Then two Shining Ones met them, who said, “You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City.” CHRISTIAN then, and his companion, asked the men to go along with them; so they told them they would. “But,” said they, “you must obtain it by your own faith.” So I saw in my dream that they went on together till they came in sight of the gate of the City.

Now I further saw that between them and the gate was a river; but there was no bridge to go over: the river was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this river, the pilgrims were much astounded; but the men that went with them said, “You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate.”

The pilgrims then – especially CHRISTIAN – began to despond and wanted to escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth? They said, “No”; yet they could not help them in that case, for said they, “you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place.”

Then entering the waters, CHRISTIAN began to sink. And crying out to his good friend, HOPEFUL, he said, “I sink in deep waters, the billows go over my head; all his waves go over me.” Then said the other, “Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good.” Then said CHRISTIAN, “Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death have compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey.“

And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon CHRISTIAN, so that he could not see before him; HOPEFUL, therefore, had much difficulty to keep his brother’s head above water; sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then he would rise up again half dead. HOPEFUL also would try to comfort him, saying, “Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by it to receive us. These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you.”

Then I saw in my dream that CHRISTIAN thought awhile, so HOPEFUL added this word, “Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole”; and with that CHRISTIAN broke out with a loud voice, “Oh, I see him again and he tells me, ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee!’”. Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as a stone, until they were gone over. CHRISTIAN therefore presently found ground to stand upon; and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow. So they got over.

Now upon the bank of the river, they saw the two shining men again who waited for them there; wherefore, being come up out of the river, they saluted them, saying, “We are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation.” So they went along towards the gate. Now the City stood upon a mighty hill; but the pilgrims went up that hill with ease, because they had left their mortal garments behind them in the river.

WELCOME TO THE CELESTIAL CITY

“Here” said the Shining Ones, “is Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem; here are an innumerable company of angels and the spirits of just men made perfect. You are going now,” said they, “to the Paradise of God; wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never fading fruits thereof. And when you come there, you shall have white robes given you. There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death; for the former things are passed away. You will receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow;

You will wear crowns of gold, and enjoy the sight and visions of the Holy One; for there you shall see him as he is. You shall serve him continually with praise, shouting and thanksgiving; whom you desired to serve in the world. There you shall enjoy your friends again, that are got there before you.”

Now, while they drew towards the gate, behold a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said, by the other two Shining Ones, “These are the men that have loved our Lord when they were in the world, and that have left all for his holy Name; and he hath sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face with joy.”

There came out also several of the King’s trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment; who made even the heavens to echo with their sound of ten thousand welcomes. This done, the pilgrims were compassed on every side by others who had joined them: some went before, some behind, as if heaven itself was come down to meet them. Here also they had the City itself in view, and so they came up to the gate.

Now over the gate was written in letters of gold, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City”. The Shining Ones said: “These pilgrims are come from the city of Destruction, for the love that they bear to the King of this place,” and the King commanded they should be brought in.

Now I saw in my dream, that these two men went in at the gate; and lo, as they entered, they were transfigured; and they had raiment put on that shone like gold. There were also those that met them and gave to them harps to praise with, and crowns in token of honour. Then I heard in my dream, that all the bells in the City rang again for joy; and that it was said unto them, “Enter ye into the joy of your Lord.” I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, “Blessing, honour, glory, and power, be to him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever”.

Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them: and behold, the City shone like the sun: the streets also were paved with gold and there were many people. There were also some beings that had wings; and they answered one another, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord!” And after that they shut up the gates, which when I had seen, I wished myself among them.