The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ

9 They said, We know that we have slain the infant king; but John, his harbinger, we could not find.

10 The king was angry with his guards because they failed to slay the infant John; he sent them to the tower in chains.

11 And other guards were sent to Zacharias, father of the harbinger, while he was serving in the Holy Place, to say, The king demands that you shall tell where is your son.

12 But Zacharias did not know, and he replied, I am a minister of God, a servant in the Holy Place; how could I know where they have taken him?

13 And when the guards returned and told the king what Zacharias said, he was enraged and said,

14 My guards, go back and tell that wily priest that he is in my hands; that if he does not tell the truth, does not reveal the hiding place of John, his son, then he shall die.

15 The guards went back and told the priest just what the king had said.

16 And Zacharias said, I can but give my life for truth; and if the king does shed my blood the Lord will save my soul.

17 The guards again returned and told the king what Zacharias said.

18 Now, Zacharias stood before the altar in the Holy Place engaged in prayer.

19 A guard approached and with a dagger thrust him through; he fell and died before the curtain of the sanctuary of the Lord.

20 And when the hour of salutation came, for Zacharias daily blessed the priests, he did not come.

21 And after waiting long the priests went to the Holy Place and found the body of the dead.

22 And there was grief, deep grief, in all the land.

23 Now Herod sat upon his throne; he did not seem to move; his courtiers came; the king was dead. His sons reigned in his stead.

SECTION III

GIMEL

Education of Mary and Elizabeth in Zoan

CHAPTER 7

Archelaus reigns. Mary and Elizabeth with their sons are in Zoan and are taught by Elihu and Salome. Elihu’s introductory lesson. Tells of an interpreter.

The son of Herod, Archelaus, reigned in Jerusalem. He was a selfish, cruel king; he put to death all those who did not honor him.

2 He called in council all the wisest men and asked about the infant claimant to his throne.

3 The council said that John and Jesus both were dead; then he was satisfied.

4 Now Joseph, Mary and their son were down in Egypt in Zoan, and John was with his mother in the Judean hills.

5 Elihu and Salome sent messengers in haste to find Elizabeth and John. They found them and they brought them to Zoan.

6 Now, Mary and Elizabeth were marveling much because of their deliverance.

7 Elihu said, It is not strange; there are no happenings; law governs all events.

8 From olden times it was ordained that you should be with us, and in this sacred school be taught.

9 Elihu and Salome took Mary and Elizabeth out to the sacred grove near by where they were wont to teach.

10 Elihu said to Mary and Elizabeth, You may esteem yourselves thrice blest, for you are chosen mothers of long promised sons,

11 Who are ordained to lay in solid rock a sure foundation stone on which the temple of the perfect man shall rest – a temple that shall never be destroyed.

12 We measure time by cycle ages, and the gate to every age we deem a mile stone in the journey of the race.

13 An age has passed; the gate unto another age flies open at the touch of time. This is the preparation age of soul, the kingdom of Immanuel, of God in man;

14 And these, your sons, will be the first to tell the news, and preach the gospel of good will to men, and peace on earth.

15 A mighty work is theirs; for carnal men want not the light; they love the dark, and when the light shines in the dark they comprehend it not.

16 We call these sons, Revealers of the Light; but they must have the light before they can reveal the light.

17 And you must teach your sons, and set their souls on fire with love and holy zeal, and make them conscious of their missions to the sons of men.

18 Teach them that God and man were one; but that through carnal thoughts and words and deeds, man tore himself away from God; debased himself.

19 Teach that the Holy Breath would make them one again, restoring harmony and peace;

20 That naught can make them one but love; that God so loved the world that he has clothed his son in flesh that man may comprehend.

21 The only Savior of the world is love, and Jesus, son of Mary, comes to manifest that love to men.

22 Now, love cannot be manifest until its way has been prepared, and naught can rend the rocks and bring down lofty hills and fill the valleys up, and thus prepare the way, but purity.

23 But purity in life men do not comprehend; and so, it, too, must come in flesh.

24 And you, Elizabeth, are blest because your son is purity made flesh, and he shall pave the way for love.

25 This age will comprehend but little of the works of Purity and Love; but not a word is lost, for in the Book of God’s Remembrance a registry is made of every thought, and word, and deed;

26 And when the world is ready to receive, lo, God will send a messenger to open up the book and copy from its sacred pages all the messages of Purity and Love.

27 Then every man of earth will read the words of life in language of his native land, and men will see the light, walk in the light and be the light.

28 And man again will be at one with God.

CHAPTER 8

Elihu’s lessons. The unity of life. The two selfs. The devil. Love the savior of men. The David of the light. Goliath of the dark.