by Rev. Michaël Merle

In Chapter 21 of The Revelation to John (The Book of the Apocalypse: Revelation) we read part of the description of the New Jerusalem, a picture of a mighty vision experienced by John in the Spiritual World: “The city has a great and high wall and twelve gates. And on the gates twelve angels, and names were written on them: the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.” (verse 12)

This year we hope to uncover an understanding of the twelve ways in which we can enter the New Jerusalem.

The way of Dan
The name Dan means “to judge”. The process of discernment, of judgment is a key characteristic of the human being. Animals can through instinct evaluate a situation, but only the human being can weigh up all the known factors and attribute genuine feeling for what is and is not significant and arrive at an independent judgment. This insight into how to judge in such a way that objective justice is expressed out of subjective discernment is the path of Dan, the fifth son of Israel. Objective justice is at the heart of any civilisation.
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The symbol used for Dan is most commonly the scales. This instrument connects Dan to the mighty spiritual reality at work in the constellation of Libra: the heavenly judgment of the Archai Michael. Dan is also at times depicted as a horned snake. This refers to Israel’s (Jacob’s) assessment of his fifth son. The serpent was seen as the most calculating and conscious of God’s creatures (and hence often the symbol of deception and trickery – as seen in the story in the Garden of Eden). A horned serpent is one that has visible the organs of perception (horns) to ensure that the calculations and discernments are fair, true, just and in line with the intentions and mission of the Spiritual World.

The theme of the Christian Eight-Fold Path was introduced on Easter Sunday in a talk that showed that the concept of a eight-fold path is aligned with scripture. The first step on the path, being Right Foundation was explained with Paul in his letter to the Corinthians stating that the one foundation is Jesus Christ. The other seven steps on this path: Right Judgement, Right Word, Right Deed, Right Standpoint, Right Striving, Right Mindfulness and Right Contemplation were opened up in sermons during the daily contemplations at the altar in the evenings.

Only one Thursday evening Gospel Study was held in April that continued to look at Right Effort (Right Striving) on the Eight-fold Christian Path that Luke sets out to establish as the purpose of his Gospel. Applying effort can be without purpose while having a purpose changes effort to striving. This step on the path in Luke’s Gospel concludes with Zacchaeus who has a striving to meet the Lord. We learn that when we actively strive, we are met with an outcome. Our striving on the Christian Eight-fold path is to recognise the Lord.

Rev. Michaël Merle presented two talks on the major and lesser or fringe demonisations of Christianity. Michaël presented the principles that each denomination holds to in their expression of Christianity. This provided a clear understanding of where the focus of each branch of Christianity is with respect to the Beings of the Trinity and how the thinking of the founders of each denomination led to the changes in focus and understanding. Many of the more fringe denominations had their founding with a individual who had a personal epiphany on which they based their theology. The talks are being written up and will become available in the next month as part of developing our own understanding of how we see ourselves as The Christian Community.

​Rev. Oliver Steinrueck, Oberlenker and the link for our Region to the Circle of Seven leadership of The Christian Community, visited us from 14 to 21 April. During his visit the priests of the Southern African Region met with his in a synod. Oliver addressed the community on Sunday 16 April and shared something of the wider Christian Community moving into the next century of our mission. On Wednesday 19 April Oliver was able to meet with the Board of Trustees to gain a greater impression of the Johannesburg community.