Revelation of St. John: The Path to Soul Initiation (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: intuition from the soul, seven chohans, causal body, New York, White Magic, New Age (more...)

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Product Description

The Revelation of St. John, the last book of the canonical Bible, has been a mystery since it first appeared. No other part of the Bible has caused more controversy. Traditional interpretations of the book fall into one of three categories: the major prophecies that are supposed to have been fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.; the historical view that Revelation predicts the course of human events from the founding of Christianity to the end of the world; or the futurist view that Revelation predicts events that will occur at the end of the world.

It’s actually none of the above, writes Zachary F. Lansdowne, a leading expert in the field of spiritual initiation. In the Introduction to this rich and complex interpretation, he writes, "According to its own verses, the Revelation is concerned with the present time, which is whatever time we happen to be reading it, and contains information that we can apply immediately to become blessed."

This is not a book about "end times" or Armageddon and when it might come. This is a book written entirely in symbols, concealing a path for early Christians, and for the contemporary reader. Lansdowne has applied a unique psychological method of interpretation that takes each symbol as depicting some aspect of human consciousness rather than an eternal event, thus showing that the Revelation is actually a detailed instruction for the spiritual journey—a map to the wakening of higher consciousness. Moreover, while the Revelation appears in the great lineage of Judeo-Christian tradition, Lansdowne shows that its instruction can be appreciated and applied to seekers from any tradition.

Lansdowne’s line-by-line and verse-by-verse interpretation—presented here in an easy-to-read side-by-side format—is a manual for the true seeker who would follow teachings of Jesus as they were and are laid out, rather than as they have been interpreted by theologians and biblical historians. The Revelation of St. John, when unlocked by the key of psychological methodology, is revealed to contain ideas from many diverse wisdom traditions and philosophies—archangels in Judaism, chakras and kundalini in Hinduism, Buddhist mindfulness, the redemptive power of love in Christianity, and absolute standards of comparison in Platonic philosophy. Zachary Lansdowne’s revelatory text makes these teachings of the path to true soul initiation available to seekers from every spiritual tradition.

About the Author

Zachary Lansdowne is a past president of the Theosophical Society in Boston and has spoken at conferences throughout the United States. He is the author of four other books, also published by Weiser, on philosophy and religion: The Chakras and Esoteric Healing, Rules for Spiritual Initiation, Rays and Esoteric Psychology, and Ray Methods of Healing. He has advanced degrees in engineering, psychology, and philosophy and religion. He lives in Carmel Valley, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser (May 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578633427
• ISBN-13: 978-1578633425
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #647,828 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For One who seeks spiritual awakening, September 23, 2006

By	Barbara Olson (Arlington, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Zachary Lansdowne thoughtfully decodes the little understood last book of the bible, The Revelation of St. John. Going line-by-line through the King James Version, Lansdowne depicts external events, expressed in this book, to be an internal process that an initiate on the spiritual path will encounter on his/her journey towards enlightenment. Though the bible is considered the backbone of Christian faith, the author points to timeless teachings in Revelations that speak to all spiritual or religious seekers throughout the world. As an added benefit to his book, Zachary Lansdowne has added several quick reference tables which further highlights in detail the many symbols found in the Book of Revelation. He's left no "symbol" unturned!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Revelation of You and Me, June 26, 2006

By	Bill Meredith (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Zachary Lansdowne's The Revelation of Saint John, The Path to Soul Initiation, is a guide toward experiencing the wisdom of the Higher Self and an understanding of the relationship between the personality, the soul, and God.

The Revelation of Saint John is a marvelous journey through the intricacies of one's on mind. Lansdowne has provided a psychological interpretation of the original Revelation that is poignant and pristine. In reading the verses of the King James' version of the Revelation laid alongside Lansdowne's interpretation we are given not only a glimpse into the Revelation of Saint John, but also a psychological peek into the revelation of Zachary Lansdowne as we see him skillfully piece together this work of Love. Using correspondence and analogy to light up the intricacies of symbolism and vivify the imagery of the world's great religions, Lansdowne interprets the last book of the Bible into simple yet effective language such that "the last shall be first" in giving us a new voice for describing the path to soul initiation.

As we read The Revelation of Saint John, our intuitions may give us illumination and understanding about our own psychological experiences as well. We may begin to see ourselves as one with John and so John's Revelation becomes our own as we recognize fragments of our self corresponding with the Revelation's symbols. Using Lansdowne's psychological interpretation we are able translate the meaning of these symbols into the experiences of our present lives. As Lansdowne says, "...the Revelation of St. John deals with the present--that is, with the present of whoever may be reading it. It thus contains information that any reader--including you or I--can apply to become blessed."

What Zachary Lansdowne does in The Revelation of Saint John is bring the 2000 year old Revelation of St. John into the modern era where it can be experienced anew as the Revelation of you and me.