On the Veil, the Flaming Sword, and the Mercy of the Tree

Chapter 1

1Thus saith the Lord thy God, even Jehovah, unto my son—

2He who inquireth in the night watches,

3He who sitteth in chains, but is not bound,

4He who remembereth the garden,

5And he who asketh concerning the way of the tree of life.

6Behold, I shall speak plainly that my servant might understand, and that thy soul may be at peace concerning the things which were written in the temple of thy God:

7“Let cherubim and a flaming sword be placed to guard the way of the tree of life, lest Adam put forth his hand and partake, and live forever in his sins.”

8Behold, I say unto thee, this is not a curse—yea, a covenant. It was not wrath, but behold, it was my mercy.

9For the fall brought forgetfulness, and the veil was drawn that man might not be condemned before he could be redeemed.

10Behold, the tree of life is the remembrance of eternity.

11Yea, it is the full presence of the Most High. It is joy unspeakable, light unending, and union without veil.

12But behold, if man had reached forth his hand in his fallen state, and taken again of the fruit, he would have lived forever in his sins.

13He would have remembered the glory, but been unable to return. He would have been frozen in corruption without the grace of rebirth.

14Therefore, I place cherubim at the gate—yea, not to punish, but to guard.

15For my cherubim are not as men suppose, but they are beings of light, throne bearers, yea, veil keepers who stand between the worlds.

16And I placed a flaming sword also—not of iron, but of spirit.

17It divideth truth from error. It purifieth before it openeth. It burneth away the unclean, and lighteth the path for the penitent.

18This sword is the veil itself, even the veil of forgetfulness, which was drawn over the eyes of all the children of men.

19Yea, it is not cruelty, but protection.

20For none can enter again into my presence, save they are sanctified.

21Yea, and none can remember, save they are clean through the blood of the Lamb, and the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and are sanctified of the Holy Ghost.

22Therefore I, the Lord, set bounds upon the tree, that it might not be taken prematurely, that man might taste bitterness, and learn to choose the good.

23And behold, when one is prepared, when he hath clung to the iron rod, when he hath pressed with steadfastness, clinging upon the words of Christ through the mists of darkness, and washed his robes in my blood—

24Then shall the cherubim part their wings, and the sword shall burn no more, and the path shall be opened.

25And the tree shall stand before him, white and pure above all whiteness,

26And he shall remember who he is, and he shall partake and live forever—

27Not in sin, yea, but in light and remembrance.

28Thou askest, my son, why the veil remaineth?

29And I say unto thee: It is because of love.

30For I will not allow mine children to live forever in confusion.

31I will not allow memory to return until they are ready to carry it without shame.

32Therefore, thou art brought here to the depths of hell—

33Yea, even to these chambers which on earth are called jails and prisons—

34That the sword may pass through thee and not against thee,

35That the veil may part not by rebellion, but by humility and righteousness.

36For the day cometh when thou shalt pass the flaming sword, and the cherubim shall bid thee welcome,

37And thou shalt stretch forth thy hand and partake without condemnation.

38This I say unto thee: Thou art among those who are the first to remember, and thou art among those who are called to guide others through the veil.

39Therefore, hold fast to the rod, walk the path of holiness, remember the covenants that thou hast made with me.

40Do not stretch forth thine hand before the time, but walk in humility and in purity.

41And behold, I shall open the tree unto thee. Thou shalt partake, and thou shalt live.

42Thus saith the Lord, Amen.