Nine Days in Heaven: A True Story (31 page)
Then He lifted up His hands and blessed them. As He was blessing them, He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
11
Then the unnumbered millions who filled the heavens took up their instruments and with powerful voices sang, “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come,
12
because You have taken Your great power and conquered. We praise You, O Lord. You are King of kings, Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
13
The disciples continued to look toward heaven where their risen and ascended Lord had gone, but eventually the cloud that hid Him from their sight disappeared. Then they worshiped. After that they rose up silently and departed for Jerusalem.
Support From
the Word of God
1.
See Romans 8:11 for ramifications of the resurrection by the Spirit of God.
2.
“
…the law of life…
” is mentioned in Romans 8:2.
3.
“
…keys of the dark dominions.
” Revelation 1:18 says, “I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
4.
First Thessalonians 4:16–17 gives the order of resurrection on the last day—dead believers will rise first, followed by believers who are still alive on earth.
5.
See Isaiah 55:7.
6.
A glorious picture of Justice and Mercy—united in the person of Christ. As a righteous God, Jesus demanded justice be done for sins committed. Yet—as a loving God—He also sought mercy for His children. Justice was done when judgment fell on Himself as He bore the sin of the world, and mercy was then offered to those who would embrace this forgiveness. This is the heart of the gospel.
7.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matt. 28:18–19).
8.
See John 15:18–25; 16:33.
9.
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17–18).
10.
Jesus told the disciples in Luke 24:49:
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Then we read in Acts 2:1–4:
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
11.
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts 1:9).
12.
“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come’” (Rev. 4:8).
13.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Rev. 22:13).
W
ITH THE CLOSING OF THESE SCENES, AN ANGEL APPEARED AND
proclaimed with a loud voice, “Salvation has come! Take heart and rejoice, you inhabitants of the earth! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.
1
Let salvation, the year of Jubilee,
2
be preached to the far places. Go out, you messengers! Declare this love of God to the lost human race. Yes! Let the heavens echo the good news. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
3
But even as the angel spoke, we heard a mournful voice crying out, “Help me! I am in terrible trouble! Who will rescue me from this wretched dying body?”
4
From the direction of the voice a cloud rose up in the middle of a terrible storm. A little beyond that cloud I could see high mountains with terrifying fire and smoke pouring from their sides.
Again I heard the voice crying in anguish, “Do we have to die?”
The dark cloud that hung over the scene then parted, and a pale light revealed the dying man and his family once again. Beside them now was a man, simply dressed, holding a book in his hand. He read from it, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
5
As he read, the suffering man looked up. He seemed startled by the presence of the stranger, but he asked him, “Who will give me rest? Who are you talking about?”
He replied, “Jesus, who is the Savior of men, will help you.”
“But I am unclean, every part of me.”
The messenger read again from the book, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
6
The man groaned, “But I have sinned against heaven.”
Again the messenger read, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the L
ORD
, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.”
7
Then he added, “It is also written, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’
8
If you want to enter into life with all your heart, you may do so. Look up!” he continued, as he raised his hand.
…
IMMEDIATELY A LIGHT SHONE FROM
ABOVE, REVEALING TO THE INWARD
SENSE OF THE SUFFERER, THE
R
EDEEMER
EXTENDED UPON THE
C
ROSS
…
Immediately a light shone from above, and the man saw the Redeemer on the cross. At the same time he heard a voice saying, “He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
9
The suffering man replied, “Lord, I do believe, but help me overcome my doubts.”
10
Lifting his hands, he prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
11
With this, a light descended and touched him, and the Spirit of God filled his soul.
“Your sins have been forgiven, your guilt is removed, and your wounds have been healed. The Spirit has made you alive and is now telling you to get up, for you have received salvation.”
The redeemed man stood up. His face was transfigured, and he began to worship. The light that shone on him revealed the image of the cross inscribed on his inner being and the law of heaven written on his heart.
12
The messenger, still at his side, now read, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
13
Then he said, “You have been brought to life by the Spirit. You have passed from death to eternal life.
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You are now wearing the clothes of salvation.
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The Spirit is telling you to go out and tell the many who need to hear all about the grace of God.
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Go and preach the good news. Seek out the lost. You have received freely; now give freely.
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“Be faithful to what has been given to you. Be on guard, so that when your Lord comes and calls you, you can give a good account of your work for Him.”
18
“W
ATCH, THAT WHEN THY
L
ORD COMETH
AND CALLETH FOR THEE, THOU MAYEST
GIVE ACCOUNT OF THY STEWARDSHIP
.”
He read again, “Look! God is with you to bless you and strengthen you. His grace will enable you to face every trial you may have.”
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The redeemed man looked up and prayed, “Help me, God. I can do anything if Jesus Christ strengthens me.”
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Then, transformed into a servant of the cross and an ambassador of Jesus,
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he entered the cloud that had darkened the plain at the foot of the mountain. As he departed, we heard his voice.