This is my 2nd post. In 1976 I was contemplating suicide (divorce, ruined career and subsequent alcoholism), went into a church after 20 years, and prayed for help, knowing God is there. I was immediately taken to Heaven (I saw the Earth moving away in the distance, and a big male Angel had me by the hand. I was then before a glowing (like neon) throne with a person on it (I could see the human form), but I couldn't see the face, hands or feet which were obscured by a mist. I knew that was Jesus. Then the Angel showed me around, including seeing other human forms which appeared to be made of something like ether (as I could see through it), and their dwellings (2 story but no uniform windows and doors, looked like stucco in the Middle East). I also saw a Center of Learning, talked "thought talk" with the Angel, and all of the colors were really vivid, nothing like Earth. Then I was returned to Chapel, and passed out. When I awakened, I knew all was (and is) well. After 14 years of reading the Bible, Swedenborg, Cayce, the Moody "Near Death Experiences, and others who claimed to have seen Heaven and Angels, I found TUB. I've been reading it consistently for 19 years.
I'm well educated, Philosphy in undergrad and then Law School. I'm now 70. I was so overwhelmed that the experience is still vivid. It was like witnessing the Transfiguration (which I had never read about prior), or something similar. Believers I tell about it never seem to question me, and old time Pentecostals describe it as "being slain in the Spirit". Non believers look at me like I'm crazy.
TUB explains it all for me, as nothing else ever has. I won't go into all that I have learned by reading it, nor any other conclusion other than Jesus is "the Way" spiritually. And, even after having such an experience, one must still live here and deal with the every day problems encountered, and know there is no salvation from "the accidents of space and time", but Jesus will go through them with you, and help you reconcile them. And, I have experienced God daily, in very human ways. I of course have a heightened awareness of the lack of God in many people's lives, and a heightened sense of empathy and compassion, and realize why Jesus could be so forgiving, kind, merciful, and loving where we have such trouble with it, as that is greater evidence that He and the Father are one.
I simply share this so that others may have a witness in one who is just as human as they, and who confirms that belief, faith and then Grace are the answer. I also tend to believe that one must be under severe stress before they can receive and live through such an experience, and, I believe it was in answer to my prayer.
Warm regards
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