Mary (the mother of Jesus) must have had many such special moments because the Bible said that she hid them in her heart.
Some years ago I had several unbelievable experiences over a period of about a week that would forever change my life. I, like Mary, hid those experiences in my heart for years without ever sharing them. I suppose the reason I did not share them was because they were such intimate experiences with God and I was not sure anyone else would understand them.
One such experience took place one night when the Lord came into my room and took me to heaven. I could see my spirit leaving my body laying there on the bed. I continued to be lifted up until I saw the roof of our home and then the street and then the city and so on. All of this took place very quickly. I could not see the one who was lifting me up because he was always behind me.
After leaving the earth I then began flying over the New Jerusalem. It was beautiful even though I was never allowed to set foot on the streets. I was only to be escorted over the city for the purpose of showing me how close the city was to completion. I was shown the roofs of the dwelling places and that they were almost finished and ready for occupancy. I was captivated by seeing the city from my perspective. I was also captivated by the fact that all of the dwelling places had steeple type roofs that were being completed. I was informed that they would be finished very soon and that I must minister with urgency knowing that Jesus would return unexpectedly.
After the trip to heaven I was then returned to my body. I first saw my city, then my street, then my house, then my body and then my spirit was placed back into my sleeping body.
Since that time I have had more of an urgency in my spirit than ever. Everything I do in the kingdom regardless of how small—I do it with a spirit of urgency.
The message of this experience was not only to change my life, but to establish a sense of urgency in these times. Since that time, I have continued to learn many other lessons that keep developing in me more of a heavenly purpose. The heavenly pattern that God showed me is for the kingdom at large.
Such was the case when God gave Moses the pattern for the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle that Moses built was only a type and shadow of that which is in the heavenlies.
The unfinished roofs that God showed me in heaven were also a type and shadow. I am quite sure that God does not have construction workers as we think of them in heaven. However the things that God showed me were so I could understand that His expectation of me was no less than that of Moses with the Tabernacle. I was to use this experience for the glory of God and to bring others into hope driven by passion.
What I saw in heaven was breathtaking and I agree with Paul in 1Corinthians 2:9, “… Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Father,
Thank you for allowing me to go to heaven. Since that time I have been faithful to the urgency of the hour and knowing that time is shorter than when I first began. Even though that experience happened many years ago I am no less excited about my call and purpose than I was then. My time clock is different than yours, but you are always on time and I praise you for it.
Amen.
I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth), how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4 ASV)
Apostle John Dean Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
Alliance International Ministries