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− | Can what has no beginning really end? The world will end in an illusion, as | + | Can what has no beginning really end? The world will end in an [[illusion]], as |
− | it began. Yet will its ending be an illusion of mercy. The illusion of | + | it began. Yet will its ending be an illusion of [[mercy]]. The illusion of |
− | forgiveness, complete, excluding no one, limitless in gentleness, will cover | + | [[forgiveness]], complete, excluding no one, [[limitless]] in [[gentleness]], will cover |
− | it, hiding all evil, concealing all sin and ending guilt forever. So ends the | + | it, hiding all evil, concealing all [[sin]] and ending [[guilt]] forever. So ends the |
− | world that guilt had made, for now it has no purpose and is gone. The father | + | world that guilt had made, for now it has no [[purpose]] and is gone. The father |
− | of illusions is the belief that they have a purpose; that they serve a need or | + | of illusions is the [[belief]] that they have a [[purpose]]; that they serve a need or |
− | gratify a want. Perceived as purposeless, they are no longer seen. Their | + | [[gratify]] a want. [[Perceived]] as purposeless, they are no longer seen. Their |
| uselessness is recognized, and they are gone. How but in this way are all | | uselessness is recognized, and they are gone. How but in this way are all |
− | illusions ended? They have been brought to truth, and truth saw them not. It | + | illusions ended? They have been brought to [[truth]], and truth saw them not. It |
| merely overlooked the meaningless. | | merely overlooked the meaningless. |
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− | Until forgiveness is complete, the world does have a purpose. It becomes | + | Until [[forgiveness]] is complete, the world does have a [[purpose]]. It [[becomes]] |
− | the home in which forgiveness is born, and where it grows and becomes | + | the [[home]] in which forgiveness is born, and where it [[grows]] and becomes |
| stronger and more all-embracing. Here is it nourished, for here it is needed. | | stronger and more all-embracing. Here is it nourished, for here it is needed. |
| A gentle Savior, born where sin was made and guilt seemed real. Here is | | A gentle Savior, born where sin was made and guilt seemed real. Here is |
| His home, for here there is need of Him indeed. He brings the ending of the | | His home, for here there is need of Him indeed. He brings the ending of the |
− | world with Him. It is His Call God's teachers answer, turning to Him in | + | world with Him. It is His Call [[God's teachers]] answer, turning to Him in |
− | silence to receive His Word. The world will end when all things in it have | + | [[silence]] to [[receive]] His Word. The world will end when all things in it have |
− | been rightly judged by His judgment. The world will end with the | + | been rightly judged by His [[judgment]]. The world will end with the |
− | benediction of holiness upon it. When not one thought of sin remains, the | + | benediction of [[holiness]] upon it. When not one thought of sin remains, the |
− | world is over. It will not be destroyed nor attacked nor even touched. It will | + | world is over. It will not be destroyed nor [[attacked]] nor even [[touched]]. It will |
| merely cease to seem to be. | | merely cease to seem to be. |
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− | Certainly this seems to be a long, long while away. "When not one thought | + | Certainly this seems to be a long, long while away. "When not one [[thought]] |
− | of sin remains" appears to be a long-range goal indeed. But time stands still, | + | of sin remains" appears to be a long-range [[goal]] indeed. But [[time]] stands still, |
− | and waits on the goal of God's teachers. Not one thought of sin will remain | + | and waits on the [[goal]] of [[God's teachers]]. Not one thought of sin will remain |
− | the instant any one of them accepts Atonement for himself. It is not easier to | + | the instant any one of them [[accepts]] Atonement for himself. It is not easier to |
− | forgive one sin than to forgive all of them. The illusion of orders of | + | forgive one sin than to forgive all of them. The [[illusion]] of orders of |
− | difficulty is an obstacle the teacher of God must learn to pass by and leave | + | difficulty is an [[obstacle]] the teacher of God must learn to pass by and leave |
| behind. One sin perfectly forgiven by one teacher of God can make | | behind. One sin perfectly forgiven by one teacher of God can make |
− | salvation complete. Can you understand this? No; it is meaningless to | + | [[salvation]] complete. Can you understand this? No; it is meaningless to |
− | anyone here. Yet it is the final lesson in which unity is restored. It goes | + | anyone here. Yet it is the final lesson in which [[unity]] is restored. It goes |
− | against all the thinking of the world, but so does Heaven. | + | against all the [[thinking]] of the world, but so does [[Heaven]]. |
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− | The world will end when its thought system has been completely reversed. | + | The world will end when its [[thought]] system has been completely [[reversed]]. |
| Until then, bits and pieces of its thinking will still seem sensible. The final | | Until then, bits and pieces of its thinking will still seem sensible. The final |
| lesson, which brings the ending of the world, cannot be grasped by those | | lesson, which brings the ending of the world, cannot be grasped by those |
− | not yet prepared to leave the world and go beyond its tiny reach. What, | + | not yet [[prepared]] to leave the world and go beyond its tiny reach. What, |
− | then, is the function of the teacher of God in this concluding lesson? He | + | then, is the [[function]] of the [[teacher of God]] in this concluding lesson? He |
− | need merely learn how to approach it; to be willing to go in its direction. He | + | need merely learn how to approach it; to be willing to go in its [[direction]]. He |
− | need merely trust that, if God's Voice tells him it is a lesson he can learn, he | + | need merely [[trust]] that, if [[Ta|God's Voice]] tells him it is a lesson he can learn, he |
| can learn it. He does not judge it either as hard or easy. His Teacher points | | can learn it. He does not judge it either as hard or easy. His Teacher points |
| to it, and he trusts that He will show him how to learn it. | | to it, and he trusts that He will show him how to learn it. |
| | | |
− | The world will end in joy, because it is a place of sorrow. When joy has | + | The world will end in [[joy]], because it is a place of [[sorrow]]. When joy has |
− | come, the purpose of the world has gone. The world will end in peace, | + | come, the [[purpose]] of the world has gone. The world will end in [[peace]], |
− | because it is a place of war. When peace has come, what is the purpose of | + | because it is a place of [[war]]. When peace has come, what is the [[purpose]] of |
− | the world? The world will end in laughter, because it is a place of tears. | + | the world? The world will end in [[laughter]], because it is a place of [[tears]]. |
− | Where there is laughter, who can longer weep? And only complete | + | Where there is laughter, who can longer [[weep]]? And only complete |
− | forgiveness brings all this to bless the world. In blessing it departs, for it | + | [[forgiveness]] brings all this to [[bless]] the world. In blessing it departs, for it |
− | will not end as it began. To turn hell into Heaven is the function of God's | + | will not end as it began. To turn [[hell]] into [[Heaven]] is the function of [[God's |
− | teachers, for what they teach are lessons in which Heaven is reflected. And | + | teachers]], for what they teach are lessons in which Heaven is [[reflected]]. And |
− | now sit down in true humility, and realize that all God would have you do | + | now sit down in true [[humility]], and realize that all God would have you do |
− | you can do. Do not be arrogant and say you cannot learn His Own | + | you can do. Do not be [[arrogant]] and say you cannot learn His Own |
− | curriculum. His Word says otherwise. His Will be done. It cannot be | + | [[curriculum]]. His Word says otherwise. His Will be done. It cannot be |
| otherwise. And be you thankful it is so. | | otherwise. And be you thankful it is so. |
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| [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] |
| + | [[Category: Apocalypse]] |