The Earthquake.
Apparitions of the Dead in Jerusalem.
I saw the soul of Jesus, at the moment he expired, appear under the
form of a bright orb, and accompanied by angels, among whom I
distinguished the angel Gabriel penetrate the earth at the foot of the
Cross. I likewise saw these angels cast a number of evil spirits into
the great abyss, and I heard Jesus order several of the souls in Limbo
to re-enter the bodies in which they once dwelt, in order that the
sight might fill sinners with a salutary terror, and that these souls
might render a solemn testimony to his divinity.
The earthquake which produced the deep chasm at Calvary did much
damage in different parts of Palestine, but ifs effects were even more
fatal in Jerusalem. Its inhabitants were just beginning to be a little
reassured by the return of light, when their terror was reawakened with
double force by the shocks of the earthquake, and the terrible noise
and confusion caused by the downfall of houses and walls on all sides,
which panic was still farther increased by the sudden appearance of
dead persons, confronting the trembling miscreants who were flying to
hide themselves, and addressing them in the most severe and reproachful
language.
The High Priests had recommenced the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb
(which had been stopped by the unexpected darkness), and they were
triumphing at the return of light, when suddenly the ground beneath
them trembled, the neighbouring buildings fell down, and the veil of
the Temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. Excess of terror
at first rendered those on the outside speechless, but after a time
they burst forth into cries and lamentations. The confusion in the
interior of the Temple was not, however, as great as would naturally
have been expected, because the strictest order and decorum were always
enforced there, particularly with regard to the regulation to be
followed by those who entered to make their sacrifice, and those who
left after having offered it. The crowd was great, but the ceremonies
were so solemnly carried out by the priests, that they totally
engrossed the minds of the assistants. First came the immolation of the
lamb, then the sprinkling of its blood, accompanied by the chanting of
canticles and the sounding of trumpets. The priests were endeavouring
to continue the sacrifices, when suddenly an unexpected and most
appalling pause ensued; terror and astonishment were depicted on each
countenance; all was thrown into confusion; not a sound was heard; the
sacrifices ceased; there was a general rush to the gates of the Temple;
everyone endeavoured to fly as quickly as possible. And well might they
fly, well might they fear and tremble; for in the midst of the
multitude there suddenly appeared persons who had been dead and buried
for many years! These persons looked at them sternly, and reproved them
most severely for the crime they had committed that day, in bringing
about the death of 'the just man,' and calling down his blood upon their
heads. Even in the midst of this confusion, some attempts were,
however, made by the priests to preserve order; they prevented those
who were in the inner part of the Temple from rushing forward, pushing
their way through the crowds who were in advance of them, and
descending the steps which led out of the Temple: they even continued
the sacrifices in some parts, and endeavoured to calm the fears of the
people.
The appearance of the Temple at this moment can only be described by
comparing it to an ant-hill on which persons have thrown stones, or
which has been disturbed by a sick being driven into its centre. The
ants in those parts on which the stones have fallen, or which the stick
had disturbed, are filled with confusion and terror; they run to and
fro and do nothing; while the ants in those parts which have not been
disturbed continue to labour quietly, and even begin to repair the
damaged parts.
The High Priest Caiphas and his retinue did not lose their presence
of mind, and by the outward tranquillity which their diabolical
hardness of heart enabled them to preserve, they calmed the confusion
in a great degree, and then did their utmost to prevent the people from
looking upon these stupendous events as testimonies of the innocence of
Jesus. The Roman garrison belonging to the fortress of Antonia likewise
made great efforts to maintain order; consequently, the disturbance of
the festival was not followed by an insurrection, although every heart
was fixed with fear and anxiety, which anxiety the Pharisees
endeavoured (and in some instances with success) to calm.
I remember a few other striking incidents: in the first place, the
two columns which were placed at the entrance of their Holy of Holies,
and to which a magnificent curtain was appended, were shaken to the
very foundations; the column on the left side fell down in a southerly,
and that on the right side in a northerly direction, thus rending the
veil in two from the top to the bottom with a fearful sound, and
exposing the Holy of Holies uncovered to the public gaze. A large stone
was loosened and fell from the wall at the entrance of the sanctuary,
near where the aged Simeon used to kneel, and the arch was broken. The
ground was heaved up, and many other columns were thrown down in other
parts of the Temple.
An apparition of the High Priest Zacharias, who was slain between
the porch and the altar, was seen in the sanctuary. He uttered fearful
menaces, spoke of the death of the second Zacharias, and of that of St.
John Baptist, as also of the violent deaths of the other prophets.12
The two sons of the High Priest Simon, surnamed the Just (ancestors of
the aged Simeon who prophesied when Jesus was presented in the Temple),
made their appearance in the part usually occupied by the doctors of
the law; they also spoke in terrific terms of the deaths of the
prophets, of the sacrifice of the old law which was now about to cease,
and they exhorted all present to be converted, and to embrace the
doctrines which had been preached by him whom they had crucified. The
prophet Jeremiah likewise appeared; he stood near the altar, and
proclaimed, in a menacing tone, that the ancient sacrifice was at an
end, and that a new one had commenced. As these apparitions took place
in parts where none but priests were allowed to enter, Caiphas and a
few others were alone cognisant of them, and they endeavoured, as far
as possible, either to deny their reality, or to conceal them. These
prodigies were followed by others still more extraordinary. The doors
of the sanctuary flew open of themselves, and a voice was heard to
utter these words: 'Let us leave this place;' and I saw all the angels of
the Lord instantly leave the Temple. The thirty-two Pharisees who went
to Calvary a short time before our Lord expired were almost all
converted at the foot of the Cross. They returned to the Temple in the
midst of the confusion, and were perfectly thunderstruck at all which
had taken place there. They spoke most sternly, both to Annas and to
Caiphas, and left the Temple. Annas had always been the most bitter of
the enemies of Jesus, and had headed every proceeding against him; but
the supernatural events which had taken place had completely unnerved
him that he knew not where to hide himself. Caiphas was, in realty
excessively alarmed, and filled with anxiety, but his pride was so
great that he concealed his feelings as far as possible, and
endeavoured to reassure Annas. He succeeded for a time; but the sudden
appearance of a person who had been dead many years marred the effect
of his words, and Annas became again a prey to the most fearful terror
and remorse.
Whilst these things were going on in the Temple, the confusion and
panic were not less in Jerusalem. Dead persons were walking about, and
many walls and buildings had been shaken by the earthquake, and parts
of them fallen down. The superstition of Pilate rendered him even more
accessible to fear; he was perfectly paralysed and speechless with
terror; his palace was shaken to the very foundation, and the earth
quaked beneath his feet. He ran wildly from room to room, and the dead
constantly stood before him, reproaching him with the unjust sentence
he had passed upon Jesus. He thought that they were the gods of the
Galilean, and took refuge in an inner room, where he offered incense,
and made vows to his idols to invoke their assistance in his distress.
Herod was usually alarmed; but he shut himself up in his palace, out of
the sight of everyone.
More than a hundred persons who had died at different epochs
re-entered the bodies they had occupied when on earth, made their
appearance in different parts of Jerusalem, and filled the inhabitants
with inexpressible consternation. Those souls which had been released
by Jesus from Limbo uncovered their faces and wandered to and fro in
the streets, and although their bodies were the same as those which
they had animated when on earth, yet these bodies did not appear to
touch the ground as they walked. They entered the houses of their
descendants, proclaimed the innocence of Jesus, and reproved those who
had taken part in his death most severely. I saw them passing through
the principal streets; they were generally in couples, and appeared to
me to glide through the airs without moving their feet. The
countenances of some were pale; others of a yellow tint; their beards
were long, and their voices sounded strange and sepulchral. Their
grave-clothes were such as it was customary to use at the period of
their decease. When they reached the place where sentence of death was
proclaimed on Jesus before the procession started for Calvary, they
paused for a moment, and exclaimed in a loud voice: 'Glory be to Jesus
for ever and ever, and destruction to his enemies!' Towards four o'clock
all the dead returned to their graves. The sacrifices in the Temple had
been so interrupted, and the confusion caused by the different
prodigies was so great, that very few persons ate the Paschal lamb on
that evening.