Heaven -- Christianity; Near-death experiences -- Religious aspects; Private revelations
A time came when one day as I stood in my lovely room that had really
become to me a shrine, and looked up into the pictured face of the
Christ above me, I fancied that the tender eyes looking down into mine
no longer told of a deathless love alone, but carried in their depths a
pity, a loving compassion which I had never noticed there before. Then
as I turned toward my couch I even fancied that his hands reached out
from the canvas and rested in benediction on my head. I stood a moment
in blessed peace before him, then as the hands seemed to be withdrawn,
I turned and lay down for an instant's rest. But strange thoughts and
fancies crept into my brain, such as I had not known in years. I felt
confused and bewildered, and started up restlessly from my pillow, only
to fall back again in doubt, and something akin to dread. What could
it mean? Could the old unrest of earth find place in this divine
retreat? Then I heard unfamiliar voices. Someone said:
"Her color is better than it has been for several days, I think."
"Yes, there is no doubt but she is better to-day. There is really hope
for her now, I am sure. But she came very near passing through the
Gates."
"Very near passing through the Gates"! As though I had not passed
through, and in returning left them so ajar that gleams of the heavenly
radiance from beyond them will fall about my life forever!
I have been in my Father's house.
"We shall know each other there!"
SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER
In the many letters received since the publication of "Intra Muros,"
repeated inquiries have been made of me on different points contained
in the book, requiring much correspondence, and it has been suggested
that possibly the addition of a few pages, as a supplement to the book,
might explain some matters, or, possibly, make more clear some points
that have not been fully comprehended by the reader.
Let me in the beginning reassert what I have heretofore stated: that I
have never claimed that this strange experience is either a revelation
or an inspiration. It came to me during a period of great physical
suffering and prostration, and I have always considered it as sent in
compensation for that suffering. Be this as it may, it has been a
great comfort and help to me, and, through the letters received from
others, I am led to believe it has been the same to many who have read
it, for which cause I am extremely gratified. I wish that I might give
the entire experience just as it came to me, but I find that
earth-language is wholly inadequate for me to do so. There were so
many mysteries, so many teachings far beyond anything that in this life
we have known, that I find myself bewildered and lost when I attempt to
convey to others the marvelous things that at that time seemed indeed
to me to be a most wonderful revelation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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