Jane Lead

Jane Ward Lead, also known as Jane Leade, was an English mystic and central figure in the Philadelphian Society whose visions, dreams, Behmenist theology, Sophia mysticism, universal restorationism, and teaching about a coming purified "Virgin-Church" deeply influenced later restorationist and Latter Rain streams; through her Sixty Propositions, her connection to the House of David tradition, and later use by figures such as George Hawtin, her ideas helped supply language for end-time overcomers, hidden revelation, manifest sons, spiritual elites, restored priesthood, miraculous power, and a perfected church that would become visible before Christ's return, themes later echoed in William Branham's theology and in destructive movements such as Peoples Temple and Colonia Dignidad.

Jane Ward Lead (also spelled Leade) was an English mystic that deeply influenced the Latter Rain and Restoration movements. As the central figure of the Philadelphian Society, Lead and her sect spread esoteric "Christian" knowledge that was based upon a combination of her own visions and dreams, as well as German philosopher and mystic Jakob Böhme.[1] Lead is best known for her doctrine of universal restoration and reconciliation with God to all, which Lead learned from German Pietist Johann Wilhelm Petersen.[2]

The Israelite House of David, and The Israelite House of David as Reorganized by Mary Purnell (commonly called Mary's City of David), communities are active at present. Popularly known for their athletic teams (baseball and basketball), amusement parks and jazz bands, the Israelites are a fascinating and understudied part of American history. The faith that underpins the public face of the Israelites is rooted in the Bible, and mystical Christianity from Jane Leade through the six messengers of the Christian Israelite tradition beginning with Joanna Southcott in the late eighteenth century.[3]
- Hamilton College Library

Lead was very radical, though history has concealed many of the troubling political, military, and religious details from her biographies in favor of appealing to Spiritualists, Behmenists, and Pietists of her era.[4] There were multiple ties between Lead and political activists, the most surprising of which was between her brother and the execution of King Charles I.[5]

Lead was the disciple and spiritual protege of John Pordage, a Church of England priest, astrologer, alchemist, and Christian mystic who founded the 17th-century English Behmenist group that would later become known as the Philadelphian Society. Together, Pordage and Lead would publish works such as Theologia Mystica, or The Mystic Divinitie of the Eternal Invisibles.[6] Lead appears to have joined the group shortly after the death of her husband, William, though her history appears to have been altered by almost ten years to make it appear as though she joined much sooner.[7] Lead poverty-stricken after the death of William,[8] and after his death, suddenly became a prolific and "prophetic" author.

Lead began claiming that she heard a voice "out of the throne of the Majesty on high", which she published as "a Message to the Philadelphian Society". The "Message", she claimed, was that a "perfect Virgin-Church should be consummated in the earth", and it would be a visible church in which God Himself would be manifest.[9] This "vision", would later be repurposed and propagated by William Branham in the Latter Rain revivals as his Manifest Sons of God doctrine. This would be the doctrine that empowered Jim Jones of Peoples Temple[10] and Paul Shafer of Colonia Dignidad[11]

Lead's mysticism, however, presents a problem for those with an understanding of Christian Theology. Her alleged visions and writings were based heavily upon Gnosticism, a 2nd-century heretical movement that placed emphasis on esoteric knowledge (gnosis) for the redemption of the human spirit. Lead used "Sophia", the Gnostic deity for esoteric wisdom, as a theme for her religious insight. While Lead applied this title to John Pordage as "the highly illuminated man",[12] members of Latter Rain applied this esoteric knowledge to individual leaders (prophets) of the movement. Leaders of Latter Rain printed revised editions of Lead's Sixty Propositions and applied them to the nineteenth century. George Hawtin, head of the Sharon Orphanage, used the Sixty Propositions in his Here is the Mind That Hath Wisdom.[13]

The following remarkable prophecy, given in the year 1619, forcefully confirms the truths written above', authorizing both his teaching as well as the ‘anonymous' prophecy. the implication is, since they both agree, they must be true and hence from God.[14]
- George Hawtin, Here is the Mind that Hath Wisdom

Lead's writings propagated throughout the Latter Rain movement through various sources, some of which predate Hawtin's work at Sharon Orphanage. Dr. Charles Price, a Pentecostal evangelist who worked with Aimee Semple McPherson,[15] had copies of Lead's prophecies in his estate.[16] The most significant, as it relates to Latter Rain, however, is the trail of Lead's doctrine that can be traced through the House of David sect into William Branham's theology and ultimately into the Latter Rain Movement.

William Branham was spiritually influenced by John Ryan from Benton Harbor and spoke at House of David revivals.[17] Ryan was the one who prophesied over Branham's ministry, claiming that it was a "great ministry" that would "shake the world," [18] though Branham would often deny Ryan was connected to the House of David[19] and instead was a "movie star," or "rode the famous Garland in the Ringling, Barnum, and Bailey Circus."[20] When the House of David sect split, Mary's City of David sect leveraged Lead's Sixty Propositions, while the "ingathering" at Benton Harbor did not.[21] It is entirely possible that Branham was both accurate and misleading when describing Ryan, had he joined the Mary's City of David side of the split.

Regardless, many of Lead's unusual doctrines made their way into Branham's (and by extension the Latter Rain's) theology. Lead rejected the notion of an eternal hell,[22] something Branham strongly affirmed.[23] Lead's vision of the "high and approving eye" drawn in a triangle and the "light orb" from which "wonders flowed"[24] was eerily similar to Branham's "all seeing eye" in the pyramid[25] and doctrine of "humans made of light meters".[26]

Lead's Sixty Propositions (1699):

There shall be a total and full redemption through Christ.

This is a hidden mystery, not to be understood without the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is at hand to reveal the same to all holy seekers and loving inquirers.

The completion of such redemption is withheld and obstructed by the apocalyptic seals (7).

Wherefore as the Spirit of God shall open seal after seal, so shall the redemption come to be revealed particularly and universally.

In this gradual opening of the mystery of redemption in Christ, doth consist the unsearchable wisdom of God, which may continually reveal new and fresh things to the worthy seekers.

In order to which, the ark (of God's testimony in heaven shall be opened). Before the end of the world (age) and the living (144,000) testimony that is herein contained be unsealed.

The presence of the divine ark will constitute the life of the Philadelphia church, and wherever that is, there must of necessity be the ark.

The unveiling of the living testimony within the ark of the Lord must begin the promulgation of the everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom.

The proclamation of this testimony of the Kingdom will be as by the sound of a trumpet to alarm all nations of the earth, especially all professors of Christianity, because attended with the power of working all wonders.

There shall be an authoritative decision given forth immediately from Christ to put an end of all controversies concerning the true Church.

This decision will be 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 7000 names of Babylon.

The election and preparation of this church is after a secret and hidden manner, as David in his minority was elected and anointed by the prophet of God, yet was not admitted to the outward possession of the kingdom for a considerable time afterward.

Of the stem of Jesse, a virgin church, which hath known nothing of man or of human constitution, is yet to be born.

And if it is yet to be born, it will require some considerable time before it gets out and arrives at the full and mature age.

The birth of this virgin church was visionally typified to John the revelator by the great wonder in Heaven, bringing forth her first-born that was caught up to the throne of God.

For as a virgin mother brought forth Jesus, the Christ, after the flesh, so likewise a virgin woman is designed by God to bring forth the first-born after the Spirit, who shall be filled with the Holy Ghost and with power.

The virgin that is here designated must be as a pure spirit, so also of a clarified body, and all over impregnated with the Holy Ghost.

This Church so brought and signed with the mark of the divine name shall be adorned with miraculous gifts and powers beyond what as been.

Hereby all nations shall be brought into it so that it shall be the catholic church according to the genuine sense and utmost latitude of the word.

It must be an anointed church whereby it may bear the name of Christ or Christian, being with him anointed to the priestly prophetical and royal dignity.

Hence there will be no bonds or impositions but the holy unction among the newborn spirits with all and in all.

This catholic and anointed church must be perfectly holy so that it may worthily bear the name of the Lord, our righteousness.

Until there be such a church made ready upon earth so holy, catholic, anointed, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that it is adorned as a Bride to meet the Bridegroom, Christ will not personally descend to solemnize this marriage and present the same to His Father.

But when this 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.

There is not this day visible on all the earth any such holy catholic anointed church, all others being found light when weighed in the balance, therefore they are rejected by the supreme Judge.

Which rejection and condemnation will for this end take out of them, a new and glorious church in whom there shall be no fault to be found.

Then shall the glory of God and the Lamb rest upon it, as the cloud upon the typical tabernacle, that it shall be called the tabernacle of wisdom.

Though this Philadelphia church is not known in visibility, yet it may be hid at the present in the womb of the morning.

Notwithstanding it will be brought forth into visibility out of the wilderness in a short time.

Then it will go on to multiply and propagate itself universally, not only as the number of the first-born (144,000) but also the remnant of the seed (aliens), and strangers, against whom the dragon shall make war.

Therefore the Spirit of David shall most eminently revive in this church, and more especially in some or other selected member of it, as the blossoming root is to precede the day of Solomon in the millennium. These will have might given them to overcome the dragon and his angels, even as David overcame Goliath and the Philistines.

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 of their hard servitude.

Egypt being a figure of this servile creation Babylon, under which each one of Abraham's seed groan, but a prophetical generation will the Most High raise up, who shall deliver his people by mere force of spiritual arms.

For which there must be raised up certain head powers to bear the first offices, who are the 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.

For Christ before His own distinct and personal appearance, will first appear and represent Himself in some chosen vessels, anointed to be leaders unto the rest, and to bring into the promised land the new creation state.

Thus Moses, Joshua and Aaron may be considered as types of some upon whom the same Spirit may come, yet to rest in greater proportions, whereby they shall make a way for the ransomed of the Lord to return to Mt. Zion.

But none shall stand in any considerable office under God, but they who are tried stones, after the pattern of the chief cornerstone, Christ Jesus.

This will be a thorny trial which very few (144,000) will be able to pass, or bear up in, wherefore the waiters for the visible breaking out of this church, are strictly charged to hold fast that which they have, and wait together in unity of pure love, praying in the Spirit according to the apostolic pattern, that they may be sent forth to multiply universally.

This trial must be of absolute necessity to everyone in particular and to all in general for the constituting of the church of Philadelphia together, by the clearing away of all the remaining infirmities of nature, and burning up all the hay, stubble and dross which may have been added to the Word of the Lord.

For nothing must remain in this church but what can remain in the fire, Holy Ghost. For as a refiner will the Lord purify the sons and daughters of the living God, and purge them into perfect righteousness.

Through the operation of the Spirit in these waiters, they may for a long time contend with many infirmities and evils, yet if it be kept continually warm and watched it cannot at last but work out a perfect cure and bring a full and complete redemption from the earth.

There may be some at present living who may come to be thus fully and totally redeemed having another body put on them, i.e., after the priestly order.

This priestly, anointed body will render them impregnable, and qualify them for that high degree of spiritual government to which they are called.

Wherefore it requires upon our part to suffer the spirit of burning to do upon us the refining work, fanning us with His fiery breath, searching every part within us until all be pure and clean, and we thereby arrive to His fixed body from which wonders are to flow out.

This body will be the sealing character of the Philadelphia church.

Upon this body will be the fixation of the Urim and Thummim, that are to be appropriated to the Melchisedecan order whose decent is not to be counted in the genealogy of that creation (under the fall), but is another genealogy which is from the restoration.

Hence these priests will have a deep inward search, and a divine insight into the secret things of the Deity, and will be able to prophesy on clear ground, not darkly and enigmatical, for they will know what is couched in the first originality of all being and the eternal archetype of nature, and will be capacitated to bring them forth according to the divine council and ordination.

The Lord, whose hand is lifted up, sweareth in truth and righteousness that from Abraham's loins, according to the spirit, there shall arise a holy priesthood.

Abraham and Sarah were a type of that which should be produced and manifested in the last age of the world.

The mighty spirit of Cyrus is appointed to lay the foundation of the true temple and to support it in its building.

These are such characteristics, or marks, whereby the pure virgin church, so founded, shall be certainly known and distinguished from all others, and whereby the action and true sound of the Holy Ghost shall be discerned from that which is false, base, counterfeit.

There must be a manifestation of the Spirit whereby to edify and raise up this church suitable to the ascension of Jesus Christ.

This manifestation must be the absoluteness of power and in the beauty of holiness, so bringing down heaven upon earth and representing here the New Jerusalem State.

In order to which, spirits that are thus purely begotten, conceived and born of God, can ascend to Jerusalem above, where their head in mighty majesty doth reign, and there receive such a mission whereby they shall be empowered to bring down to this world its transcendent glory.

None but those risen in Christ in the regeneration can thus ascend and receive His glory; can descend again to communicate the same, being thereby His representatives upon the new earth and subordinate priests under Him, the Lord of lords, and King of kings.

Now He that ascended and glorified has made himself our debtor, consequently He will not be wanting in qualifying and furnishing certain high principle instruments who shall be most humble and as little regarded as Daniel was, he whom He will dignify with great knowledge and priestly sovereignty for the drawing together in one, the scattered little flock into one fold, coming out of all nations.

Therefore there should be a holy emulation and ambition stirred up among all true lovers of Jesus so that they may be the first fruits unto Him that is risen from the dead, and so be made principle agents for Him and with Him that they may be, if possible, members of the first-born of Jerusalem above, our Mother.

All lovers of Jesus and true waiters for His Kingdom under whatsoever professions or forms that are dispersed ought to be members among the Philadelphia Spirit to whom this message pertains.

The society is not the church of Philadelphia, but consists of those who are associated to wait and hope in the unity of the Spirit for its appearance and manifestation, wherefore there is such a strict charge given them throughout this message to be watchful and quicken up their pace.