The Household of God
Volume 2
Rise and spiritual prime of the first world empire Hanoch
- Chapter 199 -
THE SPURIOUS APPARITION OF THE FALSE NAEME. LAMECH AND THUBALKAIN IN TEMPTATION AND DOUBT (25th November 1842)
Here it need hardly be mentioned in detail what great bliss Kisehel's last words brought to the two; for this can be easily recognized from the foregoing. So we will at once turn to another manifestation. This manifestation will here not look much different from Pontius Pilate in the so-called Apostles' Creed; however, this is immaterial, - for it, too, has its place in the order of things. What kind of manifestation then was it? - Be patient, it will come soon enough!
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You remember that earlier on Kisehel had predicted to Thubalkain many a temptation and test and a purifying and consolidating fire. Look, this is what here becomes manifest at first.
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You know only too well what kind of person Lamech was previously and whose faithful servant and bailiff. While the enemy of life is aware that his supposedly sure victim is not threatened by any real danger, he does not care much about the conversions.
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However, as soon as he sees and begins to realize that his victim is greatly endangered, he begins to mightily stir and fight for his presumed property.
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And this was exactly the case here, just as it is the case nowadays with people who have once let themselves be ensnared in something by him, the great enemy of life.
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Such people are often very virtuous; they usually have only one weak spot - not realizing that this weakness is actually so strong as to subdue at the slightest touch all the good qualities and easily vanquish and sweep them along with it.
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Whoever thinks this exaggerated, let him just touch such a paragon of virtue at such a weak spot and he will only too soon find and irrefutably realize how strong such a weak spot is.
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I will even give an example so as to elucidate this important matter. Let us consider a man who has conquered himself in every imaginable point; but he has still one weak spot, and because of its insignificance he does not heed it at all, - for it consists only in that he likes to go visiting and is very pleased if somebody visits him. This matter seems to be as innocent as can be.
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However, if we scrutinize this weak spot more closely, it is nothing else but a still mighty rope of Satan.
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The latter, once he is in touch with someone, is on the watch to see when something leading towards salvation approaches the spirit of man.
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If this is the case, he pulls the rope, the weak point becomes strong and our paragon of virtue, despite his many other virtues, goes to where the weak point pulls him, in this way always missing the good opportunity where he might have received My closer attendance towards his salvation. And such a weak spot often remains with man to the grave, - which certainly is very sad!
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Thus also our Lamech had a great many such weak spots left which on his conversion he did not find worth heeding.
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Since his love for Me suddenly became mighty, in the fire of this love also the evil ropes suffered in that they were burnt asunder and the enemy of life no longer had a hold by which to hold and pull his supposedly safe victim. What could now be done?
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Nothing but apply cunning and - failing that - force!
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And this is what happened. When Kisehel with the two approached the other six, suddenly Naeme rushed through the door like one in despair, wrung her hands for quite some time and, after she had collected herself somewhat, called out with the voice of despair:
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"Father Lamech, - you are betrayed and lost! - I have heard on the height everything about the trap laid for you!
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'Thereupon, disregarding my safety, persecuted by lions, tigers and the dwellers on the mountains, I rushed away to inform you early of the heinous plan.
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"However, - I came too late! For, as I can see, you are already a victim of the terrible sorcerers of the mountains!
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"Did you in your wisdom not realize that all calamity befalling us has always come to us and over us from the mountains, - and have still let yourself be so horribly ensnared and pulled into the most terrible trap of perdition?"
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Here she turned around and, seeing 'Thubalkain, screamed loudly: 'Thubalkain, my brother, my spouse! - You, too, a victim of the most heinous betrayal? - Yes, - you, too! - Now everything is lost!
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"Kill me, kill me, - so that I need not be witness along with you to your most horrible destruction!"
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Here Lamech's expression changed and Thubalkain in awakened wrath clenched his fists and thundered: "Such messengers of Jehovah are you? O you outcasts of hell! - Yes, yes, - up the mountains you wanted to take us, since you have doubts of fully subduing us with your devilish knowledge! - No, not ever!
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"Thank you, my dear wife, for this information! Thubalkain will know how to oppose such villainy!"
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But Lamech said to Thubalkain: "My son, before we act we shall also listen to the other party. So set your mind at rest; for who knows whether this may not be a temptation.
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"And so I ask you, messengers, to tell me: How does this matter stand? Reveal to me this riddle or I resign and become what I was, namely, also in the fire a most relentless king, which would prevent your most heinous victory over me and all my strong people;
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"So speak up, or my curse upon every fiber of your being! Amen."