Speaking at a time of intense war in Europe, Rudolf Steiner reveals the spiritual roots of the crises of our times and the means by which we can surmount them. Since 1879, he says, human minds have been influenced by backward angels - ‘the spirits of darkness’ - who were forced out of the heavens and made their abode on earth following their defeat in a 40-year battle with the Archangel Michael. It is now possible for human beings to awaken more consciously to the truth of these profound changes, and thus inwardly counter the fallen spirits’ influences. We can come to the realization that definite spiritual causes lie behind earthly events in our rapidly changing times.

From his objective clairvoyant reading of the Akasha - the living cosmic record of all thoughts, events and deeds - Steiner was able to speak in detail about significant experiences and events in the life of Jesus in the years leading up to the Baptism by John which inaugurated the Incarnation of Christ.