THE MYSTERIES OF THE FOUR GOSPELS
Lesson Four. Matthew 24.
Unity Interpretation of
This Generation Shall Not Pass Away
CHARLES and CORA FILLMORE
October 16, 1941
CHARLES FILLMORE: Opening Songs
We are going to sing No. 73, "Just Where Thou Art." I am accused of spending too much time talking about what we are going to sing. We are not going to have any remarks and we are going to speed up the rhythm. You see this is marked three-four time and we will make it six-eight. (Mr. Frangkiser: That won't do it.) Well, make it twelve-sixteenths. Rise please.
1. Just where thou art, lift up thy voice
And in the Saviour's love rejoice.
Sing out the song that stirs thy heart
And live for God just where thou art.
CHORUS:
Just where thou art, shine forth and glow
Just where thou art, 'tis better so.
Serve thou the Lord with perfect heart,
Not somewhere else, but where thou art.
2.Just where thou standest let thy light
Shine forth for Jesus clear and bright;
This is thy soul's appointed part,
To be a light just where thou art.
3.Just where thou art be brave and true
Keeping God and light and heaven in view;
Always alert to do thy part;
Be brave and true just where thou art.
4.Some paths may seem more fair and bright,
Some lives more luminous with light,
Serve thou the lord with voice and heart,
Not somewhere else, but where thou art.
With one accord, with one voice let's offer up our prayer to Our Father: (repeat) Amen.
CORA FILLMORE: Announcements: Meditation:
Some announcements: Students who are registered for credit or registered for attendance, please check at the desk after class as as you come into the auditorium.
This is the fourth lesson in the course "MYSTERIES OF THE FOUR GOSPELS". Our subject today is WATCH for Development from the Natural to the Spiritual Plane of Consciousness.
Our lesson is based on the 24th chapter of Matthew from the 32nd verse to the end of the chapter. Here in the [American Standard Version] Bible we read:
24:32Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; 24:33even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. 24:34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. 24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
24:36But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only. 24:37And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 24:38For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 24:39and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 24:40Then shall two man be in the field; one is taken, and one is left: 24:41two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left. 24:42Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. 24:43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. 24:44Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
24:45Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 24:46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 24:47Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. 24:48But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord tarrieth; 24:49and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken; 24:50the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,24:51and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Come, let us consider just a moment, let us consider this part of the Scripture, "Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things be accomplished."
Nearly two thousand years have passed away since Jesus uttered inspired words ... Nearly two thousand years, which are many many generations as man counts them, and there has not been so much change in consciousness. But you know in Spirit there is no such thing as time, is there? In Spirit there is no such thing as time. In Spirit, a generation is measured by the unfoldment of the soul of the race; you might say, in your soul, in my soul. A generation is a dispensation of spiritual power. Surely today however, we are approaching the end of a generation, or a spiritual generation, which according to the way man counts time, is nearly two thousand years. Of course, now, the next spiritual generation may be a much shorter time, as man thinks of it. It is what you unfold — unfoldment within you and within me.
Now what has taken place in the consciousness of the race, during the last two thousand years? We believe that we know much more in regard to the power of prayer. Surely the power of prayer is the strongest power in all the universe today. We believe that, do we not? Power is generated through prayer. But at this particular time, we do all feel, I believe we do all know that it behooves us to be prepared for a great change, spiritual change, that is to take place not only within you and within me, but also within the whole race. Jesus spoke of such a time, did he not? Be made it very plain in this Scripture we have just read, and we feel that this change is right upon us now. Now is when we are looking for the great changes.
In the Bible we just read this:
"Now from the fig tree learn here a parable; when her branch is now become tender and putteth forth its leaves, we know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these tilings, know ye that he is nigh, even at the door... (all these things, all these signs in the outer or within) ye know that he is nigh even at the doors."
This mighty change no doubt is being brought about through the power of prayer, and is a decisive step from the natural to the spiritual plane of consciousness. Right now we are taking that step as a race, going from the natural to the spiritual plane of consciousness. This mighty change will cause many changes.
We know there are those today who are working with Santanic power; the powers of darkness are trying to take over the world by force. These souls do not know that the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, and that eventually the Lord governs. But some souls among us have attained a greater spiritual unfoldment than others, therefore we know the Lord, through man, is continually shifting throughout all the nations of the earth, we might say, selecting choice seed for his planting, is selecting souls really who are able to carry forth His work and do it under law.
"Two men are working in the field. One is taken. One is left. Two women are grinding at the mill. One is taken, the one is left." The Lord is carrying forth His mighty power and he desires the perfect instrument through which to operate.
Those who pray most, those who are established in the Spiritual consciousness, those who work from principle, those who can demonstrate the power of the word, are those who are going to be in great demand. "WATCH, therefore, for ye know not the hour when the Lord cometh."
Again Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." Outer activities that man accounted so great, are falling away. We come to know right now that the great change ahead of us is entering a new life consciousness and this is symbolised by the "tender leaves on the fig tree". We might say a corresponding example is when we FEEL that NEW LIFE WITHIN us — FEEL that we are entering a new life in Christ. Through scientific prayer, through realization, we come to knew that whatever we have unfolded under the law, Spiritual law, is ours eternally. If we have unfolded spiritual faculties, they are with us always to bear us up and onward no matter what the demonstration is. Those spiritual faculties are ours to use. Are we ready to let go of the old and lay hold of the new? Are we really getting stronger spiritually? Are we willing to let go of false values and lay hold of real spiritual qualities? These are the points we are considering today. Scientific prayer, spiritual realization, is the path of unfoldment.
Let us enter into the stillness. Now meditate upon the new life in Christ, and in the stillness WATCH ... WATCH. The true law of the silence is SOUL EVOLUTION. Let us tread the onward stride in consciousness. Let us continue to pull upstream regardless of all else.
Now we center our minds on God, the one and only power. We take the thought:
THE MIND OF SPIRIT IS ALERT IN ME AND I AM READY FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE CHRIST."
The Mind of Spirit is alert in me and I am ready for the manifestation of the Christ. Realize it. In His Name, Amen.
CHARLES FILLMORE: LESSON
The lesson today is based on the 24th chapter of Matthew, which is a very mysterious chapter. There Jesus Christ gives a lot of points pertaining to the spiritual life and preparation for it. We will see a few of the items he has given us and as we have already heard, it is good to have them repeated. As I said, the disciples said, "Tell us when these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world ... (or by the end of the age)" and he replied,
"Think ye that no man lead you astray for many shall come in my name saying, I am the Christ, and shall lead many astray; and many false prophets shall arise and shall lead many astray." (Matt. 24:4-5)
And
"This generation shall shall not pass away until all these things be accomplished, but of the day and the hour knoweth no man, not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son, but the Father only. WATCH therefore, for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. .... For as the lightning cometh forth from the east and is seen unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man."
Now he also said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." And he keeps repeating this idea of WATCH ... "WATCH therefore, for ye knew not what day ... your lord cometh, therefore be ye also ready. For in an hour that ye think not, the Son of man cometh."
Now this Scripture has been studied and read for two thousand years and as you all know, usually interpreted as a prophecy of the coming, or the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, we don't oppose that thought, but our Bible interpretation is that it applies especially to the individual. This application has been neglected until now we see that we must individually be prepared for the coming of this higher spiritual consciousness in ourselves before we would be ready for the meeting or the greeting of the Lord in the air. As Paul says, that the Lord is coming in the air, with a great shout, even with trumpets of God, even with archangels, and we are all going up into the clouds to meet him. That is, because we are prepared.
And he says, "Yet he cometh as a thief in the night." So nobody can put their fingers on a date, though many have tried it, on which the Lord is to take up his place on the earth. Now we all know that there must eventually be a civilization on this earth in which the principles laid down by Jesus Christ will be followed. They will become the guiding light of the human family, not because Jesus Christ announced them, as a personality, but because they are an integral part of the great human thought.
We have got to have love. We must have justice. We must have righteousness. We must have a recognition of man in his entirety before we can have a real civilization. That's exactly what Jesus Christ taught and we know that those principle's must be established on all the earth round, before we can have the advent of Jesus Christ. He isn't coming into the world again and be crucified, as he came as a personality. So we know it must be that he is coming as a Principle. He would come into the world again and be crucified if he came as a person, so we know it must be that he is coming as a principle. In other words, he is coming into the minds and hearts of his people, those who recognise those principles and incorporate them into their consciousness.
Now this is really the preparation, and as I say, this chapter refers especially to our personal preparation. Are you preparing? Are you preparing yourself is become one of this great host of Christians, the followers, the real followers of Jesus Christ? We, of course, keep calling your attention to the fact that this isn't a preparation to meet God after we are dead, but it is preparation to meet this divine ideal man here and now and especially in ourselves.
How could we possibly appreciate Jesus Christ if we hadn't the measure, measured up to his standard of thought? Today he would be a foreigner just as he had been a foreigner to those Jews a thousand years ago. He opposed nearly all of their standards of thinking and religion, and if he came today in the same form with the same message as he came two thousand years ago, the world at large would repudiate him. They would say:
By what authority does this man speak? Where did you go to school? Has he an A.B. degree? What college did you take your degree at? If not, we won't listen to you. Your teaching is communistic. You teach that we should all divide up our money and there will be no more rich people in the world, and we can't have any barriers or tariffs; there has to be universality of trade. We can't listen to that for a moment.
And thousands of other things, on which all these personal material appearances would be broken down. I tell you, he wouldn't be received. And it's a pretty difficult matter for us individually, for us to receive and apply in our everyday life what he taught us. But we will never enter into the kingdom of the heavens which he tells us about, which exists here in the earth, "nigh unto us, even in us", until we break down old standards of thought. When we do that, then we will come into the consciousness that this Christ of God is already here.
I read to you, "For as lightning cometh forth from the east and is seen even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man." Does that teach he is coming in the clouds as a great personality? In great glory, and going to catch us all up to be with him in a heaven somewhere? Not at all. It teaches he is going to come like electricity, like a great display of new ideas in mind, from the east (within) to the west (without). He is coming to us to give us the ideas of absolute truth that God wants us to have; the good, we are all part of the good; we have that good in us; that means to recognize everybody as good, everybody as essentially in the Christ, and so we have been over in our work over this fundamental, over and over again.
But, ARE WE APPLYING IT? That's the great thing to know, we must apply it every day. We mustn't put off this coming of the Christ. We mustn't get — well — discouraged and think, "Well, I don't know. We have been talking about this coming of the Christ for a long time, and he hasn't come. And I have been waiting. I have been applying these principles, and I can't see I am much farther along than I was." So you just don't want to get discouraged and begin to take on human ways, keep on eating and drinking and saying "we just live for a short time."
Now I read that the Devil once had a sale of all the tools of his trade. Everything was on display. There was a keen-edged dagger of jealousy, and a sledge hammer of vengeance (?) and a bow of greed and arrows of lust and a broad screwdriver of covetousness and weapons of fear, envy and pride. And under each of them the price. And in the place of honor was — well — a little instrument set apart from all the others, a little wedge. And it was worn and it had been used a great deal. And it was marked "discouragement" and the price was higher than all the other instruments of the devil, and the Devil was asked the reason for this amazing difference, and he explained,
"it is because this is the one tool I can use when all others fall. Let me get that little wedge into a man's consciousness and it paves the way for all failures. That wedge has helped me more than any other, and of course I have put a higher price on it."
Discouragement.
Now remember that when you get discouraged with your spiritual life, discouraged with the progress you are making, discouraged — well — with other people, people you associate with. We think, "Well, I don't see but what the world is going on about as it has. I don't know but that the young people are worse in this age than they were when I was a young person." Well, that may seem so, but don't just agree with the appearance, just agree with the Spirit. I tell you there is more spiritual understanding in the world today and more spiritual advancement, and our young people are getting freer, that is they are wanting to exercise their innate spiritual abilities. One of these abilities is spiritual freedom.
Hold to this standard that we are guided by this universal Christ — not only the Christ in me, but the universal Christ in Spirit — but it is, it is. Believe in it. Have faith in it, and it will work. Now this Christ Spirit has come into the world as 'lightning oometh from the east (of power) into the west" ... so this Spiritual light is flooding the world today and there is going to be a great transformation. The world we have been abread in is just disappearing, just dissolving. I am not just telling you that. You find this in magazines.
If the old world is passing away and all is going to change what's coming? We know what's coming. Yes, keep that idea: I am not afraid of what's coming. I am not afraid of financial disaster. God takes care of me, of my finances, of my spirit; God takes care of the world. We will have better fruit when the fig tree is in bloom. Isn't that better than when bringing forth little green leaves? So let us look for a better world, a happier world, a healthier world in which our ideas which we are in a measure suppressing now, will express — in a word, broadcast, because, as I say, the world can't exist without these fundamental principles. We are not teaching theology, we are teaching principles fundamental to man, to our well-being, and must be brought forth.
Don't let the Devil get in that little wedge of discouragement and say these things won't work. It will work for you and me and everybody who tried. Let's take up this lot of the Christ. Get rid of the old, take on the new fire coming into the world today in our hearts and minds. We rejoice in the truth and go right forward with all sincerity, with all confidence. We know this sincerity comes from within. Perhaps you can find out whether you are really in earnest or not by the truth within you. It isn't always by the outer words, but there is something back of the words. What is that? IT IS THAT SPIRIT IN YOU.
It is said that the reason Theodore Roosevelt has such an influence upon his audience was because of his sincerity. He didn't have a great vocabulary. He wasn't eloquent. When he talked to people they followed and believed. He said, "I will tell you the secret of it. I am sincere. When I say a thing I mean it." That's the spirit of the man. We can all cultivate that spirit even in ourselves. It is the truth and it must prevail not only in ourselves but in the world about us.
CORA FILLMORE OFFERING:
Now we give our love offering. We receive, and give forth our offering. We take our offering in our hands and bless it. Together: DIVINE LOVE THROUGH ME BLESSES AND MULTIPLIES THIS OFFERING. (Again-three times). BLESSING THE OFFERING. Father, we thank Thee for this generous outpouring of Thy substance. We believe thee. We bless the givers. We declare in the name of Jesus Christ, the Almighty is our defense, we shall have plenty of silver. Amen.
HEALING MEETING: CHARLES:
For our healing, Jesus Christ said, "Lo, I am with you even unto the end of the world." We have often wondered in just what conditions, just what change Jesus Christ would be with us, and that is explained in the passage of Scripture we read, that "as the lightning cometh out of the east into the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man." "Lightning" is the way Jesus Christ comes to man. The universal mind is the way Jesus Christ is coming. In decrees — "Thou shalt decree a thing and it shall be established unto you." Jesus Christ said speak in his name. We shall speak forth our word in his name.
THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU.
Say that with authority. It HEALS YOU. There is great healing there. Let us realize Jesus Christ is here as great light, great life, spiritual life healing, restoring not only us but others. Take this: THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU. Think about it. Take it in the silence first. Fill the very earth with that wonderful thought:
THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS ME.
Speak that for yourself. THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS ME. Let's speak it all for ourselves, (repeat). Speak it silently. Realise it. Speak it again: (repeat). Again: (repeat): "THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS ME."
CORA: Now we will ask your aid in healing these dear ones who want our prayers. I wish to say we have had several reports from last week and we give thanks for every indication even of healing, and some good demonstrations, praise the Lord. Now if you will give us your prayers and aid us with your healing consciousness and say for these dear ones that
THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU"
... together: (repeat). Please hold the thought,while you speak the words silently THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU."
CHARLES: All realize: THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS. The Spirit flowing through our minds is the new life and healing power from on High, God. "Speak the word only and thy servant shall be healed" is the ideal. Now if you have any friend anywhere you would like to bring into the consciousness — we don't really send our thoughts, we enter into that LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST where it is done. Speak silently now the names of anybody anywhere you went to heal through spiritual healing. All together speak the word for all these dear ones silently. Speak it silently, realizing your word is fulfilled through Christ. JESUS CHRIST IS HERE AS THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE.
Now Jesus promised: WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN MY NAME SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU. Now we want all of us in our financial standards — the world's standards are no longer operating in our minds and affairs: We have the
LIGHTNING LOVE, THE LIGHTNING LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST WHICH PROSPERS US.
New avenues of prosperity are filling our minds. Just let us all realise
THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST PROSPERS ME.
Everybody, let's hold that. See that Spirit of Prosperity as LIGHTNING go into all your affaire, quickening them.
CORA: New we have a list of names who want healing, please take the word aloud: THE LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST PROSPERS YOU.
CHARLES: Let's all speak the word again for these. Now any of your friends whom you may want to see mere prosperity, speak the word to the Lord silently, speak their names. Now speak the word aloud for them. Speak the word aloud again:(repeat). Let's realize that this
LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST HEALS AND PROSPERS ALL PERSONS WHO ENTER IN FAITH INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Please rise.
CORA: All those who haven't registered for this meeting, please register your names, at the desk.
BENEDICTION: We are going forth with a larger realization of the Spirit of the Lord in the world, the Spirit of the Lord in us. JESUS CHRIST IS HERE, he is come in person. Open your ears good now. That Spirit permeates and penetrates everybody. Open your minds to it and it will heal. We thank Thee, Father, for this realization,
JESUS CHRIST IS HERE, the life, love, the LIGHTNING LIFE AND LOVE of his presence is manifesting in our lives and in our hearts and we radiate it to the whole world.
In His Name. Amen.
Transcribed by Mark Hicks on August 18, 2016.
