Plato's Cave

“They say about me that I am the strangest person, always making people confused.” –Socrates

To Escape The Cave

You Must Know Thyself

Plato, the Greek philosopher, wrote a series of `Dialogues' which summarized many of the things which he had learned from his teacher, who was the philosopher Socrates.  One of the most famous of these Dialogues is the Allegory of the Cave.   In this allegory, people are chained in a cave so that they can only see the shadows which are cast on the walls of the cave by a fire.  Plato likens people of a natural organic mindset who can see only with the earth-bound senses of this world, as prisoners who are chained in a cave, unable to turn their heads.  All they can see is the wall of the cave.  Behind them burns a fire.  Between the fire and the prisoners there is a parapet, along which puppeteers can walk.  The puppeteers, who are behind the prisoners, hold up puppets that cast shadows on the wall of the cave.  The prisoners are unable to see these puppets, the real objects, that pass behind them. What the prisoners see and hear are shadows and echoes cast by objects that they do not see.  

It is noted that the whole of the language of man makes reference to the shadowy symbols, which they assume are real.  Plato's point: the general terms of our language are not "names" of the physical objects that we can see. They are actually names of things that we cannot see, things that we can only grasp with the mind.  The prisoners may learn what a book is by their experience with shadows of books. But they would be mistaken if they thought that the word "book" refers to something that any of them has ever seen.  Likewise, we may acquire concepts by our perceptual experience of physical objects. But we would be mistaken if we thought that the concepts that we grasp were on the same level as the things we perceive.

To these people, the shadows represent the totality of their existence -- and it is impossible for them to imagine a reality which consists of anything beyond the fuzzy shadows on the wall.   True Spiritual seekers of TheWay are those who were prisoners, and escaped from the cave.   The Sacred Manna or Gnosis is the experiential knowledge they learn when they go out of the cave of this world, and into the inner reality which is portrayed by Plato as the light of the sun and behold true reality.   Then, when they try to go back into the cave and tell the other captives the truth, they are mocked as madmen.   This fact you can observe throughout the history of man, as well as in the present time.   We are all initially prisoners and this tangible world that we perceive as physical reality is our cave.  And while the spiritual path of the Disciple in search of the Spiritual Manna/Gnosis of Higher Truth, begins when one who was a prisoner escapes out into the sun, this is in effect only the beginning of the journey as the mature soul begins to amass Gnosis, which is purely spiritual knowledge gained as they ascend into the true Light of true reality.   What is equally interesting is the literal interpretation of Plato's tale: The idea that reality could be represented completely as "shadows" on the walls.   Reality exists in another dimension beyond our vision, but we are so hypnotized by the world of shadows, that we fail to perceive the inner reality that is the source of everything in the life that we live.     Yeshua is given to you as a pattern of life and mind that is necessary to escape the world of shadows -- but when you worship and raise up the pattern and make it a god, then the pattern itself becomes your stumbling block.

the reality of our soul

The Necessity Of Soul-Birth

The Alpha & Omega Of Entering Into the Inner Kingdom

The Journey Of The Prodigal Son

The Return To The Edenic Kingdom Of Origination

In the reading of the scriptures, it is often important for us to grasp the essence of totality of thought that is expressed.   One of the things that we should see is that Jesus expected Nicodemus, a “ruler of the Jews” (Jn 3:1) to understand the objective and the purpose of the sacred writings.   When Jesus said that “Verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”; he was speaking of a sacred truth that a ruler of the Jews should know.   Finally, Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again”!   Why?   Because, as is portrayed in the parable of the Prodigal Son which parallels the wisdom of the Zohar, the rebirth is well documented throughout the writings of the Spiritual Jews that “All souls… must re-enter the absolute substance whence they have emerged.  But to accomplish this end they must develop all the perfections, the germ of which is planted in them... until they have acquired the condition which fits them for reunion with God.”

What does it mean where the Zohar states that “All souls… must re-enter the absolute substance whence they have emerged”?   Isn't the primary essence of what is being said in this writing of Jewish Mysticism the same exact vision of man's plight that is portrayed in the parable of the prodigal son?   The “absolute substance” would be another way of saying the son went forth from his place of origination in his Father, and entered into this world -- wherein, the sons of the Father “must re-enter the absolute substance whence they have emerged”.  

How, then, do we develop the necessary perfection to return to God?   Again the Zohar gives us the same exact requirement as did Jesus when he commanded us at Matthew 5:48 to be as perfect as our Heavenly Father: “All souls are subject to the trials of transmigration; and men do not know the designs of the Most High with regard to them… to accomplish this end they must develop all the perfections… if they have not fulfilled this condition during one life, they must commence another, a third, and so forth, until they have acquired the condition which fits them for reunion with God” -- which is seen in the return of the prodigal son to his Father's Kingdom.

What is important is that we begin to see the connection and uniformity of thought between the mindset of the Spiritual Jew, the Spiritual Christian who was condemned as Gnostic because they rejected the religion of the Emperor Constantine, and the Ebionites who were the original disciples of Yeshua and TheWay.   Moreover, it is important that we understand that what we perceive as two religions in the present-day form of Christianity and Judaism, are truly only separated spiritual ignorance fostered by cultural and political differences.   The essence of both are one and the same.

In his book Nishmath Hayem, Rabbi Manasseh ben Israel (1604-1657) wrote: “The belief or the doctrine of the transmigration of souls is a firm and infallible teaching accepted by the whole assemblage of our people with one accord, so that there is none to be found who would dare to deny it… Indeed, there are a great number of sages in Israel who hold firm to this doctrine so that they made it a teaching, a fundamental point of our religion.  We are therefore in duty bound to obey and to accept this teaching with acclamation… as the truth of it has been incontestably demonstrated by the Zohar, and all books of the Kabalists.”    Interestingly enough, in Hasidism, in which the pre-existence of the soul “becomes a universal belief” (The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia), there is no salvation apart from the belief in and advent of the Messiah in the life of the individual.   In view of the fact that our present-day ideas pertaining to the Messiah have been form and strongly influenced by the Church of the Roman Empire and the cosmic Christ of the religion of Mithraicism, we must pose the question: what if the Hasidic Jew has a more pure perception of the Son of God than does the majority of Christians?   When the Zohar states that “men do not know the designs of the Most High with regard to them…”, we must recognize that this is the same exact message that is prevalent throughout the New Testament scriptures?   In fact, isn't it because (carnal) men do not know what God requires, and (carnal) man can do nothing on his own, that prompts the Apostle Paul to write that (carnal) man is saved by faith alone -- i.e., faith in the fact that he has a pre-existent soul within him that has existed since the dawn of time. 

What was removed from our copies of the scriptures prior to Yeshua's statement to Nicodemus about the need for re-birth?   What modern Christians fail to realize is the fact that Yeshua's message of the need to bring about the next stage of soul-birth was so different in the original scriptures, that modern believers who call themselves Born Again, would not even recognize the concepts presented.   Thus, in the Gospel of the Nazirenes it states: "Yeshua sat in the porch of the temple, and some came to learn His doctrine, and one said to Him, Master, what do you teach concerning life? And He said to them, Blessed are they who suffer many experiences, for they will be made perfect through suffering; they will be as the angels of God in heaven and will die no more. Neither will they be born any more, for death and birth have no more dominion over them.  They who have suffered and have overcome will be made pillars of the temple of my God, and they will go out no more. I say to you, except you be born again of water and of fire, you cannot see the kingdom of God.  And a certain Rabbi, Nicodemus, came to Him by night for fear of the Jews, and said to Him, How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born again?  Yeshua answered Except a man be born again of flesh and of spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God. The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound of it, but can not tell from where it comes or to where it goes.  The light shines from the East even to the West; out of the darkness. The sun rises and sets into darkness again; so is it with man, from the ages to the ages.  When it cometh from the darkness, it is that he has lived before, and when it goes down again into darkness, it is that he may rest for a little, and there after again exist.  So through many changes must you be made perfect, as it is written in the book of Job, 'I am a wanderer, changing place after place and house after house, until I come into the city and mansion which is eternal.  And Nicodemus said to him, How can these things be? And Yeshua answered , You are a teacher in Israel, and do not understand these things? Truly, we speak that which we know, and bear witness to that which we have seen, and you do not receive our witness.   If I tell you of earthly things, and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you of heavenly things? No one ascends into heaven, unless they descended out of heaven, even the son or daughter of man which is in Heaven."

Once again we see the important concept that parallels the statement of the Book of the Revelation which reads: "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more" (Rev 3:12 NKJ).    Thus, the words of the Church Father Origen where he stated that “The soul has neither beginning nor end… Every soul… comes into this world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of its previous life” (Origen, De Principiis).    In the many End Times narratives we are presented with the statement that those on the left hand are not worthy of entrance into the Kingdom, and they are bound to the fires of Hell.   But these are the fires of purification, and the Gospel of the Nazirenes sheds great insight into this process of purification when it is said to those on the left hand: "Then shall he say also to them on his left hand, 'Depart from me you evil souls into the eternal fires which you have prepared for yourselves, till you are purified seven times and cleansed from your sins."  Thus, the word translated “destruction”, as in Matthew 7:14 where it is written that those who walk the broad-way that leads to destruction, the footnote on this word in the Schofield Reference Bible reads: “There is no thought in these various words of annihilation but of something that is ruined and thus unsuitable or unable to fulfill its original purpose”.    And what is being stated is that the life that the soul lived, had become lost in the thinking and ways of this world, and could not longer fulfill the purpose of bringing about soul-birth and entering the Inner Kingdom.  

Christian Blindness To The Scriptures

The Parable Of The Talents And The Three Servants

What causes us to be different?   Because Christians fail to understand the biblical doctrines of preordination and predestination, they totally lack an answer to this question.   Because they lack an answer to this crucial question, they are unable to evolve their understanding beyond a very superficial and elementary perception of both the scriptures, and life itself.   We are different, because in the words of the Church Father Origen: “Every soul... comes into this world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of its previous life” (Origen, De Principiis).   We are each different because: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Gal 6:7 NKJ).   We are different because of the past life achievements of our soul -- as it states in the Gospel of the Nazirenes: ."As Yeshua sat by the west of the temple with his disciples, behold there passed some carrying one that was dead, to burial, and a certain one said to Him, "Master, if a man die, shall he live again? He answered and said, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the good, the beautiful, the true; if a man believe in me he shall not die, but live eternally. As in Adam all are bound to cycles of rebirth, so in the Messiah shall all be made alive. Blessed are the dead who die in me, and are made perfect in my image and likeness, for they rest from their labors and their works do follow them. They have overcome evil, and are made pillars in the temple of my God, and they go out no more, for they rest in the eternal.  For them that persist in evil there is no rest, but they go out and in, and suffer correction for ages, till they are made perfect. But for them that have done good and attained to perfection, there is endless rest and they go into life everlasting. They rest in the eternal.  Over them the repeated death and birth have no power, for them the wheel of the eternal revolves no more, for they have attained to the center, where is eternal rest, and the center of all things is God."   But with the removal of these important teachings from the Gospels, Christians can no longer discern why not only each of us is different, but why more is expected of some.

In the parable of the master who entrusted his servants with his money (talents) before going away, you have one of the most profound statements of reincarnation that few people recognize in the words: "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey" (Matt 25:15 NKJ).   The key concept here is that each person was not only entrusted with a different amount, but that each person was entrusted with an amount "...each according to his own ability."   So a Christian, who is capable of thinking out of the doctrinal box, should ask: How is each persons ability determined?   This is as hard a concept for a Christian to embrace, as it is for the semi-enlightened people of the New Age to understand why, while differing results were acceptable, the servant who was the richest received even greater reward than the one who was successful, but had not initially received as much because "..to each according to his own ability."    From their politically correct mindset, the servant who had received two should have received the same reward as the one who had received five -- especially since the one who had received one talent and made no gains because he buried it in the earth, had his talent taken from him and that talent was given to the one who had initially received the most.   In this parable it would appear that Yeshua favors the rich.

Not only is each one of us given our lot in life in accordance with this predetermined criteria of what we accomplished in the past, but what Jesus taught was that what the spiritually poor people possessed, would even be taken away and be given to those who had an abundance: “Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away” (Matt 25:28-29 NKJ).   Thus, on the surface, Jesus appears to be a Robin Hood in reverse -- take from the poor, and give to the rich.

One of the many paradoxes that confront the believer is explored in these biblical verses by the Wycliffe Commentary which writes: “Herein is the crux of the interpretation. If this reckoning is the judgment of the believer's works, then we apparently have a true believer suffering the loss of his soul because of the barrenness of his works. But that interpretation would contradict John 5:24. Or, if the unprofitable servant represents a mere professing Christian, whose real nature is thus unmasked, then it appears that the judgment of believers' works and the damnation of sinners occur together, although Revelation 20 separates these judgments by 1,000 years”.

What does John 5:24 say?  “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24 NIV).   What we must recognize is the fact that there is only a contradiction with respect to our interpretation of the word belief.   The Bible is very clear that those people who claim an allegiance to the Lord, and yet continue to live in the manner of unbelievers, are themselves self-condemned; as seen in the words: “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21 NIV).   Thus, only those who actually live in accordance with the Royal Law of God, and do the Will of the Father, are those of whom John 5:24 states will be saved.

The problem is that these verses, as in the twentieth chapter of the Revelation and many other places in the Bible, appear to declare two conflicting doctrines -- i.e., some state that believers get into heaven on the basis of their profession of faith, while other biblical passages clearly state that the believer will be held accountable for their deeds.   With regard to the requirement of works, in the parable of the sower and the seed Jesus clearly warned believers that they are required to increase what has been given to them: “…multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times” what was initially received (Mark 4:8 NIV).   Yet, as the Wycliffe Commentary points out, John 5:24 is one of those seemingly all-inclusive verses which appear to generally state that all believers will be saved -- but who is a believer?   And from a spiritual perspective, who is able to hear the word -- i.e., "...whoever hears my word" -- and do we understand the words from a spiritual perspective: "...he has crossed over from death to life”???

What Christians fail to realize is that the Gospel of John is imbued with a Gnosticism that is far beyond their carnal comprehension -- and seemingly common terms that Christians interpret in the physical, does not mean what they suppose it does.    In the words of A. Powell Davies: “Biblical scholars”, he writes, ”were not disturbed by what they found in the Dead Sea Scrolls because they had known all along that the origin of Christianity was not what was commonly supposed to have been” (quoted by Millar Burrows in More Light on the Dead Sea Scrolls).   And in the words of Prof. John Allegro in is book, The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of Christianity, he writes: “It is a fact that the Qumran Library has profoundly affected the study of the Johannine writings and many longheld conceptions have had to be radically revised.  No longer can John be regarded as the most Hellenistic of the Evangelists; his gnosticism, and the whole framework of his thought is seen now to spring directly from a Jewish sectarianism rooted in palestinian soil, and his material recognized as founded in the earliest layers of Gospel traditions.”

What is the meaning of the word mysticism?   Briefly, mysticism is descriptive of the ability of man to look beyond the limitations of the five senses in order to gain a better understanding of life, God and Creation.   The word Gnostic, as used by Prof. Allegro, is the Greek word used to describe the acquisition of knowledge gained through the mystical process of man's inner and direct connection with God.   While Christians today embrace the doctrine of faith that was defined by the Apostle Paul, the flaw in their many perceptions is seen in their inability to understand that Paul’s doctrine of faith was based upon the foundation of mysticism that was laid by the Apostle when he wrote: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14 NKJ).    And thus, that the natural mind of man is incapable of perceiving beyond the limitations of the carnal, is the reason why the Word of God can only be presented to him in enigma and allegory (see Why Does God Speak In Allegory And Enigma?).

What is the meaning of the above phrase “…spiritually discerned”?   There are different types of knowledge -- i.e., knowledge gained through formal instruction, and knowledge gained through personal experience.   The Greek word for knowledge which is gained through the receiving of direct impressions from the “Spirit of God”, is called Gnosis -- which is the meaning of Gnosticism -- meaning a knowledge received through man’s spiritual nature.   It is this type of knowledge that the Apostle Paul is making reference to in the above quotation.   When the Quaker speaks of being taught by the inner Light, he is speaking of a Gnostic type of Knowledge.   When the Pentecostal speaks of opening their minds to the indwelling Holy Spirit, he is making reference to a Gnostic type of Knowledge.   The problem is that the degree of Knowledge that can be imparted is directly related to one’s willingness to open the mind to the revelation of the Spirit.

In understanding our plight today, we must recognize that men such as Martin Luther and the reformers of the Middle-ages were priests of the Roman Church, and they had no idea how the Disciples of Christ thought and looked at life.   The reformers of the Middle-ages who laid the foundations of modern Christian doctrine -- though well meaning -- had no way of knowing that they had been imbued with a mindset that was totally opposite to the thinking of the men and women who Jesus taught directly.   When they opened the pages of the New Testament, the letters of Paul made perfect sense to their manner of thinking.   Yet, the great factor they totally failed to realize was that Paul wrote to entry level Gentile converts -- elementary level instruction that was made presentable for the instruction of a spiritually sick people who were of a heathen mindset -- and because of this severe limitation, Paul was only able to hint at the Spiritual Gospel of Christ that the Apostle himself warned could not even be envisioned by the mind of carnal man -- a Spiritual Gospel that Paul often made reference to as the Mysteries of God.

Paul wrote to the entry-level Gentiles who were the people of the simple faith.    They were being converted from a heathen mindset, and presented with elementary concepts that would begin the process of spiritual transformation -- a process that can not be achieved in one lifetime.   The Ebionite/Nazirene Disciples of Yeshua had over the course of many lives lived Godly lives in search of the Inner Kingdom -- and they possess a depth of understanding that could never be embraced by the Gentiles.   So we can say that these Ebionite/Nazirene Disciples were those who had received five (5) talents upon entering into life, because of their own past spiritual achievements.   And we can say that many of the Gentiles who heard the Word, and began to leave their heathen ways behind them through the preaching of Paul, were those who had received two (2) talents.   Not as much could be given to the Gentiles, because they had not accomplished as much in their past lives -- i.e., "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey" (Matt 25:15 NKJ).    And Martin Luther, the framers of the Reformation, as well as modern Christians, all see the greater wisdom in the Epistles of Paul, because they have yet to undergo the process of spiritual transformation necessary to perceive the inner meaning of the Gospels that the believers of a natural mindset are blind to.  

John 5:24: In returning to the questions raised by the Wycliffe Commentary which states of the parable of the servants and the distribution of the talents: “Herein is the crux of the interpretation. If this reckoning is the judgment of the believer's works, then we apparently have a true believer suffering the loss of his soul because of the barrenness of his works. But that interpretation would contradict John 5:24...”.   But because Christians attempt to see John 5:24 through a carnal mindset, they never perceive the true meaning of what is being conveyed.   John 5:24 states "...whoever hears my word" -- but each person hears in accord with the talents that they have received -- talents that are dependent upon their own past life achievements.   And John 5:24 states with respect to those who hear the Word that "...he has crossed over from death to life” -- but these words must be understood from the Gnostic/Spiritual perspective from which they were written.   The prodigal son was portrayed as being dead, and in returning to the Kingdom, and once again become alive.   Those who failed to put on the required wedding garment in the parable of The Call to the Wedding, were portrayed as having been cast out into the "outer darkness".    And when the disciple asked about burying his father, Yeshua stated: “Another disciple said to him, Lord, first let me go and bury my father. But Jesus told him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matt 8:21-22 NIV).   From a spiritual perspective, only those few who could hear the fullness of the Word -- i.e., those who because of their past life achievements had received the five talents -- could receive the Living Word and cross over from the death of this outer darkness into the Life in harmony with the Kingdom within.   From a spiritual perspective, it does not say that when you physically die you will cross over -- i.e., the people of this world are already dead as defined from a spiritual reality in the words: "...let the dead bury their own dead”.   Such sects as the Jehovah's Witnesses have created an abundance of doctrines attempting to explain the Mysteries of God away, out of the statement: "...but the dead know nothing" (Eccl 9:5 NIV) -- and yet, in failing to apply the formula that is presented in the worlds of Jesus above, they fail to comprehend that the scriptures speak of the dead of this world who are the multitude of people who populate the earth.   And it is of the multitude who Jesus could only speak in parables -- the people of the flesh and natural organic mindset who, because they have achieved very little in their past, could only receive what is portrayed as one talent, were unable to hear the Living Word, and what they received they continued to bury in the earth.   The Gentiles who heard what Paul called the Testimony of Christ, were those who in their past lives had begun to leave the ways of this world behind them and seek the inner Kingdom, and they were able to receive the two talents.   But it was the Ebionite/Nazirene disciples of TheWay who had over the course of many lifetimes ardently sought the inner Kingdom, and having accomplished much in their past, they were the ones who were able to hear the Living Word, and because they were faithful disciples of TheWay, they were able to "...cross over from death to life”

The servant who had received one talent could be compared to those who could not hear the words of Jesus then, and continue not to be able to hear his words now -- even though they call upon his name as their savior -- because from life to life they place their talents in the earth, instead of expanding and evolving what has been bestowed upon them.   They proclaim that they are saved regardless of how they live -- the mindset they embrace -- what they accomplish in life.   And as noted in the Wycliffe Commentary: “Herein is the crux of the interpretation. If this reckoning is the judgment of the believer's works, then we apparently have a true believer suffering the loss of his soul because of the barrenness of his works."  And once again Christians are in denial, because this fact is confirmed in the warning: “Herein is the crux of the interpretation. If this reckoning is the judgment of the believer's works, then we apparently have a true believer suffering the loss of his soul because of the barrenness of his works."   And even more revealing is the warning: “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries” (Heb 10:26-27 NAS).   Contrary to the beliefs of many Christians today, Jesus did not ordain a religion of perpetual redemption -- he did not say that it is acceptable for his followers to continue to embrace a life of sin and cultural excess -- his message to his followers was to sin no more!   Because all the infirmities of life -- as well as man's blindness to the Inner Kingdom and the inability to hear the Living Word -- is all brought about by our own past actions -- i.e., "Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14 KJV).   Quite contrary to modern Christian doctrine where all believers are saved, it is very clearly demonstrated in the scriptures that believers who do not live in accordance with the Commandments of the Lord will be punished more severely than the non-believer.   This truth is demonstrated in the words: “That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:47-48 NIV).   What Jesus is stating to us is that believer’s who do not fulfill the Commandments, will be punished more than those who do not know the will of God.

John 5:24 has no reference to a condition after the physical death of the body-vessel -- but very much in the present as the disciple of TheWay follows in the footsteps of Yeshua and enters into Life and gains access through the inner "narrow gate" and into the Inner Kingdom (see Gate of Eden).    But because modern Christians have embraced the doctrines of a circus prostitute who married a Roman Emperor, they totally lack the ability to understand the paradoxical or the spiritual meaning of the scriptures.   Thus, when the question is asked: Which of these very conflicting requirements that Jesus set forth are necessary for believers?   We are presented with one of an uncountable number of scriptural paradoxes -- i.e., both opposing positions are each true -- and the answer lies in a higher third reality that merges the two into one.   But Christians can't deal with paradoxes.   The problem is that because the modern Church has embraced an opposite mindset from the original followers of Christ, we are unable to understand how both these teachings can be true.   In our inability to comprehend the means by which both can be simultaneously correct -- even though each on the surface appears to oppose each other -- to our own spiritual demise we choose the one teaching over the other -- thereby negating a great number of biblical warnings that our perception of the Word is defective.  

The result is that we fail to perceive the impact of the pre-existent criteria that is essential to a proper understanding of both the scriptures, as well as what is expected of each individual.   We therefore do not comprehend why very little is required of some people who, in their past, have never been given the opportunity to spiritually develop, while much is required of others -- as seen in the words: “That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:47-48 NIV).

Christians fail to understand the reason why some people are given much, while others are given very little.   The problem is that without this essential understanding, we have anchored ourselves to a great obstacle that inhibits our perception of the full revelation of the Word of God.   Until we are able to comprehend the reason why everything in life proclaims to us that we are not playing on a level field, we can never begin to use the opportunity of life to assist us in our walk in TheWay.   One only has to open their eyes to see that some people are born geniuses, great musicians, superior physical attributes, beauty or skills.   Some are born with good health, others with insurmountable medical problems.   Some are born handicapped, retarded, or even born to die.   Some are born in the ghetto, while others live a lavish life in a mansion.   Contrary to our limited understanding today, these infinite and innumerable conditions of life are not an accident of birth -- but rather, are the result of predetermined conditions.

From a spiritual perspective: Many souls enter into life entrusted with a greater understanding of the Secrets of the Kingdom -- and much will be expected of these souls.   Other souls are not as spiritually developed -- they therefore do not respond to the Gospel message with the same depth and hunger -- and they do not innately possess the knowledge of the Kingdom.   In this regard, what Jesus taught is that even though these less developed souls often do greater evil, they will not be held to the same standards of accountability as those souls who more was expected of.   And why was more given?   Because these souls had achieved more in their previous lives.  Thus, only when we begin to comprehend the differences in the spiritual maturity of people, as well as the reasons why certain people are born with the potential for a greater understanding of the Word, while others can make little sense of either the scriptures or the spiritual side of life, can we begin to embrace a higher understanding of life and what is called the Mysteries of God.

There are verses pertaining to the servants that still exist in the Gospel of the Nazirenes, which explain the inconsistencies that abound in Christian doctrine and understanding of why each of us enters this life at greatly differing levels of spiritual awareness.   Thus, we again see the words: "And that servant which knew his lord's will and did not prepare himself, nor followed his will, will be beaten with many stripes. But he that did not know, and did commit things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. For to whomsoever much is given, of him will they much require, and to whom they commit little, of him they will require the less.  For they who know the Godhead, and have found the way of life, the mysteries of light, and then have fallen into sin, shall be punished with greater chastisement than they who have not known the way of life.  Such shall return when their cycle is completed, and to them will be given space to consider, and amend their lives, and learning the mysteries , enter into the kingdom of light."

The Prison: The references to chastisement, the far country of the parable of the prodigal son, and the outer darkness of the call to the Wedding Feast, all portray a condition of being cast back into the world in accord with our lack of accomplishments in our previous lives.  And contrary to modern Christian doctrine, this condition of only being able to receive one talent can be portrayed as being imprisoned -- i.e., “Thou shalt by no means come out from there, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing”.    This of course is contrary to what we presently believe, in that it speaks of a time when those condemned to prison will come out.

How different modern Christians perceive what the scriptures convey to us today is easily demonstrated by using our very own Bibles.   When Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders that the “…tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matt 21:31 RSV), such a statement simply has no place within the present day understanding of Christian doctrine.   Because we are without a means to explain Jesus' words, most Bible commentaries simply ignore the implications of this passage of scripture.   One widely used commentary attempts to correct the text by changing the words to “instead of” -- which would then make the meaning doctrinally correct and read: “The tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God instead of you”.  

In this verse of scripture we are presented with one of the core reasons why the original followers of Jesus believed differently than most Christians today.   The question that must be posed is: When will the chief priests and elders enter into the kingdom?   Modern Christian   doctrine states that because of their disbelief and rejection of Christ, they will be cut off from the face of God, and condemned to eternal judgment.   And yet we cannot deny the fact that Jesus' own words convey the message that there will come a time when the chief priests and elders will also enter the Kingdom of God -- and it will be at a time after the tax collectors and harlots who believed, repented, and followed the Christ.

As students of the scriptures, we should ask ourselves why modern Bible commentaries are silent about the implications of these words that Jesus spoke?   If it is our desire to know and embrace the truth that Jesus taught, then we would want to expand our knowledge and understanding in order to better comprehend the Word.   Why, then, do our commentaries generally ignore the implications of these words that Jesus taught?   The answer is simple: There are three possible resolutions to the problem, and each of the resolutions is not in harmony with modern Christian doctrine: (1) The chief priests and elders will be permitted into the Kingdom even though they did not believe, and did not accept Christ in their lifetime; (2) They will be given the opportunity to work off their sins in some after-life state of existence; (3) Or, the unthinkable is true, and the beliefs of the direct followers of Jesus and the earliest of Christians are correct, and those souls who were the chief priests and elders will be reincarnated, and continue to live lives in this realm, until which time they have paid back the last debt, accept Christ, and mature to the level of spiritual perfection that is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God.  

Our commentaries fail to explore the possibilities, because to go beyond our limitations of thinking, we begin to navigate unchartered territory -- and this creates turmoil in our religious life.  Moreover, any commentary that strays too far from accepted religious opinion would be immediately condemned as heresy.   Because we cling to the milk, and are afraid to eat the more solid food of the Spiritual Gospel, we simply fail to contemplate and investigate along unfamiliar lines of thinking.   The result is that we do violence to ourselves by extending our servitude to the prison of this world by obstructing the very path that leads us to the threshold of The Way.

With respect to the above statement of Jesus: Such a concept of religion is so adverse and antagonistic to modern doctrine, and the ramifications so frightening to the flock of faith-based believers, that this -- and many other such passages of scripture -- are simply ignored by Christians today.   Yet, the direct followers of Jesus, as well as the first Gentile (Gnostic) Christians, understood such statements in the Bible as being part of the process that brings about the requirement that Jesus set forth for those who would be truly saved: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48 RSV).   Where we lack a means to understand these biblical concepts, the early Christians recognized these teachings to be part of the process whereby each of us will continue to live out lives in this realm until we become very serious in our walk with Christ, and put on the necessary cloak of perfection as required in order to enter the Kingdom of God.  

If what Jesus said is true, and the chief priests and elders will eventually be given the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God -- and if Jesus truly meant what he said when he stated that mankind must indeed become perfect, as our heavenly Father, then where does that leave the modern believer today?   Thus, we see in this single concept an example of one of the many points where the modern Christian's approach to the Bible is founded upon a different premise -- a totally opposite mindset and understanding, and from a totally different perspective than those who sat at the Masters feet and learned directly from him.  

The Apostle Paul writes much the same thing to the believers at Corinth: “his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Cor 3:13-15 NIV).   In evaluating this, let us be ever mindful of the fact that Paul was writing to believers who were yet too carnal to receive and comprehend the Mysteries of God.  

This same concept where every debt must be repaid is reinforced throughout many other teachings of the scriptures: “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same” (Job 4:8 KJV) -- “For He pays a man according to his work, and makes him find it according to his way” (Job 34:11 NAS) -- “Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices” (Prov 1:31 KJV) -- “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him” (Isa 3:10-11 KJV) -- “But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it” (Jer 21:14 KJV) -- “And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth” (Ezek 7:9 KJV) -- “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer 17:10 KJV).

What is truly important is for us to understand that the above verses are one side of the coin -- all those many biblical verses that speak about predestination are merely revealing to us that whatever shape our life takes from birth to death, is the direct result of our own past actions; i.e., “Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom 2:6 KJV) -- “You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men” (Hosea 10:13 NKJ) -- “His own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray” (Prov 5:22-23 NAS).

The Mysteries Of God

The Flawed Foundational Mindset Of All Religious Paths

That Obstruct The Seekers Entrance Into the Inner Kingdom

The Journey Of The Prodigal Son

The recently discovered Gospel of Thomas opens with these important words: "These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.  And he said, Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death."   With regard to this declaration in The Gospel of Thomas, at first glance it would seem to be anti-Christian for someone to be saved merely because they find the explanation of certain words.   By their way of thinking, it would be correct for the modern Christian to ask where faith and belief in Christ enters into such a pattern of religious thought?   Yet, the modern believer comes to this false assumption, because they fail to recognize the true foundation of the Spiritual Living Gospel that Jesus taught.   In a Living Gospel, there is only one way to find the explanation of the words in Thomas's Gospel, and that is to hear them at the feet of the Master.   And since the Kingdom is within us (Luke 17:20-21), then it is within our ability to walk in TheWay, and learn from the One Teacher.   Yet, to those people who have only received one talent and are burying it in the earth, and are thus, sense bound, they have no perception of the Spiritual Kingdom, and such a concept of religious thought appears to them as impossible.   And thus, it is these people who Paul portrays as being of a Natural mind, that Jesus said was the dead who know nothing.

What Christians believe today is the entry-level teachings designed for those who Paul portrays as "babes in Christ".   What is written literally in the scriptures is elementary -- i.e., the entry-level instruction designed for those who have received only one talent because they have never evolved beyond the exoteric doctrines for people who Paul describes as being of a Natural Mind (see Why God Speaks To Man In Allegory And Enigma).   And when Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables, they asked of him why he taught in this manner: "The disciples came to him and asked, Why do you speak to the people in parables?  He replied, The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.  Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.  In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.  For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it" (Matt 13:10-17 NIV).  

The essence of why the multitudes were too carnal to comprehend the Mysteries of the Kingdom, is seen in the fact that they are building upon a counterfeit doctrinal foundation -- and lack a knowledge of self and their relationship to God.   A most important reality that is portrayed in the Gospel of Thomas is in the words that "Whoever finds himself is superior to the world" -- and perhaps even more profound is the reality portrayed in the third saying of the Gospel of Thomas in the words:  "When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."    What is the meaning of the words: "...then you will become known"???   And it is this shocker that all the religions of the world are simply not prepared to understand.   And you will find this phrase in many other scriptures and writings -- i.e., it is beyond the understanding of the religions of man to comprehend what is being stated in the words: "But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?" (Gal 4:9 NKJ).   HOW CAN WE NOT BE KNOWN BY GOD???   The answer is because we exist within the mind of our soul/higher self -- and it is our soul/higher self that exists within the Mind of God and is the creation of God.   In the beginning God Created all the souls which are His Offspring -- and the process of soul-evolution and growing to maturity, is brought about by the experiences of learning that are necessary to move from the Alpha of UnKnowing, to the Omega of Knowing.  

This higher soul-reality is among the many things that Jesus could not speak of to the multitudes who he portrayed as having received one talent which they failed to grow because they placed what was received in the earth.   These people of a natural mind who Paul stated would look upon the Mysteries of God as foolishness -- i.e., “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14 NKJ)  (see Why God Speaks To Man In Allegory And Enigma).   Paul then goes on and warns these believers of a natural mind who were baptized and dedicated to Christ: “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ” (1 Cor 3:1 NAS).   Thus, these believers could only be taught the doctrine of Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 2:2), because they were not yet spiritual men -- but rather, they were men of flesh and still very much “babes in Christ”.   Paul then explains that: “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able” (1 Cor 3:2 NAS).    To the degree that Paul warned that it was unlawful to reveal the Mysteries of the Kingdom to those who were yet carnal, and of a natural organic mind -- i.e., and revealed the the Mysteries that could only be taught to the disciples who had undergone the process of alchemical spiritual transformation, would witness “…things so astounding that they are beyond a man's power to describe or put in words…” -- and after they gaze upon these mysteries, what they have witnessed will be of such a profound nature that they will “…not [be] allowed to tell them to others” (2 Cor 12:4 TLB).    Why?   Why will the mature disciples of Messiah/Christ not be able to convey to the believers of the simple faith in the Church what they have seen?   Because in not having evolved through the process of spiritual transformation, they are still of a carnal mind -- a mindset that Paul warns: The... “carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God... For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom 8:7-8;13 NKJ).    

When Paul warned that he could only speak to the believers at Corinth as   "...men of flesh, as to babes in Christ” (1 Cor 3:1 NAS), what he was warning was that “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:13-14 NIV).   And because they are yet carnal -- not having undergone the alchemical process of spiritual transformation -- Paul warned that “And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Cor 8:2 NKJ).   For if man could simply open the scriptures and be able to discern the Truth, Jesus would not have said of his disciples: “For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matt 13:17 NIV).    But because the vast majority of people who enter this world can only receive one talent, which they perpetually hide in the earth and things of this world, they simply are incapable of comprehending the Mysteries that could only be revealed to the mature mind of the disciple who has himself picked up his own cross and walked in TheWay.   And thus, the first century elder Ignatius warns the believers of the simple faith who could only comprehend the entry-level doctrines of the Gospel: “Might I not write to you things more full of mystery?  But I fear to do so, lest I should inflict injury on you who are babes.  Pardon me in this respect, lest, as not being able to receive their weighty import, ye should be strangled by them”

Know Thyself!!!

The Flawed Foundational Mindset Of All Religious Paths

That Obstruct The Seekers Entrance Into the Inner Kingdom

"But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty... Whoever finds himself is superior to the world".

The Reality Of The Soul: Modern Christians are unable to fulfill the words of John 5:24, and receive the Living Words that permit the disciple to "...cross over from death to life”, because they dwell in the poverty of their carnal mindset and manmade doctrines which inhibit their ability to Know Thyself.   Thus, the Gospel of Thomas warns that "But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty... Whoever finds himself is superior to the world".    Why?   As it states in the Zohar: "...According to these teachings, all human souls have a common origin in the spiritual unity of the primordial man, sparks of which form the individual souls... The sin of Adam brought higher and lower souls into confusion; as a result, every soul has to pass through a series of incarnations... The soul itself has no sex, which is determined by the body and may vary from incarnation to incarnation”.   If it is true, that our soul has no sex -- and our gender varies from life to life in accord with the body-vessel we are inhabiting in any given life -- then what are we?   Certainly not the physical reflection that we see in the mirror.   And one of the primary realities that could not be revealed to the people of a natural organic mindset, was the reality that their true self is a Being of Light that is pure energy and intellect -- and this Being of Light is our soul-self that was created in the beginning -- our soul-self is the Offspring of God -- and is that part of ourselves that is eternal.  

Our soul/higher self that is the Being of Light that many people encounter in the published accounts of what is known as the Near Death Experience (see Being Of Light).    And you need not physically die, in order to come into the presence of the Being of Light within you -- i.e., your true soul-self.    But herein lies the problem: Men and Women look at their reflected imge in a mirror, and they think they are seeing the true being that they are.   And thus, because of man's own ignorance of his true self and form, this higher reality could not be revealed to men of a carnal mindset.   Yet, if each person is to overcome the ignorance of this world, then it is important to begin to recognize the reality of self that is being portrayed in the Gospel of Thomas saying 84, and is conveyed in the words: (84) Jesus said, "When you see your likeness, you rejoice. But when you see your images which came into being before you, and which neither die nor become manifest, how much you will have to bear!"   It states YOUR LIKENESS, and YOUR IMAGES.   It does not say: When you see God -- and this is because you dwell within the reality of your own soul-self -- and it is your soul-self that is in the above portrayed as "your likeness" that dwells within God.   We only dwell within God by proxy.    And this is why Paul states to the Corinthians: "But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him" (NKJ) -- which states that those who do not love God, are not even known by Him.   And to the Galatians he writes: "But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?" (Gal 4:9 NKJ) -- few comprehend the reality of the words "...or rather are known by God".  

That those who can only receive the one talent, cannot hear the Living Words spoken of at John 5:24 that permits them to "...cross over from death to life” -- because they are the walking dead that Jesus spoke of who cannot hear or see beyond the physical -- because they don't Know Themselves, and they dwell in the poverty of darkness, is expressed by the early Church writer Ephraim, who is called the "great light of the Syrian Church of the fourth century",  when he warned believers: "Thou canst not hear His words, while thou dost not know thyself".    And with respect to our inner soul-self, this great truth is again sounded by Melito who explained: "Wherefore I counsel thee to know thyself, and to know God. For understand how that there is within thee that which is called the soul — by it the eye seeth, by it the ear heareth...   But why this world was made, and why it passes away, and why the body exists, and why it falls to decay, and why it continues, thou canst not know until thou hast raised thy head from this sleep in which thou art sunk..." (Melito, Bishop of Sardis, Bishop of Ittica, and Bishop of Ittica [AD 160-177]).  

Who are we?   What are we?   Until you can first answer these questions, you will remain totally ignorant of both God and your own higher reality.    We cannot even be known by God, so long as we remain a divided expression of our higher soul-self.    Only, when we overcome our divided natures, and bring about the next stage of birth where we manifest our soul-self in the body, can we even begin to Know God, and be Known by God.   The Gospel of Thomas states: "Jesus said, When you see your likeness, you rejoice"  -- and it is this likeness that is our own source of Being -- our soul-self, who is the Being of Light in the Near Death Experience.  And the Gospel of Thomas asks the question: . "But when you see your images which came into being before you, and which neither die nor become manifest, how much you will have to bear!"    These images which came into being before you, are the past lives that your soul-self has previously lived, that have all failed to bring about the next stage of soul-birth that Yeshua taught was necessary to enter the Kingdom -- and thus, these past life images remain only as the experiences of failed lives that never became manifest.   The reality of man’s plight in this world is that he is an embryonic image of his pre-existent soul that has entered into this realm in order to perfect those laws and elements that he must overcome.   In the same way that a fetus is an embryonic copy of its parents, our mind is an embryonic image of our soul.   In the same way a fetus must grow and mature in accordance with the pattern of its parents, our mind must grow and mature in the pattern of our soul.   When our mind grows in the culture of this world, and becomes alienated from our soul, then our life becomes synonymous with the miscarriage of a fetus whose defect fails to develop it in accordance with its physical genetic pattern.  

That different men and women each possess a vast amount of greatly differing and sometimes unique abilities, is due to the past accomplishments of their pre-extent soul.   Because each man/woman is an embryonic image, a number of really important paradoxes are invoked in their life -- i.e., in one sense, that unique man/woman has never lived prior to that life, and because he-she is an image of his-her soul-spiritual natures, he-she can only become real if he/she is able to develop through the next stage of soul-birth.   In this respect, because we cling to an anti-biblical quasi-Darwinist philosophy, there are whole dimensions of New Covenant theology that are no longer understood in our modern day with respect to the absolute need for each of us to be born again.

Symbol And Form: Everything in this world is a symbol and form of higher reality.   An important reality is portrayed by the early Church Father Origen writes: “It is sufficient however, to represent in the style of a historic narrative what is intended to convey a secret meaning in the garb of history, that those who have the capacity may work out for themselves all that relates to the subject.”   Why are the scriptures composed in the allegory and form that convey to those with eyes to see a concealed meaning?   Because all of life is a symbol and form of higher reality that carnal men are blind to.   And with regard to what would otherwise be historical symbols and events that would appear to us as the knowledge of superficial episodes of the past, Origen writes: “I believe that every man must hold these things for images, under which the hidden sense lies concealed” (Origen - Huet., Prigeniana, 167 Franck, p. 142).

What that means is that if we study and investigate the organic patterns that are present in our lives, we can begin to discern higher truth because we are literally immersed in the Divine Pattern of Creation.   In the same way that a woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have -- and only those eggs which become fertilized and are born into this life will ever become an actual person, we exist in a similar fashion on the Divine scheme of reality.   We have the potential to become spiritually fertilized and be born into the Life that Jesus declared was the promise of the New Covenant -- but unless we are ready to mature and leave the womb of the mindset of Mother Earth, and be born again in the reality of our soul and spiritual natures, we cannot then emerge into the True Life in the Kingdom after our time in this realm has expired.   So what is our fate?   We become an image of our soul-self that has failed to become manifest.   And contrary to modern Christian doctrine, will not go to Glory -- neither will we be with the Lord -- and this miscarriage of life from a soul and spiritual perspective has the capacity to embrace all of the after death realities that man has envisioned -- i.e., some have called the absence of reality, hell.  

As spiritual beings, we dwell in these bodily vessels of flesh for a reason and purpose -- and if we fail to take advantage of the opportunity of the life we are presently living -- and bury the talent we received in the earth -- from the perspective of our soul-self who is the Being of Light, it will be an opportunity that has been squandered and lost.   Not to recognize this great truth is to diminish the very purpose and design of life itself.

In this respect the Rev. Spurgeon is again correct when he states that there are two lines of truth, and because the majority of mankind -- the people the Apostle Paul refers to as “natural” (1 Cor 1,2,3) -- do not possess a genuine spiritual essence that is manifest in their life, it is the application of the one line of truth contained in the scriptures where the Lord taught that they will be forever cut off (Matt 25:46) which will come to pass, and it is this line that becomes the only reality that can be applied to them.    When Jesus said of the masses of people: “let the dead bury their dead” (Matt 8:22 KJV) -- those who he spoke of as dead, inherit the fate of this one line of truth, and not the other.  

The problem is that carnal man has altered the gospel message in order to make it acceptable to his manner of thinking (see Bible Corruption).   Those who Jesus called dead, have found fault with the words of Jesus, and demanded that he change the rules in accordance with their very carnal perception of life and Creation.   The dead (Christians) have replied to Jesus: We demand that God repent, and embrace an all-inclusive perception of the Word.   We want to live and enjoy the things of this world, and still be saved and go to heaven when we die!   Yet, what they fail to realize is that in the manner of an egg that has never been fertilized, from the perspective of the soul’s reality these images are very much already dead.   Why? In their manner of thinking and lifestyle, they have already locked themselves out of the Kingdom.   The result is that their physical death is just the final step which has been brought about when they failed to embrace the opportunity of Life that God has bestowed upon all men.  

The Plight Of The UnFertilized Egg: From the modern Christian perspective we can reason that it would be cruel if all those possibilities of life that exist in the form of an egg in the ovaries of a woman are never given the opportunity of life?   Isn’t this the exact teaching of the modern Roman Catholic Church that bans birth control, and even male masturbation, because these acts constitute the denial of life?   Wouldn’t a truly compassionate God desire every potential person to be born, live their lives, and eventually take their place in the Kingdom?   In the same way that a woman has tens of thousands of eggs that possess the potential to be born as a person, and yet the opportunity of physical life is only given to the very few, the same is true with respect to man’s birth into the Kingdom.   If anyone is cruel, it is the pseudo-priests and the philosophers of this world whose false doctrines and teachings rob the person of the life of its soul.  Thus the words of Jesus: “Yes, woe upon you hypocrites. For you go to all lengths to make one convert, and then turn him into twice the son of hell you are yourselves” (Matt 23:15 TLB).

Contrary to modern liberal all-inclusive Christian doctrine, those who Jesus said are dead cannot be brought to life merely because the inevitable happens and they physically die.   And while many New Age psychics and mediums can track the plight of those who die and pass over, they are just as delusional to think that the biblical warnings are in error.   But what is the fate of those who fail to bring about the next stage of soul-birth that Yeshua said was absolutely necessary to enter into Life?   Again, it is impossible for us to comprehend this greater reality until we begin to understand ourselves as an embryonic image of our pre-existent soul.   In the same way that each egg that is released into a woman’s womb is equally living -- equally possess the potential for life -- it is only those eggs that are fertilized, and grow to maturity, that enter into this life as we know it.   In the manner of an egg with respect to the next stage of birth, even though these people walk among us, the Bible, which is written from a soul-spiritual perspective, correctly views these people as being dead -- and in the manner of the unfertilized egg that is eventually expelled from the woman’s womb, those who are dead because they were never fertilized, and never evolved through the process of soul and spiritual development, cannot be born outside of the womb of this world, and neither can they be given the opportunity to again enter into this life (reincarnate) in the manner envisioned by those who believe in the doctrine of reincarnation.

What this means is that both the traditional Christian belief that they will go to Glory without having fulfilled the spiritual requirements as set forth in the Bible, as well as those who believe in the doctrine of reincarnation, are equally wrong -- though there are varying degrees of truth to each of their beliefs when properly understood from a higher perspective.  

If natural man could envision the Mysteries of God which the Apostle states is beyond carnal man's comprehension and ability to perceive in his natural state of being -- i.e., the revelation of the mysteries that are veiled by the seals which the Prophet Isaiah declared was beyond the vision of the people -- what natural man would learn is this great profound truth that is totally in conflict with our modern-day quasi-Darwinist mindset: Only those people who are themselves in harmony with their pre-existent soul -- Disciples of the Light that are of a true spiritual essence -- inherit the other line of truth, and are given the opportunity to reincarnate in the endeavor to serve and grow in the Grace of the Gospel.   The majority of people do not go to Glory in the Kingdom, and neither do they reincarnate in accordance with the common understanding of the term, because in the manner of an unfertilized egg, they being incomplete, there is no life in them that is of a genuine essence, and they are therefore said to be dead from a scriptural and spiritual perspective.   With respect to this next stage of birth Jesus said: “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matt 19:17 NKJ).   It is not that God judges man with respect to his ability to live in accordance with a set of laws and rules -- but rather, it is in the living and keeping of the commandments that brings about the necessary growth with respect to the next stage of birth.   The problem is very simple: Those who keep the commandments become fertilized with the essence of their spiritual nature -- those who live in accordance with this world make themselves temporal, and deprive themselves of Life.

We can perhaps only begin to envision the reality of our plight in this world if we take a moment to shift our perception of what we see.   If our soul existed prior to our birth in this present life, then the being we truly are can only be found in the essence of our inner-self, and not what our culture has molded us into.   The more we embrace the culture and mindset of this world, and permit ourselves to become alienated from our indwelling pre-extent soul and spirit, the more counterfeit we become.   To what degree, then, we are alive from a spiritual perspective, is directly related to what degree we reflect our soul -- i.e., the being that we truly are before entering into this present life.

What the modern Christian must begin to understand is that it is not that their doctrines of faith is necessarily wrong -- but rather, incomplete -- and it is for this reason why Paul calls the testimony of Christ the “milk”.   In order to develop into a state of spiritual maturity we must recognize that great wisdom of the Apostle Paul when he wrote throughout his Epistles that it is impossible for the carnal mind of man to comprehend the Mysteries of God -- and that man must himself become spiritual, in order to receive the Spiritual Gospel of Christ.   What he is proclaiming to us is the absolute need for us to be born into the next stage of (soul/spirit) development.   Thus, we must become nourished by the milk of the simple faith as we mature enough to receive the solid meat of the Mysteries of God that can only be received via man’s spiritual nature.

In the same way that a fully developed man or woman is not born after the egg is fertilized in their mother’s womb, neither is a person born spiritually by virtue of their philosophical association with a very carnal perception of the Gospel message.   In the same way that a physical man or woman had to evolve through every stage of development from a fertilized embryo -- fetus -- newborn -- infant -- toddler -- child -- adolescent -- young adult -- in order to take their place as a mature man or woman, the soul who is able to stand in the presence of God as a mature and fully formed spiritual being has evolved through every level of spiritual development.   That we today #xfilesdo not understand the process with regard to what is required to bring this condition of maturity and perfection about in our lives at present, is not the fault of God.   It is well defined in the Bible, we just chose to ignore what is written -- which in part was brought about when the Roman Church threw away the Key of Knowledge, and killed the genuine congregation of the New Covenant (see The Death Of The Religion Of Jesus).   Thus, mankind has brought this state of unknowing upon himself!

 Reincarnation - A Counterfeit Doctrine

Because we embrace the doctrines of Pagan Rome, which is found embodied in a quasi-Darwinist vision of nature, we are unable to grasp the true New Covenant process of spiritual development because we fail to comprehend that our soul has existed since the very beginning of time.   In not understanding our true spiritual nature, we fail to perceive that the measure of how real and genuine we are, can only be envisioned in our relationship to our pre-existent soul -- i.e., whether it can be said of us that we are alive from a biblical/spiritual perspective.

In the case of the majority of the people who are driven by their carnal nature, the idea that is championed by modern New Age believers who falsely assert that they have reincarnated merely because they possess the spiritual genetics of their soul, and have the appearance of having lived before, this teaching is fundamentally a flawed doctrine of belief.   While it is true that many people have developed the ability through a number of different means to detect the lifetimes that their soul has previously lived, if the person we are at present is bound by the culture and thinking of this world, rather than a reflection of our soul, then there is nothing of any real substance that will survive death.   In like manner, even though it appears that we survive death from the perspective of those who are revived after a Near Death Experience (NDE), this in like manner is only a partial truth.   What should be truly troubling to the person of faith is the fact that from a soul perspective, neither is the Atheist totally wrong in his assertion that the people of this world do not survive death -- and this belief can also be found in the Bible.

With respect to the New Age believer who learns to use age-regression techniques to view what they call their past lives, this would be synonymous with our saying that we see our own selves in the lives of our physical brothers and sisters.   While the offspring of the same parents share the same genetics as their siblings, it is true that each child is unique to it’s own self.   Therefore, what the New Age adherent sees when he learns to view what he believes to be his past lives, is in fact other images of his pre-existent soul that came into being in the manner of his physical brothers and sisters.   Again in order to even begin to understand the essence of life, we must learn to embrace the paradoxical nature of Creation.   While it is true that we came into being at conception, it is also true that the very essence of our being -- i.e., our soul -- has lived before in what appear to us as other lifetimes.   The question with respect to have we lived before, or will we survive death, can only be understood from the perspective of to what degree we can manifest our soul, which is our true self.

Reality can perhaps best be envisioned by injecting a little science fiction into the equation.   From an X-Files perspective, if we were born into this world as a reflection and image of our pre-existent soul, and an alien being in the manner of a body-snatcher took over our life -- displacing and suppressing the person we truly are with a foreign personality -- when the body dies, and the alien is released, how much of our life did we actually live during the time when our true nature was suppressed -- when we existed in a sort of coma -- and some other being used our body in our absence? The truth of the matter would be that we were robbed of our life because the genuine person we were was suppressed -- existing only in a state of suspended animation -- while an alien being walked in us -- talked in us -- and used our opportunity of life for their own purposes.

I understand that what is being portrayed in this analogy is not a pretty picture.   The predicament is that our whole perception of life is flawed because it is based upon a quasi-Darwinist vision of creation.   The problem that confronts each of us is seen in the fact that, because we have begun our understanding of life on the wrong philosophical foundation, everything we build upon our philosophy is equally defective and flawed.   We therefore reject the words of Jesus, and think of ourselves as being alive, rather than dead.   It is difficult for us to embrace the reality that the person we have come to be is not genuine -- that in becoming part of our culture, we have in fact made ourselves an alien to our very own souls -- and since we exist as little more than a shadow of our real selves -- a phantom-being who exists as part of the present cultural landscape with only a hint of the being we truly are by virtue of the tinting of the personality that we have come to be -- the emerging self-portrait is not the image of ourselves that we wish to view.  

We say that God loves us, so we will be saved.   Yet, many mothers rejoice when they conceive -- they love the child that they feel growing in their womb -- and yet are unable to change the course of events when their fetus fails to properly develop and is spontaneously aborted.   In the same way, if you say you love the Lord and you desire to enter into Life, then the evidence of your love is not in accordance with what you say -- but rather, your willingness to live and develop your life in accordance with the Word in order that you might be born into the next world.

Only when we begin to envision the existence of our pre-existent soul and spiritual nature, are we able to embrace the words of Jesus when he commanded that we must be in the world and not of it.   Only when we comprehend that our physical body is a vessel that manifests the presence of our soul and spirit in this world, can we even begin to fulfill the Gospel message in our lives.   Only when we begin to grasp the fact that when we permit ourselves to become a part of the temporal culture of this world -- a person born in the very limited consciousness of the timeframe in which we are presently living -- a being who has been led into the very pit of what is spurious through our adoption and adherence to a political philosophy that has no place in the true reality of Creation -- are we able to embrace what is genuine and real.   From a biblical perspective, the result of embracing the philosophy of this world is an acknowledgment of the fact that we have permitted ourselves to become a mortal creature who has been so immersed in the mindset and false thinking of the timeframe in which we presently live, that we have been molded and reformed into an alien in relation to who we truly are at the essence of our being.   Listen to the true prophets of this world -- i.e., the Atheists -- and know that if you have any part of their philosophy or lifestyle, then you will cease to exist when your opportunity in this life has come to an end.

We can see the great flaw of the doctrines of the Atheist-prophets imbued in our present-day cultural thinking -- i.e., their philosophy is founded upon the premise that we came into existence at birth, that we are nothing more than what we perceive with our physical eyes and senses, and we are a physical being who originated in this world.   The Apostle warns us that they are blind to man’s higher reality, and their wisdom is foolishness!   Moreover, their very limited wisdom was foolishness in the day of the Apostle, and remains foolishness to this very day.   It is not that the philosopher’s of this world became more wise -- but rather, that Christians have permitted themselves to become totally alienated from the spiritual wisdom of the scriptures.

It is not until we begin to perceive ourselves as spiritual beings who are projected into this realm as an image of our pre-existent soul, that we can begin to understand both the core teachings of The Way that Jesus taught, and the obstacles in life that we must overcome.   What we must come to realize is the fact that we cannot alter the original foundational concepts of the New Covenant in order to make these spiritual truths conform to a quasi-Darwinist mindset, and still be called the people of The Way.   It does not work!   There is only One Way -- and that is The Way which was Ordained by the Lord!  

Christians Follow The Dictates

Of A Circus Prostitute And Roman Emperor

Christian Adhere To The Doctrines Of A Circus Prostitute!

The fact that there exists a great void in the our perception and understand among Christians today with respect to of the spiritual essence of the Gospel message, can be attributed to another very important historical element that is missing from the understanding of the modern believer -- which element is the knowledge of the events that transpired in the year 553 A.D. when the Emperor Justinian condemned the Church Father Origen -- a man who lived in the second to third century, and was truly a saint and enlightened soul.  

Justinian’s wife, Theodora, who was a Monophysite -- or one who does not believe that Jesus possessed a human nature -- viewed the teaching of the church that man has a pre-existent soul as heresy.   Fundamentally she opposed the doctrines of the original Messianic followers of Jesus who claimed that he was a man who had evolved to a state of perfection, and thus became the Son of God by virtue of his Holiness.   Theodora rejected the Gentile Christians belief that Jesus was the pre-existent Son of God who was born into a human body to redeem the sins of mankind.   As a Monophysite, Theodora believed that Jesus was God, and he never possessed a human form or nature whatsoever. 

Justinian and Theodora were said to be the first co-rulers of the empire.   Some were of the opinion that Theodora, the ex-circus performer and prostitute, possessed even greater political power than her husband Justinian.   To theologically oppose her, meant death!   The result was that Origen, as well as all those in the church who supported the belief in the pre-existence of the soul, were officially anathematized by the emperor.   Because the far-reaching impact of this (secular/political) condemnation of the man who has been called the greatest of all the Christian theologians in the history of the church is basically unknown to the believer today -- and few church authorities even want to discuss it’s implications on modern-day Christian dogma and doctrine -- a great obstacle has been placed in the path of the believer that severely inhibits their ability to comprehend the full essence of the Gospel teachings in their present-day lives.   In fact, until this obstacle is removed, the believers of the common faith will never be able to perceive the Mysteries of God that they earnestly pray to be revealed to them.

The question is profound: Is man a new creation at conception?   Or is he an image of his pre-existent soul that is projected into this realm in order to continue his journey on the road to spiritual perfection?   What we fail to recognize today is the fact that these two fundamental beliefs about the nature of the soul act as the very source that require us to embrace a whole host of other downstream beliefs pertaining to every faucet of life.   The differences are so profound, that if we cling to the wrong core belief, every other belief that we hold will remain incomplete! 

In our analysis as disciples in search of the truth, we must pose the question: Who understood the essence of the Gospel message -- i.e., Justinian and Theodora; or Origen and the Ebionite/Nazirene disciples of Yeshua?   What the modern Christian fails to comprehend is that this foundational perception of the true nature of man is so crucial to a proper understanding of the Bible, that it can be said today that it is impossible to get a proper sense of the Gospel message, until the error of Justinian is reversed.   Further, all the doctrinal conflicts that divide the Christian Church today into an uncountable number of sects and opposing opinions, is the direct result of the believers acceptance of the Justinian/Theodora vision of man, Yeshua, and Creation.   The problem is that we can never truly come to Messiah/Christ, and we can never perceive the Mysteries of God, so long as we anchor ourselves to this world by our allegiance to the political decrees of Justinian and the doctrines of men.

The most sure profession of what we actually believe is not seen in what we say, but more appropriately the manner in which we live our daily lives.   From a biblical perspective, the majority of people believe and live in the manner that they presently do, because they lack spiritual guidance, and are ill informed as to the genuine facts.   They trust their clergy, their religious authorities, their teachers, and their leaders to convey to them what is important.   The majority of people have never taken the time to actually investigate what they believe -- few people understand the true source of their beliefs -- and even fewer are able to perceive their beliefs apart from the parochial viewpoint with which these beliefs were taught to them.  

In the case of Christians, they have faith in what they have been taught.    If they are practicing Christians, they believe in the doctrines of their church.   But what they fail to realize is the existence of an all-pervading important spiritual element to their beliefs which the great majority of modern Christians are totally unaware of.   The problem is that this very important void in their understanding can only be revealed to them by someone who actually lived at the time of Yeshua -- not because Yeshua intended it to be this way -- but because the fourth-century Church which the Roman Emperor Constantine created used every means at its control to silence all opposition to the religion of the Emperor.

It is not that a great many of the modern believers aren’t a truly faithful people -- quite the opposite is true, and a great number of the flock desire to embrace the Word of God.   Yet, the ever-looming reality they fail to realize is that in not being truly informed with respect to the actual source of what they believe, the result is that the modern believer actually clings to the religious doctrines of Constantine, Justinian, and the Church of the Roman Empire.   Regardless of the fact that they falsely believe they have rid their religious beliefs of fourth-century Paganism at the time of the Reformation -- in this they are wrong, because in possessing only a very partial understanding of the full spectrum of the Original Teachings of The Way, they were only able to re-establish what the Apostle Paul called the “milk” of the Gospel (1 Cor 5:2), with the “solid meat” of the Spiritual Gospel of Christ remaining beyond their reach and perception (see Why God Speaks To Man In Allegory And Enigma).  

Even when we acknowledge that what modern Christian’s believe today is very different than what those who Yeshua personally taught, herein lies the problem: Because both our culture and modern church doctrine is founded upon not only the wrong premises of when life begins, but also our true nature and form, it is impossible for us to even begin to embrace the very essence of New Covenant thought that has the Spiritual Power to bring about true transformation.   We therefore do not understand why the original followers of Yeshua believed very differently than we do today.   We do not understand why the Christian world is divided into an uncountable number of opposing sects and opinions.   We do not understand why our schools are failing -- why our children do not learn -- why the moral core of our society has degenerated.   We fail to perceive that because we look at life through the vision of Constantine, Justinian, Theodora, Darwin, Marx, and a whole host of other cultural and worldly philosophers, that our walk with the Lord remains incomplete.

How do we see ourselves?   Because we perceive ourselves in a quasi-Darwinist vision, we fail to recognize that the teachings of TheWay are not a philosophical system of belief -- but rather, a means to transform our physical, carnal, very natural and limited self, into a spiritual being that is able to transcend all realms of Creation -- and stand before our Creator God in the fullness of His Offspring.   Just as important is the fact that the modern concept of religion where it is preached that when you die you will know the truth, or go to Glory, is in like-manner, founded on the error of the Pagan doctrinal thinkin