Gathering of Lights, Chapter 30

2000-8-26 10:04:00

Chapter Thirty -- The Mountain of God

A beautiful description of the kingdom of God is given In Isaiah, Chapter 2, and in the fourth chapter of Micah. We will here quote from Micah:

"But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain (the gathering of Lights) of the house of the Lord (Communities of Light) shall be established in the top of the mountains (will exceed the results of previous gathering) and it shall be exalted above the hills (will be an example to other communities); and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain (gatherings) of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways (Hebrew: 'way of life'), and we will walk in his paths: for the law (more perfect laws enhancing freedom) shall go forth of Zion, (those with the Christ consciousness) and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (those who seek to teach the ways of peace -- inner and outer).

"And he shall judge among many people, AND REBUKE STRONG NATIONS AFAR OFF; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine (in his own house) and under his fig tree (relax in his own back yard); and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it."

(Micah 4:1-4)

This is one of the greatest scriptures given in the Bible or any other book, and the fulfillment of which is looked forward to by all the peoples of the earth. It parallels the purpose of the Christ mission:  "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men." [See Luke 2:14.]

The "mountain of the Lord's house" is the gathering of Lights which is the equivalent of a modern Zion and New Jerusalem.

It is important to remember that this scripture has been fulfilled several times in earth's history, but with each new cycle we come closer to the ideal society.

Examples of previous Gatherings were:

  1. The gathering of the Hebrews by Moses. That may not seem like a gathering of lights by today's standards, but it was the best that could be accomplished in such a primitive society.
  2. As we mentioned, Jesus attempted a gathering but only had about 120 followers at his crucifixion. This is why he lamented:  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, HOW OFTEN WOULD I HAVE GATHERED THY CHILDREN TOGETHER, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matthew 23:37-38)  The interesting thing is that even though the number of those gathered were few the far reaching results of the effort was beyond measure.
  3. The Alexandrian Library:  This was not only a gathering of lights but also a gathering of knowledge and we owe much of what we call civilized society to the major effort.
  4. Camelot:  This is a gathering of lights that is only preserved in legend, but this ancient kingdom created an ensign or example that planted the seed necessary for the creation of the democracies, or republics, that we have today.
  5. The gathering of the Lights of many nations to North America consummating in the US Revolutionary War, the US Constitution, and US Bill of Rights.
  6. Numerous gatherings of religious movements. Most of the great religions were started by a visionary who presented doctrine with more light than was commonly available at the time. So even though many seekers today would consider these past teachings out of date, they were often a light shining in the darkness of the days past.
  7. Currently the internet is gathering many Lights into various groups on the web that was thought an impossibility a few years ago.

Even though this list could be expanded considerably, it gives us an idea of the previous Gatherings which were all necessary to provide ground for the future Gathering.

Again the scripture reads:  "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains..."  (Micah 4:1)

Where it reads "mountains" plural, it is referring to all previous gatherings, for a gathering of lights creates a "mountain of the Lord. "Thus the future gathering will be a "mountain" (gathering) established on the foundation of all previous gatherings (mountains) or a mountain in the top (foundation) of previous mountains.

When a nation says, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord...." (Micah 4:2)  it means that such a nation will want to pattern their government after that of the gathered Lights and establish the order of Zion in their land.

The United States and its Constitution as a correspondence was an imperfect fulfillment of this prophecy, but a fulfillment nevertheless for many nations have said:  "Come, let us pattern our government after that of the United States which has been so successful and we will make our laws after the similitude of her laws."

On the greater turn of the spiral in the New Age, the gathered Lights will provide a more perfect fulfillment of this prophecy. At this time the word of the Lord will also go out "from Jerusalem." From the New Jerusalem (teachers of light) will go forth with the revelations of the New Age which will be the foundation of the New Order of the ages. These revelations will also include many new scientific inventions, healing techniques, mysteries explored, and New Age teachings.

From Zion will go forth a freely accepted worldwide government that will guarantee to member nations protection, peace, and freedom to the world citizens. The original Federal government of the United States with loosely coordinated state governments was a foreshadowing of the more perfected Molecular society which will inspire and motivate free governments all over the world.

This is one of the meanings the Christ referred to when he said:

"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed it in his field (The New Jerusalem):  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air (Nations who gain the Israel consciousness) come and lodge in the branches thereof" (join with the gathered Lights). (Matthew 13:31-32)

Since the first three verses of Micah here are almost identical to Isaiah 2:1-3 and they were contemporaries, it is most probable that neither one of them is the original author but were quoting from memory from an older scripture familiar to them both. Indeed, the concept of Zion presented here is many thousands of years older than men care to imagine and sometime in the future we will discover ancient archives with prophecies similar to this one.

"And he (God through Zion) shall judge among many people...." (Micah 4:3)  is written in Isaiah as:  "And he shall judge among the nations...." (Isaiah 2:4)  The word "among" is more correctly rendered "between." Zion shall act as an arbitrator for peace between various disputing nations. Again the United States has been an imperfect harbinger of Zion by acting as referee between various disputing nations, especially in the Middle East. Zion will perfect this to a much finer art and keep the peace in the world.

Next Isaiah says:  "and shall rebuke many people," (Isaiah 2:4)  but Micah states:  "and (Zion shall) rebuke strong nations afar off." (Micah 4:3)  "Rebuke" comes from the Hebrew YAKACH which is more correctly rendered "correct." The Hebrew for "afar off" can refer to either time or space. It can refer to countries located a great distance away, or to those who are far off the correct path. It could also indicate countries a long distance in the future from the days of Micah. All of these applications fit the context here, as the ancient prophet undoubtedly realized.

Zion will have such great power for righteousness that she will be able to correct nations and peoples on the far extremities of the globe by the power of her word and example, and by the power of Israel (the invisible god) that dwells with her people.

What will she correct them to do? "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares (disarmament will cause atomic power to be a plowshare instead of a sword), and their spears into pruninghooks (money that is now spent on armaments will be spent on rescuing the poor of the world from starvation): nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (meaning obvious). [Micah 4:3]

Next it is written:

"But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid...." (Micah 4:4)

Let us move to a higher interpretation of this.

The Christ said:  "I am the vine, ye are the branches...." (John 15:5)  In Zion each man shall sit under the direction of his own Christ consciousness and be able to speak freely of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven "and none shall make them afraid." In the past those who worshipped at the feet of Babylon persecuted, tried to destroy, and make "afraid" those who sought the God within, but not so in Zion. The greatest offense in the Kingdom will be to inhibit a person's freedom of harmless creative expression.

The next verse expresses a basic foundation concept of the kingdom of God:

"For all people will (be allowed to) walk every one in the name of his god, and we (the gathered lights) will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." (Micah 4:5)

Other peoples do not have to worship God in the same way as do the inhabitants of Zion. All will be given freedom to worship in their own religion and their own concept of God in the way that pleases them. The Mormon prophet Brigham Young expressed it quite well, when he said that when the Kingdom of God is finally established, it will protect all men in their political and religious freedom. ["Journal Of Discourses," 2:309. See Discourse by President Brigham Young, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, July 8, 1855.].

Micah continues:

"In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth (the meek and humble who will inherit the earth), and I will gather her that is driven out (those who are rejected by their fellow men because they are advanced thinkers) and her that I have afflicted (those who have suffered persecution, particularly in totalitarian countries); And I will make her that halted a remnant (a great power - see Micah 5:8.),  and her that was cast far off a strong nation; and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. And thou, O tower of the flock (the United States), the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; THE KINGDOM SHALL COME TO THE DAUGHTER OF JERUSALEM." (Micah 4:6-8)

Remember that Jesus told the Jews that the kingdom would be taken from them and given to another nation bringing forth fruits? That "other nation" is here called the "daughter of Zion" and the "daughter of Jerusalem" to distinguish it as a different location from old Jerusalem.

Originally it was hoped by the Christ that restored Jerusalem would qualify as the daughter of Jerusalem as mentioned in the following scripture:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King (Christ) cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth." (Zechariah 9:9-10)

The Christ had hopes that Zion could be established in his day, but near the end of his life he saw that the complete fulfillment of the above prophecy was impossible. Thus he decided to fulfill what was within his power and ride an ass through Jerusalem acknowledging himself as the great King, but delay the fulfillment of the latter half of the prophecy until a new "daughter of Zion" be established.

Because the Christ literally rode a physical ass (donkey and/or colt) through Jerusalem the common people thought that the rest of the prophecy would immediately externalize also.

Here is what they expected: The scripture promised:  "Thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation...." (Zechariah 9:9)  This more literally reads in the Hebrew as:  "Thy King cometh. unto thee to set things right and bring deliverance [...]"

First, the people expected a King to sit on a throne like David. That is why they called him the son of David.

Second, they expected him to set right all the wrongs of their people.

Third, they expected deliverance from the Romans and all others who may stand in their way.

Fourth, in verse ten we learn that the Messiah will cause all weapons of war to cease.

Fifth, he will speak peace to the surrounding nations.

Sixth, his dominion will be from sea to sea "even to the ends of the earth." (Zechariah 9:10)

When the people saw the Christ riding a colt down the streets of Jerusalem they thought he was finally making a move that would forcefully fulfill the prophecy. They thus cheered him on saying:  "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." (Matthew 21:9)  Then they made him a royal path to ride on out of their own clothes and available branches.

One can imagine their almost justifiable disillusion and dismay when they saw their promised King held captive beyond deliverance headed for crucifixion. They were let down and assumed he must be a false Christ because he could not deliver himself, let alone Israel, and many of those who praised him a few days before were shouting: "Crucify him!" They now looked upon their King as a traitor to the cause of Israel, and felt another true Messiah would come and fulfill the prophecy.

But such a Messiah never came...

If they would have examined the hidden hints in the root meanings of the Hebrew of the prophecy "Behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass," (Zechariah 9:9)  they would have discovered the following meaning:  "Behold thy King comes unto thee to show the right direction and offer deliverance, humbly submitting to the shedding of his-blood which will open the eyes of the sons of men who continue (to seek) in patience." Thus we find hidden the great truth of the final reality. Unfortunately, only 120 people continued to seek his teachings after the crucifixion. [See Acts 1:15.]

Nevertheless, it is true that most of prophecy yet remains to be fulfilled, but it must be fulfilled through the "daughter of Jerusalem" and the "daughter of Zion," and we are told that this will be in another nation which will bring forth fruit. (Matthew 21:43)

When the daughter of Zion and Jerusalem is again built, (but this time after the order of the New Age through a new gathering of lights), then the Christ will again ride down the streets of the New Jerusalem and the inhabitants will shout out "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 21:9)  The difference will be that this time the inhabitants of Jerusalem will speak with knowledge and awareness of the true nature of their King. They realize that he comes not to sit on a throne like some proud monarch, but he comes to teach, and to serve, and to build. The Christ is the building stone of the New Age.

At this time the Christ and his workers will fulfill all six points of the prophecy mentioned "and he shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied." (Isaiah 53:11)

Now we return to Micah:

"Now why doest thou cry aloud? Is there no king in thee? (No sign of the triumphant Messiah) is thy counselor perished (Is the Christ not giving us revelation?) for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail (Those outgrowing the teachings of the churches are in travail, ready to give birth to Zion.). Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now thou shalt go forth out of the city (of old Jerusalem), and thou shalt dwell in the field (pristine America), and thou shalt go even to Babylon (Babylon now controls all governments); there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies. Now many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.

"But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them (and build cities) as the sheaves to the floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron (Zion will have an indestructible defense), and I will make thy hoofs brass (Zion will have the ability to penetrate all mental, emotional and physical barriers of opposing peoples): and thou shalt beat in pieces many people (destroy their pride and ignorance and stimulate their Christ consciousness): and I will consecrate their gain. (unjust riches gained at the expense of others) unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth."

(Micah 4:9-13)

-- End Of Chapter 30 --

  

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