TSW ~ E.W. King: "The Mystery of Christian Trance." ~ TSW

Ancient Antiochene

Mysteries

Part Fifty-two

“The Mystery of Christian Trance.”

By presbyter Eric William King (November 24^th 2024)

How could we ever know an Almighty God? Perfect in all His ways. Without sin. Before all things. Can do all things. Contains and created all things. Controls all things. He does this in the past, present, and future. All in all.

The Bible informs us that “God can be seen in the things of creation”. We see order and beauty in creation. God’s intention is to make known His qualities which included justice and mercy, the science of our world. In our Human experience we understand that not all is right. We see things and witness things occur that we know are wrong. This is the reality of sin.

The overwhelmed Human mind is unable to take everything in with complete or even satisfactory understanding. The true reality is concealed unto most on this fallen planet. So, man searches to find answers about himself and this planet. Man wants at least some kind of control, some kind of steadiness. There is Good News!

God is not in existence to not be known, but to be known. We cannot limit God to “attributes” but we can begin to understand God by them. We could say that God’s “divine substance” is in His attributes. This is an eternal and personal uncreated energy. God has given us points of reference found within His word so that we can begin to better understand a proper relationship with Him. In our created space-time continuum and our dimensional experience as Humans, we have instructions given to us by a loving Creator – by God.

As we hear His word and meditate on His ways, we may experience what Apostle Peter experienced along with the other Apostles. Apostle Peter was sometimes allowed by God to enter “trance” (Acts 10:10; Acts 11:5; Acts 22:17). The Greek word for “trance” used here is “ekstasis”, we get the word “ecstatic” from it. It has different levels of experience but we could say that one of these is to be in communion with God while in prayer or in thought - and the mind becomes less aware of the person's physical presence and a sort of deep “day-dreaming” occurs in a rapturous experience of God’s existence.

It is during these experiences that God may reveal a new-truth or understanding of His word to you. These moments may include memories, visions, ideas or revelations. Epiphanies and enlightenment happen during such episodes. These experiences are sometimes less “deep” than at other times but they are none-the-less very important steps in our relationship with God. Even during the day while standing someplace or sitting we may encounter a small “God episode”. He is always there to talk to and to listen to.

When we lay down at night to sleep and begin to thank God and talk to God, we may suspend the use of our external senses and enter peaceful rest in God. It is important to find quiet time with our Heavenly Father. We believe that God has revealed a multi-dimensional space that we live in. Our God cannot be known save by he whom He wishes to be known. This knowledge takes spiritual revelation, not rational, philosophic knowledge - though God gives thinking. God is transcendent. God sits upon the Sea of Glass which resides above the Pleroma. The lower Aeon’s of the Great Pleroma have inherited sin.

In the person of Jesus Christ, we have God visiting His own creation. He enters our space and shows us the Way. He brings the “program” which annihilates sin and ultimately restores all creation. All of this a part of the plan of Divine Intelligence. God gives His children a space of experience that they may become eternal individuals – reflecting the attributes of Divine Intelligence and thus becoming true children of God. Christianity is a journey through space and time. It is a gift from God. What are you doing with your “space” and your “time”?

The next time you feel harassed by feelings of insecurity and anxiety, enter prayer, enter Christian trance and proclaim the True Promises of God. He has you in His arms. Through the Holy Spirit we may gain comfort and inspiration. We gain a supernatural power to heal, to forgive, to grow. As Christians we should gain a clearer understanding of our theology, our goals and our purpose.

As Born-Again Christians our theoria (contemplation) is on the things of the True God, we are the true logikoi – knowledgeable spirit beings. This truth is extremely important for the Novices of the True Faith. Before you can move out of Novice and let your roots grow into deeper soil you must understand the basics – they must never be forgotten. Christians must grow up; this means learning to become mortified to the enticements of this world. The way to Jesus Christ is narrow. True love is not lust or perversion. The Fallen World defines love based on fallen and distorted emotions not knowing the evil power of sin.

My prayer for you is that you remain in God’s word. If you have accepted Jesus the Christ as your Lord, God, and Savior you have been delivered from the Fallen Matrix. Continue to share the Gospel in all that you do and stay with us here at “The Shepherds Way” and “Nugget of Truth”. Keep learning and growing.

We are learning about true communication with God.

This is most certainly true.

Eric William King (November 14^th 2024)