Chapter 7: World Peace from "Awakening To One Love"
ME: So the very first obstacle to peace, is the fact that we see each other as bodies, which is to see sin, which is another name for the error of our separation. The body is the barrier we have placed between ourselves and You. Correct?
HS: Correct.
ME: You said we would talk about how to overcome this obstacle on a global level next. Are you talking about world peace?
HS: Yes.
ME: Alright. Lay it on me. I'm not holding my breath here, because people have been trying to come up with a plan for world peace for a long time. I find it hard to believe You will give me any real answers.
HS: Have faith in Me. I will not disappoint you. You already know that part of achieving world peace entails people finding their own inner peace. This is the peace of knowing your brother is One with you. The body must not be seen as a boundary between you. The next step then, is to extend this thought to the world, and see no boundaries between lands, nations and cultures. This transformation is achieved through a new, unified world government. All boundaries between countries must be eliminated and the world joined together as one land and people.
ME: Whoa whoa whoa. I've never been a fan of the idea of world domination. Is that what You're talking about here? That's Your plan for world peace? Uh nope. None for me thanks.
HS: Please listen carefully. The new world government would be arranged as such: One world ruler, who holds no real power except as the spokesperson for a group of 12, who each oversee one of the 12 basic human needs. Every human being in the world has the same basic needs, no matter where they live, who they are, or what culture they come from. If these needs were equally met among all peoples, there would be no strife, no trying to overcome, and no desire to move somewhere else where "things might be better."
ME: I'm still not sold on this idea. It sounds like communism or an evil dictatorship waiting to happen.
HS: Actually, this is the same social dynamic Jesus set up with His 12 apostles. Each had a single responsibility to fulfill for the group, be it procuring money, food, shelter, leisure activities etc. In this way, they took care of each other. It ran flawlessly.
The 12 basic (non spiritual) human needs are (listed in order of urgency):
1. Food
2. Clothing
3. Shelter
4. Health Care
5. Finances
6. Transportation
7. Global Relations
8. Education
9. Environment
10. Personal Liberties
11. Crime
12. Leisure
ME: I'm surprised "global relations" is higher than "education." Why is that?
HS: Believe Me, if you were raising your children in a war torn third world country, societal peace would be more important to you than putting their lives at risk just to send them to school.
ME: Understood. And by "Crime" You mean the control of it and everything that entails?
HS: Yes.
ME: I still have a problem with all this. Thirteen people running the entire world seems like too much power in the hands of too few. There's still too much opportunity for corruption. No thanks.
HS: Let Me continue to explain. These 12 people would each have 12 more people beneath each of them, and those 12 would each have 12, and so on and so forth, extending outward until this pattern reached all the way down to the local community level. Imagine it arranged as concentric, interlocking rings, uniformly covering the globe.
ME: That sounds confusing, but it's a much better distribution of power. So how many people would end up being in this "New World Government" once it's all said and done?
HS: 144,000.
ME: (After a moment of stunned silence) Are we talking about the 144,000? As in the biblical reference to this number?
HS: Yes. The very one.
ME: I don't know much about this number, except I've heard that some people ridiculously interpret this bible passage to mean that there are only 144,000 of God's "chosen ones," who will end up being "saved" and allowed to go to Heaven.
HS: That passage has been greatly misunderstood. I have not chosen 144,000 people that will be saved from the world, but rather, I have asked for 144,000 volunteers to save the world. There's a big difference in meaning.
ME: I think I'd actually like to take a look at that bible chapter if You don't mind? I have no idea what it actually says about all this. Would You like me to include it, so that others may read it for themselves as well?
HS: Yes, it would please Me very much if you did that.
ME: Let the pleasing begin then.
(This was a vision experienced by the apostle John):
"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God."
And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand from all the tribes of Israel:
(Here the bible lists each of the twelve tribes of Israel)
After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength to our God forever and ever! Amen."
Then one of the elders addressed me: "These in white robes," he asked, "who are they, and where have they come from?"
"Sir," I answered, "you know."
So he replied, "These are the ones who have come out of great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason,
'They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to fountains of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.'" (Holy Bible, King James Version, Revelations 7)
HS: Every boundary around every country will have to come down in order for a world government to work. People will have to learn to see themselves as a global community; everyone as on the same side. The "angel of the east" represents China and India- the first two countries to dissolve the boundary between themselves. This is referenced in Revelations by, "And I saw another angel ascending in the east..." The other four angels "who had been given power to harm the land and the sea..." represent the other four most powerful countries holding nuclear capabilities: the United States, Russia, United Kingdom and France. China and India will set the example for the other four countries to join with them into one government, "calling out in a loud voice," and the rest of the world- not wanting to be left out- will quickly follow suit.
ME: What precipitates the downfall of the boundary between China and India? Why do they do that?
HS: It is triggered by an unfortunate and unforeseen combination of social, economic and environmental hardships and catastrophes. They simply must join together in order for their peoples to survive. But out of the ashes of despair, a new system of self-government arises; driven forward by the people themselves. They will choose not to reestablish their old way of being. And what they come up with, will astound the world. The speed of their recovery from near devastating cataclysm will appear nothing short of miraculous.
ME: Oh my goodness! So who are the 144,000 then?
HS: They are the souls around the world who currently are, have, and will, become enlightened through learning My message of peace contained in A Course In Miracles and other similar works. They will incarnate together, spanning across 3 generations; a mixture of the old and young. They are My peacekeepers; My servants who will assist in the great world change from one of fear, to one of love. They will come from every corner of the world, forming the first 144,000 members of the new world government. Never in the history of this planet, will so many enlightened souls have incarnated together. Never in the history of the planet, will so many peacekeepers have come. In My peace, lies their strength.
ME: This reminds me of another quote from the Course: "This is what is meant by 'the meek shall inherit the earth.' They will literally take it over because of their strength." (ACIM T. Chapter 2. 7.4-5)
HS: Yes, that is what I'm referring to. After each of them leaves the planet at the end of their lives, those who take their place will only gain those positions through demonstrating their humanitarian capabilities; their capacity for selflessness, compassionate human understanding, wisdom, ethics, and a deep love for humankind. There will be no more political parties; no more division. You will all agree you have the same basic human needs, and that you must work together to meet them. All boundaries seen between all nations will fall. This is how the first obstacle to peace will be overcome on a global level, as people reach out towards one another in love, helpfulness and human kindness.
ME: Wow. Okay, so we have 144,000 enlightened peace loving people overseeing the 12 basic physical human needs of the world. Who pays for all this? Are we taxed 95% or something? I'm still not ruling out communism.
HS: Please take careful note: You will not be under any government at all per se. You will be cooperating together in a global self government. You will be under no rulership but your own.
ME: Oh, got it. No evil dictatorship and no communism. We're taking care of ourselves, that's all.
HS: Correct. Now back to your question about taxation. Actually, only 24% will be taken from each person's personal earnings to fund these needs. There will be no taxation beyond this. The first 12% will go to the local community of each individual, and the other 12% will go into the global collection. One percent will be given to each of the 12 areas of need in each case.
ME: So there will be no individual countries, no health insurance, no starvation and no political parties?
HS: Correct. But there will be a single world currency, a single world language, and let's not forget: World peace.
ME: That sounds awesome. But I still don't see how everyone just giving 24% of their income will take care of all the world's needs. Are You sure that's enough money to go around? I mean, is everything just...free?
HS: No, everything will not be free. You would still pay for what you want above and beyond the basics. For instance, if you needed a home, a basic one would be provided, but if you wanted something more extravagant, then it would be paid for out of your own pocket. If you were unable to work, or refused to work, you would be provided with food, clothing, shelter, healthcare and access to public transportation. No money would be given, but rather, only the actual goods themselves. All the basic needs of every person would be met. If you desired more than that, you would have to pay for it. If you wanted to go to school to get a better job and earn more money, you could attend any level of education at no cost. Your only limit would be your own willingness.
ME: Oh, so all people would just receive the basics to survive. Even so, are You sure there'd be enough money to pay for all that?
HS: People in your country raise millions of dollars in just a few weeks through your ticket lotteries. Lotteries, where only a few dollars are spent per person, by only part of the population; most do not spend even close to 24% of their income. Now imagine if all the people of the world donated greater to their own sustainability? Yes, there is plenty to take care of yourselves. The new system will be fluid and dynamic; currency from one area can be transferred to another if there is temporarily a greater social need. And the cost of living will be greatly reduced. You'd be surprised at how affordable things become when all greed and corruption is removed from the system.
ME: This all makes sense, and at the same time, sounds as impossible as me loving everyone on the planet. I have another question though. I thought You said this world was all a dream? Why are we bothering to "save" a dream? Don't we just want to go Home to You and live in the real world of Heaven? Why waste any time improving this place?
HS: Because there are many who must still return here to learn their lessons in love and forgiveness. These lessons are learned more quickly in a peaceful, loving environment. Everyone's spiritual growth will be greatly accelerated after these global changes. This nightmare can only shift into a happy dream through your own willingness to change it.
ME: Ah, as quoted in the ACIM: "This world will change through you. No other means can save it, for God's plan is simply this: The Son of God is free to save himself, given the Word of God to be his Guide, forever in his mind and at his side to lead him surely to his Father's house by only love." (ACIM W. Lesson 125 2.1-2)
HS: Correct. You do this by dismantling all boundaries within your mind. See nobody as a separate body, and no country as a separate place from where you live. Everyone is living on this planet, in this dream, together.
ME: Will any of this happen in my lifetime?
HS: No. Your children's children will see the first implementation of this system during their aged years. Their children will then live under the benevolent leadership of this new world government. You will leave this planet just as the idea is beginning to form a bud- not yet ready to blossom. It will take a generation of time to work out the details.
ME: So it will happen in roughly 200 to 300 years? That seems kind of far away, but at least we don't blow ourselves up. Will I come back among the 144,000?
HS: No. This will be your last trip into the illusion.
ME: Normally, hearing that would make me feel ecstatic, but I'm disappointed I'm not coming back to live during this spiritually exciting time.
HS: You're already living during a spiritually exciting time. Look at what you're doing right now.
ME: I suppose so. Do I know anyone in this life who will be coming back to be among the 144,000?
HS: You know some of them. Many of whom will one day hold this book in their hands.
ME: That's awesome. I can't wait to tell all my family and friends they're going to be among the 144,000 peace bringers in their next life!
HS: Keep in mind they are not being singled out as special. They are simply the ones who volunteered for this particular role in bringing peace to the world. Everyone is tasked with bringing peace to this illusion through his or her individual choice to remember My love and holiness envelops all they see.