A few nights before Christmas, I had a very remarkable dream. I don't usually experience spiritual dreams, although it's hard to know what is "spiritual" and what is not, this dream was definitely a spiritual encounter and one that I would deam worthy to share with others. I hope this dream will spark your heart to see eternity to be something that we can have a glimps of here on earth, as long as the Holy Spirit is indwelling in your heart and mind. This was my dream of heaven.
"There I was, standing on a beach with several unknown but familiar faces. Everyone was silent but there was a deep sense that no one was entirely certain of our whereabouts. It was as if we had all appeared at the same time. There was no coming and going, or running along the shore line. We were just, there. Quiet. Waiting. Listening to the rhythms of the ebbing and flowing of the ocean waves. Suddenly, we went from standing on the shore line to the foyer of a beautiful mansion. It was the same group of people. This time there was a guide with us. The feeling was not of excitement or curiosity, as one would have on a vacation, but a feeling of stillness. The guide seemed different, not human like us. He walked in confidence and authority from deep within. We could tell that this guide had escorted several groups through this place and he knew why we were there. In this mansion, there were many rooms and the hallways were tall and wide. A light would appear from the end of each hallway. No one asked questions, even though we were unsure of why or how we came to be in this extravagant mansion. A word was never spoken until the guide began to break us up into smaller groups. I was in group two, and somehow, I knew that already. He called group two forward and pointed at me saying, "lead the way, you will know where to go." He spoke with a resounding tone. With his direction I mustered up the confidence to lead my group down, what seemed like, a never ending hallway.
As I walked through the mansion, the floor would slope downward and turn to the left and then slope back upward and turn to the right. This house had tall ceilings and sometimes felt more like a church with it's long hallways and many rooms. There was a time when I had the option to turn left and go down a separate hallway in the house but I knew I was to lead my group forward and not turn in that direction. All was quiet in the mansion. We did not hear any voices or sounds. Suddenly we entered a reception hall. There were many empty tables of all sizes and shapes. There was even a fireplace and couches in the distance. It looked very modern and comfortable. We were hoping that maybe another tour guide was there waiting for us, but no. The first thing I thought when I entered the reception hall was "I have been here before, but I don't know or when." As group 2 followed me into the reception hall, they finally began to ask questions. They huddled up together to brainstorm what to do, and where to go from there. As they were discussing with each other, I noticed that to the left of this room with tables was a banquet hall. In fact, it was connected to the room we were standing in and there was a clear glass wall connecting the banquet hall to the reception area with the tables. I turned to my group and said "I think there is food prepared for us in the room next to us!" Through the glass wall we were able to see the tables displayed with many food entrees and hot dishes. Somehow we knew that this food had been prepared specifically for us.
We decided not to wait for someone to come to tell us to partake of the dinner that was set before us. I led the way into the banquet hall to start the line for this remarkable feast. As my group began walking in the direction of the food we were alarmed and startled. We had to maneuver ourselves through the tables in order to reach the door entry to the room with the food. But as we did so, people from out of nowhere appeared sparatically at the empty tables. Some were alone at a table and some were in small groups of two or three. But all of them had 2 things in common. Each person who magically appeared was eating a full meal at a table, the other thing they all had in common is that no one who appeared could see any of us from group two. We could see them clear as day, but they could not see us nor each other unless they were in a small group. I tried to make eye contact with a girl who was eating alone at a table but she could not see me. The people who appeared out of no where were all very content with their meals. They were quietly eating, filling themselves with nourishment and energy. How did these people who appeared at the empty tables come to be? They didn't have to go get their food or wait in line like us. And why couldn't they see us?
As these questions filled my mind and heart a female angel appeared before me. She was serving the humans who magically appeared, and making sure that they were okay. I looked into her eyes and fell to the ground weeping. I finally knew where I was. I was in heaven. Everyone in my group was dead and we were in heaven about to feast at the Lord's supper. But, the humans who had mysteriously appeared simultaneously, were humans who were currently on earth and not dead. They appeared in heaven for just a moment to eat the Word of God. That is why they could not see us, they were not dead yet. As they were entering into their quiet times on earth with their Bibles, their spirits were joining us to eat in heaven. The ones who were alone at their table, were alone on earth reading the Word. The ones who appeared in small groups were in small groups on earth, joining together to seek after God. Although they could not see us, they were there, if only for a moment. That is why when we first entered the room with tables, I knew I had been there before. Once, I used to be alive on earth, having a quiet times, but really in those moments with God on earth, my spirit was in heaven eating with the saints of old.
