joseph, 15 May 1971

Rescue from the Realms of Lucifer

Divine spirits seek to help their brothers and sisters in their ascent. They not only take care of human beings and the spirits in the heavenly levels of ascent but also in the planes of hell where they assist the unfortunate souls to escape from Lucifer’s realm.Joseph: God bless. Dear brothers and sisters, each time I address you I can unveil something of the celestial world. For most people this celestial world is a mysterious world. Ultimately, however, it isn’t really mysterious; human beings only make it so. This other world, together with all its holy beings, would like to devote itself to human beings; it would like to enter into conversation with human beings and tell them something about the future world to which they will eventually return. The holy beings of heaven would like to be in contact with human beings and thus remain in conversation with them so that they won’t estrange themselves from this other world. This other world should be something familiar to human beings. After all, everyone will return again to this celestial, spiritual world so it shouldn’t be regarded as something strange. One should spontaneously realize that one has returned once again to the Father’s house, to one of the homes Christ said he would prepare. “I have returned to the house of the Lord” – this should be the memory of each individual. However, if one lives in the earthly world as a human being distancing oneself from the spiritual world – consciously estranging oneself – then it will be difficult to become familiar with this new world upon returning, because the memories of it have been wiped out by human life which has made such an impression on the soul. There are so many memories, so many things that one cannot and will not forget and that have taken root in the depth of the soul.

I have the opportunity time and again to give you explanations of the other world, to describe it and to tell you about its laws and order. And so, in this hour I’d like to tell you something special.

The holy beings of heaven try hard to help their brothers and sisters standing at the lower levels of evolution in their ascent. They take care of the brothers and sisters who are in the process of ascending in the world beyond and who require instruction, purification or atonement. After all, they simply cannot be left to themselves; one has to take care of them. And it isn’t too much for a high ranking spirit of God to look after a spiritual being in the lowest levels of ascent accompanying him on his way back home to God. This is what they do in their own world where they’re facing each other in spirit and where they come to talk with each other. However, it isn’t the sole task of divine spirits to help those ascending spiritual beings; there is mankind as well. After all, the earth has been created for their sake, and Christ, the Redeemer, became a human being for their sake. It’s for them that the bridge leading to God had to be constructed. Therefore, especially human beings cannot simply be left to themselves; they need to be supported and helped just as much as those ascending spiritual beings in the world beyond.

Well, human beings on earth are clothed in their material body. Their thinking is aligned with earthly matters as they are far removed from the spirit world. They cannot see the helpful spiritual brothers and sisters who, nonetheless, faithfully fulfil their duties in regards to them. If human beings believe, they will be able to create a close tie to God. If their soul contains a true devoutness and their thinking, heart and soul give expression of a noble nature, then their soul will be cared for. When considering the divine laws and Christ’s teachings then right and wrong become clear to a true believer and devout person. Such a person might possibly be alone in this world – after all, the other, spiritual world is closed to him – he cannot look into it. Yet, it’s the spiritual world that fulfils its duties to human beings, although it cannot converse with human beings as they can with the brothers and sisters in their own world. There, one can give them counsel and assist them in their ascent. These brothers and sisters see God’s angels standing in front of them; they can address them and converse with them.

However, human beings don’t see the divine spirits at their side. And it’s difficult for the divine spirits to come close to an incarnated spirit unless the person is enlightened and feels urged from within to ask about the meaning and purpose of life, instead of just talking about how mysterious the celestial world is. In order to come closer to divine spirits a person has to reflect on the fact that, after all, there must be a creator who brought all things into being. And he has to turn toward this other world opening up his eyes and ears for something more refined, sensitive, beautiful and noble than the things the world has to offer. Therefore, one has to refine one’s feelings in order to be able to come into conversation with those others. One also has to cultivate one’s soul so that one can properly perceive and grasp everything and also become clear about the fact that, as a creature of God, one has to fulfil a task on this earth serving God. A servant of God is someone elevated, noble and gentle and excludes any activity that condemns other human beings making them unhappy and discontent. One has to be noble and refined if one wishes to be a servant of God.

Thus the holy ones of heaven would like to come into conversation with human beings which is certainly not always an easy thing. The angels are looking for a way, enabling it and opening up opportunities; yet, human beings obstruct access and the possibilities because with their thinking and intentions, they cannot become united with these holy ones of heaven. If one wishes to hear or perceive them one has to be on the same path as they are. Therefore, one has to become at one with them in their thinking, intentions, in everything. On the other hand, the spiritual world of God makes an effort and does everything possible. There is no lack in the amount of support they give to human beings rather, human beings fail to accept it.

In the beginning I said that the holy ones of heaven try hard to support their ascending brothers and sisters. They take care of the spiritual beings who have crossed the bridge to the Father’s house that Christ built and they take care of human beings. There are innumerable brothers and sisters in the divine world who are always prepared to guide human beings. Human beings living on earth are, after all, in the process of ascending, they are moving upwards. In their attitude and spiritual affiliation they belong to the kingdom of Christ even if they consciously reject this connection or affiliation. Yet, this spiritual affiliation has been sealed, because Christ has opened the way to God for all.

You know yourselves how people on earth develop differently. But there aren’t just human beings that are on their way to God. There’s also a world that is frightening: it’s the realm of death, the realm of Lucifer, which is still vastly populated. In time, the creatures living there have to make their way upwards as well. However, those who are in the hands of those ringleaders have a much harder time to escape than, for instance, human beings. Although you here on earth are also under the rule of Lucifer, he cannot, after all, call you his own to the extent he does those who are still living with him in his hell and who still are his property. People here on earth can be tempted and influenced by those lower powers. Thus there’s a constant battle going on between good and evil among human beings. And what else could this base spiritual world give than its way of thinking. Its goal is that human beings are impeded and held up in their ascent; and so, they influence people in their thinking. Those who are nurturing base thoughts and leading an unjust life are consequently at one with these lower powers in their thoughts and intentions when doing evil; those of the realm of death want evil.

Divine spirits also find access to these lowest depths. In particular, the spiritual world of God has to help those beings who have difficulties escaping from there. There are levels of improvement in hell. Beings who change their attitude will move to an upper level; they’re no longer at one in thought and attitude with the base and evil powers rather, their desire is to flee this nether world and lead a better life. Beings in the higher levels of ascent in hell receive instruction about the plan of salvation and creation. They’re given consolation in this way and they’re told to persevere because the time will come for them when they will be led into a higher life. Beings in the higher levels of ascent in hell have already escaped the worst temptations of the ringleaders, because divine spirits are stationed in hell observing everything. All who have ascended and changed their attitude are to be given protection. In this way the power of these base beings is diminished and they cannot intervene, because those who have struggled through to these levels of ascent remain under the protection of the divine world. This should make it clear, therefore, that the lower powers cannot simply act at will in hell as these holy beings of heaven keep a watchful eye.

Well, as I told you there were and are those who reach the higher levels of ascent out of their own desire by changing their attitude. Those who achieve this out of their own free will and decision will be taken care of by angels of God; they are secured to the divine world for integration in a better life. But there are still those beings in the depths of hell who are unable to change their attitude because they are too weak and cannot muster the strength for a change of heart having been servants of evil time and again. The spiritual world of God can take care of them as well. For instance, an angel of God can approach them in the depths of hell. I mustn’t forget to tell you that when such takes place it isn’t a single event. Rather, it happens hundred-fold, thousand-fold – but it will be done in the manner I’m about to describe to you.

When a high spirit of heaven, who has free access to hell, descends to these depths he is accompanied by a host of warrior angels of Michael’s legion. They are his companions. This holy and exalted being of heaven – and I emphasize that it is a high spirit of heaven or one of the high ones of heaven – enters the depths, along with these holy angels of Michael’s legion, where he selects such spirits who were unable to change their attitude until now. He enters into conversation with such a being and points out to him that it’s about time for him to return to the Father. He is given full attention and promised that he will receive support and help in his ascent. Quite naturally, those ringleaders observe the divine spirits as they go about talking with one or the other as they don’t like it at all that spirits of God interfere all the time. However, these holy spirits cannot remain forever with these unfortunate ones prompting them over and over to change their mind or even to come along with them so they move from one to the next addressing yet another explaining that salvation is meant for him as well and that he should set out on the way home to the Father. Of course, these angels of heaven leave hell again and, as I’ve mentioned, their visit hasn’t remained unseen. These top ringleaders then threaten all those who had been spoken to while at the same time making promises. They promise them promotion to a higher position in hell – yes, you’ve understood correctly. They’re promised more freedom yet, on the other hand, they are threatened that should they escape they will be tracked down. And then they’re told and shown how ascended beings fare. They are not told, however, that these ascended beings haven’t yet changed their way of thinking and intention, that they are still full of evil thus unable to act other than in evil ways for which they’ll be called to account. These ringleaders keep quiet about the fact that God is true goodness and love, always creating ways for every individual and that this way upward is being eased and prepared, provided one is willing to return home. For instance, these ringleaders tell these beings that nothing the others have told them is true. And then they lead them to places on earth where people live in distress: where human beings suffer from war, political turmoil or even from torture. They are shown people who suffer torture at the hands of their fellow human beings, and they see these base spirits who use human beings as their tool for these tortures. After all, these base spirits influence these human beings because they are at one with them in their base thinking and intentions. Then these ringleaders say: “This is what will happen to you and we will make sure that you’ll have to endure it if you break free from us.” And they tell them about the power they wield and demonstrate their abilities on human beings. “You see, here we have the possibility of tempting an individual to the point of bringing him down. And what do you think is in wait for a human being who comes into conflict with earthly laws?” And so, various examples are listed and shown. “This is what will happen to you. What do you expect? Do you really want to become a human being? Your life will be full of trouble. Promises will be made but never kept. You’ll never manage to reach the heights because the demands are far too great; it’s impossible for a human being to fulfil them.” Once again these poor spirits are taken to see human beings who are being tempted and must decide out of their free will, who are being torn to and fro whether to promote the good or whether they’d prefer evil or whatever they fancy. And these ringleaders show them human greed and lust for power and everything the world has to offer as well as the possibilities there are to be tempted. All this is shown to them and they’re warned: “What do you expect? Don’t pay heed to these promises.” And they are shown such spiritual brothers and sisters who, upon their return from human existence, are bound here or there in nature. Of course, they are not told that these beings had to be banned by the divine world due to their disobedience. Such a course of action grants them more time, on the one hand, because the particular spirit has to be humiliated and, on the other hand, because it would be inadvisable to give this base being the opportunity to cause more harm to other brothers and sisters. This is why they are being banned.

All this is shown to these beings and they’re told: “After all, there’s nothing you can expect.” And they add: “Look, you can go out of this world”, meaning hell, “enjoy yourselves among human beings, use them as your tools and live through them as you please. What more do you want?” Thus they try to explain all this to them adding at the same time: “Woe betide those who listen to the words spoken by those others!” meaning the angels. They tell them that the world of the angels is so far removed and impossible for them to reach. When these weak-willed spiritual brothers and sisters have to listen to such words they are too scared to escape and fear being brought back and influenced by these lower powers. They come to see that once incarnated on earth the connecting path from the nether spiritual world to incarnated spirits does exist; therefore these base spirits can reach them and actually cause them damage. At this point, let me emphasize that the base spirits can cause them damage only if they are at one with them in thinking and will. If one aspires to that which is noble and finer, one becomes at one in thinking and will with the good spiritual world, or the higher spirits, who will influence and guide human beings. It’s human beings themselves who decide.

Let’s return to those living in the realms of hell who are approached and encouraged by angels of God: “Come and start on your way back home!” Thus, in this way some are given the opportunity by spirits of God to escape the lower world; others are even prepared to guide them out. The unfortunate spirits are aware of the momentary succour when these higher brothers and sisters are with them and they know that when they reach out their hand to the divine spirits in order to ascend, those others won’t be able to bring them back – they know that. And they also know that the heavenly companions of the high and leading angel possess great power so that no base spirit would even dare contest the right of such a spirit who is prepared to take an unfortunate soul higher up.

I’d like to tell you now about such a being who let himself be convinced by divine spirits and escaped the depths together with them. Previously they promised him: “We’ll give you the opportunity to gain further insights into the plan of salvation and creation and you won’t have to pass through the lowest levels of development; we’ll arrange for you to enter human life. Then you’ll be able to demonstrate whether you’re willing to serve the higher world or whether you prefer the pleasures of the base world. You’ll give proof of it as a human being; you’ll be brought up accordingly by your parents and the path into life will be prepared for you. If you raise your mind toward the good we shall have power over you. However, if you cannot overcome your base feelings and become at one in your thinking and intentions with the base world then that world will have power over you.” This is what the spiritual world of God ordained and he was subsequently incarnated.

I don’t want to go into all the details but I would like to start to tell you directly about the middle of his life. There were still many base feelings in the heart of his soul – it hadn’t been possible as yet to overcome them. The spiritual world gave him the opportunity to enter human existence with educators and teachers who could influence him so that he could align himself to this new world with its order. This person tried but he couldn’t disown his ties to the lower world; there was too much of the baseness in him. Therefore, he wasn’t popular among his fellow human beings. He committed many injustices and burdened himself in life. Nevertheless, he conducted his life in such a way that he couldn’t be caught by earthly courts.

When his life came to an end and he departed from this world divine spirits were present. They didn’t have much to say. After all, they knew where he came from and no doubt noticed his burden. But now, through his human life he crossed the bridge leading to God. He had escaped the power of those sinister spiritual brothers and sisters entering the regency of the holy ones of heaven. He may well be on a lower level of ascent in this divine world with many things to learn but he has to work and will be given instructions. He has to prove able to make progress in many ways. He’s given help and support by the divine world. He is taught and given to understand what belongs to the divine order. Life in the world he entered is rather primitive – he became familiar with a more beautiful world on earth. But he was told: “You’re in the process of ascent and we’ll give you the opportunity for a quicker ascent if you’re willing to obey us.” Thus he had first to be given instruction in the spiritual world and he had to prove his obedience. He was given tasks to fulfil and had to prove that he was willing to fulfil them; his will was tested to see whether it was good or evil.

Well, he was willing to obey the angels of God but constantly complained about his own weaknesses, that although he wanted to do good he was simply unable to do so. He had to admit that there was still so much impurity in the depth of his soul and feelings which he simply couldn’t readily eliminate. He asked to be helped since he wanted to do what is good but lacked the strength and possibility; he felt himself too far removed from the divine and begged to be given the opportunity of a faster ascent.

I omitted to say that although the base spiritual world kept a watchful eye on him he was, thanks to the education he had received, able to change his attitude to such an extent that he didn’t get into conflict with the earthly laws, despite his constant stumbles. Thanks to the people with whom he lived who, time and again, drew his attention to his faults and exerted a good influence on him, the worst was consequently avoided. Since his way of thinking wasn’t entirely at one with the base spiritual world he had prepared the path of ascent himself; this just by way of additional clarification.

Now, back in the spiritual world he admitted his weaknesses saying: “Please give me the opportunity to ascend” and he met with acceptance. But he was also given a view of his past just so that he could see where he came from; thus he could look back. After all, these events had been erased from his memory when he entered human incarnation. All the same, the truth of it became evident to him; he saw himself in this review. At the time he was living together with others who had the same or similar fate. With this knowledge he had the desire to do everything in order to accelerate his ascent. He was then told: “If you’re truly willing we’ll oblige you. Again, you won’t remain in the spiritual world too long as we shall incarnate you but only for a brief life on earth. After a few weeks you’ll be recalled from the earthly world. You’ll return to us as a spiritual infant and angels of God will take care of you. They’ll devote themselves and take care of you with great love; you’ll be given a careful education in the spiritual world since you’ll grow up in the children’s paradise.” You’ve been told quite often that children’s paradises exist in every level of ascent adapted to the development of those spiritual beings.

And so, this was going to happen to him; this opportunity had been created for him. His human life was short; and the fact that this spiritual child was received in the children’s paradise is understandable to my friends. There he was educated, and the angels tried with very great patience to influence this child. All returnees to the children’s paradise of this level of development require special care, because they’re just as unruly as they would have been as human children. Evil also exists with these adolescents, and this evil appears because the true character lies in the soul which gives outward expression to that within. In spirit the feelings of the soul are decisive. Thus the angels of God try to influence and guide these children in their education with devotion. Much can be achieved in this way. Such spiritual children have to be punished quite often. But of course it’s not a [corporal] punishment as exists in the human world. Rather, such a disobedient child is segregated from the others for a certain period or something he enjoys is taken away from him. In this respect, punishment aims to reform such a being by curbing his stubbornness and breaking his unwillingness somewhat. And this is what happened with this particular being. Thanks to the careful education he was able to achieve a great deal. After all, these angels have many joyful things to offer these small spiritual children even if it’s a simple world they have to live in. The children live in peace with the angels of God surrounding them. And the angels of God guide them bringing to bear their great patience. This is how these spiritual children grow up leaving the children’s paradise after a certain time span. Once it’s no longer necessary for them to be cared for in this way they come under the guidance of other angels who demand more of the adolescents and start to give them instructions. They attend schools to further their education.

Through the intercession of the high spiritual world this spiritual being was able to accelerate his ascent towards God. From the depths such a being is selected and he is guided along the path forward. And when this spiritual child has grown up and the time has come for him to undergo a new test he’ll be led into a new incarnation. It will now become evident what can be achieved through the dynamic intervention of the spiritual world of God. And in most cases such a human being is able to meet the high demands; however, base feelings still exist causing mistakes in various instances. He may become reasonable after a reminder or a period of reflection and, by himself, bring order into his soul again and put right a major part of the committed injustices. If, as a human being, one is able to bring order into one’s soul by one’s own power one has achieved a lot. After all, whosoever returns to the spiritual world still spiritually bound, either, for example, because of lack of forgiveness towards another or some other unacceptable act in relation to another, will remain burdened in his soul. Therefore, the things one has bound on earth by oneself will remain bound in the world beyond. However, if one is able to put it right on earth by oneself it will remain dissolved in the spiritual world. To solve something by one’s own power means to recognize one’s errors, to become reasonable and put one’s faults right. Then the knot is dissolved and remains solved in the spiritual world, provided one doesn’t continue to nurture irreconcilable feelings, e.g. hatred or whatever else it may be. Human beings have to rectify all this while on earth; then they will be freed from it when they enter the divine world. There are still enough other things for which one is responsible. As a human being one passes over things which one considers negligible or unimportant although they really are important. And sometimes one considers certain things to be spiritually extremely significant and important and is convinced of having achieved a lot, whereas in fact it’s the opposite, it’s irrelevant. What do human beings know ...?

Yes, dear brothers and sisters, today I’ve explained to you how spirits of heaven descend to the depths in order to take care of those beings so that they start on their journey back to the Father’s house. But don’t just imagine that this happens within a short period of time. To achieve this sometimes requires many decades. Do you have any idea what it means to enter eternity?

Nevertheless, you have a notion and knowledge of what you owe God as his servants. And if you want to be grateful to Christ for the redemption he fulfilled for you, your life on earth should be lived for his sake as well as for the sake of God; that it is in honour of God, not his dishonour, for all life originates in God. God has created various avenues through which to ascend, various lower forms of life up to human life which is the crown of God’s creation.

Dear brothers and sisters, what you’ve heard today should give you enough food for thought and put you in the picture about the celestial world and about the opportunities offered to human beings through the support of the good spiritual world. We want you to know about the great diligence of the divine spirits and of the mercy and compassion they have with those dwelling in the depths.

When I say that it takes several decades you can imagine that it doesn’t suffice just to say the Lord’s Prayer in order to liberate such a spirit from the realm of the dead. Much effort is required, and exalted spirits of heaven don’t shy away from trouble. And so, they approach those who are still full of base thinking in order to wrest them away from Lucifer, thereby depopulating his world so that as many brothers and sisters as possible step on the bridge crossing over to God.

Dear brothers and sisters, may God’s blessing accompany you on all your paths! May you be enlightened in your heart and soul! May all of you who are sick recover in body and soul! So, go forth supported by the spirits of heaven. God bless you!

Lecture by spirit-teacher Joseph, received in German through the medium Beatrice Brunner at the Academy of Music in Zurich, 15 May 1971