1he Peavens Cpened

Anna 8ounLree
1o CCu Lhe laLher,
Cod Lhe Son, and Cod Lhe Poly SplrlL,
who gave Lhe revelaLlon, commlssloned Lhe book,
and Lo whom we offer lL ln love,
pralse, and Lhanksglvlng.
1ruly, Lruly l say Lo you, you shall see Lhe heavens opened..."
-!CPn 1:31

ChapLer 1
1he ALLack
1he sound was anclenL and Lerrlfylng. SLarLled, l spun around Lo see a colossal baLLerlng ram relenLlessly movlng under lLs own
power across a deserL basln.' lLs wooden wheels were aL leasL slxLy sLorles hlgh, and Lhey groaned and yawned under Lhe
exLreme welghL Lhey bore. 8lasphemles were carved lnLo lLs black baLLerlng arm, Lhe end of whlch was Lhe lron head of a goaL.
AlLhough lL moved slowly, people on Lhe deserL floor seemed helpless Lo avold lLs paLh, Lhey were crushed as lL rolled over
Lhem. Screams fllled Lhe deserL valley and rlcocheLed off dlsLanL rock formaLlons, fllllng Lhe deserL basln wlLh Lerror.
Slowly Lhe baLLerlng ram Lopped a sandy hlll and began Lo plck up speed golng down Lhe oLher slde. 8reaLhless from shock, l
clawed wlLh my hands and dug wlLh my feeL lnLo Lhe deep sand of Lhe hlll ln order Lo reach Lhe Lop and waLch lLs paLh.
lL plcked up Lremendous speed as lL plunged down Lhe oLher slde of Lhe hlll lnLo a deep valley. ln lLs paLh aL Lhe boLLom of Lhe
hlll was a walled clLy. 8oLh clLy and wall were Lhe color of Lhe sand and seemed Lo be half sunk lnLo lL, almosL reclalmed by Lhe
sand from whlch Lhey had come. ln faded leLLerlng on Lhe slde of Lhe wall, l could read: 1PL CPu8CP.
1he baLLerlng ram was masslve, and Lhe adobe wall of Lhe clLy dld noL look sLrong. WlLh bruLal lmpacL, Lhe goaL's head
smashed lnLo Lhe wall and conLlnued Lhrough lL. lL plowed Lhrough houses and bulldlngs, loslng llLLle of lLs speed. When lL
broke Lhrough Lhe wall on Lhe opposlLe slde of Lhe clLy, lL slowed Lo a sLop, seLLllng lnLo Lhe sand.
A sLrange sllence fell.
Cccaslonal screams broke Lhls sllence. 1hey came from Lhose who had been muLllaLed or from Lhose who recognlzed LhaL a
loved one had been kllled. 8uL sLranger Lhan Lhe sllence was Lhe facL LhaL few soughL Lo escape across Lhe rubble of Lhe wall-
few.
1hen slowly, all by lLself, Lhe baLLerlng ram Lurned and began Lo sLarL up Lhe hlll agaln, movlng ln my dlrecLlon. 1he goaL's head
on Lhe end of Lhe ram was laughlng, exhllaraLed, as lf drunk wlLh blood.
l LhoughL lL mlghL see me, so l lefL Lhe Lop of Lhe hlll and began Lo run ln Lhe opposlLe dlrecLlon. As l ran, l franLlcally scanned
Lhe deserL basln for a hldlng place. l could hear Lhe huge wheels laborlng as Lhey carrled Lhe baLLerlng ram Loward Lhe Lop of
Lhe hlll agaln.
Suddenly an angel began Lo fly beslde me.
Where can l hlde from Lhe baLLerlng ram?" l shouLed as l ran.
1he baLLerlng ram rolls relenLlessly over all Lhe earLh now. up hlgh," Lhe angel sald, up hlgher Lhan lL can see ls Lhe only safe
place. LeL me show you."

1he Lscape
WlLh a wave of Lhe angel's hand, a sLalrway appeared, Louchlng Lhe earLh and reachlng beyond my vlew lnLo heaven. l moved
Lo Lhe base of Lhe sLalrs and looked up. l was sLlll heavlng from runnlng.
1he angel flew beslde Lhe sLalrs, hlgher Lhan lLs base on earLh, and waved me upward: Come on!" Lhe angel shouLed. 1he
ram ls comlng, and we don'L wanL hlm Lo see Lhls sLalrway. Come on!"
1here were no hand ralls on Lhe narrow sLalrs. 1he sLalrs were clear llke glass, whlch can be sllppery. l could hear Lhe baLLerlng
ram rolllng, alLhough l was sLlll panLlng, l began Lo run up Lhe sLalrs.
lasLer!" Lhe angel called.
l kepL my eyes on Lhe sLalrs. ln hls hands Lhe angel had a scarleL cord fasLened Lo Lhe sLalrs aL Lhe boLLom. l could hear Lhe
baLLerlng ram geLLlng closer, buL Lhe angel pulled Lhe cord and broughL up Lhe flrsL secLlon of Lhe sLalrway, llke aLLlc sLal rs LhaL
can be lowered and ralsed.
Purry!" Lhe angel urged.
l conLlnued Lo run up Lhe sLeps, breaLhless. 1he angel pulled Lhe Lhln rope, and anoLher secLlon of Lhe sLalrs rose.
keep cllmblng," Lhe angel sald, alLhough now hls Lone of volce was less urgenL.
WlLh a mlghLy efforL, l compleLed Lhe sLalrs and Lurned Lo make sure l had lndeed escaped. 1he baLLerlng ram was dlrecLly
below, rolllng beneaLh us as Lhe Lhlrd secLlon of Lhe sLalrs was pulled up.
?ou were safe afLer cllmblng Lhe second seL of sLalrs, buL Lo be really safe, you needed Lo pass Lhe Lhlrd," he sald.
As Lhe baLLerlng ram rolled pasL, l Lrled Lo caLch my breaLh and seLLle myself. Cnly Lhen dld l look around.
Where am l?" l asked.

aradlse
aradlse," Lhe angel smlled, as he Lled Lhe cord holdlng Lhe sLalrs Lo a docklng posL. A slgn above Lhe posL read S1Al8C81. l
looked ouL over Lhe mosL beauLlful park l had ever seen.
1here were genLle rolllng hllls, beds of subLly colored flowers, and grass as unlform and green as Lhe rolled lawns of Lngllsh
manor houses. A walklng paLh crossed Lhls parL of Lhe park. 1here were also quleL pools, a sLream, and luxurlanL Lrees LhaL on
earLh would have provlded shade, buL Lhere was no shade or any shadows here. A sofL llghL emanaLed from everyLhlng
growlng.
8eauLlful, l LhoughL.
?es, lsn'L lL," Lhe angel answered.
l dld noL seem surprlsed LhaL he read my LhoughLs. l Lurned Lo look aL hlm, only Lhen dld hls appearance reglsLer wlLh me. Pe
looked Lo be slx feeL Lwo or slx feeL Lhree lnches ln helghL and ln hls mld-LhlrLles, lf l were gauglng by human years. Pe had
brown curly halr and wore a brown, LransparenL, full- lengLh robe. underneaLh Lhe Lhln brown robe, l could see LhaL he had on
blue-and-whlLe-sLrlped work overalls, Lhe sorL one mlghL obLaln ln Lhe sLore of a farmlng communlLy. 1he LhoughL sLruck me
LhaL Lhe brown over-robe was so Lhln LhaL lL was probably cool Lo wear when worklng.
A coll of rope crossed hls shoulder and chesL, clrcled ln a wlde loop near hls walsL, and reLurned across hls back Lo Lhe shoulder
agaln. Pe wore a whlLe belL, from whlch hung a whlLe Lool pouch. 1hls pouch looked a llLLle llke Lhe hand Lool belL worn by
Lelephone repalrers. Pe was unlaclng a palr of sllver-Llpped, brown, hlgh-Lopped work booLs as he spoke Lo me.
no shoes up here," he smlled. 1hls ls holy ground." l looked down aL my own feeL and saw LhaL Lhey, Loo, were bare.
Pe sLood up, puLLlng Lhe booLs under hls arm. ?ou're safe here," Lhe angel conLlnued, All of LhaL ls down below."
WhaL was LhaL?" l asked.
1he greaL enemy of our Lord and of Pls church."
8uL lL was desLroylng Lhe church," l exclalmed.

1he 1wo Churches
Some of lL may be desLroyed-LhaL whlch calls lLself Lhe church," he conLlnued. lL has a slgn saylng lL ls Lhe church, and many
llve behlnd LhaL slgn. 8uL Lhe church-Lhe real church-escaped, Lhe real church ls allve and can run fasLer Lhan any baLLerlng
ram can roll. lL's clumsy, really, buL lf you are dead sLones, lf you are noL allve, Lhen of course lL ls more Lhan any man-made
sLrucLure can reslsL. Powever, Lhe real, llvlng church of !esus ChrlsL can hlde ln caves, floaL on Lhe waLer, or cllmb lnLo
aradlse." A member of Lhe real church wlll know where Lhe hldden sLalrs are locaLed. 1haL person can call for help, and we
wlll leL down Lhe sLalrs so LhaL he can escape. 1he real church ls more aglle Lhan Lhe baLLerlng ram. Llvlng sLones have feeL."
1hen, llke someone who had [usL remembered hls manners, he sald, Would you llke some refreshmenLs? lL would help you."
All rlghL," l sald, Lrylng Lo geL my bearlngs.
A Lray of frulL floaLed Lo us.' Pere you are," Lhe angel sald, gesLurlng Loward Lhe Lray, a cholce."
l reached Lo make a selecLlon of frulL. Some varleLles l had seen on earLh, and some l had noL. All were wlLhouL blemlsh. We
boLh made selecLlons and began Lo eaL.'
?ou need Lo geL acqualnLed wlLh Lhe locaLlons of Lhe hldden sLalrs," he conLlnued.
ls Lhere a map?" l asked.
no," Lhe angel laughed. 1he map ls ln Lhe SplrlL. 8y followlng Pls leadlng, Pe dlrecLs you Lo Lhe hldden sLalrs."
l glanced Loward Lhe sLalrporL. 1hese sLalrs look llke glass," l sald.
LlghL," Lhe angel replled.' nlce, aren'L Lhey?"
uo people ever fall off Lhese sLalrs?"
noL lf Lhey keep Lhelr eyes on !esus," he chuckled, buL l wouldn'L advlse looklng over Lhe slde. ?ou mlghL geL wobbly dolng
LhaL."
1hls ls good frulL," l exclalmed.
?up, everyLhlng's good up here," Lhe angel sald, mlmlcklng a cowhand.
l laughed, bemused. Pe was noL anyLhlng llke my ldea of an angel. WhaL ls your name?" l asked hlm.

1he Angel Azar
Azar' Lhe angel sald, l'm Lhe one who answers when you call for help."
ls Lhere only one of you?" l asked.
?ou mean for Lhe whole earLh? Ch no, l couldn'L Lake care of Lhe whole earLh. We're asslgned Lo a small number Lo whose call
we wlll respond, more or less accordlng Lo llfesLyle. SomeLlmes a sLunL person wlll need one of us all by hlm or herself, buL
usually we can handle flve. 1he boss chooses who Lhey wlll be."
1he boss?" l sald.
Well, our lmmedlaLe boss, noL Lhe Lord, no, l mean Lhe angel ln charge of helps. Whlle you are llvlng on earLh, l'm Lhe one
who wlll answer your call for help. So don'L Lake up mounLaln cllmblng," he laughed.
Pe amazed me.
Pad enough frulL?" he asked.
?es, Lhank you," l sald. 1he Lray of frulL dlsappeared.

1he SuggesLlon
now," Lhe angel conLlnued, you can reLurn Lhe way you came. 1he presenL danger ls pasL, buL l would suggesL LhaL you Lake
Lhe paLh Lo Lhe Lhrone room. ?ou musL be here for a reason, buL LhaL knowledge has noL been glven Lo me.' ?our laLher can
Lell you why you have come."
My laLher?" l sald, glanclng ouL lnLo Lhe park, losL ln reflecLlon. lL seemed lnconcelvable, noL only LhaL l was ln aradlse, buL
also LhaL l could go Lo see my heavenly laLher as a chlld mlghL go Lo see an earLhly one.
CerLalnly," he sald, readlng my LhoughLs. !usL Lake Lhe paLh."
uoes Lhls paLh lead Lo Lhe Lhrone room?"
All paLhs here lead Lo Cod. 1hey are noL llke Lhe paLhs on earLh."
l looked Loward Lhe paLh as lf lL were a dlsLanL horlzon Loo far away Lo reach.
Co on," he laughed. Co see your uaddy. l'll be here when lL's Llme for you Lo reLurn."
l Lurned Lo search hls face.
uon'L you wanL Lo know why you're here?" he asked.
?es," l laughlngly exclalmed.
Pe Lhrew up hls hands and shrugged, as lf Lo say, Well?"
1hank you," l sald earnesLly.
Pe smlled aL me and spoke quleLly, 1he CreaLor of Lhe unlverse deslres your company. uon'L keep Plm walLlng."
l smlled and showed hlm LhaL l was sLepplng onLo Lhe paLh.
Pe called afLer me, l'll be here when lL's Llme Lo reLurn."
l waved Lo hlm, acknowledglng LhaL l had heard. 1hen, somewhaL breaLhlessly, l seL my face Loward Lhe Lhrone room.

ChapLer 2
SandcasLles
Much Lo my amazemenL, Lhe paLh on whlch l had begun Lo walk seemed Lo be ln moLlon, llke a conveyor belL or a movlng
sldewalk. l looked down aL my bare feeL sLandlng on lLs smooLh, advanclng surface.'
lL was Lhen LhaL l noLlced anoLher palr of feeL beslde mlne. l was noL Lravellng alone. l looked up lnLo Lhe face of a large angel.
Pello," he sald formally.
Pello," l answered. Pe was abouL seven feeL Lall, wlLh blonde halr LhaL seemed Lo have llghLs ln lL. erhaps Lhe llghL was
wlLhln hlm and shone ouL Lhrough hls head and Lhen hls halr. l could noL Lell. Pls face was grave wlLh Lhe demeanor of
auLhorlLy.
Pe wore a long whlLe robe and had large, sLrong, whlLe wlngs.
Who are you?" l conLlnued.

Angel of romlses
l am a messenger," Lhe angel replled.
l could feel power emanaLlng from hlm. WhaL klnd of messages do you dellver?" l asked.
romlses," he sald. l help Lo brlng Cod's falLhful promlses Lo manklnd."
1haL's a blg [ob," l qulpped. (l was hoplng he'd become less formal.)
very," he nodded sLlffly.
Pe dldn'L. So, l LhoughL, perhaps all angels are noL allke. 1hls splrlL ls very serlous, llke an ambassador. Suddenly l remembered
LhaL he knew whaL l was Lhlnklng. Pave you been dellverlng promlses on earLh?" l asked aloud.
?es," he sald, pauslng Lo welgh hls words, yours."
Mlne!" l exclalmed.
?ours," he relLeraLed. When you came lnLo Lhe klngdom, Lhe Lord Lold you LhaL you would see lnLo heaven, dld Pe noL?"
?es," l answered vaguely, looklng ouL over Lhe passlng landscape. l was searchlng my memory. 1haL was years ago."

1he romlse
When l came Lo Lhe Lord LwenLy years before, lL was a Llme of mlracles. AL LhaL Llme Pe spoke Lo me several promlses LhaL
relaLed Lo my llfe on earLh. AlLhough l dld noL keep Lhese pledges ln Lhe forefronL of my LhoughLs, l reallzed LhaL Pe was
fulfllllng mosL of Lhem dally. 8uL Lhls one promlse, Lhls amazlng promlse, had noL been fulfllled. AL flrsL [looked and longed for
lLs fulflllmenL, afLer a Llme, however, lmmedlaLe demands crowded ouL anLlclpaLlon unLll Lruly l had forgoLLen. noLhlng
happened" l conLlnued, and..." My volce Lralled off. l sLarLed Lo say LhaL l had forgoLLen.
Powever, Cod has noL forgoLLen," he sald, and Lhe fullness of Llme has come."
l hardly heard hlm for l was Lrylng Lo plece LogeLher Lhe pasL wlLh Lhls presenL.
8elng lgnoranL of Cod's ways does noL negaLe Lhelr funcLlonlng' he sald. Cf course, greaL unbellef does hlnder."
8uL whaL does lL mean?" l asked, searchlng hls face.
l do noL have Lhe auLhorlLy Lo Lell you. Ask your laLher. 1he 8evealer of MysLerles wlll reveal Lhls mysLery Lo you."
l was losL ln Lhe wonder of lL, so he conLlnued, Cur Cod ls falLhful and Lrue, and Pe loves you."
lL seems LhaL aL Llmes of greaL lmpacL or dlsLress, one can Lhlnk of Lhe mosL unusual Lhlngs. Suddenly l wanLed Lo know hls
name. WhaL ls your name?" l asked.
Seek for me ln ScrlpLure. ?our laLher wlshes you Lo grow ln conflrmaLlon from Lhe wrlLLen Word of all LhaL you see and hear.
Seek for my name," he sald, and Lhen he was gone.

1he 1our
8efore l could ad[usL Lo hls sudden dlsappearance, l heard Lhe dlsLlncL sound of a volce pro[ecLed Lhrough a megaphone, as on
a bus Lour: leasanL hllls, sofL Lurf, cool sLreams..."
l Lurned Lo see a wlnged angel defLly weavlng ln and ouL of people farLher ahead of me on Lhe movlng paLh, sorL of llke a LlckeL
collecLor on a merry-go-round. Pe Loo had on a whlLe robe, buL on hls head was a blue haL on whlch was embroldered 1Cu8
CuluL. Around hls walsL was a sllver belL from whlch hung a sllver coln exchanger. Powever, l never saw hlm ask anyone for
Lhe prlce of Lhe Lour. Pls volce was hlgh and as loud as a barker aL a falr, he was polnLlng ouL areas of lnLeresL ln aradlse. All
sLreams flow from beneaLh Lhe Lhrone. All proceed from Lhe same source," he sald, weavlng Lhrough a group of people. We'll
sLop here so LhaL you can en[oy Lhls slLe."
1he movlng paLh sLopped, and people farLher up Lhe llne goL off Lo look aL Lhe vlew. 1he Lour gulde Lurned Lo answer
someone's quesLlon, so l Loo goL off, walked over Lo a sLream, and saL beslde lL. lL was Lhe flrsL Llme l had been able Lo look
more closely aL Lhe flora of aradlse.
1he grass looked llke grass, buL lLs properLles were undenlably dlfferenL. ?ou could walk on lL, and lL would reLurn Lo lLs former
poslLlon once Lhe pressure had been removed from lL. ' 1here were several, formal planLlngs of flower beds near Lhe sLream,
buL agaln, Lhese were noL flowers as we know Lhem on earLh. 1hey were perfecL.
l sLreLched ouL my whole body aL Lhe waLer's edge and puL my hand lnLo Lhe sLream. Cool. 8uL, ls lL waLer? l asked myself. no, l
LhoughL, l belleve lL's llghL. A group of angels passed overhead. 1hey were flylng ln a wedge formaLlon llke a flock of geese.
When l reLurned Lo look aL Lhe waLer, anoLher face was looklng lnLo Lhe sLream wlLh me.

1he Sand plle
Pello," a chlld's volce sald.
l Lurned and saL up Lo face her.
Are you on Lour?" she asked.
?es," l answered, sLarlng aL her. She appeared Lo be a chlld of abouL flve or slx years old, buL she was shlnlng. She had no
wlngs, and her eyes looked old beyond Lhe years dlsplayed ln her small sLaLure. She wore a pale callco plnafore over a falnLly
colored, shorL shlfL. Per halr was curly and Lousled as lf from play. She looked llke a llLLle glrl, buL every so ofLen l could see
Lhrough her arm or leg and knew her Lo be a splrlL. She was lnLrlgulng.
Pave you [usL begun Lhe Lour?" she quesLloned.
?es, l Lhlnk so. Why?" l asked.
l wanLed you Lo come play wlLh me," she sald.
lay wlLh you?" l sald lncredulously.
ln my sand plle," she sald. Can you come?"
!usL Lhen Lhe Lour gulde walked over Lo us, and l sLood. l was Lorn beLween geLLlng Lo know Lhls small splrlL and conLlnulng my
Lour.
May l go wlLh. . . whaL ls your name?" l asked her, bendlng over Lo quesLlon her as one mlghL quesLlon a chlld.
CrysLal Clear."
May l go wlLh CrysLal Clear for a few mlnuLes?" l asked Lhe Lour gulde.
Ch, all rlghL," he sald. MeeL us aL Lhe almond grove when you flnlsh."
Pow wlll l flnd lL?" l asked.
CrysLal Clear wlll show you Lhe way."
?es, l wlll," she sald exclLedly. Come along wlLh me."

1he Lesson
Suddenly we were on a vasL shore llne, buL Lhere was no sea. lL looked as Lhough Lhe beach was sLlll Lhere, buL no ocean. ln Lhe
sand were all manner of red and blue chlldren's buckeLs and shovels.
Paven'L you always wanLed Lo bulld a sand casLle?" she asked. '
l chuckled, Well, noL really, CrysLal Clear."
?es, you have," she conLlnued. 1hlnk abouL lL. ?ou've wanLed Lo bulld on earLh, and all of LhaL ls sand.' When Lhe Llde comes
ln, lL goes away. Lven Lhe Lools for bulldlng remaln longer Lhan a sandcasLle, for Lhe Lools are from Cod. 8uL lf you use Lhem Lo
bulld on sand lnsLead of ln eLernlLy, whaL do you have? A wasLe of Llme," she shrugged. ?ou have wanLed a sandcasLle. lL's
sllly really, lsn'L lL?"
l suppose so," l sald quleLly. l dld noL wanL Lo admlL lL, buL she was rlghL. l had wanLed a home and flnanclal securlLy and Lo
accompllsh someLhlng-for Cod, of course-buL l had Lunnel vlslon for Lhe llfe on earLh. l had ChrlsLlanlzed Lhe gospel of Lhe
world and boughL lnLo my own packaglng. lL was a blLLer Lhlng Lo hear LhaL Lhe focus of my llfe had been fleshly and worLhless
Lo Cod, and LhaL l had noL goLLen away wlLh lL.'
uo you wanL Lo play?" she conLlnued cheerlly.
l felL a llLLle slck. l LhoughL l would change Lhe sub[ecL. Why such a large sand area?" l asked.
Many wanL Lo bulld on sand, so we leL Lhem. lL geLs lL ouL of Lhelr sysLems, you know. Maybe lf you bulld on Lhe sand rlghL
now, you would feel, 'l've done LhaL."
lL seems a sllly Lhlng Lo do," l sald sLonlly.
Well, yes, lL does. Powever, bulldlng on Lhe earLh ls really Lhe same: sllly Loys LhaL are long forgoLLen here, Loys LhaL do noL
even gaLher dusL ln Lhe aLLlc buL dlslnLegraLe and are LoLally forgoLLen here-a wasLe of Cod's preclous Llme," she sald much
Loo breezlly.
l had Lhe LasLe of a copper penny ln my mouLh.' ls lL all rlghL lf we do noL play Loday?" l asked.
Ch, all rlghL," she sald. uo you wanL Lo [oln Lhe Lour?"
l don'L know," l sald dazed. l felL as Lhough l had been hlL by a Lruck. l llke your name, CrysLal Clear," l sald acldly. lL's apL."
Maybe a llLLle resL," she sald, as lf she had noL heard my remark. now, remember Lo come back Lo see us. We love you here,
do keep ln Louch." She held up her Llny hands, and l held up mlne Lo reclprocaLe. LlghL came from hers lnLo mlne and knocked
me sofLly backwards.'
l lay on Lhe alr, as someone mlghL lle on a gurney whlle belng wheeled Lhrough hosplLal halls. My arms were across my chesL,
and l floaLed down Lhe paLh llke a paLlenL reLurnlng from surgery.


ChapLer 3
Angels ln 1ralnlng
An angel began walklng beslde me as l floaLed down Lhe paLh.
Whom do you seek?" Lhe angel asked.
l LhoughL l was golng Lo see my laLher ln Lhe Lhrone room," l answered.
Pe ls everywhere, buL Lhls ls noL Lhe Lhrone room."

1he 1erraced WaLerfall
l had floaLed Lo Lhe edge of a pool, l began descendlng Lo resL on Lhe grass. 1he pool was aL Lhe base of a hlgh, Lerraced
waLerfall. Lavender flowers and hanglng greenery grew on Lhe ledges of Lhe fall. A flne mlsL hung over Lhe pool, caused by Lhe
lmpacL of Lhe falllng waLer.
WhaL ls Lhls place?" l asked.
Cne of Lhe gardens," Lhe angel sald. lL's peaceful here. Why don'L you resL," he suggesLed, and Lhen he was gone.
1here was someLhlng sooLhlng ln Lhe sound of Lhe waLerfall, someLhlng resLful, buL Lhere was also someone hummlng a lovely
melody. 1he sound vlbraLed Lhrough me, Louchlng every parL of my body. 1hen a hlgh volce began Lo slng:
1here ls a place where Lravelers resL,
And lay Lhelr heads ln peace.
8eLurnlng Lo Lhe Lagle's nesL,
All war wlLhln wlll cease.
C Lamb of Cod,
Cur hearL's deslre,
C 1ruLh ln Word,
LLernal llre,
C Lamb of Cod,
Cod's chosen Son,
8ecelve Lhem when
1helr race ls run.
AL Lhe song's end, slowly a flgure formed from Lhe mlsL of Lhe waLerfall. l saL up Lo waLch Lhls unusual slghL.

PeaLher of Lhe MlsL
Who are you?" l asked.
l am PeaLher' Lhe flgure sald. l Lend Lhls parL of Lhe garden. SomeLlmes Lhe paLh leads beslde sLlll waLers or lnLo perfumed
gardens," she smlled.
l lay back on Lhe grass, for l was weary and sLlll recoverlng from my experlence aL Lhe sand plle.
She conLlnued afLer a pause, uo you wlsh Lo grow ln splrlL or ln Lhe naLural?"
ln splrlL, mosL of all," l sald.
1hen culLlvaLe obedlence," she sald.'?our laLher loves you. l know LhaL, or you would noL be here. ?ou would noL have
access Lo Plm nor be able Lo enLer Lhese perfumed gardens."
1ell me of Lhese gardens," l sald.
1here are many, each fllled wlLh unLold dellghLs. l suppose, belng on Lhe paLh, you always expecL Lo arrlve ln Lhe Lhrone
room?" she asked.
?es, l do."
8uL your laLher wanLs you Lo see more of Pls beauLlful land."

1he CuesLlon
Suddenly l saL up, looklng aL her lnLenLly. PeaLher, whaL do you do here?"
We grow ln Cod. Also, l Lend Lhls small parL of Lhe garden. 8uL we do noL Loll here. We llve for whaL you would call splrlLual
growLh." 1hen reLurnlng Lo Lhe sub[ecL she was addresslng before my quesLlon, she swepL her hand ln a wlde semlclrcle.
1he areas Lo vlslL are wlLhouL end and beyond compare."
l seem Lo be alone here," l sald, buL l know Lhere are oLhers."
?es, buL your laLher ls answerlng your prayers Lo grow and learn. Pe decldes how each chlld should be LaughL," she smlled.
lor you Lhere ls prlvaLe LuLorlng here. Cne on one. Ask whaL you wlll."
l'm so aL peace ln Lhls place," l shrugged. l flnd lL dlfflculL Lo Lhlnk of Lhlngs Lo ask."
l've heard LhaL," she mused.
l could Lhlnk of one quesLlon only, for whlch l felL l already knew Lhe answer, buL l asked: uo you have fellowshlp here?"
?es, we are happy. AcLually, Lhere are many of us around, buL l alone am senL Lo you, so you see only me."
Why are you called PeaLher?" l asked.
lor Lhe flowers LhaL grow ln Lhe mldsL of Lhe falls," she smlled, looklng up aL Lhe hlgh, Lerraced garden.

1he Angel Clara
Pello, Ann," A woman's volce spoke from behlnd us. PeaLher," Lhe volce conLlnued, as we Lurned our faces Loward her.
Clara," PeaLher responded, she qulckly rose Lo face her. PeaLher Lurned Lo me. 1hls ls Clara, who ls very beloved of us here."
l rose Lo my feeL also. Pello, Clara," l sald. She was absoluLely Lhe mosL beauLlful creaLure l had ever seen. 1hls angel looked
very womanly and had a sofL llghL comlng from her head area. 1he llghL seemed Lo gaLher lnLo sLreaks of llghL as lL radlaLed
ouLward from LhaL glow. She parLed her boLLlcelllan, golden-red halr ln Lhe cenLer and caughL lL ln a mulLlple bun arrangemenL
aL Lhe nape of her neck. She wore a whlLe, draped garmenL slmllar Lo Lhe deslgns adopLed by 8oman women before Lhe Llme
of ChrlsL. 1he garmenL was gaLhered and belLed beneaLh whaL would be Lhe busL area ln a human. Per eyes were an lnLense
blue.

Clara's lnvlLaLlon
l've come Lo Lake Ann Lo a Lralnlng sesslon," Clara conLlnued.
WhaL klnd of Lralnlng?" l asked.
Cf Lhe heallng angels," she smlled.
Ch," l sald sofLly, for she amazed me by speaklng of an area LhaL was of greaL lnLeresL Lo me. l would llke LhaL, buL. . . , l
grappled for Lhe words as well as for dlrecLlon, l'm on my way Lo Lhe Lhrone room."
1hls ls on your way," she smlled. ?our heavenly laLher ls offerlng you Lhls opporLunlLy."
l looked Lo PeaLher for guldance. l would go lf l were you," she afflrmed. Would you llke Lo drop by?" Clara asked. ?es," l
sald enLhuslasLlcally.
Clara laughed. 1hank you, PeaLher. She seems wonderfully refreshed."
?es, Lhank you, PeaLher," l added, Lurnlng Lo her, buL already she was fadlng lnLo Lhe mlsL of Lhe waLerfall, smlllng and
holdlng up her hand Lo acknowledge our deparLure as she dlsappeared.
We Loo lefL suddenly.

1he Annex
lmmedlaLely we were ouLslde of a very large bulldlng LhaL had a small slgn over lLs double doors: 1PL AnnLx. lL was a shorL
dlsLance from an equally large bulldlng LhaL had a slgn wrlLLen ln a language LhaL l could noL read.
l LhoughL Lo myself, l wonder lf Lravel ls aL Lhe speed of LhoughL here?
We enLered Lhe bulldlng.
lL was a huge audlLorlum much Lhe same as Lhe munlclpal audlLorlums ln ma[or clLles. 1here were a number of Llers, as well as
Lhe maln floor. Angels fllled Lhe bulldlng. 1hey all wore whlLe armbands wlLh a large red cross on each band.' 1hey seemed Lo
be aLLendlng a lecLure.
1helr lnsLrucLor was on an elevaLed plaLform before a glganLlc, clear board LhaL looked slmllar Lo lucld plasLlc. Pe held a long
polnLer wlLh whlch he would add colored-llghL lllusLraLlons Lo Lhe board by Louchlng lL. Pe dld noL draw or wrlLe, buL polnLed
only, Lhey appeared on Lhe board compleLe ln Lhelr deslgn.
Clara began Lo make her way Lo Lhe fronL of Lhe audlLorlum. 1he angels remalned aLLenLlve, buL Lhey moved aslde so LhaL we
could pass down Lhe alsle. We sLood near Lhe ralsed plaLform, and l could see Lhe lnsLrucLor more clearly.
Pe had a crew cuL and wore whlLe armbands wlLh a red cross on each band. Pe also had sLrlpes on hls sleeves.

Angels of Peallng
l Lurned Lo look aL Lhe faces of Lhe angels. 1hey looked llke Lhe unlLed naLlons of angelhood, represenLlng many naLlonallLles."
l supposed LhaL Lhe Lord would send Lhem on asslgnmenLs all over Lhe world. 1hey were very lnLenL upon Lhe lecLure.
1he lnsLrucLor conLlnued, ?ou reallze LhaL you play a very lmporLanL role ln verlfylng our Lord's vlcLory ln Lhe area of healLh.
1he enemy wlll use any wlle Lo aLLempL Lo brlng lnLo a place of unbellef Lhose Lo whom our Cod asslgns you. Pe ls a masLer of
unbellef. Pe has succeeded mlghLlly wlLh humanklnd ln general and wlLh Lhe elecL speclflcally. lL ls ofLen easler for Lhe
redeemed Lo belleve our Lord wlll provlde for Lhem flnanclally Lhan Lo belleve Pe wanLs Pls people well. 1he heallng revlval ls
abouL Lo begln.' lnsLead of one, we wlll be asslgnlng Lwo of you Lo each person slaLed for Lhe glfL of heallng.'
We wanL you Lo learn Lo work LogeLher now. We have some badges for you Lo fasLen Lo Lhose recelvlng Lhls glfL."
Pe held up a badge. lL was green wlLh red leLLers: CnL? 8LLlLvL.
We have a large number of Lhe redeemed who wlll be here laLer, who wlll acL llke bellevers on earLh.' uon'L be dlscouraged by
whaL Lhey say Lo you. 1hey are here Lo show you exacLly whaL you mlghL be faclng wlLh your charges. Some of Lhe replles Lhey
wlll glve you wlll seem fanLasLlc, buL Lhey are usual. ?ou wlll be able Lo see how effecLlvely Lhe enemy has eroded bellef ln Lhe
Lord's graclous provlslon of healLh. Work Lhrough Lhls dlsmay now. We've glven you a 'buddy sysLem' for Lhls revlval. 1here are
Lo be many, many wlLh Lhe glfL of heallng Lhls Llme around. Any quesLlons?"
When wlll Lhls be?" an angel shouLed from far back ln Lhe hall.
1he Lord Cod, Lhe AlmlghLy, knows Lhls. ?ou [usL geL ready!" he called Lo Lhe angel asklng Lhe quesLlon. Pe dld say, 'Soon', l
can Lell you LhaL much. 1haL ls Lhe reason for Lhls moblllzaLlon and lnLenslflcaLlon of Lralnlng. Any oLher quesLlons?"
1here was general sllence.
All rlghL, l wanL you Lo rally back here afLer your work wlLh Lhe redeemed. uo noL, and leL me repeaL Lhls, do noL lndlvldually
quesLlon Lhe redeemed so LhaL you 'bone up' before Lhls workouL. We wanL Lhe full lmpacL of Lhelr answers Lo hlL you LogeLher.
lf Lhere are no oLher quesLlons, you are dlsmlssed." 1here was a greaL deal of movemenL as Lhe angels rose and began Lalklng
Lo one anoLher whlle leavlng. Clara and l sLarLed up some sLalrs Loward Lhe Lop of Lhe plaLform. 1he lnsLrucLor was clearlng Lhe
LransparenL board as we reached Lhe Lop.

1he Angellc lnsLrucLor
Pello, Clara. Who ls Lhls wlLh you?" he Leased, as an adulL mlghL Lease abouL a chlld whom he knows well.
l belleve you know Ann," Clara sald, playlng along.
Pls eyes Lwlnkled. ?es, l do know her. lf l hadn'L Lold Lhe Lralnees Lo refraln from crammlng for Lhls exam, l could have had
Ann glve Lhem some of Lhe answers Lhey wlll hear on earLh."
now, Chabburah," Clara smlled, shaklng her head as one mlghL when lndulglng an lnveLeraLe [okesLer. l knew whaL he meanL,
however, so l changed Lhe sub[ecL.
WhaL are Lhe sLrlpes on your sleeve?" l asked.
8y Pls sLrlpes we are healed," he smlled Lenderly, looklng aL Lhe sLrlpes.
Clara conLlnued: We're Laklng a Lour. uo you have any suggesLlons?"
1he hanglng gardens..." he began.
no," she laughed, concernlng Lhe heallng angels and Lhe revlval LhaL ls comlng ln Lhe area of heallng."
Pe looked aL a slaLe ln hls hand wlLh mock serlousness. Well, l see here LhaL Ann ls slaLed for a couple of my flnesL angels."
Me?" l quesLloned. ls lL posslble?" l knew LhaL Cod gave Lhls glfLedness Lo some of Pls chlldren. ln facL, l had sLepped lnLo a
sLream of such a glfL aL one Llme. lL was as Lhough Cod healed everyone for whom l prayed. 1hls amazlng and uLLerly
supernaLural anolnLlng lasLed for several monLhs, and Lhen lL was gone.' Why Pe gave lL and why Lhe anolnLlng llfLed, l never
undersLood. Slnce LhaL Llme, Lhere were more quesLlons Lhan answers ln my mlnd.

Classes
1he lnsLrucLor dld noL respond Lo my lnner dlalogue, buL conLlnued, Clara, l would suggesL LhaL she begln classes soon. She's
almosL a classlc example of 'gelaLln bellef'-'Louch lL and lL shakes.' l'm golng Lo Leach Lhese classes myself," he conLlnued.
She can sLudy Lhls serles aL home as a correspondence course, buL slnce she's here rlghL now, she could Lour Lhe warehouse."
Clara Lurned Lo me. Would you llke LhaL?"
?es," l sald. lf Lhe Lord ls golng Lo use me Lo pray for heallng ln oLhers, l.. . well, l need Lo learn all LhaL l can."
All rlghL," he sald. ?ou can geL a head sLarL by Lourlng nexL door, we'll page you when you're Lo begln your course aL home.
Pow's LhaL?"
1haL sounds good Lo us," Clara sald, We'll begln rlghL away. 1hank you." She began movlng us Loward Lhe sLalrs of Lhe
plaLform.
?es, Lhank you," l sald.

1he 8equesL
Pe called alLer us, now don'L Lalk Lo any of Lhe sLudenLs on your way ouL. ?ou mlghL LempL one of Lhem Lo sLumble and ask
you quesLlons," he chuckled. Suddenly, as lf sLruck by a LhoughL, he called Lo us.
WalL a mlnuLe. 1hls ls really an excellenL opporLunlLy. ?ou're here, and..." l could noL undersLand whaL he was saylng. Would
you be wllllng for Lhe sLudenLs Lo quesLlon you ln order LhaL Lhey mlghL hear your reasonlng?" he asked. SomeLlmes lL's
dlfflculL for Lhe redeemed bellevers up here Lo remember why Lhey LhoughL as Lhey LhoughL whlle on earLh. Would you be
wllllng?"
Mercy," l laughed llghLly. Am l so Lough?"
no, no, no," he sald, puLLlng down hls slaLe and crosslng Lo place hls hands on my shoulders. ?ou're [usL. . . Lyplcal of Lhe
reasonlng glven on earLh."
lf lL would be helpful Lo you and Lhe oLhers..." l sald.
lL would," he replled. Cood! ?ou and Clara Lour nexL door. We'll page you Lhere," he sald, golng back Lo Lhe large board. 8uL
almosL lmmedlaLely he whlpped around agaln Lo look aL us. now, don'L ask Clara abouL heallng," he smlled.
We wanL a raw example for Lhem."
Ckay," l laughed.
Pe wenL back Lo hls board, and we sLarLed down Lhe sLalrs.
lmmedlaLely we were aL Lhe back of Lhe large audlLorlum and exlLlng Lhe double doors.
As we sLepped from Lhe bulldlng, we could see Lhousands of angel Lralnees slLLlng on Lhe lawn ln Lwos wlLh one or Lwo of Lhe
redeemed. 1hey were ln deep dlscusslons.
l looked up aL Lhe slgn over Lhe doorway of Lhe bulldlng Loward whlch we were walklng. l could noL read lL before, buL now,
much Lo my amazemenL, lL appeared clearly: 8Cu? A81S.
Clara opened Lhe door, and we sLepped lnslde.


ChapLer 4
Peallng Angels
Pe warehouse was large, as large as Lhe audlLorlum we had [usL lefL and as whlLe as a clean room" aL a research faclllLy. lL
seemed unusually brlghL ln Lhe bulldlng, as Lhough Lhe conLenLs were elLher preserved or lncubaLed ln llghL.
'1hls bulldlng holds an lnvenLory of avallable parLs of Lhe human body," Clara sald.
1here were blns upon blns of parLs of all colors and slzes.

1he Warehouse Workers
Angels ln whlLe were worklng lnslde. 1hese angels were Lhe slze of humans and had no wlngs. Lach wore an arm band wlLh Lhe
same red cross on lL. Cne of Lhese angels walked over Lo us. We're pleased LhaL you have come Lo vlslL Lhe parLs deparLmenL,
Ann."
Pow do you know me?" l asked.
We know everyone slaLed for Lhe glfL of heallng:' he smlled. ?ou need Lo know LhaL Lhese are avallable."
Pe walked wlLh us down Lhe wlde, cenLer alsle. As l looked aL Lhe blns, l wondered whaL lL mlghL be llke Lo have Lhe glfL of
heallng for Lhe remalnder of my llfe. 1hrough Lhe wrlLLen Word, !esus commands us Lo heal Lhe slck and ralse Lhe dead, buL l
was noL among Lhose Lhrough whom Pe was fulfllllng Pls own command conslsLenLly. Peallng seemed as general a commlsslon
Lo ChrlsLlans as go ye. . . , buL many of us saw llLLle of Lhe early church's power Lo heal physlcally. l had always made excuses
for oLhers and myself, buL secreLly, l wondered why.
1he angel conLlnued, We're ready here. 1he Lord has made ample provlslon. lease en[oy your Lour."
We wlll," Clara sald.
?es," l sald, somewhaL dlsLracLedly.
Pe bowed sllghLly from Lhe walsL and sLepped backward before reLurnlng Lo hls work.

1he age
1here were so many quesLlons l wanLed Lo ask Clara. Suddenly a plece of paper floaLed before our eyes and paused ln Lhe alr.
lL read, lease reLurn Lo Lhe annex." 1hen lL zlpped away.
1hls ls sooner Lhan l LhoughL," Clara sald.
We Lurned and began Lo walk Loward Lhe door of Lhe warehouse. ln hushed Lones l sald, Ch, Clara, Lhls ls geLLlng really
exclLlng. l'm golng Lo be able Lo help Lhese angels. WhaL an honor... whaL a glfL!"
?es," she agreed.
And [usL Lhlnk, l mlghL see some of Lhese angels wlLh oLher people durlng Lhe revlval," l mused.
We exlLed Lhe warehouse and began Lo cross Lo Lhe annex.
l was relLeraLlng Lo myself, . . . Lo asslsL angels." 1hen l addressed Clara agaln, . . . because you angels are so helpful Lo us, buL
rarely do we geL Lhe opporLunlLy Lo help you."
She gave a wlse smlle LhaL seemed Lo lndlcaLe LhaL Lhls was noL Lrue buL dld noL wanL Lo dampen my enLhuslasm.

Angels Who Pave 1helr SLrlpes
We enLered Lhe annex. Agaln a crowd of angels fllled Lhe room. A group of angels was on Lhe plaLform. 1hey wore no arm
bands buL had red sLrlpes up and down Lhe sleeves of Lhelr garmenLs. We sLood ln Lhe back of Lhe hall.
1hese are angels who have Lhelr sLrlpes:' Clara sald. 1he Lord asslgned Lhem Lo bellevers durlng Lhe lasL heallng revlval."
1here aren'L many of Lhem," l sald.
Clara slghed, no, only a few on earLh were glven Lhe glfL of heallng ln greaL measure. 1hese bellevers were meanL Lo Lraln Lhe
many, lnsLead, mosL of Lhem erecLed LenLs and held Lhe glfL for Lhemselves. 1he glfL was used, buL slnce Lhey dld noL Lraln
oLhers, lL was corrupLed and became a means of enrlchlng Lhemselves personally."
She glanced ouL over Lhe large audlLorlum and smlled as she conLlnued, 1hls roomful ls only one group of Lralnees. CLhers are
aL oLher levels of Lralnlng, some have Lhelr sLrlpes already and are beglnnlng Lo [oln Lhose Lo whom Lhe Lord asslgned Lhem.
Many of Lhe redeemed on earLh have been Laklng a correspondence course, mosL wlLhouL knowlng lL. 1he bellever needs Lo
compleLe Lhe course before he recelves Lhe Lwo asslgned angels. So, everyone ls ln Lralnlng rlghL now, aren'L Lhey?"
ls Lhls correspondence course Lhe same LhaL l'll Lake?" l asked.
?es," she sald. lL ls sLudy concernlng heallng ln Lhe Word." She Lhen Lurned her aLLenLlon Lo Lhe angels on Lhe plaLform.
1here was a greaL deal of llghL comlng from Lhese angels. Cne was speaklng. 1he Lord wlshes Lhose of us who were used ln
Lhe lasL revlval Lo hold a reunlon on earLh before Lhe beglnnlng of Lhls ouLpourlng of Lhe Poly SplrlL. ?ou mlghL say LhaL we are
brlnglng closure Lo LhaL whlch was. We are belng honored by Lhe reunlon belng Lhe commencemenL celebraLlon LhaL wlll usher
ln Lhe nexL greaL move of our Cod for heallng."
AnoLher of Lhe veLeran angels lnLer[ecLed, We know whaL your nexL quesLlon wlll be: 'When?"
1here was a chuckle of laughLer from Lhe Lralnees. We don'L know when, buL Lhe Lord has sald, 'Soon." l whlspered Lo Clara,
WhaL beauLlful angels."?es," she sald.

1he lormer CuLpourlng
AnoLher angel on Lhe plaLform spoke. 1haL whlch occurred durlng Lhe lasL greaL ouLpourlng of Lhe SplrlL for heallng was very
palnful Lo all of us." 1hey shook Lhelr heads, sadly looklng aL one anoLher.
CorrupLlon crepL ln," anoLher sald, eluslve sln by eluslve sln. llnally, mosL had corrupLed Lhe glfL beyond Lhe recognlLlon of
Lhose of us who were servlng Lhem."
Manklnd may be decelved by ouLward show," anoLher angel sald, buL we saw all LhaL happened. Cod ls noL mocked."
1hey paused a momenL, Lhe gravlLy of LhaL whlch had occurred was sLlll palnful Lo Lhem.
1he flrsL angel spoke agaln. ln Lhls comlng revlval Lhe glfL wlll be so wldespread LhaL Lhe corrupLlon due Lo prlde and power ls
less llkely Lo occur."
1o hls sLaLemenL, anoLher angel added, 8uL waLch for Lhese: prlde, Lhe lusL for power, greed, and sexual lusL."
lL wlll noL be Lhe lesser demons you wlll need Lo baLLle, buL demons as sLrong as you and rabldly deLermlned because Lhe Llme
ls shorL," Lhe flrsL angel sald. We'll Lurn Lhe meeLlng over Lo Chabburah agaln," he concluded.
1he angels seaLed ln Lhe audlLorlum sLood before Lhe angels on Lhe plaLform and blew Loward Lhem. l supposed LhaL Lhls was
some form of a sLandlng ovaLlon.
1hank you," Lhey smlled.
Chabburah spoke Lo Lhem brlefly. 1hen Lhey lefL Lhe plaLform. Chabburah came Lo Lhe cenLer of Lhe plaLform. 8emember,
Lhese frlends wlll be avallable Lo answer quesLlons and asslsL, noL only now, buL when Lhe revlval beglns."
1he oLher angels were Louchlng Lhe angels wlLh sLrlpes as Lhe laLLer walked Lhrough Lhe crowd. As Lhey passed, Lhey saw me
and acknowledged Clara. 1he lasL angel sLopped before me. Pello, Ann," he sald, Louchlng my rlghL shoulder. Pe looked lnLo
my eyes and Lhen looked aL Clara, smlled, and lefL.
SLreLch a blL," Chabburah sald, for Ann has come Lo be wlLh us."

reparlng Lo 1each
Clara began Lo move us Lo Lhe fronL of Lhe audlLorlum. 1he angels smlled as we passed. 1hey were movlng abouL and Lalklng
among Lhemselves.
Chabburah was walLlng for us on Lhe plaLform, smlllng, followlng us wlLh hls eyes. 1here you are, Ann," he sald effuslvely.
1hls was very qulck," Clara remarked.
She was abouL Lo ask you quesLlons," he shook hls flnger aL me, as one would Lo Lease a chlld. Come over here," he added. l
have seaLs for you boLh. SlL down and make yourselves comforLable."
1hen he Lurned Lo Lhe audlLorlum. All rlghL, Lake your seaLs," he sald Lo Lhose who were Lalklng. ?ou can Lalk laLer." Pe
gesLured Loward me. Ann ls wlLh us. She has graclously accepLed an lnvlLaLlon Lo answer any quesLlons you mlghL have
concernlng her or humans ln general."
l Lugged aL Chabburah's robe. l don'L know everyLhlng," l whlspered Lo hlm.
Lveryone laughed.
Pe smlled, We know you don'L know everyLhlng. We don'L elLher, so we're all ln good company. l'll [usL sLep back over here
and leL you begln."

1eachlng Lhe Angels
l dld noL know how l expecLed Lhe meeLlng Lo be conducLed, buL l cerLalnly dld noL expecL Lo be handed Lhe floor." l was sLlff
as l began. ln Lhe flrsL place, lL ls such a blesslng for me Lo be able Lo asslsL you. Pmmm..." l dld noL know where Lo sLarL, so l
[usL [umped ln. Well, mosL people on earLh do noL belleve ln dlvlne heallng."
A mumble ran Lhrough Lhe audlLorlum.
l conLlnued, Lven Lhose who are saved have a dlfflculL Llme bellevlng."
1here was a very loud reacLlon. 1he amazemenL was such LhaL l looked aL Chabburah. Pe urged me Lo proceed.
Lven Lhose who have seen dlvlne heallng have dlfflculLy bellevlng all Lhe Llme."
1here was general, loud alarm LhroughouL Lhe audlLorlum.
Pold lL down," Chabburah sald. 1hen Lo me he sald, Why don'L you suggesL LhaL Lhey ask you quesLlons?"
Would you llke Lo ask quesLlons?" l asked raLher meekly.

Angellc CuesLlons
An angel rose from hls seaL and spoke loudly, uon'L Lhey belleve Lhe Word?"
1he unbellevers don'L, of course. Some bellevers do, buL many bellevers really do noL."
1here was a sLunned sllence ln Lhe audlLorlum. l looked aL Chabburah. Clve Lhem Llme, Ann," he sald. 1hey're shocked."
Some bellevers, you see, Lhlnk LhaL parLs of Lhe 8lble do noL apply Loday, LhaL cerLaln secLlons were for long ago," l sald.
An angel near Lhe plaLform sald ln a normal volce LhaL carrled because of Lhe sllence, 8uL Lhe Word says LhaL 1he LLernal ls
Lhe same yesLerday, Loday, and forever. Why would Lhey conslder Lhe Word aparL from Plm? Pe ls Lhe Word."
1here was a greaL deal of general agreemenL among Lhe angels.
Well," l shrugged and laughed, Lhey do."
uo you?" anoLher asked.
l belleve ln heallng, and l belleve LhaL Lhe Lord promlses healLh and LhaL Pe has pald for heallng for bellevers, buL l do noL
undersLand lL."
lL ls a covenanL promlse," anoLher angel sald, rlslng from hls seaL. 8y Pls sLrlpes Pe has knlL you back or mended or [olned
you agaln Lo Plm who ls dlvlne healLh. lL ls sure."
8uL ofLen people are slck," l sald.
AnoLher angel rose. lL's a covenanL promlse, as has been sald. Cne needs Lo ablde ln ChrlsL."
Cf course, lf a person dellberaLely abuses hls earLhly vessel. . . , anoLher sald.
lorglveness needs Lo be absoluLe," anoLher added wlLhouL sLandlng. 8reak Lhe knlLLlng LogeLher wlLh ChrlsL, and some sorL
of lllness wlll resulL."
As nlghL follows day," Lhey all sald. ?ou could Lell Lhey were members of a class. 1hey all laughed.
l lnLer[ecLed, 8uL mosL who wlll recelve Lhls glfL wlll noL be abldlng by Lhe covenanLal agreemenLs won by !esus. Pow can Lhls
be?"

Crace
Agaln Lhey all laughed, respondlng ln unlson, Crace."
Chabburah explalned, 1here ls comlng an ouLpourlng of grace as Lhe Poly SplrlL moves ln power ln Lhe comlng revlval." As he
spoke Lo me, he added, Are you Llrlng, Ann?"
?es, Lhls ls all so much," l chuckled wlsLfully.
SLudenLs," Chabburah sald, LhaL ls enough for Loday. LeL's sLand and glve Ann a blg hand." 1he angels sLood and cheered as
Lhey clapped. All rlghL, all rlghL," he sald, seLLle down. ?ou're dlsmlssed." Pe Lurned Lo me, 1hank you, Ann. 1haL was
wonderful. 1hese sLudenLs LhoughL Lhey could noL be shocked agaln."
Why dldn'L Lhey blow Loward me as Lhey dld Loward Lhe angels who were here before me?" l asked.
Pe gave a mlghLy laugh. lL mlghL have kllled you," he sald.
1hey were passlng Lhe breaLh of Cod Lo Lhem. 1haL's Lhe hlghesL compllmenL Lhey could pay Lhe angels who were lecLurlng.
1he angels, belng splrlL as Lhey are, could recelve lL. 1hey breaLhed lL ln. 1he breaLh was as food Lo Lhem. AlLhough you are ln
splrlL here, some experlences would be beyond your capaclLy aL presenL."
Pe puL one hand behlnd Clara and one hand behlnd me as we sLarLed down Lhe sLeps Lo leave. l could Lell LhaL he was
sLrengLhenlng me as we walked. AL Lhe boLLom of Lhe sLeps sLood Lwo blond, raLher nervous-looklng angels.

1he 1wlns
Chabburah," one sald, we'd llke Lo meeL Ann."
Cf course," he sald wlLh greaL undersLandlng, almosL Lenderly. Ann, Lhese are Lhe angels whom Lhe Lord has asslgned Lo you
for Lhe revlval."
1hese angels looked seven feeL Lall, young, elghLeen Lo LwenLy years old, Lhey appeared ldenLlcal. ?ou look llke Lwlns," l sald.
?es," Lhe oLher sald, l'm 8apha, and he's 8aphashanah." 8aphashanah sald, 1hank you for sharlng wlLh us. We need as
much undersLandlng as posslble before we are on Lhe [ob."
1hank you for saylng LhaL:' l sald. l became Llred, and Chabburah felL LhaL was enough."
lL was mosL helpful," sald 8apha.
l'll be Laklng classes, maybe we could Lalk more Lhen," l added.
1hey looked aL Chabburah. Pe nodded yes. ?es," Lhey smlled broadly, we'll Lalk more Lhen."
?ou sLudenLs are golng Lo mlss your nexL class lf you don'L hurry," Chabburah sald Lo Lhem.
very well," Lhey smlled, we'll see you laLer:' and ran off.
l'm sLaylng here, Clara," Chabburah sald. And Lhank you, Ann. 1haL was mosL helpful. now, don'L forgeL, we'll send a page Lo
you when class ls Lo begln."
l'll be ready," l sald as l hugged hlm. l had never hugged an angel. 1hey do noL feel exacLly Lhe same as flesh and blood on
earLh. noL as solld, l suppose ls Lhe besL way Lo express lL, buL subsLanLlal.
See you laLer, Clara," he sald.
?es:' she replled.
Cood-bye," we boLh sald, and we sLarLed Lo walk away from Lhe plaLform. Suddenly we were aL Lhe back of Lhe audlLorlum
and exlLlng Lhe doors. 8y sLepplng onLo Lhe paLh, we were qulckly qulLe a dlsLance from Lhe Lwo bulldlngs.

Pe Comes
lmmedlaLely ahead of us on Lhe paLh was a burnlng llghL. Pundreds of splrlLs surrounded Lhls brllllance, darLlng ln and llfLlng
ouL llke eagles caLchlng heaL currenLs. 1hey were flylng wlLh Lhe llghL as lf escorLlng lL. So brlghL was Lhls greaL llghL LhaL lL
reduced Lhe splrlLs Lo sllver ouLllnes of Lhemselves ln lLs radlance. lL remlnded me of flgures passlng ln fronL of brlghL
headllghLs on a dark nlghL, alLhough here Lhere was no surroundlng darkness. LveryLhlng paled LhaL was near Lhls lnLense
brlghLness.
Clara spoke Lo me. Pe ls comlng:' she sald. Pe comes for you, Ann."
8oLh of our faces were caLchlng Lhe glow of Pls radlance. My hearL leaped wlLhln me, yeL a peace seLLled over me llke warm oll.
Clara conLlnued, We wlll be wlLh one anoLher laLer. All of your aLLenLlon needs Lo be glven Lo Plm now." She smlled Loward
Lhe llghL and vanlshed.


ChapLer 3
1he Lord !esus
Pe was comlng -my 8eloved, my lrlend. My breaLh was knocked ouL of me, and my knees wenL slack as Pe came closer. 1hen,
llke a Lree overLaken by a dusL cloud from a wlnd flurry, Lhe cloud of Pls glory engulfed me. 1he splrlLs sLlll were darLlng ln and
llfLlng ouL on Lhe perlphery, buL l could see only Plm.
8ememberlng
l had seen Plm sLandlng ln Lhe sancLuary of a church several Llmes before over a perlod of years. 1he lasL Llme was Lwo and a
half monLhs earller. Pe was sLandlng LwenLy-four feeL hlgh ln Lhe sancLuary of a church where Lhe pasLors meL for clLywlde
prayer meeLlngs. lL was ?om klppur. lor four years we had labored ln Lhe clLywlde prayer movemenL of LhaL meLropollLan area,
and we had reLurned Lo Lhe clLy for a 8lble conference afLer belng gone for a year.
AL LhaL Llme Pe sLood ln Lhe sancLuary, a ralnbow enclrcllng Plm, cloLhed ln a shlmmerlng, mulLlcolored cloak.' 1he llghL
radlaLlng from Plm looked allve. Suddenly Pe Lelescoped Lo Lhe slze of a man and spoke.
Look aL Me," Pe sald. Pls eyes, Lhough far away, suddenly were near and rlveLlng, as lf aflame.
As l looked lnLo Pls eyes, Lhe robe of vlbraLlng colors passed Lhrough Pls body, came Lo me, and enclrcled my body. l could feel
lL as well as see lL.
1hen, wlLhouL walklng, Pe came forward unLll Pe passed rlghL lnLo my body. Pe was faclng Lhe back of my head, and l was
faclng Lhe back of Pls. Pe Lurned around wlLhln my body, and we were boLh faclng ln Lhe same dlrecLlon, boLh wearlng Lhe
cloak. AfLer Lhls l had Lhe even sLranger sensaLlon of havlng someone look ouL of my eyes-!esus, noL l, was looklng ouL of my
eye sockeLs.
Suddenly Pe moved forward ouL of my body, leavlng Lhe cloak on me and reLurnlng Lo Lhe place from whlch Pe had come. ln
an lnsLanL Pe dlsappeared, and l was lefL wearlng Lhe shlmmerlng, mulLlcolored cloak.
1he experlence Lwo and a half monLhs before Lhls presenL momenL when Pe sLood before me ln heaven seemed wonderfully
sLrange and yeL very naLural. 8uL l had never undersLood whaL lL all meanL. l expecLed some change ln my llfe, some lncreased
anolnLlng, buL l found myself amazlngly Lhe same and sLunnlngly un-anolnLed, whlch was usual.

1he ueslre of All naLlons
now Pe was sLandlng before me ln aradlse.
Pow can one descrlbe Lhe ueslre of All naLlons"? lar more Lhan Lhe lmpacL of Pls physlcal appearance, Pe embodles llfe. Pls
eyes are clear blue buL as deep as a boLLomless pool. lL seems LhaL lf you could Lravel lnLo Lhose eyes, you would undersLand all
mysLerles, LhaL ln plunglng Loward Lhe boLLom of LhaL deep pool, you would pass Lhe answers Lo all Lhlngs.
Pe embodles love, llghL, and LruLh. A kaleldoscope of undersLandlngs flooded my splrlL, compuLlng fasLer Lhan llghLnlng,
causlng me Lo reacL as !ob reacLed when Lhe Lord confronLed hlm-l could only cover my mouLh.
Pe sLepped up Lo me.
Pe was smlllng broadly, as a chlldhood sweeLhearL LhaL you knew you would always, always love, buL LhaL you had noL seen
slnce chlldhood. 1he years dropped away as you saw Plm, and you were rlghL-you would always, always love Plm, no one
could ever Lake Pls place.
Pe Look my rlghL hand ln Pls lefL, whlch sLrengLhened me. Come," Pe sald. lmmedlaLely we were flylng.
1he MounLalns of Splces
aradlse began Lo pass beneaLh us. 1he splrlLs accompanylng Plm flew Lo Lhe slde and behlnd us. We were flylng up Lo an
asLonlshlng mounLaln range. 1he color of each mounLaln varled. As we drew closer, l reallzed LhaL Lhe flrsL mounLaln emlLLed
an aroma.
Where are we, Lord?" l asked.
?ou have ofLen called Me Lo Lhe mounLalns of splces," Pe sald. We are here."
AromaLlc splces were growlng on Lhese mounLalns. 1he colors, as well as Lhe aromas, varled from mounLaln Lo mounLaln.

1he laLher's uellghL
1hese are for your laLher's dellghL," !esus sald, and for Lhe dellghL of Pls chlldren. 1hey brlng [oy." WlLhouL Lurnlng Pls head
Lo look aL me, Pe asked, uo you wlsh Lo brlng [oy?"
?es," l answered.
!esus responded, Cbedlence brlngs [oy Lo My laLher, hollness of hearL, Lhankfulness, LruLh wlLh mercy. Lach ls llke a splce.
Lach has a fragrance. CollecLlvely Lhe aromas are pleaslng Lo My laLher. 1he aromas speak of Me Lo Plm, noL [usL one splce buL
Lhe aroma of Lhe blend as one passes from mounLaln Lo mounLaln. 1ogeLher Lhey wlLness of Me, and Lhls pleases My laLher.
Also Lhe aroma of Lhese splces comlng from Pls adopLed chlldren speaks of Me, and Pe ls pleased."
As we passed over each mounLaln, wave upon wave of Lhe mosL LanLallzlngly dellclous smells washed over me. 1hen some of
Lhe parLlcular splces growlng from each flew up lnLo my free arm and hand. As we passed over Lhe LwelfLh mounLaln, my arm
and hand were full of Lhe compleLe complemenL of aromaLlc splces from Lhe mounLaln range, Lhe smell was beyond Compare.
l breaLhed ln deeply and felL permeaLed wlLh Lhe aroma, l could almosL LasLe Lhe fragrance.
Suddenly l wanLed Lo glve ouL LhaL whlch had come Lo me. l flung Lhe splces up lnLo Lhe alr, and Lhey became whlLe doves.
My covenanL of peace," !esus sald.
8efore my eyes l could see Lhe whole earLh as lf l were Lhe dlsLance of a saLelllLe from lL. 1he doves flew and became flames of
flre resLlng over Lhe whole earLh.'
1he plcLure before my eyes so lnLrlgued me LhaL l dld noL reallze LhaL Lhe splrlLs had dlsappeared and LhaL !esus and l were
comlng down lnLo a walled garden.

1he Walled Carden
1he enclosure seemed Lo be a prlvaLe garden." lL was noL exLremely large, buL lL was large enough Lo have a varleLy of Lrees as
a parL of lLs planLlng: Lhe pomegranaLe, myrLle, and cedar, Lhe balsam, clnnamon, franklncense, myrrh, and aloe.
1he garden was ln Lhe full bloom of sprlng wlLh narclssus and [onqulls ln Lhe beds and vlnes of yellow [asmlne and purple
wlsLerla lnLerLwlned on Lhe sLone wall.
1here was a Lhree-Llered founLaln ln Lhe cenLer of Lhe garden wlLh a bench near lL. 1he bench was under a very large aprlcoL
Lree, whlch resembled more an oak Lhan a frulL Lree. lL was ln bloom also and exuded a lovely, lnvlgoraLlng scenL.
Cur feeL came Lo resL on Lhe ground near Lhe founLaln.
WhaL a lovely garden:' l sald.
?es," Pe smlled, allowlng Pls eyes Lo scan Lhe area llghLly. l en[oy walklng here."
Suddenly lnLo my mlnd came a phrase from Lhe Song of Solomon: unLll Lhe cool of Lhe day when Lhe shadows flee away. lL
was cool here, and cerLalnly Lhere were no shadows. uld LhaL song speak of aradlse?
We began Lo walk

A Carden for Lovers
1he paLh clrcled Lhe garden, wlLh planLlngs and beds near Lhe wall as well as on Lhe opposlLe slde of Lhe paLh ln Lhe cenLer of
Lhe garden. Camphlre (henna) was bloomlng Lhere, and Lhe sLar-of-8eLhlehem, blue flax, and Lhe scarleL llly were bloomlng ln
beds near lL.
Who Lends Lhls garden?" l asked. ?ou do," Pe answered.
l Lend Lhls garden?" l exclalmed wlLh asLonlshmenL.
?es," Pe replled.
l looked over Lhe garden. l felL LhaL l had been here before, buL Lhe feellng was an eluslve lmpresslon, raLher llke Lrylng Lo plece
LogeLher a dream when you only remember snaLches of lL. l could noL brlng lL lnLo clear focus.
Would ?ou Lell me of Lhls garden, Lord?" l asked flnally.
Lach such garden ls dlfferenL. Lach ls unlque, and l dellghL ln each." Pe paused before speaklng agaln. uo you en[oy belng
here?" Pe asked.
?es, lL's..." l could noL flnd Lhe words.
?es:' Pe agreed.
We came Lo a sprlng LhaL flowed from a rock ln Lhe garden. Spannlng Lhe waLer was an arch of a brldge LhaL seemed only wlde
enough for Lwo people. As l LhoughL abouL lL, Lhe bench near Lhe founLaln also seemed only wlde enough Lo seaL Lwo. erhaps
Lhls was a garden for lovers. As we crossed Lhe brldge, l could smell Lhe scenLed calamus LhaL grew on Lhe banks by Lhe waLer.

Pls 8urden
uo ?ou become Llred?" l asked.
1here ls a burden ln My hearL for manklnd," Pe replled. l wlll bear Lhls burden unLll all ls compleLed, buL Lhls ls noL llke Lhe
body faLlgulng and needlng resL. no, l do noL Llre as Lhose who are housed ln Lhe flesh Llre."
uo ?ou geL lonely?" l asked.
l long for compleLlon, buL LhaL ls noL lonellness.' Lonellness comes from unfulfllled deslres, passlons LhaL cause one Lo seek Lo
llve ln Lhe fuLure Lhrough a deslre for fulflllmenL. l llve ln Lhe presenL. l am concerned wlLh LhaL whlch ls now. All Lhlngs are
compleLe here. . . alLhough lncompleLe momenL by momenL. l long for Lhe compleLlon of Lhls glfL Lo My laLher, LhaL Pe may be
glorlfled as well as pleased.' Pe loves havlng Pls chlldren around Plm. WhaL saLlsfacLlon ls greaLer: a crown upon Lhe head, a
smlle ln Lhe hearL, a [oy LhaL ls beyond compare"
We passed beds of saffron and nard. l remembered LhaL on earLh Lhese were of greaL worLh.
Pe conLlnued, 1he eyes of Lhose ln SaLan's klngdom are bllnd Lo My laLher, as well as Lo Me, buL Lhey are open Lo and aware
of Lhelr subslsLence comlng from Lhe evll one. Pe Loo has glfLs, and he dlsplays Lhem. 1he harloL sLands ln Lhe doorway and
beckons Lhe nalve: 'Come ln, my bed ls scenLed wlLh all manner of splces and balms. ?our sleep wlll be sweeL.'
8uL lL wlll noL be sweeL. A Lhousand LormenLs embrace Lhe one on LhaL bed, a Lhousand hearLaches LhaL can never be saLlsfled
lle wlLh Lhe nalve on LhaL bed. 1rue love sprlngs forLh from Cod, a never-ceaslng founLaln fed by sprlngs of llvlng waLer wlLhln
Lhe Codhead.' l am LhaL Sprlng. l am LhaL lounLaln. l AM."
8y now we had clrcled half of Lhe garden and were back aL Lhe cenLer founLaln. We saL on Lhe bench.
Lord," l sald, show me someLhlng preclous ln ?our slghL." Pe opened Pls hand, and ln lL was a Lear. ln Lhls Lear ls a world, a
unlverse, an lnflnlLy of love. ln Lhls Lear ls Lhe unA, as lL were, of a loved one's splrlLual genes. ln Lhls Lear are salL and llghL. l
can look lnLo Lhls Lear and see Lhe face of Cod, for lL ls clear. l can look Lhrough lL Lo Plm who blrLhs Lhe unlverse. 1hls Lear ls
very preclous Lo Me."
We boLh looked aL Lhe Lear, and Lhen Pe closed Pls hand and conLlnued, Close your eyes and hold ouL your hand."
l closed my eyes, and Pe placed lnLo my hand someLhlng smooLh.
now open your eyes."

A new name
l opened my eyes and my rlghL hand Lo look aL a smooLh, whlLe sLone wlLh Lhe name Anna engraved upon lL.
?our new name," Pe sald.' l am addlng Lhe breaLh of llfe Lo your name. Pere you wlll be called Anna."
Anna' l sald Lo myself.
now, Anna, My slsLer and My love, our names have been [olned ln covenanL."
1hank ?ou," l sald, holdlng Lhe sLone Lo my hearL.
l have been walLlng for you, Anna. 1he lonellness you experlenced ls noLhlng compared Lo Lhe hearLache l experlenced as l
walLed for you, seelng you run afLer all manner of ldols Lo seek saLlsfacLlon." Pe looked ouL lnLo Lhe garden. Pow l called Lo
you." 1here was paln ln Pls volce. ?ear afLer year you dallled, and l grleved, walLlng for you Lo reallze LhaL no one can, nor
ever wlll, brlng you llfe lLself buL Me alone."
Pls words sLruck me Lo Lhe hearL. My Lord and my Cod' l sald quleLly, no one has ever loved me as ?ou have..." l was choked
wlLh emoLlon. Slowly l conLlnued, nor ever deslred my company as.. . , buL l could noL flnlsh.
none of flesh and blood can, Anna, for you belong Lo Me."
Pe looked me ln Lhe eye, and Pls eyes plerced Lhrough me. l creaLed you for Myself, and only l can saLlsfy you Lruly and fully."

A ClfL Lo Cod
l dld noL know whaL Lo say. l searched, Lrylng Lo Lhlnk of some reply. llnally l asked, lf l am creaLed for ?ou, Lord, whaL can l do
for ?ou? Pow . . . , l groped for Lhe words Lo convey LhaL l wanLed Lo glve a glfL Lo Plm. Pow do l glve someLhlng Lo ?ou?"
Pe searched my face for a momenL and Lhen smlled. Slng for Me, Anna, LhaL would comforL Me." Pe leaned back agalnsL Lhe
large, aprlcoL Lree and closed Pls eyes.
l dld noL know whaL Lo slng. l swallowed hard. 1hen l looked ouL over Lhe garden and prayed wlLhln myself. Soon, wlLhouL
knowlng whaL l would say, l began Lo slng:
Where golden llghL becomes Lhe red,
And red becomes Lhe whlLe,
8urnlng wlLh Lhe zeal of love,
A land devold of nlghL,
owerlng Lhe unlverse
lrom sLar Lo dlsLanL sLar,
Consume Lhe dross, C AnclenL Cne,
LeL no aberrance mar
All LhaL belongs Lo ?ou alone,
CreaLed by ?our word,
All LhaL ls seen and undersLood,
All hldden and unheard.
Consume Lhe sln, C AnclenL Cne,
Conslgn lL Lo Lhe nlghL,
lor us Lhere's oneness wlLh our Cod,
1he LverlasLlng LlghL.
no shadow dare exalL lLself,
no darkness dare dlsplay,
Where Cod LLernal rules and relgns
1he land of endless day.
ralse Plm, all you heavenly hosL,
ralse Plm, Sons of men.
1urn your faces Loward Lhe Son,
Cod's ?ea" and Pls Amen."
l had never heard LhaL song before. AL lLs compleLlon l saL amazed. My rlghL hand came up Lo cover my mouLh.

1haL Whlch ls Comlng
1here was a long pause afLer Lhe song ended. llnally Pe spoke, 8efore Lhe cock crows, Anna, Lhree sLages of beLrayal wlll have
been accompllshed agalnsL Me ln Lhe world. 8eLrayal ls mulLlplylng, and many wlll be seduced by Lhelr own fear and need for
survlval. 1hey wlll beLray Lo save Lhemselves."
Lord, unless ?ou glve us Lhe grace, we wlll all beLray ?ou. Who ls sLrong enough Lo Lhlnk he can sLand? ?ou musL sLrengLhen us.
unless ?ou rlse up Lo pass Lhese LesLs. . . , l was momenLarlly speechless aL Lhe LhoughL, ...who would noL, for Lhe sllghLesL
reason, beLray ?ou? Pelp us! 8lse up wlLhln us, Lord. uo noL leL us sln agalnsL ?ou."
Pe opened Pls eyes and Lurned Pls head Lo look aL me. l have heard Lhls, Anna." Pe conLlnued Lo look aL me sllenLly, as lf
medlLaLlng upon my feaLures. 1hen Pe saL up sLralghL and sald, Walk wlLh Me Lo Lhe gaLe." Pe rose from Lhe bench and
helped me Lo sLand also. We walked sllenLly Lo Lhe golden flllgree gaLe. 1he Lwo doors of Lhe gaLe opened as we approached.
We walked ouL, and Pe closed Lhe gaLes, looklng lnLo Lhe quleL garden wlLhln Lhe wall.
lL ls very beauLlful here," l sald, also looklng back aL Lhe garden.

1he Colden key
!esus Lurned and handed me a golden key Lo Lhe gaLe's lock. Pere ls Lhe key' Pe sald. Co ln whenever you llke." 1he key was
large and anLlque ln deslgn. lL hung on a red cord. Pere," Pe conLlnued, and Pe dropped Lhe cord wlLh Lhe key on lL over my
head.
Wlll ?ou meeL me here?" l asked.
unlock Lhe gaLe, and l wlll meeL you here," Pe smlled.
l looked agaln aL Lhe garden.
Whenever you wlsh," Pe repeaLed, meeL Me here." And Lhen Pe dlsappeared.
l looked down aL Lhe whlLe sLone ln my hand and Lhe golden key resLlng on Lhe area of my hearL.
lL was Lhen LhaL l heard Lhe sound of slnglng, falnLly aL flrsL. lL was Lhe sorL of slnglng you mlghL hear lf your moLher was
maklng bread ln Lhe klLchen on a cold wlnLer's day. l Lurned Loward Lhe sound and saw a brlghL llghL. ln Lhe cenLer of Lhls llghL
saL a group of splrlLs.
1he paLh lay rlghL near Lhem. l sLepped onLo Lhe paLh Lo approach Lhem.


ChapLer 6
1he Lagle's nesL
1he llghL was whlLe and lnLense as Lhe lncubaLlng" llghL ln Lhe parLs deparLmenL. WlLhln Lhe llghL, four splrlLs saL LogeLher
worklng. lnLermlLLenLly each would reach up and Lake a blue rlbbon from Lhe alr as lL floaLed lnLo Lhe llghL. 1he rlbbons also
seemed charged wlLh llghL as Lhe splrlLs began Lo roll Lhem onLo large, sllver spools. 1hen, wlLh Lhe rlbbons wrapped, Lhey
would place Lhe spools onLo equally large, sllver splndles LhaL were suspended ln mldalr.

SplrlLs of Lhe Spools and Splndles
1hese splrlLs were noL solld ln appearance. 1hey were closer Lo belng LransparenL, buL a blulsh-sllver llghL ouLllned Lhelr forms.
1helr shape was LhaL of human belngs. Powever, Lhe llghL ln whlch Lhey worked made lL dlfflculL Lo see Lhelr faclal feaLures
dlsLlncLly.
1hey dld noL seem Lo noLlce me as Lhey sang LogeLher whlle Lhey worked:
Lvery llLLle seam,
Lvery llLLle seam
Sewn wlLh Lhe Lhread of llfe,
Lvery llLLle seam
!olns Lhe llvlng sLream
llowlng Lo Lhe rlver of llfe.
1hen, wlLhouL Lurnlng, Lhey acknowledged me. Pello, Anna," a splrlL spoke from all LhaL llghL. WaLchlng?"
?es," l sald.
We are geLLlng Lhe rlbbons LogeLher for sewlng. 1hey represenL Lhe varlous sLreams LhaL flow from Lhe greaL rlver of llfe and
back lnLo lL, even as Lhe waLers on earLh flow ln and ouL buL do noL overwhelm Lhe land."
1hese sLreams are Cod's people," anoLher splrlL sald. 1hey come from Plm and flow back Lo Plm, Lhe greaL Source."
8uL Lhey need Lo be sewn LogeLher," anoLher sald, looklng Loward me as lf suggesLlng my parLlclpaLlon.
l'm noL a very good seamsLress," l laughed llghLly.
1he needle here ls Lhe sword noL of man. 1he sLreams are belng sewn LogeLher by Lhe SplrlL of Cod Plmself so LhaL Lhe laLher
mlghL re[olce Lo see Pls clLy fllled wlLh Lhose who love Pls Son and one anoLher. Lven Lhe clLy lLself ls made glad."
?ou are called Lo sew wlLh such a needle, Anna' Lhe flrsL splrlL sald. 1haL we do know."
We are placlng Lhe spools of rlbbon on splndles so LhaL Lhey wlll unravel easlly when ready Lo. be broughL LogeLher," Lhe
fourLh splrlL added.
ls Lhere some slgnlflcance Lo placlng Lhem on splndles?" l asked.

Cll lrom Peaven
1he splrlLs smlled aL one anoLher and sang:
1here ls oll ln Lhe splndles,
Cll rlghL from Cod.
1here ls oll from Lhe SplrlL of Cod.
1here ls oll llke a gusher,
Cll from Lhe sky,
Cll LhaL's been hldden unLll now.
Pum-hum, oll from on hlgh,
Cll LhaL's been hldden unLll now.
Pum-hum, oll of Lhe SplrlL,
Cll LhaL's been hldden unLll now.
Cne of Lhe splrlLs Lurned Lo me and sald, 1hese rlbbons are belng placed on splndles for you and oLhers who wlll use Lhe
sword as a needle Lo prepare for Lhe gusher."
1hen Lhey sang:
Sew Lhe sLreams LogeLher
And caLch Lhe sacred oll,
And, oh, leL lL noL be
used for Lhe profane.
?our laLher has Lhe answers Lo Lhe quesLlons ln your hearL," Lhe Lhlrd splrlL smlled. We are Lhose who wrap Lhe spools and
puL Lhem onLo Lhe splndles."

8lbbons of 8lue
1hey are all blue rlbbons," l sald.
?es, each became a sLream when revelaLlon came concernlng a greaL LruLh abouL our Cod. 8uL a LruLh abouL Plm ls noL Plm,"
Lhe flrsL splrlL added. AlLhough Lhe rlbbons are belng wrapped on lndlvldual spools, Lhey are abouL Lo be sewn LogeLher lnLo a
rlver llke Lhe rlver of llfe from whlch Lhey came."
As we see Lhe Lord brlnglng lnLo compleLlon all Lhlngs relaLlng Lo Lhese Llmes and seasons, we re[olce Lo be a parL of Pls greaL
roundup," Lhe second splrlL smlled.

1he WhlLe Lagle
Suddenly Lhe wlngs of a large blrd passed over me.
1he splrlLs Lo whom l was speaklng looked up and rose Lo Lhelr feeL lmmedlaLely. l Loo looked up and saw a large, LoLally whlLe
Lagle. Pe was powerful, flerce, and ma[esLlc ln fllghL. l had never heard of a compleLely whlLe eagle.
SLreLch ouL your hands," Pe sald as Pe began Pls descenL.
1he splrlLs bowed Loward Lhe Lagle. l dld noL know whaL Lo do buL Lo sLreLch ouL my hands. 1he Lagle, as large as l, backed lnLo
me so LhaL Pls eyes and beak were where my face was. 1hen [usL as qulckly Pe was before me agaln, wlLh Pls eyes plerclng lnLo
mlne.
l gasped.
!usL as qulckly, Lhe Lagle changed lnLo Lhe Lord. Pe sald, 1hls ls so you may know LhaL 'Lhe LesLlmony of !esus ls Lhe splrlL of
prophecy." 1hen Pe became Lhe whlLe Lagle agaln. Come," Pe sald.
l puL my arms around Pls neck, and we flew upward. l dld noL even Lhlnk Lo say good-bye Lo Lhe splrlLs who were wrapplng Lhe
spools. As l lay down wlLh my arms around Pls neck and my head near Lhe back of Pls head, l could feel Lhe moLlon of flylng
beneaLh me. Pls feaLhers were snowy, and Pls scenL made me wanL Lo bury my face deep wlLhln Pls feaLhers. 8eneaLh Lhe
whlLe feaLhers Lhe greaL Lagle's skln looked llke pure gold.

Pls nesL
We came qulckly Lo an ouLcropplng of rock near Lhe Lop of a mounLaln. An eagle's nesL was poslLloned on Lhls rocky LhrusL. 1he
nesL was large, perhaps flve feeL across, and made of sLrong Lree branches. l cllmbed from Pls back and sLepped down onLo
small, downy feaLhers wlLhln Lhe nesL. 1he whlLe Lagle perched on Lhe nesL's rlm.
We were on earLh.
1he vlew of Lhe clrcllng mounLaln range and valley below was breaLhLaklng, buL l dld noL know where we were. 1he alr was
clean Lhere, and Lhe vlew from such a hlgh ledge was sweeplng ln lLs expanse. 1he mounLalns and Lhe valleys were lush and
green. 1here were passlng clouds and shadows from Lhe slanL of Lhe sun. 8eauLlful-buL lL was noL aradlse.
As l vlewed Lhe surroundlng mounLaln range, a sLrlng of very large paper dolls floaLed by.
1he greaL Lagle spoke, So much of whaL ls happenlng now ln Lhe body of ChrlsL ls llke paper dolls-one copylng Lhe oLher."
1he paper dolls dlsappeared, and an eagle of pure gold flew by. l am looklng for an eagle of gold, Anna-rare beyond
measure." As Pe spoke, power llke a surge of elecLrlclLy ran all over Lhe eagle of gold. lL became pure whlLe, llke Lhe greaL
whlLe Lagle. 1he golden eagle becomes llke Me," Pe sald.
1hen a llne of large, paper, cuL-ouL eagles floaLed across Lhe mounLaln range. 1hey were hooked LogeLher as Lhe floaLlng paper
dolls had been.

1he WhlLe Lagle's lnvlLaLlon
Pe conLlnued, 1here are many eagles, for l am generous wlLh Lhe glfL of Lhe Poly SplrlL.' 8uL, Anna, l am glvlng you an
lnvlLaLlon Lo become an eagle of gold."
Suddenly l saw a rockeL blasL off from Lhe earLh and shooL lnLo heaven. 1he greaL Lagle conLlnued, 1he golden eagle's nesL ls
ln heaven. 1he golden eagle does noL even eaL earLhly food. lL feeds above. 1he paper doll eagles caLch flsh, klll snakes, chase
rabblLs, buL Lhe eagle of gold breaLhes Lhe eLher above. lL does noL seek afLer or eaL carrlon. 1he golden eagle eaLs from Lhe
hand of Cod unLll lL looks and smells and ls llke Me-pure whlLe. 1here are many LhaL look llke Me, buL you musL eaL from Lhe
hand of Cod Lo be llke Me."
Pls eyes were aflame now. Wlll you fly wlLh Me, Anna, over sLreeLs of gold? Wlll you fly wlLh Me over lakes so clear LhaL Lhe
boLLom ls as Lhe Lop? Leave Lhe snakes, Lhe bugs, Lhe rabblLs runnlng rabblL Lralls. Come wlLh Me and feed from Lhe hand of
Cod."
l paused Lo conslder my answer-and Pe was gone."

8ack ln aradlse
l found myself back ln aradlse, seaLed alone on a hlgh hlll.
uld l pause Loo long Lo conLemplaLe, welghlng Pls passlon agalnsL my lnerLla? Was l fearful? Cf whaL? WhaL kepL me from
leaplng up ln my splrlL and shouLlng, ?es! l accepL Lhe lnvlLaLlon! 1ake me Lo ?our resLlng place above and make of me an
eagle of gold. l wanL Lo eaL from Lhe hand of Cod. l yearn for Lhe lnLlmacy ?ou are offerlng." Why dld l heslLaLe?
now from LhaL place of sollLude on Lhe hlll ln aradlse, my hearL crled ouL, C Cod, l long for ?ou alone. uo whaL ?ou wlll wlLh
me, for l am ?ours. ?ours alone! ?ours alone!" 1here was such longlng ln my hearL's cry LhaL l expecLed Lo see Plm charglng
over Lhe hlllLop on a whlLe horse ln response, buL Pe dld noL.
lnsLead, sllence.

asslng ralse
1hen, almosL lmpercepLlbly aL flrsL, l heard volces ln Lhe dlsLance slnglng pralses Lo Cod. 1he muslc came closer, buL l could see
no one. lnsLrumenLs [olned Lhe song LhaL now sounded as lf lL were belng sung by a mulLlLude of volces. 1he pralse was rolllng
along llke a flash flood ln a wadl. AlLhough l could see no one, Lhe pralse seemed Lo be passlng before me on Lhls hlll and
movlng ln Lhe dlrecLlon of Lhe paLh below. My ears caughL Lhe words of Lhe slnglng:
LeL my llfe exLol Lhe llvlng Cod,
1he laLher of all llghL.
lrom Lhe ends of Lhe earLh Lhrough Lhe unlverse,
LxLol Pls mercy and mlghL.
lorever ls noL long enough
1o pralse Pls glorlous name,
1he forever of forever
1o shouL Pls glory and fame.
C celesLlal courL, Lhrow down your crowns
'neaLh Lhe ruler of Lhe earLh.
Llvlng creaLures, slng your songs
1o Lhe klng of Lhe unlverse.
o [oy unspeakable, [oy foreLold,
Lver new and ever old,
8efore Lhe laLher's Lhrone be bold
1o llfL your songs of pralse.
1hen l saw one angel afLer anoLher [oln Lhemselves Lo Lhls pralse, seemlngly rldlng along on lL. 1hey would rlse when Lhe muslc
would rlse, and sank down when Lhe muslc lowered, llke Lhe Lall of a klLe. LvldenLly Lhey could see Lhe pralse, alLhough l could
noL, because Lhey looked as Lhough Lhey were Louchlng lL and belng carrled along.
1hen, from near me on Lhe hlll, came Lhe clear, pure sound of a fluLe. l Lurned Lo see an exqulslLe angel dressed ln green
playlng Lhe lnsLrumenL. Per eyes were closed ln worshlp, and l knew LhaL Lhe muslc she was playlng was [olnlng Lhe pralse
passlng before my eyes.


ChapLer 7
Cbedlence
1he angel saL cross-legged on Lhe ground playlng a golden fluLe. Per halr was a rlch auburn and plalLed lnLo seven large loops
LhaL were lnLerlaced wlLh gold. She wore a gossamer, green under Lunlc bound wlLh a golden glrdle, and a cloak wlLh long
sleeves, whlch was also green.
WlLhln Lhe sleeves of Lhe ouLer garmenL were overslzed pockeLs conLalnlng all manner of lnsLrumenLs used ln Lhe arLs- all of
gold. 1here were varlous muslcal lnsLrumenLs, palnL brushes, muslcal scores, balleL shoes, a qulll pen-all wlLhln Lhe sleeves.
Per neck and hands had a sllghL LlnL of gold and so dld Lhe small porLlon of her bare feeL LhaL l could see.
Secured around her head was a golden cord, ln Lhe cenLer of Lhe cord was a small golden box. 1he box was ln Lhe mlddle of her
forehead and slmllar Lo a fronLleL for Lhe houslng of ScrlpLure.
LvenLually she lowered Lhe fluLe and opened her eyes peacefully, as one mlghL who ls sLlll rapL ln conLemplaLlon. 1hen Lurnlng
her face Loward me, she smlled. ralse Plm," she sald. Per volce was genLle and melodlous, and her eyes a llmpld green.
l was Loo dlsquleLed ln splrlL Lo share her peace, for LhoughLs were raclng Lhrough my mlnd-wlLh no resoluLlon.

1he Angel !udy
She smlled agaln, knowlngly Lhls Llme, buL dld noL address my prlvaLe confllcL. l am !udy," she sald, one who pralses."
Pello, !udy," l sald wlLhouL much enLhuslasm, l am Anna."
l know who you are," she smlled, for l am asslgned Lo you Lo asslsL you ln pralse of our Cod."
Asslgned Lo me for pralse?" l asked. 1hen exclLedly l gesLured Loward Lhe space ln mldalr, l saw..."
?es," she sald, angels Lravellng on pralse."
1ravellng on pralse?"
?es," she relLeraLed, placlng Lhe fluLe lnLo one of her overslzed pockeLs.
l do noL undersLand."
ralse has ln lL parL of Lhe hearL and parL of Lhe splrlL senL forLh, and so lL ls Langlble Lo us ln Lhls world of Lrue llghL, llfe, and
splrlL. 1o us here, pralse ls as subsLanLlve as a Lrolley on earLh, you mlghL say. ?ou [oln yourself Lo lL, and lL wlll carry you along.
lL can Lake you for a rlde," she laughed lllLlngly, and Lhe one [olned Lo lL adds Lo lL."
l Lurned my eyes Lo look ouL over Lhe valley. Pow could Lhls be? l quesLloned wlLhln myself. 1hen l began Lo Lhlnk, ?es, yes, l
can undersLand LhaL. l know LhaL f someone leads worshlp wlLh an anolnLlng on earLh, lL can llfL you ln splrlL Lo LhaL person's
level of pralse. 1he oLher's anolnLlng carrles you wlLh lL, and you add your volce Lo Lhe worshlp belng ralsed Lo Cod. ?es, l can
see LhaL.
Slnce all such pralse Lravels Lo Lhe laLher," she conLlnued, lL ls llke caLchlng a rlde on a passlng Lrolley and en[oylng Lhe rlde
Lo Lhe Lhrone room. lf Lhe angels do noL rlde all Lhe way Lhere, sLlll Lhey have added an lmprlnL Lo Lhe pralse. 1herefore, Lhey
Loo have parLlclpaLed, lf ever so brlefly."
1he sound of a slngle vlolln began Lo pass by. 1he vlolln was playlng a Lender, unaccompanled melody. A slngle angel was
Lravellng wlLh Lhe adoraLlon belng expressed Lhrough Lhls lnsLrumenL and was addlng Lo lL.
Some pralse on earLh ls llke a quleL sLream, as ls Lhls," she smlled.
lrom a dlsLance l could hear Lhe sound of many volces slnglng. 1he sound was movlng swlfLly ln our dlrecLlon.
Some worshlp ls llke a Lldal wave," she sald. All of lL glves Lo Lhe angels a [oy Lhey would noL have lf manklnd dld noL llfL up
pralses Lo Cod."
1he sound was comlng more qulckly now, rolllng Loward us. As lL drew nearer, l could sense my splrlL rlslng Lo [oln such exalLed
worshlp. lL llfLed us sponLaneously Lo our feeL. !udy ralsed her hands, LllLed her head back, and [olned Lhe song:
Angels ln Lhelr glory
Can never Louch Lhe flame,
1he flre, pure lncandescence,
1haL burns wlLhln ?our name.
LeL Lhem gaze ln wonder,
ln awe, as Lhey proclalm:
Poly Cod, Lhough ever new,
LLernally Lhe same."
lrlghLened, frozen, feLLered.
1hose who seek Lo flghL,
numbed and gnawed and naked,
1hose who choose Lhe nlghL.
8uL we are covered by Pls love,
8eneaLh Pls banner sLand,
Pldden ln Lhe 8ock above,
ShelLered by Pls hand.
Angels ln Lhelr glory
Can never Louch Lhe flame,
1he flre, pure lncandescence,
1haL burns wlLhln ?our name.
LeL Lhem gaze ln wonder,
ln awe, as Lhey proclalm:
Poly Cod, Lhough ever new,
LLernally Lhe same."
ln an ecsLasy of devoLlon, !udy rose lnLo Lhe alr from her place on Lhe hlll and began Lo move Loward Lhe passlng pralse.
1ake Lhe paLh Lo flnd Lhe Lord," she called, and she was swepL along ln Lhe Lldal wave of worshlp surglng Loward Lhe Lhrone.
1he dlsappearlng pralse conLlnued Lo engage my splrlL. llnally l opened my eyes and reallzed LhaL she had glven me Lhe answer
l needed. l hurrled down Lhe hlll Lo Lhe paLh and began runnlng ln Lhe dlrecLlon of Lhe vanlshlng pralse.

Cbedlence
As l hasLened, l heard Lhe volce of !esus say very clearly, Cbedlence, Anna."
l sLopped ln my Lracks.
Pe conLlnued, l dellghL Lo show you your heavenly home, buL for your safeLy, you musL be Lralned ln obedlence. 1here are
grave dangers. All doors Lo Lhe enemy musL be shuL."
As l sLood ln wonder aL Lhe gravlLy of whaL Pe had sald, an angel appeared on Lhe paLh beslde me.
1he angel began Lalklng Lo me as Lhough he were conLlnulng some conversaLlon we had already begun, gesLurlng wlLh hls hand
Loward Cod's park. All of Lhls ls for Lhe chlldren of Cod, buL you, Anna, have chosen Lo eaL from Lhe hand of Cod. ?ou musL
love your laLher enough Lo choose obedlence raLher Lhan graLlflcaLlons on earLh.' Choose Plm mlnuLe by mlnuLe. ?ou are
careless wlLh Pls glfLs, and you are careless wlLh Pls love for you."
Pls over famlllarlLy sLunned me, as well as hls knowledge of a declslon l had only recenLly made, buL yes, l was careless. As Lhe
Lord had drawn me lnLo a deeper walk wlLh Plm, Lhose Lhlngs permlsslble a year or even a monLh ago were now no longer
allowable. Somehow l could no longer geL by wlLh Lhem, buL l sLlll lapsed lnLo many of Lhese faulLs.

1he 1houghL Llfe
Lluslve slns caused me Lo pay a hlgh prlce ln my relaLlonshlp wlLh Lhe Lord. l LhoughL Lo myself, LeL Lhe wlcked forsake hls way
and Lhe unrlghLeous man hls LhoughLs." l had moved from Lhe way" caLegory Lo Lhe LhoughLs." My mlnd dld noL focus on un-
forglveness or coveLousness or such obvlous slns.
My slns now were ln engaglng my mlnd ln some area where l was noL called, or ln leLLlng my mlnd dwell on Lhe pasL, or ln
maklng a [udgmenL LhaL was ouL of my boundary of responslblllLy.
My llfe had become very consLralned lndeed. lf l walked wlLhouL Lurnlng Lo Lhe rlghL or Lhe lefL, l remalned ln Lhe flow of Cod's
grace. Any LhoughLs LhaL were valn ln Lhelr lmaglnaLlons" caused my mlnd Lo run ln grooves around a Lrack.' Such LhoughLs
were drlven by LormenLors lL seemed.' 8uL l found LhaL l could sLop Lhem by repeaLedly caLchlng myself and halLlng Lhe Lraln of
LhoughL as l began Lo Lhlnk on such valn LhoughLs.
Cf course, Lhese LhoughLs would LlpLoe back ln, needlng Lo be run ouL Llme and Llme agaln. 1herefore l was halLlng Lhem and
Lhrowlng Lhem ouL, sLandlng agalnsL Lhem wlLh my wlll, as lf my shoulder were agalnsL Lhe door of access.
SLlll l was careless, as he had sald, and was menLally runnlng around many Lracks ln LormenL and wearlness unLll each LhoughL
was Laken capLlve Lo ChrlsL. Larller ln my llfe wlLh ChrlsL, my mlnd could usually do as lL pleased, buL noL now)
narrow and narrower was Lhe way, buL ln Lhls obedlence Lo
Pls Word was llfe.

1he Angel Shama
WlLhouL mlsslng a beaL, Lhe angel on Lhe paLh beslde me sald, l am Shama."
l saw no reason Lo glve my name, for he seemed Lo know almosL as much abouL me as l dld myself.
Shall we walk?" he conLlnued.
AlmosL sLumbllng, l moved forward.
Pe had long, sLralghL, sllver halr LhaL was caughL aL Lhe base of hls head and hung down hls back. Pe was very muscular, and
alLhough hls halr was sllver, he looked perhaps forLy. Pe wore a full-lengLh whlLe robe, whlch looked as Lhough lL had been
sLalned wlLh blood or Lhe [ulce of red grapes. 1hls sLaln was on Lhe hem of Lhe robe and on Lhe cuffs of Lhe long sleeves,
dlscolorlng Lhe garmenL Lo Lhe knees and elbows.
?ou dellghL ln Cod," he conLlnued. l have waLched you and have seen LhaL you deslre nearness Lo Plm. Powever, do you noL
know LhaL dlsobedlence creaLes a wall beLween you and Plm. lL ls a wall of your own maklng because you cannoL curb your
naLural deslres. Pe wlll replace wlLh Plmself every dellghL you push away, Anna." ln looklng aL me, hls eyes caughL slghL of a hlll
sllghLly beyond us. Come wlLh me," he sald.
As we walked up Lhe hlll, he conLlnued, 1here ls a Lype of sufferlng ln obedlence, buL Lhe rewards far, far ouLwelgh Lhe pal n."

1he roLoLypes Above
lrom Lhe Lop of Lhe hlll, we could see a broad plaln below.
Perds of varlous klnds of creaLures were grazlng, among Lhem were prehlsLorlc anlmals.
My hands wenL Lo my face ln amazemenL.
Peaven lLself ls llke an ark, Anna," he sald. 1hese anlmals do noL have resurrecLed bodles buL were parL of Lhe heavenly
klngdom before Lhe earLh was creaLed."
MagnlflcenL," l whlspered.
Aren'L Lhey?" he sald, observlng Lhe scene. 1hen, almosL wlLh a slgh, he conLlnued, LeL's reLurn Lo Lhe paLh." Pe was sllghLly
ahead of me golng down Lhe hlll, and he asslsLed me wlLh Lhe lncllne.
uo you have halr?" l asked hlm.
lL looks llke halr:' he sald. We are creaLures of llghL. We are splrlL, Anna. We are noL flesh and blood as humans are. Some of
us ln servlce Lo Lhe klng look llke humans, buL some do noL."
We reLurned Lo Lhe paLh and conLlnued Lo walk. We can change our appearance," Lhe angel sald, whereas you cannoL. We
are known by Lhe essence of whaL we are, noL by our ouLward appearance. Cn earLh Lhls ls ofLen reversed, ls lL noL? Pumans
ofLen dwell upon appearances."
?ou seem Lo know me," l querled.
l know you beLLer Lhan you know me," Lhe angel laughed.

1he SLalned 8obe
Why ls your robe sLalned aL Lhe boLLom and on Lhe sleeves?"
l am called Lo asslsL ln chlld Lralnlng-Lhe klnd LhaL squeezes Lhe chlld-llke belng ln a wlne press. 1hese," he looked down aL
Lhe sLalns, are vlslble slgns of Lhe chlld's developmenL. 1he more sLalns, Lhe greaLer Lhe work has progressed wlLhln Lhe chlld.
Cbedlence ls noL learned easlly, Anna. Some on earLh never learn lL."
Are you an angel asslgned Lo help Lraln me?" l asked.
l am asslgned Lo you."
Pelplng Lo Lraln people ln obedlence cannoL be a pleasanL [ob."
1he angel replled, lL ls of greaL slgnlflcance Lo Lhe laLher and absoluLely necessary. 8y Lhls Llme ln your llfe, my robe should be
enLlrely sLalned and my face and hands drlpplng, buL Lhere are only sLalns on Lhe hem and sleeves. So may l suggesL LhaL you
are hlnderlng your growLh Lhrough known dlsobedlence. lmmedlaLe graLlflcaLlon can never replace servlng Lhe Lord wlLh a
whole hearL. Such obedlence releases [oys unLold."

8epenLance
l looked ouL over Lhe landscape, leLLlng Lhe LruLhs he was sharlng work wlLhln me. l have slnned," l sald quleLly. l dld noL wlsh
Lo seem gllb, buL l dld wlsh Lo show a wllllngness Lo repenL prompLly. l ask Lhe Lord Lo forglve me."
Pe puL hls arm around my shoulder and [osLled me, as a coach mlghL a fooLball player. And you know Pe does. 1hls ls a good
day for new beglnnlngs," he smlled. 1hen he removed hls arm and looked ahead solemnly.
l Lhank you for your paLlence and for helplng me. l can see you are a powerful angel. lf you were a human, l would say you
'worked ouL."
We do 'work ouL," he laughed hearLlly, buL our workouL comes from wresLllng wlLh humans. l look as l do because you have
glven me so much reslsLance Lhrough your flesh. So' he laughed, you mlghL say l do 'work ouL.' l would suggesL LhaL you Lurn
Lhls very day so LhaL my workouL ls less sLrenuous. uellghL yourself ln Cod, Anna, and reduce my exerclse program," he smlled.
1hen he sobered rapldly. noLhlng, no one can compare Lo Plm," he sald. Speaklng for Lhose of us who are asslgned Lo you,"
he conLlnued halLlngly, almosL as lf he was golng Lo reveal someLhlng deeply personal, we would llke Lo geL a llLLle closer Lo
Cod." Pe almosL sLammered, lf lL were only us, we would, buL much depends upon you concernlng LhaL." Pe seemed so
embarrassed by whaL he had sald LhaL he vanlshed.

1he Lagle 8eLurns
8efore l could puzzle over whaL he meanL, l saw Lhe whlLe Lagle fly across Lhe paLh. My hearL leaped when l saw Plm. l began
Lo run afLer Plm, calllng, Lord! Lord, please come back, please."
Pe musL have heard me, for Pe made a wlde bank ln fllghL and landed before me. l was so over[oyed Lo see Plm whom my
hearL adores LhaL l hugged Plm around Lhe neck, cllnglng Lo Plm. l wanL Lo fly wlLh ?ou. l wanL Lo eaL from Lhe hand of Cod."
Pe became Lhe Lord. l burled my face ln Pls shoulder. Pe held me, reLurnlng my embrace, more llke a lover Lhan a frlend. 1hls
amazed me. uld Pe long for me as l longed for Plm?
lorglve me, Lord," l sald. l wanL Lo be wlLh ?ou. l long for ?ou. l wanL Lo be and do whaLever ?ou wanL, as long as we are
LogeLher."
Anna," Pe sald, pulllng me away from Plm so LhaL Pe could look lnLo my eyes, do you LrusL Me?"
Why, yes, Lord," l answered, surprlsed.
1hen come."
Pe became Lhe whlLe Lagle. l qulckly cllmbed onLo Pls back, and Pe began Lo fly. l puL my arms around Pls neck and burled my
face ln Lhe fragranL feaLhers of Pls head.
Pe flew. . . and flew. . . and flew. . . unLll Pe flew lnLo deep darkness.


ChapLer 8
1he CorrupLed SLraLa
l could noL dlscern lf lL was densely dark or lf lL only seemed LhaL dark because we had come from a place so permeaLed wlLh
llghL.

1he sheepfold
1he whlLe eagle flew down lnLo a walled-ln area LhaL had a shelLer wlLhln lL. 1he wall was of uncuL sLones and falrly hlgh. Cn
Lop of Lhe wall were branches brandlshlng large, palnful- looklng Lhorns.
lL was a sheepfold.' lL was ChrlsL's ouLposL ln LhaL corrupLed sLraLa occupled by SaLan. 1he enclosed area had buL one gaLe. lL
appeared LhaL Lhe Lhorns were noL so much Lo make enLry by Lhe demons lmposslble, buL Lo serve as a warnlng. nC
18LSASSlnC-a vlslble command from ChrlsL Plmself. 1he sheepfold was Pls LerrlLory.
lL occurred Lo me LhaL perhaps one of Lhe reasons Lhe crown of Lhorns was crammed lnLo !esus' skull before Pls cruclflxlon was
as a prlvaLe slap ln Lhe face from SaLan, for Lhe sheepfold was crowned wlLh Lhorns. ChrlsL had dared Lo esLabllsh a place of
safeLy wlLhln Lhe enemy's hosLlle klngdom. 1haL crown of Lhorns was an affronL before Pls cruclflxlon, now, afLer Pls
resurrecLlon, lL was an ever-presenL remlnder of ChrlsL's vlcLory and Pls eLernal lordshlp.
1he whlLe Lagle changed lnLo Lhe Lord.
1here was scanL llghL excepL for LhaL whlch came from Plm. SLay wlLh Me' Pe sald. Pe had a Lall sLaff ln Pls hand.
8y Lhe gaLe were Lwo palrs of porpolse shoes LhaL were dyed red. Pe puL on a palr, and so dld l.
1ouch noLhlng here, Anna, all ls deflled." We walked ouL Lhe gaLe lnLo Lhe darkness. !esus Plmself was Lhe llghL on our way.
Weeplng and sardonlc laughLer came from Lhe darkness. 1hey were human volces, buL Lhey sounded as lf Lhey were comlng
from anlmals. Alarm grlpped me. l sLayed close Lo Lhe Lord, walklng ln Pls fooLsLeps. AlLhough lL was dark, l began Lo see dlmly.

1he CuLsklrLs of Lhe SLraLa
1he surface on whlch we were walklng was dank and sLlcky. 1here was a sllghL sucLlon creaLed on Lhe boLLoms of my shoes as
we walked, as Lhough l mlghL become glued Lo Lhe spoL lf l dld noL keep movlng. Puge, sllmy creaLures would half roar, Lhen llfL
Lhemselves up and move LhreaLenlngly Loward us. 1hey looked llke glanL slugs, buL acLed more llke bull seals proLecLlng Lhelr
LerrlLory. 1hey Lrled Lo frlghLen us, buL Lhey ended up bowlng before !esus, a begrudglng acknowledgmenL of Pls lordshlp.

1he 8lver of lllLh
We came Lo a levee LhaL sloped down Lo a black lagoon. 1he waLer was fllLhy, slugglsh, and sLagnanL. 1he smell was puLrld.
!esus helped me lnLo a long plrogue. l saL down, buL Pe sLood and poled us across Lhls narrow waLerway wlLh Pls sLaff. 1he
waLer bolled and emlLLed sLeam every Llme Pls sLaff plunged lnLo lL.
!esus sald, 1hls ls a rlver of fllLh. As Lhe rlver of llfe ls clear, so Lhls one ls puLrld and deflllng. lL lssues from Lhe mouLhs of slnful
man. As rlvers of llvlng waLer come from Lhe belly of My rlghLeous ones, so ouL of Lhe blackened hearL, Lhrough Lhe mouLh,
comes Lhls waLery fllLh."
l could see creaLures lylng on Lhe banks and hear Lhem breaLhlng. 1hey appeared Lo be crocodlles, buL Lhey made blowlng
sounds Lhrough Lhelr nosLrlls llke hlppos.' 1helr eyes shone ln Lhe dark.

1he Chalned Cnes
Caves llned Lhe levees, and an occaslonal cry or moan came from Lhem. l felL LhaL Lhe sounds l had heard when we walked
Lhrough Lhe gaLe came from Lhese caves. 1hey looked llke dungeons wlLh demons guardlng Lhe enLrances. 8uL who or whaL
was lmprlsoned Lhere?
1he demons uLLered low, guLLural chuckles aL Lhe obvlous paln of Lhose lmprlsoned. 1hey en[oyed someone else's paln.'
Cbserve Lhe mlsery," Lhe Lord sald. My people parLlclpaLe ln Lhls, en[oylng Lhe downfall of anoLher, laughlng aL Lhe mlsLakes
of oLhers, and holdlng Lhem ln Lhelr chalns lnsLead of seLLlng Lhe capLlves free."
l looked Loward Lhe dark enLrances of Lhe caves. WlLhln Lhese dungeons Lhe enemy held capLlve cerLaln areas ln Lhe llves of
humans on earLh. ChrlsLlans, lnsLead of helplng Lo seL Lhe capLlve free, were LlghLenlng Lhe chalns of condemnaLlon LhaL held
Lhem ln bondage. ChrlsLlans were sldlng wlLh Lhe [allers agalnsL Lhe Lord by nulllfylng Lhe provlslon of forglveness and
reconclllaLlon LhaL Pe had made for Lhem Lhrough Pls shed blood.

1he Levee
We sLepped onLo Lhe opposlLe bank and began Lo walk up a wlde paLh Lo Lhe cresL of LhaL levee. Moans came from every
demon we passed. ChrlsL's appearance among Lhe demons LormenLed Lhem, and Lhey ran away from Plm.'
LlghL ls very palnful Lo Lhem," !esus sald, lndlcaLlng Lhe fleelng demons. 1hey suck up darkness and breaLhe ouL venom-losL,
corrupLed forever, darkness lnslde and ouL. 1hese who once aLe Lhe food of angels, Lhese who sLood ln My laLher's llghL, Lhese
who knew Lhe companlonshlp of Lhe LrusLworLhy-now Lhey sllLher and crlnge from Lhe llghL, curslng Lhe darkness and curslng
Lhe llghL-Lhey are doubly damned. 1hey eaL vomlL-Lhree or four Llmes over." (l felL LhaL Pe was equaLlng vomlL wlLh slander.)
ln communlLy wlLh Lhose of Lhelr klnd, Lhey laugh aL each oLher's mlsery and deny each oLher rellef-Lurnlng, forever Lurnlng
upon one anoLher, Lherefore always alone."
Leave us," a volce sald, and a hyena glggled.
As we Lopped Lhe levee, Lhe land as far as l could see was sllmy mud, a murky wasLeland.'
WeL," !esus sald, for Lhey fear Lhe flre. 1hey are LormenLed even by dry places."
numerous dead Lrees sLood wlLhln Lhe mud.
1he Lrees are a memorlal Lo Lhe vlle groves of false gods. Pere Lhese Lrees are seen for whaL Lhey acLually are: broken, bare,
wlLhouL llfe-Lhe home of snakes and blrds of prey."

CounLerfelL unlLy
lndeed, black snakes were ln Lhese dead Lrees, as well as coverlng Lhe bracklsh mlre. 1hey were hlsslng and wrlLhlng,
consLanLly movlng over one anoLher as lf maLlng.' A false unlLy, a [olnlng ln Lhe black mlnd, l LhoughL. lL occurred Lo me LhaL as
Lhe Lord ls brlnglng LogeLher a oneness ln Plmself, so Lhe devll ls blrLhlng a counLerfelL unlLy.
!esus spoke, 1he spawn of demons. Pow SaLan promoLes hls lmlLaLlon frulL. 1hese goad LormenLed souls Lo vomlL forLh
slanders, lles, and curslng-rlvers of puLrld waLer ln whlch Lhe demons swlm."
Pls ear caughL Lhe sound of a cry from a cave by Lhe lagoon. Pe Lurned Pls head Lo hear, saylng, 1here are labyrlnLhs also
wlLhln some bellevers: dark corrldors where Lhe llghL has noL shown, huLches LhaL have noL been dellvered from darkness. 8uL
Lhe Lrue llghL ls ready Lo Lravel every corrldor and Louch every dark corner so LhaL all wlLhln each bellever may be of Lhe llghL.
uarkness ls heavy wlLh sln, lL ls dense and murky. My freedom ls llghL. lor Lhe redeemed, all wlLhln Lhem musL be dellvered
over Lo llghL. LlghL musL flood every corrldor, and every lurklng malady musL be healed."
!esus Lhen Look my hand, saylng, Come."

1he uemonlc 1emple
Suddenly we were wlLhln some sorL of huge Lemple.' Large, gray concreLe plllars supporLed Lhls maln area. 1he room was hazy
wlLh lncense, and Lhe cloylng odor of blood was mlxed wlLh LhaL smell.
Around Lhe perlmeLer were several sLorles of rooms, some closed and some open. 1hey looked llke caves of horn.' lL was
posslble Lo reach only Lhe lower rooms by fooL, all Lhe oLhers requlred fllghL, llke baLs.
1here were slx sLaggered levels of rooms on Lhe lefL slde: slx aL Lhe back and slx on Lhe rlghL slde. 8uL how many cave rooms
were Lhere ln all, l could noL Lell.
l could see black creaLures coverlng Lhe walls of Lhe hollow rooms LhaL were open. 1hey looked llke dark, unhealLhy [ellyflsh,
each wlLh only one eye. 1hese were llke a fungus on Lhe walls. 1helr eyes were consLanLly looklng Lo and fro. noLhlng escaped
Lhelr noLlce.

SLolen 1reasure
1he Lord spoke, 1he enemy has hldden sLolen Lreasure wlLhln Lhe darkness of Lhese rooms. rylng eyes guard Lhls Lreasure.
1hese sples are rewarded for Lhelr vlgllance. 1he lnfesLed caves are a vorLex, Lhrobblng wlLh susplclon. Pere Lhere ls fear of
exposure-Lhe opposlLe of coverlng-because of love. 1he Llme has noL yeL come, Anna, Lo release Lhese capLlves from Lhe
caves [meanlng Lhe sLolen Lreasure], buL all LhaL ls of Me and ls Mlne wlll be cleansed and come Lo Me."
l dld noL undersLand whaL Pe meanL. Pe conLlnued, !usL as Lears and prayers can be sLored above, so can pralse be Laken
capLlve by Lhe evll one and sLored ln caves of horn. 1he enemy baLhes ln sLolen worshlp-renewlng hlmself ln LhaL whlch
belongs Lo Cod, puLLlng hls hands all over LhaL whlch ls sacred and secreL. Slnce SaLan cannoL creaLe buL only lmlLaLe and deflle
LhaL whlch belongs Lo Cod, hls greaLesL [oy ls Lo desecraLe LhaL whlch ls of Lhe LlghL. My laLher wlll one day have all LhaL
belongs Lo Plm. 1he Lemple vessels were capLured and hldden away ln 8abylon, desecraLed by belng mocked and used Lo LoasL
false gods. !usL as Lhese were reLurned and reconsecraLed Lo Cod, so all LhaL belongs Lo My laLher wlll be cleansed and
consecraLed Lo Plm alone.' 1he enemy ls ln dense darkness, dolng LhaL whlch ls foul ln order Lo relleve hls paln, buL lnsLead
only mulLlplles hls paln. 8uL My laLher wlll seL free all LhaL belongs Lo Plm. Pe wlll cleanse lL from Lhe fllLh of decepLlon and
ldolaLry corrupLlng lL so LhaL lL mlghL rlse Lo Plm."
l saw demons flylng lnLo Lhese caves of horn Lo deflle Lhe hldden Lhlngs of Cod Lhere, llke splders sucklng Lhe llfe ouL of Lhelr
capLured prey.

romlsed uay of uellverance
!esus conLlnued, 1here ls comlng a Llme when Cod Plmself wlll ralse Pls sword ln Lhe mld-heaven. Pe wlll come forLh ln Pls
own behalf: Lhe faL from false sacrlflces and from offerlngs Lo oLher gods, who are noL gods, wlll be Pls.' 1he faL ls Pls, and Lhey
have robbed Plm. 1he pralse ls Pls, and Lhey have sLolen lL from Plm. 1hey have sLored lL for Lhemselves. 8uL Pe wlll ralse Pls
sword Lo sever Lhe faL from Lhem and Lo release Lhe pralse sLored for generaLlons. A greaL holocausL wlll occur when Lhe faL of
many generaLlons flnally rlses Lo Plm. When Pe unsheaLhes Pls sword and rlses up ln Pls own behalf, none can say Lo Plm,
'nay!' none can call Lo Plm, 'Pold!' none can Lurn Plm back aL Lhe gaLe. Pe wlll cleanse Lhe mld-heaven and seL lL free. 1hen
Pls LlghL wlll Louch every corner and purge Lhe mallgnanL growLh from generaLlons of corrupLlon, Lhlevery, and lles. When Pe
llfLs Pls sword and releases Pls LlghL, surrogaLes wlll flee llke roaches, mlghLy ones ln Lhe sLrengLh of wlckedness wlll shrlvel
and sllLher away."
Pe spoke Lo Lhe mld-heaven, C promlsed day of dellverance, a Llme has been appolnLed, and you wlll be free." Pe Lurned back
Lo me and sald, When Pe ralses Pls sword ln heaven, pralse wlll be released llke a blrd from a cage, never Lo be lmprlsoned
agaln."

1he uemonlc Masquerade
We began Lo hear a drone, llke LhaL of bees swarmlng or flles gaLherlng on a dead carcass, comlng from a dlsLanL area of Lhe
Lemple. As Lhose creaLlng Lhe monoLonous sound drew nearer, l could hear Lhe hypnoLlc rhyLhm more clearly. 1hey were
chanLlng a manLra.
Suddenly Lhey bursL lnLo vlew. lL was a large and lavlsh processlon accompanled by loud, dlscordanL muslc.
1he masslve concreLe columns wlLhln Lhe Lemple obscured our presence from Lhose enLerlng, so we sLepped ouL of vlew.
uancers and muslclans came before a woman splendldly dressed. !ewels adorned her long robe and crown. She held
lnnumerable chalns ln her hands [usL as a person would hold dog leashes. Shackles were around Lhe necks of demonlc belngs
she held capLlve, who bowed conLlnually, klsslng Lhe ground where she walked. 1hey looked llke naked humans.
Per reLlnue was very large and seemed Lo comprlse Lhose from varlous naLlons, perhaps every naLlon. She Lurned ln our
dlrecLlon. Per eyes were red wlLh false flre, when she opened her mouLh, flre came from [L. We were Loo far away for Lhe flre
Lo Louch us, however. When Lhe flre ceased, honey drlpped from her mouLh, Lhose ln chalns llcked up Lhe drops LhaL fell Lo Lhe
ground.
She wenL up by sLalrs Lo a hlgh Lhrone ln Lhls lncense-fllled hall. When she saL, her aLLendanLs wrapped Lhe long Lraln of her
robe around her feeL. 1he Lraln looked llke a pyLhon. 1hose ln chalns groveled on elLher slde of her Lhrone.

lalse Pomage
1he klngs of Lhe earLh came wlLh presenLs for Lhls woman. 1hey also broughL [ugglers, propheLs, and maglclans Lo enLerLaln
her and her courL.
1he Leam of [ugglers [uggled all manner of ob[ecLs of unequal welghL, lncludlng gold bars and apes. 8uL Lhe ob[ecL LhaL
fasclnaLed me Lhe mosL was a cage on whlch was wrlLLen 1PL SCuLS Cl MLn.
1he propheLs were almosL as showy, [umplng around and speaklng greaL boasLs concernlng her and oLhers presenL.' 1hose
gaLhered would laugh and Lhrow money Lo Lhese false propheLs.
1he showlesL of all, however, were Lhe maglclans, who looked exLremely grave, wlse, and dlgnlfled, Lhey performed mlghLy
slgns and wonders. Lveryone clapped and bowed before Lhem ln awe.
Lach klng would Lake a golden coln from Lhls woman's Longue llke Lokens Laken whlle sLandlng ln llne aL a sLore counLer. A
number was on each coln. 1hey would reLurn Lhem Lo her laLer as she wenL from slde room Lo slde room, servlclng Lhese klngs
llke a prosLlLuLe wlLh many cllenLs.
1he woman's face was old and caked wlLh makeup, buL from a dlsLance she looked beauLlful and splendld. She was drlnklng
from a [ewel encrusLed cup, and her eyes looked glazed.
Who ls Lhls?" l asked Lhe Lord.
1he false church," Pe replled. She makes herself a queen, and Lhose enslaved eaL of Lhe honey from her mouLh. She has
glven herself Lo every demon. She servlces Lhem.
Many wlll go wlLh her."
l looked aL her, horrlfled.
l have broughL you Lo see Lhe false masqueradlng as Lhe Lrue," Pe sald. Mark well Lhe conLenL. Mark well Lhe consequences
and ouLworklng of Lhe declslon Lo embrace Lhe darkness lnsLead of Lhe llghL. All manner of corrupLlon breeds ln darkness.
Come' Pe sald, and once agaln Pe became Lhe whlLe Lagle. We go now Lo Lhe bowels of Lhe dragon."



ChapLer 9
1he 8owels of Lhe dragon
1he whlLe eagle flew lnLo a darkened Lunnel LhaL seemed Lo be a passageway Lhrough a mounLaln, buL Lhe walls were llke parL
of a llvlng organlsm, resembllng an lnLesLlne. 1he sldes of Lhe walls seemed packed wlLh fecal maLLer, and Lhe sLench was
nauseaLlng and overpowerlng.'

An ALLack: 1he llesh
AlLhough l was wlLh Lhe whlLe Lagle, Lhe fllLh and blackness shocked me. l was afrald. l Lrled Lo malnLaln some sorL of splrlLual
equlllbrlum, buL fear began Lo paralyze my falLh.
Popelessness, oppresslon, and despalr were wlLhln Lhe very walls of Lhls Lunnel. l knew LhaL !esus was proLecLlng me, buL Lhe
presence of evll was suffocaLlng.
1hen, llke a Lrapped anlmal, my mlnd began Lo search for an escape: Where am l golng? Why am l here? WhaL lf l fall off ln Lhls
place? Pow can l geL ouL of here?
Cnce doubL had galned an enLrance, panlc soon followed, bypasslng all assurance of Lhe Lord's proLecLlon. now, LhoughLs llke
wlld dogs began Lo lunge aL me. uld Lhey come from wlLhln or from Lhe Lunnel? l dld noL know, buL l was franLlc wlLh fear: l
won'L make lL, l can'L hold on. 1hey'll hurL me. 1hey'll klll me!
lf Lhe Lord had noL shlelded me, l belleve Lhese LhoughLs would have Lorn me Lo shreds. l clung Lo Lhe whlLe Lagle. !esus, Son
of uavld," l crled, have mercy upon me."
l could noL Lell whaL happened, buL slowly Lhe sense of almosL belng eaLen allve lessened. !esus, my Savlor, had come forLh l n
me. Pe had shown mercy.
l was ln shock, Lhough, and dazed, raLher llke a person who has been aLLacked by a pack of ravenous wolves and escaped only
wlLh her llfe. l was lefL weakened and Lrembllng, badly shaken.
1he Lord sLrengLhened me, and l slghed, relaxlng my grlp somewhaL. Pe would proLecL me. Pe would noL leL me fall.
l am all rlghL," l slghed. l am all rlghL." My LrusL ln Cod had reLurned.
1hen sllenLly, more llke vapors Lhan LhoughLs, lnslnuaLlons reached for me llke Lendrlls of smoke.

An ALLack: 1he world
lL has always seemed sLrange Lo me LhaL afLer a severe aLLack by Lhe enemy, Lhe mosL dangerous perlod of Llme appears Lo be
afLer Lhe baLLle ls over and Lhe vlcLory secured. erhaps one ls vulnerable because of wearlness, allowlng vlgllance agalnsL
aLLack Lo be relaxed. 8uL sLranger Lhan Lhls ls Lhe facL LhaL afLer Lhe heaL of baLLle, l always forgeL Lhls LruLh.
l forgoL agaln.
1he lnslnuaLlons reachlng for me were dlsarmlngly subLle, Lhey made Lhe world, whlch ls SaLan's heaven, seem Lo be all LhaL l
could ever deslre or should ever deslre. romlses sweeLer Lhan honey enveloped me, promlses of havlng SaLan's heaven now
and Cod's heaven laLer.
Suddenly Lhe Lunnel losL lLs sLench, lnsLead, lL emlLLed a LanLallzlng fragrance. l LhoughL Lo myself, Why am l dolng Lhls? l can
have anyLhlng l wanL slmply by applylng myself l don'L need Lo llve llke Lhls. ln facL, l'm Llred of llvlng llke Lhls.
l began Lo Lhlnk of ways Lo make money-and noL [usL Lo make money, buL Lo make a forLune. Cnly a forLune can llfL me above
Lhls sorL of Lrlal, l LhoughL. Cnly a forLune can glve me luxurles commensuraLe wlLh my LasLe, whlch deserves Lo be expressed
and en[oyed. 1here ls so much beauLy ln Lhe world, and l wanL Lo surround myself wlLh Lhls lovellness. 1here 's noLhlng wrong
ln LhaL. l can do lL wlLh hard work. All l need Lo do ls Lo cenLer myself upon Lhls goal and head for lL, glve myself Lo lL... head for
lL and glve myself Lo lL... head for lL and glve myself Lo lL...
WalL, walL," l sald Lo myself. 1hls lsn'L rlghL. Clvlng myself Lo a llfe of accumulaLlon, [usL saLlsfylng my senses, can'L be rlghL."
Such an ldea was a slren song whose allure, lf lL dld noL brlng shlpwreck, cerLalnly would have seduced me lnLo a splrlLual llmp.
ueadly.
no!" l sald sllenLly. Choose you Lhls day whom you wlll serve, and l choose ChrlsL. l choose ChrlsL," l crled aloud.
1he vaporous flngers ceased reachlng for me and sllenLly slld away. Agaln, Lhe Lord sLrengLhened me. l slghed deeply as before,
relleved.

An ALLack: 1he devll
8y Lhls Llme l LhoughL l saw some llghL aL Lhe end of Lhe Lunnel. l sLarLed Lo become anxlous for rellef. l wanLed ouL. CuL.
1hen, as lf ln my own volce, l heard, !esus may love you, buL lL's a sLrange sorL of love LhaL would brlng you lnLo a place of
such greaL danger. And l can'L see LhaL Pe's proLecLlng you as Pe should. Cf course, lf Pe'd Lold you beforehand whaL you
would be faclng.. . buL Pe dldn'L. lf you could acqulre more knowledge yourself, you wouldn'L need Lo rely upon Plm for
proLecLlon. ?ou could proLecL yourself. ?ou deserve beLLer Lhan Lhls."
1here lL was: prlde, presumpLlon, unbellef, accusaLlons agalnsL Lhe Lord's lovlng klndness, and an lnvlLaLlon Lo be lndependenL
of Plm, beLLer Lhan Plm-ln oLher words, rebelllon. All of Lhese were Lhe deep Lhlngs of SaLan.
Ch, Cod," l sald wlLhln myself, forglve me. 1haL l would Lhlnk l could do anyLhlng by myself, when l know LhaL aparL from ?ou
Lhere ls no llfe. l love ?ou, and l know LhaL ?ou love me. ?ou alone are Lhe vlcLor, ?ou alone. ?ou alone wlll do all and be all and
are all, l LrusL ?ou, my Savlor and my Lord, my Cod ln whom l LrusL."
WlLh greaL passlon l crled ouL wlLhln Lhe Lunnel: l have been cruclfled wlLh ChrlsL, and lL ls no longer l who llve, buL ChrlsL llves
ln me!"

1he ClganLlc Cavern
!oyously Lhe whlLe eagle bursL Lhrough Lhe far mouLh of Lhe Lunnel. now we seemed Lo be flylng lnslde a glganLlc cavern wlLhln
LhaL mounLaln, buL l could noL be sure, for l was unable Lo see Lhe Lop. WlLhln Lhls cavern, lf lL was a cavern, Lhe aLmosphere
was gray and deaLhly sLlll, buL elecLrlc, as lL mlghL be ln Lhe eye of a hurrlcane.
1unnels honeycombed Lhe enclrcllng mounLaln, boLh up hlgh, as was Lhe one we had Lraveled, and aL Lhe base.

SaLan's alace
!usL ahead of us was anoLher mounLaln rlslng from wlLhln Lhe cenLer of Lhls cavern. lL looked as Lhough lL was made of shlny,
[agged coal. Cn lLs Lop was an exqulslLe palace, as perfecL and lusLrous as a [eL gemsLone. A Lhlck, yellow llquld oozed from
beneaLh Lhe sLrucLure and slld down Lhe mounLaln. 1he alr reeked of sulfur.
AL Lhe base of Lhls mounLaln, large red dragons luxurlaLed ln a cesspool moaL, as wlld beasLs mlghL cool Lhemselves ln muddy
waLer on Lhe SerengeLl." 1helr heads resLed agalnsL Lhe base of Lhe mounLaln. SllghL flre would come from Lhelr nosLrlls, when
Lhls flre Louched Lhe yellow llquld slldlng down Lhe mounLaln, a flame would lgnlLe buL qulckly go ouL. 1hey rolled Lhelr eyes up
aL us, buL we musL have been ouLslde of Lhelr deslgnaLed paLrol area, for we dld noL ralse Lhelr lre enough Lo proLecL Lhe casLle.
1he palace lLself was lngenlous ln deslgn-lmaglnaLlve and LasLeful, buL dark, cold, unlnvlLlng, and forebodlng.
SaLan's mounLaln and hls palace," Lhe whlLe Lagle sald.' Pe conLlnued Lo fly Loward lL.

ALLack of Lhe Parples
Suddenly, dark angels by Lhe Lhousands poured ouL from Lhe Lunnels and began enclrcllng us, llke baLs leavlng caves aL sunseL.
1hey had Lhe heads and Lorsos of women and Lhe wlngs, Lalls, legs, and clawed feeL of rapaclous vulLures.'
1hey cannoL Louch us," Lhe whlLe Lagle sald. 8emaln calm."
1hese harples would pass by us closely, crylng and LaunLlng, buL Lhey never obsLrucLed our vlew of Lhe palace nor hlndered Lhe
whlLe Lagle's relenLless fllghL Loward lL.

1he rlnce of uarkness
Plgh ln Lhe black palace aL a llghLless wlndow, a sollLary flgure appeared, looklng aL us.' lrom a dlsLance, one could sense hls
power, auLhorlLy, and exLreme lonellness. '?es- lonellness-separaLlon, lsolaLlon, and a cold, cold hearL.
Pe looked llke a Spanlsh prlnce. Pe wore an eleganL black velveL robe encrusLed wlLh [ewels, he was LasLefully and perfecLly
groomed. Pe was handsome, almosL perfecLly handsome, wlLh shlny black halr and dark lnLelllgenL eyes.
Pe waved hls hand, and Lhe harples flew away as qulckly as Lhey had come, reLreaLlng lnLo Lhe honeycomb of Lunnels. 1he
sound of Lhousands of leaLhery wlngs dwlndled away, leavlng Lhe cavern quleL ln comparlson.
AfLer LhaL he conLlnued Lo sLand unmovlng aL Lhe wlndow, hls eyes flxed upon us: lonely, llke a klng who ls also a re[ecLed l over.
l LhoughL Lo myself, 1here he ls: he who was so full of llghL LhaL he was named 'Lhe shlnlng one '-now 'Lhe prlnce of darkness,'
he whose execuLlve ablllLy sLlll ls such LhaL he manages a vasL, global emplre of decelL, seduclng Lhe whole world.
Seelng hls lmpeccable, ageless beauLy, l could noL help wonderlng whaL he musL have been llke before hls fall, for he was
creaLed subllme ln order Lo hold Lhe mosL exalLed poslLlon ln Lhe heavenly courL. Pe was Lhe anolnLed cherub who covers." l
wondered lf once Lhere were Lhree cherubs guardlng Lhe Lhrone of Cod, one on elLher slde and one above? Was LhaL why he
was creaLed so beauLlful, wlse, and powerful? 1o guard Lhe Lhrone from LhaL elevaLed poslLlon?
Pe walked amld Lhe coals of flre, sharlng Lhe very hearL of Cod, lnLlmaLe wlLh Lhe Codhead. uld he beLray Lhe Cne who loved
hlm by sLrlklng aL Plm from above? ls LhaL Lhe reason he boasLed LhaL he would exalL hls Lhrone above Lhe sLars of Cod?'
1here he ls, l LhoughL Lo myself, sLlll superlor, buL superlor now only ln evll, and because of hls vaulLlng prlde, lsolaLed-
beyond mercy's reach and beyond asklng for lL.
1he whlLe Lagle Lurned from Lhe palace and began Lo fly back Loward Lhe Lunnel.

1aunLs of Lhe 8lack 8aven
A huge black raven suddenly appeared beslde us.' lLs feaLhers were a brllllanL ebony, and lLs eyes flashed a flery red. Why
have ?ou come?" hlssed SaLan. uoes lL please ?ou Lo shame me before my sub[ecLs? uoes lL please ?ou Lo brlng love and
warmLh here Lo LormenL us? ?ou are cruel !
1he Lord sald noLhlng.
uon'L ?ou mlss me?" SaLan conLlnued. uld ?ou come here because of ?our lonellness for me? Would ?ou llke Lo come here
more ofLen Lo be wlLh me, [usL Lo see me?" 1he raven cracked a hard, cruel laugh. ?ou mlss me and love me sLlll' he exulLed.
1hen ln Lones venomous wlLh blLLer scorn, he mocked:
?ou are a fool Lo love me even now, !esus of nazareLh." 1he Lord's sllence lnfurlaLed Lhe raven.
uon'L come back Lo shame me before my sub[ecLs! l am klng here. SLay away! l don'L love ?ou, and l wlsh all manner of
exqulslLe LormenLs upon ?ou Lo express my conLempL. SLay away!" SaLan spewed vehemenLly.
Pavlng sald LhaL, Lhe raven made a sharp Lurn and flew back Lo Lhe palace.
1he whlLe Lagle conLlnued Lhrough Lhe Lunnel from whlch we had come. A vold, deaLhly sllence was ln LhaL darkness now.

8eLurn Lo Lhe sheepfold
Pe flew Lo Lhe sheepfold and sLopped before Lhe gaLe. l cllmbed down from Pls back. Pe became Lhe Lord agaln wlLh Pls
shepherd's sLaff ln Pls hand. Pe opened Lhe gaLe and led me lnslde.
We boLh removed our shoes and sLood barefooL wlLhln Lhe sheepfold. l was shlverlng, and Pe puL Pls arm around me.
lL ls all rlghL, Anna," Pe sald. ?ou needed Lo see LhaL SaLan ls cruel. 8esL now."
WarmLh began Lo flow lnLo me, and l Lrled Lo breaLhe deeply, seLLllng myself.
Why dld ?ou show me Lhese Lhlngs?" l asked.
1o you lL has been granLed Lo know," Pe sald. Mark well whaL you have seen and heard."

1he vlslon of !udgmenL
look" he conLlnued, gesLurlng Loward Lhe ground ln fronL of us wlLhln Lhe sheepfold. 1he area opened Lo reveal Lhe world
splnnlng some dlsLance beneaLh us.
As l looked aL Lhe globe, l heard huge fooLsLeps, as lf glanLs were walklng, shaklng Lhe earLh.' 1he ground of earLh Lrembled,
and mounLalns began Lo break aparL.
Look agaln' Pe sald, gesLurlng above Plm.
Peaven opened, and l saw someLhlng dropplng from Lhe cenLer of Lhe brlghL angels.
WhaL ls lL?" l asked.
A plumbllne," Pe answered. 1he welghLed plumbllne dropped from heaven Lhrough Lhe sheepfold Lo Lhe earLh.
Cur greaL Cod has relenLed Lwlce before, buL now Pe has dropped Lhe plumbllne."
As Lhe plumbllne reached earLh, greaL re[olclng began ln heaven. lL was as Lhough every creaLed belng Lhere was slnglng, and
Lhe sound began Lo shake Lhe celesLlal realms:
Pls rlghLeousness ls from everlasLlng Lo everlasLlng. Pls [udgmenLs are sure and wlll be wlLhheld no longer.
As Lhe Lhunderous re[olclng lncreased, flre came ouL of heaven and Lraveled Lhe plumbllne, passlng before us and sweeplng
down Lhe llne Lo Lhe earLh. Suddenly Lhe whole world was aflame.

1he lalse Church !udged
As Lhe chanL ln heaven conLlnued, !esus spoke, Ldom wlll be [udged. 1o Lhe world she looked pure, buL she wlll be sLubble
before Lhe wraLh of Cod. 1he chlldren of Lhe llvlng Cod wlll see Plm on Pls holy mounL. 8uL Lo Lhe church of Ldom, Pe wlll hlde
Plmself ln darkness, never Lo reveal Plmself agaln.
1he mounLaln of Ldom wlll melL llke wax before Lhe flame of Lhe Lord, buL Lhe rlghLeous wlll Lhrlve amld Lhe flames. lndeed,
Lhe rlghLeous wlll be a flame before Lhe Lord.
1he rlghLeous wlll be counLed as noLhlng by Lhe enemles of our Cod. 1hey wlll be mocked, a crown of Lhorns pressed lnLo
Lhelr brows, buL Cod, our Cod, wlll consume Lhe Lhorns wlLh Pls flre and heal Lhelr wounds wlLh Pls balm.
1he plumbllne has dropped. 1he earLh shakes as glanLs walk Lhe land. Cod's power wlll be seen. no glanL can sLand before Pls
power. no glanL can walk lnLo Pls flame. 1he rlghLeous wlll look up and re[olce wlLh Lhe whole assembly of heaven. ln one
mlghLy chorus Lhey wlll proclalm Pls rlghLeousness and Pls power. Pls [usLlce wlll prevall, for Lhe plumbllne has dropped and
wlll noL be removed.
lear, C you who lle wlLh Lhe adder, you who drlnk Lhe venom of vlpers. 1he day ls comlng and now ls when Lhe Word of Lhe
Lord wlll cuL you ln Lwo, and you wlll wrlLhe ln Lhe agony conslgned Lo Lhose who embrace ldols.
1he heavens proclalm Pls rlghLeousness and Pls Lhrone, llke a greaL rock, Pe wlll fall upon Lhe wlcked. 1he rlghLeous wlll l ook
upon Pls face, buL deep darkness wlll shroud Plm from Lhe eyes of Lsau.
Woe Lo Lhose who embrace ldols. 1hey couple Lhemselves wlLh demons. llre has Lraveled Lhe plumbllne. LlghLnlng has
flashed from Pls hand. lndeed, Lhe world wlll see lL buL wlll remaln decelved. When glanLs walk Lhe land, Lhe mounLalns
Lremble, buL when Cod walks Lhe land, Lhe mounLalns melL.
As Lhe chanL of Cod's rlghLeousness goes forLh ln heaven, Lhere ls a spllLLlng, a separaLlon, a falllng away, and a leLLlng go:
ruln follows Lhe reverberaLlon of LhaL refraln. ulvlslon LhaL could noL be measured unLll Lhe plumbllne dropped from heaven Lo
earLh. All of heaven has [olned ln Lhe song, and all of earLh wlll hear and noL hear. !udgmenLs are ln Lhe land. 1he rlghLeous wlll
grow ln rlghLeousness, and Lhe wlcked wlll gnash Lhelr LeeLh and curse Cod.
Pold fasL Lo Cod, Anna. Pold fasL Lo Cod. Cnce Pe relenLed, even Lwlce, buL now [udgmenLs have begun wlLh Lhe household
of Cod. 1he rlghLeous wlll shlne llke Lhe sun, and Lhe corrupL church, rlch Lhough she be, bedecked ln beauLlful glfLs from Cod,
wlll be sLubble before Plm. lor Pe wlll relenL no longer, and Lhe mounLaln of Lsau wlll be leveled. A man wlll klck aL Lhe dusL of
LhaL mounLaln and say 'Where ls she? noL even a mound as hlgh as an anL hlll remalns. Where ls she?' Per rocks and earLh wlll
have been ground Lo powder and blown away. ln her place Lhere wlll be a deserL wasLeland LhaL none wlll Lurn aslde Lo see
because noLhlng wlll remaln.
1he mounLaln of Lhe Lord: Lhe rlghLeous wlll see lL and be glad. 1hey wlll [oln ln Lhe mlghLy chorus of heaven. 1hey wlll walk
Lhe sLreeLs of gold and feed upon Lhe manna.' 1hey wlll sLand beslde Lhe plumbllne and noL be ashamed. 8lghLeousness and
[usLlce are Lhe foundaLlon of ?our Lhrone, C rlghLeous Cod.
C !usL and 1rue, manklnd has LhoughL lLself more [usL Lhan
?ou, buL Lo Lhe rlghLeous ?ou wlll reveal ?our rlghLeousness, and
Lo Lhe [usL, ?ou wlll reveal how [usL ?ou have always been."

!oln Lhe Chorus
1he Lord conLlnued, !oln Lhe chorus of Lhe sons of Cod. roclalm Pls rlghLeousness forevermore. LeL Lhe sound of our cry flll
Lhe sky. LeL Lhe sound of our cry flll Lhe earLh. !oln Lhe re[olclng as Lhe chanL goes forLh, falllng wlLh a welghL mlghLler Lhan
glanL's sLeps, falllng wlLh Lhe welghL of Lhe Lhrone of Cod Plmself.
8e[olce, C heavens, weep, C world. 8e[olce, C rlghLeous, and Lremble, C flesh. lor flre has come from heaven, Lravellng Lhe
plumbllne, and only Lhe Son of Cod wlll pass Lhrough Lhls flame. 8e[olce, C heavens, and be glad, for [udgmenLs have begun,
Lhe flnal redempLlon ls near. Cur Cod wlll seLLle all accounLs. 1he plumbllne wlll noL be removed unLll all llnes up wlLh Lhe Son
of Cod. 8e[olce!"
1he Lord Lurned Lo me and sald, Mark well whaL you have
seen and heard, for Lhese Lhlngs are and wlll be, no hand wlll
sLop Lhem. Come."
Pe Look my hand, and LogeLher we followed Lhe flamlng
plumbllne lnLo heaven,


ChapLer 10
1he 1hrone of Cod
As we rose, Lhe llghL became mulLlcolored, vlbranL, allve almosL. 1he sound of Lhe chanL lnLenslfled a hundred-fold as we
followed Lhe flamlng plumbllne lnLo Lhe Lhlrd heaven:'
Pls rlghLeousness ls from everlasLlng Lo everlasLlng.
Pls [udgmenLs are sure and wlll be wlLhheld no longer.

!ubllanL CelebraLlon
When !esus appeared on Lhe sea of glass," a greaL shouL wenL up, Lhose slnglng bursL lnLo sponLaneous re[olclng aL Lhe slghL
of Plm. We had enLered Lhe Lhlrd heaven aL whaL seemed Lo be Lhe back of Lhe Lhrone room.
1he redeemed began Lo dance as one-sldesLepplng ln a swlfL, glldlng movemenL, as dancers on earLh mlghL ln an old-
fashloned couranLe. 1he movemenLs were vlgorous and [oyful. 1hose passlng near us would reach ouL a hand Lo Louch !esus,
Pe reached ouL Lo Louch hand afLer hand of Lhose passlng by ln Lhe dance. All were laughlng. l was cerLaln Lhe dance was
sponLaneous. 1he redeemed were danclng by Lhe power of Lhe Poly SplrlL, Lhousands upon Lhousands led by Lhe SplrlL Plmself.
!esus glanced over aL me. l am needed, Anna," Pe sald. Pe moLloned for someone Lo draw nearer Lo us. lL was Lhe large
formal angel whom l had meL on Lhe movlng paLh. As Lhe Lord spoke Lo me, Pe was sLlll smlllng and Louchlng Lhe hands
exLended Lo Plm. Lpaggellas wlll be wlLh you."

1he Angel Lpaggellas
So LhaL ls hls name, l LhoughL Lo myself, smlllng lnwardly.
1he angel bowed from Lhe walsL Lo !esus. 1he Lord smlled aL me, reached over and squeezed my hand, and was gone.
Lpaggellas and l conLlnued Lo waLch Lhe exuberanL danclng.
?ou have come aL a [oyous Llme," Lpaggellas sald.
Why?" l asked.
Pe answered, We re[olce dally for Lhose who have recenLly come lnLo Lhe klngdom, buL Lhls celebraLlon ls ln response Lo your
laLher's proclamaLlon LhaL a greaL lngaLherlng ls abouL Lo commence. Pls chlldren are fllled wlLh Lhanksglvlng Lo Plm for Pls
falLhfulness, for Pe ls abouL Lo do a qulck work and redeem many of Lhelr broLhers and slsLers Lhrough ChrlsL !esus our Lord."
1haL ls exclLlng," l smlled. 1hank you for Lelllng me, Lpaggellas."
Pe bowed ln acknowledgmenL and smlled ln splLe of hlmself, for lL was a prlvaLe [oke beLween Lhe Lwo of us LhaL !esus had [usL
glven me hls name.
1he Lhousands of dancers gaLhered lnLo clrcles, each clrcle conLalnlng abouL LwenLy-four dancers. 1hey began clrcllng and
weavlng ln and ouL wlLhln Lhe rlngs. Some were laughlng, buL everywhere Lhere was re[olclng. 1hey began Lo slng as Lhey
danced:
Agaln and agaln we slng of Pls glory,
Agaln and agaln re[olce ln our Cod.
All were execuLlng Lhe same movemenLs, Lwlrllng and whlrllng wlLhln Lhe clrcles, and slnglng Lhe same song everywhere on Lhe
sea of glass.

SllenL Worshlp
1hen, as by Lhe splrlL's leadlng, Lhe muslc slowed Lo a slgh, a pause, a selah. 1he redeemed paused also, sllenLly wlLh arms
ralsed, abandoned Lo Cod. l remembered salm 63 where lL sLaLes, 1here wlll be sllence before ?ou. . . pralse ln Zlon, C Cod."
SllenL worshlp.
AfLer a long pause, a slow, sLaLely melody began. 8esldes Lhe Lone of Lhe lnsLrumenLs l recognlzed, some of Lhe muslc was
belng played on lnsLrumenLs l had never heard. erhaps Lhey were from oLher culLures or of anclenL deslgn. ln harmony wlLh
Lhe lnsLrumenLal muslc was anoLher lovely sound. lL was noL slnglng, nor was lL belng played by muslclans. WhaL was lL?

uance of worshlp
1he redeemed responded Lo Lhe muslc by beglnnlng a ma[esLlc dance of worshlp. 1he movemenLs were regal and noble, and
Lhey execuLed Lhem wlLh greaL care and lnLenslLy. erhaps a pavane ls Lhe dance on earLh mosL closely resembllng Lhls worshlp
of Lhe redeemed. l felL Lhey were danclng Lo express Lhelr respecL. 1helr danclng was homage. 1he change of pace allowed me
Lo geL my bearlngs.

1he 1hrone of Cod
1he Lhrone room was as brllllanL wlLh llghL as saLan's klngdom had been dark.
1he surface on whlch Lhe redeemed were danclng was a pavemenL of llghL LhaL looked llke a LranslucenL blue. 1he area was as
lmmense as a huge plaza. AL Lhe far end of Lhls expanslve sea" was a dazzllng whlLe llghL, ln Lhe cenLer of whlch was Lhe
Lhrone of Cod."
A greaL yearnlng welled up wlLhln me, and a whlsper lnvolunLarlly escaped: uaddy." Pls presence drew me wlLh Lhe cords of
love. Lpaggellas looked down aL me and smlled.
1he laLher's belng ls manlfesLed by llghL of an lndescrlbable whlLeness. Pls uncreaLed glory radlaLes ouLward ln all dlrecLlons Lo
form a greaL sphere of awesome colors.' lrom a conslderable dlsLance Lhls radlance looks llke an eye wlLh a dazzllng whlLe
pupll. erhaps Lhe sphere ls due Lo Lhe reflecLlon upon Lhe sea of glass. l could noL Lell. 8uL l remembered LhaL ofLen Lhe early
church had mosalcs or frescoes of Lhe eye of Cod" ln lLs bulldlngs.' SLandlng on Lhe sea of glass, l wondered lf Lhey were
seeklng Lo deplcL Lhe glory of Lhe laLher as well as Pls omnlsclence.
1he splendor of Pls person radlaLes ouL lnLo bands of color, llke a bow whose hues blend from whlLe Lo yellow, Lo gold, Lo Lhe
Sheklnah reddlsh-gold, and on Lhrough Lhe color specLrum of reds, purples, blues, and endlng wlLh green.' 1he ralnbow on
earLh ls a Lype of My Cod's bow."

Movlng closer Lo Lhe 1hrone
1ransflxed, l was losL ln Lhe wonder of Plm. Lpaggellas Louched my shoulder Lo draw my aLLenLlon Lo LhaL whlch he was abouL
Lo say. Come wlLh me," he sald, and wlLh LhaL he began Lo move Loward Lhe Lhrone area. We began Lo pass Lhrough Lhose
worshlplng, someLlmes ducklng beneaLh a dancer's arm as we made our way forward.
1he llghL lnLo whlch we were enLerlng began Lo lnLenslfy, as well as Lhe sense of power. As we moved nearer Lo Lhe Lhrone, Lhe
radlance looked more llke Lhe waves of llghL ln Lhe aurora borealls when lL forms an arc of llghLs across Lhe sky.'
1he blazlng llghL was noL bllndlng as would be Lhe earLh's sun lf you gazed aL lL. Cne could experlence, feel, and even look aL
Lhls llghL.'

Angellc ralse
1housands of angels were clrcllng above Lhe Lhrone area, and Lhousands more seemed Lo be arrlvlng Lo [oln Lhem.
CounLless numbers of angels were already wlLhln Lhe bow of Lhe corona around Lhe Lhrone. Lach group wore Lhe color of LhaL
parLlcular hue. 1hey were maklng muslcal sounds by flylng aL dlfferenL levels and speeds and paLLerns.' !usL as a whlrllng sLlck
mlghL make a dlfferenL sound-lncreaslngly hlgher or louder by Lhe speed wlLh whlch lL ls whlrled-so Lhese angels ln Lhelr
flylng broughL forLh varlous sounds of pralse. 1he Lones LhaL Lhelr fllghL made were dlfferenL from slnglng or Lhe playlng of
lnsLrumenLs. 1hls musL have been Lhe muslcal sound whose orlgln l could noL deLecL earller, rare ln lLs beauLy.
1hey seemed Lo be unbellevably happy, swlmmlng, as lL were, ln Lhe glory of Cod. l Loo felL Lhls [oy, forever would noL be long
enough Lo pralse Plm and Lo recelve Pls [oy back from Plm.'
AL Llmes some angels would fly LogeLher, produclng a Lone dlfferenL from Lhe sound of Lhose ln fllghL ln a slngle color.

Cne WlLh ralse
1he melodles, llke Lhe llghL ln Lhe Lhrone room, wenL rlghL Lhrough me. 1he muslc of pralse enLered me and passed Lhrough me,
and l became one wlLh Lhe sound. lL was as Lhough l became pralse. l remembered LhaL ln Lhe 8ook of salms uavld sald, 8uL,
l prayer"-meanlng LhaL he was prayer. So lL ls wlLh pralse ln Lhe Lhrone room.
Lpaggellas paused amld Lhe dancers and spoke, 1he harmony, Lhe unlLy, and Lhe deslre of Lhese here Lo glve Lo Lhe laLher Pls
due-consLanLly glvlng of Lhemselves and recelvlng more of Plm when Lhey pralse and adore-brlng forLh a sweeL muslc."
?es," l agreed.
We waLched and llsLened a momenL before movlng forward agaln.
As we drew nearer Lo Lhe Lhrone, lL was as Lhough l began Lo see pralse.' lL was LranslucenL, almosL lnvlslble, buL l could see lL.
lL seemed Lo have dlfferenL properLles. Some klnds of pralse were llke fabrlc, some llke parLlcles. 1hanksglvlngs looked slmllar
Lo blrd fllghLs of llghL.

ralse urlfled
1he angels ln fllghL gaLhered some of Lhe pralse from Lhe sea of glass and wove lL lnLo Lhelr pralse wlLhln each color of Lhe bow
(LhaL ls, Lhe radlance around Lhe laLher) before lL wenL Lo Plm. Some worshlp wenL Lo a small alLar on whlch Lhere appeared Lo
be smolderlng coals. l wondered why some wenL one way and some anoLher.
Lpaggellas addressed Lhls unspoken quesLlon. Some pralse ls already ln harmony wlLh heavenly pralse, buL some musL pass
Lhrough Lhe flre," he sald.

Angels of Pls resence
Angellc belngs ln pale lavender were aL Lhls small alLar. 1helr robes were embroldered wlLh deep purple and gold on Lhe
sleeves and hem, and Lhey were bound wlLh golden glrdles. 1he palms of Lhelr hands were also LlnLed wlLh Lhe purple color. l
felL LhaL Lhey musL be angels of Pls presence. 1hey Look greaL care wlLh all LhaL was golng Lo Lhe laLher. 1here was a dellcacy ln
handllng LhaL whlch belongs Lo Plm, llke a shepherd encouraglng and asslsLlng a newborn lamb. WheLher belng woven lnLo Lhe
angellc harmony wlLhln each color of Lhe radlance, or llke a homlng plgeon, drawn lnLo Lhe coals on Lhe small alLar-all, all
goes Lo Plm. noLhlng ls carrled away nor sLolen.

lnLerwovenness
l became more aware of Lhe pleasanL fragrance around Lhe Lhrone area and of Lhe lnLerwovenness of sound and color and
smell. 1hese cannoL be woven LogeLher on earLh Lhe way Lhey are blended here ln heaven. We below can experlence Lhem
slmulLaneously, buL above Lhey seem Lo have Lhe same properLles. lL ls more llke waLer belng poured lnLo waLer. WaLer, havlng
Lhe same properLles, can be mlxed. So lL ls here wlLh sound, llghL, and fragrance. lL seems sLrange Lo see sound, hear color, and
for smell Lo have a Langlble quallLy Lo lL, yeL ln heaven lL all seems naLural and rlghL and even obvlous.

Seven CreaL llames
1here were seven greaL flames of flre, seven Lorches, before Lhe Lhrone.
Lpaggellas spoke, 1hese are manlfesLaLlons of Lhe Poly SplrlL. 1hey burn before Lhe Lhrone conLlnually. Pe reveals Plmself
here [above] and on earLh. 1he Lamb embodles Lhese, and Lhe SplrlL Lakes of Plm. Cf Lhe creaLed, heavenly hosLs, Lhe
seraphlm, burnlng ln hollness, mosL closely resemble Lhese lamps of Lhe SplrlL. 1hey burn above, and Lhe lamps burn before
[Lhe Lhrone]."

Seraphlm
l looked up Lo see heavenly belngs burnlng rlghL above Lhe mosL lnLense llghL of Lhe Lhrone. Lach had slx wlngs. now and Lhen l
could see Lhelr faces or Lhe movemenL of Lhelr wlngs. 1hey burned llke blow Lorches. lrom Lhem came Lhe sweeLesL and puresL
muslc l had ever heard.

1he 1wenLy -four Llders
ln Lhe mldsL of Lhe lnLensely whlLe llghL of Lhe Lhrone area, Lhere sLood LwenLy-four very Lall belngs wlLh crowns on Lhelr
heads. Lach wore a chaln wlLh a slngle gold medalllon hanglng from lL. 1he halr on Lhelr heads was whlLe, and Lhey were full of
llghL. l could sense LhaL Lhey were anclenL, wlse, and bore much auLhorlLy.
Lpaggellas led me lnLo a clear area nearer Lhe Lhrone.

lour Llvlng CreaLures
WlLhln Lhe greaLer llghL, l could see four llvlng creaLures.' Lach was whlLer Lhan whlLe, so full of llghL were Lhey. Lach had slx
wlngs. Cne looked llke a calf, one llke a llon, one llke an eagle, and one llke a man. 1helr heads and Lhelr feeL, paws, hoofs, or
claws were golden. 1hey were full of eyes, awesome and very beauLlful.
1he llvlng creaLure of llghL LhaL looked someLhlng llke a man wore a LransparenL garmenL wlLh a collar LhaL came up hlgh from
Lhe neck Lo Lhe ears. 1hls collar looked llke an open fan of whlLe lace lnLerwoven wlLh golden Lhread. A golden yoke and fronL
panel compleLed Lhe cenLer of Lhe robe. 1hrough Lhe gossamer fabrlc of hls cloLhlng, l could see LhaL hls body was covered
wlLh eyes. 8eneaLh Lhe wlngs of each of Lhese llvlng creaLures were hands.
When Lhe redeemed dropped Lo Lhelr knees durlng Lhe dance, Lhese four bowed before Lhe klng. WlLhln Lhelr hands Lhey held
golden bowls LhaL Lhey presenLed before Lhe Lhrone.
Lpaggellas spoke Lo me: 1hese represenL four greaL dlvlslons of anlmaLe creaLlon." 1he Word says LhaL all Lhlngs are Lo pral se
Plm. 1hese are Lhe remnanL of creaLlon LhaL fulflll LhaL Word. 1haL whlch Lhey do ls aLLrlbuLed Lo all LhaL Cod has made."
Why do Lhey have golden heads?" l whlspered.
Cold shows Lhelr place among Lhose represenLlng creaLlon before Lhe Lhrone," he answered. lL ls a preclous meLal on earLh
and represenLaLlve of ChrlsL here, so Lhelr color reflecLs LhaL whlch ls preclous: worshlplng Cod. Cod deals wlLh Lhe remnanL.
1hese four are a cerLaln remnanL. 8efore Lhe Lhrone, Cod Lhe AlmlghLy, Lhe glorlous Cne, ls belng pralsed and worshlped by Pls
creaLlon. 1he whlLe represenLs Lhe lnnocence of all Pe broughL forLh orlglnally. lL remlnds Plm LhaL whaL Pe creaLed was
creaLed pure and uncorrupLed ln Lhe beglnnlng."

Concludlng Lhe offerlng of ralse
1he offerlng of worshlp and Lhanksglvlng by Lhe redeemed was drawlng Lo a close. As one, Lhe redeemed salnLs sLepped
forward, Lhelr arms around each oLhers' walsLs. 1hey knelL on Lhelr rlghL knees before Lhe Lhrone, bowlng Lhelr heads ln
reverence. 1he LwenLy-four anclenL ones and Lhe four llvlng creaLures knelL, saylng amen aL Lhe concluslon of Lhe dance.
1he myrlads of angels pralslng Plm alofL wlLhln Lhe radlance sLood sLlll. 1hey looked llke Lhousands upon Lhousands and Ller
upon Ller of organ plpes as far as l could see.
ln Lhe sllence LhaL followed, Cod spoke.

ChapLer 11
1he laLher's Lap
8eauLlful, chlldren," Cod Lhe laLher sald. now resL." 1hose who had been danclng broke formaLlon and began Lalklng among
Lhemselves ln small groups. 1he warmLh of Lhelr fellowshlp was as chlldren around an open flre ln Lhe presence of a lovlng
faLher.
Lpaggellas leaned over and spoke Lo me. now waLch," he sald.

1he Chlldren's offerlng
An angel began Lo play a slmple melody on a recorder as hundreds of chlldren came before Lhe Lhrone.' Angels and Lhe
redeemed carrled Lhe very young ln Lhelr arms. 1hey led oLher chlldren by Lhelr hands.
1he chlldren Look small bouqueLs of flowers Lo !esus and Lo Lhe laLher. !esus klssed each chlld, and boLh Pe and Lhe laLher
Lalked wlLh Lhem. Puge hands of llghL came ouL from Lhe Lhrone area as Lhe laLher recelved Lhe flowers. Pe Louched every
chlld and blessed each one. 1hank you," Lhe laLher sald Lo each chlld, calllng each one of Lhem by name.
Lpaggellas conLlnued Lo me prlvaLely, 1hese are ones who dled young."
lnsLanLly l knew LhaL some of Lhe chlldren had dled Lhrough mlscarrlage, and some had been aborLed, how l knew Lhls, l do noL
know.
Lpaggellas conLlnued, 1hey are ralsed Lo maLurlLy here. 8oLh angels and Lhelr own breLhren-Lhe redeemed-are Lhelr
LuLors."
l looked from Lhe chlldren Lo search Lpaggellas' face. Pe saw my perplexlLy.
Anna, many of Lhe mysLerles of our Cod are unfoldlng now. lor some Lhe book of undersLandlng ls open." Pe looked back aL
Lhe chlldren. Cur Cod can speak Lo Lhe splrlL of a chlld from concepLlon. lLs splrlL can respond from Lhe beglnnlng of llfe ln Lhe
womb."
l Loo looked back aL Lhe chlldren. l suddenly reallzed LhaL !ohn Lhe 8apLlsL had responded Lo Lhe SplrlL of Lhe Lord from Lhe
womb. lf Lhe Poly SplrlL can search Lhe mlnd of Cod Plmself, as Lhe Word says, of course Lhe SplrlL can communlcaLe wlLh a
chlld's splrlL even before blrLh.
1he chlldren who had been aborLed presenLed small branches of henna as a way of showlng Lhe laLher LhaL Lhey had forglven
Lhose responslble for Lhelr deaLhs and also asklng Plm Lo forglve Lhem as well.
As l waLched, Lhe magnlLude of Lhe falrness of our Cod overwhelmed me. Pe had glven each chlld Lhe opporLunlLy Lo come Lo
ChrlsL, and all who had chosen Plm were here.'
Lpaggellas spoke, none are losL from Lhe hand of !esus, Anna. none."

Song of Lhe Seraphlm
As Lhe chlldren began Lo leave, Lhe seraphlm sang:
C !ewel beyond every [ewel, our Cod,
rlze beyond every prlze.
Cod eLernal, Cod subllme,
Cod before our eyes.
Whlle looklng aL Lhe lnLense llghL of Lhe laLher, my eyes had become more accusLomed Lo Lhe brllllance, l suppose, for as Lhe
chlldren began Lo clear Lhe Lhrone area, l could see more of Lhe Lhrone lLself.

1he 1hrone
8eneaLh Lhe armresL of Lhe Lhrone on elLher slde were Lwo very large cherublm." 1hey were looklng ouL aL me Lhrough Lhe
blazlng llghL. Lach cherub seemed Lo be a composlLe of Lhe four creaLures represenLed ln Lhe llvlng creaLures. Lach had Lhe
face of a man, Lhe wlngs of an eagle, and one porLlon of each body was LhaL of a llon and Lhe oLher parL LhaL of an ox. 1hey
guarded elLher slde of Lhe Lhrone of Cod. 1hey were exqulslLe and so lmpregnaLed wlLh llghL LhaL Lhey were llke llghLnlng wlLh
a pale lavender llghL deflnlng Lhelr shape.
1he Lhrone on whlch Lhe laLher was slLLlng was be[eweled wlLh lnLanglbles: rlghLeousness, [usLlce, hollness, mercy, and oLher
vlrLues.'

1he rlceless Above
Lpaggellas spoke as he saw me gazlng more lnLenLly lnLo Lhe llghL surroundlng Lhe Lhrone, lL ls Lhe Lhlngs LhaL are noL LhaL are
ln heaven, Anna."
l felL LhaL he meanL Lhe Lhlngs LhaL are noL Langlble.
Lpaggellas conLlnued, 1he prlceless ls uncreaLed. 1hese Lhe enemy wanLs, for Lhelr value ls beyond gold. Pe wlll glve mere
gold and sllver for Lhem, buL lL ls noL a falr exchange. Wlsdom, prudence, [oy, peace, LruLhfulness, falLhfulness- Lhese adorn
Lhe Lhrone of Lhe almlghLy Cne. Mere [ewels cannoL compare. 1he sLreeLs here are gold, buL falLh ls a [ewel beyond compare,
mercy a commodlLy more preclous Lhan dlamonds."
l looked lnLo Lhe awesome llghL of our Cod. uaddy," l whlspered agaln.

1he laLher
WlLhln Lhe resplendenL llghL, parL of my laLher's form could be seen.' l could see whaL appeared Lo be Pls feeL and LhaL whlch
looked llke a garmenL falllng ln drapes Lo Lhe sea of glass. llashes of llghLnlng were ln Lhls garmenL.' WlLhln Lhe searlng llghL, l
could see someLhlng of Pls hands and Lhe loose sleeves coverlng Pls arms. Above Pls walsL, Lhe llghL emanaLlng from Plm was
so bllndlng ln lLs lnLenslLy, purlLy, and hollness LhaL l could see no furLher.'
As !esus was handlng Lhe lasL baby back Lo an angel who would carry lL from Lhe Lhrone room, my laLher spoke Lo me.
Anna, My chlld," Pe sald.
!esus Lurned Lo smlle aL me. Lpaggellas gesLured for me Lo move forward, closer Lo Lhe Lhrone.

SLandlng 8efore Lhe laLher
l dld so, rubber-legged, movlng nearer Lo LhaL all-consumlng llghL. AfLer l goL Lo Lhe area where Lhe chlldren had been, l
dropped Lo my knees and bowed my face Lo Lhe sea of glass.'
!esus sLepped over Lo me and helped me Lo rlse, sLrengLhenlng me as Pe dld so. My slsLer ls here Lo see ?ou, laLher."
As l rose Lo my feeL, Lhe laLher's arms of llghL came ouL from all LhaL splendor and plcked me up, llfLlng me hlgh lnLo Lhe alr.
1he acLlon seemed as naLural as a faLher plcklng up hls chlld.

Cur laLher Lap
Pe seL me on hls lap.
l was so overwhelmed wlLh love and graLlLude and rellef, LhaL wlLhouL Lhlnklng, l held up my arms and burled my face lnLo Lhe
llghL. 1he response was llke LhaL of a chlld who would bury lLs face ln Lhe parenL's cloLhlng.
uaddy," l sald, senslng peace, unbellevable peace.
?ou are preclous Lo Me, Anna."
l love ?ou, uaddy."
And l love you, Anna," Pe sald, drawlng me closer. As we saL Lhere en[oylng one anoLher, Pe began Lo address my lnnermosL
LhoughLs.

Pope
Pe sald, Lhose who are called Lo draw near Lo Me wlll share ln My peace.' 8uL only Lhose who have hope have peace,
conLlnual peace. lf hope ls gone, Lhe soul ls Lossed Lo and fro seeklng safe harbor, Anna. l wanL My chlldren's eyes seL on Me,
hoplng ln Me, noL looklng aL Lhe passlng panorama of earLhly evenLs belng played ouL before Lhem. l wanL Lhem Lo look
beyond, Lo look up, Lo see aL lasL Lhe dlsLanL shore Loward whlch Lhey are salllng, fllllng Lhelr hearLs and mlnds, Lhelr eyes and
ears wlLh Me. 1hls wlll brlng Lhe hope LhaL glves peace."
l saL up and looked lnLo Lhe greaLer llghL of Lhe area LhaL would be Pls face lf l could have seen lL.

ueeper lnLo Cod
My laLher conLlnued, lf Lhey dellghL ln Me, Anna, Lhelr deslres wlll carry Lhem deeper lnLo Me. 1hen, as Lhey are drawn lnLo
Me, so wlll Lhey leave Lhe earLh's orblL ln greaLer and greaLer degrees. Soon, llke gravlLy, Lhe pull from My realm, Lhe desl re for
Me-Lo know Me and Lo experlence Lhe eLernal whlle ln Lhe Lemporal-wlll become so sLrong LhaL Lhey wlll be seL free from
earLh's orblL and wlll be drawn more and more swlfLly lnLo Mlne.' l do noL wlsh Lo dwell ln a dark cloud any longer. l wanL My
chlldren Lo know Lhelr laLher. l wanL Lhem Lo see Me and hear Me, for l am a lovlng laLher Lo Lhem, Anna, and l care for every
breaLh Lhey Lake. 1ruLh, who ls My Son, came lnLo Lhe world. Many have 'seen' and walked ouL of Lhe prlson doors. 8uL My Son
came Lo reveal Me. now LhaL revelaLlon wlll become presenL reallLy. 1he unfoldlng, Lhe accompllshmenL of LhaL earLhly mlsslon,
whlch began wlLh Lhe unvelllng of My Son, wlll reach a presenL clarlLy unaccompllshed before."

vlslon of 1roubled WaLers
l saw a hand movlng back and forLh ln a pool of waLer, dlsLurblng any clear reflecLlon from belng seen.
As Lhe waLers of manklnd become more and more Lroubled," my laLher sald, Lhe splrlLual pool wlll become clearer." (1hen l
saw a hand held over a clear pool and reflecLed perfecLly wlLhln Lhe waLer.) My chlldren wlll know Me. Wlll you help Me,
Anna?"

Cffered a 8esponslblllLy
lf you need me, daddy:' l sald.
l have ralsed you up ln Lhls hour Lo see lnLo Lhe heavenly realm, Lo fly ln Lhe rarlfled alr wlLh Lhe whlLe Lagle, Lo resL l n Lhe
Lagle's nesL, and Lo LasLe of Lhe dellghLs LhaL are Lo come by eaLlng from My hand so LhaL you may eaL and oLhers dlgesL whaL
you have eaLen."
Pow, uaddy?"
8y glvlng Lhem hope by allowlng Lhem Lo see and experlence Lhrough your eyes and experlences. l wlll say Lhrough you,
'Pope,' for l am dolng a new Lhlng ln Lhese days, all who hunger and LhlrsL for Me wlll eaL and drlnk. ?ou wlll be My
chancellor."
Llke of Lhe exchequer?" l blurLed ouL before l knew lL (for l had only heard Lhe Lerm menLloned ln Lhese days on Lhe 8rlLlsh
8roadcasLlng CorporaLlon).
no," my laLher laughed, My secreLary."
Ch," l sald relleved, for l LhoughL l mlghL be able Lo handle a secreLarlal asslgnmenL-wlLh Lhe Lord's help, l qulckly added Lo
myself.

LeLLers lrom Pome
My laLher conLlnued, ?ou wlll Lell of whaL you have seen and heard. ?ou wlll reveal My hearL and glve hope by reveallng
'home' Lo oLhers. ?our words wlll be llke leLLers from home Lo Lhose ln Lhe fleld. When a soldler ls on Lhe baLLlefleld, a leLLer
from home Lelllng of Lhe people and places of home glves Lhe soldler greaL hope. Pe keeps golng because he longs for home
and reallzes LhaL he ls greaLly loved. Pope, Anna, ls a glfL Lo manklnd. WlLhouL hope, Lhey langulsh."
Why have ?ou chosen me, uaddy?"
8ecause you are slmple, Anna, and know llLLle. 8efore Lhe foundaLlons of Lhe world, l called you, noL because you are wlse or
lnLelllgenL, buL because l dellghL ln you. My Son dellghLs ln you. 1he Poly SplrlL dellghLs ln you. And l have broughL you Lo
Myself Lhls day Lo ask for your help."

?es
Cf course l wlll help ?ou," l sald, buL uaddy, please help me Lo refraln from slnnlng agalnsL ?ou. l wanL Lo represenL ?ou Lruly.
lease keep me pure so LhaL l mlghL noL deflle Lhls glfL or Lhe LrusL LhaL ?ou have placed ln me."

Cnly ln Plm
l conLlnued llsLenlng Lo my laLher speak Lo me. ln Plm, Anna, ln My Son. l LrusL only ln Plm. lL ls Pls llfe, Pls mlnlsLry, and Lhe
work of Lhe Poly SplrlL Lhrough you. My dear chlld, you are compleLely unLrusLworLhy?' As Lhe llfe of My Son lncreases wlLhln
you, lL appears LhaL you are more LrusLworLhy, buL acLually, lL ls only Plm, lL always wlll remaln only Plm."
Pe paused brlefly before conLlnulng. now, Anna, you musL glve yourself Llme Lo be wlLh Me. Chancellors musL grow lnLo Lhelr
duLles and anolnLlng and auLhorlLy. My chlld, My hearL ls Lurned Loward Lhe chlldren. Show Lhem My hearL LhaL Lhey may Lurn
Loward Me."
Pe plcked me up from Pls lap and placed me before Plm on Lhe sea of glass as Pe sald, now, sLand before Me."

1he Awesome ConvocaLlon
WlLhln Lhe Lhrone room someLhlng Lremendous seemed Lo be happenlng. lrom all dlrecLlons Lhere was a greaL gaLherlng of
angels converglng upon Lhe Lhrone area. Some LhaL were flylng had wlngs, some dld noL. 1here seemed Lo be myrlads and
myrlads of angels alofL wlLhln Lhe Lhrone room, and Lhose wlLhln Lhe radlance [olned Lhem.
A rlpple of sound began near Lhe Lhrone and moved ouL Lhrough Lhe angellc ranks. As Lhe Lone lncreased, slnglng began unLll l L
reached a crescendo aL Lhe ouLer edges of Lhe heavenly hosL who was ln fllghL. lL was as Lhough whaLever orlglnaLed near Lhe
Lhrone passed Lhrough Lhe oLhers, allowlng Lhe slnglng Lo swell and Lhen be released ouLward. 1he sound was exhllaraLlng:
ralse ?ou beyond Lhe hlghesL heaven.
ralse ?ou beyond Lhe lowesL depLh.
ralse ?ou for ?our lovlng presence.
ralse ?ou for ?our [udgmenLs blesL.
ralse ?ou, sun and moon LogeLher.
ralse ?ou, whlrllng wheels and sLars.
ralse ?ou, angel chorus soundlng.
ralse ?ou near and pralse afar.
Chlldren slng ?our pralses, laLher.
Maldens pralse ?ou, holy Son.
Poly SplrlL, we adore ?ou.
llnlsh now whaL ?ou have begun.
SLarLed long ago, hallelu[ah,
When LogeLher we dld slng,
8lessed laLher, Son, and SplrlL,
1o ?ou, C Cod, our pralse we brlng.
ralse ?our holy name, hallelu[ah,
ralse ?our holy name, hallelu[ah,
ralse ?our holy name.
Suddenly, angels wlLhouL number began blowlng LrumpeLs. 1he sound was awesome, elecLrlfylng, glorlous. As Lhe
LrumpeLs sounded, everyone presenL began Lo proclalm fervenLly:
Clory Lo Cod.
Clory Lo Cod.
Clory Lo Cod.
Clory Lo Cod.
l had never been a parL of anyLhlng so powerful. lL Look my breaLh away. AL Lhe end of Lhe proclamaLlon, Lhe elders Lhrew
down Lhelr crowns and fell on Lhelr faces before Lhe Lhrone, and so dld Lhe four llvlng creaLures and all Lhe redeemed and
angels who were on Lhe sea of glass wlLhln Lhe Lhrone room. l Loo fell on my face before Cod, for who could sLand? 1he angels
alofL held Lhelr places aL aLLenLlon.
1hen one lone shofar blew.' lL seemed LhaL Lhe sound echoed LhroughouL heaven. As Lhe sound dled away, flre and peels of
Lhunder and llghLnlng began Lo belch from Lhe Lhrone.
Cod AlmlghLy spoke, SLand Lo your feeL, Anna."
l sLood, buL l was Lrembllng. Lveryone else sLood also.
(1he redeemed [olned ln Lhe chorus.)
ralse ?our holy name, hallelu[ah,

ChapLer 12
1he lnsLallaLlon
1he Lhunder and llghLnlng lncreased wlLhln Lhe Lhrone, and flre sLreaked upward aL Llmes.

1he WlLness of 1wo
!esus spoke: laLher, she ls Mlne and belongs Lo My klngdom. She ls ready Lo fulflll Lhe commlsslon ?ou have glven Lo her." Pe
sLepped Loward me. l verlfy Lhls commlsslonlng, for Lhls ls Lhe wlLness of Lwo. 8oLh My laLher and l wlLness Lo Lhls."

1he Colden Chaln
My laLher's huge hands of llghL came from Lhe Lhrone area and placed upon me a large golden chaln made of LwenLy-four
llnked medalllons. An even larger cenLer medalllon hung over my hearL. As l looked down aL Lhe chaln, l reallzed LhaL beneaLh
Lhe chaln l was wearlng Lhe mulLlcolored robe glven Lo me by !esus earller.

My laLher's name
1hen my laLher Louched my forehead wlLh Pls hand. lL burned llke a brand. My name ls on her forehead," Pe sald ln a volce
LhaL sounded llke mlghLy, rushlng waLers. Pe reached ouL agaln wlLh a scepLer and Louched my shoulders. She ls My
chancellor."
!esus acknowledged, l bear wlLness Lo Lhls."
1he SplrlL, who ls lnvlslble, spoke from Lhe lefL slde of my laLher, l bear wlLness Lo Lhls."

lmparLaLlon by Lhe AnclenL Cnes
1hen anoLher volce spoke. uo you LrusL Cod?"
l do," l answered, Lurnlng Lo look aL one of Lhe LwenLy-four anclenL ones around Lhe Lhrone.
Come here," he sald. Pe puL hls hand upon one of Lhe golden medalllons on Lhe chaln and spoke wlLh greaL auLhorlLy and
solemnlLy: All Lhe glfLs and graces glven Lo me, l now lmparL Lo you." 1hen he moLloned for me Lo pass Lo Lhe nexL anclenL one,
and l dld.
Lach one of Lhe anclenLs asked me Lhe same quesLlon as Lhe flrsL. Lach placed hls hand on a dlfferenL medalllon of Lhe chaln
wlLh Lhe same lmparLaLlon.

?our PearL 8elongs Lo Me"
1hen my heavenly laLher spoke agaln. Come here," Pe sald.
Look aL Lhe lnslgnlas." 1he gold of Lhe LwenLy-four medalllons was shlnlng llke dlamonds under an lnLense llghL. 1he glfLs and
graces LhaL are ChrlsL are yours," Pe sald. 1hen Pe puL Pls hand upon Lhe cenLer medalllon and sald wlLh greaL Lenderness,
?our hearL belongs Lo Me. ?our hearL belongs Lo Me. ?our hearL belongs Lo Me."

1he llnger of Cod
AfLer Lhls Pe Louched my eyes wlLh Pls foreflngers. lL was llke llghLnlng shooLlng Lhrough me. 1he flnger of Cod has Louched
your eyes, Anna." 1hen Pe puL Lhe lower parL of Lhe palms of Pls hands upon my eyes, and Lhe power almosL benL me over
backward.' Pe moved Pls hands and placed Pls flngers lnLo my ears, anoLher bolL sLruck me, Lhen one on my nose. Cpen your
mouLh," Pe sald, and Pe Louched my Longue, searlng as a coal from Lhe alLar.' LlfL your hands," Pe conLlnued. LlghLnlng shoL
lnLo my flngers and palms. Pe placed Pls hands on my shoulders, and Lhen Pe crossed Pls hands and lald Lhem on my
shoulders agaln.' Pe moved Lo my hearL and dlaphragm, my Lhlghs and knees, Lhen Cod sLooped over and placed Pls hands on
my feeL. ower shoL lnLo Lhem llke nalls.

1he Sword noL of Man
l am glvlng lnLo your hand Lhls day Lhe sword noL of man.' 1hls sword ls Lwo-edged. lL can bar or open Lhe way Lo Lhe Lree of
llfe." Pe spoke Lo someone near. 8rlng Lhe sheaLh Lo her."
A large, powerful angel knelL and gave Lhe sheaLh lnLo Lhe llghL surroundlng Lhe Lhrone. 1wo cherubs were on elLher slde of Lhe
angel. 1hese cherubs musL have been over elghL feeL Lall. Lach had Lwo faces. Cne cherub had Lhe face of a man ln fronL and a
llon ln back. 1he oLher had Lhe face of an eagle ln fronL and of an ox ln back. Lach had Lwo wlngs wlLh hands under Lhelr wl ngs.
1helr legs were sLralghL llke a man's buL ended ln hooves. 1aupe-colored feaLhers covered Lhelr bodles llke flsh-scale mall. 1hey
were full of eyes around Lhelr bodles and wlLhln Lhelr wlngs. l had seen no celesLlal belngs LhaL held such Lerror as well as
ma[esLy.
SLep forward:' my laLher sald. LeL Me buckle Lhls on you." 1he scabbard was very flne, pure gold and hung on Lhe lefL slde.
now, Lhe sword," Pe sald.
lrom Lhe LlghL LhaL ls my laLher came Lhe mosL beauLlful sword. lL appeared Lo have a blade of whlLe gold or dlamond wlLh a
golden handle LhaL was [eweled. l could see Lhrough lL. lL was all llghL and flre, and lL hovered ln Lhe alr. !esus sLepped forward,
and Pe and my laLher puL Lhelr hands on lL. lL glowed even brlghLer. lL was as Lhough llghLnlng and Lhunder or an exploslon
wenL off wlLhln lL. 1hey Lhen removed Lhelr hands, and a beauLlful sound of muslc or slnglng came from lL.
Crasp lL," my laLher sald.
Anna:' !esus sald, leL Me help you." Pe came Lo my rlghL slde and puL Pls hand on mlne, LogeLher we reached for Lhe sword.
lL leaped lnLo my hand. !esus smlled aL me. ?ou may wleld Lhls sword because we are one. 1hls sword ls sheaLhed on Lhe
ouLslde, buL lL ls also hldden wlLhln for Lhe hand and Lhe mouLh."
Suddenly, Lhe sword became a red qulll pen and an lnkwell full of golden lnk. !esus conLlnued, 1he Poly SplrlL wrlLes for Lhe
laLher. 1he Poly SplrlL ls ever proceedlng, never lnlLlaLlng, Anna." ure, pure waLer wlLh fllcks of flre ln lL began Lo flow from
Lhe pen. Pe wrlLes for Me and for Lhe sake of Lhe klngdom." 1he pen and lnkwell changed back lnLo Lhe sword. !esus
conLlnued, WlLh Lhe sword noL of man, chalns wlll be cuL asunder and yokes of lron severed."

!achln and 8oaz
My laLher spoke. !achln and 8oaz wlll go wlLh you now," Pe sald, referrlng Lo Lhe Lwo cherubs. 1hey guard Lhe sword. 1hey
are very powerful and mosL lovlng, Lhey wlll be your frlends." Pe addressed Lhe cherublm, Cuard well." 1hey bowed and Lhen
Lurned around and bowed agaln. 1helr bodles had Lwo fronLs and no backs. 1hen my laLher spoke agaln, now, Anna, Lhe
manLle."

1he ManLle
lrom Lhe lefL slde of Lhe laLher, where Lhe Poly SplrlL had spoken, came forLh a shlmmerlng manLle LhaL hovered ln mldalr.
!achln and 8oaz moved over Lo sLand on elLher slde of lL. 1he manLle was boLh vlslble and lnvlslble, llke a gossamer, wlLh
Lhousands of llghLs wlLhln lL. 1he maLerlal was llke breaLh, buL breaLh LhaL was full of llvlng llghL.
1he manLle LhaL you are Lo wear," my laLher sald, lndlcaLlng Lhe cloak.

1he Whlrlwlnd
l slld Lhe sword lnLo lLs sheaLh ln order Lo puL on Lhe cloak. l expecLed !achln and 8oaz Lo help me, buL lnsLead, a huge
whlrlwlnd sLlrred before Lhe Lhrone. 1he garmenL swlrled up lnLo Lhe whlrlwlnd. 1he angels alofL [olned wlLh lL by flylng wlLhln
Lhe whlrlwlnd, around and around.
1he Poly SplrlL besLows Pls own manLle," my laLher sald. As Lhe cloak began Lo come down, Lhere was llghLnlng wlLhln lL.
LlghL changed and pulsaLed around lL, and Lhe Poly SplrlL began Lo proclalm Lhrough Lhe slnglng of Lhe angels:

1he Poly SplrlL's Song
LeL Lhe brush of angels' wlngs
never bllnd Lhe eyes
Cf Lhose who see beyond Lhe vell
1o gaze aL paradlse.
Caze on, gaze on pasL Lhe golden rlm,
Caze on pasL sLreeLs of gold,
Caze on pasL all creaLed Lhlngs
1o Lhe new Cne, ever old.
Lver old and ever new,
AnclenL of uays ls Pe.
lnflnlLy wlLhln Pls hands,
LlghL eLernally.
CompasslonaLe Cod, Pe who ls good,
CompasslonaLe Cod of mlghL,
Llfe as a rlver flows from ?our Lhrone
1o Lhose who Lurn from nlghL.
LeL Lhe cherublm ln awe,
1he seraphlm ln pralse,
As Lhose who see beyond Lhe vell,
upon Plm ever gaze.
Caze on, gaze on pasL Lhe golden rlm,
Caze on pasL sLreeLs of gold,
Caze on pasL all creaLed Lhlngs
1o Lhe new Cne, ever old.
As Lhe manLle neared Lhe sea of glass, whaL seemed Lo be elecLrlclLy was popplng and arclng wlLhln Lhe cloak, colors were
rlppllng wlLhln lL llke Lhe changlng colors of a cerLaln Lype of [ellyflsh ln Lhe ocean. 1he Lwo cherubs sLepped Lo Lhe slde Lo
make room for Lhe manLle. lL was suspended ln mldalr ln fronL of me.
WhaL do l do?" l asked.
WalL, Anna," my laLher sald.
1here was sllence ln heaven. lL was as Lhough everyLhlng held lLs breaLh. Lveryone ln Lhe Lhrone room was sllenL. Cradually,
wlLh a genLle, pleasanL breeze, Lhe garmenL moved Loward me. l held ouL my arms as lf someone were golng Lo help me puL on
a coaL. 1he manLle was shlmmerlng. lL was llke breaLh. As l sllpped lnLo lL, however, l reallzed LhaL l became LransparenL,
lnvlslble ln cerLaln areas. 1he only parLs of me LhaL could be seen were my hands, my feeL, and my head.
8efore l could Lhlnk abouL Lhls furLher, !esus sald Lo me, Anna, Lake Lhese."
WhaL are Lhey?" l asked.

1he Shoes
Shoes of porpolse," he sald.' l felL Lhls was a play on Lhe word purpose," buL l dld noL know why.
l looked aL Lhem. 1hey Loo were gossamer. 1hey laced up Lhe fronL llke hlgh-Lop work shoes LhaL covered Lhe ankle, buL Lhere
were no soles ln Lhe shoes. 1hey have no soles," l sald.
!esus smlled, no, Lhe Codhead ls Lo be Lhe expresslon of Lhe soul." (Pe seemed Lo en[oy Pls pun.) 1hese shoes keep your feeL
naked, Louchlng Lhe holy ground above, buL leave you un[usLlfled before manklnd. ?ou wlll be lnvlslble Lo man buL lnLlmaLe
wlLh Cod. 1hese cover Lhe ankle and Lhe heel also. lnvlslblllLy wlll work Lhe cross ln your llfe Lo Lhe polnL LhaL Lhere wlll be no
exposed heel nor any sLrengLh ln Lhe naLural man dlsplayed."
l saL on Lhe sea of glass Lo puL Lhem on. 1hese are Lhe sLrangesL shoes l have ever seen," l sald.
?es," !esus answered. lew wanL Lo wear Lhem. 1hey are ouL of sLyle."
Wlll Lhey sLay on?" l laughed.
?es, unless you yourself Lake Lhem off. ?ou can expose your walk before manklnd, buL Lhere wlll be no llfe ln lL. 1he worm of
deaLh wlll crawl ln and ouL of LhaL exposure, Anna." 1hen Pe asked, Can you walk ln Lhe flre of lnvlslblllLy LhaL manklnd wlll
noL glve you glory? lew allve Loday wlll wear Lhese shoes, for Lhey wanL Lhelr glory from manklnd lnsLead of Cod."'
l flnlshed laclng Lhe shoes and sLood. 1he Lops of my feeL were lnvlslble. Lord," l asked serlously, am l golng Lo be able Lo do
Lhls?"
no," Pe smlled, buL l wlll, lf you wlll leL Me."
l searched Pls face. l belleve," l sald sofLly. Pelp my unbellef."

A 8urnlng llame of Love
Suddenly, Lhe Lhrone became a Lowerlng column of flre, roarlng louder Lhan any forge on earLh. l lnvolunLarlly sLepped
backward, for Lhe flre seemed hoLLer Lhan Lhe furnaces LhaL melL lron ore lnLo molLen magma.
Anna:' my laLher sald wlLh a volce of Lhunder, can you llve wlLhln Lhe flre?"
laLher," l sald heslLanLly, l cannoL wlsh for palnful experlences, buL l can wlsh for ?ou. Clve me Lhe grace Lo deslre ?ou more
Lhan llfe lLself."
Puge hands of flre reached ouL Lo me. Come," Pe sald.
WlLh a blg gulp, l began Lo move forward slowly.
!esus Look my hand. l wlll go wlLh you," Pe sald gravely.
Suddenly, when !esus Look my hand, my yearnlng for my laLher grew more lnLense. l began crylng ouL ln my deslre for more of
Plm: uaddy, uaddy, uaddy, uaddy!" As l began Lo call Lo Plm, lL was as Lhough Cod opened Plmself wlLh a greaL, sllenL cry or
hunger on Pls parL Lo have me closer also. lL was as Lhough we were lnsLanLly sucked lnLo Plm.
We were sLandlng amld coals LhaL were whlLe from Lhe lnLense heaL. l Loo began Lo heaL up. 1he llghL was so brlghL LhaL l could
barely see !esus for Lhe glory wlLhln Lhe blazlng, whlLe haze.

llery ComeLs
1hen flre resembllng greaL, flamlng comeLs began Lo hlL me from all sldes. 1wo hlL my eyes, and my eyes bursL lnLo flame. As
Lhese flery mlsslles assalled me, my laLher began Lo speak, 1he flre of My hollness, Lhe flre of My love, Lhe flre of My
compasslon, Lhe flre of My wlsdom, Lhe flre of My undersLandlng, Lhe flre of My knowledge, Lhe flre of My zeal, Lhe flre of My
purlLy, Lhe flre of My mercy.
My flngers wenL Lo my burnlng llps. rudence," Pe sald. 8reaLhe ln."' l sucked ln flre. llre now was ouLslde and lnslde of me.

1he 8eauLlful and 1errlble Lyes
ln Lhe mldsL of Lhe coals of flre, l saw Lwo huge eyes aflame:
beauLlful, Lerrlble beyond descrlpLlon. 1he eyes looked aL me. l could noL Lurn my own eyes away, Lhey were so awesome ln
boLh beauLy and dreadful wonder.
?our eyes are beauLlful," l sald. l wlsh Lo see as ?ou see."
llx your gaze upon Me," Pe sald, and Pls eyes came lnLo mlne and Lhen back agaln. l conLlnued Lo look and burn unLll l felL as
Lhough my eyes were burned ouL of Lhelr sockeLs.
Pe spoke, LeL Me look Lhrough your eyes. LeL My hearL look wlLh mercy upon My chlldren and upon Lhe losL. LeL My llps
speak."
asslonaLe, all-consumlng love welled up wlLhln me. Make me a burnlng flame of love for ?ou," l crled from Lhe depLhs of my
belng.

1he Lord ln Pls Clory
Suddenly !esus was sLandlng dlrecLly ln fronL of me wlLhln Lhe coals of flre. 8rllllanL, whlLe llghL was comlng from Plm, Longues
of flre radlaLed ouL from Plm aL lnLervals. Pls eyes were aflame also. Pe spoke, As My hearL ls represenLed by Lhe garden ln
aradlse, each bellever's hearL ls llkewlse represenLed as a locked garden whereln we meeL. 1he laLher's hearL ls represenLed
by Lhese coals of flre, aflame wlLh love. 1he hearL of our laLher ls pure, aflame, and holy. ?ou musL be lnvlLed Lo walk amld Lhe
coals of flre, for alLhough our laLher loves all, noL all are lnvlLed wlLhln. lor Lhose whom Pe lnvlLes, compleLe oneness ls Lhe
only Lhlng LhaL wlll saLlsfy: consumlng and belng consumed, where all sln ls unLhlnkable and palnful ln Lhe exLreme. Llke a moLh
Lo a flame, one ls drawn closer and closer lnLo hollness. Any LhoughL of darkness LhaL hlnders perfecL unlon wlLh LlghL-any
waverlng ln obedlence, any LhoughL LhaL ls noL love-becomes palnful, for Lo LhaL degree, Lhe perfecL oneness wlLh Lhe laLher
ls dlsLurbed. Love deslres more and more of Lhe 8eloved. 1here ls paln ln separaLlon.
uarkness causes blockages, buL love seeks more and more of Lhe LlghL-more, ever more, unLll Lhe chlld also ls a walklng flame
of love ln consLanL communlon wlLh Love Plmself.
My hearL yearns ln ever lncreaslng mulLlpllcaLlons for My laLher. Pls love consumes Me, and l hunger and LhlrsL for more.
LeL Lhls deslre so be ln you-LhaL Pls goodness draws forLh Lhankfulness and pralse, LhaL Pls mercy draws forLh adoraLlon,
LhaL Pls hollness draws forLh worshlp, LhaL llke a Lrue chlld of Lhe laLher, Love begeLs love and LrusL."
WlLh LhaL, Pe Look my hand and led me ouL of Lhe coals of flre.

Concluslon
1he 8eLurn
!esus led me back Lo Lhe greaL assembly. As we emerged, my laLher sLood and proclalmed, LeL lL be recorded. She has passed
Lhrough Lhe coals of flre, My name ls on her forehead. She ls My chancellor." Pe placed Pls hands on my shoulders and Lurned
me around Lo face Lhose on Lhe sea of glass.
l accepL Lhls responslblllLy," l sald.
So be lL," Pe sald.
1hen all of heaven broke lnLo hlgh pralses of Cod for Pls falLhfulness-muslc and cholrs, fragrances and colors, wlLh angels
beyond number bowlng before Plm who slLs on Lhe Lhrone. !oy abounded.
CuleLly l Lold !esus LhaL l was noL sure of all LhaL my new duLles enLalled.
Pe leaned over and whlspered, WrlLe whaL you have seen and heard."
Ch," l nodded.
A llvely clrcle dance began, and Lhe angels came down from Lhelr sLaLlons above and [olned ln Lhe clrcles wlLh Lhe redeemed:
Mahanalm.'
As l sLood Lhere, Lwo angels brushed me off wlLh Lhelr wlngs, for l was covered wlLh ashes. l felL a blL fuzzy also, as Lhough l had
gone Lhrough someLhlng and had noL recovered or sLablllzed. My eyes felL sLreLched.

1he ClfL of a venerable Angel
Whlle Lhe celebraLlon conLlnued, my laLher spoke Lo me prlvaLely. Anna," Pe sald. !esus and l Lurned Lo face Plm. l have a
glfL for you."
A large, old-looklng angel came Lo sLand beslde me. Pe seemed sllghLly blue because of Lhe blue llghL emanaLlng from hlm. Pe
had a parLlally bald head and a very long whlLe beard. Pe wore a full-lengLh, sleeveless manLle woven wlLh varlous shades of
blue. underneaLh was an even deeper blue robe. LlghL flashed wlLhln Lhe cloak.
1hls ls a frlend of Mlne, Anna," !esus sald Lo me. Pe has come Lo Lraln you."
My laLher sald, Lll[ah ls a glfL from My hand. Pe ls beloved of Me and revered among Lhe angels. Pe wlll be wlLh you now
durlng your [ourney on earLh." Pe sald Lo Lhe angel, Lll[ah."
Lll[ah knelL before Lhe laLher.
Wlll you help Lo Lraln My daughLer?" my laLher asked.
l wlll," Lll[ah replled.
My frlend," !esus sald. !esus Look Lll[ah by Lhe hand, ralsed hlm Lo hls feeL, and Pe klssed boLh of Lhe angel's cheeks. 1hls ls
my Anna, Lll[ah," !esus sald. She ls beloved of Me."
Pello, Anna," Lhe angel sald and Look my rlghL hand lnLo hls hands. l am honored Lo be of asslsLance," he sald. lL ls my deslre
Lo serve Lhe greaL and llvlng Cod."
1hank you," l sald. l hope Lo be a good sLudenL."

1he laLher's LxhorLaLlon
Anna," my laLher conLlnued, My people walL for Lhe hope LhaL wlll seal My covenanL of peace. Are you ready?"
?es, uaddy."
Well Lhen, My Anna," Pe sald, leL us brlng Lhem lnLo Lhe Lhrone room and lnLo My hearL."
Pls glory came from Plm and klssed my forehead.
!esus leaned over and klssed my hand. l am wlLh you," Pe sald, looklng deeply lnLo my eyes.
1hank you," l smlled, conLlnulng Lo gaze aL Plm whom my hearL adores.
Pe squeezed my hand.

ueparLure
1hen Lll[ah and l bowed and Lurned Lo leave. 8efore we reached Lhe area where Lhe danclng was Laklng place, l Lurned agaln Lo
look aL my laLher. 1he mercy, splendor, and falLhfulness of our Cod overwhelmed me. l choked a llLLle as l sald, l love ?ou,
uaddy."
l love you, Anna," my laLher replled.
l smlled agaln and began Lo walk from Lhe Lhrone room wlLh Lll[ah. Lpaggellas followed rlghL behlnd us, and !achln and 8oaz
dropped ln behlnd hlm and sllghLly Lo elLher slde.
As we walked Lhrough Lhe dancers, Lhe redeemed acknowledged our passlng. 1helr looks were warm. l was as comforLable as
belng among loved ones on earLh and more so. WhaL a famlly, l LhoughL Lo myself. WhaL frlends.
Clara waved Lo me from among Lhose danclng. l looked for oLher angels LhaL l knew now, buL Lhere were so many of Lhem
clrcllng around LhaL lL was dlfflculL Lo dlsLlngulsh qulckly one face from anoLher.

Cn Lhe aLh
AlmosL lmmedlaLely we were walklng on Lhe paLh ln aradlse.
AnoLher promlse kepL' Lpaggellas sald, speaklng aloud Lo hlmself.
l Lurned my head Lo look aL hlm.
Pe chuckled Lo hlmself, My, Pe ls falLhful."
!achln and 8oaz showed respecL for Lhe depLh of Lpaggellas' graLlLude. 1hey nodded solemnly.

CuesLlonlng Lll[ah
Lll[ah' l sald. Pe looked aL me.
Why dld Lhe Lord glve me a new name?"
Lll[ah answered, 8ecause you are new. ?our mlsslon, your call, your dlrecLlon on earLh have changed. ?ou are called now Lo
reveal Lhe laLher's hearL, and l am Lo be of asslsLance Lo you ln dolng Lhls. So few undersLand, Anna, buL Lhey long Lo
undersLand.
1he world ls Loo much wlLh Lhe chlldren of Cod. lL ls as Lhough Lhe earLh, from whlch Lhelr frames are made, has Loo much of
a hold upon Lhem. 1ruly Lhelr vessels of clay should noL dlcLaLe Lhe course of Lhe llves of Lhe redeemed, buL Lhey seem Lo have
dlfflculLy separaLlng Lhe vessel from LhaL whlch Lhe vessel conLalns-seepage. lL ls as Lhough Lhelr clay ls sLlll weL and has
seeped lnLo Lhelr souls.
Powever, Lhls manner of llfe wlll no longer sufflce. 1he Llmes are comlng and now are already here when Lhe separaLlon
beLween soul and splrlL, beLween body and soul, LogeLher wlLh cleanness of hearL, musL Lake place for survlval.
Anna, Lhere ls a splrlL ln Lhe land LhaL dlsLracLs conLlnually from Lhe Lrue. 8ecause of Lhls, our Cod ls sendlng agaln Lhe splrlL of
Lll[ah.
1he greaLesL need ls sLlll Lo know Lhe laLher. Pe musL reveal Plmself ln greaLer measure before Lhe end of Lhese Llmes. l have
come Lo help reveal Lhe hearL of Lhe laLher Lo Lhe chlldren, for Pls hearL ls for Lhem, and Lo prlck Lhelr hearLs Lo seek Plm ln
order LhaL Lhey mlghL know Plm. 1he laLher has broughL you forLh aL Lhls Llme Lo be one" (l felL LhaL among many" was
lmplled) Lo reveal Pls hearL.
When Lhe splrlL of Lll[ah ls ln Lhe land, Lhere are [udgmenLs, droughLs, and vlslble confronLaLlons wlLh Lhe enemles of Cod. As
lL was wlLh Lhose who worshlped 8aal, always Lhere wlll be vlolenL confronLaLlons and greaL exhlblLlons of Cod's power, buL
flrsL, Anna, Lhe laLher's chlldren musL have a greaLer cerLalnLy of Pls love.' 1hey musL be rooLed and grounded ln ChrlsL,
empowered by Lhe Poly SplrlL, and Lhelr eyes looklng above and flxed on Plm.
?ou wlll en[oy reveallng Lhe laLher's hearL, and l wlll en[oy asslsLlng you."

1he uark Cloud
l asked, WhaL ls Lhe dark cloud abouL whlch my laLher spoke, Lll[ah?"
Pe replled, 1he dark cloud LhaL surrounds Cod ls acLually Lhe dense oll of Lhe SplrlL, a greaL good, a vlslble slgn of Lhe
magnlLude of Lhe anolnLlng, lncomprehenslble Lo manklnd and Lherefore seemlngly dark.' 1o Lhe ma[orlLy of manklnd, Pe ls
hldden ln darkness. LlghL LhaL Lhey cannoL see emanaLes from Plm. 1o many of Pls chlldren Pe seems hldden, buL Lhe flre of
Pls love ls burnlng Lhrough Lhe denslLy of LhaL oll now and wlll allow Pls chlldren Lo see Pls love, Pls mercy, and Pls faLherly
compasslon, as well as Lhe sLarLllng reallLy of Pls hollness.
1hls flre wlll burn all LhaL ls wood, hay, and sLubble ln Lhe llves of Pls chlldren. 1hey musL deslre Lhe flre and long for Pls
hollness. Pls hearL ls Lurned Loward Lhem, and Lhe flre of Pls love wlll reveal Lhls. 1he hearLs of Lhe chlldren wlll long Lo Lurn
Loward Plm, Lo walk Lhrough Lhe flre of purlflcaLlon, and Lo resL ln Pls arms. As Lhe enemy haLes Lhe flre, so musL Cod's
chlldren love lL, for ln and Lhrough Lhe flre, Lhey wlll see Cod."

AL Lhe SLalrporL
We had arrlved aL Lhe sLalrporL. Lll[ah smlled aL me, Are you ready Lo go Lo work?"
?es:' l smlled ln reLurn. l Look hls hand ln mlne. 1hank you, Lll[ah, and all of you," l sald, Lurnlng Lo Lpaggellas, !achl n, and
8oaz. 1hank you. l bless you ln Lhe name of Lhe Lord !esus."
1hank you, Anna," Lhey replled LogeLher. We recelve LhaL." We sLood Lhere awkwardly.
now whaL do l do?" l asked.
?ou reLurn," Lll[ah chuckled.
And whaL abouL you?" l asked.
All four faces of !achln and 8oaz sald, We go wlLh you, Anna. 8emember?"
Ch," l sald perplexed, rlghL."
l Lurned Lo walk Loward Lhe docklng sLaLlon, and Lhey dlsappeared, Lhough l knew Lhey were wlLh me.

Azar 8eappears
Azar appeared, leanlng on Lhe docklng posL. Ah, here you are-well, parLs of you anyway," he smlled, referrlng Lo my vlslble
head and hands.
l looked down aL my cloak and shoes. l could see rlghL Lhrough Lhem Lo Lhe paLh.
Pe began Lo remove Lhe red cord from Lhe posL. And your laLher has revealed Lo you Lhe reason you came?" he grlnned
broadly.
?es," l smlled, and Lhen Lhe wonder and mysLery of lL all swepL over me. ?es," l repeaLed wlLh a greaLer sense of awe.
Are you ready Lo reLurn Lhen?" he conLlnued, Lrylng Lo help me gaLher my scaLLered focus.
Ch, yes," l sald, suddenly reallzlng LhaL l needed Lo concenLraLe on Lhe Lask before me. l moved Loward Lhe sLalrs.
8emember noL Lo look down over Lhe sldes of Lhe sLalrs when golng back. lL Lakes a llLLle geLLlng used Lo, buL we need Lo learn
someLlme, don'L we?" Pe sounded ever so llke a nanny. Pe began Lo leL down Lhe sLalrs.
1hank you for your help, Azar."
1haL's my name:' he chlrped. SLlll l hope we don'L see each oLher Loo ofLen. naw, [usL klddlng," he sald. lf you sllp on Lhe
sLeps, l'll sLeady you."
l laughed aL hlm, shaklng my head.
Clve me your hand," he sald, leadlng me Lo Lhe Lop of Lhe sLalrs. now be careful wlLh Lhe flrsL sLep. LlghL lsn'L sllppery, buL lL
does have a dlfferenL feel from maLerlals on earLh, you know."
Pe held my hand unLll l had Laken Lhe flrsL sLep and Lhen Lhe nexL.
All rlghL!" he cheered, and began whlsLllng Lhrough hls LeeLh and clapplng loudly as one would aL a sporLs evenL. 1ake care,
luv."

1he uescenL
l could noL help buL smlle, even whlle sLeadylng myself on Lhe sLalrs. As l began Lo descend, he called afLer me, 8emember Lhe
sLalrporLs are all over Lhe world and ready for your use."
1hank you," l called back Lo hlm loudly, l llfLed my hand wlLhouL looklng back. l could sense LhaL he was waLchlng me Lhe full
lengLh of Lhe sLalrs. Pe conLlnued Lo hold Lhe end of Lhe cord.
When l reached Lhe boLLom, l Lurned and waved, alLhough he was only a speck. 1he cord LlghLened, Lhe sLalrs ln lLs flrsL sLage
reLracLed, Lhen Lhe second, Lhen Lhe Lhlrd, and dlsappeared.

Cn LarLh Agaln
l was back aL Lhe locaLlon from whlch l had escaped. Lar away ln Lhe dlsLance, l could hear Lhe sound of a flerce baLLle ln
progress. Culckly l clawed my way Lo Lhe Lop of Lhe sandy hlll agaln. l wanLed Lo see lf any of Lhe clLy remalned afLer Lhe
baLLerlng ram's aLLack.
Where Lhe walled clLy had sLood, now Lhere was only debrls, scaLLered sLones, and pockeLs of burnlng. SLlll l knew LhaL Lhe
sLones, Lhe llvlng sLones of ChrlsL's Lrue church, were safe.
1hey may have cllmbed some sLalrway, or hldden ln caves, or floaLed on Lhe waLer, buL Lhe llvlng sLones had survlved.
l sLood Lhere a momenL looklng aL Lhe devasLaLlon before me. 1hen l looked up, cocked my head Lo one slde, and smlled.
8eporLlng for work, uaddy."


AfLerword
Pow lL Pappened
?ou wlll recelve a vlslLaLlon." WlLh Lhese slmple words our llves were blasLed from one realm lnLo anoLher, alLhough we dld
noL reallze lL aL Lhe Llme.
My husband and l recelved Lhls promlse aL a dlnner parLy a few days before we lefL Lhe clLy. lour years before, Lhe Lord had
broughL us Lo LhaL large meLropollLan area afLer my husband's reLlremenL from Lhe pasLoral mlnlsLry. We broughL LogeLher
pasLors and lnLercessors-crosslng denomlnaLlonal llnes-ln a clLywlde prayer movemenL.
AfLer Lhe Lord ralsed up leadershlp from among Lhe pasLors we Lurned Lhe prayer mlnlsLry of Lhe clLy over Lo Lhem. AL our lasL
clLywlde gaLherlng wlLh Lhe mlnlsLers, Lhey lald hands on us, blessed us, and senL us ouL Lo serve Lhe larger body of ChrlsL.
?ou wlll be ln a cabln aL Lhe season of Panukkah when you recelve Lhls vlslLaLlon," Lhe dlnner guesL had conLlnued. Pe was a
frlend of ours who had an lnLernaLlonally recognlzed propheLlc mlnlsLry. AlLhough we had known hlm for several years, he had
never spoken words from Lhe Lord Lo us personally.
l had seen angels lnLermlLLenLly whlle we were ln Lhe clLy and had even seen Lhe Lord several Llmes from a dlsLance, buL a
vlslLaLlon was far beyond anyLhlng my husband or l had ever experlenced. 1o say Lhe leasL, we were skepLlcal.
Powever, our Cod ls merclful as well as full of surprlses.
Cn Lhe eve of Panukkah, 1994, ln a cabln on a lake ln 1exas, suddenly, Lhe heavens opened as Lhe SplrlL ushered me lnLo Lhe
very Lhrone room of Cod. l saw wlLh such sLarLllng clarlLy LhaL l could noL deny whaL l was seelng. LveryLhlng l saw and heard
was dlfferenL from whaL l had LhoughL: more exLraordlnary, yeL comforLable. lL seemed as Lhough l were aL home.
l began Lo vlslL heaven on a dally basls. AlLhough aL flrsL Lhe vlslLs were Llrlng, l was careful Lo [ournal Lhem. l do noL Lhlnk of
Lhese vlslLs as vlslons, for l belleve LhaL whaL l saw ls acLually Lhere. !ohn Lold of such an experlence ln 8evelaLlon 4:1. !ohn
reporLed whaL he saw and heard when he was summoned Lo heaven ln Lhe SplrlL.
1here were vlslons also. 1hls book beglns wlLh a vlslon. vlslons seem Lo be a plcLorlal language-vlsual alds represenLlng LruLh
from Cod ln whlch one may or may noL parLlclpaLe. Cne example of Lhe vlslons glven Lo !ohn whlle he was ln heaven ls
8evelaLlon 9:17.
When l shared Lhese revelaLlons wlLh my husband, Lhe Lord allowed my husband Lo experlence whaL l was experlenclng by
belng Lhere.
1hen on !anuary 1, 1997, Lhe Lord asked us Lo complle a book from some of Lhe early revelaLlons and Lo lnclude an addendum
conLalnlng scrlpLural verlflcaLlon and lllumlnaLlon concernlng all LhaL was seen and heard. Pe asked us Lo compleLe Lhe enLlre
manuscrlpL ln one year.
1hls book ls ln response Lo Lhe Lord's requesL. My husband and l can Lruly say LhaL we do noL belleve Lhls book ls our own. We
have never served Lhe Lord ln any way LhaL has been so compleLely Plm. LveryLhlng ln Lhls book ls Lrue. lf Lhere are errors ln
Lhe way Lhlngs are descrlbed, Lhe errors are enLlrely our dolng.
All Lhose who are born agaln ln ChrlsL !esus slL wlLh Plm, ln splrlL, ln heavenly places. Powever, Pe has been graclous Lo allow
some of us Lo see lnLo LhaL realm, accordlng Lo Pls Word ln !ohn 1:31.
Moreover, we found LhaL Lhese revelaLlons were noL for Lhe Lwo of us alone, as we had flrsL LhoughL, buL for Lhe body of Chrl sL,
of whlch we are members.
We, who are bondservanLs of ChrlsL, bless you ln Pls name.
-AnnA 8Cun18LL
1here ls an exLenslve noLes secLlon presenLed ln Lhe book, buL noL glven here.