The Immortal - Book 1
-- by Joseph John (JJ) Dewey
The Parable - Chapter 19
John continued. "Listen carefully to this parable and
write it down in your own words after I leave. You will publish
it later and it will be an inspiration to many. If you sense the
Spirit in the words you will guess where it originated."
"On a certain night Jim, Mike, Ron and Dave died. Shortly
thereafter they all found themselves walking on a beaten path.
It seemed right to follow the path. Finally they came to a dividing
point. One path veered to the left; the other to the right. They
stood a moment, pondering what to do, when suddenly a man in white
appeared and gave them instructions.
"Welcome, my friends', he said. 'You are approaching
your new home and I am here to instruct you as much as is permitted.
You notice there are two paths before you: One of them takes you
to Heaven, a place more beautiful than you can imagine. The other
takes you to Hell, a land full of darkness, despair and wretched
individuals. All I can tell you at this point is you are to choose
a path, but once you reach your destination you cannot turn back.
Once you get to Heaven you will stay there, or once you get to
Hell you will stay there. One more word I can say. Do not be frightened,
for that reward you get in the end will be that which you deserve.
Go forth confident that if you have led a just life, you will
reap as you have sowed. You must proceed one at a time and each
walk the path alone.'
"After saying this the man disappeared. The four were
astonished at this somewhat random method of reaching Heaven or
Hell. Finally, they decided they must go forward and drew straws
to determine who would go first. Jim got the first opportunity
and chose the path on the right. He thought that perhaps this
would lead to heaven because the "right" is always associated
with "good." But as he proceeded he heard the fierce
sound of wild animals, clouds seemed to hide the sun and the earth
seemed to shake. He became very frightened and thought, 'Maybe
I have chosen the wrong path.' He turned around, went back to
the beginning and told the others of his experience. Then he decided
to try the left hand path. As he ventured forth he saw more ominous
signs. He kept wondering how far he could go before he could not
turn back, and with each step he became more and more frightened
until he was forced to retreat back to the beginning.
"Seeing that Jim could not make a firm decision as
to which path to take, Ron and Dave suggested Mike now take his
turn. Mike, however, was paralyzed with fear for, according to
Jim's story, neither path sounded very heavenly. 'I'm going to
think about it a while', he said. 'Someone else can take a turn.'
"It was now Ron's turn and he said, 'I'm picking the
right-hand path and not turning back.' He followed through with
his decision, and went past the sound of wild animals and through
the darkness and storm clouds until he found himself in a place
of unspeakable beauty and peace. He assumed he was in Heaven and
rested there.
"It was now Dave's turn to move onward. Jim said he
thought he heard a wild animal eating Ron and a chill of concern
spread through them all. Dave was not sure he was making the right
decision, for he chose the path on the left. He thought within
himself: 'No matter what happens I'll go forward on this path
and make the best of it.'
"As he proceeded, things went from bad to worse. There
were horrific shrieks from wild animals and storm clouds with
fierce thunderbolts were everywhere. Still, he proceeded until
he reached a sign that said 'Hell". Behind him, the path disappeared
and there was no retreat. Before him was a depressing place dark
and stormy, full of inhabitants living in run- down shacks. The
people lived in constant fear of attacks from the animals and
roaming gangs which stole whatever they could get their hands
on. Everywhere he went he was told this was a land cursed by the
devil, and that things are going to get worse for all eternity.
"Dave thought long and hard within himself. 'I promised
myself I would not retreat from this path and make the best of
it. I refuse to listen to these voices of doom. Within myself
there is no Hell and my conscience is clear, so why should there
be Hell on the outside?"
"From that point on, Dave went forth in confidence
and taught the people they did not have to live in the run-down
shacks, and that they could change their circumstances so they
would not have to live in fear. He also questioned their belief
the land was cursed by the devil. A handful of people took hope
and listened, but the rest were afraid and even looked upon Dave
as an enemy, fearing he would make things even worse than they
were.
"Dave gathered the people who would listen. They refused
to accept the slum they were given as a final resting place and
made blueprints of new beautiful homes. The best land they could
find was an uninhabited swamp. They drained it and built their
homes and a beautiful city with teeming gardens and landscapes.
The gangs did not bother them, for the inhabitants supported and
protected each other. The wild animals became friends, for the
people nurtured them. Even the dark clouds and storms began to
subside and bright, sunny days became a common sight.
"The people who were against Dave saw what had been
accomplished and they took courage; one by one, other parts of
Hell became transformed into beautiful cities and landscapes.
After a period of time there was nothing but beauty and peace
as far as the eye could see.
"Dave surveyed the now-beautiful land and came to a
realization: One more thing needs to be done. He walked over to
the original entrance and found that old sign which read 'Hell',
tore it down, and replaced it with one that said 'Heaven'. As
he did, another path with a fork in it appeared and so did the
man in white. His look caught Dave's eye and he said, 'I think
you know what you must do'.
"Dave looked back and said, 'I see I must choose again'.
"'Correct'. said the man.
"Before I proceed, can you tell me the fate of the
other three?'
"The man answered: 'Ron is in a city that resembles
the place you have created. He has one regret: he wishes he had
a part in creating it. When that desire becomes strong enough
he will be given another path to choose and will wind up in a
place called 'Hell'. as you did, and be given an opportunity to
build Heaven.
"Jim and Mike are still paralyzed with fear, afraid
to make a decision. They are the ones who are truly in Hell, yet
sooner or later they must proceed onward.
"And what lies ahead for me?' asked Dave.
"The unknown', said the man.
"The statement made Dave afraid, yet excited at the
same time. And with no hesitation, he proceeded on the path leaning
to the right."
No one spoke for a moment. "That's a beautiful story,"
Elizabeth said, her eyes glistening through tears. "I'd better
help my husband remember it."
"That's an excellent thought," said John. "Now
the first step to solving the first key is to find the first keyword.
The first keyword is the title of the parable and also the power
that put the pen in motion. The second stage of the first key
is in your understanding. You must show a degree of comprehension
about the key."
Suddenly it seemed as if a light turned on in my head. "I
have the word!" I exclaimed. "I can't believe I never
thought of it before, but I'm sure I am right this time."
"You'll have to wait another week to give it to me,"
said John.
"You don't know what you ask here," I said. "Now
that I have the word I want to talk about it."
"If you are correct you will gain much by contemplating
the full meaning of the word and principle during the next week."
"I feel strongly in my bones I am correct. I am just anxious
to be verified."
"A week is a very short period," John said patiently.
"Where will we meet next Thursday?" I asked anxiously.
"Denny's, unless there is a change of plans. There, we
will discuss the beginning of your mission."
"Now you're making my wait worse than ever. You've mentioned
a mission before. Exactly what do you have in mind for me?"
I asked anxiously.
"It is more what Joshua has in mind. He has a plan to
reveal new teachings to the world, and you, my friend, are a part
of that plan."
"Now you really have me stimulated! Why don't you just
stay here for three days and answer all my questions?" I
felt like a kid on Christmas Eve begging to open presents early.
"At this moment, my time available is limited. Maybe we
can spend three days together when Joshua can let me go for a
while. In the meantime, happy contemplating until next week."
John started walking toward the front door.
"Let me ask you one more question before you go,"
I requested.
"Go ahead," said John, turning around.
"The Dark Brothers attacking me is one thing, but picking
on my wife seems really unfair. Is there anything we can do to
protect her until we learn more about protecting ourselves?"
"It is not only your wife you have to be concerned about.
There will be many others - who will seek the teachings of light
and you will be assisting - who the Dark Ones will seek to distract
and pull down to their level of selfishness. There is something
that you, your wife and others who come forward can do to keep
your minds steady in the Light. Of course, the greatest protection
is found in becoming one with the Spirit and being true to the
inner voice, but few have achieved that to the desired degree.
There is a special prayer which has been passed down that will
give aspiring disciples protection. We didn't plan to release
it just yet, but perhaps it would be appropriate to give it to
you now." John surveyed the room for a moment. "I need
a moment of privacy. May I use your bathroom?"
"Sure. Down the hall and to the left," I instructed,
curious.
When John went into the bathroom, I couldn't help but move
closer to the door and stare at the crack under the door. I faintly
heard some voices and couldn't tell if it was just John or John
and someone else. It also seemed like the light coming from under
the door intensified. When the voices ceased I backed off and
soon John came out.
John looked quite pleased and stated, "Today may seem
like an ordinary day, but in reality this day marks the beginning
of the end for our Dark Brothers. Their power will end, not because
we will destroy them, but because the pure in heart will no longer
give their power over to them and thus the innocent will be protected.
When the Dark Brothers are denied the source of power that does
not belong to them they will destroy themselves. Tell me, have
you heard of the Song of the 144,000?"
"If I remember right, it comes from the Book of Revelations.
The Jehovah Witnesses use that number all the time."
"Find me a Bible and we'll read about it." John commanded.
I hurriedly got a Bible and gave it to John. He turned to Revelations
chapter fourteen and read:
"Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the
mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having
his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard
the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the
throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man
could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand,
which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women;
for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first
fruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they
are without fault before the throne of God."
John closed the book thoughtfully and looked at Elizabeth and
me. "I wrote this in symbolic language nearly two thousand
years ago. It sounds like the song will be sung by heavenly beings
flying around the throne of God, but in reality anyone here on
earth who recognizes the Spirit of God flowing through him is
very close to the throne of God . It may sound like the song will
be sung by virgin men but they will be both men and women who
are pure in heart. Many have also thought the number 144,000 is
a limiting number, but in reality it is the number of one great
symbolic choir, one of many that will eventually come from this
small planet. Also, the song will not be sung, in the ordinary
sense, on the physical plane but by souls of aspiring disciples.
It is to be spoken out loud and registered by the spirit within.
When the words are registered by the soul a beautiful song is
sent to God, and, in return, the seeker will receive spiritual
protection and assistance."