Nine Days in Heaven: A True Story (34 page)
The style of Marietta’s narrative is peculiar. She regretted her inability to express her conceptions of what she had seen and heard, so as to give a definite idea of the glories of the heavenly world. I have not felt at liberty to change the style of her narrative, and as far as possible have employed her own language. Having received the story from her own lips, I have so preserved it, as to make it in truth the relation of her own experience.
The tone of the trance is exalted and Christlike; and therefore its influence cannot fail to be of a useful and sacred character. Confident of this, I offer it to the public. If read in the spirit in which it was given, it cannot fail to gladden and encourage the Christian, and to lead the thoughts of the man of the world beyond his material existence. For while following her in her wide range of spiritual thoughts and visions, forgetting the outer world, we fancy that the heavens are opened to our view, revealing their glory and magnificence. We seem to see the moving multitudes, who with golden harps and angelic voices are chanting praises to God. With ecstasy we behold, as mirrored before us, the Infant Paradise; and appear ourselves to be observing the order and harmony of the inhabitants of that divine sphere. Then borne onward and upward by her entrancing story, in the spirit we seem to arise with saints and angels and become familiar with the inhabitants of the Celestial heavens, and are led to exclaim, “Marietta! You favoured of heaven, we bless that Providence which unfolded your vision, while we read with delight of soul, the revelations of your entranced spirit!”
J. L. S
COTT
T
HE FOLLOWING FOUR CHAPTERS WERE ORIGINALLY LOCATED IN THE
story immediately after chapter 5. They describe in detail the care of infants and children in a special nursery in paradise. The section is fairly self-contained and has been placed here in order to establish a consistent pace throughout the rest of the story. Continuing from the end of chapter 5, the boy finishes his conversation with Marietta:
“The passing angel who paused before us just now was the one who carried me to the place prepared for young and fragile children. These angel spirits are continually nourishing their little minds. Would you like to visit that nursery?”
He looked up at the spirit, as if to ask permission to take me there.
Infant Instructions and Care
In a moment we were moving upward, in the direction taken by the angel with the baby. Before long we approached a city, built in the middle of a plain covered in flowers. I saw stately buildings and streets lined with shady trees. Birds of all colors perched in the branches, their different notes blending together in perfect harmony. Many were the same as birds I knew on earth, but they were far more beautiful—just as the paradise itself was so much more glorious than earth.
As we journeyed on, the beauty and harmony increased with each new panorama. I was struck by the stunning architecture of the buildings and magnificent sculptures outside them. Fountains sparkled in the light, and beautiful trees waved their outstretched branches. The interwoven flowers and flowering vines became more beautiful the farther I went. I also saw many avenues, winding up toward a common central point.
As we headed to this point, a vast and complex structure rose in front of us. The outer walls and towers seemed to be made of marble, delicate as snow in appearance. This structure was the foundation for a vast canopy, like a dome, yet far bigger than any similar earthly dome could ever be. As we drew near, I saw that the dome was suspended over a vast circular space.
“This dome,” said my guide, “is the place where all infants from earth are gathered for instruction. The outer buildings are the nurseries where we bring them first of all, to be nourished by their guardian angel.
…
EACH IS A HOME FOR THE INFANT SPIRITS
WHO ENTER THERE, UNTIL THEY ATTAIN TO
HIGHER DEGREES, AND ENTER THE
P
ARADISE
OF MORE ADVANCED YOUTHFUL EXISTENCE
,
FOR DEGREES OF INSTRUCTION ADAPTED
TO A MORE INTELLECTUAL CONDITION
.
“Each nursery is a miniature of the vast instruction dome, but it is nevertheless unique. These are the homes for the infant spirits until they develop sufficiently to enter the Paradise of Youth, where the instruction is more advanced. Each nursery has seven maternal guardians over it.
“You can see, Marietta, that no two buildings are decorated alike, yet they all blend harmoniously together. Also, each guardian angel has a different appearance and a different radiant light.
“Whenever an infant dies on earth, the guardian angel who brings it here assesses all of its abilities and places it with others of similar ability. According to its artistic, scientific, or social abilities, each is given a home best suited to the development of those gifts.
“Each building is directed by a group of seven maternal guardian angels. Each one has a similar type of mind to the others and works perfectly with them.
“Each day, or at special times, the infants are taken out to the center dome for their teaching and development.
“When they have progressed, they are moved from their homes and enter the general assembly in the great center dome of instruction. When this happens, an angelic choir forms a cloud above them, singing alleluias to their Prince and Savior.”
As the spirit finished speaking, to my amazement I saw on our right the wall of one of the nurseries being removed, as though an invisible hand had drawn aside a curtain. I was able to see completely inside. Supremely bright, it was adorned with great artistic beauty, in keeping with the splendor of the entire paradise of infants.
I
WAS GREATLY ABASHED, FEELING MY
OWN UNFITNESS TO BEHOLD ANY ABODE
SO PURE, LOVELY AND MAJESTIC
.
At first I felt ashamed and unworthy to even look at a place so pure and lovely. Almost without realizing, I cried out, “This is heaven!”
My instructress responded, “Marietta, this is something of what infant life is like in paradise. We will go in, and you can see even more. Mortals know so little of the happiness of their little ones who die as babies.”
We walked along together.
“Those who believe in Christ become reconciled to their loss when they submit in their hearts. I was once a mother in the world of sorrow and loss. I learned what it was to say farewell to a baby who came into the world only to break my heart at death. I learned to weep, but I also learned the priceless value of faith in God’s mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Three times I held my beloved babies in my arms. They were flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone, and life of my life. I looked up to God and adored Him for the precious gifts. But I had hardly begun to love them and look forward to the future when they were gone, and I was left sad and wounded.”
Her face showed the sorrow she had once felt.
“I trusted in Jesus and gave them over to Him, believing they were well. But, Marietta, if I had only known, if I could have only seen what you see! Adding my faith to that knowledge would have given me a much greater peace. For the baby who left its parents in such sadness waits here for their arrival safe from the evils of sin. Look, Marietta.” Her face brightened. “Look at them.”
I
BEHELD AND LO! THE INTERIOR THAT
WAS OPENED BEFORE ME WAS THAT OF
A TEMPLE GLORIOUSLY ADORNED
.
As I looked, another section of the interior suddenly opened before me. It was a beautifully decorated temple. In circular tiers, one rising above another, I saw small niches shaped like segments of circles. In each lay an infant spirit attended by a guardian angel. Each angel’s task was to prepare the infant for higher existence, to enable it to make a holy and fruitful contribution in its never-ending life. The angel breathed upon the baby, and each breath caused its capacity and life to expand. It instilled holy love and inspiration, for its power came from God. God’s life-giving Spirit permeates all angels in heaven.