Through The Mists. Translated into Simplified “Modern English”. Chapter Seven. The Door of Hope Ajar.

The crowd had left, the hall was nearly empty, and the newly awakened souls, still dazed, had received congratulations from their friends and returned to the home they had so recently been carried from. Only the three leaders remained in the arena, but I stayed in my seat, holding onto a silent, daring hope that I couldn’t bring myself to share with my companion. It felt almost too bold to express, yet I couldn’t stop myself from imagining it might somehow come true through some unexpected event or coincidence.

This hope wasn’t something I consciously chose—it came to me suddenly and unbidden, catching me off guard, like a wave that sweeps over the heart before resistance can even be considered. But once it arrived, and I felt the joy of its possibility, I clung to it as though it held the secret to life itself.

Over time, however, its intensity began to fade. What had initially felt like a rushing torrent gradually calmed, dwindling to a trickle until it was almost still. As the moments passed, the tide of my anticipation ebbed, and a quiet voice in my mind told me it was over. Resigned, I stood to leave, feeling reluctant but accepting the outcome.

Just then, a beam of light extended toward us from the small group of leaders, and my companion said, “Myhanene would like to speak with you.”

My fleeting hope—my impossible wish—had been fulfilled.

I felt a surge of gratitude that I had already risen, as it allowed me to respond without delay. Myhanene approached to meet me, and as we walked side by side, his arm wrapped around me, his hand resting affectionately on my shoulder. Together, we approached Cushna and the Assyrian.

When we met, Myhanene embraced me, and with just two words— “My brother!”—he expressed everything. Those words left nothing unsaid. They carried a depth of meaning that words could no longer expand upon, and I realized that no language could ever fully contain the magnitude of that moment.

Had there been any discord in my past? If so, it was completely erased by the melody of his voice. If I had ever suffered heartbreak, it was healed and forgotten under the soothing power of his greeting. If my hopes had ever been crushed by disappointment, they now blossomed into a rich harvest of fulfillment, warmed by the embrace I had just received.

The words he spoke weren’t unfamiliar to Earth, but people there say them with a sharp, hollow tone. Their true meaning and depth can only be understood when they’re delivered with the harmonious resonance I heard in his voice. It was a sound that, once struck, would never fade away.

It sank into my soul like a weight plunging into the depths of an ocean—at first creating a deep, lingering monotone, but as it settled, it awakened a melody that echoed endlessly, filling every corner of that boundless sea of life with the harmony born from perfect understanding and sympathy.

Myhanene said nothing more, as if he too was listening to the echoes reverberating around us. I was overwhelmed by the vastness of the feelings his words had unlocked, as though he had thrown open floodgates within me. Those two simple words carried so much meaning that I felt unworthy and incapable of speaking, knowing that to do so might shatter the perfect music of his voice.

Although the exchange was brief, it was the longest and most profound message I had ever received. Even now, I can only grasp its outline; fully understanding it will be the work of eternity.

Its echoes still reverberate through the depths of my soul, forming the foundation of all my joy, and they will continue to do so until I hear the even sweeter voice of Him whose words contain the full symphony of the eternal psalm—a voice that no other can imitate on Earth and that awakens divine music in heaven.

The Assyrian interrupted my reflections, asking me if I had enjoyed the chorale.

"I’m hardly in a state to offer a clear opinion on anything," I said. "I’m overwhelmed by confusion, and every aspect of this life only adds to my bewilderment, leaving me unable to find the words, thoughts, or emotions to properly describe how I feel."

"I understand your situation completely," he replied. "Fortunately, no one expects you to fully comprehend or absorb everything you see right now. That ability will come to you gradually as you move forward.

This ceremony serves as an example of how we address the injustices of Earth, as well as the compensation given to those who have nobly tried to fulfill their duty, even when their efforts were thwarted."

"Duty would be much easier," I said, "if we could just catch a glimpse of such an outcome during the struggles or in the moments when a defeated heart mourns its failures. But may I ask, do you often receive visible responses to your prayers here, like the cloud that descended during the invocation?"

"My brother," Myhanene replied, "no sincere prayer, whether here or on Earth, should go unanswered or without a visible response. When you made a request to your father or a friend in the other life, didn’t you expect a clear and tangible answer?"

"Of course, when dealing with other people," I said, "because we shared the same physical world. But God is a spirit, so we’ve always expected His answers to come in a spiritual way."

"You’re forgetting that your prayer was for your benefit, and since you were a physical being, it required a physical answer. For example, if you prayed for relief during a famine, what you needed was actual bread to nourish the body, not spiritual sustenance for the soul."

"Of course! And God would answer that prayer by inspiring His people to contribute toward buying the needed food."

"Do you think it honours God to call those His people who only act when He pressures them to? Shouldn’t a natural sense of compassion have driven them to help without needing to appeal to God first?"

"I agree with you on that point, but since every good gift comes from Him, we would still see that as an answer to our prayer."

"But you have no direct evidence that your prayer even reached beyond the roof of the room where it was spoken.

What you view as an answer from God might just be an act of humanity by your fellow people. The Jews wouldn’t have been content without a direct, clear, and authoritative reply."

"That was during the days of the oracle, but surely you’re aware that such things ceased long ago, and if they were to return now, it would seem unnatural and contrary to God’s current way of working."

"Not so! Instead, say that it ceased because of unnatural and mistaken teachings that have taken hold. God is ‘the same yesterday, today, and forever,’ and as long as He is God, ‘the thing that has been is what shall be.’ The role of the Church, in every age, should be to demonstrate this truth—proving that the recorded miracles of the past are still relevant and believable today by showing the same power manifesting now. This is because God is alive and unchanging, and His works are not for a specific people, time, or place, but for all and forever. To claim otherwise is both false and illogical and makes anyone arguing for an unchanging God appear ridiculous and hypocritical to their critics."

"But why would there be a need for such visible signs, especially since Jesus gave the complete revelation? I’m not asking to argue but to truly understand the truth from your higher perspective and greater experience."

"Don't hesitate to ask your questions, my brother; it's always a pleasure to clear up doubts or correct misunderstandings. As for the necessity of visible signs on earth, that's not for us to determine. What matters is that they were established in the beginning and have never been abolished. In the revelation brought by Jesus—and we'll set aside the question of its completeness for now—visible signs played a significant role. He used them to confirm His mission and promised they would accompany those who believed, as a similar confirmation. This promise was fulfilled in the history of the early Church, and such signs were meant to, and should, remain a witness even today."

"Where do you think these mistaken ideas and misconceptions come from?" I asked.

"They have several sources," he replied. "The first stems from the false position into which the Bible has been forced. It's been claimed as the 'Word of God,' a finished and perfect revelation, rather than being understood for what it truly is—a collection of writings containing the Word of God, given to a specific people, intended as guidance for particular circumstances, and only a small part of a revelation that began with humanity's creation and will continue until its end.

"Jesus did not write any laws to hand to His disciples, nor did He authorize anyone to do so after His departure. His instruction was to preach only as the Spirit inspired them. That voice of the Spirit was meant to continue the process of revelation, leading His followers into understanding all mysteries, until the end of time.

"Another source of error lies in the interpretation and re-interpretation of this incomplete authority to make it fit the ongoing challenges posed by scientific and intellectual progress. Truth, as it was understood in one century, is naturally outgrown and may be seen as error in the next.

The struggle to uphold the Bible's authority and reframe its interpretations to fit new understandings has caused countless divisions and disagreements. Each division claimed to expel previous errors and replace them with its own version of truth, often based on emphasizing one particular passage while ignoring others that might contradict it.

"Over time, these endless dogmas gained broader acceptance, and the idea that signs and prophecy had ceased was taught as a necessity. Eventually, the traditions and authority of the Church replaced the living word and ongoing revelations of God. The inevitable result was widespread error and confusion."

"Let’s assume your argument is correct, that some self-serving teachers have spread falsehoods by hiding parts of the truth for selfish reasons. Even so, can you doubt that there are many sincere, faithful people—earnest souls waiting and hoping for the Lord’s comfort? If that’s true, why would visible signs of God’s presence be withheld from them?"

"God has never left Himself without a witness. Throughout history, there have always been faithful individuals who kept the flame of revelation alive and preserved the truth. History and personal stories are full of examples—people who act as the ‘salt of the earth,’ upholding the standard and showing what is possible when the Church strays from its purpose. These examples only reinforce what I’m telling you because their experiences could be extended to everyone.

"But where do we find such exceptions to the general rule? They are men and women who think for themselves. When they catch even a glimpse of divine truth, they don’t turn to others to ask if it’s legitimate to listen to the voice calling them from the cloud of glory. Instead, they follow the call of their own souls, saying, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’ Through this, they are drawn into a direct relationship with God—a communion of saints that needs no mediator, no priest—and they are rewarded with a vision of the divine presence, unobstructed by doubt or tradition.

"However, the majority of religious people don’t understand these saints. They are often dismissed as overly imaginative, superstitious, mentally unstable, or even under the influence of evil forces. A few kind-hearted members of the Church may pity their ‘credulity’ and try to convince them to abandon their beliefs. But most people—and especially the teachers—distance themselves from what they consider blasphemous. They use the weight of tradition to denounce anyone who listens to these divine truths.

"The Church places its faith in human traditions, not in a living, ever-speaking God. Is it any surprise, then, that the age of miracles is said to be over? People now mock the idea of moving even small hills through faith, let alone mountains."

"Surely you don’t believe that promise should be taken literally?"

"There are mountains that are physical, mental, and spiritual," he replied, "and the spiritual ones are just as difficult to move as the physical ones—perhaps even harder.

They require the same power of God, but it can be done. Haven’t you just seen mountains of deformity removed?"

"I have indeed," I said.

"How was it accomplished?" he asked. "Not by gathering a great congregation to sing ‘We can do nothing, nothing!’ as people are taught to do on earth. No, everyone here came to work, and every soul did its utmost. The result speaks for itself. Before Siamedes offered his invocation, which brought about that visible response, he made sure that he and the others had used all of their own strength and ability. Once they had done all they could and knew they could do no more, he called upon the power that is beyond and above. God would have broken His promise if He had not honoured such faith.

"Siamedes didn’t need to explain every detail, elaborate on his request, or argue the benefits or glory that might result. His prayer was a prophetic act of thanksgiving for the strength he and everyone else knew would be given.

He was confident that God already knew what was needed. Everything that could be done in this hall by human effort was finished, and there was a pause in the service—a moment that could only be completed by Divine intervention. The waiting faith of the congregation drew that intervention down like a storm. God could not delay when confronted by such faith. That sign descended, bringing the energy needed to complete the work they had confidently begun.

"It could and should be the same on earth, but instead of healing, people there often cause even deeper wounds and then send the sufferers here for healing."

"They don’t have the opportunity—even if they had the power—to do what I’ve witnessed here," I said cautiously.

"God is too wise and just," he replied, "to expect or require anyone to do the impossible. But in matters well within their abilities, do people act according to the rule of faith you’ve just seen demonstrated?

Certainly not! Instead of embracing the privilege of working together with God, as you’ve seen illustrated here, they’ve been taught to do nothing but ask God to do everything for them. When God works for humanity, it’s always in partnership with humanity. Divine law doesn’t operate on the principle that the master does all the work while the servant gives the orders. If you ask God to lay a cornerstone, you can be sure He’ll wait for you to prepare the foundation first.

"But on Earth, the prevailing idea seems to be that all a person has to do is tell God what they want and then sit back and wait for Him to do it. Let me use my earlier example of praying for food in a famine to show you how many complications this mindset creates, even if God did decide to do everything Himself.

"Suppose £10,000 is prayed for to relieve a local crisis. Where is the money supposed to come from? We don’t have gold here, so it’s clear that the funds would need to be provided through some divine intervention in the commercial affairs of one of the petitioners.

Let’s say God intervenes—an abandoned business deal or failed venture is revived with improved prospects, and £10,000 more than anticipated is gained. What happens next? The person chosen as the agent of this blessing is congratulated as a ‘lucky dog’ or a ‘shrewd businessman.’ The money is deposited in the bank, the individual feels proud of their accomplishment, and when they finally think about the famine relief fund, they consult themselves and decide to contribute just £20.

"In such a case, it’s obvious that both God and the starving people are robbed, and the system fails to deliver the intended relief."

"Now let me offer another example. Suppose our father decides to send the money directly to the poor and commissions a messenger from this life to deliver the gold personally to the treasurer. If, when asked who the donor is, the messenger tells the truth, it wouldn’t be long before they’d be accused of blasphemy and treated as they treated Jesus on Calvary.

So, you see, God is unable to intervene and reveal Himself directly to the masses because of the false ideas promoted by teachers whose authority depends on the absence of visible signs.”

“I’m sorry to say your argument is painfully accurate. But considering this error has built up over centuries, how accountable are individuals for it?”

“Every factor that influences a person, whether positively or negatively, is fairly considered during the judgment in the mists. However, each individual is responsible for fully and rightly using the intelligence they have been given. If someone declares their belief in an unchanging God who rewards people according to their deeds, they are expected to live by that standard. They cannot claim that faith or belief is everything and that actions don’t matter in salvation. Nor can they say that God once communicated with people through visible and direct signs but has now stopped because His revelations are complete. Such contradictions in words and actions do no credit to intelligence and are unhelpful when it comes to judgment.

"Spiritual maturity can only be achieved through work that honours God and benefits others. The only religion that matters is the one that earns the commendation, ‘He has done what he could.’

“All beliefs and creeds are left behind before you reach the judgment. No one will be questioned about their doctrines or affiliations, but the record of your life must show that your love for God was demonstrated through love and service to others. Only then will you have the right and ability to enter the rest that awaits you. Siamedes and Cushna will show you examples of the harvests that must be gathered here. After that, I’ll be happy to accompany you to some of the homes of peace.

"May our Father’s blessings guide you in your search for the truth. Until we meet again—peace."

By the time we reached the outside of the hall, the noble messenger gave each of us his blessing before departing to continue his mission elsewhere.

The Assyrian also took his leave, but not before inviting us to visit his home when Cushna could find a suitable opportunity.

Myhanene had shared a great deal of knowledge with me. His critique of the earth was harsh but truthful, and the intensity of his words left me feeling heavy-hearted—except for one thing. The position he took in his argument left a door of hope open before me, and now that he was gone, I could still see that door remained slightly ajar.