The Sophianic Visions & Prophecies of Lady Jane Leade
Introduction
Lady Jane Leade was an Anglican mystic and proponent of Universalism who was born in March of the year 1624, in Norfolk, England, Christened on March, 9, 1624 at St Andrew's Church, Letheringsett, Norfolk, and died on August 19, 1704, in London. Leade’s religious views were largely based on the writings of the German philosopher, mystic and Father of Protestant Sophiology Jakob Böhme (1575–1624) and on her own mystical visions and dreams, particularly those of the Divine Feminine principle known as the Virgin Sophia. In 1681 Leade became the visionary for a mid-17th-century English movement promoting esoteric Christian thought known as the Philadelphian Society. She affirmed the universal restoration and reconciliation to God of all human beings, the Devil, and his angels. Johann Wilhelm Petersen, a German-born Philadelphian and Pietist, gave her views a scriptural foundation in his book Mystery of the Restitution of All Things.
Visions of The Virgin Sophia
Excerpt From Sophia-Maria by Fr. Thomas Schipflinger pg. 221-223
Lady Jane Leade's visions of Sophia began in 1670. One report from her diaries indicates:
“Sophia appeared to me in the figure of a woman with a very friendly and dignified demeanor, Her countenance radiated like the sun and She was dressed in a garment of translucent gold.”
Sophia says to her:
“Look at me! I am the eternal Virgin Wisdom of God, who you always wished to see just once. I am come to unveil to you my profound treasures of God's Wisdom, and I will be to you what Rebecca was to Jacob, a true and natural Mother, for you will be spiritually begotten in my bosom, conceived and born anew.
You will recognize something active in you which will leave you no rest until Wisdom has been born in the depths of your soul. Think about my words until I come to you again.”
Sophia did appear again three days later, radiant and wearing a crown, and said:
“Behold your Mother, and know that you must enter into a covenant with me in order to be in harmony with the laws of the new creation, which will be revealed to you.”
Sophia then gave her a golden book, sealed with three seals, containing the mysteries of Divine Wisdom. Six days later She appeared again. This time She invited Jane Leade to come closer in order to see and hear Her better and initiated her into the society of Her “newly born.” Sophia explained that from now on Her appearances would not be visible but spiritual and that She would reveal the source of Wisdom and understanding. Jane Leade's Sophia teaching can be summarized as follows:
Sophia preserves and reveals the mysteries of God.
She is the Mother for those who belong to Her who are spiritually begotten in Her bosom. Through this new birth they become the true children of Wisdom.
Sophia expects Her children to live according to the condition of rebirth and this resolve is to be strengthened and confirmed by a covenant with Her. All who enter into this covenant comprise the Sophian community.
The goal of the covenant is the restoration at the end of time of a paradisiacal state of perfection for humanity (the androgynous human being), resulting in bliss (spiritual marriage with Sophia), the reuniting of the churches and peace on earth (turning earth into paradise).
Sophia is the Mother, Teacher and Queen to Her children, but also a spiritual and divine seed-like principle that has been implanted into humanity. The essence of this principle is the perfection that humanity is to attain—for humanity's own fulfillment, for Sophia's and ultimately for God's also, who is the foundation of everything.
As the above summary indicates, the primary emphasis of Jane Leade's Sophia teaching is not Sophia's cosmological dimension (as the source of life) but Her function of restoring harmony, union, and bliss. On this path She is the most powerful Helper.
Today it seems that it is finally possible to come to a more objective evaluation of Jane Leade's life and work. She was a gifted visionary who achieved mystical states of elevation. She awaited the coming of a “new spiritual kingdom” in which those who are truly “reborn” will form a community of brotherly love (Philadelphia) and live in matrimonial union with Sophia, and through Her, with Christ.
60 Prophecies of Jane Leade
1. There shall be a total and full redemption by Christ.
2. This is an hidden mystery, not to be understood without the Revelation of the Holy Spirit.
3. The Holy Spirit is at hand to reveal the same to all holy seekers and loving inquirers.
4. The completion of such a redemption is withheld and obstructed by the Apocalyptical Seals.
5. Therefore, as the Spirit of God shall open seal after seal, so shall this redemption come to be revealed, both particularly and universally.
6. In this gradual opening of the mystery of the redemption in Christ, consists the unsearchable wisdom of God, which may continually reveal new and fresh things to the worthy searchers.
7. In order to which, the Ark of the Testimony in Heaven shall be opened before the end of this world, and the Living Testimony which is therein contained shall be unsealed.
8. The presence of this Divine Ark will constitute the Philadelphian Church; and wherever that is, there must the Ark of necessity be.
9. The unsealing of the Living Testimony within the Ark of the Lord, must begin the promulgation of the Everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom.
10. The proclamation of this testimony of the Kingdom will be by the sound of a trumpet, to alarm all the nations of the earth, and more especially all the professions of Christianity, because it shall be attended with the power of acting all wonders.
11. So there shall be an authoritative decision given forth immediately from Christ, to the putting an end to all controversies concerning the true Church.
12. This decision will be by the actual sealing of the Members of this Church with the name of God, giving them a commission to act by virtue of the same. This new name will distinguish them from the Seven Thousand Names of Babylon.
13. The election and preparation of this Church is to be after a secret and hidden manner, as David in his minority was Elected and Anointed by the Prophet of the LORD, yet was not admitted to the outward possession of the Kingdom for a considerable time afterward.
14. Of the stem of David a Virgin Church is yet to be born, which has known nothing of man or of human constitution, is yet to be born.
15. And if it is yet to be born, then it will require some considerable time before it gets out of its minority, and arrives to the full and Mature Age.
16. The birth of this Virgin Church was visionally typified to St. John, by the Great Wonder in Heaven bringing forth Her First Born, that was caught up to the Throne of God.
17. FOR—as a Virgin Woman brought forth Christ after the Flesh, so likewise a Virgin Woman is designed by GOD to bring forth the firstborn after the Spirit, who shall be filled with the Holy Ghost and with Power.
18. The VIRGIN that is hereto designed must be of a pure spirit, also of a clarified body, and all over Impregnated with the Holy Ghost.
19. This Church so brought forth, and signed with the Mark of the Divine Name, shall be adorned with miraculous gifts and powers beyond whatever yet has been.
20. Hereby all nations shall be brought into it, so that it shall be the Catholic ("universal") Church, according to the genuine sense and utmost latitude of the word.
21. It must be an anointed Church, by which it may truly bear the name of Christ or Christian, being with Him anointed to the Priestly, Prophetical, and Royal Dignity.
22. Thus there will be no bonds or impositions: But the Holy Unction among these new born spirits will be all in all.
23. This Catholic and Anointed Church must be perfectly holy, as Christ Himself is holy; so that it may worthily bear the name of The Lord our Holiness and The Lord our Righteousness.
24. Until there be such a Church made ready upon the earth, so holy, so catholic, and so anointed, that is without all spot or wrinkle, and that is adorned as a Bride to meet her Bridegroom, Christ will not personally descend to solemnize this Marriage, and present the same to His Father.
25. But when the Bridal Church shall be made ready, and thoroughly cleansed and sanctified from every spot of defilement through the blood of Christ, then He will no longer delay His coming in person.
26. There is not this day visible upon the earth any holy, catholic, anointed and Bridal Church; all the churches and professions being found light when weighed in the balance. Therefore they are rejected by the Supreme Judge.
27. This rejection and condemnation will be for this end: that out of them a New and Glorious Church may rise up, in whom no fault shall be found, as He found none with the Philadelphian. (Rev. 3)
28. THEN shall the Glory of God and of the Lamb so rest upon it, as the Cloud upon the typical Tabernacle, so that it shall be called the Tabernacle of Wisdom.
29. Though this Philadelphian Church is not known in visibility, yet it may lie hid at this present time as in the Womb of the Morning.
30. Notwithstanding, it will be brought forth into visibility as coming out of the Wilderness, within a short period.
31. Then will it go on to multiply and propagate itself Universally; not only to the number of the Firstborn (which is 144,000) but also to the Remnant of the Seed: against whom the Dragon shall make continual war.
32. Therefore the Spirit of David shall most eminently revive in this Church, and most specially in some or other Selected Members of it, as the Blossoming Root which is to precede the day of Solomon in the blessed Millennium. These will have might given them to overcome the Dragon and his angels (even as David and his army overcame Goliath and the Philistines).
33. This will be the standing up of Michael the Great Prince of Israel; and will be as the appearance of Moses against Pharaoh, in order that the Chosen Seed may be brought out from their hard servitude.
34. Egypt is a figure of this servile creation, under which each one of Abraham's Seed groans. But a Prophet and Prophetical Generation will the most High yet raise up, who shall deliver His people—by mere force of spiritual arms.
35. For which—there must be raised up certain head powers to bear the first shock, who are to be persons of great eminence and favor with the Trinity, whose dread and fear shall fall upon all nations (visible and invisible) because of the mighty acting power of the Holy Ghost which shall rest upon them.
36. For before Christ’s own distinct and personal appearance, He will first appear and represent Himself in some chosen vessel or vessels, anointed to be leaders unto the rest, and to bring them into the Promised Land—the new creation state.
37. Thus, Moses, Joshua, and Aaron may be considered as Types of some, upon whom the same Spirit may come, yet to rest in a greater proportion, by which they shall make way for the Ransomed of the Lord to return to Mount Sion.
38. BUT—none shall stand in any considerable office under God, but those who are tried Stones, after the pattern and similitude of the Chief Cornerstone—Christ.
39. THIS will be a fiery trial which very few will be able to pass or bear up under. Therefore the waiters for the visible breaking out of this Church are strictly charged to hold fast that which they have, and to wait together in the unity of pure love, praying in the Holy Ghost according to the Apostolical Pattern, that they may be sent forth to multiply—more Universally.
40. This TRIAL will be of absolute necessity to everyone in particular, and to all in general, for the constituting and cementing of the true Philadelphian Church, by clearing away all the remaining infirmities of Nature, and burning up all hay, stubble or dross which they may have added to the work of the Lord.
41. FOR—nothing must remain in this pure Church but what can remain in the fire. For as a Refiner will the Lord purify the Sons and Daughters, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto Him an offering in perfect righteousness.
42. Though the operation of the Holy Spirit in these waiters may for a long time contend with many infirmities and evils, yet if continually watched and kept warm, at the last it cannot but work out a perfect cure, and bring about a full and total redemption from the earth.
43. There may be some at present living, who may come to be thus fully and totally redeemed, having another body put on them, that is—one after the Priestly Order.
44. This Priestly Anointed body will render them impregnable, and qualify them for that high degree of spiritual government to which they are called.
45. THEREFORE it is required on our part to suffer the Spirit of Burning, to do upon us the refining work, fanning us with His Fiery Breath, and searching every part within us, until all is pure and clear, and we thereby arrive to this fixed body, from which the wonders are to flow out.
46. This body will be the sealing character of the Philadelphian Church.
47. Upon this Body will be the fixation of the Urim and Thummim, that are to be appropriated to the Priests of the Melchizedek Order, whose descent is not to be counted in the genealogy of that creation which is under the Fall, but in another genealogy which is from the Restoration (See Propositions 17 & 18).
48. Thus these priests will have a deep inward search, and a divine sight into the secret things of the Deity. They will be able to prophesy in a clear ground, not darkly and enigmatically. For they will know what is couched in the first originality of all beings, and in the eternal archetype of nature, and so will be capacitated to bring them forth, according to the divine council and ordination.
49. The Lord whose hand is lifted up, swears in truth and righteousness, that from Abraham’s line according to the Spirit there shall arise an Holy Priesthood.
50. Abraham and Sarah were a type of that which should be produced and manifested in the last age of the world.
51. The mighty Spirit of CYRUS is appointed to lay the Foundation of the Third Temple, and to support it in its building.
52. These are such Characteristics or Marks by which this pure Virgin Church, so founded, shall be certainly known and distinguished from all others, and by which the unction and true sound of the Holy Ghost shall be discerned from that which is False, Low, and Counterfeit.
53. There must be a manifestation of the Spirit, with which to edify and raise up this Church, suitable to the Resurrection of Christ.
54. This manifestation must be in the absoluteness of power, as well as in the beauty of holiness, so bringing down Heaven upon earth, and representing here the New Jerusalem state.
55. In order to which, spirits that are thus purely begotten and born of God can ascend to the New Jerusalem above, where their Head reigns in great majesty, and there receive such a mission, by which they shall be empowered to bring down to this world its transcendent glory.
56. None but those that are risen with Christ in the regeneration can thus ascend; and none but those that have so ascended and received of His glory can descend again to communicate the same, being thereby His representatives upon the New Earth, as subordinate Priests and Princes under Him.
57. Now, He that is ascended and glorified has made Himself, as it were, our Debtor. Consequently, He will not be wanting in qualifying and furnishing out certain high and principal Instruments, who shall be most humble, and as little regarded as David was, whom He will dignify with great honor and priestly sovereignty, for the drawing to them the scattered flocks, and gathering them into one fold out of all nations, and languages, and kindreds.
58. Therefore, there should be an holy emulation and ambition stirred up among all the lovers of Jesus, that they may be of the first fruits unto Him that is risen from the dead, and so be made Principal Agents for Him and with Him, that they may if possible be of the number of the Firstborn of the New Jerusalem Mother.
59. All the lovers of Jesus, and true waiters for His Kingdom in Spirit, under whatsoever professions or forms they are dispersed, ought to be Numbered among the Philadelphian Spirits, to whom this message pertains.
60. The Society is not the Church, but preparatory to the Church of Philadelphia. It consists of those who have associated to wait in the Unity of the Spirit for its glorious appearance and manifestation. Therefore, there is such a strict charge given to them throughout this Message, to be watchful and quicken up their pace.
Quotes
Though our Lord Christ was made a visible sacrifice for sin, He never intended that it should excuse any of His members from a conformity with Him in his death, knowing that His death alone for us would not do—without coming by His Spirit to put sin to death in our flesh. And so jointly He becomes salvation to the utmost: He having no sin to put to death in His own body, and so was a living type and example for us to follow.
Heavenly Cloud, HC 1:9, SDV
It is known and experienced that as we daily feed upon a crucified Christ, it devours and gradually works away the Life of Sin and all the evil effects of it. Let the wise understand and find out this mystery, and discern and taste the Lord’s mystical body.
Heavenly Cloud, HC P:2, SDV
Do not stint yourselves up to any foregoing dispensation or revelation, no, not to the Scripture record itself, though truly weighty and worthy to be received, believed in, and conformed to. Yet it is not to be taken up in and rested upon, as if there were nothing more to be revealed for the benefit and instruction of mankind, since the same Spirit that inspired the holy men of God to record them, is now in this Last Day more abundantly shed forth, to multiply volumes of Scripture. For whatsoever is purely dictated by the Holy Ghost may be called by that name; and so it was, before Christ’s appearing in flesh, by the Patriarchs and Prophets, which was then succeeded by a newer ministration, the former being fulfilled in Him.
The Eight Worlds, EW 1:22d, SDV
GOD was, is, and so has designed in CHRIST to reconcile all to Himself which was at odds with Him. For it is not to be the least doubted that the efficacy of Christ (the Second Adam), by the merit of His bloodshed, and His Spirit given therein, will make all good again which the First Adam had made evil.
The Enochian Walks with God, EN I:7, SDV
He does, and will, send His Messenger before His face, which is the Spirit of Refining Fire, to prepare for His more visible and splendorous coming in His Kingdom, to make kings, priests, and prophets, to reign in and with Him on the earth. And when we shall see more of this multiplying oil of the Holy Ghost poured forth upon those that are lookers for this blessed hope and most glorious reign of Christ, then we may expect He may be drawing near.
The Enochian Walks with God, EN I:5, SDV
I must solemnly profess to all such as live loosely and vainly, that they will have no part in the First Resurrection, but will be cut off from all those pleasant and unconceivable joys, and glorious and filling springs of refreshing from the presence of GOD and the Lamb, which may be tasted in this present life as the first fruits of the full harvest.
The Enochian Walks with God, EN I:9, SDV
I have no fear that I shall come off with disgrace or shame. The Most Holy One hath given me to take notice and observe, that I am for a known time called to be alone from all other spirits.
Fountain of Gardens Vol. 3, Pt. 2, April 18
This doctrine [universal restoration] can only be understood and believed by those who “earnestly desire to be informed and resolved in this matter, being of a tender spirit, out of all bitterness, rashness and fury; and who handing this in a childish simplicity, are willing to have the mind of God unfolded, or searched out.”
The Everlasting Gospel, EG 7, SDV
Those who neglect their day during the time of this life, as to the new birth and regeneration, there is a law of necessity for them to go through it after the time of this life (the Gospel is preached to the dead, our souls departed), in centers and regions which are provided in other worlds which are to be passed through.”
The Enochian Walks with God, EN 5, SDV
