Does the Lord give us insight into the heavenly realm as we near our death? My mother told me that her father could see two angelic beings by his bed during the last days of his life. He described them as two strong young men as the heavenly realm seemed superimposed on the earthly realm.
Why would God do this? For believers in Jesus, this gives people hope, peace, and encouragement as they die. Their earthly life is ending, but another world is beyond their imagination.
Stephen Saw a Light in a Dark Time
Stephen, in our story, had a similar experience. Acts 7:54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” 57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.[1]
Jesus is Our Only Hope
Although only Stephen could see this vision, God reminded him that He was present and heaven was real. We can be assured that Christ is waiting to welcome every child of God into heaven. He alone is our hope because He paid the price for our sins by His death on the cross. And by His resurrection from the dead, He conquered death, hell, and satan.
The Apostle Paul tells us that heaven is so fantastic that we can’t imagine how good it is in 1 Corinthians 2:9.That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” [2]
The Apostle John Described Heaven
The Lord gave John a vision of heaven’s majesty, which John wrote down in the book of Revelation.Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. 3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. [3]
As believers, we will see John’s vision of heaven in person someday. What a wonderful day that will be. To get insight into the heavenly realm, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/light-in-persecution
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.