This article is a collation of details from Christian brief death experiences, plus a few testimonies of visions of heaven. This is an improved, second edition of my original blog.
Jesus said, "In my Father's house there are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2.
Getting There
Richard Sigmund arrived by moving through a golden light, emerging in a garden that stretched far into the distance to his left and right. There were people waiting in the garden to welcome the loved ones who arrived through the golden light. Once you're in heaven, you are told when someone you know is about to arrive, so you can join their welcoming committee.
Ian McCormack moved through a tunnel of light and saw a beautiful landscape out the other end. He didn't reach it, though, as the Lord Jesus offered him the chance to go back to Earth, and he accepted it.
Howard Pennington saw the tunnel from the outside! The angels who were carrying him said, "We're not going that way." Instead, he was carried across the second heaven, and he had an interview with God at the boundary between that and the third heaven, then he was taken back to Earth.
The Layout
The City of Heaven is located in the third heaven, a region of space well distanced from Earth. The outer wall of the City is made of green jasper, and each gate is made from a single giant pearl, a wall of "pearlescent" material (Don Piper's word) with a passageway running through it.
The City is 2,200 km or 1,200 miles across. There are three levels in the City, arranged like a pyramid, according to Marvin Ford. So the second level is maybe 1,400 km wide and 700km above the first. The third level is possibly 700km wide and 700km above the second.
The Throne Room is on the third level, and the light that blazes out from there, from the Father and the Son, illuminates the entire City. Everything in Heaven has a transparent quality. The light passes through everything, so there is no shadow, and no night.
The City is really more of a Kingdom with cities in it, as well as various types of countryside. There are mountains, and Victoria Nasworthy got to play in snow, but it wasn't cold.
The River of Life flows in a winding course, and wherever you are, you are not far from it. There is also at least one lake. Marietta Davis crossed it in a boat to visit a city on the other side.
Public buildings have been reported as white, and made of marble. People have reported seeing libraries, warehouses, theaters and stadiums.
At Street Level
Some streets are a transparent amber color, and some look more like gold as we are used to seeing it. The grass is perfectly manicured. There are flower beds, and many flowers are ones that are not found on Earth. There are also familiar ones, for instance, Richard Sigmund talked to Jesus in a rose garden.
Everything in Heaven is alive and sentient, so when Henry Gruver paid a compliment to some flowers, he was astonished to see them lift their heads and sing, "All praise, all glory, and all honor and thanksgiving to the Father for creating us and counting us worthy to serve the redeemed." They sang in their own language, and Henry could understand it.
The trees move with the music that is always sounding in praise of God. You can put your hand under a piece of fruit, and the tree will release it to you. A new one immediately grows in its place!
Gary Wood described houses made of gold and wood, and diamonds the size of house bricks can be set into the foundations. You get one for each soul you lead to the Lord! Gary Wood saw his house, and it was in the Southern Colonial style. If you're still alive on the Earth, your house is still being worked on. On some houses the angels are busy, but on others there is no work being done. This reflects the amount of effort the person is currently putting in for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Life in Heaven
Heaven is a foodie's paradise. Not only are there fruits that aren't available on Earth, but all types of meat are simply created as needed: no animals are killed. Victoria Nasworthy was able to pick leaves off a tree, edible leaves of various flavors, and dip them into a river of chocolate. She also reported eating ice cream.
There are three ways to get around in Heaven. Think about the place, fly to the place, or use a more familiar means. Someone, I think it was Dean Braxton, saw his grandmother driving a red sports car. He asked the Lord, "Why is she driving a red sports car?" The Lord replied, "She wanted one."
There are animals in Heaven. People have reported seing deer, lions, horses, kangaroos, dogs and birds. One fellow met his old pet dog, and a lady was seen putting on a show with her performing horses.
Kids Who Get There First
Families feature strongly in Heaven's social life, but what about Christian kids who go to heaven before their parents? Who looks after them? Also, all kids, regardless of their parents' beliefs, who are too young to know the difference between right and wrong, they are given a place in heaven. So who looks after these kids?
Victoria Nasworthy saw a huge, domed building. Inside there were white tables with angels tending the spirits of recently deceased babies. They had the same imperfections that their bodies had had on Earth. Jesus went around the room and healed them, including many that were microscopic in size. They were only visible as a light in the palm of an angel. In heaven, you are more capable than you would be on Earth, and so it is with these babies once they have been healed. After they'd been healed, they were shown the life of Jesus. Thus, they were very quickly brought up to speed on who He is. Then they were transferred to a children's palace.
Marietta Davis was shown the region of children's palaces, set aside for the raising of children. At the center was a magnificent instructional temple. "Lawns stretch widely under clumps of exotic trees and among fragrant flowering shrubs and blossoming vines. Water fountains tinged with gold are scattered here and there along wending pebbled, marbled or golden walks lined with flowers of every hue. Birds, of delicate colors and varying sizes, flit among the trees and swoop in chirping ballets to delight the children who romp under the watching care of teacher-angels."
Twelve boulevardes stretch out from the central park, like the spokes of a wheel. "A spiralling, gently flowing river, bordered on either side by a golden avenue with trees, shrubs and flowers, circles the plain - intersecting [each boulevarde] twelve times to divide the park into 144 sections. Bridges of magnificent architecture span the crystal clear waters at each boulevarde crossing. Beds of gorgeous flowers set in fields of lush green grass as soft as silk fill the air with their delicate perfume."
"In each of the sections, palaces of indescribable grandeur are set back from each boulevarde and avenue-bordered river. The palaces or temples of instruction in the outer sections are of lesser splendor, graduating in glory as they approach the main temple in the center. Each section [also] contains fifty-seven mansions set in separate parks. Residences for children, these homes vary in architecture as the parks around them differ in arrangement and beauty. Each estate is harmoniously suited to the building it surrounds."
Gary Wood was shown a place which matches Marietta's description, so he was probably visiting one of the parks that she described. "What looked to be a school area playground, with golden fountains and marble benches. Flowers grew everywhere... I saw a tiny little girl with long, brown hair that hung in ringlets down her back. She wore a white robe that glistened in the light of our Lord. She had sandals on her small feet. When she saw Jesus, she began to run towards Him with her arms stretched out. Jesus stooped down and caught her as she leapt into His arms. Then from all directions children came running to see Jesus. There were children of every race & color. They all wore robes of white & sandals. They sat at His feet and listened intently as He ministered to them."
Well, that's it! If you want to read more, but nothing too heavy, I highly recommend "Heaven is For Real", by Todd Burpo, and "Revealing Heaven" & "Revealing Heaven II", by Kat Kerr.
( Note By Blogger: I recommend using your discernment regarding any possible issues with the claims made by individuals quoted in this article. By using discernment I mean pray and ask God whether or not these claims are true, see what the Bible says, look for third party confirmation of these claims, look at the fruit of these claims and look for love, joy, peace, and the other fruit of The Holy Spirit.)
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