Nine Days in Heaven: A True Story (30 page)

“L
ET THE
Q
UICKENING
S
PIRIT PERVADE
AND QUICKEN THIS BODY
. L
ET EVERY
FUNCTION, TISSUE AND PROPERTY THEREOF
,
BE TRANSFORMED INTO LIFE, AND THUS
IMMORTALIZED; LET THIS BODY ARISE
.”

Light from the Holy Spirit surrounded the body, and the walls and foundations of the tomb began to shake. Mighty tremors shook the earth again and again. And then the body of Jesus rose—He was alive!

A mighty angel cried out in a loud voice, “Jesus has conquered! He is rising up triumphant! Death has no power over Him! He has broken its chains! He is alive forever! Jesus reigns!”

“Hallelujah! Amen! Jesus reigns!” The overwhelming response erupted from countless watching angels.

Justice, still observing the scene, then spoke. “You shout about His victory, but He is still with the dead. He has not left there.”

But Jesus was already advancing toward the massive gate that shut the way out from the tomb. Reaching out His hand, He touched its heavy bars. “Open up, you mighty gate! Death, your keeper, has no more power over you. His limits have been determined.” Instantly the bars crumbled to dust.

Looking over the ruins, He said, “It is true that man has failed and broken the law of life. And it is true that his body will perish, just as Adam’s body perished. But now he will be restored by the law of life
2
that I have revealed to mankind. He will live again! The grave shall not be ruler over the ashes of the dead. Neither will it exist forever as a valley of darkness between earth and heaven.”

Jesus cried out again, “Open, you massive gate! And you winds, carry it away so that it will never return!”

T
HEN SAID
J
ESUS
, “O
PEN YE MASSIVE
GATE; AND YE WINDS BEAR IT AWAY THAT
IT MAY RETURN NO MORE FOREVER
.”

Immediately it was swept out of sight. Jesus then waved His right hand over the silent sleepers, saying, “This dust shall awake. It will be brought to life, and it will be the dwelling place of the spirits of man.” Then He rose from the tomb holding in His hand the keys of the dark dominions.
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A voice spoke from the cloud that hovered above the scene, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Peace be to the world.”

The cloud descended, and as it came close to Jesus, Mercy appeared from it and addressed Justice. “This is the offering I bring, and this is the trophy of His victory—the once dead body of Jesus, now raised from the tomb and made immortal. Justice, do you accept this offering?”

Justice replied, “The body has now been made immortal. Because of this I accept the offering.”

Mercy then said in satisfaction, “The offering is now perfect. It is full of divine life, and it will now be glorified. God Himself, in the form of Jesus, came to save sinful man just as a faithful shepherd seeks out sheep that have strayed. From now on salvation will be preached to the lost, and those who receive it will find paradise.

“Jesus has mastered the fury of His enemies. Death will now give up its dead on the last day,
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when God will embrace all those who love and obey Him.”

Then Justice addressed Jesus. “You are from everlasting to everlasting. You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You have the keys of death. Heaven accepts Your offering and acknowledges Your victory. Your mission, trial, and conquest are now inscribed on the throne of eternal remembrance. From this time forward the cross will be woven through all things in the kingdom of righteousness and remembered forever. You are the Lamb slain for sinners. You are God.”

“H
ENCEFORTH THE
C
ROSS IS ENGRAVEN
UPON, AND INWROUGHT THROUGHOUT
ALL THINGS IN THE KINGDOM OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS—TO BE KEPT IN
EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE
.”

Justice then embraced Jesus.

Mercy turned to Justice and asked, “The fallen sinner—can he be rescued now and receive God’s favor?”

Justice replied, “God, in Christ, has intervened to reconcile mankind to Himself. Because of this, everyone who comes to God through Christ will be declared innocent. If people will stop pursuing what is evil and turn to the Lord, they will receive everlasting righteousness and peace in Jesus.”
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With a radiant face Mercy looked up to heaven and said, “Salvation is complete. From now on Your glory, O God, will shine on the fallen world. Your name will be adored by everyone who receives immortality.”

On saying this, Mercy embraced Jesus. Then a cloud of light descended and encompassed Justice and Mercy. Their separate identities were fused together, and from that time they were only ever seen as one—in the person of Jesus.
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Then, surrounded by the cloud and the hallelujahs of thousands of thousands, this Jesus rose up from the tomb.

The scene moved on. The disciples had gathered on a mountaintop in obedience to the Lord’s instruction and were discussing the resurrection. Suddenly a light shone on them, and Jesus appeared in their midst.

He said, “Do not be afraid. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and preach the good news to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will always be with you, to the very end of the age.
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“People will persecute you for My name’s sake,
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but because I have overcome, you will also overcome, if you trust My Word.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
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But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you have received power from on high.”
10

“B
UT TARRY YE IN THE CITY OF
J
ERUSALEM UNTIL ENDUED WITH
POWER FROM ON HIGH
.”