I awoke bright and early on Sunday morning, the day after my family left for their respective homes. I had breakfast while listening to the radio as I ate to catch the weather forecast, and then reviewed the Sunday school lesson that I would be teaching that morning. It was a beautiful day with bright sunshine, a clear blue sky, and just a few wispy clouds. It was a bit cool at 45 degrees Fahrenheit, but it was going to warm up to a relatively comfortable autumn day of 60 degrees (according to the weather forecast). I then reflected back on the last few days. We had a wonderful time together during our Thanksgiving holiday, and we were looking forward to Christmas together too. I had a great time playing in the autumn leaves with my granddaughters, and catching up with everyone’s lives, and just having my family close to me. It was wonderful. I went to my bedroom, and I got ready for church. I had decided last night to wear my blue suit that morning, but when I awoke Sunday morning, I decided that something more casual would be more comfortable, so I opted for the shirt, tie, and slacks with my favorite cardigan. I gathered my things, my study guide and notes for the Sunday school lesson I was teaching that morning and my Bible and departed for church.
I arrived to the usual warm greetings, handshakes, and hugs, and then sat down and started perusing the church bulletin. I started reading; Sunday school at 10:00 am, followed by church service at 11:00 am. “Huh, no service tonight: that’s unusual, but I’m sure there is a good reason,” I thought to myself. As I sat and thought, I remembered that the Pastor’s sister was visiting from out of town, and my pastor and his family were going to spend the evening with her and her family. I knew it would come to me if I thought about it long enough. The rest of the bulletin shared announcements for future events and the prayer list. A few moments later, the choir director stepped up to the podium and led us in that wonderful old hymn, “When We All Get to Heaven” by Mrs. J. G. Wilson. Then we were dismissed to our respective Sunday school classes. I taught a mixed group of adults and had 15 in attendance, including myself.
“Good morning folks, are there any prayer requests,” I said, and several people solicited prayer for friends and family. I then prayed for all the requests and asked the Holy Spirit to guide me during my lesson so that everything I said was in accordance with His will and to His glory. The lesson was from 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6.
“You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night…. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you like a thief. Ye are all children of light and children of the day: we are not of night, nor darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” I also used Matthew 25:13.
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
This lesson from the Bible teaches that we will not know when Jesus is coming. He will arrive without notice, but we Christians must always be prepared for His coming so that His arrival is sudden but not unexpected. We have to stay in a constant state of readiness to be, in the twinkling of an eye, caught up to meet Jesus in the air. I completed my lesson just before the church bell rang, calling us to the sanctuary for church services.
As we filed into the sanctuary, we greeted each other and fellowshipped, seeing new faces of people that had just arrived for church that hadn’t attended Sunday school. After this brief fellowship, I walked over toward my seat. I dropped my Bible off on the pew where I normally sit and stepped up into the choir loft. As I looked out over the sanctuary filled with people, I reflected on how glad I was to have such a wonderful church family. They genuinely loved and appreciated each other, which is not the norm in many churches these days.
The morning announcements were made, and our choir director led us in several old hymns and a more recent hymn by Morris Stancil, “Because He Loved Me,” which is one of my favorites. We ended with that bouncy old hymn by G. T. Speer, “Heaven’s Jubilee,” which is always fun to sing. The choir was dismissed and filed down out of the choir loft down into their respective seats. We then sang a congregational song as we worshipped our Lord through the giving of our tithes and offerings. Then we came to the main course of the day. Our pastor started with a prayer for the service. He shared with us the title of his message.
“Almost persuaded,” he announced. Our pastor then asked us to stand for the reading of God’s Word. We all stood and he said, “Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 26:28,” and he began reading.
“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian.”
“Thank you, you may be seated,” the pastor announced. After we all settled into our pews, the pastor began preaching, “King Agrippa…”
I was no longer in our church! I heard a loud voice that sounded like a trumpet call, “Come Hither.” I was ascending into the air, but I was completely tranquil, not worried, no fear, just astonishment and a swift gentle assent! I looked down to see the church falling away from me as I ascended. I looked around me and saw many of those that were in church with me, including my pastor, ascending with me. Each of those ascending with me looked to be either young children of various ages or adults in their mid-20s with impeccable athletic bodies, but despite their changed appearance, I recognized each of them as my fellow parishioners. I looked up to see a multitude of people waiting in the clouds above us. Then I made an abrupt but gentle stop in the clouds, and as I looked around, I saw hundreds of thousands or possibly millions of people suspended in the air with me. About 20 feet above this floating sea of humanity, I saw a loan figure. He was shining like a bright star with his arms lifted up about shoulder height in glistening white raiment. I could see him clearly because he appeared to be only about 50 yards away, and the glowing aura about him was dazzling.
“This was the rapture! We were transfigured and caught up to meet Jesus in the air, I see him! Praise his Holy name!” I exclaimed aloud. Then others began to cheer and praise Him.
Then we all collectively ascended into Heaven following our Lord Jesus as we entered into the seat of power of the Lord’s holy realm. I saw a beautiful sprawling land filled with trees, grasslands, farmlands, beautiful valleys, rivers, streams, and rolling hills. It was breathtaking, and a few miles off, I saw the city. It was enormous! That had to be the holy city; it was sprawling with glistening white walls, and its sheer enormity was awe-striking. As we descended toward the city, all the people with me started stringing out into a massively long filament of transfigured humanity until we were in a single file line, and then we gently stopped and descended onto one of the 3 main roads entering Heaven. Yep, the street was solid gold, beautifully shimmering in the light created by our precious Lord Jesus!
We walked forward in a single file line with Jesus leading. I could easily see Him in the distance shining brilliantly in His glistening, radiant white robe. As I approached the gate of the city, I could see the (at least) 15-foot high rectangular opening in the wall before me with ornately carved gold adornments. It was awesome! I proceeded through the gate, and in front of me, in the distance, I could see what looked like a central palace or temple. I wasn’t sure what it was. The looming building was much taller than the rest of the city and was richly ornamented with gold carvings overlaying the glistening white stone walls. I couldn’t really tell from my current vantage, but that palace or temple seemed to be where we were headed.
It was a long walk, and as we walked, we were witness to the grandeur of this great holy city. People that had died and gone on before us stepped up to meet and greet us as we walked onward in line. I looked and saw my mother and father walking toward me with my brother.
“Praise the Lord; it’s so good to see you!” I said.
“It’s great to see you too, Sam. We’ve looked forward to seeing you again,” my Mother shared. I was astounded, all of them looked to be in their 20s, but I recognized them straight away. Then it struck me…where are my sisters?
“Where are Grace and Hope?” I said quizzically.
“I’m sorry, Sam, but they didn’t make it,” my Dad said. “They never accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. They felt that living a good, kind, and honest life was enough, but as you obviously know, there is only one way to Heaven, and that’s by grace through faith in our precious Lord Jesus.”
“Oh no, I wish I would have witnessed to them a little more fervently. Wow, I guess the choices we made in our lives really did have eternal dire consequences.”
“Amen, Sam.” My Dad exclaimed, and then continued, “We won’t keep you any longer. We’ll have plenty of time to spend together, an eternity, as a matter of fact.”
Then after hugs and kisses and goodbyes, they departed as I moved forward in the line. Even though it was a long walk, I didn’t feel tired. On Earth, walking for a long time caused pain in my feet, and I felt none of that now! I felt great, and we continued our walk. When the first of this single-file string of humanity arrived at the palace or temple, we all came to a stop. As we waited and gradually moved forward, we fellowshipped, but no one speculated or complained, or idly gossiped. It was just sweet fellowship and praise for heaven and our Lord Jesus. It was wonderful!
As I moved ahead in the line, I had no anxiety, just an air of anticipation. A little while later, a couple of hours, I think, I entered the Holy Temple of God. By this time, I had found out where we were going and that the grand building we arrived at was the Holy Temple of God. I saw Seraphim and Cherubim around the thrown and the Seraphim would shout, “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts” each time a new person reached the throne. I could see Jesus sitting on a huge ornate gold throne. Each person was bowing prostrate before Him, and many received at least one crown, and some received many crowns.
“This is the Judgment Seat of Christ!” I said aloud, excitedly, in a hushed voice. We proceeded forward, and I could see the 24 Elders standing around the thrown, continually praising our precious Lord. The grandeur of the Temple, the graciousness of the Angels, and the presence of our Lord were almost overwhelming. Finally, it was my turn.
“Come before me, Samuel, my good and faithful servant,” Jesus said.
“Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts!” The Seraphim shouted.
Immediately, tears welled up in my eyes, and I stepped forward and fell to the floor prostrate on the gold landing at the foot of His Judgment Seat throne.
“Arise and be recognized,” Jesus said. I stood up before my Lord, and He said, “Samuel, I love you and thank you for your service and the lives you helped influence for Me and My kingdom. Now, be a witness to your life and deeds.”
The Lord opened my mind to all of the missed opportunities to share Christ with people, my sins and transgressions, and those thoughts filled my mind. He also showed all the good that I had done in His name and to His glory. He showed me the lives that I had touched in His glorious name. Because of the missed opportunities to share Christ within my lifetime, which I witnessed in shame, more tears welled up and began running down my face as I wept. Jesus leaned forward on his throne, and then He gently wiped the tears from my eyes.
“You did well, Sam. You will never need to shed tears in sorrow or shame again,” Jesus gently proclaimed. Jesus then sat back on his throne, and a Seraphim Angel stood beside Him with crowns on a beautiful gold tray. Jesus then took a crown from the Angel’s golden tray.
“Sam, this is your crown of righteousness, for the righteous life you lived in service to Me.” He leaned forward and placed the crown on my head.
“Thank you, Lord, I praise your holy name, but only You are truly righteous and worthy,” I said. I took the crown from my head, and kneeling, I placed it at Jesus’ feet and then stood up. Jesus smiled and then took another crown from the Angel.
“Sam, this is your crown incorruptible, for the life you faithfully dedicated to serving me,” Jesus said. He leaned forward and placed the crown on my head.
“Thank you, Lord, I praise Your precious holy name, but only You lived a life worthy of this great honor,” I said. I took the crown from my head and, kneeling, placed it at Jesus’ feet and then stood up. Jesus, still smiling, then took yet another crown from the Angel.
“Sam, this is your crown of rejoicing for the faithful witnessing you did in My name, both enthusiastically sharing your testimony and also silently as you lived your life devoted to Me,” Jesus said. He leaned forward and placed the crown on my head.
“Thank you, Lord, I praise You and thank You, it was a great honor and privilege to share the gospel, but I could have shared more,” I said. I took the crown from my head and, kneeling, I placed it at Jesus’ feet and then stood up. Jesus, still smiling, then took yet another crown from the Angel.
“Sam, this is your crown of glory for the great deeds of teaching and sharing the Holy Scriptures that you have done in My name,” Jesus said. He leaned forward and placed the crown on my head.
“Thank you, Lord, I praise Your exalted, precious holy name, but no being, especially me, deserves any glory, for as it is written, ‘for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory, for ever,’ I’m just not worthy my Lord,” I said. I took the crown from my head and, kneeling, I placed it at Jesus’ feet. Jesus leaned forward and then placed His hand on my head.
“Thank you, Sam, I bless you for all you have done for My sake.” Then, again smiling, Jesus reclined back on His throne.
An Angel took me by the arm and lifted me up from my kneeling position, and escorted me from the landing in front of Jesus’ throne. As we walked out of the Holy Temple, he told me that his name is Hamon and that he was one of the Dominions (a class angel dedicated to leadership), and that he would be my mentor and guide in Heaven. We walked out of the left side of the temple through the southern Holy Temple entryway. Then we walked ahead through the city. It was beautiful, and people and angels walked to and fro with the angels acquainting the newcomers with the city and greeting those that were established residents, some from long ago. We then went to an assembly area in front of the Holy Temple of God that was set up for a banquet, and we walked over, and Hamon asked me to sit down. He said that he would wait for me at the southern gate, and then he turned to depart.
“This is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!” I exclaimed aloud.
“Yes,” Hamon said, “enjoy the wedding feast, and I’ll see you again soon.”
Time is unimportant in heaven, so it was no problem at all to fellowship during the long wait for the last of the transfigured people to stand in the presence of Jesus. All those that passed into heaven before the rapture were already assembled when I arrived, and I saw and chatted with several people I knew during my life. It was a massive crowd in attendance, so there were many people that I wanted to see that I didn’t have the opportunity to see during the Marriage Supper. One of which was my precious wife, Evelyn, but I was sure I would see her soon.
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