they did not see Jesus, because, as I have said, that which appeared was even no sensible light, but an incomprehensible apperception which in an immaterial way was given him by divine action in the likeness of a vision of light, so that he thought that the heavens were opened and so on. — These are the revelations which have taken place through the medium of the bodily senses. They are exalted above any commixture with the elements or any of the sensible and human events.n12967 ¶1
But those who receive these revelations are not enveloped in ecstasy of mind, as in the case of the revelation that takes place through the eyes of the soul in the vision of the soul, as : I saw the Lord sitting on a high throne and Seraphs each with six wings round it '), and as in the revelation unto Kzekiel, in the revelation of the wheels and the amazing images, and the sound from the wheels resembling- the sound of the 15 8 sea, and the glorifications heard from the Cherubs with many eyes, which say : Blessed is the majesty of the Lord in His place. How much subtler these revelations are than those of the first mentioned class, is known to the illuminated. (To the second class also belongs] for instance the vessel that appeared to Peter and the animals in it, with the other things described.. And he who wishes, may recognize these things from the scriptures.n12967 ¶2
Rapture of the spirit, as for instance when he was taken up unto the third heaven, and whether this was in the body or without, I do not know. But he was taken to Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter -').n12967 ¶3
Prophecy, as for instance the things that happened unto the Prophets, who foretold future events, many ages before they took place, as it was also given unto Balaam the sorcerer to foretell many things through the spirit of prophecy, things even more numerous than what prophets had prophesied.n12967 ¶4
In some intellectual way. As for instance the blessed Paul says: I pray that you may be filled with the knowledge of God in all wisdom and spiritual understanding 8 ). And: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledgen12967 ¶5
3) Colossians i, 9n12967 ¶6
IOS ON TMIi KEVia-ATlUNS AND I'OWKRS WHU'H K'LV.n12967 ¶7
of Him: the eyes of your hearts being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and the riches of His glory in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power in us who believe x ) and the other things which were given to the Apostle in a revelation of knowledge concerningn12967 ¶8
159 the things of the world to be, and the order of resurrection and the alteration of human bodies and so on. And as for the degree of exalted understanding and the knowledge of the divine nature, as for instance that [man] is the likeness of the invisible God and that with His hand He has made the worlds, God has given us revelation by His spirit. Again we know in part and we understand in part 3 ) ; and : In the beginning was the word 3 ) ; and : Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God 4 ) and so on. Again, unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out 5 ) ; and : He who worketh all after the counsel of His own will ,! ) ; and : God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all") and soon.n12967 ¶9
These are designations of the insight which was given unto them that they sought to know and understand through the Spirit the divine nature.n12967 ¶10
By dreams, as for instance happened to Abimelek and Joseph and Pharao and Nebukednesar ; and when the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph the husband of Mary, and so on.n12967 ¶11
Also this it is necessary to know : that all revelations, which God has granted for the sake of teaching mankind and instructing them concerning things, take place by means of images, especially revelations unto those who arc of simple understanding and of small insight in the truth. But those which are destined to comfort and to instruct some person, and to console ton12967 ¶12
160 some extent and to instruct a single person, take place without images and by intelligible apperception. This is clearly proved by the blessed commentator s ) in the second volume on Job. For how much greater, as compared with other revelations, are the things which are given in a revelation for the intellect and the understanding through an intellectual medium and how much higher are the mysteries which serve to instruct all concerning God. This is perfection of knowledge.n12967 ¶13
1) Ephcsinns I, 17 — 19 2) I Corinthians 13, 12 3) John I, 1n12967 ¶14
4) Matthew 16,16 5) Romans 11,33 6) Kpliesians 1,11n12967 ¶15
7) Romans 11,32 8) Theodoren12967 ¶16