Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!paul.rutgers.edu!christian From: sandrock@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Mark T. Sandrock) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Mark of the Beast and the "new world order". Message-ID: Date: 19 Oct 90 08:27:25 GMT Sender: hedrick@paul.rutgers.edu Organization: School of Chemical Sciences, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Lines: 106 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article BINDNER@auvm.auvm.edu writes: > You've piqued my curiosity. Does this German text mention > a Great Monarch, or the Anti-Christ? What does it say > on the age of conflict some say we now experience? > >Michael Actually, I mentioned two quite different texts in the posting to which I believe you refer. The first text is the one which specifically deals with the meaning of the number 666 in the Revelation of John. The second text is the Grail Message itself, which I have mentioned several times in this group, and about which there is much more yet to be said... The first text, which is not available (yet?) in English is called: "Einblicke in das Schoepfungswirkern". An approximate translation of this title might be: "Insights into the operation of Creation". The author's name is Herbert Vollmann, and the publisher is Verlag der Stiftung Gralsbotschaft, Stuttgart, Germany. (Grail Message Foundation Publishing Co.) This first text comprises five short lectures, the fifth of which is titled: "Die geheimnisvolle Zahl 666 in der Offenbarung Johannes". To translate this I would say: "The mysterious number 666 in the Revelation of John". This lecture explains that a man named Lucien Siffrid (1891-1964) was called to receive the knowledge concerning the Law of Numbers, and that this new knowledge does contain the key to understanding the meaning of the number 666. This lecture explains that the language of the Revelation is a language of "pictures". And that each picture corresponds to a particular process or happening. Furthermore, that the meaning of the pictures can only be grasped in the *spiritual* sense, and not otherwise. The first beast (13,1) for instance, depicts the uncontrolled rulership of the earthbound intellect. The second beast, as I have already stated, depicts "the Sin" of mankind in turning away from the Will of God. In place of God, it is only to be expected that our "Sin" would persuade us instead to worship the rulership of the intellect, which being earthbound, can offer no spiritual values, no morality, and no knowledge about God and His Will. As far as any discussion about "a Great Monarch" or about the Antichrist, this short lecture does not mention these terms, but the Grail Message itself does give explanations about the Antichrist. It explains that only Lucifer himself could have the strength and the power to fight against God, against the Mission (at that time) of Christ. As the Revelation depicts, it is Lucifer (the dragon) who gives "his own might" (6=might, remember) and "great authority" to the first beast. The conclusion one might then draw is that all human beings who "worship the beast" are unwittingly making themselves into willing servants of the Antichrist, of Lucifer. This is not to say that the intellect is not a valuable tool, for that would be over-reacting. The intellect is necessary for life on earth, and is meant to be developed and used according to the Will of God. The danger lies in our giving the *highest* place in life to the intellect, a place which actually belongs to the human *spirit* itself. The spirit should and must lead, and it should use the intellect only as a necessary tool to facilitate life on earth. If the other hand, we allow our intellect to have the upper hand, if we allow it to have the lead in our lives, out of spiritual indolence, then the strict consequence is that our spirits become prisoners, inactive and helpless, unless and until we exert ourselves to once again become free human beings standing and living only in the Will of God. God's Will is Spirit, and in order to know and understand it, we ourselves must become free in spirit. As far as what will take place in the "end time", the Grail Message does in fact explain the *process* of the World Judgement, that is, how it is brought about by the Power of God, and what this implies for each individual. This does not mean specifics of "what will happen", since in any case this could direct our attention (I believe) in the wrong direction. What is important, even crucial, for each individual is to learn to recognize the Will of God in every happening, both great and small, and therefore to know how to put our own lives in order, such that we are then able to look up to God in the confidence and security that we stand in His protection, regardless of what happens around us and around the world. Many may want to say they have already achieved this condition of confidence and recognition, and if so, then that is fine, but to all those who still seek for answers, I wish to point out that the Grail Message is available to provide the necessary answers! I realize that this is perhaps a lot to try to cover in a short posting and with limited time, but I do feel the urgency of trying to bring this vital work: "In the Light of Truth", the Grail Message, by Abd-ru-shin, to the attention of serious seekers everywhere, and this is my motivation in posting. If in fact people do want to know more about the Grail Message, and the great knowledge it mediates, my best advice is to either check it out from a library (it exists in many libraries across the U.S., for instance), or else to order a copy from the Grail Foundation of America, 2081 Partridge Lane, Binghamton, NY 13903. It is 1062 pages, I believe the price is $24, but I also believe that they will bill you if you prefer. The Grail Foundation is an IRS-recognized non-profit organization, btw. To those who wonder why I want to mention the Grail Message in a "Christian" group, my answer simply is this, that I have been reading the Grail Message since 1977, and it is my conviction that there is nothing more Christian than just the Grail Message itself, for it truly does explain and complete the Message and Mission of Christ, in accordance with the words of Jesus: "Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ..." With best regards, Mark Sandrock -- BITNET: sandrock@uiucscs Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Internet: sandrock@aries.scs.uiuc.edu Chemical Sciences Computing Services Voice: 217-244-0561 505 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801