Through The Mists. Translated into Simplified “Modern English”. Chapter Three. A Prismatic Landscape.

I am not—or at least was not in my previous life—an enthusiastic person. No one, no matter how imaginative they were, would have used that word to describe me. Words like cold, dull, unexciting, unemotional, boring, even slow, would have been considered fitting by many; but enthusiastic—never! That kind of spirit comes from a vivid imagination and a sense of appreciation, and I lacked both. I was constantly told I didn’t understand such things. So how could I have been enthusiastic?

This description was undoubtedly true of my old life, but does that mean it applies just as much to me here? Is the change in character and temperament so small?

Are we mostly the same people, just placed in new surroundings? Is everything true of our old selves still true here? These were questions that instinctively came to mind, but I didn’t have the knowledge or ability to answer them. I knew some changes had occurred, though I couldn’t yet tell if they were permanent or just temporary, brought about by the strange new circumstances I was experiencing. For example, I wasn’t particularly curious in the past, but since arriving here, I had been asking constant questions—how, when, where, and why? —both to myself and the only two friends I had spoken to so far.

While this quiet stream of thoughts flowed through my mind, my senses were captivated by the breathtaking view I saw as we reached the top of the slope. I had been perfectly Content where I was before and still had countless questions to ask. I didn’t feel any urge to move, even though I’d been told that the beauty of the country ahead was even greater.

When Helen suggested we move forward, if it had been my choice, I would have delayed our departure—or perhaps, more likely, moved in the opposite direction, toward the mists. Helen seemed to completely understand my hesitation and said:

“It’s natural that you would want to go that way, but it wouldn’t be good for you right now.”

“Why not?” I asked.

"The current conditions are somewhat unsettling," she said, "and it would be hard for you to come back right now. Once the pull is broken, there will be no problem with you going to see the new arrivals."

"What pull?" I asked.

"The pull of your body," she explained. "When death happens suddenly, like in your case, the connection between the soul and body isn't immediately severed. For a short while, the soul feels a strong, almost irresistible urge to return to the body. This feeling is similar to what people on earth experience.

'Many times, they say goodbye, but linger still at the door, and as they part, love cries, Come back, one moment more!'

I asked you to come home with me earlier to help break this connection and set you free. It was too strong then, but now you can overcome it, so we will go."

"Do all the people lying here feel that pull?" I asked.

"Yes, but they are encouraged to move on as quickly as possible," she replied.

"I notice some don’t seem affected at all," I said.

"That’s true," she answered. "Some people grow tired of their bodies and willingly let go, so nothing prevents them from heading to their new homes right away."

"How long does this pull usually last?" I asked.

"It varies a lot," she said. "Sometimes, circumstances beyond the soul’s control delay their freedom. For example, many souls are held back by the intense grief of their loved ones, even after they’ve let go of the body’s influence."

"How does that happen?" I asked.

"Love is the most powerful force we know," she said. "The soul is very aware of this love as soon as it leaves the body. The emotional turmoil of grieving friends creates a pull that is too strong to resist, like an anchor tying the soul to earth. Sometimes we face great challenges in counteracting the harmful effects of grief. If those left behind could see how their sorrow affects the spirit, love would prompt them to let go."

"But doesn’t the spirit have to leave?" I asked.

“No! We don’t use force in this life under any circumstances. Everyone keeps their free will, and the choices they make always bring their own rewards or consequences.”

“Well, the old life doesn’t hold much appeal for me anymore, and I have no desire to live it again under the same conditions. So, let’s do as you suggest—let’s move forward.”

We reached the top of the hill, and I was completely captivated by the sight before me. At the base of a gentle slope, covered in the softest, richest green grass I had ever seen, a breathtaking landscape unfolded in every direction. It was painted with more colours and shades than I could even count. I had seen the skies of Italy, calm and beautiful, but their cloudless, starry brilliance felt lifeless compared to the vibrant, energizing dome above me now. It seemed to pulse with eternal energy, and I couldn’t help but bow in awe, as though I were being baptized by the sheer vitality that surrounded me.

I had also seen the dazzling colours of Oriental landscapes, where rich mosaics of hues stretched all around. But comparing those earthly scenes to this was like trying to compare shadows to sunlight.

Everything here seemed alive—stones, trees, and flowers seemed to pulse with visible life, each contributing its own rhythmic voice to a symphony that echoed across the landscape. It was as if every element of the scene joined together to proclaim that death had been defeated, swallowed up in victory. Across the horizon, as far as I could see, the message was clear: “Life, life, eternal life.”

But why even try to describe the indescribable? Words fail to capture the beauty of many earthly scenes, so how could they ever describe something far greater than anything the soul can fully grasp? This is a glory you can only feel and understand in silence, not through words.

Oh, you whose lives have been marked by battles, defeats, and failures; you outcasts, separated from everything you once held dear; you who long for a look of sympathy, a kind word, or a single glimmer of hope; you who are crushed, broken, and tormented by society’s demands; you who have been rejected by a church that has no soul, simply because your weary feet stumbled along the way;

 you who have suffered because of greed for wealth, fame, or power; you who are tired of the endless struggle of life—let yourselves rest. In the dreams of your deepest sleep, let your imagination run free. Let it conjure up everything you wish for, everything you dare to hope for. Picture the heaven you long for, with all its beauty and joy. Let your thoughts dwell on what you believe you would find there.

Multiply all your hopes and desires a thousand times over. Imagine it, if you can. Even then, you will only catch a faint glimpse of the incredible joys and blessings prepared for the righteous when their weary, bloodstained feet finally reach the gates of heaven.

From the base of the hill where I stood, a hundred paths branched out, leading to different parts of the landscape. These weren’t the dull, ordinary roads you’d find on Earth. Each path had a unique colour representing the city or district it led to, instead of having a name. The darker-coloured paths curved to either side in the foreground, dipping lower based on their shade until they disappeared beneath my view.

The lighter-coloured paths, on the other hand, seemed to rise higher, leading toward the centre of the view where a flawless white path stretched straight ahead. This white path led to an arch of dazzling purity in the far distance.

Helen left me for a while so I could admire the view in peace. When she returned, she brought a few friends who I had known to varying degrees in my past life. We sat together, talked about the events of our lives, and discussed what might lie ahead. It was a feeling of peaceful satisfaction and joy that I had never experienced before. Each person somehow added to my happiness, and even now, with all I’ve come to understand about this life since then, I still remember that reunion as one of the sweetest moments of my spiritual journey.

“You can start to see the meaning behind the coloured robes now,” Helen said during a pause in our conversation.

“Yes,” I replied. “I can see that everyone follows the path that matches the colour of their robe. But who are those people wearing robes that are a mix of pink and electric blue?”

“They are messengers or teachers,” she explained. “Eusemos, one of them, was the one who attended to you during your accident and brought you to the place where I found you. Look, there he is now, coming to take you further and teach you more than I am able to!”

Eusemos was Greek and as beautiful as a depiction of Apollo. Though I had no memory of seeing him before, his warm smile of recognition and welcome made it clear we were not strangers. As I stood, he embraced me like a brother, holding me close in a silence that felt sacred.

“Are you rested now?” he asked after a while.

“Yes,” I replied, “but I’m still so confused.”

“That’s completely normal,” he said. “The revelations that greet the soul upon arriving here can be overwhelming—until you’re taught the simple key that explains it all.”

“Who will teach me this wonderful key of understanding?” I asked.

"I will, if you want to know it," he said. "When?" I asked.

"Now, if you're ready."

"Who wouldn't want to learn such an important secret? My soul is starving for this knowledge. What is this great power?""Love!" he answered. "This entire life, in all its forms, its complexities, its highs and lows, is simply a grand explanation of that one word. Love is the only subject we study, the nourishment we consume, and the essence of our existence. And now, you are invited to explore the infinite joy that comes from this endless knowledge. Myhanene has asked me to introduce you to the aspects of it that I can share."

"Who is Myhanene?" I asked.

"One of the messengers or teachers who guides others between this life and the next stage. He oversees several cities or circles in this realm."

"But isn't God the ruler?"

"Yes, God is the Supreme Being—the King of kings and Lord of lords. However, under Him are many levels of leaders—cherubim, seraphim, archangels—who oversee various dominions and divisions of this life. Myhanene is one of the lower-ranking authorities.""That's another surprising revelation," I said."I thought it might be," he replied. "But it shouldn't be, as this truth has been clearly revealed to humankind. Yet, 'darkness has covered the earth, and deep confusion the people.' In their ignorance, people have lost their way and become stuck in a wilderness of doubt, confusion, and error.""And where does this error come from, as seen from this life?" I asked.

"It comes from the belief that the soul must make its eternal and final choice while on Earth, rather than seeing earthly life as the beginning stage of an endless journey of growth. Earth's true purpose is to teach the soul the practical principles of love, preparing it for the greater responsibilities of this higher existence.

Human beings are not meant to engage in abstract theological speculations, especially when their teachers base their ideas on vague theories and lack true understanding.

Even here, we are not qualified to explain many things that people on Earth claim to have figured out. We must wait until we reach the conditions where the right abilities develop to understand the mysteries we now face. Just as advanced scientific lessons are not taught to children in kindergarten, our Father knows exactly what His children need and what they are capable of understanding at each stage of their spiritual education.

“I see that you use reasoning in all your explanations," I said, curious to hear his thoughts on this.

"Of course," he replied. "All laws originate from and are centered in God, so they can be reasoned through to the extent that we can understand them. What people call natural laws are really spiritual laws adapted for physical existence. If these laws were understood correctly, they would serve as a guide for spiritual growth. Unfortunately, the battle for religious dominance and influence has resulted in focusing on the letter of the law while ignoring its true spirit. This has led to error and misunderstanding.

Take the common orthodox idea of heaven, for example. Imagine at the mists, everyone was given a harp they didn’t know how to play, and every tone-deaf voice started shouting 'Glory, glory, glory' forever. That might be some people's idea of heaven, but what would Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and other musicians who understand harmony think of it? A single moment of serious thought would make such a concept seem absurd."

"Maybe so. But I don't see how people could form an accurate idea of this life—it’s so different from what I expected, and I wasn’t even a supporter of orthodoxy."

"Why is it so different?" he asked. "Not because it’s unreal, but because your expectations were unnatural. The transition from mortal life to immortal life is just another stage in the soul’s growth, like when a blossom transforms into fruit. Natural law isn’t broken or destroyed in this process; it simply advances to the next stage toward its purpose.

You wouldn’t expect a Sloe Blossom to produce a Peach, or a daisy bud to bloom into a rose. In the same way, moving from earthly life to this one follows the same law—this life continues and completes the development of the previous one. But people are often confused because they’ve been wrongly taught that, by a single act of faith—even at the moment of death—a soul can achieve something that would be considered impossible in the case of a flower or fruit."

"But it's not man who has the power," I suggested. "Isn’t it God who makes this possible through His omnipotence? No religious group claims humans have the power; they all attribute it to God."

"In theory, you’re correct," he replied, "but in practice, it’s treated as if humans hold all the power, and God has no role in it at all."

"Maybe I’m misunderstanding," I said, "but I still don’t see where you’re right."

Let me use a common example. God is often described as having made provisions for man’s salvation, but only if man chooses to repent. This repentance is left up to the individual, and he is treated as the one who ultimately decides his fate."

"Isn't that true?" I asked.

"In the sense that repentance must happen before forgiveness, yes. But I reject the teaching that repentance alone can instantly and miraculously change a person’s nature the moment he chooses to repent. Let me give you an example, and you can tell me if I’m wrong.

Imagine a man whose life has been full of terrible actions—cruelty, violence, even murder. As he faces death, terrified of the step he is about to take, he’s in his prison cell while the execution bell tolls, and the hangman prepares to end his life. A minister pleads with him to repent, saying that it’s not too late. He assures the man that God is ready to forgive, Jesus is willing to accept him, and angels are waiting to take his spirit to heaven.

At that moment, the man’s eternal fate supposedly hangs entirely on his decision to repent. I ask you, where is there any role left for God in this teaching? Yet you know that this is the kind of doctrine often taught. Such a man is told that, no matter what he has done in his life, nothing but his own choice stands between him and immediate, total forgiveness."

"But even repentance is a gift from God," I replied.

"I agree, and I don’t want to undervalue repentance.

What I object to is the idea that repentance alone has the power to erase the consequences of a person’s actions. For example, if a man ignores the warnings of his friends and breaks his leg, or gets into trouble because of his recklessness, he might regret his actions later. But does his regret undo the consequences of his actions? Of course not. The same principle applies to the soul."

"Based on your current experience and knowledge, how would you explain God’s law to mankind?" I asked.

"No one could explain it more clearly or perfectly than Jesus did when he said, ‘One is your Father, even God, and all of you are brothers and sisters.’ God, as a loving parent, doesn’t show favouritism. He expects every child to show obedient love toward Him and brotherly affection toward every other person, without exception. This is the entire law of God. This law is strictly enforced, with consequences that match every violation. ‘Don’t be deceived God cannot be mocked. Whatever a person sows, they will also reap.’"

These words reignited my deep desire to return to earth, the same longing that had driven my earlier prayer on the slope. They gave me hope that, in some way, my wish might actually be fulfilled. So, I asked:

"If family connections are so closely maintained here, and this transition is just a continuation rather than a complete separation, isn’t it possible that there’s a way for us to reach earth again and help correct these serious mistakes?”

“Yes, there is such a way, and all the testimonies from earth point to its existence,” he replied. “But because a ministry like this would be a threat to all the established creeds and sects—breaking down the authority of priests—it has been condemned and labelled as something from hell.”

“But surely we have the power to overcome this opposition and share a truth that appeals to reason and common sense,” I said.

“That’s not as easy as you think,” he answered. “For centuries, people have been taught that the Bible, as the Word of God, requires scholarly interpretation to be understood correctly.

This belief is the foundation of all sects and creates the need for trained individuals to interpret the text in ways that align with the doctrines of their particular creed.”

“Then do you think the root of all this error lies in the formation and division of the sects?” I asked.

“Partly, but the real problem starts with the claim that the Bible is an infallible authority and contains the complete and final message from God to humanity. The Bible itself doesn’t make such a claim, and it goes against the way God usually works to think it would. God provides sunlight day by day, sends rain when it’s needed, and makes each year bring its own harvest. This pattern of continual provision is seen throughout creation.

Is it reasonable to think He would act differently in His communication with His children—speaking just once and leaving the interpretation of His message to anyone who claims to explain it? The constant rivalry between creeds alone makes such an idea unreasonable. To assume God would overlook such false claims seriously questions His love for His children.”

“Your words offer a beautiful hope for humanity’s future,” I said, “by showing mercy through infinite love. But can you tell me more about the state of those who have followed these teachings when they arrive in this life?”

"In this life, every person is held accountable for their deliberate actions and motives, but any resulting punishment is meant to correct and heal, not to seek revenge. The greatest gift given to humans is the ability to reason, and because of this, people are expected to use and rely on it in all aspects of life.

If reasoning is a gift only slightly lower than divinity itself, how could it make sense to say it is useful only for trivial matters but becomes dangerous when applied to the deeper issues of the soul? Such a belief is an insult to the Giver of that gift.

However, here lies a problem: if people freely used reason on earth, it would destroy the rigid boundaries of creeds and dogmas. This is why the Church often speaks out against reason. On the other hand, if a person with the gift of reason chooses to blindly follow the opinions of others instead of trusting in the consistency and truth of God, they must accept the consequences of prioritizing human ideas over God’s guidance."

“I don’t see how a person is supposed to find their way if you take the Bible away from them,” I replied.

“I’m not suggesting taking the Bible away at all,” he said. “The Bible is a record of how God has interacted with His children in different circumstances, and it is an invaluable guide for humanity.

Since God never changes, these past accounts can serve as helpful examples—not rigid rules—for the future. The men who wrote those books were people who walked and talked with God, and their experiences were written down to inspire and guide others, not to replace or prevent new relationships with God in the future.

We wouldn’t dream of taking the Bible away, but to claim that God has stopped speaking to humanity is to accuse Him of favouritism in the worst sense. Why would God speak to Abraham, Socrates, or Buddha and then not speak to a modern-day worker or farmer? God’s light shines on every land, and He sends rain to both the good and the bad. Humans may fail, but God remains the same forever.

When people learn to use the Bible properly—seeking its spiritual truths instead of clinging to creeds or dogmas—when they search for truth instead of looking for approval from priests, when they recognize messengers of love as angels from heaven instead of condemning them as agents of hell, then they will hear our voices guiding them.

We will say, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ and God’s kingdom will be established on earth just as it is here.

When that day comes, our world will no longer be so full of surprises for the countless pilgrims who join us every day.”

“What would the old world look like,” I asked, “under such a system of government?”

“Come and see.”