nl-Chapter 1 - In Anticipation of the Return of Christ

An Introductory Overview of the History of Salvation 

1. In the beginning of time, the world lacked love. The first humans were far from feeling and understanding that divine power— that essence of the Spirit, the origin of all creation.

2. They believed in God, but they attributed only power and justice to Him. People believed they could comprehend the divine language through the elements of nature; therefore, when they saw nature as gentle and peaceful, they thought the Lord approved of human deeds; yet when the forces of nature were unleashed, they believed they recognized in them the wrath of God, which manifested itself in this form. 

3. In the hearts of people, the image of a terrible God had taken shape, one who harbored wrath and a desire for vengeance. Therefore, when they believed they had offended God, they offered Him burnt offerings and sacrifices in the hope of appeasing Him. 

4. I tell you that those offerings were not inspired by love for God: it was the fear of Divine Justice, the fear of punishment, that drove the first peoples to pay tribute to their Lord. 

5. They simply called the Divine Spirit God, but never Father or Master. 

6. It was the patriarchs and the first prophets who began to make it clear to humanity that God was indeed justice—yes, but perfect justice; that He was above all a Father and, as a Father, loved all His creatures. 

7. Step by step, humanity slowly journeyed along the path of its spiritual development and continued its pilgrimage, passing from one age to another and learning a little more of the divine mystery through the revelations that God has given to His children throughout the ages. 

8. Nevertheless, man did not attain full knowledge of divine love; for he did not truly love God as a Father, nor was he able to feel in his heart the love that his Lord had always shown him. 

9. It was necessary for perfect love to become human, for the "Word" to incarnate and take on a body— —that was tangible and visible to people, so that they might finally experience how deeply and in what ways God loved them.  

10. Not everyone recognized the presence of the Father in Jesus. How could they have recognized Him, since Jesus was humble, compassionate, and loving even toward those who insulted Him? They thought of God as strong and proud toward His enemies, judgmental and terrible toward those who offended Him. 

11. Yet just as many rejected that Word, many also believed in it— that Word which penetrated to the very depths of the heart. That way of healing suffering and incurable diseases with nothing but a caress, a glance of infinite compassion, a word of hope, that teaching, which was the promise of a new world, a life full of light and justice, could no longer be erased from the hearts of many who understood that that divine Man was the truth of the Father, the Divine Love of Him whom people did not know and therefore could not love. 

12. The seed of that highest truth was sown forever in the heart of humanity. Christ was the sower, and He still tends His seed. Thereafter, He will reap His fruit and rejoice in it forever. Then He will no longer say in His Word, "I am hungry" or "I am thirsty," for at last His children will love Him as He has loved them from the beginning. 

13. Who speaks to you about Christ, disciples? He Himself. 

14. It is I, the "Word," who speak to you anew, humanity. Recognize Me; do not doubt My presence because of the humility in which I reveal Myself. There can be no pride in Me. 

15. Recognize Me by the path I walked in the world at that time; remember that I died just as humbly as I was born and lived. (296, 4-16) 

Hopes and Expectations 

16. After My departure in the "Second Era," My return was awaited from generation to generation among those who preserved their faith in Me. The divine promise was passed down from parents to children, and My Word kept alive the longing to witness My return. 

17. Each generation believed itself to be the chosen one, expecting that the Word of their Lord would be fulfilled in them. 

18. Thus time passed, and generations came and went, and My promise was increasingly pushed aside from their hearts, and they forgot to watch and pray. (356, 4-5) 

19. The world is subject to trial; the nations feel the full weight of My justice falling upon them, and My light, My voice calling you, makes itself felt throughout all humanity. 

20. People feel My presence, perceive My Universal Ray descending and resting upon them. They sense Me without knowing this work*, without having heard My Word, and they lift their souls to Me to ask: "Lord, in what time do we live? These afflictions and sufferings that have befallen humanity—what do they mean, Father? Do You not hear the lamentations of this world? Did You not say that You would return? When will You come, O Lord?" And in every faith group and religious community, the spirit of My children rises, and they seek Me, ask Me, question Me, and await Me. (222, 29) 

* The revelations of Christ at His return in the Word, in spiritual form, which began in 1866 in Mexico through the forerunner Elias. 

21. People question Me and say to Me: "Lord, if You exist, why do You not reveal Yourself among us, even though You have descended into our earthly world at other times? Why do You not come today? Is our godlessness now so great that it prevents You from coming to our aid? You have always sought out the lost, the 'blind,' the 'lepers'—now the world is full of them. Do we no longer stir Your compassion? 

22. You told Your apostles that You would return to the people and that You would give signs of Your coming, which we now believe we see. Why do You not show us Your face?" 

23. Behold, thus do people wait for Me, without sensing that I am among them. I am before their eyes, and they do not see Me; I speak to them, and they do not hear My voice; and when they finally catch a glimpse of Me for a moment, they deny Me. But I continue to bear witness to Myself, and I will continue to await those who hope in Me. 

24. Yet truly, the signs of My revelation in this time have been great; even the blood of men, shed in streams and saturating the earth, has signaled the time of My presence among you as the Holy Spirit. (62, 27-29) 

25. No one should be surprised by My presence. Already through Jesus I showed you the events that would herald My manifestation as the Spirit of Truth. I also told you that My coming would be in the Spirit, so that no one should expect material manifestations that will never come. 

26. Consider the Jewish people, who still await the Messiah without Him coming in the form they expect, for the true One was already among them, and they did not recognize Him. 

27. Humanity, do you refuse to acknowledge My new revelation so that you may continue to await Me according to your own conceptions of faith rather than in accordance with what I promised you? (99, 2) 

28. The world should not expect a new Messiah. Just as I promised to return, I have also let you know that My coming will be spiritual; yet people have never known how to prepare themselves to receive Me. 

29. At that time, people doubted that God could be hidden in Jesus, whom they regarded as a man like any other and as poor as any man. Nevertheless, later on, in view of Christ's mighty works, people came to the conviction that in that man who was born into the world, grew up, and died, was the "Word" of God. Yet in this present age, many people would only acknowledge My coming if I were to come as a human being, as in the Second Era. 

30. The evidence that I come in the Spirit and thus reveal Myself to humanity will not be recognized by all, despite the testimonies, for materialism will be like a dark veil over the eyes of many. 

31. How many would like to see Christ suffer once more in the world and receive a miracle from Him in order to believe in His presence or His existence. Yet truly, I tell you, there will be no more manger on this earth to see Me born as a human being, nor another Golgotha to see Me die. Now all who rise to true life will feel Me born in their hearts, just as all who stubbornly persist in sin will feel Me die in their hearts. (88, 27-29) 

32. Behold how many people in this age are studying the Scriptures of bygone times, reflecting on the prophets, and trying to grasp the promises Christ made regarding His return. 

33. Hear how they say: "The Master is near"—"The Lord is already here," or: "He will come soon," and add: "The signs of His return are clear and evident." 

34. Some seek and call upon Me, others feel My presence, and still others sense My coming in the Spirit. 

35. Oh, if only all of them already had that thirst for knowledge, if only all of them had that longing to know the highest truth! (239, 68–71) 

36. Behold how people of all denominations and sects scrutinize the times, life, and events in the hope of discovering the signs that herald My coming. They are the ignorant who do not know that I have been revealing Myself for a long time and that this manner of revelation will soon come to an end. 

37. But I also tell you this: many of those who await Me with such longing would not recognize Me if they were to witness the manner in which I reveal Myself; rather, they would reject Me outright. 

38. Only the testimonies will reach them, and through these they will still come to believe that I have been among My children. 

39. You, too, have awaited Me inwardly with impatience; yet I knew that you would recognize Me and belong to My workers in this time. (255, 2-4) 

Biblical Promises 

40. In My revelation through Jesus, I announced to you the coming of the Holy Spirit; yet people believed that it was a deity who—unknown to them—resided within God, without being able to comprehend that when I spoke of the Holy Spirit, I was speaking to you of the one and only God, who was preparing the time when He would reveal Himself to humanity through human understanding. (8, 4) 

41. Why should anyone be surprised at My new revelations? Truly, I tell you, the patriarchs of old already knew of the coming of this age; the seers of other eras had beheld it, and the prophets announced it. It was a divine promise that had been given to humanity long before I was born in Jesus. 

42. When I announced My return to My disciples and told them the manner in which I would reveal Myself to humanity, much time had already passed since that promise was given to you. 

43. Now you have the course of that time before your eyes; here those prophecies are being fulfilled. Who can be surprised by this? Only those who have slept in darkness*, or those who have extinguished My promises within themselves. (12, 97-99) 

* The term "darkness" here and elsewhere has the meaning of "lack of knowledge," "ignorance," while "light" is used in the opposite sense as a symbol of "knowledge," "enlightenment." 

44. Since I knew that you would delve only superficially into My teachings, and since I foresaw the errors into which you would fall when interpreting My revelations, I announced My return to you by telling you that I would send you the Spirit of Truth to clarify many mysteries and explain to you what you had not understood. 

45. For at the heart of My prophetic word, I made known to you that in this age I would not come amid thunder and lightning as on Sinai, nor would I become human and humanize My love and My words as in the "Second Age," but that I would come to your spirit in the radiance of My wisdom, surprise your mind with the light of inspiration, and call at the doors of your hearts with a voice that your spirit understands. Those prophecies and promises are being fulfilled right now.

 46. It is enough for you to prepare yourselves a little to see My light and feel the presence of My Spirit— the very One who announced to you that He would come to teach you and reveal the truth. (108, 22-23) 

47. There are many who, out of fear or lack of diligence, have not developed and merely follow the Law of Moses without acknowledging the coming of the Messiah, and others who, though they believe in Jesus, have nevertheless not awaited the promised Comforter Spirit. Now I have come down for the third time, and they have not awaited Me. 

48. The angels have announced these revelations, and their call has filled the space. Have you recognized them? It is the Spiritual World that has come to you to bear witness to My presence. Everything that is written will come to pass. The destruction that has been unleashed will overcome the pride and vanity of man, and he—having become humble—will seek Me and call Me Father. (179, 38-39) 

49. This is what I told you in those days: "What I have told you is not all that I must teach you. In order for you to know everything, I must first depart and send you the Spirit of Truth, so that He may explain all that I have said and done. I promise you the Comforter in times of trial." Yet that Comforter, that Explaner, is I Myself, who returns to enlighten you and help you understand the past teachings and this new one that I now bring to you. (339, 26) 

50. In wisdom lies the healing balm and the comfort your heart longs for. That is why I once promised you the Spirit of Truth as the Spirit of Comfort. But it is essential to have faith so as not to falter on the path nor feel fear in the face of trials. (263, 10-11) 

Fulfilled Omens 

51. Few are the people who recognize the signs that a new age has dawned and that I am currently revealing Myself spiritually to humanity. The majority devote their lives and efforts to material progress, and in this ruthless and at times bloody struggle to achieve their goals, they live like the blind, lose their way, no longer know what they are striving for, cannot see the bright glow of the new dawn , fail to perceive the signs, and are far from acquiring knowledge of My revelations. 

52. This humanity has believed more in the teachings and words of men than in the revelations I have granted them throughout the ages. Are you perhaps waiting for the Father, in His justice, to send you even greater signs than those you see at every turn, so that you may feel and believe that this is the time foretold for My manifestation as the Spirit of Truth? Oh, you people of little faith! Now you will understand, disciples, why I sometimes tell you that My voice cries out in the wilderness, because there is no one who hears it and truly heeds it. (93, 27-28) 

53. So that all people on earth may believe in the truth of this message, I have caused the signs prophesied in ancient times to be evident throughout the world—prophecies that spoke of My return. 

54. Therefore, when this Good News reaches the nations, people will search out and examine everything that was spoken to them in these times, and with surprise and joy they will discover that everything that was announced and promised regarding My return has faithfully come to pass, as befits Him who has but one Will, one Word, and one Law. (251, 49) 

55. In the "Second Era"*, I announced My new revelation to My apostles, and when they asked Me what signs would herald that era, I announced them to them one by one, as well as the proofs I would give them. 

* Christ divides the history of salvation into three major sections, ages, or "times," whereby the 38 "Second Time" is that of God's revelation through Jesus and the time thereafter (for further details, see Chapter 38) 

56. The signs have appeared right up to the last; they proclaimed that this is the time foretold by Jesus, and now I ask you: If this spiritual revelation, in which I am letting you share, were not the truth—why then has Christ not appeared (in the form expected by the believers), even though the signs have come to pass? Or do you believe that the tempter also has power over all creation and over the forces of nature to deceive you? 

57. I once warned you so that you would not succumb to the seduction of false prophets, false Christs, and false saviors. Yet today I tell you that the incarnated soul, due to its development, its knowledge, and its experience, has awakened to such an extent that it is not easy to offer it darkness as light, no matter how much deception is at its disposal. 

58. That is why I have told you: Before you surrender yourselves to this path in blind faith, examine it as much as you wish! Recognize that this Word has been given for all, and that I have never reserved any part of it for certain people alone. See that in this work there are no books in which I seek to keep any teaching secret from you. 

59. Yet I also told you in that "Second Age" through the mouth of My apostle John: "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Likewise, I taught you the parable of the virgins so that you might take it to heart in this time. (63, 79–80) 

60. Since the signs and the tribulations have come to pass, and I have not appeared in the synagogue nor in any church—does the world not suspect that I must now reveal Myself in some place, since I cannot go against My Word? (81, 41)