"02 - Birth of an Age" - читать интересную книгу автора (BeauSeigneur James)

"Does the Disaster have something to do with all of this?" Decker asked.

"No, not at all. I use it only as a point of reference. What I'm saying is that as the New Age approaches, the old age struggles to hold on. It is not that the age in itself has any power, but rather that humankind, sensing the coming of anything new and unknown, foolishly grasps onto what it knows, no matter how self-destructive it may be. We cling to our past like a man clings to the mast of sinking ship rather than swimming to a lifeboat a few feet away. By appealing to man's fear of the unknown, John and Cohen have perverted the role of those in the KDT."

"If the KDT is just misled," Decker asked, "then the real threat to mankind's future is from John and Cohen. Could you," he said, looking at Christopher, "just do something like you did with Albert Moore? If they're really going to cause the destruction they're claiming in that newspaper article, then surely they deserve it. And even if they don't deserve it yet, can't we take some kind of preemptive action?"

Milner answered for Christopher. "Unfortunately, it is not that simple."

"No, I didn't think it would be," Decker said with a sigh of resignation. "Still, humor me: why not?"

"Entry into the New Age must be a conscious choice. No one can be forced or dragged into it. In that way, this step in the evolutionary process is entirely unlike all that preceded it. Evolution, as the world has experienced it to this point, is 'material evolution.' That is, the force of evolution has caused physical changes, with creatures progressing along divergent paths of advancement. There was never any choice involved: those species that adapted and evolved survived; those that did not, perished. The path of material evolution followed by the human species has achieved its full realization; the next and final step is not material

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evolution but spiritual evolution. That is why there must be a choice. Choice is the impetus and catalyst to allow the change to begin. We must each choose for ourselves either to enter the New Age or to remain in the past.

"Eliminating John and Cohen would not facilitate a correct decision; it would simply remove the possibility of choice. It may seem ironic, but without the option of choosing to remain in the present age, it is impossible to enter the New Age."

"So, in effect, John and Cohen are a 'necessary evil'?"

Milner nodded. "I admire your succinctness," he said. "Had it not been John and Cohen, it would have been someone or something else. The 'evil' is necessary for the 'good' to emerge."

"But if choice is required, what about the KDT? By following John and Cohen they've obviously made the wrong choice, yet they've already entered the New Age."

"No, Decker. No one enters the New Age apart from everyone else; the threshold must be crossed as a species, not as individuals. Certain manifestations will appear before that time. Just as the dawn is preceded by the brightening of the night sky, so we see the signs of the coming of the New Age manifested in the KDT. But the day begins not with predawn brightening of the sky, but rather with the first appearance of the sun."

Milner continued. "Just because the manifestations are most evident in the KDT does not mean they have entered the New Age. The choice of entering the new day or of turning back into the darkness still remains for them. The choice is theirs to continue to follow John and Cohen, or to follow Christopher. The same choice will be offered to everyone else in the world."

"But how will they make that choice? When will they know?" Decker asked. Х Д

"I don't know the exact timing. The opportunity to choose will come only when the world is ready to decide. I do know that until that time, John and Cohen must be given full reign to do as they will."

"You mean we just have to sit by and let them do their worst?"

"I'm afraid so," Milner answered. "Only in that way will humankind be prepared to take the step of volition that is required."

24 Birth of an Age

"So, basically what you're saying is that Christopher can't give the world the choice to stop beating their heads against the wall until they've so bloodied themselves that they're willing to stop?"

"Uh ... yes," Milner said, with a hint of a smile. "Once again I compliment your succinctness."

"Okay," Decker said, "just one more question ... for now anyway."

"Yes?"

"How do you know all this?"

"Well, that's a very long story. Suffice it to say that we can be sure that despite John and Cohen's prophetic abilities, and their ability to cause the things they prophesy, there is at least one thing they have claimed in that article which is patently false: Saul Cohen does not come in the power and spirit of the prophet Elijah ... I do."