The Reappearance of Christ in the Etheric

The first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles describes Christ's Ascension-"and a cloud received him out of their sight." As the disciples were looking up, two angels appeared and told them that "this same Jesus, taken up from you into heaven, shall come again in the same way as you have seen him go." In 1910, Rudolf Steiner began a series of lectures announcing the advent of Christ's appearance in the sphere of the earth's etheric or life body. At first, he said, only a few will be aware of it, but in time more and more people-regardless of religious affiliation-will be strengthened, comforted and infused by the Christ's living presence. Such "Damascus experiences," bespeaking a new natural clairvoyance, Steiner argues, will become increasingly common. "The Christ will become a living comforter," he writes. "However strange it may seem, it is nevertheless true that often when people, even in considerable numbers, are sitting together not knowing what to do and waiting, they will see the etheric Christ. He will be there, will confer with them, and will cast his word in such gatherings. We are now approaching these times..." This collection contains Steiner's lectures on this theme, as well as on important related questions such as "the etherization of the blood."

Table of Contents:
The appearance of Christ in the etheric -- Spiritual science and etheric vision -- Buddhism and Pauline Christianity -- Mysteries of the universe : comets and the moon -- The reappearance of Christ in the etheric -- The Sermon on the Mount and the land of Shambhala -- The return of Christ -- The etheric vision of the future -- The etherization of the blood -- Spirit beings and the ground of the world--1 -- Spirit beings and the ground of the world--2 -- Spirit beings and the ground of the world--3 -- Thethree realms between death and rebirth.

About the Author :
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up (see right). As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.