Revelation…

The Dream of a Lifetime…

Yes, my body was loaded into the cocoon, the sarcophagus, the wooden box that they all fear.

I was prepared for this journey… my eyes already closed… and as I lay sleeping I dreamt…

I had my list of QUESTIONS, all those things! I had my briefing notes, 1 Corinthians 13… I shall know fully, “You promised!” I’d say in my defence!

Those secret things that belong to God, Deut. 29:29… surely when I ask, He will tell me… how wonderful to be at last in the unfettered presence of the Father, my Heavenly Father, with all the time in the world to spend by the fire, in that cozy little room… He in His chair, and I in mine… and we’d talk way into the night…

…then my eyes opened… and I was in the bright light of DAY, and I saw my coffin fall away into the blaze of that light… and over there was God Himself…

…He was wearing an apron, and in His left hand a feather duster, and in His right hand a polishing chamois. He was shining, dusting & making “just so” all those macaroni bottles and papier-mâché creations of my life… the party supplies that would have been for the celebrations of my humble milestones — my concurrent learning of two of the highest RLSSC awards… it never happened there below, but now — at last — here they were in eternity, waiting to be celebrated…

…but SUDDENLY an abrupt Luke 17:7–10 kind of HARD STOP!… and I was opening my eyes — wait! What?!?

I could see the light of day, the clear blue sky, and the soft, silky white folds of my final resting place.

I lifted my hands, but none came to lift me out. I lifted myself out, no pain in my joints, and my robes were fresh and bright. I looked and saw a road that led to a castle not too far away…

As I walked, birds greeted me, and here and there I saw all creation, animals grazing & snoozing…

Then the first of many who greeted me… each knew my name, and each had a story of how God had touched their lives… moved them, repaired them, encouraged them… through me… and I was glad to hear it, but apologized for needing a moment to recollect… but yes, I remember now… you and you and you…

But I looked up, believing that I’d soon see my father’s house, my Father in His house — that castle ever nearer now…

…and as I arrived at the gate, my name was the address. It was my place in heaven, and as I entered its main hall the banquet began…

Up there, at the centre of the head table, our Father God, Jesus at His right side… and gathered close at hand were Pastor Barber, John Archer and my sister Diana, Glenn, John & Andrew — oh! And Henry! My eyes welled up with tears of joy to see them all there… all these I wanted to thank for helping me on my journey there.

Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”