Heaven is so Real
by Choo Thomas
Choo is a woman of God who epitomizes what it means to put first things first. The Lord Jesus Christ is truly the cornerstone of her life. The level of intimacy that Choo has encountered with the Lord rests on the precipice between heaven and earth. This book compels the reader to take a journey beyond the Pearly Gates. The throne room of God will no longer be an ambiguous undefined location, but rather a very inviting and viable encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. This book is a must-read for those who have ever doubted the authenticity of what awaits us beyond the veil.
--BILL WOLFSON
SENIOR PASTOR, CHURCH FOR
PARKLAND, WASHINGTON
Choo Thomas, whom I know to be a godly woman, gave me a condensed manuscript of Heaven Is So Real, which I read several times. I am convinced she has had an authentic supernatural experience with our Lord Jesus Christ in the spiritual realm. Taken into heaven, she witnessed both current and future events that faithful Christians as well as unfaithful believers and nonbelievers will face when they leave this earth. As a result of these things, I believe a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit has come upon Choo. In Heaven Is So Real, she stresses the importance of absolute obedience to our Lord’s direction if we are to please Him and be used by Him. This work is both a vivid description of what Choo saw in heaven and a graphic illustration of how we all should live while still on the earth.
--WALKER V. FREDERICK
CHURCH FOR
VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN, PIERCE COUNTY JAIL
WASHINGTON
A wise man once said: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” More powerful than the right time for a good idea, however, is the appointed time for the Son of God to return. For He warns that when He comes back, His people must be prepared for Him. “You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him,” Jesus said in Matthew 24:44. For the last seven years, the Lord Jesus has given Choo Thomas visions with heavenly visitations so He could use her to help prepare His people for His coming in the season just ahead. This book can help you make yourself ready so that you needn’t fear His return. May we greet Him with joyful expectation!
--ROSEMARY LAMBERT
PASTOR OF PRAYER
PUGET SOUND CHRISTIAN CENTER
TACOMA, WASHINGTON
We have been close friends of Choo Thomas for years. Choo is a genuine Christian and her book is a result of her actual experiences. Jesus is using Choo to reach many people. Jesus is coming soon for His people.
--GEORGE
I have known Choo Thomas for almost two years now. I have watched her great love for the Lord and her obedience and dedication to Him. We have talked about the love God has for each of us and the way He wants us to grow in Him. Choo is the kind of witness for God that makes you want to know God more and more. I know that in talking to her, I want to be good enough to join her in this glorious kingdom she has told me so much about. Thank you Choo.
--BETTY GEIER
YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST
Choo has been part of Church For All Nations for several years, along with her husband Roger. I know Choo as a committed Christian, a woman of Godly character, fully committed to her husband and faithful in attendance in the Sunday morning worship services. She has a desire to see others know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
--PASTOR RAYMOND WUERCH
ASSOCIATE PASTOR, CHURCH FOR
SENIORS
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this book to our Lord Jesus, who chose me to do
His End-Time work. He took care of everything this book required, from the
beginning to the end of the publishing process. He spent thousands of hours with
me over a seven-year period to prepare me for publishing this book and to train
me for my ministry.
Awesome God, I praise You, Lord. I thank you so much, Holy Spirit, for helping
me write Heaven Is So Real! Without Your help, I could not have done anything.
I give You all the credit.
To the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit I give all the glory for this book.
I pray that whoever reads it will glorify You, Lord. I love You and praise You,
Lord.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank Lloyd Hildebrand for the great service he has rendered to
me in both believing in this book and helping me to write it.
After the Lord showed me the divine revelations I have chronicled in Heaven Is
So Real!, I had such a burden to communicate my experiences to others. But I
felt very insecure with my own ability to do that. In addition to having a lack
of confidence in myself, I questioned where I would find someone to help me
write my book, and I questioned whether or not anyone would believe me when
they heard my revelations of heaven--even though the Lord had told me that He
would take care of every detail related to this book.
That’s when the Lord brought Lloyd to me. Lloyd asked me to send him the
manuscript, and upon reading my first draft he decided to help me write this
book. He told me he believed everything in my manuscript and that he thought it
would be a very exciting book to write. In particular, he said he thought the
segment about the rapture would be the most exciting.
Lloyd is an excellent writer who is filled with the Holy Spirit. Thank you,
Lloyd, and God bless you.
I want to say a special thanks to my husband, Roger. Because English is my
second language, and because Roger is used to my writing, he helped me with
spelling and grammar throughout the book so that Lloyd could better understand
what I was trying to say.
I sincerely appreciate all the work he did. And I especially appreciate his
support of everything related to this book--whatever needed to be done--as well
his support in every area of my ministry. He was also patient with me and did
not complain during my seven years of preparation for ministry.
Thank you, honey. God’s favor is on you.
Preface
IN THIS BOOK I will be sharing with you the experiences I have had in
heaven with Jesus. From the outset, I want you to understand the circumstances
surrounding each of these visits to heaven.
A passage from the first letter by the apostle Paul to the Christians in
ancient Corinth will help make this clear. It says:
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and
this mortal has put on immortality... then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” --1
CORINTHIANS 15:51-54
This pericope of Scripture refers to the End Times, when those who know the
Lord will go to be with Him forever. When this happens, we will have to
exchange our mortal bodies for incorruptible, heavenly bodies.
Every time I have gone to heaven with Jesus this exchange actually has
occurred. God would give me a new body--a body in which I looked remarkably
like I did when I was a teenager. Sometimes this transformation would take
place at a beach on earth that He escorted me to. Other times I would be
clothed in my incorruptible body in my bedroom at home.
People often ask me, “Were your experiences in heaven like visions or dreams,
or did you actually go there?” My only response to these questions is that I
know I’ve seen heaven, and I know that heaven is so real. Whether we place my
experiences in the category of supernatural dreams, visions or actual
experiences, I will leave to the theologians. All I can say is that they were
very real to me.
Each time the Lord has visited me, I have been lying on my bed under the total
control of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Just before He visits each time,
my earthly body quivers and quakes for at least twenty minutes. I do not
understand everything about this, but I know that He is releasing His power
into my being. Sometimes these preparatory periods last for a half-hour or
more.
Please don’t ask me why this is necessary, because only He knows the reason for
each experience. He has simply told me, over and over again, that He is getting
me ready for the ministry He has called me to.
Usually when this occurs, my body shakes and my stomach tightens. Deep groans
emerge from my spirit, and I perspire profusely. I believe the groans are those
described by the apostle Paul: “Likewise the
Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for
as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered” (Romans
8:26).
I believe the perspiring comes from the heavy anointing of the Lord. The Bible
often describes the presence of the Lord in terms of fire, heat and glory, and
now I know what these images mean. I personally have experienced the intense
heat of His presence.
Usually these manifestations are followed quickly and suddenly by a tremendous
surge within and a pulling, jerking sensation without. Then I see my
transformed body with the Lord on the earthly beach. After He takes me to
heaven, we always return to the same beach we started from.
Whenever and whatever has happened, which I admit I do not fully understand, my
earthly body has remained in bed during each of my visits to heaven. During
these experiences I am both a participant and an observer.
I have been able to see everything--all of what has happened to me--with the
eyes of my earthly body. I have been able to observe all that has happened as I
have gone with Jesus to the beach, as my body has been transformed and as He
has escorted me to heaven.
My earthly body often reacts to my experiences in heaven as I am having them.
It participates in the dancing, rejoicing, praising, laughing, crying and other
manifestations occurring in my transformed body.
When my transformed body is happy, my physical body reacts with happiness. When
my heavenly body is sad, my physical body reacts with tears. When my
transformed body sings, I sing; when it dances, I move my hands; when it
laughs, I laugh. When I, as a young woman within my transformed body, am
talking with the Lord, my earthly body responds with words from my heart; and
my mouth and head move accordingly.
I watch my transformed body as I walk with the Lord in heaven. When I sings
songs of joy and praise, I can see the happiness reflected on my face. My
voice, quite miraculously, emanates from my earthly body.
When I, in my transformed body, ascend to and descend from heaven, my real body
feels as if it is being lifted up and gently lowered. These sensations last for
only a second. Sometimes, when my physical body feels as if it is being lifted
from my bed, I have screamed in fright.
Even though I can see the features of my own transformed face quite vividly, I
cannot see the Lord’s face. However, I can see His hair, hands and clothing,
and I can tell that He has a very large frame. His wavy hair is parted in the
middle, is curled in at the bottom, comes down to His neck and is as white as
silk. The skin on His hands is olive-colored, and His fingers are long and
slender.
I can see the Lord’s mouth moving when He speaks to me. His stature and build
make Him appear as if He is a young man, perhaps between the ages of thirty and
forty. His height, it seems, is approximately six feet.
Although I can’t make out His distinct facial features, I can tell when He is
angry, happy, sad or concerned. I know Him to be very gentle and loving, and He
enjoys playful moments. Remember, however, I am seeing the Lord’s spirit body
(just like I am able to see my spirit body).
Since May 27, 1996, the Lord has taken me to the earthly beach early every
Monday morning in fulfillment of a promise He made to me. We often have walked
along together in the sand. Sometimes He has lifted me in His arms and spun me
around like a child. During such playful moments, the Lord and I have greatly
enjoyed each other’s presence, and we both have laughed with genuine joy.
The Lord has a very human personality, even though He is the Son of God. I love
Him more than my life. He is a person of very few words. When He speaks, He
always does so purposefully. He shares only those things He thinks are
significant for us to know.
When He disappears after the exhilarating visits to heaven, my transformed body
disappears as well, and my physical body is free to move in accord with its own
needs and desires. At this point my body feels relaxed and restful.
After these marvelous experiences, I can get out of bed--immediately, if I
choose to--but usually I lie there and reflect on the wonderful experiences
I’ve just seen and lived. Then I write these experiences in my journal.
I am amazed that the Lord called me to write this book. I am a Korean-American
whose use of the English language is somewhat limited. Nonetheless, the Lord
chose me to do His work. He told me to tell everything I experienced and heard,
and that is the purpose of this book.
How thankful I am that I have been privileged to have this foretaste of glory
so I can share it with you. God wants me to let you know that He already has
prepared a place for you in heaven if you only will believe in His Son and
receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior.
I want only to do the will of the Lord. My prayer for you as you read this book
is the same as the apostle Paul’s prayer for his beloved Ephesian brothers and
sisters, recorded in his letter to them:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He
raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly
places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
--EPHESIANS
1:17-21
I ask only that you receive this book in the same way it was written--with
total openness to the Lord and His will. Evaluate my experiences in the light
of the Word of God. I believe you will find that the things I share about
heaven and my experiences with the Lord are thoroughly biblical.
--CHOO THOMAS
TACOMA, WASHINGTON
FEBRUARY, 1997
Introduction
In My Father’s
house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
--John
14:2 (emphasis added)
THROUGH A PROPHETIC utterance given by a pastor named Larry Randolph, God spoke
directly to me on
I saw the blessing of the Lord in the realm of prophetic ministry and the Lord
opening your spirit in a great way to prophetic ministry, dreams and words of
knowledge...I saw the Lord speaking to you in the night seasons, between 11
P.M. and 3 A.M....[He will] begin to awaken you and visit you, give you dreams,
visions and insight...God told me that you’re one of the daughters that He’s
put His Spirit upon to prophesy.
Pastor Randolph spoke these words over me during a special Sunday service at
Puget Sound Christian Center in Tacoma, Washington. As he did, the familiar
anointing of the Holy Spirit welled up deep in my spirit, and my body began to
shiver and quake under the power of God.
I began to weep tears of joy and gratitude as I realized that God had chosen me
to be one of His servants in these last days. The Lord flooded me with His
loving warmth, and the heat of His presence made the experience seem as if I
were resting on a feather bed on a summer day.
I was reminded of the words of the prophet Joel:
And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; And also on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And
I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth.
--JOEL
2:28-30
Could it be, I wondered, that these prophetic words were being fulfilled
here and now? Was I to be one of the Lord’s special maidservants who would see
wonders in heaven and earth?
What an honor to be selected as a vessel of the Lord’s love, grace and power in
these last days. Certainly this prophetic calling of God was not something I
would have chosen for myself, because I am ordinarily a very shy person. I soon
learned that all the shyness and bashfulness vanishes when I am experiencing
the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
I recalled another scripture:
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that
you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever
you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
--JOHN
15:16
Clearly, God was choosing me to go forth in His name in order to bear
lasting fruit--fruit that would remain. He was showing me the power of prayer
and the importance of getting close to Him.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears
much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
--JOHN
15:4-5
The overwhelming excitement and burning anointing of the Holy Spirit
continued to intensify as the pastor went on with his prophetic utterance. I
literally felt as if I were on fire for God. Pastor Randolph continued:
There’s been a misunderstanding at times in the way you respond to God or the
way you connect with God. The Lord says He’s going to remove the misunderstanding...they
won’t say, “She’s an enigma.” They’ll say, “She’s just different.”...It’s a
godly difference...God has given you a uniqueness. He’s going to minister to
you in a unique way. He’s going to speak to you things that only friends would
tell friends. He’s going to give you secrets in the night seasons.
To be a close, personal friend of God’s, as Abraham was, has been my heart’s
desire since I became a Christian. I treasure moments alone with the Lord. I
know His voice, and when my heart is quiet before Him, He is able to speak to
me: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they follow Me” (John
10:27).
Through this compelling message from God, I knew the Father was answering the
cry of my heart--to get to know Him better by building an intimate personal
relationship with Jesus. My heart was soaring like an eagle while I listened to
Him speaking to me through Pastor Randolph:
It’s not showing off what God gives you; it’s keeping secrets. God’s going to
tell you things about people that you’ll never tell people. You’ll pray for and
intercede [for them], and hold them up in prayer because you’re going to be a
friend of God--and that’s a true prophet. It’s just a friend of God. A friend
of God.
He’s going to tell you secrets about other people’s lives and about things He’s
doing in the earth. So, get ready in 1996 for a fresh anointing of the
prophetic to come upon your life. And in the new year, as you wait before the
Lord, God’s going to put a fresh Spirit upon you, an anointing of prophecy is
going to come upon you.
I knew the words were beautiful and deeply meaningful even though I did not
understand all they implied. I felt as if I were clay in the hands of the
divine Potter, and He was shaping me, molding me and forming me in preparation
for a special ministry that would begin in the very near future. As I spun on
the Potter’s wheel, under a mighty anointing of the Spirit of God, I sensed
that major changes were already taking place deep in my spirit.
A tinge of fear was soon extinguished by the oil of the Spirit that seemed to
drip over every part of my being. My mind tried to find its way into the old
channel of questioning, because I felt so unworthy to receive such a wonderful
personal message and calling.
How can God use me? I thought. I am a Korean-American, and my use of the
English language is not as proficient as it should be. Why would God pick me to
be His friend? Why me?
It was all so surprising, but even though I was a young Christian I had already
learned the truth of Jesus’ words, “Without Me
you can do nothing” (John
15:5). I decided right then and there to accept the Lord’s message by
faith, and in my heart I prayed: Father, thank You for giving me this word. I
will always say yes to You.
This was my commitment even though I did not fully understand everything the
Lord was saying. One thing I did realize, however, was that He would have to
prepare me for the ministry He was leading me into.
I remembered the words of one of my favorite verses: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on
your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
your paths” (Proverbs
3:5-6).
Little did I realize where those paths would lead me, but I was firm in my resolve
to trust the Lord without leaning on my own understanding. After all, isn’t
this the essence of the spiritual life? We’re spiritual beings on a human
journey. Our true essence is our spirits. Heaven is our true home, and as I’ve
discovered, heaven is so real.
Since the moment God called me to a prophetic ministry I have learned that many
believers don’t truly believe. Some are not sure that heaven even exists.
Others don’t seem to care. Too many go through life as if this world is all
there is.
God has shown me an entirely different picture. He has taken me to heaven
seventeen different times, and He wants me to let everyone know that heaven is
so real! When we truly understand this, it changes everything about us--our
motives, attitudes, values, relationships, dreams, plans and perspective. My
prayer for you is, you will catch more than a glimpse of heaven as you read and
that you will be changed--as I was--and experience the security of knowing
Jesus has already prepared a place for you and your loved ones.
--CHOO THOMAS
TACOMA, WASHINGTON
FEBRUARY, 1997
PART
VISITATIONS
CHAPTER 1
On Heaven’s Road
I press toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
--Philippians
3:14
MY NAME IS Choo Nam Thomas, and I am Korean-American. I am the only
daughter of my parents, who are deceased, and I have two brothers: one younger
and one older. I am married and have two children, a son and a daughter, both
of whom are married. I also have two grandsons and two granddaughters.
In Korea, my family was not religious in any way. I never heard about Jesus
until I went to church. I had only heard about church and God.
I became a Christian in February 1992. I literally fell in love with Jesus
after I attended church a couple of times. When I found out what He did for me,
I made up my mind that I wanted to give all of my being to Him for the rest of
my life.
God responded by answering my prayers, and this enabled my faith to grow
stronger day by day. I began to lose my old desires each day, very quickly. I
could think only about Jesus every waking moment. I was so much in fear of God
that I couldn’t knowingly do anything against His will. I wanted only to please
Him, and I wanted to know everything about Him so I could tell others.
A VISION
I received the fire of the Holy Spirit while I was praying at home in
January 1994. About a month later, I saw the Lord’s presence while I was
worshiping at the Neighborhood Assembly of God in Tacoma, Washington. He was
sitting by the pulpit. His legs were crossed, and I could see Him as clearly as
a real person, except I couldn’t see His face.
As I perceived Him, He had silky white hair and was wearing a pure white robe.
His person was visible to me for almost five minutes. After seeing Him my body
was on fire with unspeakable joy, and I became wholeheartedly committed to
Jesus. Soon after this life-changing experience, my family and I began
attending Puget Sound Christian Center in Tacoma, Washington.
I had another profound spiritual experience on Easter Sunday 1995. While
attending services with my family at Puget Sound Christian Center, my body
began to shake violently, and we had to stay for second service. I was
experiencing the same phenomenon known among Quakers, Shakers and early
Pentecostals.
Since then, my body never stops shaking in church or during my prayer time at
home. Two weeks after this Easter Sunday experience, I received the gift of
tongues while at home and began to sing in the Spirit. While watching a Benny
Hinn crusade on television, I stood up and lifted my hands in prayer. Then I
fell on the floor for almost three hours. The anointing of God’s Holy Spirit
was so strong that I couldn’t get up, and all I could do was sing and talk in
tongues and laugh.
During every worship service after that, I could see the presence of the Lord
Jesus in church. The visions I continue to receive of Him are not quite as
vivid as the first one, but they are just as real.
A WILLING VESSEL
I BELIEVE THESE exciting and unusual experiences are preparation for the
work God has called me to. I have a strong desire to receive healing and
soul-winning gifts, but I don’t know how to serve Him, except by telling
everyone who Jesus is.
At first, some family members and friends rejected my message and disliked me
for always talking about Jesus. Now, however, things are different. No matter
who I am with, I only want to talk about the Lord, and He has given me the
privilege of leading many people to Him, including my relatives and friends.
All of my loved ones are saved now.
Jesus is always in my thoughts and on my tongue. When difficult times come, I
think about what Jesus did for us. When I remember all that He has done, I
realize nothing is too hard for me. When someone hurts me, I simply meditate on
all Jesus did for me at Calvary, and peace comes instantly.
Preceding the Lord’s first visit with me, I had some very special dreams about
clouds. These dreams reminded me of something my father had once shared with
me.
He told me that my mother had had a very special dream about clouds. He often
mentioned that my mother also had had a special dream about me before she
became pregnant with me. He said she never forgot that dream about a clear day
that suddenly became very cloudy. The clouds came toward the front of the
house. One of them came into the room where she was sleeping and filled the
room with a white glow.
My mother had been sick most of her life, and she died when she was only forty.
She never shared these dreams and visions with me, but my father told me many
times about them, especially about the clouds. I never thought seriously about
them until I had my own experience with dreams and visions.
My father’s interpretation of the dream about the clouds was that I could have
become very successful if I had been a boy, because in those days many Oriental
men believed that only boys could attain success in life. I believe, however,
that the dream was a sign from the Lord. As you read this book, you will see
that clouds have played an important part in the preparatory work the Lord had
done and continues to do in my life.
Since meeting Jesus, I have had a strong desire to pray for others. I have
become a true prayer warrior. Intercessory prayer has become a way of life for
me. I regularly attended a Bible study at a Korean-American church for about a
year before my husband, Roger, was saved.
I didn’t do any full-time church work or know many of God’s words, but He chose
me for His special work anyway. According to my Lord Jesus, He wanted me to
first get to know Him and to learn to obey Him and focus only on Him. By
showing me heaven and all the other visions I have been privileged to
experience, He began to prepare me for the ministry He has called me to. Now
I’m learning about Him through prayer and the study of His Word.
REVELATION OF HEAVEN
THE REMAINING CHAPTERS of this book, as you will soon discover, record some
remarkable journeys that God has taken me on since I turned my life over to
Him. He has asked me to record these experiences in this book so that others
will see and understand. Why He chose me for this important work remains a
mystery to me, but I do understand that He wants me to warn people in the world
and in the church that we don’t have much time left in which to complete the
work He has called us to do.
The Father in heaven wants everyone to know how much He loves them and desires
to bless them, if they will trust Him and obey His Word. He has shown me that
many believers are, in reality, functional atheists--they don’t really believe
there is a heaven. I can say with all the certainty that it is possible for
us--on this side of eternity--to know that heaven is so real. Furthermore, I
now know that our God is able, as His Word says, to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians
3:20).
The purpose of this book is to give Him glory: “To
Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without
end. Amen” (Ephesians
3:21).
Please read these pages with an open mind and heart, and let the Lord speak to
you. He has a wonderful plan and purpose for your life. He has prepared a home
for you in heaven. Like me, you can discover the thrill of knowing that you are
bound for the Promised Land.
Chapter 2
All Power in Heaven and on Earth
Then Jesus came
and spoke to them saying, “All authority has been given
to Me in heaven and on earth.”
--Matthew
28:18
THE YEAR 1996, AS pastor Larry Randolph had prophesied, became the most
wonderful, exciting, meaningful and empowering year of my life. It all began on
New Year’s Eve 1995. The anointing of the Lord was so very real to me
throughout the entire evening. In fact, His presence was literally so hot that
I could hardly breathe.
I had experienced the presence and power of the Holy Spirit before, but this
night was so different. It was a time of intense love and excitement, and I
sensed that something uniquely wonderful yet mysterious was about to happen to
me.
What I was experiencing defied reason and logic, but the presence of the Lord
was so real that I felt like I could have reached out and held His hand
tangibly. It was a spiritual reality, but it far exceeded anything I had ever
experienced in the natural realm.
There was an expectancy in my heart. Somehow I realized that all I needed to do
was to continue waiting in the presence of the Lord, and He would speak to me
and show me wonderful things. Throughout that long, yet pleasant night, I held
onto a verse from Jeremiah that contains a promise from our Father: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and
mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah
33:3).
While I waited with eager anticipation, I could hear the firecrackers and other
loud noises of revelers ringing in the new year. As 1995 turned to 1996, I
continued waiting, and throughout the wee hours of the morning until daybreak I
waited. Nothing happened, but I was determined to hear from God.
January 1, 1996, was a cold, damp day in the Northwest, but there was a
precious warmth in my heart that no winter wind could chill. The Word of God
spoke to my heart, “Wait on the LORD; be of good
courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!”
(Psalms
27:14).
Waiting--one of the hardest things in the world to do, and yet it is the key to
so much empowerment in the spiritual life. The Lord wants us to wait in His
presence, because it is in this way that we develop the patience we need to
grow and to serve.
Even though I had not slept at all the previous night, on New Year’s Day I felt
rested, happy and alive while my family and I celebrated the holiday. From 9
P.M. until 11 P.M. of New Year’s Day the heat of the Lord’s presence reminded me
to keep the night watch once again. I slept briefly, then awoke refreshed,
yearning to hear the Lord’s voice speaking to me.
This almost sleepless schedule continued throughout the first half of January.
Still I had not heard the Lord. By faith, however, I sensed that He was
preparing me for a personal encounter with Him.
TREMBLING IN THE NIGHT
ON JANUARY 19 I awoke at 3 A.M. My body was shaking. This had never
happened in my sleep. Since Easter Sunday 1995, however, my body had been
shaking during worship services at church and in moments of personal prayer.
There’s something about the night--a time of quietness and few
distractions--that affords a special opportunity for the Lord to draw close to
His people. This was certainly the case with me.
Sometimes the anointing of God was so heavy on me that I felt as if I would
faint. At other times it would leave me feeling dizzy and weak. Often I would
lay in bed completely immobilized by the overpowering presence of God. It is
all too wonderful to fully describe, but I will endeavor to show you what it
was like.
The Bible is replete with examples of people quaking and shaking in the
presence of the Lord. Sometimes this manifestation is accompanied by fear, but
most of the time it is preparatory; God is about to do a great work through a
yielded vessel. Certainly the latter was true with the prophet Jeremiah, who
heard God’s voice pleading with him: “‘Do you not
fear Me?’ says the LORD. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence?’” (Jeremiah
5:22).
The one who would become known as the “weeping prophet” answered God’s plea: “My heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all
my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome,
because of the LORD, and because of His holy words” (Jeremiah
23:9).
The Word of God shows us that trembling and shaking are appropriate physical
responses to the presence of the Lord. Other examples are found in Daniel
10:7; Psalms
99:1, Pslams
114:7; Habakkuk
3:16; and Matthew
28:4, as well as in Acts
4:31, one of my favorites: “And when they had
prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
“I WANT TO
ON THE NIGHT of January 19, the Lord’s presence was so intense in my
bedroom that I shook, perspired and felt very weak for more than an hour. Then
I heard something. Was it the voice of my Lord and Master?
I turned my head on the pillow to look in the direction of the sound, and
there, all aglow, was a figure dressed in white garments. The radiance that
emanated from this unknown visitor was so brilliant that I could not see His
face, but in my heart of hearts I knew that I had been blessed with a special
visitation from the Lord.
How could this be happening to me? I wondered, as I began to tremble even more
violently and weep tears of love and joy. It was the Lord--the Lord of heaven
and earth--and He had willingly chosen to visit me in this special way. I felt
so humbled by His presence. I could not stop crying.
“My daughter, Choo Nam, I am your Lord, and I want to talk to you. You have
been My special daughter for a long time.”
The impact of His voice, His words, His message hit me with a supernatural
force that left me reeling. My body shook harder, and I felt my spirit rising
within. The gift of tongues began to flow, followed by a clear interpretation.
I moved as close to the edge of my bed as possible so that I wouldn’t waken my
husband, Roger, asleep next to me. For a moment I wondered how he could
possibly sleep with such brightness in the room and the incessant shaking that
seemed powerful enough to make the bed collapse. But this was a special moment
for me to receive from the Lord, so Roger continued to sleep.
The Lord spoke once more in His calmly reassuring yet very firm voice: “Daughter,
you are such an obedient child, and I want to give you special gifts. These
gifts are going to serve Me greatly. I want you to be happy about these gifts.”
I knew at that moment God was choosing me to do an important work for Him and
that this must become my single-minded purpose. I knew I had nothing to give
Him except my heart and my life, and I was willing to do whatever He wanted, to
go wherever He wanted. It was a night of commitment, challenge and purpose. My
wonderful Lord was beginning to reveal His will to me.
I have known since then that when my body begins to shake from the inside out,
God soon will be speaking to me. I also knew then that His words would be life
and victory.
My body stopped trembling, and I fell into one of the most peaceful, restful
sleeps I could remember having in years. Throughout the next day I felt so
anointed and happy because I had met the Master face-to-face. That morning I
asked Roger if he had felt or heard anything during the night.
He shook his head. “I guess I’m just a deep sleeper,” he said.
God had chosen me for a specific work. It was too wonderful to imagine, and yet
it was exciting beyond words. I opened my Bible to the book of John and read
these stirring words that coincided with Pastor Randolph’s prophecy: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John
15:16).
The Lord had chosen me to go and bear lasting fruit. This is what I wanted more
than anything in the world. His Word, His presence, His anointing confirmed His
calling in my life. I committed my heart to obeying the Lord from that moment
on, no matter what the consequences.
Then my eyes fell to the preceding verses: “You
are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you
servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have
called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made
known to you” (John
15:14-15).
God was confirming His rhema word to me--from Pastor Randolph--through His
logos, the Bible. The pastor’s words came back to me: “God’s going to tell you
things about people that you’ll never tell people. You’ll pray for and
intercede, and hold them up in prayer because you’re going to be a friend of
God--and that’s a true prophet; it’s just a friend of God. A friend of God.
He’s going to tell you secrets about other people’s lives and about things He’s
doing in the earth. So, get ready in 1996 for a fresh anointing of the
prophetic to come upon your life.”
Now it was happening, and I could hardly wait to discover what God would tell
me next.
A PROPHECY FULFILLED
ON JANUARY 20 I awoke between 3 A.M. and 4 A.M. The anointing of the Lord’s
presence awakened me and was accompanied again by intense heat. I was half
asleep, but suddenly the Lord’s voice woke me completely, saying: “Daughter, I
am going to visit you many times before this work is done. Therefore, I want
you to rest during daytime hours. I have many special plans for you. I will use
you in a great way, but it will take awhile to get you ready for the work I’ve
called you to do. You must write down what you hear during each of My visits.”
The whole experience stunned me, and I was amazed to think that He would visit
me again and again. Surely one visit with the Lord should be enough. Yet He
said He would be returning to me personally so that He could get me ready for
the work He has for me to do.
Just as suddenly as He came into my bedroom, He departed. I could neither hear
nor see Him. The shaking dissipated. His reassuring words, and His wonderful
visit, left me feeling very happy, peaceful and certainly curious.
It was as if I had climbed a high mountain in my native land of Korea from
which I could see clearly for miles and miles and as if I were breathing the
rich, clean air of the mountain heights. My mind was focused, my heart was
joyful, and I felt healthy and happy. I determined to obey the voice of the
Lord by taking one step at a time, because I knew He would lead me each step of
the way.
HOUR OF EMPOWERMENT
IT HAPPENED AGAIN the next morning. Between 2 A.M. and 3 A.M. I awoke
suddenly. My body was shaking uncontrollably, and I was perspiring heavily. The
anointing of the Lord’s presence was upon me.
The Lord said, “You are My precious daughter. I will be with you always,
wherever you are. I love you just as you are.”
As I lay there, soaking in His every word, I was overcome by awe and adoration.
He went on: “I am giving you the power that you will need for the work I’ve
called you to do. I am preparing you to serve Me. Your body shakes as the power
flows into you. I am giving you all the spiritual gifts. I am releasing your
spirit so you will be completely free to serve Me.”
A few days before this I had had a dream during which I had climbed a mountain.
When I reached the summit I was able to touch the clouds. The Lord reminded me
of that dream and explained its spiritual significance to me.
“You will go to that height as you minister in My name,” He said.
For the first time during one of His personal visits to me I raised a question.
“Lord,” I said, “what do You want me to do? I don’t really know anything about
ministering.”
“I will guide You and show You what I want You to do.”
“What about my husband?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about him. I will bless him and minister to him also.”
Once again His words were wonderfully reassuring, liberating and empowering.
Truly I felt the power of His words unleashing power in my spirit. When He
stopped talking to me that morning, the shaking stopped as well.
ON
THESE WONDERFULLY NEW experiences were quickening my body with joy. My
heart was soaring, and my mind was filled with childlike curiosity. Where I
once had felt insecure, I felt completely free. I realized my new future would
be entirely different because all my hopes and dreams truly depended on the
Lord. I was truly alive, and it was a vibrant life beyond all my expectations.
On January 25 the Lord talked with me from 3 A.M. until 4 A.M. This time, I had
awakened before He arrived on the scene, and while I lay silently in my bed, I
anticipated another meeting with my Lord and Savior. The familiar shaking began
precisely at 3:00. By now I had learned that this meant my Savior would soon be
with me. I had learned to sense His presence, and when I turned in the direction
where He usually stood, I saw Him.
His radiance, His strong voice, His loving presence always transport me into a
different world. I’m sure it’s the realm of eternity where time and space hold
little significance, and physical and material things do not matter. It is a
realm of the spirit--so bright and peaceful--a place where life takes on new
meaning and purpose. It is a little bit of heaven on earth.
The shaking continued for twenty minutes. I began to view it as being like a
spiritual transfusion. The power of the Holy Spirit was coursing through every
nerve, sinew, muscle and organ of my body. It was setting me on fire with the
power of God.
This must have been what the disciples experienced on the Day of Pentecost when
the Lord baptized them with the Holy Spirit and fire. “And suddenly there came
a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house
where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). When the power of God falls, strangely
wonderful things begin to happen in our lives.
That night Jesus spoke to me in His inimitable way, “I am your Lord, My
daughter. I want You to hear and remember everything I tell you. When You write
it down, use My exact words. You are sleepy, but do not miss any of the words I
tell you. I will be visiting You many times in the future because I have
important work for You to do. You are the child I am going to use to do this
work for Me, so be prepared.”
ANSWERED PRAYERS
A FEW DAYS later, on January 28, I awoke, shaking again. It was between
2:00 and 3:00 in the morning. I felt so overcome by the presence of the Lord
that I was weak. My body was so hot that I was perspiring. It seemed as if I
was dreaming, but I soon realized that this was no dream.
“I am your Lord, My daughter,” Jesus said. Then I glanced toward the window, in
the direction of His majestic voice, and I saw His radiant figure standing
there.
“I know You have been so hungry to serve Me, but You did not know how to serve
Me yet. I know you do not want to be embarrassed when you come before Me. I
know all your thoughts, and I love your thoughts.”
This message from my Savior spoke volumes to my heart. I now knew what once I
had only believed--that Jesus hears and answers prayer. I had prayed that God
would help me serve Him so I will not be embarrassed when I stand before Him. I
had told Him, so many times, how much I wanted to serve Him, and I always told
Him that I didn’t know how.
It is for this reason that I always read the Bible both in English and
Korean--to gain the deepest possible understanding of the Word of God so I can
share it with others. Serving the Lord was my deepest desire after I learned
what the Lord had done for me.
“Daughter, your prayers have been answered, and you will serve Me greatly. You
will have much work to do for Me. What you will do for Me will please you. You
are My faithful daughter, and that is why I am giving this important work for
you to do.”
The shaking subsided, and the Lord departed from my room. My mind was drawn to
His Word: “Now this is the confidence that we
have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if
we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we have asked of Him” (1
John 5:14-15).
I now know the truth of this wonderful prayer promise. It is an infallible
premise of the Word of God that He does, in fact, hear us when we pray
according to His will, and His will is revealed in the Bible.
It is His will for us to bear lasting fruit in His name. It is His will for us
to minister to others. It is His will for us to believe when we pray. It is His
will for us to spend time in His presence, to wait upon Him.
Therefore, when I pray according to these aspects of His will, as they are
revealed in His Word, I know that He hears me. This is a very firm realization
to me now.
The visitations from the Lord have given me the growing confidence that comes
from spending time with God. He was there; He is always there. I know He will
never leave me or forsake me. He is my friend, my constant companion, my Lord
and Master. He is my loving Savior.
I now know, beyond all doubt, that God loves me and hears and answers prayer.
He knows my thoughts and feelings, and He cares.
MANY CHURCHES TO VISIT
THE NEXT DAY, January 29, provided me with an inkling of God’s plans and
purposes for the ministry He was preparing me for. He came to me early in the
morning, just before daybreak, and said, “Daughter, I want you to look at
something.”
In the spirit He transported me to an unknown church--a very large church
filled with dark-skinned men. There were no women present in this particular
assembly. Jesus explained, “You will visit many churches as you do My work.”
Never had I experienced anything like this. It was as if I were able to fly
with the Lord to a different time and place. It was an incredible sensation. He
told me more.
“My daughter, I have many surprises for you,” He said, “so expect to receive
them all. I will be with you everywhere. You will never have to worry about
anything while you are on this earth. I want you to be happy every day of your
life.”
Then He disappeared. After this visit, I knew that each visit thereafter would
provide me with new clues about my future. When the Lord told me that I would
never have to worry again, I rejoiced because I had been prone to worry and
insecurity since my early childhood. He was healing me on the inside while He
was preparing me for ministry.
The sweetness of His presence can only be described as total peace. It enabled
me to live and walk in the truth of His Word: “Peace
I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John
14:27).
Chapter 3
All Things Are Possible
But Jesus looked
at them and said to them,
“With men this is impossible, but with God
all things are possible.”
--Matthew
19:26 (emphasis added)
ON FEBRUARY 1 the Lord visited with me as soon as I went to bed, around 11 P.M.
Because of the trembling of my body that always accompanied the Lord’s visits,
Roger was now sleeping in the guest bedroom. It was a good thing he had made
this change, because on this particular evening the shaking was more intense
than ever before, and it was accompanied by other manifestations of the Lord’s
presence as well.
Immediately the Lord spoke to me, “My precious daughter, I must show you My
presence and talk with you before this work begins.”
His radiant presence had always been stunningly brilliant, but this time He was
dressed in white and shining like the sun. His form was beautiful to behold,
and so very compelling.
I responded this time by speaking in tongues and singing in the spirit. As I
sang, my hands lifted in front of me and they began to move in rhythm with the
singing. It was as if I were dancing, but I remained in bed.
I lost control of the movement of my hands and watched them sway back and forth
as if they were being moved by a silent wind. It was the wind of the Spirit of
God that was moving them, and, upon realizing this, I was overcome with joy and
began to laugh. Though I could not see the Lord’s face, I heard Him laughing as
well.
This phenomenon is known as “holy laughter” in some circles. I can say without
any reservation that I know it is a manifestation of the Lord’s presence.
The Bible tells us:
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD
with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is
God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the
sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His
courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is
good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
--Psalms
100:1-5
We should not be surprised by joy and laughter when it occurs during times
of worship and adoration in the presence of the Lord. It is thoroughly biblical,
and we will spend all eternity in His presence, singing, worshiping, laughing,
celebrating and experiencing His pleasures. In fact, this is what He wants for
us because we are His children. The name of Isaac--the miracle child of
Abraham--literally means “he laughs,” and God wants us to enjoy His presence
through the gift of laughter.
Although many of the psalms are songs of sadness, there are some that reflect
the joy and laughter that are the true inheritance of God’s people. For
example, we read in Psalms
126: “When the LORD brought back the
captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with
laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘The
Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad” (vv. 1-3).
When people raise questions about the shaking, singing in the Spirit and holy
laughter, I point them to these passages. Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes,
tells us that there is “a time to weep, and a
time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes
3:4). It’s a shame that so many people believe Christianity needs to be
stiff and formal, when it is clear that the Lord wants us to experience a full
measure of joy. Nehemiah proclaimed, “The joy of
the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah
8:10), and the book of Proverbs declares, “A
merry heart does good, like medicine” (Proverbs
17:22). Now I know the true meaning of these healing words.
I was really encouraged by the laughter of my Lord as He visited with me that
night. He seemed so pleased with me. As I sang in the spirit, even my own voice
took on a different quality. It was my voice--I knew that--but it sounded so
different, so beautiful, clear and resonant.
Around midnight the Lord said, “I love you, My daughter, and I will continue to
visit you.” As He departed I felt lighter and freer than I had ever felt
before, and I was thrilled with the prospect that He would soon revisit me.
EXPECT MANY SURPRISES
THE NEXT DAY, February 2, began with a very special visitation from the
Lord. He began to share many things with me, as He had promised, “I am
releasing all the power you will need to do the work I’ve chosen you to do.” As
I did the night before, I was trembling and singing in the Spirit.
The Lord continued His personal message to me: “Daughter, the way I am going to
use you will be so different. Many of My children will be surprised. I have
gifts for all My children, but I will give each one different gifts. Daughter,
I want you to be pleased with what you are going to receive.”
It was an exhilarating promise. The Lord assured me that He was preparing me
for a special ministry. I wanted only to please Him.
From 2:20 A.M. to 4:18 A.M. the next day He returned to my room to tell me more
about the power of prayer. He stood before me in glowing garments of white.
“My daughter, do not be afraid to pray for others, because you are receiving
the gift of healing and all the other spiritual gifts,” He said. “I know that
you always want to pray for others and to make them happy. That is why I am
giving you these spiritual gifts.”
At first His words were difficult for me to hear. I felt very unworthy to
receive so much from my Lord and Master.
He went on: “You have a special heart, and that is why I answer your prayers. I
notice that your heart is pure, and you are an obedient daughter. I trust you
with many things. This is why I have chosen you to do this important work. Your
faith makes Me very happy, and so does your will power. Your heart is strong
and independent, and I am very pleased.”
Obeying the Lord has been so important to me as a Christian. My main goal has
always been to please Him. It was so wonderful to hear Him tell me I was
pleasing to Him and that He had purified my heart and had seen my obedience.
His message to me that night made me even more determined to follow Him in all
my ways.
“This is why your faith has grown so strong and you gave up the worldly things
for Me,” Jesus continued. “If you were not what you are, I could not use you
for the work I have prepared. What I am going to do with you will surprise you,
My daughter. I am your Lord. Remember, nothing is impossible for Me on earth or
in heaven. I will release My power to you so I can use you.”
The way the Lord addressed me as “My daughter” over and over again always
caused me to shed tears of love. He was so different from my earthly father.
The Lord was tender, respectful, encouraging and sensitive in all His dealings
with me. I knew that He knew my needs before I expressed them to Him. I knew
that He was my safe place--my “Rock of refuge”--and that compared with Him, any
other “refuge” was sinking sand.
He then explained the shaking in my body. “Your body shakes for a long time
because you need power for this work. I want you to expect many surprises.”
More surprises? I wondered, with joy. I felt like I had already experienced
enough to last a lifetime. His visits, my time in prayer and the Word, the
precious moments of worship at my church--all of these were having deeply
revolutionizing effects in my life.
My faith in the Lord was growing at an accelerating pace. I knew, beyond all
doubt, that He is able “to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). The shaking
in my body was His power at work in me. He was preparing me for the time when
He would prove His ability to do exceedingly abundantly through me.
NO FEAR!
DURING THE NIGHT of February 12, my body shook more violently than it ever
had. I was almost hurled me from the bed because it was so forceful. I tried to
grab the sheets to steady myself, but I couldn’t because I had no control over
my body. The shaking was unremittingly forceful, and I grew afraid.
My thoughts began to run away with me. Is all this a deception of Satan? What
is happening to me? Am I going crazy? I wondered.
Then I remembered what someone had once shared with me--“When you are about to
receive a blessing, Satan will try to destroy it.” Was this violent shaking the
work of Satan or the work of God? I thought it might be Satan trying to harm
me. I rebuked the enemy, and then the Lord interjected, “Daughter, do not fear;
I am your Lord.”
That was enough for me. His sweet voice turned my fear into laughter. I heard
the echoes of His soft laughter near the window. In a most pleasant and
peaceful voice, He said: “No one will harm you because I will be with you
always and I will protect you from the evil things of this world. You are My
precious daughter.”
A passage of Scripture came to mind and complemented His words. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in
love. We love Him because He first loved us” (1
John 4:18-19).
The love of the Lord in my life was more real than it had ever been. I knew He
loved me. In light of such an amazing love, how could I ever be afraid? The experience
of that evening taught me I never again needed to fear Satan, evil or myself,
because the Lord had promised that He would be with me forever.
His Word backed up this promise: “I will never
leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews
13:5).
I knew that He had called me to help fulfill His Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew
28:19-20).
The verse preceding this tells us how this is possible: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth”
(Matthew
28:18). His power, His authority, His strength and His might will prevail
in every situation when we yield ourselves to Him.
The Lord gave me additional assurance of His will and His love when He said: “I
am giving you all the gifts you will need to enable you to begin the ministry
I’m giving to you. Keep a record of the day and times when I meet with you.
“Your husband, Roger, will have gifts for the ministry too. You need never
worry about anything because I promise you that I will take care of you while
you are on earth.”
Deep in my heart I knew I didn’t need to worry about anything again. He was
taking care of everything not only in this life but also in the afterlife. His
liberating promises called Psalms
23 to mind, and I focused especially on the final verse of that inspiring
psalm: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”
(Psalms
23:6).
With such peaceful thoughts I grew sleepy, and the Lord said: “I know you are
tired. Go to sleep.” The Lord does, indeed, give His beloved sleep.
A NEW BODY
FROM 11 P.M. TO 1:08 A.M. on February 19 and February 20, the Lord took me
walking with Him. Once again, the familiar hard shaking of my body and the
intense heat of His anointing alerted me to His imminent arrival. His presence
was stronger than ever before, and then I heard His voice: “I am your Lord, My
precious daughter, and I am about to release all the work I’ve prepared for you
to do.” I could see Him standing by the window, and His glorious form was
clearer to me than it ever had been before.
“Daughter, I must show you some things,” He stated as He extended His hand in my
direction. Next, I felt the strange sensation of my body being lifted from the
bed. Not knowing what was happening, I began to scream and flail my arms
wildly. It seemed as if the insides of my body were detaching from the rest of
me. It was an experience that truly defies description. I even felt my body to
see if it was still the same. I wondered if I was dying.
My mind was clear, and I was groaning in my spirit. Then I recognized that I
was with the Lord, wearing a white robe like His. My body was new. I was like a
young girl again. Even my hair was long and straight.
I realized I was walking along a deserted beach with the Lord. Perhaps you can
imagine how surprised I was. He had transported me from my bed, home and body
and had given me a new body that enabled me to fly and walk with Him. The Lord
of heaven and earth had suspended the laws of gravity, life, time and space in
order to show me some things that I will never forget.
The Bible says, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (1
Corinthians 15:50). I was about to discover the true meaning of these words
by the apostle Paul.
As I began to take notice of my new body, I felt that it looked like me, but it
wasn’t me. I had heard of out-of-the-body experiences before, but in this case
I had been taken out of my body and deposited in a body that was not me--yet it
was me.
It was me as I was when I was a young adolescent. I had the same hair I had as
a teenager. I couldn’t see my face clearly, but I felt certain it was the face
of the bewildered youth who had been without God and without hope. This time,
however, the young girl knew God, and she was filled with hope. It was so
fascinating. What did it all mean?
A SHINY TUNNEL
WHERE HAD THE Lord taken me? Why had He taken me with Him? I couldn’t wait
to hear His answers to these questions, because I knew they were for me as well
as for all those He would lead me to.
First, we went to the right side of a hill that was alive with foliage. I could
see a narrow, winding road snaking its way to the summit. Then we walked
alongside a narrow river that flowed with the most crystal-clear water I’d ever
seen. We followed the river to the entrance of a shiny tunnel that seemed
endless. It was high and wide and, in comparison, the Lord and I were quite
tiny. We walked through the mysterious tunnel, and when we emerged on the other
side, we walked down to the beach again.
“We are going to a very high place,” The Lord said.
The minute He spoke these words He took my hand, and my body began to lift
above the surface of the beach. As it did, my physical body on the bed trembled
furiously. My hands and arms began to move in all directions as if I were
swimming desperately in an effort to not drown. The groanings that emanated
from my spirit grew louder and stronger.
We were literally flying through the air. We landed at a location that was
filled with trees and grass, and our feet set down on a narrow, winding road.
The Lord and I walked along the road that came down from the top of the hill.
Eventually we reached a huge white gate that stood in front of a large white
building. We walked through the gate and proceeded toward the white building.
We entered and walked down a long corridor that led to a very large room, which
we entered. As I looked down, I realized for the first time that I was wearing
a different robe than I had on at the beach, and I could feel something heavy
was resting on my head. I reached up and discovered a beautiful crown had been
placed there without my realizing it.
Then I looked directly at the Lord. He was sitting on a throne, and He wore a
radiant gown and golden crown. Others were there with me, kneeling on the floor
and prostrating themselves before Him.
The walls of the room were made of large shiny stones that glowed. The
multicolored rocks provided an effect that made the room seem warm and happy,
as well as mysterious.
WHERE ONLY THE
THEN, JUST AS quickly as I had been transported up the mountain and into
the white building, I found myself on the beach again. As I had been doing all
along, I found myself alternately laughing, screaming, crying, shaking,
flailing my arms and perspiring. The joy was so intense, I felt as if I could
touch it. I knew I had been transported to a different world, but where was it?
Why was this happening? What did it all mean?
The Lord answered my questions clearly and emphatically. “My daughter, we went
to the kingdom.”
He quickly recognized the question that was forming in my heart: How did we get
there?
“The only ones who will go there are the obedient and pure-hearted children.”
The Master paused for a moment and then went on, “Tell My children to preach
the gospel. I am coming soon for those who are waiting and ready for Me.”
Now I knew my primary mission. I had seen the kingdom of heaven, and it was so
very real. I’ll never forget all the wonderful things I saw.
The Lord added, “Those who don’t tithe are disobedient children.”
“Should I tell this to anyone, Lord?”
“I want you to tell it to everyone.”
Then He reiterated something He had commanded me to do several times before:
“Write down everything I show you and tell you.”
“Tell me more, Lord.”
“Another time, My daughter. I know you are tired. Go to sleep.”
As He left, so did my transformed body. I reached over to the nightstand and
got my pad and pen and began to write everything I had experienced on my
exciting journey to the kingdom of God. I felt so numb and humble. There were
no words to describe the feeling. I felt that I didn’t belong to this world
anymore.
From then on, all I could think about was the Lord and heaven. I longed to
return to the kingdom. That longing must have been heard as a prayer, for, as
you will see, the Lord took me with Him many times after that.
Chapter 4
Sooner Than You Think
He who testifies to these things says,
“Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
--Revelation
22:20
MY DAUGHTER, CHOO Nam, I am your Lord.” It was the familiar voice of my Master
speaking so compassionately and confidently in my bedroom during the wee hours
of February 24.
The shaking in my body had already awakened me around midnight. This time I
watched the clock to see how long the trembling would last. After approximately
twenty minutes, the groaning from deep in my spirit began. I continued to
shake, and the heat of the Lord’s anointing was causing me to perspire. It was
after this time of preparation that I heard the Lord speaking to me.
I was getting somewhat accustomed to His presence. Most of the time I greatly
enjoyed His visits. On this occasion, the image of His presence was very clear.
His figure was bathed in a soft, warm glow of pristine whiteness. He reached
His hand toward me as I continued to shake even more intensely, and my arms
began to flail in every direction.
As I had experienced the week before, my spirit lifted from my body, and I
could see myself as a young girl with long, straight hair. Once again I was
walking on the beach with the Lord. We walked and walked and walked. It was a
quiet time. Jesus seemed to be thinking, and for the longest time He did not
speak a word.
One thing He did say eventually, over and over again, was, “We have a lot of
work to do.”
“WE
THE MASTER AGAIN took me into a huge tunnel. Again--unlike most tunnels--it
was bright and shiny. I soon realized this was the same tunnel He had taken me
through the first time. I reasoned this must be the tunnel that people who have
near-death experiences frequently describe as the passageway from this life to
the next.
In most such cases of out-of-the-body experiences, people report that they are
hurled into a long, dark tunnel at a rapid pace. At the far end of the tunnel
they can see the glorious brightness of heaven. This, I thought, must be the
doorway to the indescribably wonderful kingdom of heaven. Now my Lord and
Savior was taking me there again.
We walked by the beautiful, crystal-clear river once more, and then we returned
to the beach. Jesus then said, “We are going to heaven.”
My heart leaped into my throat as my soul was flooded with excited anticipation
over the realization that I was going to heaven. I was going home, and Jesus
was giving me a personal tour of the afterlife so I could write about it and
let others know. It was so thrilling to be chosen for such an honor, and I could
hardly contain the joy that overwhelmed me.
No sooner had Jesus announced our destination than I began to fly. I had flown
in airplanes before, and those flights were always exciting and exhilarating;
but this time my body was taking flight like a bird. I remembered the passage
from Isaiah: “But those who wait on the LORD
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah
40:31).
I had always interpreted that verse from a spiritual perspective, but now it
had become a living reality. I was flying and soaring like an eagle, and I was
not afraid, because I knew Jesus was with me.
The experience of flight did not last long, however. It seemed like only a
second. Soon we touched down on a narrow, winding road that was beautifully
bordered by tall trees and lush, green grass. Just ahead I could see a huge
gate that was set in a white fence. As we approached the gate I noticed that
the road on the other side of the fence was all white, and on both sides of the
lane, gorgeous flowers of every type and hue displayed their varied colors and
tender blossoms.
I had never seen such beauty before, and another verse came to mind:
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so
clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?”
or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your
heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you.
--MATTHEW
6:28-33
Then I began to understand more clearly why God was permitting me to visit
His kingdom. I realized at that moment that if mortals on earth could see what
I was seeing, they would never worry again. I knew I had to tell everyone I met
about my experiences so that they, too, would never need to worry again.
God indeed does take care of everything in our lives. God is working His
purposes out. His love for His children is unrelenting. His Word is true. Now
the burning desire of my heart is to help people to understand, to see, to
believe the truth. My experiences have taught me that “all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose” (see Romans 8:28).
HEAVEN IS BETTER
THE ARRAY OF flowers was more spectacular than any garden I’d ever seen. I
found myself thinking, I’m happy to know there are flowers in heaven. They had
the most lovely blossoms I’d ever seen, and they seemed to grow brighter and
more colorful as we approached the entrance to the large, white palace we had
been walking toward.
Jesus led me up the steps to the double doors at the front. I noticed that the
entry was framed with gold, and beautiful stained-glass panels were on both
sides. We walked through the doors onto a white marble floor. The shiny stone
walls of the corridor reminded me that I was in the vicinity of the throne room
of God once more, and with each step we took, my heart pounded more intensely.
We entered the room, and it was even more awe-inspiring than before. The Lord’s
glistening, golden throne stood atop a raised, oval-shaped platform. Beams of
radiant glory streamed from the center of the room where this platform was
located.
I was directed by an angel to a little room on the side, and I was surprised to
discover a powder room there. A full-length mirror covered the entire wall on
the left side of this room, and many beautiful velvet chairs were neatly
arranged in front of the mirror.
A beautiful being stood in front of me, and I immediately perceived that I was
with an angel. The being opened a large, walk-in closet that contained many
robes, gowns and crowns. The angel selected one of the gowns and put a crown on
me. Each robe had rich embroidered colors. I thought the garments were the most
stunning and expensive clothing I’d ever seen.
After I was dressed, the angel escorted me back to the main room. The Lord was
waiting for me. I noticed that He was wearing a gown and crown like mine.
He took me to another building that looked like the pictures of medieval
European castles I’d frequently seen. There was a rock wall on both sides of
the castle, and magnificent flowers were planted all around. As I took in the
scene in front of me, I felt like I was in a wonderland of beauty, peace and
happiness. I did not want to return to earth.
The Bible says we all will worship the Lord before His throne: “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship
before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous
things; You alone are God” (Psalms
86:9-10). In another place the psalmist proclaims, “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His
kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength,
who do His word” (Psalms
103:19-20). The prophet Isaiah says: “Heaven
is My throne, and earth is My footstool” (Isaiah
66:1). Heaven is such a glorious place, and it will be a joy to worship God
there throughout eternity.
I once heard a chorus about heaven that proclaimed: “Heaven is better than this
/ Praise God / What joy and bliss / Walking down the streets of solid gold /
You’ll enter a land where you’ll never grow old” (source unknown). Now I know
the truth of this song. Heaven is far better than this earth. Truly, there is
no comparison between earth and heaven.
We entered the castle, and I immediately noticed how colorfully carpeted the
foyer was. The elegant furniture was selected to fit the color and style of the
carpeting. The walls were sparkling and shiny--so brilliant, in fact, that they
almost blinded me. At the end of the hallway, just ahead, I noticed a sliding
door. I wondered what we would discover on the other side.
THE SPECIAL POND
THE SLIDING GLASS door, I soon discovered, did not lead into another room;
rather, it was a doorway to the castle’s garden. In the center of this glorious
place there was a pond. The entire “back yard” was surrounded by a rock wall.
Flowers of every type and description formed a sea of beauty everywhere I
looked.
I noticed that a variety of fruit trees grew close to the rock wall. These
trees were filled with the biggest, most luscious-looking fruits I’d ever seen.
They were ringed by a magnificent profusion of lovely flowers. Scattered
throughout this amazing garden were huge, gray boulders that seemed to be
strategically placed for sitting and resting.
The pond really intrigued me, and as soon as I saw it, I began to sing in the
Spirit and to dance for joy. I can’t really explain why I reacted to the scene
with such enthusiasm, but something supernatural was propelling me to express
my gratitude, happiness and peace in a demonstrable way. The Lord sat on a rock
and watched me dance.
I recalled a verse from the Old Testament: “Then
David danced before the LORD with all his might” (2
Sam. 6:14). The pond reminded me of a verse in the book of Revelation: “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who
hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him
take the water of life freely” (Revelations
22:17). Yes, there are bodies of water in heaven, and the water of this
pond was clear and placid. It shone like crystal.
He, the Lord, spoke to me, “This is a special pond.”
I knew it was, but I could not understand why. The Lord did not explain His
statement to me at that moment, but I surmised that the pond held many
spiritual secrets that I would eventually learn, one by one. I wondered: Is
this where my sins, and the sins of all other believers, have been buried? Is
the pond a symbol of the water of the Word of God?
Certainly, water typifies the cleansing from sin that our Lord has provided for
us. His Word tells us that “if we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness” (see 1
John 1:9). Words of Jesus, as recorded by the apostle John, entered my
mind: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one
is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”
(John
3:5).
JESUS IS READY...
AFTER A FEW moments of pure enjoyment, as I danced and sang nearby the
pond, the Lord took me back to the white palace where I changed into the
clothing I was wearing when He took me to heaven. Then we walked back to where
we had landed on the mountain covered with trees and green bushes.
“We are going back to earth,” the Lord said.
He took my hand again and we began to fly from the heavenly firmament to earth.
We went back to the place where we had begun this particular journey--the
beautiful, peaceful beach along which we had strolled before.
Jesus said: “My daughter, now you know how special you are to Me. I want you to
remember it took Me a long time to prepare you to bring you to My kingdom, to
show you these things so you could tell the world.”
I nodded my agreement with what He was telling me.
The Lord continued: “I want you to remember everything I tell you and show you.
Make sure you write everything down. I will make sure everyone understands all
the things I show and tell you.”
This part of His message lifted the heavy load of responsibility that I had
been feeling sin