Joseph, 10 March 1973;
Believing, yet Without Belief
in a Spiritual World.

The highest gift God gave to human beings is free will and reason. This allows human beings to investigate questions of belief ultimately deciding what is acceptable to them. In the beyond, no one can make the excuse that he had been taught differently, because everyone is responsible for himself.

Joseph: God bless. Dear brothers and sisters, seek first the realm of God and his justice, and everything else will be given to you (Matthew 6:33). Even for a believer it isn’t always easy to find the realm of God, and likewise for other seekers the search is even more difficult. One can find justice in the realm of God, in the order and the laws. Christ said: “I shall send you the spirit of truth, and he will explain many things to you.”

Well, there are human beings who will only believe what they can see and touch; what they can measure and prove. These people don’t know the spiritual laws; they have no idea of the divine plan of salvation and order. There are people who try to impose their own convictions or views on their fellow human beings; they try to convince others by tying them to their own ideas. In a certain sense they apply spiritual violence.

God gave human beings the highest gift he could possibly give them which is the will to decide freely. Human beings are to decide by themselves and realize what is good or wrong. However, if they lack the necessary power of consideration they should – if they’re pious – ask for enlightenment in order to recognize the truth. When someone returns to eternity he cannot insist that he was forced to believe in this or that dogma. Every human being should decide for himself; he himself should find the strength to realize what is good and what is bad.

As far as the spiritual is concerned it shouldn’t be confused with human affairs nor should human thinking and human conviction be decisive for the spiritual. A human being so distant from God won’t be able to recognize spiritual events. If one isn’t even prepared to explore the truth and search for the realm of God and his justice – in a spiritual manner, not in the human way – if one cannot find this path leading to the spiritual then one cannot come to a true decision either. One needs to familiarize oneself with spiritual life, with the spiritual laws and the spiritual order.

When Christ said that he would send the spirit of truth he spoke an important word. Thus one should assume that a spirit of truth brings enlightenment to human beings. After all, the spirit of truth coming from Christ’s kingdom living in this order has to know the spiritual laws and the spiritual order. Therefore, the word of such a spirit rates higher than the word of human beings.

People living in this earthly world, impressed by all the glitter and the human laws and order, believe this is how it is in the spiritual. Well, people who are teaching others in this way – believing they can combine their teachings with earthly laws and have the right to make assertions – carry great responsibility and will one day be called to account. Human beings can cause damage to others in this way as people might not find the true path because they are wrongly instructed and influenced. Nevertheless, I’d like to emphasize that it is a person’s own responsibility to make a decision whether he believes or not. When someone searches for the realm of God much patience is required in order to find what he wishes. Yet, he is given the opportunity to find it.

We always try to address the entire – inner and outer – person but primarily the inner person. We speak to the human soul. And the human being listening to what he hears takes it up in his memory and decides whether he’ll pass it on within or whether he’ll be guided in his decision by worldly values. After all, the spiritual is eternity, something which human beings cannot touch with their hands now. Therefore, all spiritual things should be assessed according to the spiritual laws and the spiritual order.

In our personal reports we always attach great importance to the fact that in the spiritual world – provided one has attained a relatively elevated level – one is instructed about the plan of salvation, order and creation. The aim is to provide answers and evidence to the returnee; he will be instructed about all of this. If the deceased human being deserves it he can be led back in spirit and given a viewing of past events. He’s given this view so that he can experience it. Actually, these are rare cases when such is granted to this or that being so that he might reach a higher insight quickly; one must not forget that the guilt acquired by a human being by hindering others in their ascent is not easily overlooked.

Spiritual teachings cannot simply be compared with earthly experiences. Spiritual teachings given to human beings are taken from eternity and address the spiritual within a person. It is the soul – the everlasting and eternal – that unites them with God and that is intended to help them become at one with God; each human being carries within a tiny part of God. They are to become at one with God, because they are from God carrying the divine within. We could call it divine light, because it is the spark which is always mentioned. This comes from God. Human beings are heirs of God; they belong to God. Therefore, these explanations should come from the realm of God and teach human beings, guide them on the path, so that they reach the spiritual heights quicker. After all, they have to be able to return to their place in the heavenly realm which they once occupied, and much is needed to achieve this.

No doubt every believer realizes that it isn’t made easy for human beings. After all, one prays for protection from temptation, that one is not tempted; one wishes to be at one with God and live in the desire to experience heavenly beatitude again. One hopes and presumes that one will be able to experience it again immediately after earthly death.

The explanations and personal experiences I give you help to inform you of the divine order and laws. And so, I’d like to tell you today about a brother who had to leave this world, that is, his spirit was separated from his body thereby bringing about earthly death. This person believed in God but not in a holy spiritual world. He had his own ideas about God; he never searched for the realm of God and its justice. He aligned himself with human laws rather than searching for the realm of God.

In most cases, the spiritual world of God is present at the time of passing over to eternity and also leads the returnees into purification. It can be pleased with the returnees by giving expression to its joy or it can accuse and blame them leading them straightaway into purification and distress. But you also know that the spiritual world of God leaves some returnees to fend for themselves; they are left in abandonment. They are left to search while all the same given sufficient time to get to know this other world.

Well, it was like this with this brother: he was not immediately guided away from his home; rather, the spiritual world of God left him for a certain time in the house where he had lived and died. As all exits from the house were blocked to him he was left to observe how relatives and friends came to express their grief and how his corpse was carried away. However, he was no longer in the room where his spirit separated from the body but was guided to his study. He always used to work there where he considered his books his friends or as his God – he was left alone with his books.

Now, he had to realize that he was not the only one living in this room but that there were beings coming and going. He wanted to come into conversation with them but they did not reply to him. There was one coming and going in this room and our brother tried to leave this room also but found that impossible.

He could see outdoors as the walls of the house were no hindrance to him [in this respect], and he noticed a whole procession of spiritual beings approaching him. He decided to join them. He knew that he was ‘dead’ but had no connection with eternity. It appeared to him to take a very long time for these spiritual beings to come closer. Although he saw them he could never look at them from close up. Therefore he thought they were coming from far away, from heaven, and that his eyes were unable to judge the distance of their path. He believed that they would be coming to bring him home to God. He thought that this moment had come, because he considered he had been a good human being and had achieved a lot for Christianity. He had very much overestimated himself and had to look on for a very long time. He constantly saw these beings approaching him but never reaching his vicinity. The only explanation he had was that heaven was just so wide and endless and that his spiritual eyes were strong enough to see in this expanse. He was absolutely convinced that these spiritual beings were moving towards him and that it would just take some time.

Then, he began to have doubts because he listened to various conversations of beings that were coming and going in his room. There were some that stood by his bookshelves looking for something. But they left again making comments among each other. All these spiritual beings had not yet entered the divine order. Well, this brother wanted to prepare himself just in case he would be led to the divine judges. He sat there among his many books looking for very particular books. He took them from the bookshelves – this he was able to do – and placed them on the table. He intended to take some of them along with him in order to prove [his belief] based on these books. In readiness to join this procession he gathered the books he had selected with the intention of carrying them under his arm. Suddenly he realized that the books he had placed on the table to bring with him had disappeared. They were no longer on the table. When he had another look at the bookshelves, the books he had taken out were back in place again. He began to reflect: “How is this possible? After all, I have taken them out ...” And so, he began to study the situation.

He wasn’t the only one in this room; there were also some spiritual beings present who already knew quite a bit about spiritual laws yet without having made any progress in their spiritual ascent. This brother was talking to himself as well as to those present: “Who took these books away from me?” One of them made an effort and explained to him: “No one took your books. You chose them and placed them on the table as you wanted to bring them with you.” And this spirit laughed about it. The brother was upset that his intentions were ridiculed. The spirit who wanted to explain it to the brother continued: “You know nothing about spiritual laws and don’t realize that your spiritual body is still bound to earthly matters.” And he added: “Do you know what happened? It was a short-term materialisation which was made possible through your earthly od, through the vibrations, thoughts or forces clinging to your body and soul – or however one wants to call it. This enabled you to condense the books for a short while, after which they dissolved again; spiritual things can only be handled by spirit. The things you see on these shelves are earthly things; books which you cannot bring into eternity. You have seen for yourself that you can take them only for a brief moment. You can read in them, you can get them ready, but suddenly they disappear because your earthly strength is now too weak. The things you see on these walls and on these shelves are of earthly matter. For your spiritual eyes they are still condensed because your spiritual eyes are impure.”

Well, this brother was astonished and couldn’t believe this was possible. He was told: “You’ll be experiencing many other things.” Another spirit drew his attention to some beings which he thought were coming, as in a procession, to collect him. “Indeed”, he was told, “these are divine spirits. But you won’t be joining their ranks. You can call yourself lucky to be able to see them because they will disappear from your sight. They are spiritual beings moving on heavenly streets from one place to the next. It may take a long time until you are called for and guided on the path you desire.”

This he was told by spirits who had reached certain insights but hadn’t yet submitted to the divine order because they were afraid. They felt themselves to be spiritually too weak to confront these divine beings. They thought they could correct certain things by themselves so that their misconduct would eventually appear less noticeable. This may be helpful for certain spiritual beings who try to improve some things. However, it’s another question whether this will be recognized by the high spiritual world. These spiritual beings may well live in this belief, nevertheless, the divine law will dispense justice.

And so no one knows – even if he strongly believes he can improve somewhat – whether this will actually be taken into consideration. What counts for the spiritual world of God is the will of human beings: in which direction their own will was driven and how the human will was influenced. This is of significance for the spiritual world of God. After all, one can force a fellow human being to affirm or deny something against his will. This is something that the high spiritual world looks at closely before deciding about grace or disgrace. And so, a returnee will stand before the divine judges, and these judges are angels of God pronouncing judgement on behalf of God and the King.

This is what happened with this brother. He had to stay in his study for a long time before an angel of God came to call for him. When the angel of God was ready to take him to the divine eternity, this brother just had to marvel since so much was different from what he had imagined – the realm of God with its justice and the whole truth was approaching him.

But he was to make his own experiences with the spiritual world before he was conducted before these holy judges. No longer was he bound to his study; a divine spirit now went along with him. He led him to human beings, actually to people in a mental hospital – to use your terms. These were sick people, and this brother was shown in what way they were sick. He discovered that in most cases – I say, in most cases – strange spiritual beings were in their body. The individual spirits of those sick people were condemned to powerlessness: standing sadly next to their own body or partially in it – taunted and disdained by the others claiming control of his body. This led to fights, spiritual fights, in the form of rage and uproar. The brother was to observe this. And the accompanying divine spirit told him: “Do you have any idea what kind of beings these are?” – “Oh”, he had to admit, “these are evil spiritual beings.” – “Indeed, these are evil spiritual beings expressing their hatred for this being to whom they are linked from earlier lives.”

The divine spirit guided him through this building, and so this brother had to see that here – in contrast to his study where he was bound for a certain time – quite different, gloomy beings were coming and going. He was taught: “You see these are beings from the realm of Lucifer. Their master and leader is the devil; they are supported by him and his lot. They want the sickness and handicap of human beings.” The brother asked: “Why does God allow this to happen?” The divine spirit answered: “This is part of God’s justice, because you have no idea what kind of crimes these human beings have committed. In this way they partially contribute to their own purification in this – or again in a further – life.”

The divine spirit went along with him and led him to limbo so that he could experience and see where these evil spirits come from, what their task is and how they are constantly driven on and also instructed by those base spirits by prompting them to become a burden to human beings. The brother was to get to know the other realm as part of his purification. It wasn’t easy for him because what he saw was neither beautiful nor sublime but connected with affliction.

Thereafter, he was led to a place in eternity where he found the world in which he was to live. In spiritual schools he was to learn not only about the plan of salvation but also about the plan of creation. After having gone through all these experiences he was brought before the judges. He was given to understand that during his past life it had been expected that he develop higher thinking and divine devotion and, as well, contribute his share toward his own enlightenment and show less arrogance. He should have searched for the realm of God full of humility and modesty. This is what he was told. And so his sentence fell: he had to fulfil a task which was difficult for him and which he didn’t like at all. He was given his punishment for which he couldn’t atone fully in the world beyond until his next incarnation. No, these holy beings of heaven marked him as such which will prevent the chance of his burdening himself in this way in a future life.

This was indelibly marked in his soul. Thus he carried this sentence within as spirit living in eternity. And all divine spirits fulfilling their tasks on behalf of God could read what was written in the depth of his soul. In other words, they guide such a spirit again into an existence on earth and pave the way for his human existence so that everything is fulfilled as is inscribed in spirit. Therefore, there isn’t just one divine being taking care of such a human being who has to live in this way on earth. Some divine beings look after such a brother in the spiritual world because everything must be fulfilled, everything has to be guided on its way so that it can be fulfilled and put into effect. In spirit, several divine beings take care of such a brother. They accompany this spirit and observe everything. As I explained to you a long time ago, there are beings appointed whose task it is to be responsible for and ensure that everything that is marked or inscribed in the soul is fulfilled.

No human being is aware of the accompaniment he has: the guide or the spirits that surround him. It all depends on what kind of task the person has to fulfil in life, whether the divine world is able to cue in to the life of this human being for his spiritual advantage. First of all, the character and the entire nature of a human being have to be assessed before one involves oneself increasingly with an individual. His nature is evaluated and it can be seen and recognized whether it’s worthwhile that several divine beings approach a human being so that he can also fulfil a divine task.

That’s how it is in human life – it depends on a person’s actions and his relationship with the divine world. On the other hand, eternity expects something of spiritual value of human beings. It succeeds only if a person has the connection with and the belief in eternity so that they can go forth together hand in hand and the divine world can exercise its entire influence on a human being; thus he will be protected and guarded by it.

If a person on earth is a divine tool the divine world will take him into their keeping; it doesn’t just want to take advantage of a person but considers all human beings as their brothers and sisters. The point is that all brothers and sisters should have the benefit. Here and there a particular human being is needed whom the spiritual world of God can use and guide as their tool so that he can attain other and higher targets. After all, spiritual development progresses; it isn’t regressing – it moves forward. Therefore, it isn’t a problem when here and there people can no longer agree with their present belief or religious direction. After all, there has to be a beginning, and there has to be a way that leads mankind – and in particular Christianity – on the right path. To achieve this requires many battles, great perseverance and humiliation for many people; the heavenly realm cannot be found and gained all that easily.

Well, dear brothers and sisters, think about all that I’ve said. Link yourselves with spirit and don’t live all that firmly in this earthly world. Give room to your soul so that it may gain insight, also into eternity. Give it the possibility to do so – you’ll be glad about it one day. Although human beings are obliged to fulfil their tasks in this world they should unite both the divine and human aspects. They should give God what belongs to God, and they should give human beings, or the state, what belongs to the state. And what belongs to God one should give to God, for he has a right to be given what belongs to him.

May God’s blessing guard and protect you; may you recover if you are sick in body or soul. God bless you!

Lecture by spirit-teacher Joseph, received in German through the medium Beatrice Brunner at the Academy of Music in Zurich, 10 March 1973

Clarification to this lecture: at the time, it was the undivided opinion of the listeners that this lecture of Joseph’s had to be taken as an answer to the discussion held on television on the previous day: “Denial of the belief in a devil.” A renowned Catholic theologian and professor of the Old Testament argued that the belief in Lucifer, as well as in spirits and demons, was mythical and outmoded and that the church has to “say goodbye to the devil”. A few days later, spirit-teacher Joseph was questioned on this subject in the board meeting of 14 March, and in subsequent lectures he gave additional comments. He gave detailed explanations in particular during his lecture of 7 April 1973.