Chapter 19
God said: Hear the words of your God, all you preachers, priests and rab’bahs; and do not seek to gainsay my words.
In times past, I had certain representatives, and I said to them: Go, preach my doctrines to the inhabitants of the earth; make them understand the way of the Almighty.
And you shall take neither money nor payments of any kind for your labor, but be an example of faith in the promises of God.
So, your predecessors went forth fulfilling my commandments.
But look what you are doing today! You patronize the man of wealth; you boast of the riches of your congregations!
You receive salaries, and you dwell in fine houses; my doctrines you sell as merchandise! You have fine temples and fashionable audiences, and you curry favor with those who are in affluence.
You do not go to the drunkard’s den, nor to the unfortunate woman; these you do not take in your arms, saying: My brother, my sister, come with me, I will show you the kingdom of God! ||
Behold, I have come to you in spirit and in truth, but you put me off, saying: Is not the first duty to one’s own household? Is not self-preservation the first law?
Now I answer you: These questions spring from the beast, and not from the spirit.
Neither does it help you one bit to rise at the break of day and recite prayers all day, nor to say: God help the poor! or: Blessed are you, my God!
When you cannot purchase one another by flattery, how do you hope for the favor of the Almighty, by praise and prayers and flattery?
Behold, the selfishness of man has made the world like a house on fire! My little ones are in pain and suffocation (the world made a place of wretchedness; the people live in misery and need).
Go then quickly to them, and provide a remedy. This is the new religion I give to you: Demanding sacrifice of you and your congregations, of all you have, that is not in use and actual need.
And you shall judge the limit of your contribution, remembering that whoever is bound on earth, is bound in heaven.
I have drawn aside the veil of death, your sons and daughters, your fathers and mothers, the dead and the living, stand face to face.
And the angels are testimony to you, that your doctrines, as you practice them, are a blasphemy against the Almighty.
You persuade yourselves and your congregations that, after death, the soul shall go far away, and to an exalted heaven. But, behold, those who are dead are with you. They testify to you by the thousands, and by tens of thousands, that you led them astray.
The evidence of the work of heaven is at your door. You stand accused before Jehovih, that you do not practice what you preach; that you fare sumptuously, and connive at sin; that you preach what you cannot prove; by the angels of your own blood and kin, you are accused.
You have no personal knowledge of heaven, and, in stubbornness of heart, you dispute with my seers and prophets, who can prove before you that they have power to see unseen things, and to hear that which you cannot hear.
You study spiritual things with your corporeal senses; nor do you have the capacity to see and hear the spirits of the dead. How much less, then, shall you presume to interpret Jehovih and His kingdoms?
Now, behold, I come in this era, not only to declare to you, that the time of preaching is at an end, except where it is practiced in deed as it is spoken in word, but also to prophesy to you, that many of you will give up your calling, and preach no more.
And your temples, churches and meeting-houses shall be turned into consultation chambers, to find remedies against poverty, crime and debauchery.
And the congregations shall be enrolled, and, at the meetings, they shall be inquired after, to see if they are in need. And they shall have volunteers, who shall go about seeking out the helpless and distressed.
So that, instead of the congregations sitting to hear your sermons, they shall come as co- workers for Jehovih’s children.
This is the new religion, which I give to you; and, moreover, let it be a prophecy to you of the words of your God. For there is no such congregation this day in the entire world; and yet, before this generation passes away, this shall be proven before you.