many, that it is onlywith great difficulty that they realise thatthey have left the material world andentered this world of spirits. Bewildered

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WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?considerable period, they have to remain inthe lower and darker planes of the inter-mediate state. The spirits of these lowerspheres often greatly harass people in theworld. But the only ones that they caninjure are those who are like in mind tothemselves, who of their own free will opentheir hearts to entertain them. These evilspirits, by allying themselves with other evilspirits, would do immense harm in the worldwere it not that God has appointed innumer-able angels everywhere for the protection ofHis people and of His creation, so that Hispeople are always safe in His keeping.

Evil spirits can injure only those in theworld who are like in nature to themselves,and then they can do it only to a limitedextent. They can, indeed, trouble therighteous, but not without God's permission.God sometimes does give to Satan and hisangels permission to tempt and persecuteHis people, that they may emerge from thetrial stronger and better, as when He allowedSatan to persecute His servant Job. But

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VISIONSfrom such a trial there is gain rather thanloss to the believer.

Another of the saints standing by addedin reply to my question, Many whoselives have not been yielded to God, whenabout to die, seem to become unconscious

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but what actually happens is that when theysee the hideous and devilish faces of the evilspirits that have come about them, theybecome speechless and paralysed by fear.On the other hand the dying of a believeris frequently the very opposite of this. Heis often extremely happy, for he sees angelsand saintly spirits coming to welcome him.Then, too, his loved ones, who have diedbefore, are permitted to attend his death-bed,and to conduct his soul to the spiritual world.On entering the world of spirits he at oncefeels at home, for not only are his friendsabout him, but, while in the world hehad long been preparing himself for thatHome by his trust in God and fellowshipwith Him.

After that a fourth saint said, To conduct

CHAPTER IIITHE WORLD OF SPIRITS

Once in the course of a conversation thesaints gave me this information : Afterdeath the soul of every human being willenter the world of spirits, and every one,according to the stage of his spiritual growth,will dwell with spirits like in mind and innature to himself, either in the darkness or inthe light of glory. We are assured that noone in the physical body has entered into thespiritual world, except Christ and a fewsaints, whose bodies were transformed intoglorious bodies ; yet to some it has beengranted, that, while still dwelling in theworld, they can see the world of spirits, andheaven itself, as in 1 Cor. xii. 2, though they

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WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?the souls of men from the world is the workof angels. Usually the Christ reveals Him-self in the spiritual world to each one indegrees of glory differing in intensity accord-ing to the state of each soul's spiritualdevelopment. But in some cases He Him-self comes to a death-bed to welcome Hisservant, and in love dries his tears, and leadshim into Paradise. As a child born into theworld finds everything provided for itswants, so does the soul, on entering thespiritual world, find all its wants supplied.

THE WORLD OF SPIRITSthemselves cannot tell whether they enterParadise in the body or in the spirit.

After this conversation these saints con-ducted me round and showed me manywonderful things and places.

I saw that from all sides thousands uponthousands of souls were constantly arrivingin the world of spirits, and that all wereattended by angels. The souls of the goodhad with them only angels and good spirits,who had conducted them from their death-beds. Evil spirits were not allowed to comenear to them, but stood far off and watched.I saw also that there were no good spiritswith the souls of the really wicked, but aboutthem were evil spirits, who had come withthem from their death-beds, while angels toostood by and prevented the evil spirits fromgiving free play to the spite of their maliciousnatures in harassing them. The evil spiritsalmost immediately led these souls awaytowards the darkness; for when in the fleshthey had consistently allowed evil spirits toinfluence them for evil, and had willingly

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VISIONSpermitted themselves to be enticed to allkinds of wickedness. For the angels in noway interfere with the free will of any soul.I saw there, also, many souls who had latelycome into the world of spirits, who wereattended by both good and evil spirits, aswell as by angels. But before long theradical difference of their lives began toassert itself, and they separated themselvesthe good in character towards the good, andthe evil towards the evil.

Sons of LightWhen the souls of men arrive in the world

of spirits the good at once separate from theevil. In the world all are mixed together,but it is not so in the spiritual world. I havemany times seen that when the spirits of thegoodthe Sons of Lightenter into theworld of spirits they first of all bathe in theimpalpable air-like waters of a crystal clearocean, and in this they find an intenseand exhilarating refreshment. Within these

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VISIONSconstantly to arise. But heaven is so arrangedthat the smoke is not seen, nor are the wailsof anguish heard, by the spirits in heaven,unless any of them for some special reasonshould wish to see the evil plight of thosesouls In darkness.

Death of a ChildA little child died of pneumonia, and a

party of angels came to conduct his soul tothe world of spirits. I wish that his mothercould have seen that wonderful sight, then,instead ofweeping, she would have sung withjoy, for the angels take care of the little oneswith a care and love that no mother evercould show. I heard one of the angels sayto another, See how this child's motherweeps over this short and temporary separa-tion 1 In a very few years she will be happyagain with her child. Then the angels tookthe child's soul to that beautiful and light-filled part of heaven, which is set apart forchildren, where they care for them and teach

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THE WORLD OF SPIRITSmiraculous waters they move about as if inopen air, neither are they drowned beneaththem, nor do the waters wet them, but,wonderfully cleansed and refreshed and fullypurified, they enter into the world of gloryand light, where they will ever remain in thepresence of their dear Lord, and in thefellowship of innumerable saints and angels.

Sons of DarknessHow different from these are the souls of

those whose lives have been evil. Ill at easein the company of the Sons of Light, andtormented by the all-revealing light of Glory,they struggle to hide themselves in placeswhere their impure and sin-stained natureswill not be seen. From the lowest anddarkest part of the world of spirits a blackand evil-smelling smoke arises, and in theireffort to hide themselves from the light, theseSons of Darkness rush down, and cast them-selves headlong into it, and from it theirbitter wails of remorse and anguish are heard

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THE WORLD OF SPIRITSthem in all heavenly wisdom, until gradu-ally the little ones become like the angels.

After some time this child's mother alsodied, and her child, who had now becomelike the angels, came with other angels towelcome the soul of his mother. When hesaid to her, Mother, do you not know me?I am your son Theodore , the mother'sheart was flooded with joy, and when theyembraced one another their tears of joyfell like flowers. It was a touching sightThen as they walked along together he kepton pointing out, and explaining to her, thethings around them, and during the timeappointed for her stay in the intermediatestate, he remained with her, and when theperiod necessary for instruction in that worldwas completed he took her with him to thehigher sphere where he himself dwelt.

There, on all sides, were wonderful andjoyous surroundings, and unnumbered soulsof men were there, who in the world hadborne all kinds of suffering for the sake ofChrist, and in the end had been raised to this

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VISIONSglorious place of honour. All around werematchless and exceedingly beautiful moun-tains, springs, and landscapes, and in thegardens was abundance of all kinds of sweetfruits and beautiful flowers. Everythingthat heart could desire was there. Then hesaid to his mother, In the world, which isthe dim reflection of this real world, our dearones are grieving over us, but, tell me, isthis death, or the real life for which everyheart yearns? The mother said, Son,this is the true life. If I had known in theworld the whole truth about heaven, Iwould never have grieved over your death.What a pity it is those in the world are soblind In spite of the fact that Christ hasexplained quite clearly about this state ofglory, and that the Gospels again and againtell of this eternal kingdom of the Father,yet, not only ignorant people, but manyenlightened believers as well, still remainaltogether unaware of its glory. May Godgrant that all may enter into the abiding joyof this place

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THE WORLD OF SPIRITSDeath of a Philosopher

The soul of a German philosopher enteredinto the world of spirits and saw from afarthe incomparable glory of the spiritual worldand the boundless happiness of its people.He was delighted with what he saw, but hisstubborn intellectualism stood in the way ofhis entering into it and enjoying its happi-ness. Instead of admitting that it was real,he argued thus with himself, There is nodoubt at all that I see all this, but what proofis there that it has objective existence, andis not some illusion conjured up by mymind? From end to end of all this scene Iwill apply the tests of logic, philosophy andscience, and then only will I be convincedthat it has a reality of its own and is noillusion. Then the angels answered him,It is evident from your speech that yourintellectualism has warped your whole nature,for as spiritual and not bodily eyes areneeded to see the spiritual world, so spiritualunderstanding is necessary to comprehend

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VISIONSits reality, and not mental exercises in thefundamentals of logic and philosophy. Yourscience that deals with material facts hasbeen left behind with your physical skulland brain in the world. Here, only thatspiritual wisdom is of use which arises outof the fear and love of God. Then said oneof the angels to another, What a pity it isthat people forget that precious word of ourLord, ' Except ye be converted, and becomeas little children, ye shall in no wise enterinto the Kingdom of Heaven ' (Matt,xviii. 3). I asked one of the angels whatthe end of this man would be, and he replied, If this man's life had been altogether bad,then he would at once have joined thespirits of darkness, but he is not without amoral sense, so for a very long time he willwander blindly round in the dim light of thelower parts of the intermediate state, andkeep on bumping his philosophical head,until, tired of his foolishness, he repents.Then he will be ready to receive the necessaryinstruction from the angels appointed for

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THE WORLD OF SPIRITSthat purpose, and, when instructed, will befit to enter into the fuller light of God in thehigher sphere.In one sense the whole of infinite space,filled as it is with the presence of God, Whois Spirit, is a spiritual world. In anothersense the world also is a spiritual world, forits inhabitants are spirits clothed with humanbodies. But there is yet another world ofspirits, which is the temporary dwelling-place of spirits after they leave the body atdeath. This is an intermediate statestate between the glory and light of thehighest heavens, and the dimness and dark-ness of the lowest hells. In it are innumer-able planes of existence, and the soul isconducted to that plane for which its progressin the world has fitted it. There, angelsspecially appointed to this work instruct itfor a time, that may be long or short, beforeit goes on to join the society of those spiritsgood spirits in the greater light, or evilspirits in the greater darknessthat are likein nature and in mind to itself.

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MAN'S HELP AND TEACHING

CHAPTER IVman's help and teaching now and after

Unseen HelpOur relatives and dear ones, and at timesthe saints as well, often come from the un-seen world to help and protect us, but theangels always do. Yet they have never beenallowed to make themselves visible to us,except at a few times of very special need.By ways unrecognised by us they influenceus towards holy thoughts, and incline ustowards God and towards good conduct, andGod's Spirit, dwelling in our hearts, com-pletes that work for the perfecting of ourspiritual life, which they have been unableto accomplish.

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VISIONSchamber of their hearts they are helped bycommunion with the saints, who, unseen bythem, are ever at hand to assist them towardsthe good. But, as many Christian believers,as well as non-Christian seekers after truth,die while still holding false and partial viewsof truth, their views are corrected in theworld of spirits, provided that they are notobstinately welded to their opinions, and arewilling to learn, because neither in thisworld, nor in the next, does God, or anyservant of His, force a man to believe any-thing against his will.

The Manifestation of ChristI saw in a vision the spirit of an idolater,on reaching the world of spirits, begin at

once to search for his god. Then the saintssaid to him, There is no god here save theOne True God, and Christ, Who is Hismanifestation. At this the man was agood deal astonished, but being a sincereseeker after truth, he frankly admitted that

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Who is the Greatest?The greatness of any one does not depend

upon his knowledge and position, nor bythese alone can any one be great. A manis as great as he can be useful to others, andthe usefulness of his life to others dependson his service to them. Hence, in so faras a man can serve others in love, just sofar is he great. As the Lord said, Butwhosoever will be great among you let himbe your servant (Matt. xx. 26). The joyof all those that dwell in heaven is found inthis that they serve one another in love, andthus, fulfilling the object of their lives, theyremain for ever in the presence of God.

The Correction of ErrorWhen people earnestly desire to live lives

pleasing to God, the readjustment of theirviews and the renewal of their lives beginin this world. Not only does the Spirit ofGod teach them directly, but in the secret

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MAN'S HELP AND TEACHINGhe had been in error. He eagerly soughtto know the correct view of truth, and askedif he might see the Christ. Shortly afterthis Christ manifested Himself in a dimlight to him, and to others who had newlyarrived in the world of spirits, because at thisstage they could not have endured a fullexhibition of His glory, for His glory is sosurpassing that even the angels look on Himwith difficulty, and cover their faces withtheir wings (Isaiah vi. 2). When He doesreveal Himself to any one He takes intoaccount the particular stage of progress towhich that soul has attained, so He appearsdimly, or in the fuller light of His glory,that the sight of Him may be endured. So,when these spirits saw Christ in this dimbut attractive light, they were filled with ajoy and peace which is beyond our powerto describe. Bathed in the rays of Hislife-giving light, and with the waves of Hislove, which constantly flow out from Him,flowing over them, all their error was washedaway. Then with all their hearts they

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VISIONSacknowledged Him as the Truth, andfound healing, and, bowing in lowly adora-tion before Him, thanked and praised Him.And the saints who had been appointed fortheir instruction also rejoiced over them.

A Labourer and a DoubterOnce I saw in a vision a labouring man

arrive in the spirit world. He was in greatdistress, for in all his life he had given nothought to anything but earning his dailybread. He had been too busy to think ofGod or of spiritual things. At the sametime that he had died another had also died,who was a doubter, obstinate in his opinions.Both were ordered to remain for a long periodfar down in the world of spirits in a place ofdarkness. In this, being in distress, theybegan to cry for help. Saints and angels, inlove and sympathy, went to instruct themthat they might understand how to becomemembers ofthe Kingdom of Glory and Light.But in spite of their distress, like many other

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MAN'S HELP AND TEACHINGspirits, they preferred to remain on in theirdark abode, for sin had so warped theirwhole character and nature that they doubtedeverything. They even looked with sus-picion on the angels who had come to helpthem. As I watched I wondered what theirend would be, but, when I asked, the onlyanswer I got was from one of the saints, whosaid, God may have mercy on them.We can form an estimate of the depravityof man's perverted nature from this, that, ifan evil report about another goes round, evenif it is false, a man whose outlook is distortedby sin will at once accept it as true. If, onthe other hand, a good and perfectly truereport is received, for example that such andsuch a man is a devout man, who has donethis or that work for the glory of God andfor the good of his fellows, then, withouthesitation, such a hearer will say, It is allfalse. So-and-so must have some motive ofhis own at the back of it all. Should weask such a man how he knows that the formercase is true and the latter false, and what

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VISIONSproof he can give, he -will have not theslightest proof to put forward. All that wecan learn from such an attitude of mind is,that, as his mind is tainted with evil, hebelieves evil reports because they fit in withhis evil nature, and he thinks good reportsare lies because they do not fit in with theevil of his heart. By nature a good man'sattitude is the opposite of this. He isnaturally inclined to doubt an evil report, andto believe a good report, because this attitudebest fits in with the goodness of his nature.

Those who in this world pass their lives inopposition to the will of God will have rest ofheart neither in this world nor in the world tocome; and, on entering the world of spirits,they will feel bewildered and distressed.But those who in this world are conformedto the will of the Lord will be at peace onreaching the next, and will be filled withunspeakable joy, because here is their eternalhome, and the kingdom of their Father,

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CHAPTER VTHE JUDGMENT OF SINNERS

Many have the idea that if they sin in secretthen none will ever know about it, but it isaltogether impossible that any sin shouldremain hidden for ever. At some time orother it will certainly be known, and thesinner will receive the punishment he deserves.Also, goodness and truth can never be hidden.In the end they must triumph, though, for atime, they may not be recognised. Thefollowing incidents will throw light on thestate of the sinner.

A Good Man and a ThiefOnce in a vision, one ofthe saints recounted

this story to me : Late one night a godly27


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VISIONSman had to go to a distance to do somenecessary work. As he went along he cameupon a thief breaking into a shop. He saidto him, ' You have no right to take otherpeople's property and to cause them loss.It is a great sin to do so,' The thiefanswered, ' If you want to get out of thissafely, then get out quietly. If you don'tthere will be trouble for you.' The goodman persisted in his efforts, and, when thethief would not listen, he began to shout andraised the neighbours. They rushed out toseize the thief, but, as soon as the good manbegan to accuse him, the thief retaliated andaccused the good man. ' Oh yes,' he said,' you think this fellow is very religious, butI caught him in the very act of stealing.'As there were no witnesses both werearrested, and locked up together in a room,while a police officer and some of his menhid themselves to listen to their conversation.Then the thief began to laugh at hisfellow prisoner. 'Look,' he said, 'haven't Icaught you nicely? I told you at first to get

28

THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERSout or it would be the worse for you. Nowwe'll see how your religion is going to saveyou.' As soon as the officer heard this heopened the door and released the good manwith honour and a reward, while he gave thethief a severe beating, and locked him in aprison cell. So, even in this world, there is adegree of judgment between good and badmen, but the full punishment and reward willbe given only in the world to come.

Secret SinsThe following was also related to me in

a vision. A man in the secret of his ownroom was committing a sinful act, and hethought that his sin was hidden. One ofthe saints said,

How I wish that thespiritual eyes of this man had been open atthe time, then he would never have dared tocommit this sin For in that room were anumber of angels and saints, as well as somespirits of his dear ones, who had come to helphim. All of them were grieved to see his

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VISIONSshameful conduct, and one of them said, We came to help him, but now we willhave to be witnesses against him at the timeof his judgment. He cannot see us, but weall can see him indulging in this sin. Wouldthat this man would repent, and be savedfrom the punishment to come

Wasted OpportunitiesOnce I saw in the world of spirits a spirit

who, with cries of remorse, was rushing aboutlike a madman. An angel said, In theworld this man had many chances of repent-ing and turning towards God, but wheneverhis conscience began to trouble him he usedto drown its prickings in drink. He wastedall his property, and ruined his family, and inthe end committed suicide, and now in theworld of spirits he rushes frantically aboutlike a mad dog, and writhes in remorse at thethought of his lost opportunities. We areready to help him, but his own pervertednature prevents him from repenting, for sin

30

THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERShas hardened his heart, though the memory ofhis sin is always fresh to him. In the worldhe drank to make himself forget the voice ofhis conscience, but here there is no possiblechance of covering up anything. Now hissoul is so naked that he himself, and all theinhabitants of the spiritual world, can see hissinful life. For him, in his sin-hardenedstate, no other course is possible but that hemust hide himself in the darkness with otherevil spirits, and so to some extent escape thetorture of the light.

A Wicked Man permitted to enterHeaven

Once in my presence a man of evil lifeentered at death into the world of spirits.When the angels and saints wished to helphim he at once began to curse and revile them,and say, God is altogether unjust. He hasprepared heaven for such flattering slaves asyou are, and casts the rest of mankind intohell. Yet you call Him Lovel The

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VISIONSangels replied, God certainly is Love. Hecreated men that they might live for ever inhappy fellowship with Him, but men bytheir own obstinacy and by the abuse of theirfree will have turned their faces away fromHim, and have made hell for themselves.God neither casts any one into hell, nor willHe ever do so, but man himself, by beingentangled in sin, creates hell for himself.God never created any hell.

Just then the exceedingly sweet voice ofone of the high angels was heard from above,saying, God gives permission that this manmay be brought into heaven. Eagerly theman stepped forward accompanied by twoangels, but, when they reached the door ofheaven and saw the holy and light-envelopedplace and the glorious and blessed inhabit-ants that dwell there, he began to feeluneasy. The angels said to him, See howbeautiful a world is this I Go a little farther,and look at the dear Lord sitting on Histhrone. From the door he looked, andthen as the light of the Sun of Righteousness

3^

I

THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERSrevealed to him the impurity of his sin-defiled life, he started back in an agony ofself-loathing, and fled, with such precipi-tancy, that he did not even stop in the inter-mediate state of the world of spirits, butlike a stone he passed through it, and casthimself headlong into the bottomless pit.Then the sweet and ravishing voice of theLord was heard saying, Look, My dearchildren, none is forbidden to come here,and no one forbade this man, nor has any oneasked him to leave. It was his own impurelife that forced him to flee from this holyplace, for, ' Except a man be born again hecannot see the kingdom of God ' (John iii, 3).

The Spirit of a MurdererA man, who some years before had killeda Christian preacher, was bitten by a snakein the jungle, and died. When he enteredthe world of spirits he saw good and badspirits all around him, and, because the

33 d

VISIONSwhole aspect of his soul showed that he wasa son of darkness, the evil spirits soon hadpossession of him, and pushed him alongwith them down towards the darkness. Oneof the saints remarked, He killed a manof God by the poison of his anger, and nowhe is killed by the poison of a snake. Theold Serpent the devil, by means of this man,killed an innocent man. Now by means ofanother snake, which is like him, he haskilled this man, for ' he was a murderer fromthe beginning ' (John viii. 44).

and the Spirit of theMan MurderedAs he was being taken away, one fromamong the good spirits, who had come to

help him, said to him, I have forgivenyou with all my heart. Now can I doanything to help you? The murderer atonce recognised him as the same man whomhe had killed some years before. Ashamedand smitten with fear he fell down before

34

THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERShim, and at once the evil spirits began toclamour loudly, but the angels who werestanding at a distance rebuked and silencedthem. Then the murderer said to the manwhom he had killed, How I wish that, inthe world, I could have seen your unselfishand loving life as I see it now I regretthat through my blindness, and because yourreal spiritual life was screened by your body,I could not then see the inner beauty of yourlife. Also by killing you I deprived manyof the blessing and benefit that you wouldhave given them. Now I am forever asinner in God's sight, and fully deserve mypunishment. I don't know what I can nowdo except hide myself in some dark cave,because I cannot bear this light. In it, notonly does my own heart make me miserable,but all can see every detail of my sinfullife.To this the man who had been murdered

replied, You should truly repent, and turnto God, for if you do there is hope that theLamb of God will wash you in His own blood,

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VISIONSand give you new life that you may live withus in heaven, and be saved from the tormentof hell.The murderer said in reply, There is

no need for me to confess my sins, for theyare open to all. In the world I could hidethem, but not here. I want to live withsaints like you in heaven, but when I cannotbear the dimness of the self-revealing lightin the world of spirits, then what will be mystate in the searching brightness and gloryof that light-filled place. My greatest hin-drance is that, through my sins, my conscienceis so dull and hardened that my nature willnot incline towards God and repentance.I seem to have no power to repent left in me.Now there is nothing for it, but that I shallbe driven out from here for ever. Alasfor my unhappy state As he said this,fear-stricken, he fell down, and his fellowevil spirits dragged him away into thedarkness. Then one of the angels said, See there is no need here for any topronounce a sentence of doom. Of itself

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THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERSthe life of any sinner proves him guilty.There is no need to tell him, or to putforward witnesses against him. To a certainextent punishment begins in the heart ofevery sinner while in the world, but herethey feel the full effect of it. And God'sarrangement here is such that goats andsheep, that is, sinners and righteous, separateof their own accord. God created man tolive in light, in which his spiritual heatthand joy are made permanent for ever. There-fore no man can be happy in the darknessof hell, nor, because of his sin-perverted life,can he be happy in the light. So wherevera sinner may go he will find himself in hell.How opposite to this is the state of therighteous, who, freed from sin, is in heaveneverywhere

The Spirit of a LiarIn the world there was a man so addicted

to lying that it had become second nature tohim. When he died and entered the world

37

VISIONSof spirits, he tried to lie as usual, but wasgreatly ashamed because, even before hecould speak, his thoughts were known to all.No one can be a hypocrite there, becausethe thought of no heart can remain hidden.The soul as it leaves the body bears on itthe imprint of all its sin, and when it standsin all its nakedness in the light of heaven,then all can see its sin, and its very membersbecome witnesses against it. Nothing canblot out that stain of sin except the bloodof Christ.When this man was in the world heregularly tried to distort right into wrong,and wrong into right, but, after his bodilydeath, he learned that there never is, andnever can be, a possibility of twisting truthinto untruth. He who lies injures anddeceives no one but himself, so this man bylying had killed the inner perception totruth which he had once possessed. Iwatched him as, inextricably tangled in hisown deceit, he turned his face away fromthe light from above, and hurried away far

38

THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERSdown into the darkness, where none couldsee his filthy love of lying, except thosespirits who were like in nature to himself.For Truth always is Truth, and it alonegave this man the sentence on his falseness,and condemned him as a liar.

The Spirit of an AdultererI saw an adulterer, who had shortly before

arrived in the world of spirits. His tonguewas hanging out like a man consumed bythirst, his nostrils were distended, and hebeat his arms about as if a kind of fireburned within him. His appearance was soevil and loathsome that I revolted at lookingat him. All the accompaniments of luxuryand sensuousness had been left behind inthe world, and now, like a mad dog, he ranfrantically around, and cried, Curse onthis life There is no death here to put anend to all this pain. And here the spiritcannot die, otherwise, I should again killmyself, as I did with a pistol in the world in

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VISIONSorder to escape from my troubles there.But this pain is far greater than the pain ofthe world. What shall I do? Sayingthis he ran towards the darkness, wherewere many other like-minded spirits, andthere disappeared.One of the saints said, Not only is an

evil act sin, but an evil thought, and an evillook is also sin. This sin is not confinedonly to trafficking with strange women, butexcess and animalism in -relation to one'swife is also sin, A man and his wife aretruly joined together not for sensualism butfor mutual help and support, that they withtheir children may spend their lives in theservice of mankind and for the glory of God,But he who departs from this aim in life isguilty of the adulterer's sin.

The Soul or a RobberA robber died and entered the world of

spirits. At first he took no interest in hisstate or in the spirits about him, but, as his

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VISIONShas wasted his own spiritual wealth, and de-stroyed his own spiritual discernment and life.He killed and destroyed others, but in realityhe has destroyed himself. God alone knowsif this man, and those who are like him, willremain in torment for ages or for ever,

After this the angels appointed to theduty took him, and shut him down in thedarkness from which he is not permitted tocome out. The state of evildoers in thatplace is so terrible, and so inexpressiblyfierce is their torment, that those who seethem tremble at the sight.

Because of the limitations of our worldlyspeech we can only say this, that wherever thesoul of a sinner is, always and in every way,there is nothing but pain that ceases not fora moment, A kind of lightless fire burns forever and torments these souls, but neitherare they altogether consumed, nor does thefire die out. A spirit who was watchingwhat had just happened said, Who knowsbut that in the end this may not be a cleansingflame ?

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THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERShabit was, he at once set about helpinghimself to the valuables of the place. Buthe was amazed that in the spirit world thevery things seemed to be speaking andaccusing him of his unworthy action. Hisnature was so perverted that he neither knewthe true use of these things, nor was he fitto use them rightly. In the world hispassions had been so unbridled, that, forthe most trifling cause, he, in his anger, hadkilled or wounded any who had offendedhim. Now, in the world of spirits, hebegan to act in the same way. He turnedon the spirits who came to instruct him, asif he would have torn them to pieces, as asavage dog will do even in the presence ofits master. On this one of the angels said, If spirits of this kind were not kept downin the darkness of the bottomless pit, thenthey would cause immense harm whereverthey might go. This man's conscience isso dead that, even after he has reached theworld of spirits, he fails to recognise that,by murdering and robbing in the world, he

4i

THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERSIn the dark part of the world of spirits,

which is called Hell, there are many gradesand planes, and the particular one in whichany spirit lives in suffering is dependent onthe quantity and character of his sins. It isa fact that God made them all in His own,that is in His Son's image, Who is theimage of the Unseen God (Gen. i. 26, 27;Col, i. 15), yet by their connection with sinthey have disfigured this image, and havemade it unbeautiful and evil. They have,indeed, a kind of spiritual body, but it isexceedingly loathsome and frightful, and ifthey are not restored by true repentance andthe grace of God, then in this fearful formthey must remain in torment for ever.

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THE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSlative joy, as the following incidents willmake clear.

CHAPTER VITHE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND

THEIR GLORIOUS ENDHeaven, or the Kingdom of God, begins inthe lives of all true believers in this world.Their hearts are always filled with peace andjoy, no matter what persecutions and troublesthey may have to endure; for God, Who is thesource of all peace and life, dwells in them.Death is no death for them, but a door bywhich they enter for ever into their eternalhome. Or we may say that though theyhave already been born again into theireternal kingdom, yet when they leave thebody, it is for them, not the day of theirdeath, but their day of birth into the spiritualworld, and it is for them a time of super-

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The Death of a Righteous ManAn angel related to me how a true

Christian, who had wholeheartedly servedhis Master for thirty years, lay dying. Afew minutes before he died God opened hisspiritual eyes that, even before leaving thebody, he might see the spiritual world, andmight tell what he saw to those about him.He saw that heaven had been opened forhim, and a party of angels and saints wascoming out to meet him, and at the door theSaviour with outstretched hand was waitingto receive him. As all this broke upon himhe gave such a shout of joy that those at hisbedside were startled. What a joyful hourit is for me 1 he exclaimed. I have long beenwaiting that I might see my Lord and go toHim. Oh friends look at His face alllighted by love, and see that company ofangels that has come for me. What a

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VISIONSglorious place it Is Friends, I am settingout for my real home, do not grieve over mydeparture, but rejoiceOne of those present at his bedside said

quietly, His mind is wandering. Heheard the low voice and said, No, it is not.I am quite conscious. I wish you could seethis wonderful sight. I am sorry it is hiddenfrom your eyes. Good-bye, we will meetagain in the next world. Saying this heclosed his eyes, and said, Lord, I commendmy soul into Thy hands, and so fell asleep.

Comforting His Dear OnesAs soon as his soul had left his body the

angels took him in their arms, and were aboutto go off to heaven, but he asked them todelay a few minutes. He looked at his life-less body, and at his friends, and said to theangels, I did not know that the spirit afterleaving the body could see his own body andhis friends. I wish my friends could see me,as well as I can see them, then they would

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VISIONShim, also met him, and on seeing them hisjoy was further increased. On reaching thegate of heaven the angels and saints stood insilence on either side. He entered, and inthe doorway was met by Christ. At oncehe fell at His feet to worship Him, but theLord lifted him up, and embraced him, andsaid, Well done, good and faithful servant,enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Atthat the man's joy was indescribable. Fromhis eyes tears of joy began to flow, andthe Lord in great love wiped them away,and to the angels He said, Take himaway to that most glorious mansion that,from the beginning, has been prepared forhim.Now the spirit of this man of God still heldthe earthly idea that to turn his back on theLord as he went off with the angels wouldbe a dishonour to Him. He hesitated to dothis, but, when at last he turned his facetowards his mansion, he was astonished to seethat wherever he looked he could see theLord. For Christ is present in every place,

48 I

THE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSnever count me as dead, nor mourn for meas they do. Then he examined his spiritualbody and found it beautifully light anddelicate, and totally different from his grossmaterial body. On that he began to restrainhis wife and children, who were weeping andkissing his cold body. He stretched out hisdelicate spiritual hands, and began to explainto them, and with great love to press themaway from it, but they could neither see him,nor hear his voice, and, as he tried to removehis children from off his body, it seemed as ifhis hands passed right through their bodies,as if they were air, but they felt nothing at all.Then one of the angels said, Come, let ustake you to your everlasting home. Do notbe sorry for them. The Lord Himself, andwe also, will comfort them. This separationis but for a few days.Then in company with the angels he set

out for heaven. They had gone forwardonly a little way when another band of angelsmet them with cries of Welcome . Manyfriends and dear ones, who had died before

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THE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSand is seen everywhere by saints and angels.In addition to the Lord, he was delighted tosee that on every side there were surround-ings that filled him with joy, and that thosewho are lowest in rank meet without envythose who are higher, and that those whoseposition is more exalted count themselvesfortunate to be able to serve their brethrenin lower positions because this is the kingdomof God and of love.

In every part of heaven there are superbgardens, which all the time produce everyvariety of sweet and luscious fruit, and allkinds of sweet-scented flowers that neverfade. In them creatures of every kind givepraise to God unceasingly. Birds, beautifulin hue, raise their sweet songs of praise, andsuch is the sweet singing of angels and saintsthat on hearing their songs a wonderful senseof rapture is experienced. Wherever onemay look there is nothing but scenes of un-bounded joy. This, in truth, is the Paradisethat God has prepared for those that loveHim, where there is no shade of death, nor

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VISIONSerror, nor sin, nor suffering, but abidingpeace and joy.

The Mansions of HeavenThen I saw this man of God examining his

appointed mansion from a great distance, forin heaven all things are spiritual, and thespiritual eye can see through all interveningthings, and on to immeasurable distances.Through all the immensity of heaven God'slove is manifest, and everywhere in it allkinds of His creatures can be seen praisingand thanking Him in an unending state ofjoy. When this man of God, in companywith the angels, arrived at the door of hisappointed mansion, he saw written on it inshining letters the word Welcome , andfrom the letters themselves Welcome,Welcome in audible sound was repeatedand repeated again. When he had enteredhis home, to his surprise he found the Lordthere before him. At this his joy was morethan we can describe, and he exclaimed, I

5

VISIONSthere with many other good spirits, who hadlately arrived, in charge of those angels whoare appointed to instruct good souls, whilethey themselves went back to usher in anothergood spirit.

In that intermediate heaven there aregrades above grades right up to the higherheavens, and the grade into which any soulis admitted for instruction is determined bythe real goodness of his life on earth. Whenthe angels, who had put this minister in hisgrade, came back conducting in the othersoul, for whom they had gone, they broughthim up beyond the grade in which theminister was, on their way up to a higherplane. Seeing this the minister in a bluster-ing voice called out, What right have youto leave me half-way up to that gloriouscountry, while you take this other man awayup near to it? Neither in holiness, nor inanything else, am I in any way less than thisman, or than you yourselves. The angelsreplied, There is no question here of greator small, or of more or less, but a man is put

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THE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSleft the Lord's presence and came here at Hiscommand, but I find that the Lord Himself ishere to dwell with me. In the mansionwas everything that his imagination couldhave conceived, and every one was ready toserve him. In the near-by houses saints,like-minded to himself, lived in happyfellowship. For this heavenly house is thekingdom which has been prepared for thesaints from the foundation of the world(Matt. xxv. 34), and this is the gloriousfuture that awaits every true follower ofChrist.

A proud Minister and a humbleWorkmanA minister who looked on himself as anexceedingly learned and religious man died

at a ripe old age. And without doubt hewas a good man. When the angels came totake him to the place appointed for him bythe Lord in the world of spirits, they broughthim into the intermediate state, and left him

5 1

THE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSinto whatever grade he has merited by his lifeand faith. You are not quite ready yet forthat upper grade, so you will have to remainhere for a while and learn some of the thingsthat our fellow -workers are appointed toteach. Then, when the Lord commands us,we will, with great pleasure, take you with usto that higher sphere. He said, I havebeen teaching people all my life about theway to reach heaven. What more have Ito learn ? I know all about it. Thenthe instructing angels said, They must goup now, we can't detain them, but we willanswer your question. My friend, do notbe offended if we speak plainly, for it is foryour good. You think you are alone here,but the Lord is also here though you cannotsee Him. The pride that you displayedwhen you said ' I know all about it ' preventsyou from seeing Him and from going uphigher. Humility is the cure for this pride.Practise it and your desire will be granted.After this one of the angels told him, Theman who has just been promoted above you

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VISIONS THE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSwas no learned or famous man. You did notlook at him very carefully. He was amember of your own congregation. Peoplehardly knew him at all, for he was an ordinaryworking man, and had little leisure from hiswork. But in his workshop many knew himas an industrious and honest worker. HisChristian character was recognised by all whocame in contact with him. In the war he wascalled up for service in France. There, oneday, as he was helping a wounded comrade,he was struck by a bullet and killed. Thoughhis death was sudden he was ready for it, sohe did not have to remain in the intermediatestate as long as you will have to do. Hispromotion depends, not on favouritism, buton his spiritual worthiness. His life ofprayer and humility, while he was in theworld, prepared him to a great extent for thespiritual world. Now he is rejoicing athaving reached his appointed place, and isthanking and praising the Lord, Who, in Hismercy, has saved him, and given him eternallife.

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Heavenly LifeIn heaven no one can ever be a hypocrite,

for all can see the lives of others as they are.The all-revealing light which flows out fromthe Christ in Glory makes the wicked in theirremorse try to hide themselves, but it fills therighteous with the utmost joy to be in theFather's kingdom of Light, There, theirgoodness is evident to all, and it ever increasesmore and more, for nothing is present thatcan hinder their growth, and everything thatcan sustain them is there to help them. Thedegree of goodness reached by the soul of arighteous man is known by the brightnessthat radiates from his whole appearance; forcharacter and nature show themselves in theform of various glowing rainbow-like coloursof great glory. In heaven there is nojealousy. All are glad to see the spiritualelevation and glory of others, and, withoutany motive of self-seeking, try, at all times,truly to serve one another. All the innumer-able gifts and blessings of heaven are for the

SS

VISIONScommon use ofall. No one out of selfishnessever thinks of keeping anything for himself,and there is enough of everything for all.

God, Who is love, is seen in the Person ofJesus sitting on the throne in the highestheaven. From Him, Who is the Sun ofRighteousness and the Light of theworld , healing and life-giving rays andwaves of light and love are seen flowing outto the uttermost extent of His universe, andflowing through every saint and angel, andbringing to whatever they touch vitalisingand vivifying power.

There is in heaven neither east nor west,nor north nor south, but, for each individualsoul or angel, Christ's throne appears as thecentre of all things.

There also are found every kind of sweetand delicious flower and fruit, and manykinds of spiritual food. While eating theman exquisite flavour and pleasure are experi-enced, but after they have been assimilateda delicate scent, which perfumes the airaround, exudes from the pores of the body.

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THE STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSIn short, the will and desires of all the

inhabitants of heaven are fulfilled in God,because in every life God's will is madeperfect, so under all conditions, and at everystage of heaven, there is for every one anunchanging experience of wonderful joy.So the end of the righteous is eternal joy andblessedness.

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CHAPTER VIITHE AIM AND PURPOSE OF CREATION

A few months ago I was lying alone in myroom suffering acutely from an ulcer in myeye. The pain was so great that I could dono other work, so I spent the time in prayerand intercession. One day I had been thusengaged for only a few minutes, when thespiritual world was opened to me, and Ifound myself surrounded by numbers ofangels. Immediately I forgot all my pain,for my whole attention was concentrated onthem. I mention below a few of the subjectson which we conversed together.

Names in HeavenI asked them, Can you tell me by what

names you are known? One of the angels58

VISIONSsee Him, in what form and state does Heappear?One of the saints said, As the sea is full

of water, so is the whole universe filled withGod, and every inhabitant of heaven feelsHis presence about him on every side.When one dives under water above and belowand round about there is nothing but water,so in heaven is the presence of God felt.And just as in the water of the sea there areuncounted living creatures, so in the InfiniteBeing of God His creatures exist. BecauseHe is Infinite, His children, who are finite,can see Him only in the form of Christ. Asthe Lord Himself has said, He that hathseen Me hath seen the Father (John xiv. 9).In this world of spirits the spiritual progressof any one governs the degree to which he isable to know and feel God; and the Christalso reveals His glorious form to each oneaccording to his spiritual enlightment andcapacity. If Christ were to appear in thesame glorious light to the dwellers of thedarkened lower spheres of the spiritual world

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AIM AND PURPOSE OF CREATIONreplied, Each of us has been given a newname, which none knows except the Lord,and the one who has received it (Rev. ii. 17).All of us here have served the Lord indifferent lands and in different ages, andthere is no need that any should know whatour names are. Nor is there any necessitythat we should tell our former earthly names.It might be interesting to know them, butwhat would be the use of it? And then we donot want people to know our names, lest theyshould imagine us great and give honour tous, instead of to the Lord, Who has so lovedus that He has lifted us up out of our fallenstate, and has brought us into our eternalhome, where we will forever sing praises inHis loving fellowshipand this is the objectfor which He created us.

Seeing GodI asked again, Do the angels and saints

who live in the highest spheres of heavenalways look on the face of God? And, if they

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AIM AND PURPOSE OF CREATIONas He appears to those in the higher planes,then they would not be able to bear it. SoHe tempers the glory of His manifestationto the state of progress, and to the capacityof each individual soul.

Then another saint added, God's presencecan indeed be felt and enjoyed, but it cannotbe expressed in words. As the sweetness ofthe sweet is enjoyed by tasting, and not bythe most graphic descriptive phrasing, soevery one in heaven experiences the joy ofGod's presence, and every one in the spiritualworld knows that his experience of God isreal, and has no need that any should attemptto help him with a verbal description of it.

Distance in HeavenI asked, How far from one another are

the various heavenly spheres of existence?If one cannot go to stay in other spheres ishe permitted to visit them? Then one of the saints said, The place of

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VISIONSplane to which his spiritual development hasfitted him, but for short periods he can go tovisit other spheres. When those of thehigher spheres come down to the lower, akind of spiritual covering is given to them,that the glory of their appearance may not bedisconcerting to the inhabitants of the lowerand darker spheres. So when one from alower sphere goes to a higher, he also gets akind of spiritual covering that he may be ableto bear the light and glory of that place.

In heaven distance is never felt by any one,for as soon as one forms the wish to go to acertain place he at once finds himself there.Distances are felt only in the material world.If one wishes to see a saint in another sphere,either he himself is transported there in amoment of thought, or at once the distantsaint arrives in his presence.

The Withered Fig TreeI inquired of them, Everything is

created for some purpose, but it sometimes62

AIM AND PURPOSE OF CREATIONappears that that purpose is not fulfilled;for instance, the purpose of the fig tree wasto produce fruit, but, when the Lord foundit fruitless, He withered it up. Can youenlighten me as to whether its purpose wasfulfilled or not? A saint replied, Undoubtedly its pur-pose was fulfilled, and was fulfilled morefully. The Lord of Life gives life to everycreature for a certain specific purpose, butif that purpose is not fulfilled He has powerto take back the life in order to fulfil somehigher purpose. Many thousands of God'sservants have sacrificed their lives in orderto teach and uplift others. By losing theirlives for others they have helped them, andthus fulfilled the higher purpose of God.And if it is lawful, and a most noble service,for man, who is higher than fig trees and allother created things, to give his life forother men, then how can it be unjust if amere tree gives its life for the teaching andwarning of an erring nation? So throughthis fig tree Christ taught this great lesson

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VISIONSto the Jews, and to the whole world, thatthose whose lives are fruitless, and whofail in the purpose for which God createdthem, will be altogether withered anddestroyed.The facts of history make it abundantly

plain to us that the bigoted and narrowJewish national life of that day was, becauseof its barrenness, withered away like thefig tree. And in the same way the fruitlesslives of others, though outwardly they mayappear fruitful, are a cause of deception toothers, and will be cursed and destroyed. Ifany one should object that when the Lordcursed this fig tree, it was not the fruitseason, and figs should not have been lookedfor, then he should reflect that for doinggood there is no fixed season, because allseasons and times are equally appointed forgood works, and that he himself should makehis life fruitful and thus fulfil the purpose forwhich he was created.

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AIM AND PURPOSE OF CREATIONIs Man a Free Agent?

Again I asked, Would it not have beenfar better if God had created man and allcreation perfect, for then man could neitherhave committed sin, nor because of sin wouldthere have been so much sorrow and suffer-ing in the world; but now, in a creationmade subject to vanity, we have all kindsof suffering to undergo? An angel who had come from the highestgrades of heaven, and occupied a highposition there, replied, God has not mademan like a machine, which would workautomatically; nor has He fixed his destinyas in the case of the stars and planets, thatmay not move out of their appointed course,but He has made man in His own image andlikeness, a free agent, possessed of under-standing, determination, and power to actindependently, hence he is superior to allother created things. Had man not beencreated a free agent he would not have beenable to enjoy God's presence, nor the joy of

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VISIONSheaven, for he would have been a meremachine, that moves without knowing orfeeling, or like the stars that swing unknow-ingly through infinite space. But man,being a free agent, is by the constitution ofhis nature, opposed to this kind of soullessperfectionand a perfection of this kindwould really have been imperfectionforsuch a man would have been a mere slavewhose very perfection had compelled him tocertain acts, in the doing of which he couldhave had no enjoyment, because he had nochoice of his own. To him there would beno difference between a God and a stone.Man, and with him all creation, has beensubjected to vanity, but not for ever. By hisdisobedience man has brought himself andall other creatures into all the ills and suffer-ings of this state of vanity. In this state ofspiritual struggle alone can his spiritualpowers be fully developed, and only in thisstruggle can he learn the lesson necessary tohis perfection. Therefore, when man atlast reaches the state of perfectness of heaven,

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VISIONScreation will remain groaning and travailingtill this new creation comes to pass. Andthose also who have been born againgroan within themselves, waiting for theredemption of the body; and the timeapproaches when the whole creation, beingobedient to God in all things, will be freedfrom corruption, and from this vanity forever. Then will it remain eternally happyin God, and will fulfil in itself the purposefor which it was created. Then God will beall in all (Rom. viii. 18-23).

The angels also conversed with me aboutmany other matters, but it is impossible torecord them, because, not only is there inthe world no language, no simile, by whichI could express the meaning of those verydeep spiritual truths, but also they did notwish me to attempt it, for no one withoutspiritual experience can understand them, so,in that case, there is the fear that, insteadof their being a help, they would be to manya cause of misunderstanding and error. I

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AIM AND PURPOSE OF CREATIONhe will thank God for the sufferings andstruggle of the present world, for then hewill fully understand that all things worktogether for good to them that love God(Rom. viii. 28).

The Manifestation of God's LoveThen another of the saints said, All the

inhabitants of heaven know that God is Love,but it had been hidden from all eternity thatHis love is so wonderful that He wouldbecome man to save sinners, and for theircleansing would die on the Cross. Hesuffered thus that He might save men, andall creation, which is in subjection to vanity.Thus God, in becoming man, has shownHis heart to His children, but had any othermeans been used His infinite love wouldhave remained for ever hidden.Now the whole creation, with earnest ex-pectation, awaits the manifestation of the sonsof God, when they shall be again restoredand glorified. But, at present, they and all

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AIM AND PURPOSE OF CREATIONhave, therefore, written only a few of thesimplest of the matters talked over, in thehope that from them many may get directionand warning, teaching and comfort.

Also, that time is not far distant when myreaders will pass over into the spiritual world,and see these things with their own eyes.But before we leave this world for ever, togo to our eternal home, we must with thesupport of God's grace, and in the spiritof prayer, carry out with faithfulness ourappointed work. Thus shall we fulfil thepurpose of our lives, and enter, without anyshade of regret, into the eternal joy of thekingdom of our Heavenly Father.

THE END

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Meditations on VariousAspects of the Spiritual

LifeBy SADHU SUNDAR SINGH

Crown 8vo. as. 6d. net.Those who know about the Sadhu will read the book

eagerly. It consists of twelve short exquisite chapters, writtenby a man who lives with God. The Guardian. Very rarely does a small book of eighty quite short pagescontain so much profound truth, in the most simple and attract-

ive form, as we find in this latest message fromt hat remarkableman, the Sadhu Sundar Singh. The Record. As we listen to this great Eastern saint we feel that he hassomething to say to us out oT his own rich experience, and weare not disappointed . . . A certain power and devout simplicity

are the marks or these meditations. The Expository Times,A deeply interesting little volume. . . . The depth ofteaching in these meditations may be missed by the superficialreader on account of the extreme simplicity of its presentation,but it is a simplicity like that in the Gospel of St. John, Itwould be welt if many of those who are influenced by the cheapagnosticism of the day would read and ponder this little book. The Review of the Churches.LONDON : MACMILLAN AND CO,. Ltd.


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THE SEARCH AFTERREALITYTHOUGHTS ON HINDUISM, BUDDHISM,MUHAMMADANISM, AND CHRISTIANITY

By SADHU SUNDAR SINGHCrown &vo. 3S, net.

Every page of this little book bears witness to its author'sspiritual power, and takes the reader into an atmosphere ofdevotion.^ . . . It is a clear exposition of the leading elementsof Christianity, and no one will read it without profit, 7heTimes Literary Supplement.Whoever can lead us back to a true mysticism is averitable physician to the sick, and the Sadhu, in showing usthe superlative appeal which Christ makes to a fresh, devout,and poetic mind, is doing us a great and abiding serviceMany will feel, upon reading this book, as though some onehad opened a window and the atmosphere had been freshened,The Rev. F. W. Norwood in The Christian World. The interest of the book lies in the fact that it is whatcannot be found elsewhere, a criticism of these Easternreligions by one who is himself an Eastern and who knowsthem, not only as intellectual systems, but as systems lived bymen and women. ... An admirable little book, Black-friars.Here is all the simplicity and beauty of a mind and heartsuffused with the Divine Spirit. It is a devotional volume ofthe highest value. The Metludist Times.LONDON | MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd.

REALITY & RELIGIONMEDITATIONS ON GOD, MAN,AND NATUREBy SADHU SUNDAR SINGH

With an Introduction by Canon STREETERCrown Stm. as. 6d, net,

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEWSPAPER A beautiful and gripping book. . . . Freshness ofthought, beauty of expression, and whole-hearted devotionto God arc the outstanding features of this little book,which we commend to our readers.THE MODERN CHURCHMA.V- The book islull of clear, apt, and beautiful expositions or illustrationswhich proclaim the Sadhu to be a born teacher andfurnish much useful material for those who have to givereligious instruction.THE IRISH CHURCHMAN.- The Sadhu hasgiven us a devotional manual that combines power andcharm. His little nature parables are very sinking.THE METHODIST RECORDER. Everychapter is exceedingly individual, sincere, and elevated.... As a book of meditations, the devout will find itremarkably fresh and consolatory.THE WESTMINSTER GAZETTE. - TheSadhu has succeeded in imparting something of his ownspirit in this little book, and a life so far from the normalhas much to say to the modern world.THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN- The bookshould find a place on the special shelf of every loverof mysticism.LONDON : MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd.

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TMs work has been translated into six Europeanand two Indian languages.8//i Impression.

Crown 8vc. gs. net.THE SADHUA STUDY IN MYSTICISM ANDPRACTICAL RELIGIONBYCanon BURNETT H. STREETERM.A. (Oxon.), Hon. D.D. (Edin.)AND

A. J. APPASAMYM.A. (Harvard), D.Phil. (Oxon.)Dean Inge in THE EVENING STANDARDOne of the most fascinating books that I have read fora long time. ... I urge my readers to read The Sadhu.Mrs. Creighton in THE CHURCH FAMIT VNEWSPAPER The authors may be'congratulatedon having made the Sadhu a living and beloved per-sonality for those who had not the privilege of personalintercourse with him. e personalMiss Evelyn Underhill in THE WESTMINSTER GAZETTE.- Cmm StreetKppasarny have put all students of religious experienceunder a debt of gratitude by producing this excellent andsympathetic study of the Indian evangelist Sadhu SundarTHE CHALLENGE.- In these pages there standsrevealed a man of extraordinarily direct spiritual per-ception, a saint of the Franciscan type to whom to live isChrist an apostolic witness of primitive quality and aseer of luminous visions.LONDON : MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd.

Visions Of The Spiritual World

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