For God... made his light shine
in our
hearts
to give us the light
of the knowledge
of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ
OPERATION:
JESUS PICTURES
Free pictures of Jesus to the world
GEORGE
WASHINGTON'S VISION
This
vision is recorded at the Library of Congress:
"This
afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a
dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing
opposite me a singularly beautiful female. 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 her presence.
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 her eyes.
"By
this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would
have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered
volition impossible. I assayed once more to address her, but my
tongue had become useless, as though it had become 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 as if it had
become filled with sensations, and luminous. Everything about me
seemed to rarify, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy
and yet more distinct to my sight than before. I now began to feel
as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have
sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did not think, I did
not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I was only
conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion.
"Presently
I heard a voice saying, `Son of the Republic, look and learn,'
while at the same time my visitor extended her arm eastwardly. I
now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon
fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a 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 hand he cast some on Europe.
Immediately a cloud raised from these countries, and joined in mid-ocean.
For a while it remained stationary, and then 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 voice 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.' At this the
dark shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I
saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly over
every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set
themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking
I a saw bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on
which was traced the word `Union,' bearing the American flag
which he placed between the divided nation, and said, `Remember
ye are brethren.' Instantly, the inhabitants, casting from
them their weapons became friends once more, and united around the
National Standard.
"And
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 countries
arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one. Throughout
this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of
armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed
by sea to America. Our country was enveloped in this volume of cloud,
and I saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn
the villages, towns and cities that I beheld 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 heard again
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 shone 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 o 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 disappearing,
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 is the third, but in this
greatest conflict the whole world united shall not prevail against
her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God,
his land and the 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 to me the birth, progress and destiny of the United
States."
George
Washington
Valley Forge - 1777
America
