Nine Days in Heaven: A True Story (32 page)
“Lord, I really am Your servant. You took off all my chains. What can I give You for all You have done for me? I will always praise You and thank You.
22
Search me, then, O God, by Your Spirit, and test me. See if there is any wrong way in me, and always lead me in Your ways.”
23
His final words were filled with joy. “Praise the Lord, all you nations, for His mercy and kindness to us is tremendous. Praise the Lord!”
“W
HEN WE WERE NOT MINDFUL OF
THEE, THY
S
PIRIT SOUGHT US OUT
.”
Then a vast company of redeemed spirits, led by Jesus’s mother Mary, joined in and sang: “We will praise You, O Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come, for the wonderful things You have done for all people! Your ways are just and true! You have redeemed us! Even when we were not even thinking about You, Your Spirit sought us out! Worthy is the Lamb! Your works are wonderful! You live above the cherubim, Your throne is eternal, and Your dominion is over all! Praise, glory, and sovereignty to You throughout everlasting ages! Amen!”
Finally, an angel said to me, “The children are now ready to ascend to a higher plane. They will learn even greater things and will rise further and further from there. The glory of that place is now descending, and the spirits who will take these little ones up there are now receiving them from their former guardians. Let us go.”
Support From
the Word of God
1.
See Revelation 5:1–5.
2.
“
…year of Jubilee…
” See Leviticus 25:8–55 and Luke 4:19. In ancient Israel, during the year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year) slaves were freed, debts were canceled, and ancestral property was returned to the original owner. In this instance the liberation is from sin and all its consequences.
3.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
4.
This is an echo of the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 7:24.
5.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
6.
“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’” (Isa. 1:18).
7.
“Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the L
ORD
, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isa. 55:7).
8.
“On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick’” (Matt. 9:12).
9.
“
…will live even though he dies…
”—see John 11:25–26. “
…the way and the truth and the life…
”—see John 14:6.
10.
“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24).
11.
“…
God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
” The tax collector also prayed these words in Luke 18:13.
12.
“…
the law of heaven written on his heart.
” In the Old Testament the laws were written on tablets of stone. But God promised a new covenant in which the laws would be written on hearts. See Hebrews 8:7–13, especially verse 10: “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.”
13.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt. 5:8).
14.
See John 5:24.
15.
Compare Ephesians 6:11–18, which lists the armor of God.
16.
See Luke 10:2.
17.
“Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8).
18.
See Matthew 25:14–30.
19.
See 1 Corinthians 10:13; also 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
20.
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).
21.
“…
an ambassador of Jesus…
” Compare 2 Corinthians 5:20, which reads: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
22.
“…
always praise You and thank You.
” See Hebrews 13:15.
23.
“
Search me…lead me in Your ways.
” This is taken from Psalm 139:23–24.
T
HE TIME AT LAST DREW NEAR WHEN
I
WAS TO RETURN TO THE
world. The children, their attending angels, and those who had watched the various scenes gathered around me and sang a hymn. More than ever I felt their love and the marvelous worth of heaven.
The spirit who had earlier kissed the cross approached me, leading the two children as before, and said, “Marietta, you have to leave us now. We love you and deeply sympathize with you that you have to depart. But it is our Redeemer’s command, so we will cheerfully submit to that. But Marietta, we rejoice because we know you will return at the appointed time.”
“Yes, we are looking forward to that,” responded one in the crowd. “We are so happy that you were able to see some of the beautiful things—the heavenly homes and the angelic worship. But even more than that, we really praise our heavenly Father for showing you how children are taught about man’s sinful nature and how He has provided for his redemption.
“It is just wonderful to know that you have been received by the Redeemer Himself and blessed by Him. We give you all our love and will wait very patiently till we greet you at the gate of the Holy City when you return. That will be a happy time!”
Then they all stood in a circle around me. The spirit who had first addressed me hugged me, and I felt all of their love in that single embrace. Thinking about that scene now fills me with indescribable peace and delight.
After this the spirit led the two children to me. They wrapped their arms around my neck and kissed me many times, saying, “Marietta, when you return to the world and meet again with those who loved us and mourned our loss—tell them we are happy here. Tell them we have no sorrow. We are always with our guardians, and we love everyone—and Jesus our Redeemer above all. Tell them we are waiting patiently for their arrival here. We love you too, Marietta, and will meet you again.”
Then Jesus descended from a cloud. Placing His hand on my head, He spoke to me.
“C
HILD, FOR A WISE PURPOSE THOU
ART TO RETURN
. B
E FAITHFUL TO THY
CHARGE
. R
ELATE, AS THOU ART ABLE
,
WHAT THOU HAST SEEN AND HEARD
.”
“Child, it is important that you return. You have a commission. Be faithful to it. Whenever you have an opportunity, tell people what you have seen and heard. Fulfill your mission, and, at the appointed time, angels will meet you at the gate of death and carry you to your home here in the kingdom of peace. Do not be sad. My grace will uphold you. In your sufferings you will be supported.”
Then an angel gave Him a golden goblet, and He placed it to my lips. As I drank, I was filled with new life and courage so that I could endure the separation. I bowed and worshiped Him.
Then with His right hand He raised me up, saying, “Child of sorrow from a world of gloom, you are redeemed; you are blessed forever. Be faithful, and when your time on earth is ended, you will enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Then, placing an olive branch in my hand, He said, “Take this to earth, as you have been instructed.” Once again He laid His hand on my head, and light and love filled my spirit.
The time had come for my departure. I looked around on that lovely city and its happy inhabitants. In thanksgiving I offered myself to God for the blessings of immortality and, above all, for the gift of grace in Jesus, the Redeemer. In front of all the crowds, I lifted my hands to the Lord and prayed for support, that I might be kept in the love of Jesus who had blessed me. Then I was carried in the arms of angels to the gateway of the temple where I first met the Lord.
From that point, as angels sang praise to God and the Lamb, my guide and I descended to earth. On entering this room where my body lay, I soon woke up.
Now I am waiting patiently for that time that has been predetermined, when I will go and forever enjoy those happy places where I found assurance of the joys to come. I praise God for my hope in Jesus. It is worth ten thousand worlds to me.
