I was raptured!

 

The Day after Resurrection Day

 

As an Evangelical Christian I grew up celebrating Easter—better known as Holy Week in my culture. Every day of the Holy Week was so special to me because each day had a different meaning. Fast forward to my adult life I still celebrate Easter and commemorate Jesus, His sacrifice at the cross, and His resurrection.

Our savior was obedient to the Father, even to the point of death. During Holy week I think about the love of Jesus—and His love takes on a new meaning because by this love I was saved and there’s nothing else I can do to save myself, because the price has already been paid. All I have to do is accept Jesus, take up my cross and follow him daily.

During Easter I think about how much Jesus loves me. He loves me enough to lay down his life out of His own accord. He endured so much suffering and pain and paid the ultimate price for my salvation! There’s a cost to my salvation, Jesus’ sacrifice was not in vain and His blood shed for me made the way!

So having shared my introduction, I’d like to begin with a question. What do we typically do the day after resurrection day? Do we go back to living the same way we were living before? Or do we actually realize Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was so impactful, so impactful that with His sacrifice our lives can be changed for eternity?

Seriously, think about it.

If you know for a fact this sacrifice has impacted your life, have you decided to live a life that is pleasing to your Savior? Did you know when Jesus resurrected on the third day that meant good news? It’s really good news because Jesus is alive and He will come back for us one more time!

But in all sincerity, what do you really do the day after the resurrection day? What do you do a week later? I will let you answer that question further ahead.

On June 10^th, 2020 I had the most beautiful dream I’ve had so far... It was one of those dreams I never want to wake up from. The dream was so vivid and so real I honestly thought it was my life- my reality. I don’t know if you’re like me, but most of the time I can tell when I’m having a dream and if I don’t like my dream sometimes I can wake myself up by pinching my arms or forcing my eyes to open. Well, that wasn’t the case with this dream… because I didn’t want to wake up!

It was a clear starry night -- the sky had hints of blue and purple and in the middle of the sky I saw the brightest crescent moon-- I was outside all by myself. I don’t know why I was by myself because normally I’m surrounded by my children or my husband, but on this occasion I was outside by myself.

As I was looking up at the sky, admiring the moon and the stars, I noticed the stars were all aligned around the moon forming a horizontal line and this line had different rows, almost like a curtain of twinkling light bulbs. As I was looking at the stars’ brightness, I blinked and suddenly those stars, which initially I thought were just stars, turned into angels, but because they were so far away and were shining so bright I assumed they were simply stars. As they got closer I was able to discern what was happening, Jesus Christ was in the middle, leading them to Earth and His light was the brightest.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. I realized I was witnessing the return of our Lord Jesus! My spirit leaped with joy inside of me and as soon as I was going to lift up my arms to the heavens to shout with joy I was raptured.

Yes, you read that right. I was raptured!

I wanted to praise the Lord for what was happening! I wanted to lift up my arms and praise Jesus! I knew in my mind what I was going to say, but I was not even able to utter the words out of my mouth because I was raptured in a blink of an eye!

Suddenly and in an instant I felt myself being pulled by a supernatural force.

The best way to explain it would be like having a falling-like sensation when sleeping. I found online this is walled a Hypnic Jerk which resembles the "jump" experienced by a person when startled. But in my dream I didn’t feel like I was falling, but the complete opposite—I was being taken up!

As my whole body was being pulled away, and as I was going up in the sky, I saw the world with my own eyes, and the planet seemed to get smaller and smaller as I kept being taken away.

Suddenly I appeared somewhere else. I was standing in a different place – in a different realm. I was standing by the gates of heaven!

As I was standing there I knew I was about to enter into heaven, but I wanted to go in with my husband, so I decided to wait right there.

As I was standing by the gate, I saw several things, I saw the gate was narrow, but it was wide enough to let three people in at the same time. I saw many people walking through the gate. I saw people from different nationalities and ages walking towards the gate and they all looked so happy and excited!

I was also excited! My heart was about to explode! I had so much joy and peace because I knew I was about to see Jesus and most importantly I was saved!

And then this happened.

As I was standing there I turned around- my dad was standing to my right and my mom to my left. We didn’t say a single word to each other, it was like they knew I was there waiting for my husband, David, and they also wanted to wait with me.

And as soon as I turned to see the people coming, I saw three women I personally know from my church- they were walking towards the gate. These women were related, it was a grandmother-mother-daughter trio.  I knew they represented three generations of strong God-fearing women. The three of them were so joyful and had big smiles on their faces -- they were holding arms, walking together towards the door.

But understand this, the mother was wearing a beautiful white wedding dress and a wedding veil on her face. Her wedding dress was white in splendor and she was ready to meet her groom. The bride had no blemish, spot or wrinkle.

The grandmother didn’t look old anymore. She looked so young and radiant!

As they were walking towards the door, we looked at each other, we nodded our heads and smiled to say hello as they went through the door. All I could hear was cheer, joy, and laughter coming from the gate. I wanted to go in, but I still waited patiently.

And all of this happened in less than what I think was three to five minutes.

I turned to look at the people coming to the gate and still didn’t see my husband, David. I looked down and I saw I had a calendar on my right hand.

The calendar was open in the month of October and a specific day was circled with red ink.

When I looked up again, I saw my husband coming from the distance. When he saw me we both waved hello to each other. We were SO happy to have finally found each other!

As he continued to take a few steps he turned around and called aloud to our son, Judah, to hurry up and catch up to him. That’s when I saw Judah catching up to him, they both held hands and walked towards me and we hugged.

We looked at each other and held hands, we never said a word, but we knew where we were and what we needed to do. We started to walk towards the gate and as I was walking I knew in my heart I would see our daughters, Hadassah and Abigail, inside.

When we were about to walk through the doors I woke up and felt such peace, the peace that transcends understanding, the peace that only comes from God and I had not experienced in my life. I didn’t want to get out of bed because I knew that feeling would go away, and it sure did, but I still kept such a joy inside of me. That day nothing, nobody was able to steal my joy. The enemy tried, but he failed. I had just experienced the best dream I’ve ever had!

I felt the peace of heaven. I felt the joy of my Lord that’s described in Matthew 25: 21, 23.

I experienced a glimpse of God’s presence which is indescribable. In His presence is where I want to be. Now going back to the questions in my introduction, after resurrection day, do you know where you want to be in life and in death?

Do you know where you will spend your eternity?

Have you made the decision to follow Jesus and get ready for His return?

Jesus says in Matthew 24: 36-51 nobody knows the day and the hour of His return, not even the angels in heaven know, only the Father. But he tells us watch, for we do not know what hour The Lord is coming. Therefore you also be ready, for Jesus is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Are you ready for his return? If Jesus returned for His church today, is your dress white in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing?  Are you holy and without blemish?

“Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:25-26

With God all things are possible! God made your salvation possible for you! This is great news! Jesus made a way and you can be saved through Him. You just have to accept Him into your heart, confess with your mouth Jesus is the Lord and if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

Have you believed and confessed Jesus is the Lord, but gone astray? Today is the day of redemption. Today is the day of your salvation.

Jesus Christ is knocking at your heart’s door. You can choose to leave it closed or open it. It’s your decision. “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.” Revelations 3:20 AMP

But seek Him while He can be found! “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

Are you still reading with me? If so, I pray the Holy Spirit is opening ears to hear and understand, opening eyes to see and to perceive. I pray that you will understand with your heart,
and turn and be healed.

Going back to my dream… There were many symbols and prophetic messages for me and my family.

When I saw the three women walking towards the gate, the grandmother, mother, daughter trio; I was reminded God is still a God of generations and He keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9

God cares about people, God loves all people, but His heart is with families—families are His idea. God created families as a vehicle to advance his gospel and fulfil the Great Commission. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent and He wants to use you and your family to be a light in the darkness. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Therefore, we cannot hide anymore. Let our families lights shine brighter! 

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

The woman dressed in a white wedding dress was the bride of Christ. Her dress was white in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, she was holy and without blemish.

Let's get ready and be the bride WORTHY of Jesus Christ! 

The calendar in my hand was a prophetic message for me and my family which by now it has come to pass. We have been tested through fire and have been refined by the Lord. To Him be the glory!