Nero was explaining that he suffered for centuries in darkness not believing the spirits, of those he had persecuted, were telling him the truth that the love and mercy of God was available to help him progress out of darkness.
“I didn’t believe the God that I’d heard of was my God, but that the evil spirits would be my companions throughout all eternity. I endured, wishing to die, but could not. Oh I tell you, it was horrible, and beyond all conception of mortals. The law was working, and I was paying the penalty. I could find no consolation among those surrounding me, and the pleasures that I first enjoyed became to me things of mockery and derision, and my darkness and torment became greater. How often I called upon God, if there be a God, to strike me dead; but the only answer to my call was the laughter of the spirits, who told me to shout louder, as God might be asleep, or maybe deaf.
“What to do I knew not, and so became isolated as best I could from these terrible associates; and many years of my living were spent in this darkness of lonesomeness, with never a ray of hope, or whisper of one word to suggest that for me there might be a fairer destiny. During all this time, the recollections of my earthly deeds were like hot irons scorching my soul. I was compelled to continue living in these sufferings, answering to the law of compensation.
“In my loneliness and suffering, there came to me on an occasion a beautiful spirit, full of light and love, in all the beauty of early womanhood, and with eyes of pity said,”You are not alone, only open your eyes and you will see the star of hope, which is the sign of the Father’s love and desire to help you. I am a child of that Father, and the possessor of his great enveloping love, and I love you, even though you took from me my young life when you threw me to the wild beasts to gratify your thirst for blood, and to see the suffering and hear the groans of your victoms. Yes, I love you, not because I am a human with a kindly nature and a forgiving disposition, but because I have in me this divine love of the Father.” To be continued…