“The fiat of the Lord has gone forth; Christ stands attentive to the demand of humanity. That demand is rising and mounting every day and ‘in such an hour as you think not, He will come.’”
Alice Bailey
Over vast cycles, great Messengers of God emerge from the secret place of the Most High God, to establish focal points of energy, which embody the ideas, truths, and note that characterise new epochs, spanning millennia. They act as divine Intermediaries between God and humanity, and have been described as “extraordinary men Who from time to time appear to change the face of the world and inaugurate a new era in the destinies of humanity.”1 In the annals of history, only a small number of God-men have fulfilled this role, such as the Buddha and the Christ.
Throughout time there is a continuity of revelation, known in the East as the “Doctrine of Avatars”. Each cycle buttresses the work of Those Who came before, yet each sounds a new note appropriate for future generations.
A number of years ago, Mary Bailey, the then President of The Lucis Trust, gave an inspiring and informative talk2 outlining her ideas on the reappearance of the Christ, which were drawn from the Alice Bailey teaching, and her own many decades of study and reflection. The purpose of the talk was to cut through the glamour, confusion and false claims that surround his return, of which there are many. All those who believe in and work towards the Christ’s second coming, as the world teacher, should reflect from time to time on this imminent and significant planetary event. In doing so, a clearer perspective, a truer presentation, and a purer thoughtform can be built to offset the accumulation of distorted thinking.
In the run up to the appearance of an avatar, there are those who help to pave the way, to sound the note of the new age, and in their own way to create the right mental atmosphere. Today, their numbers run into many millions. They can be found working in all areas of human life, in the big cities, in provincial towns, and in small villages. The work of the forerunners is indispensable in aiding the Christ in his impending work. Drawn from many backgrounds, and religions, or of no religion, they are united in their vision of a better world, and widening the horizon of humanity. And, although, they may or may not believe in the return of a great divine teacher, they share the same values and principles, which the Christ embodies, and which will characterise the age of Aquarius.
In the Alice Bailey teaching, we learn that the Christ decided in 1945 to resume his role as the World Teacher in physical form. Until then, his reappearance in the outer world was not always a foregone conclusion. The expectation was that he would only use the emotional and mental planes to reach human hearts and minds. The reasons for his return as a physical presence are complex. But we do know that due to the acute suffering caused by the World War (1914-1945), the partial shattering of selfish and separative thinking, and the consequent aspiration of humanity for a better world, the Christ responded. He is, it is said, “conditioned and determined by the reaction of humanity itself”3, and to the united and invocative demand of humanity, he must abide.
At the time he made his momentous decision, a world prayer, the Great Invocation was released. The Invocation is used daily by countless thousands of people of goodwill, from all walks of life, religions, races, and social backgrounds. It plays a central role in preparing the world for his return. It speaks to the soul of all human beings. It is one of the oldest prayers ever known and yet it is described as the “complete new utterance”4 of the Christ for the Aquarian age. People of spiritual inclination and goodwill are encouraged to sound it each day to release light, love, and power into human consciousness.
When the Christ undertook his ministry 2000 years ago, he said: “I came not to bring peace, but a sword”. Upon his return, is it not possible that he will utter similar words again? In esoteric philosophy the sword has several meanings. One interpretation describes “the cleaving sword of the spirit”, which it’s said, “will – without wounding – bring revelation.”5 That which is spiritual and that which is material will stand revealed in the full light of day for all to see. In our modern world of consumerism, celebrity, trivia, fake news, populism, and all the other clutter that skews our thinking, truth will emerge in ever increasing clarity. God and mammon will be clearly defined, and humanity will have to choose its direction of travel.
It is because his work, then as now, is to usher in a new era, that the old crystallised and decaying forms must wither on the vine, so that the new ideas can take root and blossom. “All forms”, esoteric philosophy posits, “exist in order to express truth.”6 Over time, new foundations will be built to convey the powerful impulse of Aquarius.
The Christ could appear in any race, ethnic background, colour, or religious persuasion, as a man or a woman. He will use a form that is most appropriate and practical for his work. Though it is unlikely he will appear as a great religious leader. Too much distortion and noise has surrounded religion throughout the ages. The shining kernel of truth at its heart lies shrouded in semi-darkness and cocooned in the suffocating confines of theological dogma. Alice Bailey once commented: “The church today is the tomb of the Christ and the stone of theology has been rolled to the door of the sepulchre”7. The simple truths of great Avatars are often overlooked, and theological dogma and lavish rituals are often more important in the eyes of religious establishments. Religions, sadly, today, are too divided and separative to reflect the depth and inclusiveness of his vision.
The Christ will anchor a potent, focal point of hierarchical energy on earth. His work will be focused in an area of human life where he can fulfil his purposes, which will be determined by the number, the ability, and the status of the disciples active in his chosen field. He may emerge as a vital force in the political arena, in international diplomacy, or one of the many NGOs, or perhaps in the United Nations or similar worldwide organisation dedicated to the relief of human suffering and the upliftment of human consciousness. It could also be in education, finance, economics or science, or one of the other great pillars of human life, such as law or the social sciences. What we can be sure of though it will be fitting “to introduce the values, the guidelines and the modus operandi of the age of Aquarius.”8
His work and note will reverberate throughout the coming centuries and millennia, not only to span the Aquarian age, but also to look beyond to the next cycle in Capricorn, many thousands of years ahead. Such are the profound challenges that the Christ faces with his inner group of enlightened workers. We can be sure though that his vision, influence, and field of service will enfold the whole planet. It will not be exclusive to any one race, religion, or nation.
When he reappears will the Christian ‘faithful’ in all lands recognise him, or those of other faiths, or of no faith? If they look for the same person of 2000 years ago, it is unlikely they will. Just as we evolve in consciousness, so too does the Christ. Strange as it may seem, for someone so perfect in all aspects, he too has grown in stature, in vision, and in spiritual development.
He now embodies in greater capacity, the triple nature of the Godhead: the will-to-good, love and light. In doing so, he relates in a unique way, the past, the present, and the future. His service to God and humanity is not yet complete. His work has spanned millennia, and upon his return he will sound the note of the coming Aquarian age, and complete the work that he started long ago.
It is interesting to note that he is the first great Teacher of the race to span two zodiacal cycles, the Piscean and the Aquarian, in which divine love and the divine Will will become outstanding characteristics.
Destined to become the agent of the divine Will to the little lives of the natural world, humanity is learning to work with and wield this energy. At some point, a direct line of approach will be possible between God in the Secret Place of the Most High and the densest levels of His creation. Its consequences are far-reaching, and will be the apotheosis of human development, as we know it.
Over the centuries, there has been much distorted thinking around the life and teaching of Christ. For example, in the Gospel story, the Christ brought attention to the truth that he had other folds: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”9 He was and is responsible for the spiritual development of all of humanity.
Another misconception is that he will be returning to correct our mistakes. We, humanity, are instrumental in creating the dire conditions in the world, and it is our responsibility to make amends. It lies within our power, jurisdiction, and capacity to right the wrongs, and figuratively speaking “to make all crooked ways straight”.
He is known in other religious and spiritual traditions as the Kalki Avatar, the Lord Maitreya, the Messiah, the Imam Mahdi, and the Boddhisatva. But the separateness of the Church to divide the world into Christian or heathen, or believer or non-believer, has done much to foster religious intolerance and bigotry, and divorce the Church from the spiritual needs and aspirations of ordinary people—a far cry from the simple and inclusive world-view of the Christ.
If we think the Christ will proclaim his return when in the outer world, we are probably mistaken. But he will be recognised by “the potency of his world influence and the skill in action of his directed energies.”10 His very presence on the world stage will evoke recognition.
He requires the support of every loving heart and enlightened mind. One way we can contribute is to sound the Great Invocation, a world prayer, each day. The Invocation helps to bridge in consciousness all aspects of planetary Life and create a pathway of return for the Christ. When the invocative demand of humanity reaches a critical point, then he must respond, and in the words of the ageless wisdom, “proceed again to the high place of sacrifice and walk openly with men on Earth.”11
Today, he stands as a supreme spiritual executive, attuned to the Will of the Father and the needs of humanity. Such is his status, he is, as one commentator wrote: “a representative of the great Life ensouling this planet.”12 He will use all available resources, all departments of human living, especially in global governance and education, and not just religion, to carry out his work as a World Teacher. He serves people of all races, religions, creeds, political persuasions, and backgrounds. His inclusive world-view and developed consciousness see all human beings as integral parts of the One Life, the One Father.
So, as we approach the Festival of the Christ (also known as the Festival of Goodwill, and of Humanity), at the time of the Gemini full moon, let us reflect on Christ’s reappearance, on his awesome responsibilities, and on his profound opportunity to complete the work he started millennia ago. For 2000 years, on this festival, the Christ, it is said, “has represented humanity and has stood before the Hierarchy and in the sight of Shamballa as the God-Man, the Leader of His people and ‘the Eldest in a great family of brothers’”13, and preached the last sermon of the Buddha.
The flow of divine love, from the heart of our planetary Life, through the graded ranks of hierarchical Lives, through the Christ, and out into the outer world of human living, is ever present. Along this stream of universal love, the Christ will emerge.
1 The Reappearance of the Christ, Alice Bailey, p.8
2 A copy of the talk can be found in her book, ‘A Learning Experience’, Part 111, Chapter 3 titled “Christ as He is – A Supreme Spiritual Executive”
3 The Reappearance of the Christ, Alice Bailey, p.67
4 The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, Alice Bailey, p.489
5 The Reappearance of the Christ, Alice Bailey, p.111
6 The Light of the Soul, Alice Bailey, p.74
7 The Reappearance of the Christ, Alice Bailey, p.140
8 A Learning Experience, Mary Bailey, p.150
9 John, 10:16
10 A Learning Experience, Mary Bailey, p.150
11 The Rays and the Initiations, Alice Bailey, p.619
12 A Learning Experience, Mary Bailey, p.154
13 The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, Alice Bailey, p.421