Sunsets into Sunrises

by Jakob Lorber

A view of what occurs to a soul in the after-life. We are privy to the ugliness and ultimate beauty of the soul as it recognizes its earthly mortality and as it comes to the conclusion of the errors of its former earthly life.

487 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 1987

About the author

Jakob Lorber (22 July 1800 – 24 August 1864) was a Christian mystic and visionary from the Duchy of Styria, who promoted liberal Universalism. He referred to himself as "God's scribe". He wrote that on 15 March 1840 he began hearing an 'inner voice' from the region of his heart and thereafter transcribed what it said. By the time of his death 24 years later he had written manuscripts equivalent to more than 10,000 pages in print.

His writings were published posthumously as amounting to a "New Revelation", and the contemporary "Lorber movement" forms one of the major neo-revelationist sects, mostly active in German-speaking Europe, although part of Lorber's writings have also been translated into more than 20 languages (according to the website of the Lorber Publisher) and the world-wide spread adherents do not gather in an institutionalized church, but usually continue to belong to their previous Christian denomination.

Reviews

[Natacha Pavlov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally for this long overdue spiritual read! In summary: Here we see a man, after breathing his last breath on earth, pass through the 'big gate' into the beyond. We see how in the other world his 'sphere' begins to take shape, initially like a dream-life still reflecting all his earthly errors, notions and desires. We accompany him on his various progresses and regresses on the path to cognition and see how various higher spiritual beings and angels join him and, through purifying and instructive experiences, prepare him for a true understanding of God. As always with Lorber, it's a moving, uplifting read.

An Austrian Christian mystic and visionary of the 19th century, I only came to know of Lorber through my father's own curiously serendipitous first encounter with his work, via the bookstore our parents had back in early 80s Brussels. (One of the short stories in my first collection "Twisted Reflections" tells of that intense bookstore-owning experience, which was located just behind la Grand Place.) Lorber was musically skilled and even took violin lessons from virtuoso violinist Paganini, and in 1840 was offered the position of assistant musical director at the theater in Trieste. But that would not be—for soon after he wrote that he began hearing an 'inner voice' from the region of his heart and, following its counsel to decline the offer, thereafter transcribed what it said. By the time of his death 24 years later, he had written manuscripts equivalent to more than 10,000 pages in print. What a blessing that he heeded the call.