"When you, and I step out of our homes or gather at the foot of the altar. Or when we share on social media or meet at the workplace - let us be conscious and aware that God is present."
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Back in January of 2020, I had been helping a pastor friend of mine Pastor Kenneth McClymont in advising, and helping him grow his ministry at Faith Chapel in Coral Springs. On one Sunday my wife and I decided that we would attend a service with Danny to help support him in what God had been doing in his ministry for the past 12 years. I could tell his enthusiasm and excitement that Sunday as he prepared to give his message to the congregants about “What would heaven look like” according to scripture. It was taken from the same message I had shared with all of you a couple of years ago when we met at Steve’s resting place in Boynton Beach when we went to share with Doris on Steve’s memorial. The scripture study was from Revelations Chapter 21.
I always understood this scripture and can relate to it intellectually since I had preached it many times over the past 28 years. So I went home, and during the week I couldn’t stop reflecting on this scripture. By Tuesday – Wednesday of that week I was in a very deep state of sleep and had one of those dreams that you literally feel you can not get out of. I have also taught over the years on “dreams” and “visions” and how God uses them through various times in our lives to speak to us (which we can talk about later). So, I am aware when God is trying to catch my attention and in matters like this, I would always intentionally share them always with my wife and son so that they can be witnesses of what may happen or how we can pray for situations revealed in dreams.
My dream
That night as I was in a deep state of sleep I felt and heard something thump, and I awoke to find myself instantly on a hilltop in heaven. In the dream I was amazed about three things: 1) where was I? 2) how I looked 3) and the time it took to transition to heaven (what I mean is, it felt like I had literally died and gone to heaven at a blink of an eye.) It was quick, no pain, and instantaneous just like the bible teaches. This perhaps is what one experiences when transitioning from earth to heaven in their new eternal home.
I could see absolute beauty, the colors were radiant and the sky had an orange, yellow almost golden glow to it as one looks upon the beauty of a sunset. I notice that these colors are permanent and there wasn’t any day nor night. The birds were flying, there was a peaceful calm and stillness all over as I looked from east to west. I also felt an eeriness because I noticed that even though things moved there was NO WIND and NO SOUND. It was so peaceful that there was an absolute absence of noise.
As I stood there I could see approximately 8 to 10 people around me from right to left “socially distant” who I know – I knew. But, I could not make out either their figures or voices because they were transformed. The only solidarity I had was that we had lived life experiences together, and had crossed the road in our lives. But, I could not make out either their faces, their appearance, or their voices. The harder I tried to remember them the more difficult I struggle with remembering how I knew them. It was though I would drift into infinite amnesia about these individuals the harder I tried.
As we were all amazed that we had reached heaven, we stared at each other knowing that the only thing we had in common was that we shared experiences together, with no ability to remember what those experiences were. As we smiled and had the assurance of our gathering I noticed that the 8 to 10 people were waiting on instructions on what’s next? At that time, I saw forming & appearing in the golden orangey clouds, a city with its silhouette. It looked like a big city perhaps similar to an image of NYC (but it wasn’t) but with radiant beauty. Mom and Tony still have an old clock that was brought from our days in NY that sits in their living room. It looked like that with golden, orange, and yellowish colors glowing in the sky. At that moment, I told the group that was present “look, look we must go to Jerusalem that is where we have to go!” And I remember someone asking “how do you know that is Jerusalem?” and my response was “come on guys it’s just like the Bible said, that is our next journey!”
Things now get interesting
As I motioned to the group that was with me, that we should go to this city in the sky called Jerusalem – instantly everything froze. It seemed as though everyone was frozen in time except for me. I began to hear the sound and cries of many people behind me. I recognized with intense grief the voices of many family members, friends, and many others who were screaming saying “please, what is happening, why am I on this line”. My heart knew there was nothing I could do to change the circumstances, but that I was given an opportunity to recognize them, hear them, and see what was happening to them. At that time, as I turned behind me an open portal made up of a cloud and circular in nature opened behind me and I was able to transition to only see, hear and recognize everything that was happening on earth.
I noticed that as I stepped through this cloudy portal a giant man-goat was standing laughing at me. He stood around 8-9 feet tall. I will attempt to describe him specifically:
His feet were that of a goat
His calf that of a man
His thighs that of a goat
His waist that of a man
His stomach and chest that of a man
His neck that of a man
His head and face that of a goat
His horns that of a goat
He continued to laugh as he had other individuals laying people down on a surgical bed pulling out people's teeth, and replacing them with goats teeth. Every person who would be laid down was forcefully ordered and helplessly tied to this bed.
The line was endless, as far as the eyes can see, and I had recognized many people on that line. But, I had no power to change any of the circumstances that were already transpiring. I know for sure there were two individuals that stood out more than any other that were in our immediate family. And, when I mean immediate I am talking about one of the seven of us. It was the least of who I would have ever imagined. I heard my sister and her husband saying “we did so much good babe, we served, we helped, we opened our doors to so many people, we were genuine in all we did, why are we here?” And, her husband was as confused as she was but there was nothing I could do. It was truly everything she was saying, and I was baffled as to why in the world she on this line?
Instantly, I began to again experience amnesia, and the more I grieved and thought about all those people I began to experience a sense of forgetfulness. I knew my time was up and I needed to return to those who were waiting for me, and so I did. I walked again through the cloudy portal and there they were waiting for me as though time had never lapsed, and the door closed behind me.
I did look back a couple of times but the excitement of those waiting for me to go to this city in the sky was just too overwhelming. A young man came up to me from the group and said “before we go I need to do something”, and he threw a fist full of what seemed to be coins in the air. As they were twisting and turning in slow motion I could tell as I looked closer that they were “beer tops” and “coins” turning. It was clear that as these metals were twisting in the air that we had gained victory over their influence and so I preceded to kick them as they were landing.
After kicking them, I motioned now it is time to go to Jerusalem.
This was my dream.
Revelations 2:1-8
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Over 2000 years ago Jesus had a personal conversation with one woman who was “socially distant”, and who was on her way to pulling some water from a well. Her only hope of refreshing herself, and perhaps her loved ones was to gather this precious commodity that is scarcely found in the midst of a desert.
Jesus pursues to have a conversation with her knowing sovereignly her entire life story and situation. And, offers her forgiveness, refreshing, and revelation. She would have never known she was speaking just a few steps away with the Son of God and the Messiah. And this is what he said...
John 4:19-26
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
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