Chapter Fifteen
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Visions
MANY other such things are related by numbers of monks to have been done through him, and their stories agree. Yet these are not so marvelous as the greater wonders that he saw. Once when he was about to eat and stood up to pray, about the ninth hour, he felt himself carried away in spirit; and, a thing strange, as he stood, he saw himself as though out of himself and being guided by others through the air, also foul and terrible beings stationed in the air and seeking to hinder his passage. As his guides resisted, the others demanded a reckoning, if he were not liable to them. But when they would have taken an account from his birth, Antony’s guides stopped them, saying, “All from the time of his birth the Lord has wiped out, but from the time he became a monk and promised himself to God, you can take account.” Then, as they accused him but proved nothing, the path became free and unhindered for him, and he saw himself approaching and reentering himself, and so once more he was Antony. Then, forgetting to eat, he remained the rest of the day and all the night groaning and praying. For he was in amazement to see how many we fight against and with what great labors we have to pass through the air, and he remembered that this is what the Apostle said: According to the ruler of the power of the air. (Cf. Eph. 2:2). For herein has the enemy his power, in fighting and trying to stop those who pass through. For which cause he specially exhorted us: Take ye up the armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day (Eph. 6:13), that having no ill to say about us (Titus 2:8), the enemy may be put to shame. And let us who have learned this remember the Apostle’s words: Whether in the body I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth. (2 Cor. 12:2). But Paul was rapt to the third heaven and heard words unspeakable, and returned; whereas Antony saw himself entering the air and struggling till he was proved free.
Another favor he had from God. When he sat alone in the mountain, if ever he looked into any matter with himself and could not see his way, it was revealed to him by Providence in prayer. He was one of the blessed who are taught of God (John 6:45), as it is written. So later, when he had had a discussion with some visitors about the life of the soul and the kind of place it will have hereafter, in the following night one called him from above, saying, “Antony, rise and go out and look.” He went out (for he knew which voices to obey) and looking up saw a great figure, formless and terrible, standing and reaching to the clouds, and people going up as if on wings. And the figure was stretching out his hands, and some he stopped, and others flew above and, passing by him, rose without trouble thereafter. At these he gnashed his teeth, but exulted over those who fell. Then a voice came to Antony, “Understand the vision.” And his mind being opened, he understood that it was the passing of souls and that the great figure standing was the enemy who hates the faithful. Those who are in his power he seizes and stops them from passing, but those who have not yielded to him he cannot seize, but they pass him by. Having seen this, he took it as a reminder, and strove the more to advance forward each day.
He did not willingly relate these things to others. But when he had long prayed and admired them in his own heart and his companions questioned and pressed him, he was forced to speak, being unable, as a father, to hide these things from his children, thinking also that while his own conscience was clear, the telling might be a help to them, teaching that the religious life bears good fruit and that often there is comfort for its hardships in its visions.