The Book of Revelation and the Work of the Priest On-line since: 15th August, 2014 The Book of Revelation Rudolf Steiner e.Lib Document Lectures Section John's Book of Revelation 'the Apocalypse' has been subjected to countless interpretations by theologians over the years, mostly based on theory and speculation. In contrast, Rudolf Steiner spoke from his own direct experience and knowledge of the spiritual truths contained in St. John's mysterious pictures. By Rudolf Steiner Translated by J. Collis Bn/GA/CW 346 John's Book of Revelation ‘the Apocalypse’ has been subjected to countless interpretations by theologians over the years, mostly based on theory and speculation. In contrast, Rudolf Steiner spoke from his own direct experience and knowledge of the spiritual truths contained in St. John's mysterious pictures. Although he had previously presented his insights into the Book of Revelation a number of times, in 1924 Steiner ventured to give a completely new perspective — in response to a request by priests of The Christian Community — by relating the subject closely to the work of the modern priest. ‘These priests felt the need to achieve a closer relationship with the Book of Revelation,’ he wrote later. ‘I believed I would be able to contribute to such a closer relationship. The spiritual paths I follow had enabled me to trace the apocalyptist's footsteps. So I felt that with this course of lectures I would be able to achieve a depiction that would convey this priestly book in its true sense as a spiritual guide for the priest.’ These 18 lectures were given by Rudolf Steiner at Dornach in September of 1924. They make up the entirety of the lecture series entitled, The Book of Revelation and the Work of the Priest, Bn/GA/CW 346, published in German as, Apokalypse und Priesterwirken. We present these wonderful lectures here with the kind permission of the Rudolf Steiner Nachlassverwaltung, Dornach, Switzerland. Copyright © 1998 This e.Text edition is provided with the cooperation of: The Rudolf Steiner Press

Some editions and/or translations of this book are available for purchase from: Steiner Verlag (German), Rudolf Steiner Press, Kobo (Canada) Powell's Books Amazon or, search for related titles available for purchase at Amazon.com! Find more information at Google Book Search.

---

This book is still being sold and marketed by the publisher, Rudolf Steiner Press.
Please buy the book! Use the links under the cover image, above-right.

---

CONTENTS

Cover Sheet   Contents Publisher's Foreword Introduction Greeting by Johannes Werner Klein   Lecture One September 05, 1924 The Act of Consecration of Man and the Book of Revelation. Meaning of the word ‘apocalypse’. The four ages of the Mysteries and of the Transubstantiation. The Cabeiri in the third age. Lecture Two September 06, 1924 Changes in experiencing the Transubstantiation in the different Mystery ages. Lecture Three September 07, 1924 Future experiences of the Transubstantiation will be in the ‘I’-organization. The validity of anthroposophical truths. Alpha and Omega. Earlier and future conditions of consciousness. First words of the Book of Revelation. Lecture Four September 08, 1924 The letters to the Angels of the congregations at Ephesus and Sardis. Understanding the numbers in the Book of Revelation: twelve, seven, twenty-four. Lecture Five September 09, 1924 During the fifth post-Atlantean age human beings will increasingly develop an awareness of death as a companion. To read the Book of Revelation one must apply one's will. Lecture Six September 10, 1924 Number secrets in the Book of Revelation. Humanity formerly encompassed by the cosmic number secrets; in today's stage of the earth's evolution humanity is extricating itself from the laws of number. Lecture Seven September 11, 1924 The year 333. The apocalyptist's prophetic vision of a possible departure from the Christ Principle and return to the Father Principle. Mohammedan teachings. 666 — the number of the Beast. Transubstantiation and karma. Lecture Eight September 12, 1924 Christ's connection with the sun. The Genius and the Demon of the Sun. Sorat and the number 666. The necessity to strive for spirituality. Michael mystery, Christ mystery, Sorat mystery. Lecture Nine September 13, 1924 The Book of Revelation as a prophetic picture showing the development of Christianity after the Mystery of Golgotha. The essential difference between Christianity and other religious creeds. Building the Old and the New Jerusalem. Lecture Ten September 14, 1924 Various pictures from the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation. The work of the priest today. Lecture Eleven September 15, 1924 The three stages in the fall of the powers opposing the Christ-Impulse: the fall of Babylon, the fall of the Beast and the False Prophet, the fall of the divine adversaries (Satan). Lecture Twelve September 16, 1924 Transition from the fourth to the fifth post-Atlantean age. Coming age in which human beings will have conscious visions. The woman clothed with the sun. Lecture Thirteen September 17, 1924 The principle of numbers. The age of the trumpets. Human beings with no ‘I’. The evolution of races and development of individuals.   Participants' Questions   Lecture Fourteen September 18, 1924 Threefold human being and threefold humanity: cloud people, rainbow people and people with fiery feet. Humanity split into races and nations. Examples: Russia (Bolshevism), Czechs and Slovaks. Lecture Fifteen September 19, 1924 Events in nature and history. The sea of glass. Love and light. Pouring out of the phials of wrath. Answers to participants' questions.   Preliminary Talk   Lecture Sixteen September 20, 1924 The unity of starry world and earthly world. Fixed stars, planets, comets. The seven-headed and the two-horned beast. The nature of comets; Biela's comet. Lecture Seventeen September 21, 1924 The Book of Revelation as a book of initiation. The letters, seals, trumpets, divine love and divine wrath in their relation to physical world, soul world and spiritland. Perceiving the hierarchies and how they work. Religion and knowledge. Lecture Eighteen September 22, 1924 The development of the consciousness soul. Intellectuality and Satan. The danger of forming new group souls: Gog and Magog. Impulses from the Book of Revelation in the work of the priest.   Appendix A Note from the Editors of the German Edition Notes Index of Names Back Cover