Chapter 4
Visions of Heaven
The Bible tells us the heaven of the redeemed is "the
third heaven." (15) The future home of the people of the Lord is a place
in the third heaven. This place is a city. The name of this city is "The
New Jerusalem." This New Jerusalem is not "a figure of speech." It is not
a combination of ideas skillfully clothed in earthly words of the Lord to
give man a false conception of something it is not. The Bible says this
New Jerusalem is a real city with a real foundation which God himself
laid.
This celestial city is foursquare, one thousand five
hundred miles on every side, surrounded by a wall two hundred feet high
with foundations of twelve kinds of precious stones, the most beautiful
precious stones known to man. The wall itself is jasper, which sends forth
a brilliant jasper light. Twelve gates lead into the city, the streets of
which are like burnished gold. (16)
(15) "I know a man in Christ . . . such a one caught up
even to the third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2).
"I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).
"But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem . . . and to the spirits of just men
made perfect" (Hebrews 12:22-23). "For we have not here an abiding city, but
we seek after the city which is to come" (Hebrews 13:14).
By faith Abraham . . . looked for the city which hath the
foundations whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
All the saints of old died desiring "a better country,
that is, a heavenly: Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called
their God; for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:16).
(16) "And he carried me away in the Spirit. . . and showed
me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God . . . her
light was like unto a stone most precious, as it was a jasper stone, clear
as crystal, having a wall great and high; having twelve gates . . . and
the wall of the city had twelve foundations . . . and the city lieth
foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and he
measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs (1,500 miles):
the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal . . . The wall
thereof a hundred and forty-four cubits (216 feet). And the building of
the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure
glass; the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all
manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second,
sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx;
the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl, the ninth,
topaz; the tenth chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth,
amethyst. . . The city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon to
shine upon it for the glory of God did lighten it" (Revelations 21:10-23).
In this city are the homes of the redeemed, the abode of
angels, Paradise, and the throne of God.
Why should not the New Jerusalem be a real city with streets of real gold
and with jasper walls and with foundation stones of precious jewels? Did
God so exhaust his material when he made the universe that he had no gold
or jewels left for heaven? If God could make a world, could he not suspend
a city in the sky beyond the stars? Here and there a little impure gold in
a fissure of a distorted rock of this cursed and perverted earth or here
and there the discovery of a precious jewel hidden in the debris of
earthly ruins are only lingering reminders of the reality of which these
are merely shadows. The real, the imperishable are in the city whose
builder and maker is God.
What we see on this perverted, degenerated earth are only
shadows. "The creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality"
(Romans 8 :20) . The gold we cherish, the jewels we adore, the cities and
mansions we build are only copies of the real in the city that is soon
coming down.
The Adullam children were caught up in vision to this city
of God. How they could see the city I do not know. How Abraham saw it I do
not know. How Paul could be caught up to Paradise, either in the body or
out of the body, I do not know. These things are beyond natural order. We
need not, at present, know the How. We know the Fact. John was shown the
city. He was told by the Lord to write the things he had seen and send
them to the Churches.
In the Spirit Adullam children were caught up to this city
time after time, not as in a dream but as a living reality. Their visits
were so real, in fact, that the children supposed their souls actually
left their bodies to go to heaven and return, or that in some
unaccountable way they had gone to heaven soul and body just as they might
in daily life visit some distant place. Frequently when in Paradise the
children were plucking and partaking of the heavenly fruit they gathered
some extra to tuck in their garments to bring back to earth for "Muh Si
and Si Mu" (Pastor and Mrs. Baker).
They knew they were only on a visit to heaven and soon to
return. Upon returning, when the Spirit lifted from them, finding
themselves in our Adullam rooms they proceeded at once to search in their
garments for the delicious fruit they had brought back to please us. Not
finding this fruit in their garments, a look of great surprise, confusion,
and disappointment came over their faces. They could not, for the time,
believe they had not bodily gone to heaven and come back with the fruit
tucked in their garments.
Walking on the streets of the New Jerusalem was to them as
real as walking on the streets of a Chinese city. One day, when walking
down the street in bright sunshine, I asked the boys if the visions were
as real and as clear as what we then saw. "Just as real," they said, "but
much clearer due to the light in heaven and the white garments and the
cleanliness everywhere, all adding to the brightness."
When in the Spirit, the children were usually lost to
their natural surroundings. In many cases, although they supposed they
were in heaven, they talked aloud, describing what they saw, thus carrying
on conversation that we all could hear. Often they acted out before our
eyes what they supposed they were doing in heaven.
Caught up to the Third Heaven
The Adullam children said they went to the third heaven.
As they passed through the first heaven they felt air on their faces.
Having passed the second heaven, they looked back upon the stars in their
wonderful beauty, much as from a mountain height a person might gaze down
upon a beautiful, light-studded city below. From this starry heaven they
passed on into the third heaven until they . . .
Came to the Heavenly Jerusalem.
As they approached this heavenly city they saw its light
in the distance. Coming nearer, they saw the beautiful wall radiating its
wonderful jasper light. The foundations were of indescribable beauty,
sparkling with red, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, violet, and all
the other colors of the twelve most beautiful jewels.
This city in the sky the children saw as three cities in
one: one city suspended above another, the largest city below, the
smallest city on top, making a pyramid. Since this city John saw is
surrounded by a wall, and since the city is one thousand five hundred
miles high, Bible students have supposed the heavenly city is not a cube
but a pyramid. Our children, however, knew nothing of this, neither had I
ever thought of the New Jerusalem as three cities, one suspended above
another. God who suspends the worlds in space can suspend these cities in
space. The Bible does not tell us the internal order of the city. (17)
(17) From visions seen by other heavenly visitors it is
evident that there are also arrangements of sevens in the heavenly order.
Apparently there are series of plains as well as series of arrangements on
each plain. No one need suppose that in vision anyone has seen more than a
fraction of heaven.
One of our small boys spoke in prophecy when in vision at
the feet of the Lord the Lord was talking to him. In this prophecy the
Lord said that he had made heaven big enough for everybody, that he had
made it in three cities one above another, and that at present his throne
is in the upper city.
Since time and distance are nothing in the heavenly realm,
there is nothing impossible in such an arrangement of this city of God.
There are three heavens. There were three stories in the ark, where God
preserved the present creation. God is three in one. Why should not the
city of the Great King be three in one? Why should not the King reign from
the top of the pyramid of all the universe, since "the stone which the
builders rejected was made the head of the corner," the capstone of the
pyramid of all creation?
By the Gates into the City
Adullam entered by its pearly gates into the city of
golden streets. Angels in white guarded the gates and welcomed those
entering in. No beggarly reception this. Here the one-time rejected off-scourings
of the earth were welcomed as kings by these angelic hosts. Had not the
Savior promised the weakest and humblest of his children a kingdom where
they shall reign with the King of Kings for ages and ages?
Through the gates into the city! Out of earth into heaven!
Out of the mortal into the immortal! Out of death into life! All the old
life behind and below! All the new life ahead and above! Inside the gates!
Angels, angels everywhere. Angels talking, angels singing, angels
rejoicing, angels playing harps and blowing trumpets, angels dancing and
praising the King. Such a scene no mortal ever saw; such floods of inner
joy flooded the whole being as no one ever knew except when filled with
the Holy Spirit, the eternal life, the heavenly life of God, "the
earnest," "down payment" of heaven.
The children clapped their hands in rapture. They shouted
for joy. They sometimes rolled on the floor in unrestrained laughter and
jumped and danced in great delight, while their faces were so transformed
by this heavenly joy that the glory of the celestial city seemed to shine
upon us. There was no sorrow in this city; no mournful, long-faced
religion there; no funeral dirges in the hymns. This was a city of joy,
"joy in the Holy Spirit," "joy unspeakable and full of glory."
(18)
(18) "The kingdom of God is . . . peace and joy in the
Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
(19) "Ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of
glory" (1 Peter 1:8).
(20) "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels"
(1 Corinthians 13:1).
With Innumerable Hosts of Angels
Inside the city, the children knew the meaning of the
Scripture that says, "Ye are come into the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels" (Hebrews 12 :22).
Not only about the gates of the city were these happy angels, but also
throughout the city everywhere were these heavenly hosts.
Angels were always ready to escort the children from place
to place throughout the city; angels walked with them and talked with
them; angels explained to them the meaning of things they did not
understand, even as they talked with John and revealed to him the things
of God. Often in these experiences with the angels our children were given
harps and taught to play them and sing as the angels did. They were also
taught to blow the trumpets and were taught . . .
The Music and Language of Heaven.
(19)
When we saw the children, with closed eyes, all dancing
about the room in rhythm, we found that in vision they were dancing with
the angels in heaven and keeping time to the heavenly music. When we saw
them apparently blowing a trumpet or going through the motions of playing
a harp, we found that in vision they were joining the heavenly orchestra
in the praises of the King. We could not see the heavenly harps or
trumpets. We could not see the angels' joyful dance or hear their song. We
could hear only the children singing heavenly songs.
It was a daily sight to find some child off in a corner by
himself, lying comfortably on the pine needles, going through the motions
of playing a harp. Upon going near, we could hear him singing a new song
we had never taught him. Approaching still nearer, we would discover that
the words were as strange to us as the tune. The singer was singing in the
heavenly choir. His song was the song the angels taught him. The words of
the song must have been in the language of angels. (20) Seeing the
children singing in this heavenly angelic choir was a sight not to be
forgotten. Sometimes several of them in some place in the heavenly city or
its wonderful Paradise would decide to play and sing together. With closed
eyes, while fully under the power of the Holy Spirit, three or four of
them would get off by themselves.
If we were near, we would hear a consultation as to who
would play the trumpet and who would sing. After all was decided and
everybody was ready, the heavenly hymns began. The trumpeters held their
hands up before them and blew as though blowing trumpets. The harpists
both played and sang, while those without instruments joined in the
singing. In these cases they always sang in languages we did not
understand, unless by mutual agreement they decided to sing one of those
hymns they "used to sing down on earth." In that case they sang in
Chinese.
Seeing and Worshipping Jesus Christ
The climax of all heavenly joy and wonder was "seeing
Jesus Christ" and worshipping Him who had saved them by His blood.
Soon after entering the gates of the city the children
were escorted by the angels to "go and see Jesus." We could hear these
children talking about "going to see Jesus" and see them as in vision they
were approaching the throne of Christ. When they came into the wonderful
presence they stood reverently gazing with love and devotion upon the Lord
of all creation, who was also their Savior. First of all they thanked Him,
and adoringly worshipping Him they joined their hands before them, bowing
in true obeisance. Then they knelt and bowed their faces to the floor in
true worship "in spirit and truth," (21) which few if any know on earth
who have not the baptism of God's Holy Spirit.
(21) "The hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth
the Father seek to be his worshippers" (John 4:23).
The Throne of God and the Throne of
Christ
The throne of Christ the children saw as did John when he
was "in the Spirit": "And behold there was a throne set in heaven, and one
sitting upon the throne; and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper
stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like
an emerald to look upon. And round about the throne were four and twenty
thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting arrayed
in white garments: and on their heads crowns of gold,—and there were seven
lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of
God" (Revelations 4:3-6).
Jesus Christ Preeminent in all Things in
Heaven
No matter how amazed were the children at the wonders of
the golden city, no matter how happy in the pleasures of Paradise, no
matter how joyful in the presence of the angels, Jesus was never
forgotten. His name was mentioned in all the conversation; his praise was
mingled in all the enjoyments; he was always magnified everywhere, in
everything, and in everybody there.
Houses by the Golden Street (22)
On either side of the beautiful golden streets were
buildings side by side, a room for each person, every room opening onto
the street. Upon the door and about the front were precious jewels so
resplendently brilliant that the building shone with light and glory. The
name of each occupant was above the door. Angels led the children into the
rooms.
Within all the rooms were the same kinds of furnishings: a
beautiful golden table upon which was a Bible, a flower vase, a pen, and a
book; by the table was a golden chair; there was also a wonderful golden
chest and a golden bed. In each room was a jeweled crown, a golden harp,
and a trumpet. The walls were gold. From the Bible, made of such paper as
had never been seen on earth and bound with gold, light and such brilliant
glory shone forth that the whole room needed no other light. The visitors
were told that when they came to stay after death they could go out into
Paradise and pick any flowers of their choice to place in the beautiful
vase on the golden table. (23)
(22) “Your minds must not be troubled . . . There are many
rooms in my Father's house” (John 14:1-2, Goodspeed).
(23) Since the first edition of this booklet, a letter
from a woman in England has been received, saying that ten years
previously both she and her son had visions of this street and of these
dwellings; both confirmed the visions of this street and of these
dwellings; both confirmed the visions of the Adullam children regarding
the external appearance and interior furnishings of these rooms by the
golden street.
In a distant part of the Province of Yunnan a tribes boy
who did not know of these other visions also saw this street.
These rooms by this golden street may be the thrones which
John mentions; "I saw thrones and they sat upon them" (Revelations 20:4).
Adullam children have had visions of other parts of the
New Jerusalem with its spacious parks and elaborate mansions. Tribes
people have also seen this part of the city.
In these visits to heaven the children could go to their
rooms at pleasure to read their Bibles or to play their harps and
trumpets. Sometimes they took their trumpets or harps out into the streets
or out into Paradise to play and sing with the angels and the redeemed who
are now in heaven.
In these excursions through heaven the children, though
lost to their real surroundings on earth, were always conscious that their
visit to heaven was temporary. They knew they were there only to see what
was prepared for them after death, so they might go back to earth again to
tell others. Angels and the Lord told these heavenly visitors that, if
they believed and obeyed, all these things would be theirs. They not only
knew they must come back to earth again, but they sometimes knew when they
were coming.
One boy, after enjoying the glories of heaven, hung his
crown and trumpet up in his room so he could have them again after he died
and went to heaven to remain. He then came back to earth. The power of the
Holy Spirit left him. When he opened his eyes he was in our Adullam room
telling the wonders of his trip to heaven.
Can we suppose the Lord saved these boys, baptized them
with the Holy Spirit, and then fooled them by showing them a figurative
and mythical heaven? Impossible!!! An earthly father may deceive his
children with false hopes and false promises. Our Heavenly Father shows
his children what he has for them (I Corinthians 2:10), promises he will give
these things (Revelations 3:21), and then gives the very things which He has
promised (Luke 11:9, 13).
When these children saw the heavenly rooms of their
Adullam friends they clapped their hands, laughed, and shouted with great
joy, calling each one by name to come and see his room. The one in the
Spirit was passing along the streets of the New Jerusalem, reading the
names above each door.
In Heaven Met Adullam Boys Who
Died
The first day when the Holy Spirit fell upon the children,
and one of the boys was caught up to heaven, with angels who came to
welcome him came also the two Adullam boys who were undoubtedly saved and
who died the year before. These two, "Hsi Dien Fu" and "Djang Hsing," had
with them in heaven a little girl who died in Kotchiu four years previous,
whom our children had forgotten.
These who had died and gone on before led those who were
caught up in the joys and wonders of heaven. They led them to see Jesus,
first of all, and to worship and thank Him. After this they were shown
their dwellings and escorted around the city or led out into Paradise to
play.
All who went to heaven were given white garments. The
angels, also dressed in seamless garments of spotless white, had wings,
but the redeemed did not have wings. There was a clear distinction between
the two.
Later on many more of the children saw these Adullam boys
who are in heaven. Heaven did not seem far away as, caught away in the
Spirit, they acted out heavenly visions before our eyes. With closed eyes
and radiant faces they clapped their hands and shouted for joy to these
boys who died that year, calling them to hurry over to see some dwelling,
some golden street, some new scene among the angels, some new discovery in
the garden of Paradise, or to come and play the harp and sing with them
the praises of Jesus.
These boys who had died were so constantly seen in heaven
and their names were so frequently shouted in our midst with ecstasy and
joy that they did not seem far away—just out of sight. Heaven was so
real, so near, so wonderful, so certain, that if one of our children had
died in those days the others would have envied him his privilege.
The step to heaven after death or at the coming of the
Lord seemed so small and the coming of the Lord so near that it removed
from our minds all mystery as to why the first disciples could sell their
possessions and face persecution and death without wavering.
Our kingdom is not of this world. Our citizenship is in
heaven, whence also we wait for our Savior. Our life, our work, our
service, our hardships here are only brief and passing incidents on the
way to the true life, the true city, in the true kingdom that cannot be
shaken. |
