Celebrating
Love of JESUS, Hope of Heaven, and Faith in the Word of God.
|
|
Christian Speaker
Celebrating |
|
|
|
      lois@loishetrick.com |
INSIDE THE GATES OF
HEAVEN In the nineteenth century children in Christian homes grew up reading missionary stories and later went out to become missionaries. I grew up in the twentieth century hearing about Heaven. Ever since we children were very young, Dad would tell us of his visits to Heaven and we were always excited to hear more. I always believed visiting Heaven was both possible and proper. We read books of people who visited Heaven in the past hundred years. I read the Bible and believed what it said about
'setting your affection on
things above' I believe that God is the
'God of the living and not of the
dead' Therefore the men and women I read about in the Bible became my friends. I knew I would meet them someday. Isaiah said,
'I saw the Lord, John the Beloved was 'in the spirit' of prayer, worship and praise and saw
a Throne in Heaven, Daniel saw the
'Ancient of Days sitting, and Stephen saw
'Jesus standing on the right hand of
God' Peter, James and John saw
'Jesus Enoch
walked with God and God took him to
Heaven The seventy elders of Israel saw
the God of Israel and Paul said we come to
the heavenly Jerusalem, Paul continues,
'Jesus Christ is the same God said
'And you shall seek Me, Jesus said
'Ask and it shall be given you Jesus continues
'If you then, being evil S. Stone, the hymn writer, wrote:
'The Church's One Foundation' ************** At sixteen years of age I visited Heaven for the first time. It happened at youth camp. After the evening service a lot of the young people were praying together in the back room of the tabernacle. There were a lot of people, all praying out loud, not paying attention to those around them. I was quietly praying and praising the Lord for quite a while and though I had my eyes shut I began to see around me. I was in a garden. I saw tall slender trees with leaves growing all the way to the ground so no trunk could be seen. I was standing on green grass. There were many fountains. Directly in front of me was a tall fountain of water. The base of this fountain was clear as crystal, delicately carved like cut glass. I could see right through it. The 'water' from this fountain was flowing up, over and through me. It was not cold and wet but soft, warm, invigorating, and comforting. I stepped out of the fountain of living water and turning back around saw the head, shoulders and arms of the Lord Jesus in the living water coming from this fountain. His arms were stretched out to me. Jesus also stepped out of the fountain and together we sat down on the grass to eat. Five more people joined us for this light meal. After the delightful picnic and time of conversation we all arose and walked to the riverbank. My back was to the river, and I seemed to know it was time for me to leave. I didn't want to leave so I asked Jesus if I could stay. Then I said, 'Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done.' I heard the Lord say, 'You may come back again and again.' ************** Again I was praying at home when I saw an angel near the ceiling beckon me, saying, 'Come with me.' The angel took me to a road which had trees on each side, like an orchard. We stepped into the grass and picked a piece of fruit the color of a peach, about two inches in diameter and perfectly round. I could hear hilarious laughter from others in the orchard. I saw an opening in the trees beyond which was a vast plain. At the far end of the plain something very bright was approaching toward us. It stopped at the end of the trees and I saw Jesus sitting in a golden chair. The bright gold light was coming from Him. I felt very out of place and as I looked down at myself, I saw a black form. I fell to the ground trying to hide. But Jesus said, 'Arise, my child.' Obediently I rose to my feet and looked. Jesus had a two-foot-long golden scepter in His right hand which He was holding out to me. As I touched the golden scepter with my right hand, I felt something go through me. Looking down I no longer saw black, but a white shining robe. ************** At nineteen years of age, I saw angels descending and ascending a golden stairway. They were brightly illuminated and blended with the gold of the staircase as they floated single-file down the left and up the right side. As each one came to the lowest level he would face me and turn to go up the other side. There were no distinctions of personalities among them. Everything blended into the gold of the picture. As I stood gazing intently on each being as he occupied the lowest level, I noticed one who did have personality. She was extremely beautiful. She was dressed in a pure white garment and her hair was long, golden and full of graceful curls. She was so beautiful I could not take my eyes off of her as she began ascending the other side. I noticed how beautiful were her eyes and that she was beckoning me. Immediately I loved this sweet, innocent and pure being. She reached out and took my hand and together we ascended the golden stairs. Her hair was not only blonde - it was golden; and it curled around her face and down to her waist in the back. So I asked her to fix my hair like hers. When I had first seen her, I knew in my spirit that she was Marietta Davis, a loved one now in Heaven. After we ascended the staircase and came to her mansion, I found myself in a most beautiful room sitting on a most unusually soft stool while Marietta attended to my hair. I wondered if she could do anything for my black hair, and at the same time I wondered if I would see my companion who is already in Heaven.
She interrupted my thoughts and said
to me, 'Your companion is coming soon.' ************** One morning, when I was twenty three years old, after reading the Bible, and during my prayer time, my companion came to take me to Heaven in a beautiful coach drawn by four beautiful white horses. Inside the coach were comfortably cushioned purple velvet seats. Too comfortable, I suppose, because I slept until we arrived at the front door of a magnificent mansion. He whispered in my ear as he helped me out of the coach. We walked to the mansion and he carried me through the doorway. Inside the large lobby people were everywhere engaged in duties of various detail. He guided me up to the next floor and we came out to a large sun porch room. One wall of this room is completely open to the beautiful countryside of Heaven. Beyond the edge of this room, the porch continues out with a balcony on its front edge. On each side of this outer porch are ivory steps going down to the park and gardens below. There are rose gardens, a swing, gazebo, pool and fountains in this garden. It is both relaxing and delightful to sit on the couch up in this sun porch room and look out over the scenery so beautiful with color and life. Among the things we saw was a bright light outshining all the rest and moving about from place to place. As this bright light came nearer we could see it was Jesus, accompanied by a band of happy little children. Jesus came into our mansion and we found ourselves surrounded by the laughing children who made themselves right at home all over the room. We gave Jesus the seat of honor. The children were not bashful; in fact, they enjoyed being lifted up onto our laps and exchanging hugs. What one would do, another would do, too. One little girl laid her head on my lap, so a little boy did the same thing. Jesus and my companion and I were talking together and enjoying His Presence and I sensed that Jesus and my companion loved each other deeply. As I was looking around at all the infant children in the room and on the floor, Jesus stood up among them. He was dressed in white, glistening garments. Jesus was smiling and His smile seemed to pervade the room with love and happiness. The little children began to praise God by raising their hands to Jesus and singing, 'Praise Jesus, praise Jesus, praise Jesus...' Even the infants on my lap reached their hands out to Jesus. My companion and I joined in with our praise and knelt before Him kissing His nail-scarred hands and feet. Jesus placed His hands on our heads and blessed us. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Many times in my daily prayer time I've had the privilege of visiting this beautiful mansion, giggling with my companion, watching the beautiful scenes of the City of Peace, becoming more acquainted with the many rooms, and entertaining Jesus in our home. One such time we were praising God in our shining clothes, like the kind Jesus wears. Jesus appeared in the porch room where we spend the most time. He gave us a white stone. Jesus placed this stone at the heart of our being (similar to the gem-studded breastplate the priest wore.) There it will stay. It flashes excitedly whenever Jesus is near. Then He lifted us both up in His arms and dedicated us to His Father. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There is a rose room in this mansion that has roses growing everywhere: on the walls, in planters on the floor, and hanging across the ceiling. Upstairs is my companion's desk room that has his big curved desk with room for both of us to sit behind. There is a big bay window in this room where we sit and read the Bible to each other, and look out over the rainbow-colored City. And of course, there is the banquet room behind the porch room. In the porch room there is a huge organ. My companion is very musical and plays the violin, organ, and sings very well. Also there is the white prayer tower that will be described later. My companion put his arms around me as we stood in our upstairs porch room and said to me one day, 'This is your home. You have no home on the earth. You will never be at home till you arrive here to stay. This will be your home for a long time. Many hundreds and thousands of years from now this will still be home. And when you come to visit me, often like you do (I wish it were more often - I miss you), you are coming home. You are always welcome here. This is our home. 'There are many servants in this home -- so many that each one is not busy all the time, but each one has only a small duty each day. So they also have plenty of time to worship God and enjoy His Heaven.' 'That's beautiful' I said. We turned around and walked back into the room from the porch area and were seated on the gold and purple furniture. A young girl quietly brought us some fruit on a tray -- dried apricots and juicy peaches (so I thought from my earth frame of reference.) We were singing songs together about Jesus from the spontaneity of our hearts when Jesus Himself appeared to be with us. 'Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there I Am in the midst of them.' Mat.18:20 'Jesus is always welcome in our home anytime' my companion said to me. I arose and fell at Jesus' feet and thanked Him for His love and compassion for me and asked that I might be able to show His love to others to win them to Himself. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On this day when I was twenty-four years old, I wanted to do something other than rest in the mansion, so we took a walk on Main street. We were strolling beside the crystal River on the golden Street. There were many people resting on the grass beside the River, and others walking on the Street. We saw Jesus coming toward us and ran to each side of Him. As His arm encircled me, I drew His hand up to my mouth and kissed it in gratitude. Jesus is the reason for our being here, and is the Life that sustains us. We walked a while together with our arms entwined. Jesus then took some children by the hand and walked on. We watched Him for awhile. Several chariots went by with happy people in them. My companion said, 'This is the Main street of Heaven. Everyone is preparing for Jesus' return to earth to gather up their loved ones who are still down there. These you see here wait to welcome loved ones now entering the gates of Heaven.' After walking another short distance, we sat on a swing where we could watch this festal gathering. Beautiful people exchanged greetings with us. We continued on beside the River of Life, skipping and running along the street. My companion suggested we have a drink from the Fountain of clear living water. It was delightful. Soon we came to another fountain with rainbow-colored water in it. When we drank of that we became intoxicated with laughter. Finally we arrived at the Garden of Fountains. As we walked there, I remembered this as the place I came on my first visit. Only this time I could hear the rushing power of these mighty fountains. It was very exciting to walk under the falling water, see the colors, and hear the majestic music the roaring fountains make. It frightened me a little and I held tightly to my companion's arm. But it showed me how much power God can use in our behalf. We weak human beings should never doubt what our God can do. After passing several fountains we began praising the Lord with our hands raised. Soon it seemed as if the whole atmosphere were hushed before God. Looking up we saw the Lord riding overhead in a bright glistening chariot. He passed over us and we were overwhelmed with adoration and love for our Redeemer. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Another time we were sitting in our mansion together wearing our diamond clothes. I said, 'It is a girl's dream to live happily ever after with her sweetheart in a castle and wear diamonds. Here I am enjoying all three.' Then my companion and I ate some grapes and cake. After we had eaten I realized we had partaken of the communion. Then we fell silent, quietly expecting Jesus to come. "Be still and know that I am God,' Psa.46:10. Soon we saw the glory of the Lord in the sky coming toward us. We welcomed Jesus and He stood in the room before us appearing tall, bright and glowing. He moved over to a chair and sat down. I was overwhelmed with His presence and said, 'My God.' Then we knelt before Him and looking up into His face I said, 'My Savior. I love you Jesus. Thank you for the suffering You endured for our salvation at Calvary.' I kissed His hands that had been wounded for me. Jesus said, 'I loved you then, yes. I also love you now.' I asked Him, 'What did You and Moses talk about when he went into the tent of meeting and talked to You face to face?' Jesus said, 'I am Moses' counselor, Friend, and God.' 'I love to talk to You.' Jesus said, 'I give you abundantly of My Spirit.' 'It is so easy to live right when I'm in Your Presence.' 'That's why it is so important to keep close to Me.' Then my companion and I sang a song of love to Jesus. Jesus lifted us up and placed His hands on our heads and prayed to His Father, 'Father You know that I have loved them. Now let your benediction rest on them.' * * * * * * * * * * * * * * One morning during my prayer time, when I was twenty five years old, my companion and I prayed the Lord's prayer together in the white prayer tower. This is a tall circular tower in one corner of, and structurally higher than our country mansion, which is in the City of Paradise. There are circular steps inside this tower leading up to a beautiful, soft, white room. The couches, rug, walls and furniture are all white. This is like an observatory tower with windows all around, from which Heaven can be viewed, and it is a place we can go to relax alone. From here we can see the exuberant colorful fountains in the Garden of Fountains which are right outside and completely encircling the central Temple of Heaven. From the Temple were shining many colorful rainbow light rays causing a glow across Heaven and reflecting rainbow colors all around us in our tower. We sang a song of praise and gratitude to Jesus. My companion was planning to go somewhere, and had a twinkle in his eye. I asked to go along. So he put his arm around me and we rose into the air, floating past many colorful lights until we arrived on the top step just outside the door of the Temple. There he set me down. He, then, began guiding thousands of people safely through the doorway. These thousands of people were so enraptured with praise to God that they were not aware of much of their surroundings. The excitement in the air was so electrifying there seemed to be a strong wind. I was standing behind my companion and to keep from being blown away I held onto his waist and peeked out around him to watch. I was seeing Christians who, for their faith in Jesus, had been tortured and killed in Communist prison camps around the world. These saints were being ushered into the Temple of Heaven to be received before the Throne of God. How voluminous their praise! How sincere their worship to God! Next he took me to our city mansion chamber which is in the wall of this Temple. We stood facing out of the chamber into the inside of the temple area. In our uplifted hands we were holding a bowl of sweet-smelling incense, and its fragrance was rising up out of the bowl to God. We set the bowl on a high pedestal and walked back into the huge chamber. This large open front leads into a glittering room trimmed in rainbow colors. All around are crystal-clear objects. One hanging on the right, he said, was a living flower. It looked like prisms of cut glass. When it moved it made beautiful music. I was happy here. We stepped into a bubbling brook that runs through the back of the chamber. The water was crystal clear and the bed of the brook was covered with gems sparkling with rainbow colors. We stooped down and drank some water. This caused us to praise the Lord most fervently. He led me again to the front entrance of this chamber mansion and plopped onto a fluffy couch. He slapped the seat beside himself with his hand and grinned at me. So I sat beside him. 'Now,' he said, 'what were you going to ask me?' 'Well I haven't much to say after all this beauty, comfort, and excitement. But why is there so much trouble on earth and here all is well with no trouble at all?' 'This is to encourage you, my dear, that there is such a real place where all is well.' He put his arm around me. 'When I'm here I'm well and healthy. When I go back I get sick and tired. How can I serve the Lord being tired?' 'It is not in your strength that the Lord's work is done. God's strength is made perfect in weakness. Only when self is not seen, can Jesus be seen. Not in your power but only by God's power can the task be accomplished.' Jesus appeared, standing in the center of the room, looking at us with deep love and tender compassion. His garments were white, and glittered like they were made of millions of diamonds sewn together. Light was coming from inside Him, shining through His diamond clothes making prismatic rainbow reflections on the high diamond ceiling and walls of the chamber. The most beautiful music I ever heard was coming from within Jesus and floating gently over Heaven's atmosphere. I understood that Jesus is, indeed, the Source, Center and Sustainer of all life and love. My soul was strongly drawn to Him.
Hallelujah I have found Him-- It seemed as if all beings in Heaven and earth were looking to Jesus and were praising Him in deep gratitude for His great sustaining love for each of us. We knelt before Him kissing His nail-scarred hands and feet. Jesus placed His hands on our heads and blessed us. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Many happy times we have spent in this beautiful temple wall chamber enjoying each other, laughing, engaging in special chamber activities, eating together with Jesus and sharing in His love, watching the activities inside the Temple, and spending time in the Garden of Fountains just outside these Temple walls.
One
day we visited the school of infants also in the Temple walls.
There we sat and explained to the children that we were like their
parents that they had left on earth. They all wanted to come and
hug and kiss us. So they gathered around us and we both began
lifting them to our lap, kissing and hugging each one. They are
so beautiful, precious and innocent. I love them very much.
Then we took the children to Jesus so He could bless each one. As
we slipped away, my companion told me I had done well. But I felt
so unworthy of teaching the innocents. I pray Jesus will make me
pure in heart. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Once we dressed in white clothes (he in a business suit, I in a long dress) and went to the River on Main Street. My companion suggested we go into the river. So, clothes and all, we waded out into the crystal clear water until it was over our heads. Under the water we could still breathe, see and hear just the same as above the water. The riverbed was beautifully covered with multicolored precious stones. We were gently proceeding (floating face down) toward the center of Heaven. Then we turned around and faced upward. The light coming through the water made everything appear gold colored. The water and our white clothes reflected the golden hues. We floated under a golden rainbow which arched from under the water high up out of the water (like a highway bridge). Just on the other side of the archway we climbed out of the water onto the grassy bank and gave thanks to Jesus for salvation, Heaven and each other. My companion said to me, 'Where did you get those colorful gems on your white dress?" Sure enough, there all over my white dress were little dazzling stones like the ones in the river. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * One day, at twenty-six years of age, my companion and I were in our white prayer tower talking. 'I wish I could learn faster. I wish I could be pleasing to you,' I said. 'You please me.' 'You have been living in Heaven for a while and you are so wise and I am not. You can probably see through me and see how unwise I am. Tell me some of your wisdom.' He looked down at me and said, 'My wisdom is Jesus.' 'Yes. Jesus is truth and love.' 'After a thoughtful pause I said, 'Should I tell anyone about you and me?' 'Why wouldn't you?' 'They would see my faulty living and say I am out of my mind. You are too sacred to me to have anyone make fun of or criticize.' Gently, up from the center of our room arose a clear fountain of water. It rose higher than a tall man. Then Jesus appeared in this fountain of water which melted away from around Him. 'Come to Me, children.' He sat down and I sat beside Him. His heart was open and I could see right inside of Him to His sacred tender love. Jesus opened His heart for my observation?! Isn't that too sacred for me to look on? 'Jesus, should I tell people about my companion?' My eyes watered with tears. 'Maybe they already know.' I pray I can walk worthy of the calling of God. Jesus' heart still remained open and tender toward me. 'Jesus, what can I do about people I don't get along with?' 'I love those people.' Jesus' heart remained open to my gaze. 'Jesus, I need sanctification in my life.' 'I came to earth and lived among people. I opened My heart to them. I was tender and loving. See the marks of My visit?' He showed me His nail-scarred hands. I began to cry. 'But they can't do that to You! They can't treat You mean! Don't they know Who You are? You are God! You love them!' My tears showed how upset I was. Then I realized my sins had been what nailed Him to the cross. How could I? But Jesus had not shut His heart to me. His heart is still open and tender. And I am to be like Him. We laid our heads against Him like John, the Beloved, did. We just rest in His love and drink in of His personality and Spirit. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When I was thirty-four, my earthly father instructed his family in the activities of the Temple of Heaven and encouraged us to 'enter in' during our daily personal quiet-times of prayer. It is most delightful joining with the groups of 'just men and women made perfect' in the 'City of the Living God' (Heb.12:22-23), dancing on the blue sapphire pavement/sea of glass (Exo.24:9-10, Exk.10:1, Rev.4:5) before the Throne of God in the Temple of Heaven, and, through our worship, forming designs of love that are pleasing to the Lord. These activities involve all our emotions, and innermost thoughts of praise, adoration and love. ('Lost in wonder, love and praise' as the hymn declares.) One time I heard the voices of Jesus and the Father talking. 'How long, Father, till I can bring my bride home?' And I heard the Father say, 'In just a little while.' My ears were opened for a moment and I could hear all kinds of voices coming from earth. Some were desperate cries for help, some were people praising God in a church gathering, some were heart prayers, and some were just noisily going about their own selfish ways. No wonder God spoke about the children of Israel in Egypt by saying, 'their cry came up before Me' Exo.2:23. It is comforting to know God hears each of His children when they cry out to Him in prayer. How much sweeter to Him are our praises than our complaints. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * One afternoon while praying I saw the face of Jesus as He looked at Daniel, the prophet. Jesus was smiling at Daniel with such love and pleasure in His eyes that I thought, 'truly Daniel is "greatly beloved" by the Lord.' It would be my greatest joy to receive such a precious smile from my Savior. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At thirty-eight years of age I heard the most beautiful harp music. Then I saw that it was my companion playing, on the harp, a Jewish song of love to El Shaddai. On the other side of the harp from me I could see Jesus sitting on the edge of the couch beaming with pleasure. Jesus was thoroughly enjoying the song and praise of my companion. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Very early as the sun dawned on a Sunday morning, I saw Jesus standing, looking through a heart-shaped, rose-covered, arbor doorway. His thick, curly hair was not only blonde, it was golden and glowing. His clothes were not only white, they were glistening. He is ten thousand times more handsome than the sons of men. He was looking at me but He acted as though He would walk on by in case I did not welcome Him. I saw Him and instantly smiled and beckoned Him to come into my room. He came in and sat on a chair. I sat on the floor before Him and leaned against His knee looking up into His loving face. I spoke with Him openly. I held nothing back and asked Him for His advice and help. Jesus put His hand on my head and talked ever so gently. I kissed His hands that have the nail prints.
'Behold, I stand at the door and
knock: * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'The Name of the Lord is a strong
tower: One night in winter, when I was very happy, I saw the Lord Jesus standing. I ran to Him and hugged Him burying my face in His shoulder. 'Hold me tight. Don't let me do anything wrong,' I prayed.
Safe in the arms of Jesus, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * One night in summer when I was very sad, I saw Jesus sitting near me. I sat at His feet, leaned my head against His knee and He laid His hand gently on my head. All through the night whenever I woke up He was still there with His hand on my head.
'Lo (my name in short form), * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'One thing have I desired of the Lord,
'When Thou saidst, seek ye My face: * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is the end of the unedited
original book.
(to be continued) If you have any questions or discussions contact me at lhetrick@localnet.com.
(back to
table of contents)
|
|