The Great Temptation 

In August of 25 CE, Jesus was thirty-one years old. He had completed his year-long excursion through Palestine as a private individual when his indwelling spirit led him to go up to the slopes of Mount Hermon alone. The purpose of this sojourn on Mount Hermon was to allow Jesus to complete the mastery of his human mind and to fully commit himself to the remainder of his lifework on earth.

Accordingly, Jesus made the necessary preparations and he secured a donkey to carry his supplies. He employed a lad named Tiglath to assist him in setting up a basecamp in the foothills of Mount Hermon near the village called Beit Jenn. Tiglath was given custody over his supplies and the two started out together to a spot about 6,000 feet above sea level, where a stone container was fashioned where Tiglath was to place food twice a week. Shortly after he left Tiglath, Jesus paused to pray and asked the Father to send an angel to be with the lad. Jesus went on alone into this sojourn with only his indwelling spirit to guide and uphold him.

Jesus did not fast while he was on the mountain. He did abstain from food for one or two days at a time, but he never was in a weakened state, or ever close to starving; he was well able to distinguish reality from illusion. The superhuman beings that Jesus confronted, wrestled with in spirit, and ultimately defeated in power were real. They were, in fact, his archenemies – fallen sons who had launched and supported the disastrous rebellion that had plunged the world into sin and darkness.

For the last three weeks in August and the first three weeks of September of 25 CE, Jesus exercised the achievement of circle attainment in his mind and he achieved personality control. After more than five weeks of constant communion with his heavenly Father, Jesus was thoroughly certain of the victory of his divine nature over his human nature.

When his sojourn was nearing its end, Jesus asked his heavenly Father if he would be permitted to hold a conference with the personality who had instigated the universe rebellion and the one who had supported it; he wished to confront them as the Son of Man, as Joshua ben Joseph. And the heavenly Father granted this request. Accordingly, during the last week on Mount Hermon, the great temptation – the universe trial – took place. Satan attended, as representative of Lucifer; and Caligastia, the disgraced planetary prince of our world was also in attendance. These beings were made fully visible to Jesus.

This so-called “temptation” had nothing to do with lack of food, nor were there mentions of temple pinnacles or brazen acts. This event had nothing to do with the kingdoms of this world, but everything to do with the sovereignty of this universe. It was the final trial of Jesus’ human loyalty when faced with the lies and sophistries of rebel personalities. Jesus rejected all of their compromises and proposals. While the symbolism of our Biblical records of this event is in error, the event was very real; and it is fitting that the succeeding generations of humans should understand what really happened to Jesus that day on Mount Hermon.

The emissaries of Lucifer made many proposals and counter-proposals to Jesus. But he simply replied: “May the will of my Paradise Father prevail, and you, my rebellious son, may the Ancients of Days judge you divinely. I am your Creator-father; I can hardly judge you justly, and my mercy you have already spurned. I commit you to the adjudication of the Judges of a greater universe.”

These emissaries of Lucifer then suggested compromises and schemes regarding the incarnation bestowal, but Jesus reiterated: “The will of my Father in Paradise be done.”

Finally, it was over, and a mighty seraphim came to Jesus’ side and ministered to him.

On a beautiful late-summer day in the mountains, among the trees and the silence of nature, Jesus (Christ Michael) assumed sovereignty of Nebadon, the universe of his making. That day on Mount Hermon, Jesus – a mortal human of the realm, with only his indwelling spirit to guide him – met and defeated Calgastia, who was up to that time, prince of this world.

The universe records will show that on that eventful day, Jesus of Nazareth earned the title of Planetary Prince. When Jesus returned from his six-week sojourn, the Lucifer rebellion and the Caligastia apostasy on our planet were settled. The human Jesus had done what was required of him to attain the sovereignty of his universe. And as Planetary Prince, all future upheavals, such as the Lucifer rebellion (should one ever occur again) will be dealt with quickly and effectively by him.

As Jesus was coming down from the mountain, he met Tiglath coming up to deposit food. And he said to Tiglath: “The period of rest is over; I must return to my Father’s business.” He was greatly changed and silent as they went together back to town, where he gave the donkey to Tiglath and they parted ways.

Although the news of this momentous achievement was not revealed until the day of his baptism, some three months later, it all took place that day on the slopes of Mount Hermon. The tradition of a great temptation became associated with the forty days following Jesus' baptism because of some confusion that arose due to fragmentary narratives about the Mount Hermon struggles months earlier. And it seemed fitting since it was customary that great prophets and spiritual leaders should begin their public careers by undergoing similar experiences of fasting and prayer.