emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (03/19/91)
God bless everyone of you,
A couple of weeks ago I posted this account in another newsgroup of a man in
the early 1900's named Seneca Sodi, who died as was allowed to give testimony
to another man, named Rev. Elwood Scott. the { } are my comments I've added.
Even with this brief survey from the testimony, my summary is long so I will
break it up into 5 postings. Read and enjoy!
* * *
{He starts off his account by telling how he had just finished eating
dinner and his two servants, Sena and Serva, were busy around the house.
He hears a loud trumpet call. He feels weary and lays down. Then his
earthly consciousness fades away}:
The next thing I observed was that I was standing in one corner of the
room looking with deep interest upon my body, which was lying in quiet
repose upon the bed. I cannot well describe the strange yet joyful
feelings of my soul on finding myself released from the body. I came
forward and stood beside the bed and with feelings mingled with joy and
pity I said to my body, "I feel sorry to leave you behind, but you are
still mortal and will be till the resurrection."
I next saw three angels with me who seemed busy with some peculiar embalming
process for my body, which I did not understand. They spoke to me most
pleasantly and said: "Be not afraid. We are come as your escorts to your
heavenly home, the light of which shines so brightly upon you now."
[...]
From this time I began to feel a strange upward bounding tendency. My
spirit felt a mighty pull heavenward as though elastic cords were fastened
to all parts of my soul, with the other end reaching into the skies.
Sena and Serva sat weeping by the bedside. I tried to speak to them,
but could not arrest their attention. I walked near to them and laid
my hand upon their heads, but still they did not comprehend me. They
only seemed to weep more bitterly fore there seemed to be a soul touch.
Then again their tears would dry and they would scan the room as though
some voice had been heard, and I felt sure they realized something of
my presence without comprehending the truth as to how it was.
The angels now began to sing and oh such sweet music I never heard while
in the body. When they had finished the anthem, they said, "Will you
now follow us?" When we stepped outside, I saw the chariot which seemed
to be made of light. It was standing still at the threshold. I under-
stood its meaning and the special errand of the angels, and I longed to
spring within, as I fairly shouted "Hallelujah," which I am sure the
angels heard, for they quickly said, "Glory to God in the highest."
[...]
I found I could converse with the angels with perfect freedom. There
seemed to be a kind of comprehension of ideas without the effort of
words; and yet we spoke as spirits speak.
[continued in posting 2]
John Emery
emery@tc.fluke.COMemery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (03/19/91)
By this time we were entering the massive Judean gateway. Our hearts were all filled with joy in the expectation of so soon seeing Him whom our souls loved. As we passed through the gateway the most beautiful scene met our gaze that we had ever witnessed before in heaven or on earth. Human language cannot describe it. To say the streets were pure gold or trans- parent glass would give the best idea by way of comparison of any object I know. The great thoroughfares leading from the gate seemed to lead off toward the center of the Holy City. On the right hand as we passed in were mighty, stupendous columns of precious stone shining with a brightness that heaven only knows. Massive domes and great archways were overhead. Nothing showed any signs of decay or age. No rubbish or signs of wear. The light toward the mansion was exceedingly great. Our Lord now came forward to meet and welcome us. Twelve legions of happy souls had now filed in at the great gateway and stood before our King. The glory and majesty of His being can never be described. The beloved disciple on Patmos once tried to tell of His glorious appearance as He revealed Himself on earth; He was clothed with a flowing garment down to His feet and girt about with a golden girdle; His head and hair seemed white as snow, and His eyes as a flame of fire; He feet were glowing like burnished brass; His countenance was like the sun a midday; a sharp two-edged sword was in His mouth and seven stars in His right hand (Revelation 1:13-16). But when the disciples saw Him on the Mount of Transfiguration sixty-three years before, His garments then shone as the light and His face as the brillancy of the sun. On earth He was called the fairest among ten thousand and altogether lovely. But as He is now in His exaltation in heaven, the language is too tame to express His glory. He bore the marks in His hands, and above His sandals the nail prints showed distinctly. He was the very embodiment of light. It was not dazzling to our eyes as was Moses' face to Israel of old, for we were prepared for it; since the days of our conversion on earth until we passed through this gate we were being prepared for this vision of our Lord. Oh, how forcibly were the words of Scripture as I looked upon His face and then glanced far into the city! "And the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon, for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof." He was also the embodiment of love itself. Every feature of His face spoke of love. Indeed it was the reflection of His Father's infinite love. All the love in heaven or in the church on earth came from Him. He bade us wel- come to Him, and as we came, by one mighty impulse we all fell on our faces and began to worship Him with adoring praise, saying, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation." The angels and the saints who met us, also joined and sang some new songs which we had never heard before. Our souls were in ecstasies of joy not to be described. * * * * * This is all I have time to post now. The account goes on to tell of the glories of the Holy City and indescribable awesomeness of the throne of the Father God. The author makes an attempt to describe Him as best as words can render. I believe the eternal glory that lies beyond so far exceeds our wildest hopes and expectations. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all! John Emery emery@tc.fluke.COM
emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (03/19/91)
By this time everything was ready and we were off. Twelve legions of souls
from various places had gathered in a very short time beside the river and
all had come by the way of the cross. It did not matter what language we
had known on earth, we could fully understand each other there, and all
were speaking, as we passed along, of the precious salvation through Jesus.
{As they made their way to the city, they beheld chariots of God coming
from the throne ...}
At this we fairly shouted, and could hear very lovely music in the distance,
and looking in the direction from whence it came, we saw a great retinue of
angels with flaming chariots of light coming toward us. I cried out,
together with many other voices, as we caught the first glimpse of them.
"Oh, father Abraham, is this our Lord Jesus for whom we have been anxiously
looking so long?"
Abraham lovingly replied: "These are the chariots of God under the conduct
of angels. They will soon be among you, bringing many ancient loved ones
to greet you with a welcome ere they carry you to the city and the throne
itself."
[...]
No sooner were the chariots standing among us than we saw they were filled
with happy, shining ones. They soon sprang out and were among us. They
had come to meet and welcome us to these realms of everlasting light and
day. But who were they but acquaintances, friends and relatives whome we
had known so well on earth, and who knew of our coming. We used to have
reunions on earth, but they could in no wise compare to the joy of this
meeting. Some of these had been there for many years. In a few moments
more, many were embraced in each other's arms. Oh, such joy I never knew
before, and such welcome! "Oh, blessed rewards!" I cried.
Among these was my own dear mother. She had died many years ago. How
she knew me I cannot tell, nor how I knew her I do not know; but she
rushed toward me and I knew her so well and said, "Oh, mother, is this
you?" She was beautiful and lovely. She embraced me in her arms and
said, "I knew you were coming." The memories of childhood and all her
wonted smiles and kindness which a mother's love suggests, came back to
me. There were many others like myself. Mothers and sons, fathers and
children, old friends meeting again. The glory and joy of the occasion
excelled anything I had yet known. The charioteers now kindly invited us
all to take passage with them.
[...]
The light toward the city which I had seen on my first arrival, grew more
and more glorious as we neared the city. We could at length see the shining
of the jasper walls. Although we were rolling along at such great rapidity
the wheels were noiseless and the chariots without a jar. The appearance
of the landscape on either side seemed at a distance like a sea of glass
mingled with fire; but on a closer examination it seemed that it was
immortal. Flowers of unfading glory, and with an endless variety of colors,
many of which I never saw anything before to which I could compare them
and their indescribable loveliness attracted universal attention. We saw
thousands of angels and happy spirits passing in all directions; but all I
saw seemed very joyous and happy in their work. I thought of the world of
the Lord: "He maketh his angels spirits and His ministers a flaming fire."
I said to my mother: "Can you tell me why we were not brought directly to the
throne at once when we departed from our earthly home?" "Oh," said she,
"you could not have endured this glory, but would have been dazzled into
utter confusion and unconsciousness. Even now your expanding powers cannot
take in all the glory and grandeur of the city until you are further prepared
for it."
[...]
We were nearing the great gateway. Every one of the new arrivals was filled
with wonder and anxiety. We had heard so much about the Holy City while we
lived in the world, of its many mansions, its streets of gold, its gates of
pearl, its transparent light without sun or moon, so that we all felt an
intense yearning to enter in. But the greatest attraction of all was to
see Him whom our souls loved and by whom we had been redeemed and by whose
blood we had been washed from our sins.
[concluded in posting 5]
John Emery
emery@tc.fluke.COMemery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (03/19/91)
The elder again said to me, "Let us gather some of the fruit of these trees
and then we will join that company yonder." I replied, "I would be quite
glad to do so, for I have eaten nothing since leaving the body," and yet
I felt no great sense of need.
[...]
My guide now said, "What kind of fruit would you prefer? You can have your
choice of things here just as you used to in the earth. If you feel faint
or weary from your long abstinence from food, this kind (pointing to a
pearshaped and beautifully colored fruit) is what you need, for the tree
has twelve kinds, as you see, upon it." I said with feelings of deepest
praise, "Oh, how wonderfully God has provided for us! Twelve kinds of fruit
on each tree, ripening their fruit every month, and the leaves never
withering! Wonderful!"
"Here," said he, "pluck from the boughs on this side of the tree and eat."
I did so, and much refreshing and enlightening grace as they imparted to me,
it is beyond the comprehension of mortal man to know; it must be eaten to
be understood. The taste of the fruit was delicious indeed. The earth
never furnished anything like unto it for taste, not the orange, peach, nor
melon. Nor would the fragrance of the rose compare with it. "When anyone
eats of these trees," said the elder, "he can never die again, grow older
nor feel weary; death hath no more dominion over him. One of these trees
grew in the garden of Eden. After our first parents had sinned against
God, they thought to eat of the fruit of it also; but God said, "No", for
had they eaten of it they would always have lived in that sinful, dying
state. So a flaming angel was sent to guard it, and so man never eats of
it until he has passed the boundaries of his earthly life."
{ ... Seneca meets Abraham who speaks to the company of them}
Abraham said, "you have just arrived and have much wonder and many questions
to ask about this heavenly kingdom of our Lord. While we talk for a few
moments let us be refreshed with a drink from this crystal river, for it
flows from the great palace up at the throne. Would you like to taste its
waters?"
"Oh, indeed we would, I have sung hymns, and read in the Holy Scriptures
concerning this very river, where the angel pointed it out to John, who in
his vision saw it proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb."
(Revelation 22:1)
He now proceeded to the brink and with a golden goblet he dipped and filled
the cup for me, and another for Bohemond [another newly arrived soul whom
Seneca had been introduced to earlier and who was now joining him in their
journey to the city], and said: "My sons, drink of this river and you shall
never thirst again, nor faint, nor weary for its lack, for its waters shall
never fail."
As I drank from the cup I said, "Oh praise God for such a supply! So sweet
the taste! How full of invigorating power! It makes me feel the joy and
glow of youth."
[...]
I said, "Father Abraham, shall we not soon go on to the throne {in the middle
of the city}? I have such a desire to see my Lord Jesus, I have loved Him
these years, and then I have many loved ones beside that I feel sure are
about the throne."
"You desires, my son," he replied, "shall be fully met. The patience you
have learned on earth is of great service to you here. So I hope you will
feel that restful, quiet trust in all God's ways."
"Oh yes, my whole soul says, 'Thy will be done.'"
"You will soon see the King in His beauty, and probably some of those who
knew you best, may come out and meet us on the journey toward the city
gates, for they certainly know you are here. Just as soon as our company
is full we will be off. Twelve legions make the company, and you see they
are gathering from all directions.
"Cast your eyes down the stream and you can see another company rapidly
filling up. Look across the other side and farther up the stream and you
see another. The guides who welcome them soon know to what company and
place each belongs. Some have made but little preparation for this glory
ere they left the world, and now the light is too great for them; and, as
you see, they fall back into the rear and content themselves among the
trees, waiting for a further preparation by an application of these
wonderful leaves on the trees. But all these companies you see will soon
be gathering about the gates of the city."
[continued in posting 4]
John Emery
emery@tc.fluke.COMemery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (03/19/91)
I now asked, "Are you really and truly angels of God, about whom we have
read and sung and heard so much while in the world?"
"Truly we are," they replied, "but of our birth you know nothing, for
in fact we were not born but created; not in the earth but in the celestial
regions. We have learned our lessons in the past eternities in the presence
of God; but we are glad to be your servants and helpers now, and this has
been our glad service ever since man was created upon the earth, but we
can tell you more about ourselves at another time."
[...]
I looked abroad; we were just entering a region of bright clouds something
like a glorious, glowing, earthly sunset, only far superior. The time
had been very brief indeed, but we were actually showing up in the great
suburbs of the eternal kingdom. "Listen a moment," I said to the angel,
"what music do I hear? Is it real or am I in imagination?"
"It is the song of the redeemed in heaven you hear. All the heavenly king-
dom is full of music without a discord."
No sweeter music ever fell on my ears. I was perfectly enraptured with
delight.
"Are we near the gates of the city?" "Very near to the portals of paradise,"
he said. At this the angels bowed their heads and covered their faces with
their hands, while I fell flat on my face in the chariot. Stillness reigned
in our souls, but deep emotions began to heave in my breast. I felt I must
break the silence by shouting the praises of God. The angels now began to
sing with a sweet voice, "Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are
all thy ways, thou King of Saints."
I sprang to my feet and for a moment seemed perfectly bewildered with what
met my gaze in every direction. The light was so transparent and far ex-
ceeding the most perfect day earth ever afforded. Clusters of heavenly
flowers were growing everywhere. Groves of beautiful trees loaded with
fruit, along with magnificent flowering shrubs beautiful beyond description
met my eye in all directions. Roadways like winding streets arranged with
exquisited taste and beauty, were penetrating this pleasure ground of glory.
Loving souls were coming and going, passing and repassing each other with
the salutations and courtesies that heaven only knows.
The chariot was now slowing its speed and such raptures of glory filled my
soul, I cannot describe them! I was simply lost in wonder, while I kept
saying, "Surely I am home at last." The chariot seemed trembling as a thing
of life and finally halted beside a grove of fruit laden trees. The doors
were opened and the angels stepped out. I fairly sprang with one leap to
the solid foundations of the heavenly kingdom. For a moment I stood
perfectly entranced as I saw so many happy souls clothed in white garments
of lovely patterns, and all with such bright and happy faces beaming with
perfect contentment and satisfaction.
[...]
"This is the borderland, my son, of the heavenly domain. Your sacrifices
on earth were little when compared to your great gains here."
{Seneca meets many different souls}:
It seemed most wonderful to me upon finding that I could converse with perfect
ease and freedom with anyone I met, although we had been accustomed to
different languages and tongues while on earth, and often speak through
interpreters; but now I found, since I had laid aside the material for the
spiritual, I could easily understand the thoughts of anyone. As rapidly as
he could think I could read his thoughts. Matters of detailed explanation
were not needed or required as I had been accustomed to while int the flesh,
for if a subject was plain to any one with whom I was conversing, it seemed
that at once it was just as clear to my own mind, so I was quite surprised
to find how rapidly I could take in a knowledge of the spiritual realm, and
yet a second surprise constantly met me: that of the great depth of divine
truth.
[...]
My feelings were joyful beyond any power to describe to a mortal man of
flesh and blood. It seemed that my entire spirit was in a perfect rapture
of delight. I asked the elder, who seemed to take delight in remaining with
me, how I was to account for this rapturous joy which was increasing so
constantly in my soul, until I felt I would break out into shouting and
hallelujahs. He said, "The Spirit of God is the atmosphere of heaven; His
joy becomes ours on a larger scale than what we ever knew while in our flesh.
The great joy that you feel now is only a little fortaste of what you will
feel when you are ushered into the city and about the throne."
Upon this I quickly remembered the Scripture where the prophet said: "In
thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures
forevermore." (Psalm 16:11)
[continued in posting 3]
John Emery
emery@tc.fluke.COM