In this episode of the Hall of Mysteries with the Mahdi Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq, we explore one of the most misunderstood and controversial questions in religious history: the true nature of authority, deception, and divine will. Drawing from the teachings of Jesus, the prophets of the Old Testament, the story of Eden, and ancient esoteric traditions, this episode challenges long-standing assumptions about good and evil, obedience and rebellion, and the structure of creation itself. By examining the symbolism of the two trees in Paradise, the role of Satan in the divine narrative, and why Jesus spoke — and acted — so differently from those before him, this discussion reveals a hidden layer beneath mainstream religious interpretations. Without reducing God to evil or denying divine sovereignty, the episode uncovers a deeper framework in which deception, free will, and revelation operate on multiple levels. This is not an attack on religion, but an attempt to resolve a contradiction that has divided believers, critics, and Gnostic traditions for centuries.
