The old man laid his hand on the head of Tichon, who felt appeased, as a child by the caress of its mother.
“You are weary. Poor child! I have many children like you. You wander about the world poor and abandoned. You suffer cold and famine, sorrow, privation and cruel persecutions. Yet fear not, beloved. Wait a little, I will soon unite you all in the new Church, the Church of Christ who is to Come. There was the ancient Church of Peter the indestructible rock. There will be the new Church of John, the Winged Thunder. The Thunder will strike the rock and out will gush the living waters. The first Testament was the Old, the kingdom of the Father; the second Testament, the New, or the Kingdom of the Son; the third Testament, or the last, the Kingdom of the Spirit, one in three and three in one. And the three make but one. Faithful is the Lord who promises, who is and was and is to be!”
The old man’s countenance suddenly became quite young. It was the face of an immortal. Tichon recognised John, the Son of Thunder.
The old man raised his arm towards the black sky and cried with a loud voice:—
“The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” repeated Tichon; he too raised his hand to the sky with great joy akin to great fear.
A lightning flashed white across the black sky; it seemed the heavens were literally rent in twain.
And Tichon saw the image of a Son of man, his head and his hair were white like wool, as white as the snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And seven thunders uttered their voices:—
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, which was and is and is to come!”