MY TIME IN HEAVEN:
MY TRUE STORY OF DYING AND
COMING BACK
PART 2
VI. GOD KNOWS OUR
TOMORROWS
In Him, we were also chosen,
having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that
we who were the first to hope in Christ might be for the praise of
His glory. Ephesians chapter 1 verses 11 through 12
I was taken into a very
large building that had a huge archway. Inside were rows upon rows of
shelves with books. The shelves seemed to be miles long and miles
high. And the books looked about 15 feet tall. There were hundreds of
angels servicing the books. They were going in and out, there was a
lot of activity.
THE ARCHIVES OF HEAVEN
God keeps records and this
large building was the archives of heaven.
And I saw the dead great and
small standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book
was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according
to what they had done as recorded in the books. Revelation chapter
20, verse 12.
The archives of heaven
contain different books about our lives. And these are the books that
are taken to God when judgment time comes. The books are the records
of our works here on Earth. If a person sins, it is recorded in the
book. I was given the understanding that when we repent, anything
that we have done that was wrong or sinful in nature and was recorded
in the books is erased for eternity. No one can find the record, not
even God.
I saw another very large
building different from the archives. In that building is a book
corresponding to every person on earth. There are other books about
our lives, which are pictorial records. Every thought, and every
reaction, everything is recorded in heaven. There were many different
books for each person. Tall, slender angels took care of the huge
books.
These angels appeared to be
eight to nine feet tall. And they wrote in the books using a golden
quill that was about five feet long and apparently could write
forever. An angel would hold a book in his right hand and make the
record with his left. I saw angels pull out books with their left
hands and open the thick pages. In each page was something like a
video screen, except the images were three dimensional. The images
contained the history of life, and the books were written. The
pictures were created before time.
Your eyes saw my unformed
body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before
one of them came to be. Psalm 139 verse 16.
GOD ORDERS OUR TOMORROWS
BY OUR PRAYERS TODAY
God is able to go forward or
backward in time. He created time; He invented it. God sets up our
tomorrows because of our prayers and our seeking Him today. God knows
what is coming tomorrow. He orders our tomorrows, but He orders them
because we pray today. As we pray, God gives us our tomorrows by a
system of weights and measures. In other words, we can know what is
coming tomorrow because of the checks and balances in our spirits.
The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirits and causes us to pray and to
seek God. He also confirms His plans to us and gives us direction in
life telling us, "Yes, no or not yet." Invariably, when we
are praying about tomorrow or what is going to happen down the line,
it is because God has a blessing in store for us and the devil wants
to steal it away or trip us up. When we pray earnestly, it releases
God to go into our tomorrows and lay a trap for the devil and make
sure our blessings are there right on time. This is something I was
told by the Lord when I was in heaven. I was also told that all of
our tomorrows are God's yesterdays.
A LESSON ABOUT SEEKING GOD
I was taken to a place that
I didn't understand at first. I was standing on the edge of the
universe, and I saw all of the universe as a great spiral. From this
vantage point, it looked like a huge wound up clutch spring. The
center was pure white, and the light got dimmer and dimmer as it got
out to where I was on the edge.
I was closer to this than
some of the other people were. I could see people way behind me and
they thought they were close. People up ahead of me also thought they
were close, but they were ahead of other people in time. And then I
learned a lesson about seeking God. Men everywhere ought to seek God
and be thankful for where they are with Him. Do not be envious of
others who may be a little bit ahead and pray for those who are
behind you. Altogether, we form a group that is seeking God.
Let us not give up meeting
together, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as some
are in the habit of doing but let us encourage one another, and all
the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews chapter 10, verse
25.
The Word tells us not to
forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and even more so as we
see that the day of the Lord's return is fast approaching.
There is strength in
numbers. And when you are seeking God, the greater the anointing is
and the easier it is to pray. I learned this, God is way ahead of us
because our tomorrows are God's yesterdays. He has already laid
victory in our path. The Holy Spirit makes you aware if you are
really close to God, that you need to pray because there is something
in your pathway you need to know about. How many times has He done
this for all of us? I don't know. I can tell you only about myself.
Many times He has, and I have always been better off praying about
tomorrow, knowing that God is there already. He is going to take care
of me if I take special pains to pray today.
GOD CREATED OUR BLESSINGS
BEFORE TIME BEGAN
The angels who were with me
told me that some of the things I was seeing in heaven for myself,
were created by God before the beginning of time. Before He invented
time, He finished heaven and the host of heaven, and He created the
blessings I would need when I got there.
I was in a store that
contained clothing that was exactly what I would require in heaven. I
had my own section, God created everything that I would have need of
in heaven before Time was even created. He knew I would be there.
Yet, even though certain
things were made before time began, there were other places in heaven
where I saw homes being built. There were angels at work, people busy
at work, creating homes and putting blessings there that we couldn't
receive on Earth, blessings received in heaven.
VII. THE LIBRARY OF GOD'S
KNOWLEDGE
Oh the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Romans chapter 11, verse 33.
Another building I was taken
to contain the written part of God's knowledge. God wrote some of His
knowledge so that we would have something to relate to. There were
individual symbols, each having the interpretation of the symbol
written by God. When you are in the library of God's knowledge, your
mind is automatically stimulated.
I talked with one man who
was in this building, and he said, "Brother Richard, I have been
here for two millennia, and I've only gotten to page two."
Millions of angels come and
go from this library, as well as the same number of people of the
inhabitants of heaven. These angels are on their way to Earth.
Many times in this life we
don't know what to do, and we pray for wisdom. Again, the Bible says
that angels are ministers to the heirs of salvation.
Are not all angels
ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews chapter one, verse 14.
The library of God's
knowledge is where the angels go to get wisdom, and we can receive
it. Sometimes it is brought directly by the Holy Spirit Himself.
People in heaven have access to it and never forget.
There are great universities
in heaven. I mean, great, and there are many of them. Our education
is not complete when we leave Earth. We have only just begun. I saw
two giant buildings that were colleges for people. The people were
taught by angels and other people. All subjects were taught even
singing. Every song, every note, every word you are taught stays with
you throughout eternity. There is no end to learning. All of your
minds are illuminated to the wisdom and knowledge of heaven. 100% of
your mind is used and it is increasing in capability. You can do
anything in heaven that your heart desires to do because your desire
is for the things that are right.
The university buildings
appeared to be a mile or two long and a mile or two deep. They were
great buildings with the capacity to hold hundreds and hundreds of
thousands of people. The classrooms were huge auditoriums. I could
see them through the windows as I walked by. People were learning and
praising God inside. And I was told that anything you learn in
heaven, you'll never forget. I remember standing for just a moment in
utter amazement. I could hear everything that was said. People were
praising God and many secrets of God were being made known.
VIII. MEMORIALS
That the grace that is
reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to
the glory of God. Second book of Corinthians chapter 4, verse 15.
On my tour, I was taken to a
building that looked like a huge layered wedding cake. The bottom
layer, which was big and round, was about 15 feet tall. It had a lit
archway and above the archway was a name. I went in. Inside were
walls on which revivals scenes were being played over and over. These
were the revivals I had been involved with since I was a child. God
was continually getting the glory as they were displayed over and
over. In three inch letters it was written: THE GLORY GOD GETS OUT OF
RICHARD'S LIFE.
I saw other memorials. In
the memorial of Cornelius the centurion mentioned in Acts 10, who was
generous toward the poor and needy, there was much almsgiving. His
Memorial looked a lot like the Washington Monument, but not as tall.
It had writing on it and angels were standing there making
announcements about the almsgiving that Cornelius had done. It was a
place where people came to see what was mentioned in the Bible. I
never saw Cornelius and I don't know what he looked like. But I felt
in my spirit that he wasn't very far away. He was talking with people
and giving God the glory.
There were more memorials
everywhere. Each Memorial depicted some great victory that one of
God's children had won down here on Earth, memorials told when
someone a very bad sinner came to Christ. Memorials told when some
great battle was fought and one for the glory of God's Spirit.
I saw a memorial about a
service that Billy Graham had held in Southern California. It told
about the glory that God had received there, and the number of people
who had been saved and the words were sealed in God forever.
I saw other memorials. It
was a glorious place to be. I saw Smith Wigglesworth Memorial. I did
not get to talk with him because he was at a distance. But he looked
my way and smiled, waving his hand. He was busy directing people here
and there and telling them how much God loved them and what He had in
store for them in heaven. Smith Wigglesworth was doing in heaven what
he had done on Earth, helping people.
Since there are no sick
people in heaven for him to pray for, he was talking with all the new
arrivals who had read his books and heard him speak and wanted to
talk to him. But he was very humble going about his business of
helping others.
The greatest among you will
be your servant. Matthew chapter 23, verse 11. He who would be the
greatest among you, let him be the servant of all. Refer to Matthew
chapter 20, verse 27.
That is one of the rules
that heaven is run by, you are a servant of all. You are a servant to
all and you are a servant of the Lord. The way to go up with God is
to go down and get beyond yourself to where there is nothing of you
left. The death of self is worth much in the sight of God.
I was told by the angels who
were with me that there are things that God highly prizes. He highly
prizes someone who is absolutely truthful and totally honest, who
prays before he makes any decision and to make sure that all his
decisions are what God wants him to make. God highly prizes someone
who will pray and seek Him in all things and be obedient. Above all,
is obedience to God. Those are principles that heaven is run by.
THE WAY OF THE ROSE
I was taken to an avenue
named "The Way of the Rose." I somehow knew that there were
important and long-lasting events connected with this avenue. I asked
the angel on my left if he would tell me why I was here at this
beautiful place. He replied, "It is for you to obey, not to
question God." He spoke with a stern voice. So that's settled
that.
There were some homes still
under construction. One of them had names carved in beautiful letters
above the entrance. These names were Paul and Judy, of the family
Hegstrom. At that time, I didn't know who they were, and I didn't
have the nerve to ask. I noticed that the other homes had similar
construction. They were all joined together by beautiful turf green
yards with flowering trees that were thousands of feet tall. All of
them were made so that the back and the front looked very much the
same. In addition, all of the houses were three stories tall. They
had many spacious rooms decorated with rose-colored woodwork, and the
rooms were filled with exquisite furniture. It all looked as though
it was taken right out of Buckingham Palace in London. In the
backyards, there were many sitting areas with golden furniture which
again looked much like wrought iron lawn furniture. The seat cushions
were made out of spun gold.
Behind the homes was a large
lake as well as ornamental hand carved scenes of heaven. These scenes
have live figures that moved and talked but remained part of the
scene. They were carved out of woodlike substance. Again, I cannot
explain it. I can say only that this is what I was shown. The laws of
physics that apply on earth did not apply there.
The main libraries in these
houses were lined with books that were embossed with gold. They were
heaven's pre-copies of books that have been written, and that will be
written in the time to come. Of the library at the Hegstrom's home,
Jesus said to me, "These books were written by My Spirit at the
beginning of time. They were given to Paul Hegstrom to write on earth
when he was there. You will meet him later. When you do tell him that
there is much to do and not to slack in the pace." Then Jesus
said, "I will tell you more later."
Every member of a family was
represented by his or her own home. Some of those members were
already there. On the front of the Hegstrom's home was a memorial to
the glory that God had received from the yielded life of this man.
Again, I was made to know that I would meet him later in His season.
I wept in praise and gratitude, and the angels began to praise God.
WHERE THE ROSES NEVER FADE
This incident will not mean
as much to you as it did to me. I still get all emotional when I
remember it. It brings to mind an evangelist friend of mine who was
somewhat like a father to me. He would always sing this song for me,
"Where the roses never fade." I never have quite gotten
over his sudden death. The people all around me grew very quiet. And
I felt that a very special moment was about to happen. I was aware of
someone coming my way. I recognized him as an old friend who had been
killed in a car accident many years ago. I was astonished to see him
there. I was not aware that he had been converted. Once again, I was
at a loss for words. What a glad reunion day we will have in glory.
IX. MUSIC, LANGUAGES, AND
CLOTHING IN HEAVEN
And then I heard every
creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea,
and all that is in them singing to Him who sits on the throne and to
the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever.
Revelation chapter five, verse 13.
God does not want to lose
one bit of the talent and skill that people have developed on Earth.
As I wrote before, when that talent is brought to heaven, it is
multiplied a million fold.
MUSIC EVERYWHERE
I saw and heard Johann
Sebastian Bach on a huge organ that had notes below and above what
people normally hear on Earth, and I heard all of it. As he played
the choirs of heaven joined in praise and worship. Everyone joined in
the music.
I noticed something else in
heaven. Music was everywhere. People in the various villages and
cities were praising God in song. One village would sing one song,
another village would singing a different song.
As I went up in the air, I
could hear music from the different villages at the same time, yet
they were all singing in concert. The higher I went, the more
villages I could hear. Yet everyone seemed to be singing the same
song in perfect harmony. I thought of it as the song of heaven. I saw
choirs from a distance, then I saw them closer. I had heard them in
the background, and I had also seen smaller groups singing. Sometimes
the choirs were groups of angels.
Apparently one of the songs
was specifically for me. While I was there, I knew what it was. Now I
do not understand the song or its meaning, nor do I remember the
melody or lyrics. It was for me to know only while I was there. I
understood that the songs the angels sang had something to do with
ministry and something to do with what God was saying to people in
heaven.
The songs that people sang
were different. Sometimes groups were made up of two or three people.
Sometimes there were large groups. I saw a large group in the setting
of an amphitheater, and they seemed to be standing on air, even
though they also looked like rising. They were singing songs similar
to what we sing here on Earth. One song I remember is, "The King
is Coming," but the title was slightly different, "The King
has Come." They went through the whole story from Heaven's point
of view, and it was the most beautiful song. I remember hearing it
but now I can't recall all the words.
When you leave Heaven, you
lose the ability to understand some of the things that you heard
spoken there. Much of it you don't remember because you don't have
earthly words to express it. And the closer I came to the throne of
God, the greater the number of people there were in choir. I remember
a choir of what seemed to be 50 or 60,000. While I was there, I knew
the exact number but now I don't remember. They sang with the deepest
base and the highest soprano, beyond the ranges of anyone on Earth.
They could be heard pleasantly in the background all over heaven. It
was music in the language of God.
HEAVENLY AND HUMAN
LANGUAGES
In Heaven, you can speak in
a heavenly language anytime you want, and the people there can
understand you completely. I heard a language that sounded like
Russian spoken by certain groups of people, yet other people whom I
knew were not Russian could walk up to them and speak perfectly in
that dialect. These people also have spoken a heavenly dialect, and
they spoke perfect English as well. It seems that in heaven you have
the ability to speak all human languages, in addition to heaven's own
language.
HEAVENLY GARMENTS
There are stores in heaven,
but they are unique stores aimed specifically at whoever walks
through the door. There was a jewelry store with diamonds that
represented a specific woman in a man's life. Again, one store I
walked into had only suits and robes tailored specifically to my
taste. In another store, I saw garments that had been made before the
beginning of time. These had been put on the shelf and were in
pristine condition as if they had just been placed there. Of course,
no one would disturb them because they were for someone else. It is
for your joy to make sure that others receive what God has for them.
I saw what seemed to be a
gathering place like a community center. Thousands of women were
sitting at tables and benches in a park like setting. In the center
of them was a pile of beautiful clothing. They were sewing but did
not have needles and thread in their hands. They were just putting
pieces of cloth together and telling them what to be. The cloth
became what the women said. The women were making garments for people
who were soon to be there. I believe that the garments were rewards
that were being heaped up in heaven. In Heaven, God rewards us for
what we give on earth that is known only to Him. He knows what we
give in secret. I saw this.
But when you give to the
needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so
that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father who sees what is
done in secret will reward you. Matthew chapter 6, verses 3 to 4.
DRESS IN HEAVEN VARIED
Some people were dressed in
some sort of pants and pull over shirts that were pure white. One
outfit I saw was bright yellow, but I saw others have different
colors. I saw people dressed in suits, similar to what we wear here
on Earth, but much more expensive looking. I also saw people dressed
as one would think angels would dress in long flowing robes. Clothing
was made out of heavenly material. I saw the Lord many times. He had
gold around the ends of His sleeves and around His collar. He also
had a golden waistband and gold around the hem of His long flowing
robe.
I cannot put into words how
beautiful it was to see all these different people with their
fabulous adornments. It was because of the anointing. Nowhere did I
see people wearing jewelry. It wasn't necessary. The glow of God's
presence just makes a person beautiful.
"I want to see God,"
I heard myself say. The angel corrected me, "No, you have an
appointment." Angels do not go before God unless they are
bidden.
X. BALCONIES AND CHIMES IN
HEAVEN
Since we are surrounded by
such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews chapter 12 verse
one.
BALCONIES OVERLOOKING
EARTH
I walked by groups and
groups of people and I could hear them talking. It was like the
buzzing and busyness of people waiting at an airport or a train
station. They were obviously waiting for someone. They were preparing
something also. "We did this because we knew he would like it.
Wait till he sees this."
It became obvious that these
people were involved in the preparation of a mansion for a family
member or friend. They were talking about this person who was about
to arrive. Oh, the excitement they showed in anticipation of someone
coming home. As I said earlier, there were announcement centers
letting people know when a loved one was coming to heaven.
These centers looked like
band shells, except that they were made out of glory clouds. They were solid yet you
could see through them. And they seemed as if they lit up from the
inside with a great amount of the glory that permeated everywhere. It
was all different colors like fire shooting through it, amber and
gold. There were sparkles and an aroma, the fragrance of God. At this
band shell, someone was announcing a homecoming. There were a great
number of people in the crowd and supernaturally I knew it was a
pastor coming home after many years of service to his church. He was
on the way to the announcement center. He had already come through
the veil, and there were great joy and wonderment in the people.
Again, there are balconies
and bleachers in heaven that look over the events on Earth. People
come to watch prayers come to pass. They are the cloud of witnesses.
Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews chapter
12 verse 1.
People in heaven watch
births and weddings on Earth. They are a cheering section hollering
out encouragement to us.
DIAMOND-LIKE AND
MULTICOLORED CHIMES
I was shown chimes in heaven
that were very loud and beautiful. They looked like diamonds and were
about 15 feet in either direction. They were suspended from a pole
that was solid diamond and about 500 feet tall. Nobody had to ring
the chimes. Angels would rub them and they would chime for what
seemed like 20 minutes. As they chimed people would join in with them
singing. The chimes were like a huge minaret. They were tree-like and
were everywhere. The pipes of the chimes were huge and had a deep,
full sound that filled the air with harmonies that you could hear it
a great distance. I was told that whenever someone got saved, the
chimes made a sound.
At one time I found myself
hundreds, perhaps even thousands of feet in the air while being shown
around heaven. Being high up and looking down, I could see many
chimes. They were multicolored, some of the chimes had glory coming
out of them. They were like the crystal diamond tree and gave off a
wavering sound that was beautiful. It was like an organ playing
continually. Whenever somebody got saved, they would chime a loud and
beautiful song.
I also saw chimes near the
balconies of heaven. There were seven large towers there with chimes
hanging from them. The saints of God would go to the balconies and
begin to pray and worship God. Looking down on Earth, they could see
their promises coming to pass. Or they would look in on a revival
meeting as they often did. They would say, "Preach it,
preacher!" They would join in with the service and the chimes
behind them would begin to give off the most beautiful heavenly
sound, a song of worship and praise.
Here on Earth, there have
been times in revival services when we have heard the anthems of
glory being sung, and the beautiful music in heaven playing along.
From what I saw during my time in heaven, I believe we heard the
chimes that were near the balconies of heaven. In those services, our
praise and worship reached high enough to commingle with those that
were coming down from heaven. Then there was a steady flow of God's
Spirit. Oh to be set in high places with Christ Jesus. We can
experience being seated in those heavenly places if we pay the price
to stay in the Spirit of God. That is what this scripture means. God
has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus, Ephesians chapter two verse six.
HEAVENLY REWARDS
DEPARTMENT
The angel who accompanied me
on my right told me about a rewards department in heaven. I did not
see it, and I did not go there. It was explained to me, however, and
I heard others talking about it. It is a huge records building. This
is where records are kept of the rewards that we do not receive on
earth for some reason or other. An example would be the reward for
giving to others or almsgiving to the Lord. Because of the love and
compassion we have in our hearts, we give to the greater need. What
we give here, we will receive back in heaven.
I was taken to a large
building, large even by heavens standards. There were many rooms
inside, and the rooms were beautifully decorated. The furniture was
extraordinary beyond description. I saw what looked like a chair
similar to a recliner. I didn't get to sit in it, but I saw someone
else sit in it. As he did, the chair molded itself around him
providing tremendous comfort. A book was given to him and he began to
read out loud to others around him. I don't know what he was reading.
I wasn't allowed to hear it. But everyone was smiling and praising
God. I really felt that within this book contains the desires, wants
and wishes of a Christian man here on Earth. Plans were being laid
according to what was written in the book. In the ways he had been a
blessing to others, he was going to be blessed in heaven. And they
were planning the home in which he was going to live in heaven. They
were planning the heavenly events in store for him. God had made it
known and had it written in this book.
I believe that the good
things you make happen to others on earth will happen to you in
heaven. In this one building in this one room, were the intentions of
God for the works of one man and how God was going to bless him. The
building reflected the fact that God desires to bless us even more
than we desire to receive from Him. There were other rooms in this
huge building. The rooms were mammoth, sometimes beyond description
and size. Some of the rooms had huge chandeliers hanging from the
ceiling.
There were three chandeliers
is in the first room where the man was sitting in the chair. Each one
was several hundred feet across. All three chandeliers were doing the
same thing at the same time. There was no electricity, but they
glowed beautifully. They were lit with a glow from within. Like the
diamond tree, they continually glowed in different colors with what
we're almost like bursts of fire. They glowed and gave off energy.
The energy seemed to go through everything in heaven. I believe it
was the Shekinah glory of God. The Lamb Jesus is the light, the
power, and presence of God.
And the city had no need of
the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did
lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof. Revelation chapter 21,
verse 23.
All through this huge room,
people were reading to others out of books and making plans. I heard
one person say, "Now let's do this." As he made a gesture
in the air arcs of what looked like fire spring off of his hand, and
they sparked like fireworks that hung in the air for a few moments. I
thought, wow, I wish I could do that. One of the angels who stood by
me heard my thoughts and said that in heaven, you have the ability to
do things that you can't even think of on Earth. You can do them in
heaven because it pleases God. In heaven, the laws that govern Earth
are done away with and the laws of heaven govern everything. And
that's all he said about it. I realized that anything that is
possible in heaven and that gives glory, honor, and praise to the
Lord can be a reward for things done on Earth, especially in this
room.
I was also told that those
who don't seek rewards on earth receive the biggest rewards in
heaven. The people in this room were planning other rewards from
books that were spoken, written and recorded by the Lord. There were
many other rooms but I was not allowed to go into them. The gentle
reminder was always there. You have an appointment with God, I had to
stick to the path. The angel would say, "No, you must be about
the Father's business."
I really wanted to see this
other large building because I somehow knew that it contained all the
miracles that we need on earth for our bodies. I don't know the
heavenly law concerning it. But I do know that God created everything
we have need of for our bodies.
In this and other large
buildings, there appear to be great factories. I don't know what was
done in them. There were no smokestacks, power lines or power plants.
Only worship and praise came from them. I could hear it. And there
were lots of people coming and going in and out of the buildings. For
a factory, the architecture was beautiful - spires, arched doorways,
and columns all around. This was the typical architecture of heaven.
Off in the distance, I could
see the temple of God or throne building, the biggest and most
beautiful building in heaven. Every time I would look in its
direction something would stir within me. I have an appointment with
God.
XI. JESUS CAME MY WAY
Your love, O Lord, reaches
to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is
like the mighty mountains, Your justice is like the great deep, how
priceless is Your unfailing love. Both high and low among men find
refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of
Your house. You give them drink from Your river of delights. For with
You is the fountain of life. In Your light, we see light. Psalm 36,
verses five through nine.
There were fountains
everywhere in heaven. Where did the water come from? I wondered. Some
of the fountains were the size of a city block. You could see right
through some of them. They look like ice but they are a kind of
crystal. The figures in them were alive. They moved.
FOUNTAINS WITH MOVING
STATUES AND COLOURFUL WATER
The seemingly thousands of
fountains in heaven depict different things. One that I saw had a
statue of Jesus pouring out a large pitcher of glory. The glory was
falling on little children and grownups who had their hands up
wanting to drink. Again the statues were somehow alive, for they
moved, yet they were made out of stone. I could see Jesus Himself in
the distance and the image of Him moving in a fountain right in front
of me. "How does stone live?" I thought. Jesus looked at me
and smiled.
At another fountain,
hundreds of people were standing around watching. The water turned
hundreds of different colors and flowed down over a beautiful
mountain with trees. The water shot into the air and came down in a
mist over it. The mist clung to the trees as tinsel does on a
Christmas tree. It sparkled yet the trees on the mountain were the
most vivid green and other colors.
The water wasn't like the
water we have here on earth. And yet, it was. It was water but it
could do anything you wanted it to do. It turned into ice that was
not cold. There were sheets of ice on the trees that were dazzling. I
could not tell where the water drained. There were no pipes in the
ground. There was apparently no need for plumbing.
There are no bathrooms. None
of the houses I saw in heaven had bathrooms. You don't have to eat in
heaven. And if you did eat, you wouldn't have to go to the bathroom
anyway. You don't even need to take baths in heaven.
Similarly, there is no
electric current but there are lights everywhere, including big
chandeliers. Nothing in heaven casts a shadow. The light is even from
every direction.
Just as there are no
tangible shadows in heaven, there are no emotional or spiritual ones
either. There is no variable illness, no shadow of failing. Things
cannot fail in heaven. They are set for eternity.
Every good and perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows. James chapter 1 verse 17.
The closer I got to the
throne, the greater were the wonders.
TELL MY PEOPLE I LOVE THEM
I saw Jesus coming my way. I
stopped and the angels stood at attention and backed away from me a
couple of feet. Then they bowed low, backed up and stood at attention
again with looks of adoration on their faces.
Jesus walked in my direction
and I fell on my face like a dead man. He stopped a few feet from me.
And I remember looking at the nail holes through His feet. They shone
with light from the inside of beautiful, beautiful Jesus. He suffered
this for me. I had no words. Evidently, He touched me and I was able
to stand. I did not feel worthy to stand or to look at His face.
He reached out His fingers,
lifted my chin and said, "Son, look at Me. I love you. Even
though you have been disobedient and haven't done what I have told
you to do, I still love you. And I desire for you to tell My people
about this place called heaven. I desire for you to tell My people
the glorious things that My Father has made for them, that they might
want to come here. I have chosen you and ordained you for this one
work above all others that I might speak to you on this day of these
things."
He took my hand and began to
walk with me like a father would with a little child. We walked a
little further down the street and He said, "I have many things
to tell you. I will come to you again in just a short time. I have
something else to tell you. But right now there is more for you to
see, more for you to witness and experience. Tell My people I am
coming soon. I love them."
And then He gave me a big
hug and kissed me on the cheek and said, "I love you too."
He held out His hand in front of me and I saw the nail scars. The
wounds were open shining with beautiful light. I saw my name written
in His hand looking almost as if a knife had carved it there.
"See," He said,
"Your name is carved in My hand."
I knew then what that
scripture meant. See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.
Your walls are ever before me. Isaiah chapter 49, verse 16.
Then He looked at me again
and said, "I have more to tell you later." Again, He said
this, and He said, "Go with the angels. They are going to take
you to see more people and to see more things. I have an appointment
and I have to go. My Father wants me. I must go. I am always obedient
to My Father."
Suddenly He was gone. He
just vanished out of sight and was gone. In a fraction of a moment I
saw Him off in the distance, walking and talking with people going
toward the throne, and then the angels came back around me.
THE FOUNTAIN OF ALL PEACE
Throughout this wonderful
experience in heaven, I felt a peace and tranquility, such as no
human on Earth has ever known, ever. Several times I glimpsed in the
distance what I would call a mountain-sized fountain. There are no
adequate words to describe it, but I will try. The fountain was very
high. It appeared to be about 10 miles in circumference at the base.
At the top was another
living statue of Jesus. He had an altar cup in His hands and was
lifting it up before the throne of God which was in the distance. His
hands were extended toward the throne of God, and the vessel He held
up was overflowing with what appeared to be the living blood of our
Savior which was shed on Calvary Hill. He was standing above the
fountain suspended in midair. A duplicate of the cross of Calvary was
there too. Jesus was not on it. He was the master of it.
Below Him and the cross of
Calvary were several layers of scenes carved into the stone, which
was pure white, almost transparent, and alive. The scenes were about
the price paid at Calvary and the redemption of the Lost Souls.
In the lower layers were
scenes that told the redemptive story of mankind. Again, the carved
scenes were alive and were playing over and over the complete life of
Christ on earth. I can't explain it any better than this. I can only
tell you what I was shown. The blood pouring out of the altar cup
became a torrent of pure crystal clear water that seemed to be alive.
It sparkled like jewels in the sun.
There was a glory cloud of I
was told the peace of God. It was the peace of His presence, which
surpasses all understanding. Refer to Philippian chapter four verse
seven. It was the third most beautiful and glorious place in heaven.
The first most glorious
place I saw was God's throne with God sitting upon it. The second and
equal to it was the Lord Jesus. The third was the fountain of all
peace. There were what seemed like millions of people simply shining
in its glory. The glory of it reached to all of heaven and to all
existence. In times of trouble, I think about the fountain of God's
peace, and I am totally at peace once again.
Again, there are no words to
properly explain it even though I experienced it all over and over
again.
THE LIVING ARK OF THE
COVENANT
I was told that I was
expected at the meeting place. The angels seemed anxious for me to
get there. There was an excitement that was vibrating all over my
body. I noticed that the people around me were as excited about it as
I was. Way down deep inside, it was an awesome feeling. I wondered
what I was going to see there. Then Jesus was there again, and He
said to the angels, "Take him by way of the living Ark."
And as fast as the blink of an eye, we were there. I found myself
standing in front of a raised platform with an exact duplicate of the
original Ark of the Covenant. Another living statue of Christ was
suspended above the ark with His precious blood dripping down on the
area around the ark. Nothing else needed to be said. I was weeping
with gratitude, and thousands of others were doing the same. It was a
living memorial to the love of God.
THE MEETING PLACE
From my seventh birthday on,
my life has been a series of experiences with God. I will never
really know why God chose me, for I am the most ordinary man you have
ever seen. It was simply the will of God for my life. I have met men
and women of God who have had similar experiences and they didn't
understand why they were chosen either. God alone knows. On Earth, I
have experienced a very powerful encounter with God in which I was
caught away to heaven where I received supernatural peace. That
experience of peace was about to be repeated.
Yet first I was taken to a
wooded area, which was some distance from the City of God. It was in
the beautiful countryside about a mile from any houses. All along the
street where we walked through this wooded area, hundreds of people
were having joyful reunion parties. There were tears of joy flowing
from every eye. I noticed that some of the people were stopping,
looking toward me and saying, "There is Brother Richard." I
had the feeling that we had met, perhaps in a revival meeting
somewhere. So I waved to them and said, "God bless you."
A little boy of about six
years old ran up to me and hugged me. He said, "Do you remember
me?" I didn't remember at first, but then it came to me. God had
suddenly put it in my mind.
The angels smiled. Then the
angel who did the talking said, "The boy was a crippled child
who could walk after prayer."
"Yes," I said, "I
remember now."
The boy said, "I just
got here. Jesus came and got me just now. See, I am not sick
anymore."
People began to shout,
"Glory!"
And it made me think of the
excitement on earth when a revival is about to break out.
"I will see you later,"
the boy said as he ran off toward a group of children who were
playing nearby.
I was taken to an
amphitheater. Inside there were seats along one side, then up to the
ceiling. It was like a movie theater. Where the stage would have been
there was a window that reached from the floor, clear up to the
ceiling, and from one side of the building to the other. You could
look out over all of heaven. It was breathtaking.
Everyone sat in complete
silence adoration of God while waiting for someone to speak to them.
I was told to be silent, as none may speak there. To behold the
beauty of heaven seemed to be the purpose of all who were sitting
there. I was told that this is the meeting place. This is where all
the cares that people had on Earth are cleansed away. Everyone leaves
there having had his or her first encounter with the cleansing of
heaven's glory. And then I was aware of why I had been brought here
before. When it had happened earlier while I was still on Earth, I
had been in a war with the evil one. Here I had felt at peace and
quietness that had made the problem I'd been facing, just melt away.
I fell on my face and my spirit within me cried, "Holy, Holy,
Holy."
It was joy unspeakable and
full of glory. First Book of Peter, chapter one, verse eight.
XII. THE CITY OF GOD
Glorious things are said of
you, oh the City of God. Psalm 87 verse three.
I had been walking on the
pathway up to this point, though I had seen other people floating.
Now, something really different happened to me. I myself went up. I
was going up through what looked like clouds, but they were actually
groups of people. I could see the entire city. The higher I got, the
more of heaven I could see. And it was a busy, busy place. In the
distance, I could see the throne of God.
MOUNTAINS WITH SNOW AND
TOURIST PARKS
There were mountains that
had to be 50,000 feet tall. They had snow that never melted even
though the temperature was always just right. I was taken to the base
of a mountain. The mountains were covered with tourist parks. I
noticed what I was told was conveyances. These conveyances floated
like boats in the sky. They were made of carved wood and metal.
People sat in them and talked with each other as they floated around.
In them angels minister blessings to the people traveling together.
THE SEA OF GOD'S GLORY
I was taken to the ocean,
the sea of God's glory. It was crystal clear and seemed to have no
bottom in places. There were what seemed like millions of people in
the water and under the water. As I said before, no one could drown
and people were playing under the water. One man had built a castle
out of rocks on the bottom of the ocean. In heaven, there are
conveyances on the oceans, the seas, and the four major rivers just
as there are in the air. They are like boats in the water. Some are
very large, some are hand carved with biblical sayings on them. Some
are guided by angels. There are also land conveyances which travel on
golden roads. They seem to exist so that people can sit and enjoy
each other's companionship. It was as if these vehicles were the past
time building projects of someone who enjoyed making conveyances.
HEAVEN'S CAPITAL CITY
From up in the air, I could
see the City of God. I had seen other cities in heaven. For example,
I had been shown and visited a city on a peninsula extending out into
the ocean. Yet the City of God appeared to be heaven's capital city.
It was built around the throne and contained what looked like
beautiful apartment buildings. I saw a waterfall coming off of one
building. There were villages in the countryside surrounding the city
of God. They appeared to be hundreds of miles from the outskirts of
the city. These villages were of many different styles, just as there
are around the world today. But all were clean and beautiful with
flowing fountains everywhere. I saw buildings suspended in the air
thousands of feet above the ground. This is when I floated high in
the air and heard the villages singing their songs in perfect
harmony.
LAYERS OF HEAVEN
It seemed as though heaven
was layered. There was a layer with an atmosphere and thousands of
feet of air, and then there was another layer with an atmosphere and
thousands of feet of air. I don't know how big it was, I was taken up
to an altitude of what seemed like 30 to 40,000 feet, and yet it was
just a skip in the air. In Heaven, you can travel anywhere in moments
of time. You can take a leisurely stroll to the layers just by
walking through the air.
JESUS AT THE AUDITORIUM
Wherever I went, angels and
people were around, sometimes just a few, sometimes large groups.
They were standing around talking with great joy and worshiping. At
times they were laughing with hilarious joy, evidently over a loved
one coming home or a promise that had come to pass. And they were
always talking about Jesus. I can still see Him going here and there
among the people.
There was an auditorium that
was an announcement center. The Lord Himself was on stage there. He
was with me, but also I could look down and see Him as He was with
groups of people walking through the air. In Heaven, Jesus is
omnipresent. And instantly at the right moment, He was on the stage
of that auditorium, which seemed to have seated 10 million people. I
looked and He was there always and right now.
The stage was beautiful.
There was a throne on it, and I believe that it was where Jesus was
sitting before He suddenly stood. There was no pulpit but there was
an area that was both gold and silver and had precious jewels. There
were a fragrance and aroma that was indescribable and beyond measure,
the fragrance of God Himself. The auditorium was open to the sky.
In addition to the stage,
there were bleachers and beautiful hand carved seats that were
unbelievably comfortable to sit in. Anything you sit on in heaven is
comfortable forever.
And again, the Lord suddenly
was there on the stage of gold, ivory silver, and the material I
didn't recognize. I was given the understanding that there are other
theaters throughout heaven where announcements are made. But this was
the theater where Jesus announced that He was going to be born of a
virgin. Someplace in heaven, there is a reenactment of the manger
scene and the virgin birth to the glory of God, an eternal Nativity,
that declares the miracle, God became man.
Some place in heaven you can
feel and hear the throbbing heart of God, loving yearning, churning.
You can feel His deep, loving compassion. He will do everything in
His word that He has promised. The sacrifice of His son indicates
that He was and is willing to do everything to redeem us.
He who did not spare His own
Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also along with Him,
graciously give us all things? Romans chapter eight, verse 32.
We often think that what is
contained in the word is the sum total of what God will do for us.
But it is not. In a sense, God limited Himself when He recorded His
word for us. He didn't include all that He is and all that He can do,
because He is infinite. While we are on Earth, we cannot comprehend
or receive what He has planned for us ultimately. We cannot fathom
the capacity of God, but in heaven, there are no limits.
Now to Him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power
that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians chapter three verses 20 through 21
In heaven, there is no
yesterday and no tomorrow. There is only right now. The right now
situation needed Jesus there in the auditorium, and that is where He
was. He walked on stage to thunderous praise, worship, and adoration
that seemed to go on forever. It was glorious. Jesus stood and looked
at the people so lovingly. It was wonderful how He just looked at
them and love them. You could feel the Shekinah glory love that came
out of Him. It was awesome. Once again, words fail.
Slowly the people quieted
down and a holy hush came over the auditorium. Jesus was about to
speak. Suddenly He began to speak in a deep bass voice, the sound I
have heard so often like rushing waters metallic. Refer to Ezekiel
chapter 43 verse 2, Revelation chapter 1, verse 15.
I do not know what He said,
I was not allowed to remember it. But I do know the topic was
eternity, and what it means to God and what God has in store for His
people. And it was awesome.
Transcribed from a YouTube
video. This post may contain errors of transcription. Buy the book
"My Time in Heaven by Richard Sigmund" to read the original
accurate text.
No comments:
Post a Comment