It required a great power, a mighty influence, to free the thinking and living of the Western peoples from the withering grasp of a totalitarian ecclesiastical domination. Secularism did break the bonds of church control, and now in turn it threatens to establish a new and godless type of mastery over the hearts and minds of modern man. The tyrannical and dictatorial political state is the direct offspring of scientific materialism and philosophic secularism. Secularism no sooner frees man from the domination of the institutionalized church than it sells him into slavish bondage to the totalitarian state. Secularism frees man from ecclesiastical slavery only to betray him into the tyranny of political and economic slavery. [195:8.4]

We know that Machiventa was the ‘mighty influence’ referred to above. I wonder if he would return to free the world from GLOBAL political tyranny and economic slavery? The thing is, if he is to wait his turn [and I can’t see that Michael would arbitrarily change the sequence of Planetary Governors] then he wouldn’t be due for another 500 years or so, which is a tad disappointing – no disrespect intended to the current Governors!

The Revelators continue:

Materialism denies God, secularism simply ignores him; at least that was the earlier attitude. More recently, secularism has assumed a more militant attitude, assuming to take the place of the religion whose totalitarian bondage it onetime resisted. Twentieth-century secularism tends to affirm that man does not need God. But beware! this godless philosophy of human society will lead only to unrest, animosity, unhappiness, war, and world-wide disaster. [195:8.5]

Although Jesus referred one phase of the kingdom to the future and did, on numerous occasions, intimate that such an event might appear as a part of a world crisis. [170:4.15]

I think that it is fair to say that we are witnessing the beginnings of the first man-made disaster of truly global proportions. The Melchizedeks are the Emergency Sons, always first on the scene to help salvage wayward planets from catastrophe. There certainly is room for speculation that such a global disaster, as we now face, could be sufficient to merit the attention of the Melchizedeks, and if they were to send any then why not the vice-gerent himself?

And when the kingdom shall have come to its full fruition, be assured that the Father in heaven will not fail to visit you with an enlarged revelation of truth and an enhanced demonstration of righteousness. [176:2.3]

I think we can all agree that the first part of the excerpt above as being the FER itself but the second element has not yet occurred and it would seem that this will be a response to the growing crisis. 195:9.3 ”times of great testing and threatened defeat are always times of great revelation.”

The Publication Mandate also speaks of how the book was sent ahead of time to be in readiness for the age following the global ideological struggle, when the world would [at last] be made safe for the teachings of Jesus. Implying that we live in a time in which it is not safe to be a believer and follower of Jesus. The next age, the so-called spiritual age, in which people will be striving for a quality of thought

We can see now that western civilisations have crumbled as a result of the leftist efforts at ideological subversion and this collapse will give birth to a global political tyranny that will weaponise economics and reduce the general population to economic slavery. It seems we need to “get out” before this all goes tits up. We are taught:

… an ideal society cannot be realized when either the weak or the wicked lie in wait to take unfair and unholy advantage of those who are chiefly actuated by devotion to the service of truth, beauty, and goodness. In such a situation only one course is practical: The "golden rulers" may establish a progressive society in which they live according to their ideals while maintaining an adequate defense against their benighted fellows who might seek either to exploit their pacific predilections or to destroy their advancing civilization.[71:4.16]

It seems to me that unless we ‘pull out’ we will sink along with it. But how do we withdraw? How do we establish a more progressive society?

The hope of modern Christianity is that it should cease to sponsor the social systems and industrial policies of Western civilization while it humbly bows itself before the cross it so valiantly extols, there to learn anew from Jesus of Nazareth the greatest truths mortal man can ever hear—the living gospel of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. [195:10.21]

The answer is there: cease to sponsor the social systems and industrial policies of Western civilization. This would imply that we should sponsor something better.

The revelators tell us: If the Christian church would only dare to espouse the Master's program, thousands of apparently indifferent youths would rush forward to enlist in such a spiritual undertaking, and they would not hesitate to go all the way through with this great adventure. [195:10.10]

How many times have people asked what is the Master’s Program? What does he prescribe?

The answer is there: cease to sponsor the social systems and industrial policies of Western civilization, establish a better social contract which exalts the Great Father, Family, and Fatherland, that promotes justice and eschews corruption, that fosters and protects freedom of thought and expression, and honours self-service.

In order to do this, we need a community of spiritual people who: “delight in bearing one another's burdens; [who] actually desire to practice the golden rule.” Who willingly and abundantly know how to bear the fruits of the spirit.

What could be meant by the “enhanced demonstration of righteousness” except a community who define themselves as distinct from the spiritually bankrupt elements of the western democracies, who reject “social system, the industrial life, and the moral standards of Western civilization” and who are dedicated to putting idealism back into science, principles into politics, exalt the pursuit of a noble character rather than the acquisition of mere knowledge, of imbuing industry with morality, that exalt service over selfishness, vilify wealth without work. A community dedicated to enabling others to achieve a ‘quality of thinking’ – which the current global struggles show us is running at a catastrophic low! The revelation teaches us that: At first life was a struggle for existence; now, for a standard of living; next it will be for quality of thinking, the coming earthly goal of human existence. [81:6.28] This community must surely be invested in facilitating this?

If Christianity could only grasp more of Jesus' teachings, it could do so much more in helping modern man to solve his new and increasingly complex problems. [195:10.19]

Between the glorification of service motives, the supernal allure of the ideals of perfection, and the enhancement of thinking I think we can see a way out.

Of course, they do teach that: Idealism can never survive on an evolving planet if the idealists in each generation permit themselves to be exterminated by the baser orders of humanity. And here is the great test of idealism: Can an advanced society maintain that military preparedness which renders it secure from all attack by its war-loving neighbors without yielding to the temptation to employ this military strength in offensive operations against other peoples for purposes of selfish gain or national aggrandizement? National survival demands preparedness, and religious idealism alone can prevent the prostitution of preparedness into aggression. Only love, brotherhood, can prevent the strong from oppressing the weak. [71:4.17]

It seems we need an Ark, an Exodus, or some other device that will allow us to come together and take shelter from the catastrophic cultural collapse that seems likely to befall the world.

You have to wonder what they really mean by “an ENHANCED demonstration of righteousness.” I imagine they could mean something like: the demonstration, by a collective, of a righteousness that has been enhanced through cosmic insight, revelation, and faith. This righteousness would have to be displayed by a community and be highly distinct from the trends of the dominant culture. Of course, it could mean something entirely different, for example, it could mean a demonstration of righteousness on the part of our divine overseers – maybe the hosts of heaven intervening to save the ‘elect’ [highly unlikely] or depose the wicked.

I thought it might be worth reflecting on a few of the times that the words enhance, enhanced, and enhancement are used:

194:3:3 (2063.1) The religion of Jesus provides the joy and peace of another and spiritual existence to enhance and ennoble the life which men now live in the flesh.

195:10:1 (2084.1) Jesus’ disciples should be more than conquerors, even overflowing sources of inspiration and enhanced living to all men.

196:3:27 (2096.3) Religion provides for the enhancement, glorification, and assured survival of everything morality recognizes and approves.

180:5:12 (1951.1) The old religion taught self-sacrifice; the new religion teaches only self-forgetfulness, enhanced self-realization in conjoined social service and universe comprehension.

181:2:19 (1959.3) Dedicate your lives to the enhancement of commonplace toil.

170:3:9 (1862.6) He taught that the religion of the kingdom is a genuine personal experience which no man can contain within himself; that the consciousness of being a member of the family of believers leads inevitably to the practice of the precepts of the family conduct, the service of one’s brothers and sisters in the effort to enhance and enlarge the brotherhood.

140:4:5 (1572.5) We are admonished to let our light so shine that our fellows will be guided into new and godly paths of enhanced living.

I would also like to point out this statement, which is repeated many times throughout the text:

71:3:7 (803.7) The laws of the ideal state are few in number, and they have passed out of the negativistic taboo age into the era of the positive progress of individual liberty consequent upon enhanced self-control.

Enhanced self-control is a significant theme throughout the revelation and is highlighted as a key feature of the ‘next age’. One has to wonder if there is a correlation between ‘enhanced demonstration of righteousness’ and these phrases littered throughout the text in which true religion enhances all key values.

These elements aside, I would like to offer this passage for your consideration – which lends some credence to the concept of divine intervention:

166:3.4 (1829.1) “But herein is the danger to all who would postpone their entrance into the kingdom while they continue to pursue the pleasures of immaturity and indulge the satisfactions of selfishness: Having refused to enter the kingdom as a spiritual experience, they may subsequently seek entrance thereto when the glory of the better way becomes revealed in the age to come. And when, therefore, those who spurned the kingdom when I came in the likeness of humanity seek to find an entrance when it is revealed in the likeness of divinity, then will I say to all such selfish ones: I know not whence you are. You had your chance to prepare for this heavenly citizenship, but you refused all such proffers of mercy; you rejected all invitations to come while the door was open. Now, to you who have refused salvation, the door is shut. This door is not open to those who would enter the kingdom for selfish glory. Salvation is not for those who are unwilling to pay the price of wholehearted dedication to doing my Father’s will. When in spirit and soul you have turned your backs upon the Father’s kingdom, it is useless in mind and body to stand before this door and knock, saying, ‘Lord, open to us; we would also be great in the kingdom.’ Then will I declare that you are not of my fold. I will not receive you to be among those who have fought the good fight of faith and won the reward of unselfish service in the kingdom on earth. And when you say, ‘Did we not eat and drink with you, and did you not teach in our streets?’ then shall I again declare that you are spiritual strangers; that we were not fellow servants in the Father’s ministry of mercy on earth; that I do not know you; and then shall the Judge of all the earth say to you: ‘Depart from us, all you who have taken delight in the works of iniquity.’

This passage seems to suggest the Kingdom being revealed to the world unexpectedly, and implies a divine order being established in the midst of regular affairs on earth. Further, this image implies some kind of judgement and rejection of the selfish and self-righteous [a Magisterial Mission perhaps], specifically the religious orders, in that it depicts individuals looking to come forward to offer their services and expecting recognition for the same only to be rejected and condemned. It specifically says that “you had your chance to prepare for this Heavenly citizenship”. Jesus here seems to suggest two periods, an initial phase in which the Kingdom is revealed in the likeness of humanity and a following age [after the first phase will have come to its ‘full fruition’] when the kingdom will be revealed in glory.

The event they are speaking of here cannot be the inauguration of the Age of Life and Light. That would be an expected event, one which the whole world would be prepared for and ready to celebrate - as it would come at the end of the age of the Trinity Teacher Sons and signalise the final victory of good over evil. The event being alluded to here must necessarily precede the age of Light and Life because the wicked are still active in the world. In light of this, I can point to a great many of the ‘unexpected visit’ parables to which Jesus often referred. These correlations would suggest our unseen celestial brethren will at some point take decisive action to reveal themselves and in some manner reassert control over planetary affairs or, at the very least, interpose a visible ruler through which our connection with the divine administration can be resumed and that final authority during such an event could be invested in a Magisterial Son. However, such an idea is also in keeping with the one put forward by Jesus in which the Melchizedek Messiah steps forward to assume planetary responsibility.

However, a couple of things make me pause for thought: 176:2:6 (1915.3) “Likewise, when the world has passed through the long winter of material-mindedness and you discern the coming of the spiritual springtime of a new dispensation, should you know that the summertime of a new visitation draws near.” And also the following: “195:6:4 (2076.9) At the time of this writing the worst of the materialistic age is over; the day of a better understanding is already beginning to dawn. The higher minds of the scientific world are no longer wholly materialistic in their philosophy, but the rank and file of the people still lean in that direction as a result of former teachings.”

These statements seem like they should correlate with one another, and also with the statements regarding the disastrous outcomes of secular totalitarianism. While the world has definitely improved economically over the last 60 year I am not at all convinced that this momentum can be maintained; life and culture are subject to radical reversals and current actions by those in authority are such as will reduce the world to slavery as a result of the fact that the general quality of thinking is so poor. Personally, I find it hard to accept that the ‘worst of the materialistic age is over’ but, of course, the writers are looking at this from a very different perspective. During the 1930’s such a claim might have been tenable, when theologians, scientists, and philosophers could make headline news, but I ain’t feeling it in the 2020’s! It may be that the present materialism has just reached its apogee.

I guess the key takeaways from this article are:

• The times of global political tyranny [evisceration of all fundamental rights and constitutions] and economic slavery [complete economic dependence on oligarchs] are upon us
• This should precipitate a global spiritual reaction
• This should manifest in either a new spiritual community evolving as a sort of cultural Ark through which we can weather the storm and/or divine intervention in the re-establishment of a visible ruler, possibly a Melchizedek but more likely a Magisterial Son