Thy brother shall rise again

Introduction

I should like my readers to understand that I consider these messages not at all personal in an exclusive sense. On the contrary, what urges me to publish them is my very sincere conviction that they are typical of what many others would say to their loved ones on earth if they had the opportunity.

I know that millions have had experiences identical with mine. I know that the shock of death and subsequent grief to my family and myself have been no greater than to others. We are all bound by common sorrow — then let us also rejoice together!

It is not at all necessary for me to detail the circumstances of my brother's passing. Suffice it to say that it was very recent. We all know only too well the horror of the shock, the relief of tears, then the determination to be brave and to live for others, and finally the settling down to the daily routine, (as though that routine could ever be the same!)

But there is one step beyond this — to forget ? Nay, memory of the one in the Beyond is our dearest blessing. But there is an upward and onward step — communion, reunion, and final restoration of the loved one. I believe that in this and in this alone lies our comfort.

The prologue which follows is written as my brother gave it to me by means of automatic writing, as are all the following messages. When he learned of my intention to compile his messages in book form, he expressed the wish to write a prologue. I feel that he has succeeded in introducing himself far better than I could have done for him, for his very soul is in that letter.

This book is offered with one purpose only — to endeavor to add what I can of comfort and assurance of the unreality of death to all who have passed through the Valley of the Shadow.

Dorothy Pierce.

Prologue

Dear Everybody :

Sis is getting out this book for me and I can assure you it is straight from the shoulder.

Most of you have a loved one or ones on this side. They love you just as dearly as you love them and probably more, for here love becomes a more glorious power than is yet known to the dear old earth. Yes, it is a "dear old earth" — that's what we call it, and do you know why? We call it that because in most of our cases it still holds what is so dear and near to our hearts, you whom we love as God intended from the beginning.

Think of this for a moment : do you know that God is Love? And do you know that on this great truth hangs the eternal destiny of all our lives? It is He who has created this love between us on this side and you on that, a love which outlives seeming death. I call it "seeming death" because there is not an atom of reality in it. Does it appeal to your sense of logic and reason that a God who is a God of Love, would create and cause love between his children and then arbitrarily choose to snatch them from each other? Do you suppose that a God of Love takes fiendish glee in such an action? Take care, then, when you say that "God took so-and-so." I tell you He not only did not but could not do such a thing, by virtue of His very nature which is Love.

We are not dead, not any of us, not nearly so dead as the majority of you on the earth, for we have not succumbed to even the thought of death as so many of you are doing, (many of you, but not all), because if you are not, then why the tears, the grief, etc.?

Now don't misunderstand us on this side. We aren't blaming you, for had you been the ones to pass through the change, we probably would have taken it harder than you do; but we do feel that it is up to you all to do your part as we are trying to do ours. And you have the advantage over us, for to you has been given the key which will unlock the door that bars you from seeing us and communicating with us.

And do we want you again? Oh, give us the chance to prove our love, our undying, eternal affection!

We are busy here all the time. No one is idle in a Heavenly state of things; but time is nothing in God's Kingdom, and our reunion with you here and now is an integral part of His Tender and Gracious Plan, for thus we will be reciprocal sources of inspiration to each other.

Your Christ came to abolish the law of death. The Bible tells you clearly and simply how He did it, and adds that in all things you should be like unto Him. So why do you shut up this law and lay it away on the shelf of "undemonstrable theories/' especially when Christ commanded you to do the very opposite thing?

God bless you all anyway, you who do and you who don't believe. And may He so inspire your very souls that you just can't help shouting for joy!

Yours affectionately,

P. M. P.

Part One

'Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, THY BROTHER SHALL RISE AGAIN. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? And she saith unto him, Yea, Lord.

"Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes : and his face was bound with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him and let him go."

(John XI).

Chapter One

It makes me feel badly whenever any of you speak of missing me and I do wish you would try even more to realize that death is just what you make it — like life. You see, in reality I am no more dead nor even away, than you are! Suppose that you were able to see me at all times : you would see me talking with you, standing among you, and being a part of you, just as you are a part of each other. Now whether or not it appears that way to you, I really am just as close to you as that, and in order to feel the truth of it, you must believe first of all on Faith — then gradually it will dawn upon you that your faith was not an imaginary, but a real thing, as real and more real than many things which you already believe absolutely. In this way you can get to feel me and see me.

Listen — here is what happens at death — nothing — Get me? Nothing, absolutely — why, we don't even change our ideas about our bodies' being made of matter for quite a while after death (so-called) has occurred.

It seemed to me after I died that I was there — only different — that is, whereas I had been feeling so sick, I suddenly felt relieved — as though an enormous weight which oppressed me was being lifted, and instead of that stifling sensation, I felt full of life, glorious life ! And my breath came naturally and easily.

I looked about in no little surprise, wondering what doctor or nurse had suddenly relieved me so, and as I turned and put out my hand, I felt Someone take me firmly in His grasp and hold me, and I saw a man looking at me so tenderly — "This," I thought, "must be Dad, and he has come to save me!" And as though guessing my thought, this Wonderful Person spoke softly: "Your Father, indeed, son, and He has come to make you whole forevermore! Yet a little while and you will understand."

And then He must have flashed the thought to me, for I knew I had died — and yet I was living! I turned to look for you, Connie (referring to his wife, Constance), to tell you right away before you had the chance to realize what had happened, that there was no such thing as death, but that there was only life, ever and ever more abundant and beautiful! But you were not able to know then; and so I tried to tell Mother — but she was hard to reach too — then a veil fell — I could see nothing more for a while; only I heard you both weeping and saying, "Is he gone? Is he dead?" And before anyone could answer, I shouted, "No, no! Not

THY BROTHER SHALL RISE AGAIN IS

that ! Connie, my wife ! Mother ! For God's sake, listen to me!"

But you evidently did not hear me, and then Dad came, and it was very dark about you all. I saw Dad coming and as he approached the house, I walked with him and screamed and shouted and implored, "Dad! Dad! Here I am! Don't believe them when they tell you I am dead, for I am not. Here lam— oh, Dad!"

But something in Dad's face, the same as in yours and Mother's, Connie, made me turn away for help. And Christ was there and urged me to leave you all for a little while and to go with Him. And I asked Him to tell you all, and I asked who would take care of my Connie and my babies, and He said, pointing up, "God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost." And looking up, I saw a Light, and as its rays fell down upon me, I began to understand, and a great peace calmed me and I said, "All is well with me, Lord. I thank thee."

Then came the first wonderful visions of Paradise — I can describe these better later.

God keep you all and bless you for your faith.

(The following message is from a soldier to his mother. I asked him to describe for her his experience in passing.)

It was all so holy and wonderful. You will know some day and then you will understand why I can't describe it right. Tell

mother that I did not suffer at all and that I

thought of her when I saw Christ, and I

thought of Dad and I remembered all they

had told me about Him, and I found it was

more than true. He is wonderful beyond all

human conception.

* * *

(Philip writes later.) Constance, you must love God and obey Him only — remember "not my will but Thine be done." Jesus prayed this when He was about to make the supreme sacrifice, more of a sacrifice than any of us have been asked to bear. Besides, we are only in different states of consciousness; our souls and bodies being one, are never separated, for the body is the temple of the soul. A day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day in God's sight, so believe. It is as hard for me as it is for you. You seem to feel that it is easier here. It is not. It is harder here in many ways than it is on earth, for we have to bear the grief of our loved ones if we would be near, and I have to bear both your grief and mine when you doubt. So won't you help me? This is the Truth, God's own Truth; I am not dead but living, so why mourn? Until you stop mourning, our progress is checked, and we will be separated longer because I shall move on to a higher plane soon, and so can you, but not until you stop mourning. If you are coming with me, you do not have to die, but we travel together in heaven while still you appear to be on earth, see? You are really moving to a higher plane, according as you conquer your wrong belief. Mourning' is a sin. People climb upwards in God's Kingdom all the time, no matter what state of consciousness or what plane they inhabit.

There is no time to lose, for time is not wasted in Heaven. We all must go on here, and I will have to go too. If you are coming

you must be cheerful.

* * *

(An uncle describes his passing after a long sickness as follows:) I saw Christ and He relieved my false belief of suffering. I was very tired, very, and rested a long time. I don't know just how long I slept, but the waking was wonderful! Christ helped me up and I stood by Him and He said: "Son, arise. Thy sins are forgiven thee. Thou art made whole. I will stay by thee and comfort thee."

And then, oh, then! wonderful vision! I saw angels coming and they took me by the hand and lifted me — they left me in the company of beautiful souls who explained things to me and they stayed by me, for I did not know — I was so tired, so dazed! I have so much to say, but it is hard. I haven't done any work, but I worship Christ by thinking of His Goodness and by trying to realize His Wonderful Plan ! I never knew God could be so good, so tender, so fatherly, so beautif ul ! (He ended by urging me to try to make his wife believe, saying that it was causing

him much grief to see her mourn.)

* * *

(A very young boy who served in the recent war writes concerning death.) It's a cinch to die — nothing to it at all, and it really is a great experience, believe me! You should see all the fellows here who are anxious to get word across to their people! But most of them don't stand any chance because so few believe. I wish I could talk to my mother! She seems to feel that she is never going to see me again, and in reality I am before her all the time! (I asked him if he had seen my brother.) Well, I have seen him but I didn't know he was your brother. He is always ready to cheer up anybody and, believe me, he can do it! He is a great fellow to know and you must sure miss him a lot, but he tells me that you talk with him all the time. He seems so happy to think that you all believe. I don't blame

him. If only my people would believe !

* * *

(Philip writes to my younger brother.) Today I saw many things that would interest you, kid. I saw a crowd of boys about your age all talking together and they seemed to be discussing things that happened on earth. They looked at everything that bothered them there as a joke, and I would often hear one say: "Gosh! And I let that bother me ! Why did I let that get my goat?" etc., etc.

Kid, the spiritual life is all that counts, so fire away ! Let your life prove that you have a big brother in heaven. You must show to the world that you have good proof of your belief by the fact of your Christian-like character. Work is a manifestation of God, just as much as worship. You must remember to put Christ first and if you allow the thought of Him to be always uppermost in your mind, you will see how easy and successful a Christ-life is to lead. * * *

(Philip at another time described the sensation of the passing.) Imagine this: suppose you went out of town for a while, and upon returning, you find the folks weeping and wailing and claiming that you had gone and left them forever. You look on in surprise and immediately start to reassure them. You tell them that you have not gone forever, but are even now returned. The folks do not see you nor seem to hear your words. You put your arms around them, but they do not feel you. You begin to realize then that something is wrong either with you or the folks.

You are about to decide that you are dreaming, when Christ comes and takes you by the hand and explains the Truth of God's love to you. Then it is that you see who is dreaming, and the grief is for those of the mistaken ideas, and not for the one who has

in truth seen Christ. It was as real as just

that, and was hard for me to realize at first.

It grieved me to see you, but now I see you

all reaching out and trying to see me and

hear my words when I am shouting in your

ears.

(A very dear friend of mine who was greatly misunderstood during her earthly life, describes her passing and first experiences on the other side as follows.) Christ took me to my lovely mother when I passed over the border, and then with a wonderful smile He left us together. I haven't seen Him since, but mother and father have seen Him often.

I am going to see so many wonderful things! They tell me that I can travel all over God's Universe. I tried to see as many of His beauties as I could afford on earth, but there was more for me to see than I could afford. So now my opportunity has come, and I shall see the earth first and then the heavenly realms; but it seems that both are cojoined in some mysterious way.

When first I arrived, I found myself reclining on a beautiful bed of flowers. (She had always been intensely fond of flowers.) Christ was standing over me and the sound of His voice gently aroused me from my slumber: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whosoever believeth on Me shall never die! Daughter of God, arise and accept thine inheritance, for verily thou hast been faithful unto the end."

He then lifted me up in his arms, and pointing to the magnificent garden, said: "Why weepest thou? Understandest thou not the love of God for His children? Come, see who approaches;" and over the flowers father and mother were coming to me, hands clasped, smiling, radiant, and a light came from them and a Light came from Christ, and I was ashamed, for I was not clothed as they.

But looking down, I saw — oh, I am a child of Light, I also, a child of True Radiant Light ! My body seemed to shine and I felt so different ! My head seemed to clear and my back straightened and I suddenly felt full of strength. I rushed to my father and mother, weeping for joy, and I did not crush a flower as I trod upon them. They seemed to glow and also to radiate differently colored lights !

It is impossible to express my joy, my happiness. Don't ever weep for me, but strive to uplift your own soul and mind to the Understanding of Goodness and Beauty and the Delights of the Lord.

After Christ left us, we walked through gardens and meadows, on and on, past beautiful houses, and from each came someone to greet me in the love of the Father, people whom I had never known or seen. I asked i£ this was what happened to everyone and I was told that it was not, but that my life had been starved for more love. That is the first lesson I have to learn, God's love for us and the love of His children for all others. And oh, Dorothy, as we walked on, we came to an exquisite building of white marble. It glistened in the light and shone in brilliancy. As we approached, I could hear the voices of little children laughing and singing, and suddenly I could see them running towards me from the distance, with cries of: "There she is! There she is! Hurry! Hurry!" Soon I was surrounded by them. They kissed my hands, my garments, and pressed their dear little faces against mine, kissing me and loving me, and saying: "We love; God loves you; everybody loves you. See, and our heavenly daddy loves you. Look and see what he has done for you." They led me to the beautiful marble mansion, and at the top of the stairs stood Philip! (My brother had always been a great favorite of hers. In fact, she had taken a great deal of care of him when he was a baby, and we had never told her of his passing, as she was very feeble at the time.) I could not speak with wonderment and he said, opening his arms to me: "It is yours, all yours. These little ones have done it for you." And I said, "But I do not deserve such love from them. I am not worthy." And Philip replied, "Do you think He would allow one to go unrewarded who understood the love of a child? This is the reward for your thoughtfulness and faithfulness and love towards children while on earth! And these children call me their heavenly daddy, because their own daddies are on earth still. There are many fellows who are in the same position as I am, and who understand fatherhood. We volunteered for the work and we each have a houseful of children to teach and comfort as their own fathers would do."

Philip is going to take me to his home soon; but now I am content for a while to learn to know my own. I sit and look at the beautiful flowers which fill every room with their fragrance. A garden surrounds the house and Philip's little charges have promised to come and play in it every day. Besides, they are going to teach me love and joy forever. Goodby for a little while. Think of me as sitting in a palace of Love and flowers, where all is glad and light and merry, and where little children talk of Love and Blessedness in Christ Jesus' name forever. Amen.

(Later Philip speaks again of his work.) Dot, you should see me. The house is chuck full of kids, all romping and playing, and I never let a tear fall. I will never let them miss their mothers or fathers or loved ones.

Today I went to the other side of a river, and there I found two little children who had just left your earth plane. They were crying and I took them up in my arms and kissed them and comforted them, and they seemed to feel all right. They were frightened to be alone without their mothers and needed

someone to comfort them. * * *

(A soldier writes of his work in that Realm Beautiful.) My work has been to help the boys who haye "gone West," as we used to say. I have helped so many and made them understand by explaining to them what I have learned since my arrival here. Oh, Dorothy, you should see them! You are a woman and can understand what love is. Those who have left you girls behind will grieve for you until you come to them through some means of communication. If you know of any girl who has lost a husband or fiance, won't you please urge her to get in touch with him immediately? And waste no time about it, for their grief is really awful ! I always thought that in Heaven there was no grief, but, God! I have seen such grief here as I have never witnessed on earth! It is a terrible thing to think of the doubt of you people on the earth plane, and to feel that we can do nothing until you call for us with your very soul's yearning! Tell mother and dad that I simply cannot come to their hearts, unless they open the channel by believing and wiping out all doubt and fear of such messages. Of course, they may have difficulty in believing that I am really their son, but they must take so much on faith and try themselves to reach me. I can easily eliminate all doubt from their minds if they will. Get them to try this stunt. They can do it.

(Another friend writes of his work.) I am so full of my work and its wonderful opportunities, that I hardly know just what to tell first. Everything is so soon to reach perfection that I am wondering why it isn't more recognizable even now. I mean that now I understand so well the ultimate outcome of everything that I already see its accomplishment ! You see, here as soon as a good deed is thought of, it is accomplished. That is the way goodness always should work — instantaneously.

I am with Philip almost continually. We often help each other in our work, and we laugh and worship and rest and sing Hosannas to the God of Goodness who sits higher than the loveliest thoughts of men!

Heaven bless you and keep you sweet as the flowers that grow in Paradise.

Chapter Two

(Philip tells of an interesting experience as follows.) Today I have been showing a couple of fellows who arrived only a short time ago just what there is to life. I think they had both led somewhat worthless lives, and they were so plunged into the mire of their own ideas, that they could hardly see or even imagine a perfect idea. They can't seem to grasp the idea that there is really a God, a Father, a real one, who loves them dearly and who created the whole universe. They had an idea that things were and were and had no particular meaning. They had seen Christ, but they are not ready as yet to receive His Bountiful Love, for they must first be taught what it is.

Oh, the pity of these poor worthless lives, when they could have been so full of value for God! Isn't it too bad that every one of us here can't take every one of you there, and just tell you everything! Why, if that could be so, the whole world would be changed — and yet God would have it so, but the earth plane people will not, for they will not all believe, and even though they do believe, they will give up the fight. And it is a fight, if you would grow spiritually, a fight against your own doubts and fears and imaginings.

I have been very busy all this time trying to do God's work as is pleasing to Him. I have helped many out of their doubts, and I can say that doubt is the worst enemy of man. Do you tell people I am dead, or do you tell them the truth — that I am not dead? It is up to you who love us to proclaim to the world that there is no death! Don't be ashamed of it — shout it to the world from the house-tops and the Glory of God shall

crown your noble effort !

* * *

We don't have to send love — it just naturally goes — real love is never sent, but radiated from God. It is a continual state. Oh, Glory to God in the highest and peace to your heart, Connie dear. Your husband is living forever, and death is actually swallowed in victory! No joke about that — it will be a far greater victory than that of the Allies over the Germans, because that is a temporary one, but victory over death is an eternal one.

You should know God as we do. He is just right, and far more wonderful and perfect than any of us can imagine by the greatest stretch of conceivable imagination. He wants us to tell Him of our loved ones; He listens so sympathetically, and speaks in such marvelous tones such words as: "I know, son; thinkest thou that I who am the

Creator of Love and the Creator of man, understandest not thy feelings? Nay, thy very soul is clear to me, and the thoughts of thy heart. Be comforted, rejoice, for I will give thee all that thou asketh in my name." * * *

Dot, I am working most of the time. There are many people who are going to get together and see if they can't influence earth conditions and make things actually better through those who can manage to get in touch with people on earth. They have asked me to help them out, and so I am going to do some! Just wait and see the marvels that will soon be demonstrated by those who dare. I believe in giving the people on earth a good shaking up once in a while. Give them something strong which they can't help seeing and understanding. It strikes me that the people here don't go at it right — they only half succeed. That is because they rely too much on their own powers and not enough on Christ. What's the use of stumbling along, doing things half right, when you have every opportunity of learning the right way?