关于“论圣餐”的灵界见闻
731# 有一次，我看见一位天使在东方天空之下飞行，手中拿着号角，举至口边，向北方、西方和南方吹响。
他身披短外衣，因飞行而向后飘扬；腰间束着一条带子，由红宝石和蓝宝石织成，仿佛燃烧而发光。他俯身飞行，缓缓降至我所在的那片大陆之地；一触及地面，便直立而行，来回走动。随后他看见我，就举步向我而来。
那时我在灵中，并在这种状态下立于南方一座小山上。他走近时，我便向他说话，问道：“如今有何事发生？我听见你的号角声，也看见你从空中降下。”
天使回答说：“我奉差遣，要召集这片大陆上来自基督教世界诸国的人，就是那些以学问最负盛名、以才智最为敏锐、并以智慧之名最为显赫的人，使他们聚集到你所停留的这座小山上，并从心中吐露他们的见解：他们在世时，对于天上的喜乐和永远的幸福，曾如何思想、如何理解、又如何自以为有智慧。
【2】我奉差遣的原因如下：有些从世界新近来到的人，被接纳进入我们东方的天上社群；他们报告说，在整个基督教世界中，竟没有一个人知道什么是天上的喜乐、什么是永远的幸福，因而也不知道什么是天堂。
我的弟兄和同伴对此大为惊异，就对我说：‘你下去，宣告并召集灵界中最有智慧的人；所有凡人离开自然世界以后，最初都聚集到那里。这样，我们便可从众人之口得以确知：基督徒对于来生，是否真有如此幽暗、甚至黑暗的无知。’”
他又说：“你稍候片刻，就会看见一队队智慧人汇集到这里；主将为他们预备一座会堂。”
【3】我等候着，看哪，约半小时之后，我看见从北方来了两队，从西方来了两队，从南方来了两队；他们一来到，就由那位持号角的天使引入预备好的会堂，并在那里按各自方位占据指定的位置。
共有六队，或六个群体；第七队来自东方，但因光明之故，其余的人看不见他们。
众人聚集以后，天使说明召集他们的原因，并请各队依次陈明自己对于天上的喜乐和永远的幸福所具有的智慧。
于是每一队都聚成一圈，彼此面面相向，好从他们在前一世界所得的观念中追忆此事，并在此刻加以审视；待审视并商议之后，再将其陈明。
731# 记事。
有一次，我看到一位天使在东方天堂下飞翔。他手里拿着号筒，并把它放在嘴边，朝北方、西方和南方吹响。他穿着一件飞行时飘在身后的披风，腰间束着一条腰带，腰带上镶嵌着红宝石和蓝宝石，从而散发出火焰般的光芒。当他平行于地面飞行时，他的身体面向地面。他飞下来，轻轻地落在我附近的地面上。他一落地，就站直身子，走来走去。当他看到我时，就径直朝我走来。我在灵里，在这种状态下站在南部地区的一座小山上。当他走近时，我向他打招呼，说：“刚才发生了什么事？我听到了你的号声，看见你从空中下来。”天使回答说：“我被派来从那些居住在这个地区、来自基督教界国家的人当中，召集最著名的学者、最优秀的天才、最杰出或最以智慧著称的思想家，到你现在所站的这座小山上来聚会。他们要自由地表达对以下问题的真情实感，即：他们在世上时，对天堂的喜乐和永恒的幸福是怎么思想和理解的，并获得了什么智慧。
我之所以被派来执行这项任务，是因为一些刚从世界来的新人被允许进入我们东方的天堂社群，告诉我们，整个基督教界没有一个人知道什么是天堂的喜乐和永恒的幸福，因而不知道天堂是什么。听了这话，我的弟兄和同伴都非常惊讶，他们对我说：‘下去，宣告并召集灵人界中最有智慧的人（所有人在离开自然界后首先聚集在灵人界），以便我们可以从许多人口中确切地知道，对未来生命的这种黑暗或极度无知是否真的在基督徒当中盛行。’”然后，天使说：“稍等，你会看到成群结队的智者蜂拥而至；主会为他们预备聚会的房子。”
我就等候；看哪，半小时后，只见有两队从北边来，两队从西边来，两队从南边来。他们到了，被拿号筒的天使领到为他们预备的房子，在那里占据按照他们的方位分配给他们的位置。有六支队伍或六组，还有来自东方的第七支队伍或第七组，但由于它的优越光线，其他人看不见它。当他们聚集在一起时，天使解释了召集他们的原因，并请这些队伍依次阐述他们关于天堂喜乐和永恒幸福的智慧。然后，每支队伍都围成一圈，所有人都把脸转向里面，好叫他们可以从在以前的世界上所获得的观念中回想起这个主题，然后仔细考虑它，经过考虑和商讨后表达自己的观点。
731. On one occasion I saw an angel flying below the eastern heaven. He had a trumpet in his hand and held it to his mouth, sounding to the north, to the west, and to the south. He had a mantle that was flowing behind him as he flew, and was wearing a belt studded with rubies and sapphires that radiated a flame-colored light. His body was facing the ground as he flew parallel to it. He landed softly on the ground not far from where I was. As he touched the ground, he stood upright on his feet and walked here and there. When he noticed me he walked straight in my direction. I was in the spirit and was standing on top of a hill in the southern region. When he was close enough I greeted him and said, "What is going on just now? I heard the sound of your trumpet and saw you come down through the air. "
"I have been sent," the angel said, "to summon the most famous scholars, the best researchers, and the most distinguished thinkers from the nations of the Christian world that are on this continent to meet on this hill where you are currently standing. They are to express their minds freely on the following question: When they were in the world, what had they thought and understood and what wisdom had they gained concerning heavenly joy and eternal happiness?
[2] "The reason behind this mission of mine is that several people who had recently arrived from the world came to our heavenly community, which is in the east. Once they had been allowed in, they told us that not a single person in the entire Christian world knows what heavenly joy is or what eternal happiness is; therefore people have no idea what heaven is. My companions and colleagues were profoundly shocked to hear this, and said to me, 'Go down, summon and call together the wisest people in the world of spirits, where all mortals are first gathered after they leave the physical world, for the purpose of verifying from many mouths whether it is in fact true that Christians have this deep a darkness or this blind an ignorance about their future lives. '"
"Wait a little while," he added, "and you will see groups of the wise coming here. The Lord is going to prepare a place for them to meet. "
[3] I did wait. About half an hour later I saw two groups of people coming from the north, two groups from the west, and two groups from the south. As they arrived, the angel with the trumpet ushered them into the building that had been prepared for the occasion, and they took up places that had been designated for them according to the regions they came from.
There were six groups. There was also a seventh group to the east, but the other groups did not see it because the light was in their eyes.
After all were gathered, the angel revealed the reason for the gathering. He asked that the groups come forward in sequence and express their wisdom concerning heavenly joy and eternal happiness. Upon hearing the topic, each group turned inward and formed a circle face to face in order first to call to mind what ideas they had formed on these subjects in the physical world, where they used to live; then to discuss the ideas with each other; and finally after discussion and consultation, to express the opinion of their group to the others present.
731. 1 I once saw an angel flying under the eastern heaven holding a trumpet to his mouth with his hand, and sounding a blast towards the north, the west and the south. He was wearing a cloak which trailed behind him as he flew. He wore a sash studded with rubies and sapphires so that it flamed and shone. He flew head first, and alighted gently on the ground near where I was. On landing he walked upright on his feet, going in different directions, and then on seeing me came towards me. I was in the spirit, and in that state was standing on a hill in the southern quarter.
When he was near, I spoke to him and asked: 'What is happening now? I heard the sound of your trumpet, and saw you come down through the air.'
'I have been sent,' the angel replied, 'to summon the most famous for their learning, the most perceptive minds and the names most renowned for wisdom, who come from Christian lands and are in this region, to meet together on this hill, where you are now standing, and to speak their minds, stating what, when in the world, they had thought, understood and regarded as wisdom on the subject of heavenly joy and everlasting happiness.
[2] 'The reason for my mission is that some new arrivals from the world, who have been admitted to our heavenly community in the east, have reported that not a single person in the whole of Christendom knows what heavenly joy and everlasting happiness are, and so what heaven is. My brethren and colleagues were very surprised at this and told me to go down, make proclamation and summon the wisest people in the world of spirits, the place where all mortals are first gathered together on leaving the natural world, so that we can be informed by a number of voices, whether it is true that Christians are in such dense darkness and deep ignorance about the life to come. Wait a little while,' he said, 'and you will see the groups of wise men arriving here; the Lord will prepare a hall for their meeting.'
[3] I waited and after half an hour I saw two parties coming from the north, two from the west, and two from the south. The angel with the trumpet took them into the hall which had been prepared, and there they occupied the places assigned to them in accordance with the quarter they came from. There were six groups or parties; there was a seventh from the east, but the light rendered them invisible to the rest. When they were assembled, the angel revealed the reason they had been summoned, and asked the groups in turn to set forth their wisdom on the subject of heavenly joy and everlasting happiness. Then each group formed a circle with faces turned in towards one another, so that they could recall the ideas they had had about it in the previous world, discuss them, and after discussion could report on them.
Footnotes:
731. I once saw an angel flying beneath the eastern heaven, holding a trumpet in his hand and at his lips, and blowing it toward the north, toward the west, and toward the south. He was clad in a robe that floated behind him as he flew, and he was engirdled with a belt that blazed and shone, as it were, with carbuncles and sapphires. He flew downward, and alighted gently on the ground near where I stood. As he touched the ground, he walked hither and thither erect upon his feet, and when he saw me directed his steps toward me. I was in the spirit, and in that state was standing on a hill in the southern quarter.
As he came near I spoke to him, saying, "What now? I heard the sound of your trumpet, and saw you descend through the air."
The angel replied: "I am sent to convoke from among those dwelling in this world who are from the kingdoms of the Christian world, such men as are most celebrated for learning, of the finest genius, and most noted for wisdom, that they may come together on this hill where you are now standing, and freely express their minds as to what they thought and understood and what wisdom they had when in the world, respecting Heavenly Joy and Eternal Happiness.
[2] I have been sent on this mission because some newcomers from the world having been admitted into our heavenly society which is in the east, have told us that not one single person in the whole Christian world knows what heavenly joy and eternal happiness are, and thus what heaven is. At this my brethren and companions were much astonished, and said to me, 'Go down, make proclamation, and call together the wisest men in the world of spirits, where all mortals are first assembled after their departure from the natural world, in order that we may know with certainty from the mouths of many, whether it is true that such darkness or dense ignorance prevails among Christians respecting the future life."
The angel then said, "Wait a little, and you will see troops of the wise ones flocking hither; the Lord will prepare a house for them to meet in."
[3] I waited; and behold, after half an hour saw two companies coming from the north, two from the west, and two from the south; and as they arrived they were led by the angel who had the trumpet to the house prepared for them, and there occupied the places assigned them according to their quarters. There were six companies or troops, and there was a seventh from the east which was not visible to the others because of its superior light. When they had assembled, the angel explained the reason of their convocation, and asked the companies to set forth in succession their wisdom respecting Heavenly Joy and Eternal Happiness. Each company then formed a circle, all turning their faces inward, that they might recall the subject from ideas acquired in the former world and then carefully consider it, and after consideration and consultation express their views.
731. MEMORABILIA.
I once saw an angel flying beneath the eastern heaven. In his hand was a trumpet which he held to his mouth and blew towards the north, west and south. He was clothed in a mantle which streamed behind him in his flight, and he was girt with a belt set with carbuncles and sapphires, from which flashed gleaming rays of light. He flew downwards, and alighted gently on the ground not far from me. As he touched the earth with his feet, he stood erect and walked to and fro; and then, seeing me, he came towards me. I was in the spirit, and was standing in that state on a hill in the southern quarter. When he came near, I addressed him and asked him the purpose of his mission, adding that I had heard the sound of his trumpet and had observed his descent through the air. "I am sent," he replied, "to call together from among those in this region who come from the kingdoms of the Christian world, such as are most celebrated for their learning, shrewd of intellect and eminent in wisdom. They are to assemble on this hill where you now stand, and declare their real sentiments as to what they had thought, understood and clearly discerned when in the world concerning heavenly joy and eternal happiness.
[2] "The reason I am sent is this: Several who have lately come from the natural world, and who have been admitted into our heavenly society, which is in the east, have informed us that there is not a single person in the whole Christian world who knows what is the nature of heavenly joy and eternal happiness; and consequently, what heaven is. At this my brethren and companions were much astonished; and they said to me: 'Go down and summon by proclamation those who are most eminent in wisdom in the world of spirits, where are first gathered together all men after their departure out of the natural world, in order that we may know with certainty from the testimony of many whether it is true that such thick darkness or dense ignorance concerning the future life prevails among Christians.'" He added, "Wait a little, and you will see companies of the wise men flocking hither. The Lord will prepare a house of meeting for them."
I waited, and in about half an hour I saw two groups coming from the north, two from the west and two from the south. As they arrived they were introduced by the angel with the trumpet into the house prepared for them; and there they occupied the places assigned to them according to the quarter whence they had come. There were present six groups or companies and a seventh from the east, but it was not visible to the others on account of the light. When all were assembled, the angel explained to them the reason why they were summoned; and he asked that the companies in turn should express what in their wisdom they thought concerning heavenly joy and eternal happiness. Each company then formed itself into a circle, the members facing one another, that they might recall the subject from the ideas they had formed while they were in the former world, and might now give it full consideration; and after consulting together, might give it considered expression.
731. Quondam mihi visus est Angelus sub Coelo Orientali volans, cui tuba erat in manu et ad os, qui clanxit versus Septentrionem, versus Occidentem, et versus Meridiem: indutus erat chlamyde, quae ex volatu fluebat retrorsum, et cinctus erat fascia ex pyropis et sapphiris sicut flammante et lucente; pronus volabat, et demisit se lente in terram, quae mihi continens erat: ut tetigit terram, erectus super pede vadit huc illuc, et tunc me viso direxit gressum ad me; eram in spiritu, et in hoc stabam super colle in Plaga meridionali; ac cum prope erat, alloquutus illum quaesivi, quid rei nunc; audivi clangorem tubae tuae, et vidi descensum tuum per aerem; Angelus respondit, missus sum ad convocandum celebratissimos eruditione, perspicacissimos ingenio, ac eminentissimos nomine sapientiae, qui e Regnis Christiani Orbis super continente hac terra sunt, ut in hunc Collem, ubi tu commoraris, conveniant, et ex pectore expromant mentes, quid in Mundo cogitaverant, intellexerant, et sapuerant de GAUDIO COELESTI, et de FELICITATE AETERNA.
[2] Causa legationis meae fuit haec, quod aliqui novi advenae e Mundo, in Coelestem nostram Societatem, quae in Oriente est, admissi retulerint, quod ne quidem unus in Universo Christiano Orbe sciat, quid Gaudium Coeleste, et Felicitas aeterna, ita quid Coelum: hoc fratres et consocii mei valde mirati sunt, et mihi dixerunt, descende, conclama et convoca sapientissimos in Mundo spirituum, in quem primum colliguntur omnes Mortales post excessum e Mundo naturali, ob finem, ut ex plurium ore certi reddamur, Numeri veritas sit, quod talis caligo seu tenebrosa ignorantia sit Christianis de futura vita: et dixit, exspecta paulum, et videbis cohortes Sapientum huc alluentes; Dominus praeparabit pro illis Aedem conventus.
[3] Exspectavi, et ecce post semihorium vidi duas Turmas a Septentrione, duas ab Occidente, et duas a Meridie, et sicut venerunt, ab Angelo tubae introducti sunt in Aedem praeparatam, et ibi occupabant loca illis designata secundum plagas. Erant sex Turmae seu Cohortes; septima erat ab Oriente, quae prae luce reliquis non visa est. Post congregationem aperuit Angelus causam convocationis, et rogavit, ut Cohortes in ordine expromerent suam sapientiam, de GAUDIO COELESTI, et de FELICITATE AETERNA: et tunc unaquaevis Cohors se glomeravit in orbem, faciebus ad facies conversis, ut illam rem ex ideis in priori Mundo captis revocarent, et nunc lustrarent, ac lustratam post consultationem expromerent.