53. Alois Irlmaier ~

Alois Irlmaier was a dowser and well digger who lived in Freislassing, Bavaria. He was famous for his psychic abilities, and after World War II, many people sought his clairvoyant skills to locate their families and friends. Because of his fame, Irlmaier had a few enemies and was ridiculed and accused of being a warlock. But after appearing in court, the charges were dismissed, Irlmaier told the judge exactly what clothes the judge’s wife was wearing that day and what she was doing. Even though he had never seen her, he proved to be completely correct, and the judge released him. (3, 5)

The future appeared to Irlmaier as in a movie, with only numbers appearing veiled, coded, or incomplete. He predicted his own death in July 1959. His last words were: "I am glad that I can go now, because I won’t have to experience what I see." Here are his accounts of the extraordinary visions he received:

"The Third Great War comes, when three high-ranking men will be killed.

"While the Bavarians sit at a card game in Wirthaus, the strange soldiers will look into the windows and doors. A totally black column of people will come from the East. Everything goes quite quickly. From the Golden City (Prague) it moves out. The first worm goes from the blue waters of the Danube northwest to the Swiss border. By Regensberg there stands no more bridge over the river, but southerly from the blue water they will not come. The second great push will come over Saxony westward against the Ruhr. The third army column from the northwest will go westward over Berlin. It all goes very quickly and fast. From the Danube to the coast will be controlled by the Grays. Two fleeing refugee groups will cross the river; the third is lost and encircled by the enemy. Munich, South Bavaria, and Austria need not have fear.

"The enemy headquarters will be a red-roofed monastery, whose altar faces north [Freyung?].

"I see the earth like a ball in front of me, above which only white clouds fly. Ten thousand doves rise out of the sand [Africa] and fly over us, but they do not drop down. But there where the headquarters of the others are, they throw black boxes, 25 centimeters high; there everything is wiped out.

"Then the movement moves to the north and cuts off the third army.

"Then it rains a yellow dust in a line. The golden line. The Golden City of Prague will be destroyed; it starts there. It continues in a straight line to the sea by the bay [Hamburg, Lubeck, or Stetin].

"The tanks drive, but those who sit inside are covered with death. There where it falls, nothing will live. No trees, no flowers, no animals, no grass. Everything will wither and turn black. The houses will stand.

"What it is, I don’t know and cannot say. It is a long line. He who crosses it dies. The soldiers of the east cannot cross to the West, and the soldiers of the West cannot cross to the East. The wind blows the deadly cloud to the East. Suddenly the eastern armies collapse. They throw away everything they carry with them and try to escape to the North. But none of them will return.

"But by the Rhine things will be finalized. From the three army movements not one soldier will be able to return home. There will be so many dead... thousands of bodies black, the rotting flesh falls from the bones.

"Then comes a single aircraft from the East. It throws a "neutralizer" in the great water by England. Then the water lifts in one single piece as high as a tower and falls back down. It makes an earthquake and a giant wave and everything will be overflooded. Almost all of England and the European coast to Berlin will sink except for a few mountain peaks.

"Simultaneously, a new land will arise which existed earlier [Atlantis]. Three great cities will sink. One through water [London]. The second will sink [New York], and the third just falls apart [Rome]. The city with the steel tower [Paris] will be set on fire by its inhabitants and will be leveled to the ground.

"Also in Italy it will be very bad. All priests except six will be murdered. The Pope will flee.

"Whoever lives south of the Danube need not worry about the Russians. The people between Watsman Mountain and Wendelstein need not worry and will be isolated.

"Then from "K" [Koln?] flies out the flaming tongue up to the Northwest, West and South. Only once will the tongue fly so shortly, then burns a small town north of Saurisel [near Berechtsgarten].

"The Munich people will not have much happen to them, but there will be a little distress. But a great famine will come and will take the animals from the farmer. Then the farmer really has to set himself to the task, for they will try to steal the very underwear off of him.

"Simultaneously, there will stand up a large man, and at that point the war stops. The whole thing does not take very long.

"The bearded people of seven yesterdays will finally end and their enemy will flee. On the riverbank they will camp and fight with desperation. There, however, their might will be annihilated, their power broken, so that hardly one will remain alive to return home to report their defeat.

"I see three things, be they three days, three weeks, or three months, I don’t know.

"In Russia a new revolution will break out, and a civil war. The dead bodies will be so numerous that they will have difficulty removing them from the streets. The Russian people will begin to believe in Christ and the Cross will be honored once again.

"The leaders will kill themselves, and in the blood the blame will be washed away. I see a red mass mixed with yellow faces. I see a total uprising and a horrible massacre and plunder. Then they will sing the Easter Song and burn candles before pictures of Mary. Through the power of the prayers of Christianity, this Monster out of Hell will die, and even young people will begin to believe again the Virgin Mother of God.

"It will become dark on one day during the year. Then a huge thunderstorm will appear with bolts of lightning and thunder and an earthquake will move the earth. Do not go out of the house. No lights will burn except for candle lights. The stream of people stops. Whoever inhales the dust will develop cramps and die. Do not open the windows. Hand the windows with black paper on the glass. All open water will become poisonous, and all open food which has not been canned. Also all foods in glass will not make it.

"Outside, the dust moves. Many people will die. After seventy-two hours everything will be over. But I will say it you again, do not go outside, do not look out of the window. Let the candles burn, keep watch, and pray. Overnight more people will die than in the combined two world wars.

"Thereafter the Pope will return and the first great "Te Deum" will be sung in the Dome in Cologne. Then he will crown three kings, a Hungarian, an Austrian, and a Bavarian. The Bavarian is an old man with white hair, and he wears lederhosen. In the beginning there will be famine, but then the Danube returns to its level, thereafter there will be so many groceries brought up the Danube that all will be fed.

"During this time the climate will change. It will become warmer, and the southern fruits and grapes will grow very well in Bavaria. And people will move there, who want to, and everybody can live where they want to and have as much land as they can handle. The land north and east of the Danube will be resettled. There are only a few people left. Then the traveling salesmen will say, buy my wares, or I will go crazy. The sausages will spill from the plates, there will be such an abundance. There will come a long, happy time, and those who live to experience it will be very happy...

"The year 1999 will bring destruction, followed by peace. A darkness of 72 hours will precede peace. The time of the year may be autumn, for there will be snow on the mountains, but not yet in the lowlands. The sign if the Cross will appear in the heavens. The war will end as quickly as it began, and a natural phenomenon will end it. The last battle will be near Cologne, and it will be won by the West...

"The "Great City" of the United States will be destroyed by rockets, and the West Coast will be invaded by Asians, but they will be beaten back...

"The Third World War will come, but I cannot predict the year. It will be preceded by signs in the skies, which will be seen by millions of people. War will begin on a rainy night, shortly before harvest time, when the ears are full. War will begin after the assassination of an eminent politician in Czechoslovakia or in Yugoslavia. An invasion from the East will follow..."

Shortly before his death (July 29, 1959), Alois Irlmaier added to his legacy with these details of World War III:

"Nothing has changed. Indeed, events have come even closer and I can see them even better. I see two men who will kill the "third high-ranking person." They have been paid to do so. One of the murderers is a small black man, the other is a somewhat taller white man. It could possibly happen in the Balkans, but I’m not sure about it. Prior to the war there will be a fruitful year with good vegetable crops and plentiful fruits. After the murder of "the third" war will erupt without warning during the night. I see dust, and I see three numbers, two 8s and a 9. I do not know what the numbers mean, nor do I know the date and the time. "

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54. The Birch Tree Prophecies ~

Just as it did in the First and Second World Wars, Germany is destined to play a key role in the Third. Several German prophets have named Westphalia as the area where the final battle of the war will be fought. After the collapse of the Russian attack on Europe, the surviving invaders will escape to an area about sixty miles northeast of Cologne, defined by the towns of Unna, Hamm, Suest, Werl, Holtum, and Kirsch-Hemmard.(5-7, 17)

The original Birch Tree Prophecies were transmitted orally for centuries. The Name "Birch Tree" probably is a mistranslation of the German word "Kirch" (cherry); The old German letter "K" looks like a "B". The earliest known written description was recorded in 1431 by Eberhard Windecke, the court historian of Kaiser Sigismund. It tells of a vision of a horrible battle between two "men" lasting two days and nights.

In 1545, a chronicler from Lunen also recorded a vision of a battle of this scale. Another anonymous prophecy, dated 1701, was recorded by Beykirch in his Prophetstimmen (1849):

"There will come a time when the world become very godless. The people will become self-reliant from the king, and there will be a general loss of respect for authority and those who are no longer true to their masters or to their relief will become the rulers. There will then be a general uproar, so that father will fight against son, and son will fight against father.

"There will come a time when one will no longer respect the beliefs of the church and the school. New books will be introduced. There will come a time when the Catholic religion will feel very crowded, and there will be an attempt to get rid of it. People will enjoy play and joyous occasions about this time, and be generally fascinated by entertainment. But then it will not take very long for a change to step in. There will be an incredible war... On one side stands Russia and the entire North. And on the other side is France and the whole South under one first. This knight will come from Midday. He wears a white cloak with buttons that go down to his feet. He carries a Cross on his chest, and rides a donkey. He will be lame afoot. This knight is so together that no one tries to stop him. He is also a peacemaker. Great is his strength. He manages to get rid of all dance music and unnecessary clothes that people might wear.

"The chief of the Prussian Army will be stopped in a place that is designed to make horse bridles.

"The enemies who are strangers to Germany will be put to flight and they will not have time to take with them what will nourish them during their flight.

"The barbarian peoples of the northern bear will come to conquer but their enemies will take courage and they will battle with the fury of despair. Then their power will be broken, its force will be annihilated and then some few people will be at pains to survive in order to carry home the news of their defeat.

"The prince who will deliver the great combat will go to a church at Bremen to hear the Mass. From Bremen he will ride. From there he will see with his telescope toward the region of the Birch tree to observe the foes. Thereafter they will go up to Holtum, an area near Werl... By Holtum there stands a Crucifix between two linden trees. Before these linden trees he will kneel down, and for a long time he will pray with arms outstretched. Thereafter he will lead his soldiers, who are dressed in white, to the meeting. He will then remain after a bloody battle. He will be the victor. On a stream that flows from West to East near Berdberg and Sondberg there will be the most murdering and killing. There, after the battle this victorious master of the field, this Prince, will collect the people into the church of Schaffhausen near Werl and give them a talk."

Another version of this prophecy is given in The Proceedings of the Heavenly Renewal from the Unknown Who Became Illuminated (Cologne, 1701):

"When the time is near, people will not know how to dress. Women will wear hats like men, and pants like men. Then will follow a tragic and unlucky time like our Creator has spoken of before us. People will fear themselves on earth, and fear things that are to come.

"Father will be against son, and son against father. Dogma will be perverted; men will try to overthrow the Catholic church! Mankind will become lovers of pleasure. The true and believing will not be found anymore, after which the independent peoples will fight wars against each other for a long time. Thrones will have collapsed, and kingdoms will collapse. And through this process, the unaffected East against the West will resort to heavy weapons. Then it is no longer over fatherland, language or belief. A war will follow after a winter which really was no winter, when there will be a soulless snow that will fall. The flowers will bloom very early in this year, and the cows will be up to their knees in grass by April. The first soldiers that come will wear cherry blossoms on their helmets. The rye will be brought in before the battle but the wheat won’t. The soldiers are animals and will eat the wheat in the fields.

"On the east field by Gravenstein, the soldiers will kill a red cow. However, they won’t have much time to eat from it.

"The citizens flee from the town. A young lass with a red skirt who is the last to cross the small creek will be shot. In the middle of Germany they will meet. Towns and villages will be destroyed. After, it will be necessary for the people to hide in the mountains and in the woods. In the nearby lower Germany, the battle will be decided. There will be battles like the world has never seen before. This terrible battle will begin by the Birch Forest near Bodberg. For three days they will fight; covered with wounds, they will fight until they stand in blood"... (3)

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55. Johannes Lichtenberger ~

In 1488, Johannes Lichtenberger, the court astrologer of Frederick III, published his popular encyclopedia Prognostico in Latino, which contains predictions of World War III, the Grand Monarch, and the Holy Pope:

"There will come a time when the people of the desert will assemble in German lands and will conquer the circle of the earth. They will destroy cities and empires. They will drink from the holy vessels, and priests will be strangled in holy places. But they will be destroyed near Cologne...

"It says in The Book of the Frankish Kings that it will be from the Carolingian, that is from the race of King Charles of France, that an emperor names P will arise in the last days. He will be a prince and a monarch and will reform the churches of all Europe. After him there will be no other emperor...

"Afterwards a hermit will arise, known for his great sanctity, as Joachim says in his Booke of Concordance, "A man in great sanctity lifted up to the Roman throne like an apostle" God will do miracles through him; no one will obey his laws. He will condemn plural benefices and incomes and will command that clerics live from tithes and offerings. he will forbid ostentatious clothing and all unseemly choruses and songs. He will command women to be without gold and jewels, and will bid the gospel to be preached. He will be Pope only for a brief time --- when four years are up, this most holy man will go happily to God.

"Immediately after this, God will raise up three other very holy men, one after another. They will be alike in virtues and miracles and will confirm the decrees and deeds of their predecessor. Under their rule the Church will be renewed. They will be called the "Angelic Popes."

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56. Spielbahn ~

In 1940, records were discovered of a lawsuit filed in 1772 against a weaver who was called Spielbahn or Lugnebahm (Liar-Path or Fool-Path) by his detractors. He appeared before the Elector’s Court in Honnef, Germany, to account for these predictions:

"A small people will arise and bring war into the world. When they build a bridge across the Rhine River near Mondorf, it would be advisable to be among the first to cross over it to the other side. A great barbarian country will sink down. With it will sink many false prophets. Many foreign people will be murdered here. Poison will fall as rain upon the fields, which will bring great hunger into Germany. Finally, a foreign king will rise and win victory for the just cause. The survivors of the adversary armies will flee as far as the Birch Tree; there the last battle will be decided for the good cause. Those who have been hiding in the mountains will return to plant the fields. Those brothers who have escaped the holocaust will return from abroad with their children and they will live again in peace at home. It will be a good and happy time."

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57. Bernard Rembold ~

Bernard Rembold was a German monk who lived from 1689 to 1793. Here is his prophecy concerning the Birch Tree:

"The beginning of a terrible time of blood will come when there will be a fierce battle near Cologne. It will be impossible to prevent this horrible devastation; gruesome war and destruction cannot be turned away. People will walk in blood up to the ankles. At last a foreign king will arise and gain victory for the just side. The remaining enemy will retreat to the Little Birch Tree, and there the last battle will be fought for the righteous cause. The foreigners have brought black death with them; whatever is spared by the sword, will be eaten by the pestilence. The land will be deserted and ownerless.

"At that time France will be divided. The German Empire will select a simple man as the Emperor, who will rule for a short time. His successor will be the man for whom the world has longed. He will be called a Roman Emperor and give peace to the world. He will restore Siegberg and Heisterbach. He is the Grand Monarch foretold by Holzhauser. At that time there will be no Jews in Germany and the heretics will admit their error. A good and happy era will follow. God will be praised on earth and war will be no more... Then the fugitive brothers and their children will return and continue to live in peace in their native land.

"When the Emperor of Germany flees for his life a man who carries his crown for him will be the man the world has long expected."

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58. The Prophecy of Mayence ~

The Prophecy of Mayence is dated to 1854, and gives a detailed description of the Battle of the Birch Tree:

"Woe to thee, great city; woe to thee, city of vice! Fire and sword shall succeed fire and famine. Courage, faithful souls! The reign of the dark shadow shall not have time to execute all its schemes. But the time of mercy approaches. A prince of the nation is in your midst. It is the man of salvation, the wise, the invincible; he shall count his enterprises by his victories. He shall drive the enemy out of France, he shall march from victory to victory, until the day of divine justice. That day he shall command seven kinds of soldiers against three to the quarter of Bouleaus between Hamm, Woerl, and Padenborn. Woe to the people of the East, thou shalt spread afar the cries of affliction and innocent blood. Never shall such an army be seen. Three days the sun shall rise upwards on the heads of the combatants without being seen through the clouds of smoke. Then the commander shall get the victory; two of his enemies shall be annihilated; the remainder of the three shall fly toward the extreme East."

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59. The Monk of Werl ~

An anonymous Franciscan monk of Werl recorded this prophecy, which he received in 1701. It was first published in 1849:

"There will be a terrible war. On one side will be peoples of the West, on the other those of the East. They will" arrive with a multitude of soldiers. The war will be fought for a long time with indecisive results until they reach the Rhine. There they will fight for three days until the waters of the Rhine will be all red. Then the affair will be decided at the Battle of the Birch Tree, where white, blue and gray soldiers will fight with such might and rage that those multitudes will be completely rubbed out. Then there will be peace and calm everywhere. The time will come when there will be general malcontent and contempt of religion. When persons will obey no more, when they will not be able to distinguish the rich and the poor, believe that the time is near. The whole north of Europe will wage war against the whole south led by a strong monarch. This man will restore divine order in the Church, state, and family, thus giving true peace to the nations."

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60. Wessel Eilert ~

Another Westphalian seer, a farmer named Wessel Dietrich Eilert (also known as Old Jasper), left us more details about the Battle of the Birch Tree. Eilert lived in Huckarde near Dortmund, Germany, from 1764 to 1833. This prophecy was first published in 1848:

"In the year when the war begins, it was possible to bring the corn in already, but not the wheat. Before this war there will be a time of general disloyalty; men will take evil for goodness and honor, deceit for politeness... There will be a general collapse of the fiber of society. This war will begin in the East. The war will break out very quickly. In the evening, one will want to say "Peace, Peace," but there is no peace, and in the morning the enemy will be at the door and all will resound with the din of war. It will last but a few days, and those who can hide for a few days will be safe. Also, the pull-out will be quite fast. One throws wheels and carriages into the water or the fleeing enemy will take everything with them. The people of over half the world will stand against each other. God will scare the two enemies with all His might. Only a few Russians will be able to return home to be able to take care of their situation there. The land will lose a lot of population so that women will have to work in the field, and seven girls will brawl for a man. The priesthood will be so rare that one will have to walk seven hours to hear the mass.

"The Poles will in the beginning go under through the invasion. They will, however, fight against the invaders and will receive a king. France will be divided in three days. Spain will not be involved, but however the Spaniards will invade the areas and help to reestablish order with the churches. Austria will be spared; in fact, it will be pretty good there. The Roman Chair will stand empty for some time... This will not however be a war of religion, but all who believe in Jesus Christ will have a common cause... A principal sign of the times in which the war will break out will be the general indifference in matters of religion and the general corruption of mores in many places. At that time they will give believers the name of fools, and the faithless will pretend to be men of light.

"There will be one religion that will unite all except for the Jews who will show their old stubbornness. On the Rhine stands a church that is built by all peoples’ will. From there, where the next great war will break out, is what the people are supposed to believe. All confessions will be compatible.

"Germany receives a new King and then follows a fortunate time."

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61. Antonius ~

A German immigrant named Antonius, who was born Cologne in 1820, prophesied the final battle of World War III thus:

"I saw a new war in Alsace. Suddenly from the French side out of Metz and Nancy, large troop transports, where after the battle began, which lasted two days, and which ended by winning over the Prussian commander. The French follow the Prussians over the Rhine in many directions. In a significant battle by Frankfurt, the Prussians were beaten heavily. They pulled back to Siegburg, where they ran into the Russians. The Russians treated the Prussians badly. It appears to me that the Prussians helped the French. The battle by Siegburg has never been equaled for horror. After several days the Russians and Prussians disengage and begin to pull back below Bonn on the west side of the Rhine River. The city of Cologne was shot at; only a quarter of the town was unaffected. They left shortly afterwards and the people were glad and clapped and their faces beamed."

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62. Peter Schlinkert ~

Another mention of the Birch Tree occurs in a German prophecy by Peter Schlinkert (born 1730). During the Seven Years’ War, Schlinkert also had a vision that saved the life of Duke Clemens of Westphalia. He wrote this about the Birch Tree:

"At the Birch tree the armies of the West will fight a terrible battle against the armies of the East, and after many bloody sacrifices be victorious. The soldiers of the East will retreat over the Haar, and when the villagers see Rune in the Werler and Haar on fire, they must quickly flee into the Armsberger Wood. Another battle will be fought near the Ruhr Bridge by Obenheimer, but here only with artillery. A few days later the last great battle on German soil will be fought and that by the village Schmerleck on the so-called Lusebrink. The armies of the East will be completely annihilated and only a few will escape to return home with the news of defeat. there will be terrible lamentations.

"After these days of mishap and misery, happiness and peace will return to Germany, even though in the first year women will have to march behind the plow."

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63. Brother Anthony of Aix-la-Chapelle ~

In 1871, the French Brother Anthony recorded his vision describing the final battle near Cologne and the aftermath of the war:

"Some day war will break out again in Alsace. I saw the French in Alsace with Strasbourg at their rear, and I saw Italians fighting with them. Suddenly great transports of troops arrived from the French side. A two-day battle ended with the defeat of the Prussian army. The French pursued the Prussians over the Rhine in many directions. In a second battle at Frankfurt, the Prussians lost again and retired as far as Siegburg, where they joined a Russian army. The Russians made common cause with the Prussians. It seemed to me as if the Austrians were aiding the French. The battle at Siegburg was more horrible than any before and its like will never occur again. After some days the Prussians and Russians retreated and crossed, below Bonn, to the left bank of the Rhine. Steadily pressed by their opponents, they retired to Cologne, which had been bombarded so much that only one-fourth of the city remained intact. Constantly in retreat, the remainder of the Prussian army moved to Westphalia, where the last battle went against them. The people greatly rejoiced because they were freed from the Prussians.

"Then a new emperor, about 40 years old, was elected in Germany, and he met the Pope. Meanwhile, an epidemic broke out in the region devastated by the war, and many people died. After the battle in Westphalia, the French returned to their own country, and from then on there was peace between the French and the Germans. Industry and trade prospered, and many convents were founded. All the exiles returned to their homes. When I begged God to take the terrible vision away, I heard a voice saying: "Prussia must be humiliated and in a manner that it never again will bring sorrow to the Church." In the following year the Russians will war with the Turks, driving the latter out of Europe and seizing Constantinople. The new German Emperor will mobilize for war but the Germans will not go beyond their border. When afterward I was shown France and Germany I shuddered at the depopulation that had taken place. Soon after the Russo-Turkish War, England also will be visited by war."

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64. Paracelsus ~

Theophrastus von Hohenheim, also known as Paracelsus, was a great Swiss physician, alchemist and occultist of the 16th century. His extraordinary mind was one of the most brilliant ever to grace humanity. He was a prolific writer; his publications revolutionized medicine in Europe. He made major contributions to Western mysticism, including a small book of 32 prophecies called Prognosticatio eximii doctoris Theophrasti Paracelsi (ca. 1530). Though the predictions were written in symbolic terms, several of them have been satisfied by history. Several others can be reasonably interpreted to give some understanding of his view of the future.

Paracelsus associated the 4th Monarchy (the millennial new age) with the rediscovery of the alchemical Philosophers’ Stone by the Grand Monarch, as suggested by the following section of a longer prophecy. (18)

"... The people of the earth shall then be in commotion, and no ties of brotherhood, marriage, or friendship will be respected.
The lion will join himself to the fishes.
And the crown will be subject to the fine hat.
Then will the rue-wreath be soiled with milk.
And the pelican shall be devoured by his young.
But the phoenix shall be consumed in the fire, and when the dew moistens the ashes he will revive again according to his nature.
But he will become a noble phoenix, and will press hard upon the toad, and he will take to the lion and give him a choice.
The lion will select the best and no more.
Upon the other wild horse this phoenix will place a bridle and will ride it with spurs but without a saddle.
Then a new generation of beasts with various strange heads shall be born. They will have many mouths and stomachs, but only one natural draught.
The most profligate will maintain his magnificence, and his angels will be clothed in blood. They will be intent upon one work alone.
A pair of horses will appear and in all places the wail of the fugitives will be heard.
The dragon of sleep will cause the eagle to become weary of all magnificence.
The fountain of life will commence to flow.
And a white eagle will be changed into black.
Milk and blood will decrease, and the animal tree will begin to grow.
An old lion will be bound and a young lion will become free. He will please all those animals which the old had vexed.
He will do even more, for he will change his mane and hair into silk.
The bear will lay snares, and the ox-head will seek to gore him.
The griffin will fly over him but will not harm him.
Then shall the pearl, so long lost, be found by one of humble estate, and will be set, as a jewel, in gold.
It will be given to the prince of all beasts, that is, to the right lion.
He will hang it around his neck, and wear it with honor.
He will resist the bear and the wolf, and rend them asunder; so that the beast of the forest shall be safe.
Then will the old art flourish and no heed will be given to the new.
Then will the New World begin, and the white and black shall disappear.
All vain glory will be ended, and the plumes of the bird of the East shall be burned by the sun of the south.
How then will it be with thee, oh thou lion and earthly one who art painted and bound with gold?
All thy doing shall be changed, and the seven heads shall become one head. Out of this one, a head shall be born that shall be armed with a horn.
This horn shall bruise all that which has so long brought sorrow to Iffinos.
And the great city shall be the head of the less and shall become free from servitude.
Europe shall be the head, Asia the crown, but Africa shall be the jewel."

This prophecy is difficult to interpret, but some of the symbols are obvious: the phoenix is the alchemist king, who will be graced with the Philosophers’ Stone, "the pearl, so long lost." The toad is France: that animal was the glyph from which the present fleur-de-lys was derived. The bear is Russia, the lion is England, and the griffin might the USA. The ox represents the Muslims.

Several of Paracelsus’ 32 prognostic figures have been fulfilled by historical events. The following seven figures are relatively clear and seem to pertain to our future:

"Figure 7: Bishop Surrounded by Spears --- Because from time to time thou hast been self-willed, thou art predestined to be surrounded by much adversity. For thou hast not considered of thyself how thou art prefigured magically under the symbol of a stone, as both fat and lean. Thou dost not know it, therefore thou hast fallen beneath the punishment that hath broken up all empires. Had thine pretended wisdom and understanding been thine own thou would have taken thee as a mirror. But it is not so; therefore thy wisdom proveth to be a folly at this time.

"Figure 8: Sword & Crown --- Who is he that knoweth on whom the sun shines, or whom it shall give, what man by himself can in no wise take? Therefore, because it is in the hand of God and He giveth it to whom He wills, thence it follows that man’s resistance is in vain. For the hour hath come that thou shalt cease to be, notwithstanding thy strength, thy allies, thy power. For all thou hast established shall fall with thee. Thou shalt delude thyself and others to thy own pity."

In the 1666 Strassburg edition of his works, Paracelsus offered some "Elucidations" to the figures:

"Elucidation 7: They will seek much assistance from strangers, and bind one chain into another, and will erect and again let fall, break and make, and seek hither and thither where shelter from the heat may be found.

"Elucidation 8: But the eighth symbol shall gain victory and triumph.

"For if that were not to come to pass it would be impossible that on earth there should ever again be peace or rest so long as the world endures.

"So totally will everyone act according to his will and forget why they are on earth, but only declare: Thus I will, thus I do."

Here Paracelsus is condemning the Catholic Church for its pretensions, bigotry, and persecutions. The Church will be made to suffer in like wise for the past 2,000 years of superstitious suppression committed in the name of Jesus Christ. The weather will be terribly hot.

"Figure 11: Bear Sucking His Paw --- Although the sun did once shine upon thee, and thou hast glutted thyself with food and plunder, yet thou hast not wisely considered the end, and hast forgotten the winter; therefore he taketh away thy pleasure, and will compel thee to suck thine own paws. For thou art bear-like, and have no further reason. Magic hath driven thee into the toils that thou shouldst be known. But if the wit of man had been thine, the winter wouldst not have overtaken thee.

"Elucidation XI: To munch the paws is a meager diet, and it is painful to freeze after sunshine. But what one does of one’s own choice, one must one’s self have."

The bear is Russia or Germany; Hitler’s invasion of Russia can be inferred here, or else the collapse of the Communist regime.

"Figure 26: "F" on a Rose in a Crown --- The Sibyl hath been mindful of thee when the placed the "F", and right well art thou not standing in the rose; for thou art ripe and time hath brought thee. What the Sibyl saith of thee shall be accomplished and even more shall be said of thee. The summer that bringeth roses is that contrary time where in all things are divided; which is an indication that man was building on sand. This must pass away, and thou shalt set it upon the rock that many shall be astounded. For when the time cometh, also herewith cometh that wherefore the time hath come.

"Elucidation 26: For the sun shall enlighten him that will be the judge of himself."

This prophecy probably refers to the Grand Monarch. The letter "F" may represent France, or a Quabbalistic initiation. The other references to the seasons, sand, rock and roses are alchemical symbols, though they may well have other meanings.

"Figure 27: Five Swords --- It hath been forgotten that many heads rule badly, and that , but that each one should serve the other also only one should rule and not more. This is the cause that they have split up and parted, each one seeking his own opportunity. But it is not right to seek one’s own opportunity, but that each should serve the other, and seek to be useful to the other and leave his own, as doth indeed but seldom happen, for this reason they will be put down; and to whom it is destined to be united, he shall be foremost, and under him shall rejoice those who have been long afflicted and distressed.

"Elucidation 27: And neither alliances nor chains shall there be strong enough to hinder each from being harnesses to his own plow, even as is ordained for him.

"Figure 30: Monk, Preacher & Mystic --- Thou hast often assembled, and much congregated, but the enemy was not with thee, therefore all things thou hast resolved were to no purpose and in vain. It must be alone that thou wilt forego thy claims, and what thou wouldst do if thou were to turn aside, and wouldst acknowledge thyself and others; then wouldst thou cease. But as thou desireth to be what thou shouldst not be, and wilt sit upon the chair of St. Peter, and whereas the same must fall; therefore thou mayst not continue in thy plots, for he shall turn aside thy design who is thy master.

"Figure 31: Four Dancing Children --- There shall be such a total renewal and change that they will be as children that know nothing of the cunning and intrigue of the old. This shall be when they count LX, a little less, but not more [when LVX, Lux, Light comes]. Therefore it is well that we should remember that the time appeareth to be a long time according to a man’s lifetime, but as a short time should we observe and consider it. For to cause so much to fall and to be overthrown, with such a raging and roaring lion that has so long grown, this cannot be done in a moment. But how well shall it be with him that shall be as a little child, for human knowledge causeth but unrest and grief.

"Elucidation 31: And as little children without cunning or guile shall they appear."

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65. Alchemy & Prophecy ~

In Chapter 8 of his treatise De Minerabilis, Paracelsus predicted the advent of Elias Artista (Elias the Artist), Master of Alchemy. Elsewhere in the literature of Hermetic science, Elias Artista is referred to as "a symbol of the ripeness of the age! He is the great day to come when all secrets shall be brought to light, and things now rooting in the dark earth shall be brought to light, and things now rooting in the dark earth shall come forth to full growth and flower and bear a treasure, which is for the healing of nations... a symbolic representation, the collective breath of generous vindications. Spirit of Liberty, of science and love which must regenerate the world!" (18)

Paracelsus, Glauber, Thomas Norton, Alexander Seton and other alchemists wrote of Elias as if he were an individual. Paracelsus wrote:

"What is small and humble, God has revealed, but the more important is still in the dark and shall likely remain so until the arrival of Elias Artista... One shall come after me whose splendor is not yet in this life, and who shall reveal much." According to Glauber, "This Elias Artista shall restore the true spagyric medicine of the old Egyptian Philosophy which was lost over a thousand years. He shall bring it with him and show it to the world."

The 15th century alchemist Thomas Norton transmitted a poetic prophecy about Elias Artista in his Ordinal of Alchemy:

"Arise by Surname when the change of Coin was had,
Made some men sorry, and some men glad:
And as to much people that change,
Seemed a thing new and strange;
So that season befell a wonderous thing,
Touching this Science without leaving.
That three masters of this Science all
Lay in one Bed nigh to Leadenhall,
Which has Elixirs perfect White and Red,
A wonder such Three to rest in one Bed,
And that within the space of days Ten,
While hard it is to find one in Millions of Men.
Of the Dukedom of Lorraine one I understand
Was born, that other nigh in the middle of England,
Under a Crosse, in the end of Shires three,
The third was borne; the youngest of them is he.
Which by his Nativity is by Clerks found,
That he should honor all English ground;
A Man might walk all the World about,
And fail such Three Master to find out;
Two be fleeting, the Youngest shall abide,
And do much good in this Land at a Tide.
But sin of Princes shall let or delay
The Grace that he should do on a day.
The eldest Master changed of him a song,
And said that he should suffer much wrong
Of them which were to him greatly beholden.
And many things more this Master told,
Which since that time hath truly befall,
And some of them hereafter shall,
Whereof one is truly (said he)
After Troubles great Joy shall be
In every quarter of this Land,
Which all good Men shall understand:
The younger asked when that should be,
The old Man said when men shall see
The Holy Cross honored both day and night,
In the Land of God in the Land of Light;
Which may be done in right good season,
But long delayed it is without reason:
When that begins note well this thing,
That Science shall draw towards the King;
And many more Graces ye may be told;
Grace on that King shall descend,
When he old Manners shall amend:
He shall make full secret search,
For this Science with dulcet speech;
And among the Solitary,
He shall have tidings certainly.
So sought King Kalid of many men,
Which helped Kalid at his need,
His virtues caused him to speed. "

The eminent British occultist Arthur E. Waite reprinted the prophecy in interpretive prose form in The Hermetic Museum:

"This knowledge would often have been the glory of England’s kings, if their hopes had been firmly placed upon God. One who shall have obtained his honors by means of this Art, will mend old manners, and change them for the better. When he comes, he will reform the kingdom, and by his goodness and virtue he will set an everlasting example to rulers. In his time the common people will rejoice, and render praise to God in mutual neighborly love. O King, who are to accomplish all this, pray to God the King, and implore His aid in the matter. So the glory of thy mind will be crowned with the glory of a golden age, which shall not then be hoped for as future."

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