Derek Thomas

I feel the bottom, and it is good.'"

Now, Hopeful's encouragement doesn't help Christian too much as he's overcome now with a great sense of darkness and horror.

He's afraid he's going to die in the river and never enter the gate.

He doesn't seem to remember the events of his pilgrimage and has troublesome thoughts of the sins that he has committed.

And Hopeful holds Christian's head now above the water and with much difficulty tries to comfort him.

telling him he sees the gate and there are people there to welcome us.

Eventually, Christian cries out with a loud voice, Oh, I see him again.

And he tells me, when you pass through the waters, I will be with you.

And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Both of them take courage and soon they find solid ground to stand on.

The rest of the river is shallow.

On the other side, the two shining ones are already waiting for the pilgrims.

They admit their role in waiting and we're ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.

And these are angels and a reference there to some of the work of angels in helping us.

The city stands upon a mighty hill.

They climb with no difficulty due to the assistance of these two shining ones.

Their mortal garments are left behind in the river and they emerge without them.

They all talk about the glory of the place that they're going to.

You are now going to the paradise of God in which you'll see the tree of life and eat of the never fading fruits of it.

And when you arrive there, white robes shall be given you.