Revelation – Union with God
We’ve been examining these four words: “Perception, Facts, Revelation & Knowledge.”
There is a fifth word of great significance which fits between facts and revelation. That word is “miracles.” However, we are not going to cover it in any detail at this time for the subject is too vast. After all, A Course in Miracles has already spent a half million words covering the subject.
The main miracle according to the Course has nothing to do with physical healing, but it is the gaining of an awareness of who we really are – a Son of God who is an extension of our Creator. When this awareness is achieved then many things considered miraculous can occur including physical healing. But in the overall scheme of things, the realization of our true identity eclipses any physical miracle.
The Course makes several statements about the relationship between miracles and revelation, For instance it says, “Miracles are thus a means and revelation is an end.” T-1.I.28.
This tells us that the miracle comes first, then the revelation. In addition, it says this:
“Miracles lead to the highly personal experience of revelation.” T-1.III.4
“Revelation induces only experience. Miracles, on the other hand, induce action.” T-1.II.2
“Revelation unites you directly with God. Miracles unite you directly with your brother.” T-1.II.1
This last quote is quite significant for it stresses that a union with our brother is necessary before we experience a true union with God.
So then, we take the Course and develop a miracle mindedness and this leads to revelation which is “transcends” miracles which are still linked to time. T-1.I.48 “When you return to your original form of communication with God by direct revelation, the need for miracles is over.” T-1.I.46
Again, with this mysterious word, the Course emphasizes a lot different meaning than in common use. Among us mere mortals a revelation is merely an insight or a new awareness of some kind, but we need to go beyond that and ask what revelation is as taught by the Course.
So far, we have mentioned that revelation returns you “to your original form of communication with God.” T-1.I.46 and it is an “experience” that “unites you directly with God.” T-1.II.1
In addition, we are told that “revelation transcends it (time), having nothing to do with time at all.” T-1.I.48. whereas the miracle can control time and “as an expression of charity, can only shorten it.” T-2.V.10
Religious people often call a vision a revelation but to the Course “A ‘vision of God’ would be a miracle rather than a revelation. The fact that perception is involved at all removes the experience from the realm of knowledge.” T-3.III.4
This tells us that revelation takes us beyond the realm of perception, even the perceived vision of God.
Then it makes this statement:
“Only the healed mind can experience revelation with lasting effect, because revelation is an experience of pure joy.” T-5.I.1
Then there is this:
“Revelation is literally unspeakable because it is an experience of unspeakable love.” T-1.II.2
We all have the knowledge of this revelation within our true sense of being and the Course tells us we seek to have it in our physical relationships “involving the extremely personal sense of creation sometimes sought in physical relationships.” But then adds: “Physical closeness cannot achieve it.” T-1.II.1
Physical closeness would involve sexual relationships which may be very pleasant, but does not compare to the ultimate sharing of revelation.
Whereas miracles “induce action” revelation brings experience. And what experience is that? Pure joy and unspeakable love which goes beyond physical and emotional sharing here or even a vision of heaven, God or angels.
That is certainly something to which the student can look forward.
Here it gives us guidance on attaining this ultimate communication:
“Revelations are indirectly inspired by me because I am close to the Holy Spirit, and alert to the revelation-readiness of my brothers. I can thus bring down to them more than they can draw down to themselves. The Holy Spirit mediates higher to lower communication, keeping the direct channel from God to you open for revelation. Revelation is not reciprocal. It proceeds from God to you, but not from you to God.” T-1.II.5.
To be ready we are given this advice”:
“The injunction ‘Be of one mind’ is the statement for revelation-readiness.” T-2.V.A.17
After revelation is experienced, we are then ready for knowledge:
“Knowledge is the result of revelation and induces only thought. Even in its most spiritualized form,” T-3.III.5
We now arrive at knowledge, but again, do not go by the dictionary definition if you want to understand how it is used in the Course. We will explore this concept next.
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