Re: Dream about Jesus returning -- 15 Nov 2000 On Mon, 13 Nov 2000 07:48:46 GMT, Rowland2110 (subject: Dream about Jesus returning), to alt.dreams, wrote: >He had a American flag. You should tell the dream, like what was he doing with the flag, and how did you know he was returning? >And then I come upon this..... >Long but worth it. >NOTE: The following was originally published by Wesley Bradshaw >in the National Review, Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1880 (and handed >down to me by my grandmother). > . . . This rest of your post happens to be a coexistent file in entirety: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2444/gwvision.html Anyway, it caused me to remember one day in summer 1985, late in the week after work, in the late afternoon, I was laying out by the townhouse-community pool reading the new issue of *National Review* (-- I subscribed for one year) and feeling overcome by a seemingly spirit-like-effect inducing sleep for dreaming -- a sort of thing that had been happening in the immediately preceding days here by the pool after work, since LaFortune Pool was now closed for the season -- I laid the magazine down and, setting the lounge chair back and closing my eyes, warmed by the Tulsa Sun, I dozed right to sleep then into dreaming. Thursday, 5 September 1985 (1700 - 1830 hrs, by the pool), Drm 1: I’m in my red 300ZX having just slowed onto the wide and level paved shoulder off the left side of the road -- a one- directional roadway of at least two lanes in flat open spaces -- on a hot and sunny afternoon with dust in the air, moderate city- traffic passing by. I’m stopping to help another motorist, now parking near behind his red Honda Accord sedan (the same kind of car I had before my 300ZX). He has run out of gas. I get out to help, to give him some gasoline by transferring gasoline into his car from mine, this seemingly no difficult problem to accomplish. [end] Drm 2: In the midst of a desert of expansive dunes of light- beige sand (like in the Sahara), participatory with a large army deployment, we are travelling in a jeep on a make-shift road at quite fast speed zipping over the dune-terrain. An officer subordinate to me is driving. The air is very dry and dusty. We’re moving expeditiously, here in the early afternoon, on some sort of management function having to do with strategic situation in this zone -- this scene a component of an all-pervasive war. We speed along, up a vast, gently sloping hill and over the crest, then descending I notice way up ahead . . . we’re approaching a security perimeter checkpoint, on up the next rise far off in the monotonously homogenous terrain. Arriving at the military encampment in the middle of nowhere, we stop for only a moment. A few words are spoken between the officer driving and several soldiers of the small detachment, him asking for simple information. Having stopped but for a brief moment, we’re continuing on into the secured zone (-- to *whatever* it is, but I don’t know). (scene change) Having recently arrived for the purpose of making an assessment, I’m one of a small group of “dressed for the office” persons entering onto the main business street in a midwestern small city, myself attired in my medium gray suit with white cotton shirt. (Situation: the city is completely empty of people.) I walk over toward a light-beige brick building, the others following beside and behind, and we proceed onto the sidewalk in front of it. Here smoking a cigar, I step over to a sidewalk drinking fountain turning the spring-loaded twist valve- handle, and seeing the water stream out all as usual into the ceramic basin, I comment to the others, “They said the water wasn’t safe to drink. It looks okay to *me*.” But I know not to drink it. [end] I awoke in the dream and I realized the magazine cover story was about nuclear war, which caused me to particularly remember the moment. Then I went back to my residence, got my stuff together, and went to the university for swim workout. Tuesday, 3 September, 1985 (1645 - 1845 hrs, by the pool), Drm 1: A simple resolute scene. I’m talking with Don Nickels about government policy questions. (But I found out after posting this originally that he wasn’t a U.S. Senator then, so maybe he must have run for something in 1984, and that’s how I knew him.) Drm 2: I’m out at sea on a large personal boat belonging to the late-middle-aged man here in charge, his wife and children along also. There’s laundry to be done. The college-aged daughter is responsible for it. I see her for a moment dealing with the laundry in an upper-deck room, several full laundry baskets on the floor, the natural light entering through windows from the overcast sky. We must be living out here for a while. [end, awake] This day’s New York Times, page 1: “Wreckage of Titanic Reported Discovered 12,000 Feet Down.” I’m of the thinking that there is one source for the account of George Washington’s vision. How nicer it would be if GW had written the vision himself or if the guy to whom it was told had written down the vision soon after, instead of the facts being such as they are. I copy now from a book that gives the citations and represents to be quoting from the source. I have edited the quote-mark indenture for consistency. There are some material additions to what was posted by Rowland2110, and one material difference is that the “singularly beautiful female” is quoted as being a “being” and is not referred to with feminine pronouns. I have no idea what the cited publications really say. The story of the occurrence and the content of this vision was first published in the U.S. war veteran’s paper “The National Tribune” in December 1880. That paper is now known as “The Stars and Stripes.” The vision account was reprinted again in “The Stars and Stripes” dated December 21, 1950. The occasion of the vision, as told to publisher Wesley Bradshaw, is as follows: “The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the fourth of July, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then ninety-nine years old, and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he had come to visit once more. “Let’s go into the hall,” he said. “I want to tell you of an incident of Washington’s life -- one which no one alive knows of except myself; and if you live, you will before long see it verified. Mark the prediction, you will see it verified. “From the opening of the Revolution we experienced all phases of fortune, now good and now ill, one time victorious and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen the tears coursing down our dear commander’s care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington’s going to the thicket to pray. Well, it was not only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid and comfort. And God brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation. “One day, I remember it well, the chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly. He remained in his quarters nearly all the afternoon, alone. When he came out I noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and there seemed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of an officer, who was presently in attendance. After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone could command, said to the latter: “‘I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite to me a singularly beautiful being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of the visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of the eyes. “‘By this time I felt strange sensations spreading over me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to speak, but my tongue became useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor. “‘Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed to fill with sensations, and grew luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor also becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my eyes than before. I began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany death. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move. All were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly on my companion. “‘Presently I heard a voice saying, “Son of the Republic, look and learn,” while at the same time my visitor extended an arm eastward. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon the strange scene. Before me lay, spread out in one vast plain, all the countries of the world -- Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific. “Son of the Republic”, said the same mysterious voice as before, “look and learn.” “‘At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating in mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left he cast some over Europe. Immediately a cloud arose from these countries and joined in mid-ocean. For awhile it seemed stationary, and then it moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people. “‘A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view. “‘A third time I heard the mysterious visitor saying, “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again, I heard the mysterious voice say, “Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn.” “‘And this time the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward. From Africa I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly and heavily over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking I saw a bright angel on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word “UNION.” He was bearing the American flag. He placed the flag between the divided nation and said, “Remember, ye are brethren.” “‘Instantly, the inhabitants, casting down their weapons, became friends once more and united around the National Standard. “‘Again I heard the mysterious voice saying, “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa. “‘Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene. From each of these continents arose thick black clouds that were soon joined into one. And through this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men. These men, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of the cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities which I had seen springing up. “‘As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious voice saying, “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast. “‘Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shown the word “UNION,” and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle. “‘Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict I heard the mysterious voice saying: “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious. “‘Then once more, I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice: “While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last.” And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word “UNION,” he placed it upon the standard while the people kneeling down said, “Amen.” “‘The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, “Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted. Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and Union.” With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, the progress, and destiny of the United States.’ “Such, my friends,” the venerable narrator concluded, “were the words I heard from Washington’s own lips, and America will do well to profit by them.” * * * * * * Reply to: angel_marvelzombie@yahoo.com