Placebo
by Howard Pittman
On August 3, 1979, Howard Pittman, a Baptist minister for 35 years,
died while on the operating table during surgery and had a near-
death experience. After angels showed him the second and third
heavens, he was taken before the very throne of God where he was
given a message to share with the world.
The following is an excerpt from his booklet, Placebo, which
documents his amazing near-death experience. You can purchase
his audio tapes and booklets at the Lake Hamilton Bible Camp store.
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Forward
Webster's Dictionary defines "placebo" as "a medication prescribed
more for the mental relief of a patient than for the actual effect on his
disorder, or something tending to soothe."
The doctors tell us that if we know we are being treated with a
placebo, it does not work. In our minds we must think that it is a real
medication and has the strength or power to heal. If the patient
believes this, then the treatment has been known to work wonders in
many cases that otherwise could not have been treated. Placebo
treatment is, in fact, nothing of substance, but in the mind of the
patient it is real. In order for this kind of treatment to work, the doctor
must convince the patient of the work of the medication.
My friend, I declare unto you that this is the exact "treatment" that
most "mouth-professing" Christians are using today. The doctor
administering this "medication" is Satan himself. He gives the
"patent" a sugar-coated religion, a shallow experience, and whispers
half-truths into his ears. He then tells the "patient" that it is real and
that it is all the "patent" needs. The "patent", having been taken in by
Satan, believes this and goes on his merry way declaring to all that
he has been born again, his salvation is real, and this experience is
all that he needs. Doctor Satan will allow his "patient" to continue to
go to church and will allow him to take part in any church, that is,
singing, leading in prayer, teaching Sunday School, and even
preaching. He will allow the "patient" to make any kind of statement
in connection with his "mouth-professing" religion, even to the point
of the saving power of Jesus. Yes, he will allow the "patient" to do all
and say all with one exception. That exception is that the "patient" will
not be allowed to live the life that he confesses with his mouth ...
Chapter 5: Preparation
In the year 1978, I retired from the New Orleans Police Department
and moved my family to a sixty-one acre farm I Mississippi. Around
August 7, 1979 I was suddenly stuck with a grave and disastrous
illness. The night before the tragedy I went to bed as usual ...On
awakening that morning I was slightly nauseated and skipped
breakfast. My wife asked me if was not going to eat. I replied that I
had to hurry to keep my appointment with some folks who I hoped
would support my candidacy for sheriff with campaign contributions. I
was unaware that God had also made an appointment for me that
day. Let me remind you that the Bible says that it is appointed once
unto man to die and, without warning, my appointment came. Like a
flash of lightning, the main trunk artery in my body cavity ruptured
causing a devastating, sudden, blood loss ...So at midnight they
carried me into ICU and at 6:00 a.m. the following morning, my vital
life signs failed again. The chief physician came out of ICU and told
my wife, “It is something else.” They took me into surgery where they
worked on me for an additional seven hours ...
[For the sake of brevity, a large amount of Pittman's description of his
Emergency Room experience is not reprinted here. Read his book for
the full description.]
Somewhere in that period of time when the physicians were working
on me, I came to myself and realized that I was dying ...Knowing that
only God could give me back my life and that only God could change
this appointed time to die, I prayed a strange prayer. My prayer was
that God would allow me to appear before His throne and pleaded for
an extension of my physical life. In any other time and place this sort
of prayer would be unusual, however, all of this was planned by God
to ultimately serve His purpose. The thought to pray such a prayer
was instilled in my mind by the Holy Spirit ...
Chapter 7: The Grand Tour
What happens next is so incredible that some people find it hard to
believe. May I say at the outset that I know the difference between
dreams, visions, and a real experience. May I also point out that if
you do not believe in Satan and demons as being real, individual
beings, then you do yourself and the Kingdom of God a great
disservice. It stands to reason that you cannot understand or even
withstand an enemy if you do not believe he is real.
At the moment I resisted Satan, he fled from me. The angels were
there and they took my spirit from my body. These angels were
present all the time that Satan tempted me although I did not know it
because I was still in the flesh. The angels did not attempt to help me
until I had resisted Satan with my own will. The only help I had was
the supernatural revelation from the Holy Spirit that the voice I was
hearing belonged to Satan and not to God. Whether or not to obey
that voice was my choice.
When the angels lifted my spirit from my body, they carried me
immediately to the Second Heaven. We did not have to leave that
hospital room in order to enter the Second Heaven. We entered there
in that same room where my body was, just by passing through a
dimension wall. It is a wall which flesh cannot pass through, only
spirit.
For you the reader, to understand what was happening, you must
understand the separation of the spirit from the flesh. To know how
this works, we must know how we, ourselves, are made. The Bible
states that we, as humans beings are made in the image of God. To
understand this, we must know what God is. The Bible states three
immutable things about God: 1st God is Spirit, 2nd God is invisible
and 3rd God is immortal. If we are made in His image, then we are
spirit, we are invisible, and we are immortal. Therefore, when we look
into a mirror we do not see our real selves. We see only the body, or
earthen vessel, in which we live. Since we are all made in the image
of God, we would all be mirror images of one another without our
earthly, physical bodies. Therefore, we were given a soul to separate
us from one another to make us an individual.
The animals in this world also have a soul. The only difference
between their souls and ours is that our soul belongs to the spirit.
Their souls belongs to the body. When their body perishes, their
souls perishes with it. When our body perishes, the soul remains with
the spirit. When the spirit was lifted from my body, my soul came with
it. I suppose the simplest way to identify the soul would be to say that
it is one’s personality. The entire time I was away from my body I
remained an individual, that is, I retained my own personality. I
retained all my faculties. In fact, they were greatly enhanced.
As we moved through that dimension wall into the Second Heaven, I
found myself in an entirely different world, far different from anything I
had ever imagined. This world was a place occupied by spirit beings
as vast in number as the sands of the seashore. These beings were
demons [devils], or fallen angels, and were in thousands of different
shapes and forms. Even those in similar shapes and forms were
contrasted by diverse coloring. Many of the demons were in human
shapes or forms and many were in forms similar to animals familiar
to our present world. Others were in shapes and forms too hideous to
imagine. Some of the forms were so morbid and revolting that I was
almost to the point of nausea.
When I first arrived in the Second Heaven, I knew immediately in
what direction I must go to reach the Third Heaven where God was. I
don’t know how I knew that, but I did. I also knew that if I was going
to get my prayer answered, I was going to have to appear before
God the Father in the Third Heaven. I was aware that I was traveling
in that spirit world under the protection of the Holy Spirit, and that the
angels who were escorting me were also moving about under the
protection of the Holy Spirit. It might seem strange to you, the reader,
that the angels needed the protection of the Holy Spirit, but
remember where we were, the Second Heaven. The Second Heaven
is the place where Satan presently has his throne located. Satan is
not yet in Hell although Hell is to be his final destiny.
All the spirits in that world were aware of our presence and were
aware of the Holy Spirit’s protection over us. To give you an idea as
to why that protection was necessary, let me give a Bible reference
to the power of Satan as demonstrated in the Second Heaven. The
tenth chapter of the book of Daniel tells about God sending one of
His angels to deliver a message to Daniel. Because of the
importance of that message, Satan did not want it delivered. In order
for the angel sent from God in the Third Heaven to reach Daniel, he
had to pass through the Second Heaven. Satan sent one of his
princes, or one of his archangels, to stop the angel. The angel had to
fight and could not get through alone so he had to call for
reinforcements. God had to send one of His prices, or the archangel,
to help the messenger and even this took twenty–one days. After the
angel delivered the message, he reminded Daniel that he, the angel,
would have to fight his way back through the Second Heaven.
As we moved about there in that world, I was greatly disappointed
that my escort did not take me in the direction of the Third Heaven
where God was. Instead, we moved in the opposite direction. As we
moved from place to place in that world, I learned many things about
demons.
I did things differently in the spirit realm than what we do here in the
physical world. For instance, we do not communicate with our
mouths and ears, but rather, we communicated with our minds. It
was like projecting our words on thought waves and receiving the
answer the same way. Although I could still think to myself without
projecting, I discovered that this really did not benefit me because the
angels could read my mind.
I could hear different sounds in that world, but I did not hear with my
ears. I heard with my mind, but I was still able to “hear” those
sounds. When we traveled, we traveled mostly at what I call the
“speed of thought.” When we traveled at the “speed of thought,” there
was no sensation of movement. The angel would say where we were
going and we were there. There were other times when we did not
travel in that manner, and I was very much aware of movement while
traveling. One of those times when I was aware of movement was
when they brought me back into the physical world and allowed me
to see the demons working here. We moved about here somewhat
like floating on a cloud. Still, I had the sensation of movement.
Make no mistake about demons for they are very real. The Bible
makes more statements about demons than it does about angels and
it points out in Luke 10:18 that demons are evil. Mark 5:8,9 indicates
how numerous they are and Matthew 10:1 shows that they are
unclean. Matthew 12:21-30 states that they are under the command
of Satan and Matthew 8:29 shows that they can possess humans.
In the demon world, there is a division of power much like a military
structured chain command with rank and order. Certain demons
carry the title of prince, which is always the demon in charge of a
principality. A principality is a territory, an area, a place or a group
that may range in size from as large as a nation to as small as a
person. When Satan assigns a prince a task, the prince is given the
authority to act in the name of Satan and use whatever means
necessary or available to him to accomplish his task.
When we started the tour of the Second Heaven, the angels began
by showing me the different types of demons. Each demon was
revealed to me in a form that indicated his area of expertise, and I
soon discovered that there is no such thing as a “general practitioner”
in all the demon world. They have only one area of expertise which
they do very well.
Chapter 8: Demons
As each type of demon was pointed out to me, I quickly discovered a
social order, or rank, that existed among them. Those at the top of
that order were revealed in forms similar to humans. As we moved
down the order, or rank, I saw demons in shapes or forms that
looked like half–animal and half–human. I saw demons in forms
resembling animals we know in this present world and I saw demons
in forms and shapes so revoltingly morbid that you cannot possibly
imagine them.
At the very top of the order were the warring demons which were the
“cream” of Satan’s “crop.” They moved about the Second Heaven
and event his present, physical world at will always traveling in
groups, never alone. Wherever they went, all other demons moved
out of their way. These warring demons were revealed to me in
human form. They looked like humans with the exception that they
were giants. Appearing to be about eight feet tall, they were rugged
and handsomely constructed, somewhat like giant athletes. All of the
warring demons were colored bronze. They were giant, bronze
soldiers. All of the other demons seemed to be subject to them.
The second most powerful type demon was also revealed to me in
human form and these demons looked like ordinary people. All of
those possessing this area of expertise seemed to group together at
about the second place of command. Chief among this group was
the demon of greed and contained within this same group were
demons of hate, lust, strife, and a few others.
The third most powerful type and group of demons were revealed to
me in mixed shapes and forms. Some had human form while others
had half–human and half–animal forms. Others resembled animals in
their forms. These demons possessed skills in the dark arts area
such as witchcraft and other related areas. Also among this group
were demons of fear and the demons of self–destruction as well as
those demons which are expert in mimicking departed human spirits
[familiar spirits] and in manifesting themselves to the physical world
as ghosts.
When we got down to the fourth group, or order, all the demons of
this rank were revealed in forms other than human. Some had forms
like known animals while others had unknown forms. In this group
were the demons of murder, brutality, sadism, and others related to
carnage.
As we moved even further down the order toward the end of the
chain of command, all the demons were revealed in horrible and
morbid forms. Some were so revolting that their appearance
produced nausea. They are so despised by their own companions
that they always seem to be lurking off to themselves while in the
Second Heaven and even while in this physical world. They do not
associate with the other demons except in the line of their duty.
There was another group of demons that I was able to see, but I do
not recall much of their ability. It was purposely taken away from me
as I was not permitted to learn or retain too much memory about
them. I don’t even know where they rank in order and their form was
not revealed to me. I am not sure of their entire area of expertise,
however, I am vaguely aware of their powerful hold on the flesh. It
seems that this mysterious group of demons work differently from all
other demons and are used in only special cases and special
situations of which I do not clearly understand. As I stated, I was not
permitted to retain too much in my memory about this particular
group of demons. I was only permitted to retain that portion which I
am now reporting to you and this, in itself, is very vague.
I’m also aware that these particular demons are harder to deal with
than any of the rest. It seems their great strength rests in their ability
to remain anonymous in their work in the human being. Among this
group is the one that is able to manifest himself as a form of epilepsy
in the human. I am not sure but I seem to recall that some other
demons in some of the other groups also have the ability to mimic
epilepsy. I do not know if demons cause epilepsy, per se, but I do
recall very vividly that they can mimic this condition in human beings.
At one time during this tour of the Second Heaven, I watched the
demons within their own related group and I experienced an awful
feeling. It was an overwhelming, oppressive, and morbid feeling. This
feeling came to me shortly after I had entered the Second Heaven
and I wondered what was causing it. It was at this time that I learned
that the angel could read my mind because my guardian angel said
to me, “That feeling you are wondering about is caused by the fact
that there is no love in this world.” The angel was telling me that in
this Second Heaven there is not one bit of love! Wow! Can you
imagine all of those demons serving a master they don’t love and the
master ruling over beings that he doesn’t love? Worse than that,
these companions are working together for an eternity and they do
not even love each other.
I started reflecting on what our physical world, called the First
Heaven, would be like without love. If God had not introduced His
love her in our world, then we would be living in a no–love
atmosphere like the Second Heaven. By God giving us His love, we
are able to return that love and then love one another. Can you
imagine what it would be like in your own home or your community it
was totally void of love?
When I was made aware of the fact that no love existed among the
demons, I wondered even more about their motivation and zeal.
What makes them work so hard? What makes them carry out orders
so rapidly? They don’t love one another, yet they carry out these
orders so quickly and with such zeal that any military organization on
Earth would be proud to have such loyal and obedient employees. I
wonder if their motivation could have anything to do with the
judgment and sentence that awaits them. It seems that since their
first rebellion ages ago while in the Third Heaven, they have reached
a place in their existence where they can no longer rebel. Whatever it
is that motivates them seems to excel in their very being while they,
in turn, are expressing their fury upon the flesh. It may just be that
the only enjoyment of their entire existence is to create misery for the
flesh. Even though I was permitted to go among them and watch
them while they worked, many things were not explained fully or
made clear to me. Some of the things that I saw in entirely, I was not
permitted to retain in my memory. I knew the high order of the
demons resented my presence and would have withstood me had I
not been under the protection of the Holy Spirit. One of the warring
demons came right up to me and leered into my face, but I did not
flinch for I was not afraid. I knew it would not be me with whom he
would have to contend but, instead, it would be He who brought me,
the Holy Spirit. The demons in the middle order seemed to totally
ignore me and went about their existence as if I were not there.
Those of the lower order seemed to display slight fear of me or fear
of the angel that was escorting me, however, the higher order of
demons had no fear of me or the angel.
My escort informed me that he wanted me to see a demon in the
process of actually possessing a human being. At this point in the
trip, I was escorted back through the dimension wall separating the
Second Heaven from the physical world. When we came back into
this world, we were in the same hospital with my body but in a
different room. The room appeared to be an employee’s lounge. I
saw tables, chairs, dishes with food, and in the room were a young
man and a young lady facing each other while laughing and talking. It
was obvious that they could not see nor the angels, yet I was so
close to them I could almost reach out and touch them. I could hear
and understand every word they said. They thought they were alone
and as they laughed and talked, they were unaware of the horrible
creature standing between them. This demon was so horrible in the
appearance of his shape and form that I recognized him immediately
to be from the lower group, the perverted group. The angels, the
demons, and I were in the spirit in that room and were aware of
everything that was happening. Those in the flesh were only aware of
themselves for they could not see or hear us even though we were
back in this physical world. Since we were in the spirit, we still
communicated with our minds.
I was not really paying close attention to the words the two were
speaking. My entire attention was focused upon the demon. He was
a most horrible looking thing, reminding me of an over–grown,
stuffed, slimy, green frog all out of shape and proportion. He moved
slowly up into the face of the man then, suddenly, like a puff of
smoke, he seemed to disappear into the face of the an just as if he
went through the pores of his skin. When the demon had entered the
man, the angels said, “Now it’s done.” The angel then proceeded to
tell me how it was that this man was possessed. He stated, “The
demon made himself desirable and attractive to the human.” The
angel then pointed out to me that mankind has a sovereign will, all
his own, beyond which the demons cannot come. He also pointed
out to me that the angels could not come beyond that sovereign will
of man. God, Himself, will not violate that will. We are made in the
image of God, therefore, we were given, like God, a sovereign will,
the right to choose our destiny. I was not permitted to retain all that I
learned along these lines.
I faintly recall that there is another process under certain given
circumstances whereby demons may possess or be allowed to enter
small children. It seems as though those demons from that
mysterious group are the ones that are allowed to do this. From what
I recall about this, it is only under the most unusual circumstances
that this can happen. According to what the angels told me, over
ninety percent of all cases of demon activity in human beings is
restricted to those humans who are at or over the age of
accountability.
During the course of this talk the angel was giving me, he pointed out
that all of God’s children have been given power over all demons and
can cast them out, however, this power is based on the faith of the
Christian. It will only work when the Christian knows without a doubt
what he is doing. There are certain Christians who have received a
special gift in this area. They are those who have been called
specifically by the Holy Spirit to a deliverance ministry and in almost
every case, those called to a deliverance ministry have also received
the gift of discernment. When one is commanding demons, it is most
important to know what spirit one is dealing with. In those rare cases
where children are possessed [not so rare anymore folks... a number
of children are possessed today because of the opened doors to the
enemy.], it takes a special effort and divine insight in each case to
deliver them. Such a case was reported in the Bible in Matthew
17:14-21. All Christians potentially have the ability to command
demons.
My escort told me that they wanted me to see demon activity in the
outside world. I was then escorted outside the hospital directly
through the brick wall into the streets of that city. I was amazed as I
watched all the activity of the humans in the physical world. Going
about their daily pursuit, they were completely unaware that they
were being stalked by beings from the spirit world. I was totally
flabbergasted as I watched and horrified as I saw the demons in all
shapes and forms as they moved at will among the humans.
While I learned about demons not being able to work in a person’s
life against their will, I also learned the angels cannot do it either.
Each born again Christian has a guardian angel and before that
Christian’s life is over, it might take a whole host of angels to keep
him. I learned that guardian angels fight for us, but they cannot fight
in the area of our will. The fighting they do is sort of like protecting
our “blind” side. They oppose the demons when the demons come
against us outside the area of our will. They cannot oppose the
demons when the demons come against us through our own will.
Remember, we are made in the image of God, like God, we have a
sovereign will.
I learned that the demons will fight the angels if they must, but they
prefer not to do so. They find that it is easier and safer to destroy us
through our own will where the angels are unable to interfere, rather
than go outside our will where they would have to fight angels
personally. Because of this, the demons have developed great skills
in the area of deception. They move through our lives by deceit and
trickery and keep us totally unaware of their activity.
I was made aware of the fact that not all demons are in the Second
Heaven. There are some demons so awesome that they are
reserved in chains in Hell, however, Satan and his army of demons
are not in Hell, presently. Neither do they want to be there. I was not
permitted to look into Hell, nor was I permitted to view the chained
demons. I do know that these demons who are chained went beyond
the limitations of their domain.
God in His wisdom has allowed Satan and his demons certain
bounds or limitations within which they may work. They may not go
beyond those limitations established by the Lord, however, those
demons who are chained in Hell did just that. Because they went
beyond the restrictions established by the Lord, they are now
chained in Hell.
The Bible points out this fact in many places, especially in the book
of Jude. Any time Satan goes beyond those bounds, he must receive
permission from God. In the case o f Job, he was granted the
permission, but in Peter’s case he was not granted permission. The
demons who work in children under the age of accountability are
allowed to do so only after obtaining this special permission. [I might
add that a “legal” door was opened by certain sin or sins that gave
the demon/s a right in the first place... ] It was not made plain to me
what sort of circumstances must be present for God to grant
permission, although it was made clear that in certain circumstances
permission is granted. However, permission to work in children under
the age of accountability is rarely granted. [Look around since he got
this, things have changed folks, Satanic doors have been opened...
more by parents.] The majority of the time Satan is denied this
special permission, but in these last days we can expect a
substantial increase I demonic activity, not only in adults but in
children as well. This increase in demonic activity is what the Lord
warned us about in Mark 13:22 when He spoke of the incredible
miracles that false prophets would perform in the last days. It is
difficult to understand why the Lord would allow demons to work
through children...
The demons that are reserved in chains did not obtain permission for
their activity which violated the restrictions established by our Lord.
Their illegal deeds are recorded in Genesis 6:2-5. Because they did
not obtain permission, they received immediate punishment. Specific
punishment for the devil and his demons is scheduled for the end–
time and is recorded in Revelation 20:1-3. As you well know, the lake
of fire was created for the devil and his demons as their eternal fate.
In this age we must be on guard for Satan’s fiery darts of deception
and temptation that are allowed within the limitations of the Lord’s
permissive will. There is a time limit set by the Lord in which demons
may work, but that time period has not yet been fulfilled. As
Christians we are able to have them “bound” under the authority of
Jesus, however, this is NOT permanent. We can NOT cast them into
HELL for only God can do this. That is why it is very important for
someone who has just been delivered to be properly instructed I
remaining in the Lord’s will lest they become afflicted again. A
Christian CAN cast out demons from a lost person, but unless that
person gets saved and abides in the Lord’s will, there will be the
possibility of the demons returning. [See Matthew 12:43-45].
Demons are real, individual, spirit beings and they are the ones
manipulating all the evil in the world today. This was shown to me
while I was in the spirit world traveling through the street of a city and
watching in horror as the demons went about their task of corrupting
humans.
Although humans are spirit beings, we are confined to physical
bodies. The great spiritual warfare that rages today is between the
“spirit of man” and the “spiritual forces” of evil directed by Satan
which are contending for control and manipulation of our fleshly,
physical bodies. Our spirits fight by faith and through our sovereign
will; while the devil and his [fallen] angels fight through deceit,
cunning, trickery, and temptation. You must make no mistake about
this war or the weapons involved because the scriptures are plain
and empathic on both. I actually saw these demons contend for
control of that human body.
It may seem to you that mankind is vastly over–powered by these
spirits because these spirits are able to see and hear everything we
think, say, and do; while we are totally unable to perceive any of their
activities. It is very difficult to fight an enemy you cannot see, hear,
and feel, but as long as you trust the Lord, you have nothing to fear.
At times, even the strongest Christian may doubt their existence and
activities, thus making it easier for them. However, man was not left
defenseless. Being made in the image of God, man, like God, has a
sovereign will and no spirit can violate that will without the permission
of the person himself. Because of this, these demons have
developed great skills in deception. The basic principle of their
operations is to make something evil as desirable, beautiful, and
non–threatening as possible so that the person being tempted will
lower his guard and accept whatever it is that is being used to cause
SIN. Once someone is deceived, it becomes easier for the deception
to remain. In the case of possession, it becomes easier for the
demon to maintain his control.
Another great defense man has is the guardian angel. The guardian
angel is not assigned to all mankind, but only to those who are
“saved and belong to God.” Remember, just like the demons the
guardian angel cannot violate the will of any man which is why most
of his activity is reserved to protecting that individual outside his
sovereign will. Man’s greatest weapon, however, is the Word of God.
In his description of the weapons used in our spiritual warfare, Paul
insists the Word of God [Ephesians 6:11-18] as the only offensive
weapon mankind has. Although vastly outnumbered by these beings
[thousands to one individual], man is adequately prepared for battle.
Because of a sovereign will, guardian angels, and the Word of God,
man has superior defense and is much more potent in the battle for
his soul than the demons.
Therefore, I say to everyone — if you are serious in your commitment
to fight this war and win, fear not! Your commander–in–chief,
teacher, healer and sustainer — the Holy Spirit — will NEVER leave
you NOR forsake you.
Chapter 9: The Way Home
When the angels decided that I had seen enough of the demons at
work in this physical world, I was taken back into the Second Heaven
just by passing through the dividing, dimension wall. Once back
inside the Second Heaven, my escort guided me in the direction of
the Third Heaven and I was happy at last. After all, this was where I
had wanted to go all the time. Even at this stage, my physical life was
still my primary concern.
Suddenly we came to a most beautiful place. I know that I’ve already
reported how terrible that the Second Heaven was, so you can
imagine how surprising it was to find anything beautiful over there.
God would not allow me to retain the memory of why this place was
so beautiful. I do remember that it was the most beautiful place I’d
ever seen. This place looked like a tunnel, a roadway, a valley or
some sort of highway. It had a most brilliant light all its own and was
completely surrounded with an invisible shield. I knew that the
invisible shield was the protection of the Holy Spirit.
Walking in this tunnel, or along that roadway, or valley, or whatever,
was what appeared to be human beings. I asked my escort who they
were. He told me, “They are saints going home.” These were the
departed spirits of Christians who had died on Earth and they were
going home. Each of these saints was accompanied by at least one
guardian angel and some had a whole host of angels with them. I
wondered why some saints were accompanied by only one angel and
others had many. I was watching as the saints passed through the
way that all saints must take to go home. Here it was, the
passageway from Earth to the Third Heaven. I found that only
“authorized” spirits were allowed in that tunnel. No demon was
permitted there.
When my escort had finished explaining to me about the homeward
trip of the saints. I started into the tunnel. The angel stopped me and
told me that we had to travel alongside the tunnel and not inside of it.
I traveled, therefore parallel with but outside the tunnel where the
saints were. While we were traveling here alongside the tunnel, we
did not move at the “speed of thought.” Instead, we traveled as it
floating on a cloud. In other words, there was no cloud but the mode
of traveling felt as if I were floating on a cloud.
I could see the saints at all times moving along inside the tunnel.
They were in the form and shape of humans, yet I could not detect
any race, age, or sex. They were all clothed alike with the garments
appearing to be made up of two pieces. There was a blouse or shirt
and a pair of slacks. The color of the garments was a pastel, baby
blue with one of the garment pieces being a shade lighter than the
other piece. The blue was so light that it was almost white. I realize
that these saints I was viewing had not yet received their glorified
body because that must wait until the first resurrection.
At first I was disappointed that I was not permitted to travel in the
tunnel with the saints, but the disappointment was eased when I was
told that we were going to the same place they were going. After all, I
knew that if my physical life was going to be extended, I would have
to appear before God. Even now, my physical life was still the
uppermost thing to me.
As we traveled along, I noticed all around me that the demons were
beginning to drop behind. The Gates came into view and the closer
we got to those Gates, the farther behind fell the demons. When we
arrived before the Gates there were no demons in view. Although the
Gates of the Third Heaven opened out into the Second Heaven, no
demon could come close.
Instead of allowing me to enter, the angel stationed me before the
Gates, slightly to one side. He instructed me to stay there and watch
as the saints were permitted to enter into Heaven. As the saints were
allowed into Heaven, I noticed a strange thing. They were permitted
to enter only one at a time. No two were permitted to enter those
Gates at the same time. I wondered about this but it was never
explained to me. I’ve studied about this often since I have returned
and now I think I know why. I believe this is a tribute or a salute to the
individual. After all, that individual made the choice with his own
sovereign will. Remember, it had been pointed out to me specifically
that we, as images of the Living God, possess a sovereign will
through which we have the right to choose our own destiny.
As the saints were being admitted, I was wondering why I was not
being allowed to do what I came to do. I was so impatient to get my
request before God that I missed the whole point of what I saw. This
point was so important that the Holy Spirit told me Himself. I watched
the fifty saints enter Heaven but the point I missed was the time
frame involved. It was explained to me that at the same time those
fifty saints died on Earth, 1,950 other humans also died; or only 50
out of 2000 made it into Heaven. That other 1,950 were not there.
Where were they? That was only 2 1⁄2 percent going to Heaven!
Ninety seven point five percent did not make it! Is that representative
of the entire would today? If so, 97 and 1⁄2 percent of the population
of this world today is not ready to meet God. The sad part, my friend,
is that is exactly representative of this Laodicean Church Age in
which we live today. We are now in the time when the great majority
of church goers are only “mouth–professors” and not “heart–
possessors.”
At the outset, I stated that I would not try to convince anyone of
anything I said. However, I would like to offer as evidence the parable
of the sower as told by Jesus in the thirteenth chapter of the book of
Matthew. If you read this chapter closely, you will notice that three
out of every four people who heard the gospel preached, turned it
down. That is seventy–five percent anyway you look at it. I am talking
about three out of every four people who bothered to hear the
gospel, turned it down! The sad part about this is the overwhelming
majority of the people that did turn the gospel down, do not know that
they have turned it down! They have bought a lie of Satan and have
been deceived. They have been led to believe something that is not
the truth and they been fooled by Satan into rejecting the gospel!
Place the seventy–five percent who turned down the gospel with
those in the world who made no pretense of hearing the truth and
you have the overwhelming ninety seven and one-half percent of the
population today!
As I contemplate this fact. I now understand the Lord’s disgust with
the Laodicean–type Church. I also clearly understand the verses of
scripture in Matthew 7:22-23 that describes how many people will
stand before the Throne at the Judgment pleading. “Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in they Name? And in thy Name cast out devils?
And in thy name done many wonderful works?” only to have the Lord
process to them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity...”
Chapter 10: The Rude Awakening
My escort told me to stand to one side of the Gates and present my
case. He assured me that God would hear and answer my request.
As I stood before the Gates, the sense of joy, happiness, and
contentment radiated out from Heaven. I could feel the warmth it
produced and as I stood there to plead my case. I could feel the
awesome power of God. No being could possibly appear before Him,
even separated by a gate as I was, without experiencing this
awesome power, might and majesty. At first I had a sense of fear,
sort of guilt feeling that is always produced in me when I believe I
have imposed on others. In my mind’s eye I could just visualize a
busy God who was annoyed with me for taking Him away from
important things. Then, just as suddenly as this feeling came, it
passed. I then found strength or boldness in my belief that I had
served my God faithfully for many years. To me, I was convinced that
this request of mine would be a snap!
Boldly I came before the throne and started out by reminding God
what a great life of love, worship, and sacrifice I had lived for Him. I
told Him of all the works I had done reminding Him that I was now in
trouble and only He could help by granting me an extension on my
physical life. God was totally silent while I spoke. When I had
completed my request, I heard the real, audible voice of God as He
answered me.
The voice I heard was not like the sweet voice that Satan had used
to trick me before in the valley. You could put together the noise of all
the storms, volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes and they could in
no way imitate what I heard. The sound of His voice was in no way
like the sweet voice I talked about earlier. The sound of His voice
came down on me from over the Gates even before the words hit me.
The tone of His anger knocked me on my face as God proceeded to
tell me just what kind of life I had really lived. He told me what He
really thought of me and even others who did as I had. He pointed
out that my faith was DEAD, that my works were NOT
ACCEPTABLE, and that I had labored in VAIN. He told me that it
was an abomination for me to live such a life and then dare call it a
life of worship. Furthermore, He said to those who do it, they are in
danger of experiencing His everlasting wrath. As God dealt with me,
He displayed His wrath to me. Notice, it was not His everlasting
wrath. He did say there are some who will experience His everlasting
wrath.
I could not believe He was talking to me in this manner! I had served
Him for years! I thought I had lived a life pleasing to Him! As He was
enumerating my wrongs, I was sure He had me confused with
someone else. There was no strength left in me to even move, let
alone protest, yet I was panicking within myself. No way He could be
talking about me! All of these years I thought I was doing those works
for God! Now He was telling me that what I did, I did for myself. Even
as I preached and testified about the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I
was doing that only for myself in order that my conscience might be
soothed. In essence, my first love and first works were for myself.
After MY needs and wants were met or satisfied, in order to soothe
my conscience I would set out to do the Lord’s work. This made my
priorities out of order and unacceptable. Actually, I had become my
own false God.
He makes it plain in His teachings that He is a jealous God and will
have no other gods before Him; flesh, stone, blood, or whatever. He
will have no other gods before Him. God told me that He would not
accept this kind of worship in the day of the Pharisees and He
certainly was not about to accept it now in this the Laodicean Church
Age. He put it to me as plain as words and actions could make it. In
order for our works to be acceptable, we must work according to His
command in Matthew 6:33 which empathically states, “But seek ye
first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these other
things shall be added to you.” As God told me about my true motives,
the verse of scripture in Matthew 16:24-26 and Luke 14:26-33
became so clear to me. In Matthew 16 it states, “Then said Jesus
unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him DENY
himself and take up his cross, and follow me, for whosoever shall
save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it.” In Luke 14 beginning with verse 26 it is stated, “If any
man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and HIS OWN life also, he
cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and
come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to
build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether
he have sufficient to finish it?” In verse 23 of this same chapter Jesus
makes the following statement which is the cornerstone of the two
portions of scripture previously stated: “So likewise, whosoever he be
of you that forsaketh not ALL that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
Only now as I was here before Him being chastised did those two
portions of scripture become crystal clear to me as to their true
meaning. As God told me about my TRUE MOTIVES, I could see
plainly for the first time how MY WORKS were DEAD. Because God
was displaying His wrath toward me, I could not stand nor could I
speak. No strength was left within me as I was nothing more than a
wet rag lying there writhing in agony. It indeed, was fortunate for me
that this was not God’s everlasting wrath, only temporary wrath.
However, at this time I did not know this was only temporary.
It needs to be stated that at no time while God was chastising me did
He say I was not saved nor did He say that my name was not in the
Lamb’s Book of Life. He never mentioned salvation to me at all but
only spoke about the works produced through my life. He told me the
type of life I lived was an unacceptable life for a true Christian. As He
spoke to me of my dead works, he indicated that there are some
people who are not saved but think they are. These people will
experience His everlasting wrath. He also made it plain to me that
there are others of His children who will find themselves in my
present condition on Judgment Day. This revealed to me the true
meaning of 1 Corinthians 3:15 which states, “If any man’s works shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so
as by fire.”
The first time I started to enter the Third Heaven, the angel stopped
me. At that time he did not tell me I could not enter. He only said that
if I went in I could not come out again and that I would have to
remain there until God brought me back with Him. Notice that I made
the choice not to enter Heaven but to have my physical life restored. I
was unaware that I had made that choice at that particular time. I
thought I had been living in the Lord’s will and I was not thinking in
terms of unfinished work. My choice was based entirely on SELFISH
MOTIVES.
There are no words that can describe the pain I endured as God’s
wrath was upon me for this life of so–called service. The agony was
beyond the scope of the imagination and the remorse that I felt
produced a very heavy burden similar to a physical weight pinning
me down or an enormous stone crushing me. Growing weaker and
weaker, my mind was frantically racing in an effort to grasp what the
Lord was telling me while recalling each actual incident. God leaves
no room for error and that includes whatever is in our minds.
The surprise was so overwhelming in its magnitude that it rendered
me senseless. My strength left me immediately, just as though I had
been hit by a bolt of lightning. Even if God would have ceased and
allowed me to speak on word of protest, I would not have been able
to do so. I had absolutely no strength whatsoever to utter anything or
to project my idea. In my mind I was constantly DENYING the wrong
in my life while acknowledging the fact that I had committed them. My
conscience was asleep but my mind was NOT.
Slowly, it all began to be absorbed by me. Remember how the Bible
tells us to have no other gods before us? I had thought that the Most
High God was the only God of my life, but I was not fulfilling that part
of scripture which tells us that if we allow anything to come between
us and the Lord, (whatever it may be) it becomes our “God.” I
realized that each day of my life was devoted only to MYSELF! My
whole life I was preoccupied with MY needs FIRST and THEN I was
concerned with what the Lord wanted. The money to help the church,
the poor, or anything else was secondary because I was my OWN
“god.” Naturally, the devil was contented with allowing me to remain
in that condition because as long as I was in that condition, I was of
no use to the Lord and His kingdom.
I allowed this to occur because I was really indifferent to the things of
the Lord. It was too uncomfortable to change and I was convinced I
could remain as I was without having to really DO anything (such as
following the Lord’s commandment about DENYING myself and
picking up my cross daily to follow HIM.) For this reason, my life was
wasted and amounted to absolutely nothing in the Lord’s eyes.
I hope that you understand what it is that I am saying because it is
the whole point of this chapter. The fact is we must prove we are
really Christians by first examining our motives behind each deed in
our lives, and then repenting and recommitting ourselves to follow
the Lord daily. When we decide to serve Him FIRST, this decision
must be followed by ACTION or it will be as useless as if we did not
decide to do so in the first place.
Chapter 11: My Real Father
When God was through with me the interview was over as suddenly
as one would turn off a faucet. I was not allowed to linger or even
reflect on what God said. The angels immediately carried me away
as if I were as wet rag having no strength in myself. Totally
annihilated, I could not even gather my thoughts.
The angels carried me back through the Second Heaven, through the
dimension wall, and into the hospital room where my body was lying.
It was not until I reached the bed upon which my body lay did I regain
my composure. As I regained my composure, I vehemently
protested, “No! No!” I told the angels, “God did not answer me! He
did not say yes or no to my request! Please, oh please, take me
back!” I pleaded with the angels.
God is a God of order and He never does anything haphazardly.
Since all of this entire experience had been planned by God, the
angels complied with my request to take me back. God was dealing
with me gently and tenderly through His great LOVE knowing what
was necessary for me to experience in order for me to have the
scales fall off my eyes.
During the time God was displaying His wrath toward me, I thought
this wrath was terrible and painful. I found out later that it was nothing
compared to the pain the lost will experience when they receive His
everlasting wrath.
While in route back to the Third Heaven, I was beside myself trying to
come up with a logical reason or legitimate basis on which to plead
my case. God had already told me that my life had been a failure,
therefore, I could not offer my past life as evidence of my intentions
to serve Him. Somehow or another, the thought of Hezekiah came to
my mind. When God sent word for him to put his house in order, he
cried and prayed and God heard him. God extended his life for fifteen
years. I remembered from my studies about him that Hezekiah was
the “good–old–boy” type, similar to me. I remembered how he had
good intentions in his heart but how he had trouble translating out
those intentions into everyday living. Since this seemed to be the
same kind of trouble I had in my life, I concluded that God dealt with
Hezekiah based on the intentions of his heart. Because of this
assumption, I concluded this reasoning would be the basis of my
plea.
Upon my arrival back before the third heaven, I was brought to the
same place from which I had previously pleaded my case. Not nearly
so bold this time, I remembered how God's wrath had floored me
beforehand. Nevertheless, I had asked God for a favor and God had
not answered. Wanting his answer no matter what it was, I timidly
started pleading my case again.
This time God did not knock me down but let me talk. God did not
talk to me in anger but started out answering me in a tone of pity.
Before it was all over, God was speaking in sorrow.
Opening my plea by quoting scriptures to God, I began by telling him
all about Hezekiah. I told God that I figured out that Hezekiah was
the "good-old-boy" type, that the intentions of his heart were pure,
but he seemed to be unable to translate out those intentions into
everyday living. Here I was, an insignificant nothing and the smallest
creature in all his universe, bartering words with this great and
awesome God who had created it all.
I said, "Father, if You will grant this request, I promise you I will do
better the next time."
The Lord answered me thusly, "Howard Pittman, you have promised
before." God did not have to say another word. There they were, all
the promises I had made to a holy God in my past entire life. Not one
of them remained whole. Somehow, someway, I had managed to
break them all. With nothing left to say, no words in all my
vocabulary, nowhere to go, I fell on my knees before him. All I could
say was "Amen" to my own condemnation. I knew that if at that
moment God would banish me into the pits of hell, it would be just to
say "amen" to my own condemnation.
At that moment God did not demand justice but showed me mercy.
The scales fell from my eyes and my soul was suddenly filled with
light. That powerful, awesome, all-consuming God was now not
evident. There on that throne dealing with me was my REAL Father.
God was no longer a distant God, but a real, genuine Father. The
realization of his being my true Father and my best friend came to
me for the first time in my life. The wonderful relationship I had
enjoyed with my physical father and the wonderful love we shared for
each other was suddenly brought to mind yet magnified a thousand
fold. For now I was with my real Father, the one who loved me so
much that God left all of his creation to deal with me, the prodigal
son.
For the first time in my life, I saw in my mind's eye who God really is.
For the first time I met God as God truly is, my real Father, my very
best friend. As the realization of who God is flooded my soul, great
and painful sorrow also came. Sorrow came when I realized that
through disobedience I had hurt my Father. This realization and
sorrow produced actual pain which was not just a guilt feeling but
actual pain similar to what one would experience in the flesh when
one sustains a physical injury. At this point in time, God started
dealing with me in sorrow and no longer did the tone of his voice
express pity. Instead, the sound was of genuine sorrow. I suddenly
realized that God was hurting too. God was hurting because I was
hurting. Being a true and just God as God is, God had to allow me to
suffer the pain and God could not lift it from me. Although God had to
allow me to suffer the pain, God would not allow me to suffer it alone.
God the most High, the most Supreme, the Creator of all, the Father
of all would not let me suffer alone.
By this time I suddenly realized that my physical life was not so
important after all. What I was really concerned about now was what
my Father wanted. His will had suddenly become the first thing of my
life and my physical life was no longer important. This is when God
gave me back my physical life. Only when I reached a place that my
life did not mean anything to me, did God give it back to me. Now
that the prodigal son had returned, the Father could talk at last. God
could tell me what my trip to heaven was all about and that God had
a message God wanted me to tell people on earth.
Chapter 12: Wake Up!
I now repeat for you point by point the entire five point message that
God gave me to deliver to this world today.
Point Number 1: For those who call themselves Christians, this is the
Laodicean Church Age in which we live. A high majority of so-called
Christians are, in fact, living a deceived life. They talk Jesus and play
church, but do not live it. They claim to be Christians and then live
like the devil. They have bought the great lie from Satan who tells
them that they are alright. He tells them that it is alright to go to
church on Sunday and attend mid-week services but as far as the
rest of the time is concerned, they are to get all they can out of life.
As far as their Christian life is concerned, they believe they are
comfortable and have need of nothing and as a result, they are only
lukewarm Christians if Christians at all.
Point Number 2: Satan is a personal devil.
Point Number 3: To the whole world, this is Noah's second day. As it
was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of
the son of man. Humans took no thought of what Noah was saying
nor did humans believe that anything was about to change. Humanity
could see the storm clouds over the horizon, but yet did not believe
the rain was imminent. Notice the close parallel today. Humanity can
see all the signs of the last days, yet humanity does not believe that
anything will change. He does not believe in the impending coming of
our Lord and he does not prepare to meet God."
Point Number 4: For those who claim to be Christians, they are
supposed to be ambassadors for Christ here on earth. One cannot
have any true witness or power in his life unless that one lives his
Christian faith at all times, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week. To be a true Christian one must live it, not just talk it. To honor
God with your lips and not your heart is not acceptable. Those who
accept the responsibility of teaching, preaching, or any leadership
role have much for which to answer.
Point Number 5: God is now in the process of recruiting an army with
which God will shake this old world one more time. By working
through his soldiers, God will produce great miracles that will shake
the established hierarchy of the so-called organized religion that is in
this world today. These soldiers that God is now recruiting will
demonstrate the power of God to a greater extent than did the
disciples in the Pentecostal age. Now the recruitment has begun in
earnest because God is about to perform the great miracles through
his army that God promised us God would do in the Bible. John the
Baptist brought the spirit of Elijah into this world and he did not even
know he had it. John denied it, but Jesus confessed that it was so.
The purpose of that spirit was to make straight the paths of the
coming of the Lord.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Alpha and Omega, the Cause of all the universe's existence
was hurting because a mere Earth child was hurting. Oh, what Love!
What Understanding! It was so far beyond anything a mere Earthling
can understand. Oh how precious just one, little, insignificant Earth
child is to that Great God" – Howard Pittman
by Howard Pittman
On August 3, 1979, Howard Pittman, a Baptist minister for 35 years,
died while on the operating table during surgery and had a near-
death experience. After angels showed him the second and third
heavens, he was taken before the very throne of God where he was
given a message to share with the world.
The following is an excerpt from his booklet, Placebo, which
documents his amazing near-death experience. You can purchase
his audio tapes and booklets at the Lake Hamilton Bible Camp store.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forward
Webster's Dictionary defines "placebo" as "a medication prescribed
more for the mental relief of a patient than for the actual effect on his
disorder, or something tending to soothe."
The doctors tell us that if we know we are being treated with a
placebo, it does not work. In our minds we must think that it is a real
medication and has the strength or power to heal. If the patient
believes this, then the treatment has been known to work wonders in
many cases that otherwise could not have been treated. Placebo
treatment is, in fact, nothing of substance, but in the mind of the
patient it is real. In order for this kind of treatment to work, the doctor
must convince the patient of the work of the medication.
My friend, I declare unto you that this is the exact "treatment" that
most "mouth-professing" Christians are using today. The doctor
administering this "medication" is Satan himself. He gives the
"patent" a sugar-coated religion, a shallow experience, and whispers
half-truths into his ears. He then tells the "patient" that it is real and
that it is all the "patent" needs. The "patent", having been taken in by
Satan, believes this and goes on his merry way declaring to all that
he has been born again, his salvation is real, and this experience is
all that he needs. Doctor Satan will allow his "patient" to continue to
go to church and will allow him to take part in any church, that is,
singing, leading in prayer, teaching Sunday School, and even
preaching. He will allow the "patient" to make any kind of statement
in connection with his "mouth-professing" religion, even to the point
of the saving power of Jesus. Yes, he will allow the "patient" to do all
and say all with one exception. That exception is that the "patient" will
not be allowed to live the life that he confesses with his mouth ...
Chapter 5: Preparation
In the year 1978, I retired from the New Orleans Police Department
and moved my family to a sixty-one acre farm I Mississippi. Around
August 7, 1979 I was suddenly stuck with a grave and disastrous
illness. The night before the tragedy I went to bed as usual ...On
awakening that morning I was slightly nauseated and skipped
breakfast. My wife asked me if was not going to eat. I replied that I
had to hurry to keep my appointment with some folks who I hoped
would support my candidacy for sheriff with campaign contributions. I
was unaware that God had also made an appointment for me that
day. Let me remind you that the Bible says that it is appointed once
unto man to die and, without warning, my appointment came. Like a
flash of lightning, the main trunk artery in my body cavity ruptured
causing a devastating, sudden, blood loss ...So at midnight they
carried me into ICU and at 6:00 a.m. the following morning, my vital
life signs failed again. The chief physician came out of ICU and told
my wife, “It is something else.” They took me into surgery where they
worked on me for an additional seven hours ...
[For the sake of brevity, a large amount of Pittman's description of his
Emergency Room experience is not reprinted here. Read his book for
the full description.]
Somewhere in that period of time when the physicians were working
on me, I came to myself and realized that I was dying ...Knowing that
only God could give me back my life and that only God could change
this appointed time to die, I prayed a strange prayer. My prayer was
that God would allow me to appear before His throne and pleaded for
an extension of my physical life. In any other time and place this sort
of prayer would be unusual, however, all of this was planned by God
to ultimately serve His purpose. The thought to pray such a prayer
was instilled in my mind by the Holy Spirit ...
Chapter 7: The Grand Tour
What happens next is so incredible that some people find it hard to
believe. May I say at the outset that I know the difference between
dreams, visions, and a real experience. May I also point out that if
you do not believe in Satan and demons as being real, individual
beings, then you do yourself and the Kingdom of God a great
disservice. It stands to reason that you cannot understand or even
withstand an enemy if you do not believe he is real.
At the moment I resisted Satan, he fled from me. The angels were
there and they took my spirit from my body. These angels were
present all the time that Satan tempted me although I did not know it
because I was still in the flesh. The angels did not attempt to help me
until I had resisted Satan with my own will. The only help I had was
the supernatural revelation from the Holy Spirit that the voice I was
hearing belonged to Satan and not to God. Whether or not to obey
that voice was my choice.
When the angels lifted my spirit from my body, they carried me
immediately to the Second Heaven. We did not have to leave that
hospital room in order to enter the Second Heaven. We entered there
in that same room where my body was, just by passing through a
dimension wall. It is a wall which flesh cannot pass through, only
spirit.
For you the reader, to understand what was happening, you must
understand the separation of the spirit from the flesh. To know how
this works, we must know how we, ourselves, are made. The Bible
states that we, as humans beings are made in the image of God. To
understand this, we must know what God is. The Bible states three
immutable things about God: 1st God is Spirit, 2nd God is invisible
and 3rd God is immortal. If we are made in His image, then we are
spirit, we are invisible, and we are immortal. Therefore, when we look
into a mirror we do not see our real selves. We see only the body, or
earthen vessel, in which we live. Since we are all made in the image
of God, we would all be mirror images of one another without our
earthly, physical bodies. Therefore, we were given a soul to separate
us from one another to make us an individual.
The animals in this world also have a soul. The only difference
between their souls and ours is that our soul belongs to the spirit.
Their souls belongs to the body. When their body perishes, their
souls perishes with it. When our body perishes, the soul remains with
the spirit. When the spirit was lifted from my body, my soul came with
it. I suppose the simplest way to identify the soul would be to say that
it is one’s personality. The entire time I was away from my body I
remained an individual, that is, I retained my own personality. I
retained all my faculties. In fact, they were greatly enhanced.
As we moved through that dimension wall into the Second Heaven, I
found myself in an entirely different world, far different from anything I
had ever imagined. This world was a place occupied by spirit beings
as vast in number as the sands of the seashore. These beings were
demons [devils], or fallen angels, and were in thousands of different
shapes and forms. Even those in similar shapes and forms were
contrasted by diverse coloring. Many of the demons were in human
shapes or forms and many were in forms similar to animals familiar
to our present world. Others were in shapes and forms too hideous to
imagine. Some of the forms were so morbid and revolting that I was
almost to the point of nausea.
When I first arrived in the Second Heaven, I knew immediately in
what direction I must go to reach the Third Heaven where God was. I
don’t know how I knew that, but I did. I also knew that if I was going
to get my prayer answered, I was going to have to appear before
God the Father in the Third Heaven. I was aware that I was traveling
in that spirit world under the protection of the Holy Spirit, and that the
angels who were escorting me were also moving about under the
protection of the Holy Spirit. It might seem strange to you, the reader,
that the angels needed the protection of the Holy Spirit, but
remember where we were, the Second Heaven. The Second Heaven
is the place where Satan presently has his throne located. Satan is
not yet in Hell although Hell is to be his final destiny.
All the spirits in that world were aware of our presence and were
aware of the Holy Spirit’s protection over us. To give you an idea as
to why that protection was necessary, let me give a Bible reference
to the power of Satan as demonstrated in the Second Heaven. The
tenth chapter of the book of Daniel tells about God sending one of
His angels to deliver a message to Daniel. Because of the
importance of that message, Satan did not want it delivered. In order
for the angel sent from God in the Third Heaven to reach Daniel, he
had to pass through the Second Heaven. Satan sent one of his
princes, or one of his archangels, to stop the angel. The angel had to
fight and could not get through alone so he had to call for
reinforcements. God had to send one of His prices, or the archangel,
to help the messenger and even this took twenty–one days. After the
angel delivered the message, he reminded Daniel that he, the angel,
would have to fight his way back through the Second Heaven.
As we moved about there in that world, I was greatly disappointed
that my escort did not take me in the direction of the Third Heaven
where God was. Instead, we moved in the opposite direction. As we
moved from place to place in that world, I learned many things about
demons.
I did things differently in the spirit realm than what we do here in the
physical world. For instance, we do not communicate with our
mouths and ears, but rather, we communicated with our minds. It
was like projecting our words on thought waves and receiving the
answer the same way. Although I could still think to myself without
projecting, I discovered that this really did not benefit me because the
angels could read my mind.
I could hear different sounds in that world, but I did not hear with my
ears. I heard with my mind, but I was still able to “hear” those
sounds. When we traveled, we traveled mostly at what I call the
“speed of thought.” When we traveled at the “speed of thought,” there
was no sensation of movement. The angel would say where we were
going and we were there. There were other times when we did not
travel in that manner, and I was very much aware of movement while
traveling. One of those times when I was aware of movement was
when they brought me back into the physical world and allowed me
to see the demons working here. We moved about here somewhat
like floating on a cloud. Still, I had the sensation of movement.
Make no mistake about demons for they are very real. The Bible
makes more statements about demons than it does about angels and
it points out in Luke 10:18 that demons are evil. Mark 5:8,9 indicates
how numerous they are and Matthew 10:1 shows that they are
unclean. Matthew 12:21-30 states that they are under the command
of Satan and Matthew 8:29 shows that they can possess humans.
In the demon world, there is a division of power much like a military
structured chain command with rank and order. Certain demons
carry the title of prince, which is always the demon in charge of a
principality. A principality is a territory, an area, a place or a group
that may range in size from as large as a nation to as small as a
person. When Satan assigns a prince a task, the prince is given the
authority to act in the name of Satan and use whatever means
necessary or available to him to accomplish his task.
When we started the tour of the Second Heaven, the angels began
by showing me the different types of demons. Each demon was
revealed to me in a form that indicated his area of expertise, and I
soon discovered that there is no such thing as a “general practitioner”
in all the demon world. They have only one area of expertise which
they do very well.
Chapter 8: Demons
As each type of demon was pointed out to me, I quickly discovered a
social order, or rank, that existed among them. Those at the top of
that order were revealed in forms similar to humans. As we moved
down the order, or rank, I saw demons in shapes or forms that
looked like half–animal and half–human. I saw demons in forms
resembling animals we know in this present world and I saw demons
in forms and shapes so revoltingly morbid that you cannot possibly
imagine them.
At the very top of the order were the warring demons which were the
“cream” of Satan’s “crop.” They moved about the Second Heaven
and event his present, physical world at will always traveling in
groups, never alone. Wherever they went, all other demons moved
out of their way. These warring demons were revealed to me in
human form. They looked like humans with the exception that they
were giants. Appearing to be about eight feet tall, they were rugged
and handsomely constructed, somewhat like giant athletes. All of the
warring demons were colored bronze. They were giant, bronze
soldiers. All of the other demons seemed to be subject to them.
The second most powerful type demon was also revealed to me in
human form and these demons looked like ordinary people. All of
those possessing this area of expertise seemed to group together at
about the second place of command. Chief among this group was
the demon of greed and contained within this same group were
demons of hate, lust, strife, and a few others.
The third most powerful type and group of demons were revealed to
me in mixed shapes and forms. Some had human form while others
had half–human and half–animal forms. Others resembled animals in
their forms. These demons possessed skills in the dark arts area
such as witchcraft and other related areas. Also among this group
were demons of fear and the demons of self–destruction as well as
those demons which are expert in mimicking departed human spirits
[familiar spirits] and in manifesting themselves to the physical world
as ghosts.
When we got down to the fourth group, or order, all the demons of
this rank were revealed in forms other than human. Some had forms
like known animals while others had unknown forms. In this group
were the demons of murder, brutality, sadism, and others related to
carnage.
As we moved even further down the order toward the end of the
chain of command, all the demons were revealed in horrible and
morbid forms. Some were so revolting that their appearance
produced nausea. They are so despised by their own companions
that they always seem to be lurking off to themselves while in the
Second Heaven and even while in this physical world. They do not
associate with the other demons except in the line of their duty.
There was another group of demons that I was able to see, but I do
not recall much of their ability. It was purposely taken away from me
as I was not permitted to learn or retain too much memory about
them. I don’t even know where they rank in order and their form was
not revealed to me. I am not sure of their entire area of expertise,
however, I am vaguely aware of their powerful hold on the flesh. It
seems that this mysterious group of demons work differently from all
other demons and are used in only special cases and special
situations of which I do not clearly understand. As I stated, I was not
permitted to retain too much in my memory about this particular
group of demons. I was only permitted to retain that portion which I
am now reporting to you and this, in itself, is very vague.
I’m also aware that these particular demons are harder to deal with
than any of the rest. It seems their great strength rests in their ability
to remain anonymous in their work in the human being. Among this
group is the one that is able to manifest himself as a form of epilepsy
in the human. I am not sure but I seem to recall that some other
demons in some of the other groups also have the ability to mimic
epilepsy. I do not know if demons cause epilepsy, per se, but I do
recall very vividly that they can mimic this condition in human beings.
At one time during this tour of the Second Heaven, I watched the
demons within their own related group and I experienced an awful
feeling. It was an overwhelming, oppressive, and morbid feeling. This
feeling came to me shortly after I had entered the Second Heaven
and I wondered what was causing it. It was at this time that I learned
that the angel could read my mind because my guardian angel said
to me, “That feeling you are wondering about is caused by the fact
that there is no love in this world.” The angel was telling me that in
this Second Heaven there is not one bit of love! Wow! Can you
imagine all of those demons serving a master they don’t love and the
master ruling over beings that he doesn’t love? Worse than that,
these companions are working together for an eternity and they do
not even love each other.
I started reflecting on what our physical world, called the First
Heaven, would be like without love. If God had not introduced His
love her in our world, then we would be living in a no–love
atmosphere like the Second Heaven. By God giving us His love, we
are able to return that love and then love one another. Can you
imagine what it would be like in your own home or your community it
was totally void of love?
When I was made aware of the fact that no love existed among the
demons, I wondered even more about their motivation and zeal.
What makes them work so hard? What makes them carry out orders
so rapidly? They don’t love one another, yet they carry out these
orders so quickly and with such zeal that any military organization on
Earth would be proud to have such loyal and obedient employees. I
wonder if their motivation could have anything to do with the
judgment and sentence that awaits them. It seems that since their
first rebellion ages ago while in the Third Heaven, they have reached
a place in their existence where they can no longer rebel. Whatever it
is that motivates them seems to excel in their very being while they,
in turn, are expressing their fury upon the flesh. It may just be that
the only enjoyment of their entire existence is to create misery for the
flesh. Even though I was permitted to go among them and watch
them while they worked, many things were not explained fully or
made clear to me. Some of the things that I saw in entirely, I was not
permitted to retain in my memory. I knew the high order of the
demons resented my presence and would have withstood me had I
not been under the protection of the Holy Spirit. One of the warring
demons came right up to me and leered into my face, but I did not
flinch for I was not afraid. I knew it would not be me with whom he
would have to contend but, instead, it would be He who brought me,
the Holy Spirit. The demons in the middle order seemed to totally
ignore me and went about their existence as if I were not there.
Those of the lower order seemed to display slight fear of me or fear
of the angel that was escorting me, however, the higher order of
demons had no fear of me or the angel.
My escort informed me that he wanted me to see a demon in the
process of actually possessing a human being. At this point in the
trip, I was escorted back through the dimension wall separating the
Second Heaven from the physical world. When we came back into
this world, we were in the same hospital with my body but in a
different room. The room appeared to be an employee’s lounge. I
saw tables, chairs, dishes with food, and in the room were a young
man and a young lady facing each other while laughing and talking. It
was obvious that they could not see nor the angels, yet I was so
close to them I could almost reach out and touch them. I could hear
and understand every word they said. They thought they were alone
and as they laughed and talked, they were unaware of the horrible
creature standing between them. This demon was so horrible in the
appearance of his shape and form that I recognized him immediately
to be from the lower group, the perverted group. The angels, the
demons, and I were in the spirit in that room and were aware of
everything that was happening. Those in the flesh were only aware of
themselves for they could not see or hear us even though we were
back in this physical world. Since we were in the spirit, we still
communicated with our minds.
I was not really paying close attention to the words the two were
speaking. My entire attention was focused upon the demon. He was
a most horrible looking thing, reminding me of an over–grown,
stuffed, slimy, green frog all out of shape and proportion. He moved
slowly up into the face of the man then, suddenly, like a puff of
smoke, he seemed to disappear into the face of the an just as if he
went through the pores of his skin. When the demon had entered the
man, the angels said, “Now it’s done.” The angel then proceeded to
tell me how it was that this man was possessed. He stated, “The
demon made himself desirable and attractive to the human.” The
angel then pointed out to me that mankind has a sovereign will, all
his own, beyond which the demons cannot come. He also pointed
out to me that the angels could not come beyond that sovereign will
of man. God, Himself, will not violate that will. We are made in the
image of God, therefore, we were given, like God, a sovereign will,
the right to choose our destiny. I was not permitted to retain all that I
learned along these lines.
I faintly recall that there is another process under certain given
circumstances whereby demons may possess or be allowed to enter
small children. It seems as though those demons from that
mysterious group are the ones that are allowed to do this. From what
I recall about this, it is only under the most unusual circumstances
that this can happen. According to what the angels told me, over
ninety percent of all cases of demon activity in human beings is
restricted to those humans who are at or over the age of
accountability.
During the course of this talk the angel was giving me, he pointed out
that all of God’s children have been given power over all demons and
can cast them out, however, this power is based on the faith of the
Christian. It will only work when the Christian knows without a doubt
what he is doing. There are certain Christians who have received a
special gift in this area. They are those who have been called
specifically by the Holy Spirit to a deliverance ministry and in almost
every case, those called to a deliverance ministry have also received
the gift of discernment. When one is commanding demons, it is most
important to know what spirit one is dealing with. In those rare cases
where children are possessed [not so rare anymore folks... a number
of children are possessed today because of the opened doors to the
enemy.], it takes a special effort and divine insight in each case to
deliver them. Such a case was reported in the Bible in Matthew
17:14-21. All Christians potentially have the ability to command
demons.
My escort told me that they wanted me to see demon activity in the
outside world. I was then escorted outside the hospital directly
through the brick wall into the streets of that city. I was amazed as I
watched all the activity of the humans in the physical world. Going
about their daily pursuit, they were completely unaware that they
were being stalked by beings from the spirit world. I was totally
flabbergasted as I watched and horrified as I saw the demons in all
shapes and forms as they moved at will among the humans.
While I learned about demons not being able to work in a person’s
life against their will, I also learned the angels cannot do it either.
Each born again Christian has a guardian angel and before that
Christian’s life is over, it might take a whole host of angels to keep
him. I learned that guardian angels fight for us, but they cannot fight
in the area of our will. The fighting they do is sort of like protecting
our “blind” side. They oppose the demons when the demons come
against us outside the area of our will. They cannot oppose the
demons when the demons come against us through our own will.
Remember, we are made in the image of God, like God, we have a
sovereign will.
I learned that the demons will fight the angels if they must, but they
prefer not to do so. They find that it is easier and safer to destroy us
through our own will where the angels are unable to interfere, rather
than go outside our will where they would have to fight angels
personally. Because of this, the demons have developed great skills
in the area of deception. They move through our lives by deceit and
trickery and keep us totally unaware of their activity.
I was made aware of the fact that not all demons are in the Second
Heaven. There are some demons so awesome that they are
reserved in chains in Hell, however, Satan and his army of demons
are not in Hell, presently. Neither do they want to be there. I was not
permitted to look into Hell, nor was I permitted to view the chained
demons. I do know that these demons who are chained went beyond
the limitations of their domain.
God in His wisdom has allowed Satan and his demons certain
bounds or limitations within which they may work. They may not go
beyond those limitations established by the Lord, however, those
demons who are chained in Hell did just that. Because they went
beyond the restrictions established by the Lord, they are now
chained in Hell.
The Bible points out this fact in many places, especially in the book
of Jude. Any time Satan goes beyond those bounds, he must receive
permission from God. In the case o f Job, he was granted the
permission, but in Peter’s case he was not granted permission. The
demons who work in children under the age of accountability are
allowed to do so only after obtaining this special permission. [I might
add that a “legal” door was opened by certain sin or sins that gave
the demon/s a right in the first place... ] It was not made plain to me
what sort of circumstances must be present for God to grant
permission, although it was made clear that in certain circumstances
permission is granted. However, permission to work in children under
the age of accountability is rarely granted. [Look around since he got
this, things have changed folks, Satanic doors have been opened...
more by parents.] The majority of the time Satan is denied this
special permission, but in these last days we can expect a
substantial increase I demonic activity, not only in adults but in
children as well. This increase in demonic activity is what the Lord
warned us about in Mark 13:22 when He spoke of the incredible
miracles that false prophets would perform in the last days. It is
difficult to understand why the Lord would allow demons to work
through children...
The demons that are reserved in chains did not obtain permission for
their activity which violated the restrictions established by our Lord.
Their illegal deeds are recorded in Genesis 6:2-5. Because they did
not obtain permission, they received immediate punishment. Specific
punishment for the devil and his demons is scheduled for the end–
time and is recorded in Revelation 20:1-3. As you well know, the lake
of fire was created for the devil and his demons as their eternal fate.
In this age we must be on guard for Satan’s fiery darts of deception
and temptation that are allowed within the limitations of the Lord’s
permissive will. There is a time limit set by the Lord in which demons
may work, but that time period has not yet been fulfilled. As
Christians we are able to have them “bound” under the authority of
Jesus, however, this is NOT permanent. We can NOT cast them into
HELL for only God can do this. That is why it is very important for
someone who has just been delivered to be properly instructed I
remaining in the Lord’s will lest they become afflicted again. A
Christian CAN cast out demons from a lost person, but unless that
person gets saved and abides in the Lord’s will, there will be the
possibility of the demons returning. [See Matthew 12:43-45].
Demons are real, individual, spirit beings and they are the ones
manipulating all the evil in the world today. This was shown to me
while I was in the spirit world traveling through the street of a city and
watching in horror as the demons went about their task of corrupting
humans.
Although humans are spirit beings, we are confined to physical
bodies. The great spiritual warfare that rages today is between the
“spirit of man” and the “spiritual forces” of evil directed by Satan
which are contending for control and manipulation of our fleshly,
physical bodies. Our spirits fight by faith and through our sovereign
will; while the devil and his [fallen] angels fight through deceit,
cunning, trickery, and temptation. You must make no mistake about
this war or the weapons involved because the scriptures are plain
and empathic on both. I actually saw these demons contend for
control of that human body.
It may seem to you that mankind is vastly over–powered by these
spirits because these spirits are able to see and hear everything we
think, say, and do; while we are totally unable to perceive any of their
activities. It is very difficult to fight an enemy you cannot see, hear,
and feel, but as long as you trust the Lord, you have nothing to fear.
At times, even the strongest Christian may doubt their existence and
activities, thus making it easier for them. However, man was not left
defenseless. Being made in the image of God, man, like God, has a
sovereign will and no spirit can violate that will without the permission
of the person himself. Because of this, these demons have
developed great skills in deception. The basic principle of their
operations is to make something evil as desirable, beautiful, and
non–threatening as possible so that the person being tempted will
lower his guard and accept whatever it is that is being used to cause
SIN. Once someone is deceived, it becomes easier for the deception
to remain. In the case of possession, it becomes easier for the
demon to maintain his control.
Another great defense man has is the guardian angel. The guardian
angel is not assigned to all mankind, but only to those who are
“saved and belong to God.” Remember, just like the demons the
guardian angel cannot violate the will of any man which is why most
of his activity is reserved to protecting that individual outside his
sovereign will. Man’s greatest weapon, however, is the Word of God.
In his description of the weapons used in our spiritual warfare, Paul
insists the Word of God [Ephesians 6:11-18] as the only offensive
weapon mankind has. Although vastly outnumbered by these beings
[thousands to one individual], man is adequately prepared for battle.
Because of a sovereign will, guardian angels, and the Word of God,
man has superior defense and is much more potent in the battle for
his soul than the demons.
Therefore, I say to everyone — if you are serious in your commitment
to fight this war and win, fear not! Your commander–in–chief,
teacher, healer and sustainer — the Holy Spirit — will NEVER leave
you NOR forsake you.
Chapter 9: The Way Home
When the angels decided that I had seen enough of the demons at
work in this physical world, I was taken back into the Second Heaven
just by passing through the dividing, dimension wall. Once back
inside the Second Heaven, my escort guided me in the direction of
the Third Heaven and I was happy at last. After all, this was where I
had wanted to go all the time. Even at this stage, my physical life was
still my primary concern.
Suddenly we came to a most beautiful place. I know that I’ve already
reported how terrible that the Second Heaven was, so you can
imagine how surprising it was to find anything beautiful over there.
God would not allow me to retain the memory of why this place was
so beautiful. I do remember that it was the most beautiful place I’d
ever seen. This place looked like a tunnel, a roadway, a valley or
some sort of highway. It had a most brilliant light all its own and was
completely surrounded with an invisible shield. I knew that the
invisible shield was the protection of the Holy Spirit.
Walking in this tunnel, or along that roadway, or valley, or whatever,
was what appeared to be human beings. I asked my escort who they
were. He told me, “They are saints going home.” These were the
departed spirits of Christians who had died on Earth and they were
going home. Each of these saints was accompanied by at least one
guardian angel and some had a whole host of angels with them. I
wondered why some saints were accompanied by only one angel and
others had many. I was watching as the saints passed through the
way that all saints must take to go home. Here it was, the
passageway from Earth to the Third Heaven. I found that only
“authorized” spirits were allowed in that tunnel. No demon was
permitted there.
When my escort had finished explaining to me about the homeward
trip of the saints. I started into the tunnel. The angel stopped me and
told me that we had to travel alongside the tunnel and not inside of it.
I traveled, therefore parallel with but outside the tunnel where the
saints were. While we were traveling here alongside the tunnel, we
did not move at the “speed of thought.” Instead, we traveled as it
floating on a cloud. In other words, there was no cloud but the mode
of traveling felt as if I were floating on a cloud.
I could see the saints at all times moving along inside the tunnel.
They were in the form and shape of humans, yet I could not detect
any race, age, or sex. They were all clothed alike with the garments
appearing to be made up of two pieces. There was a blouse or shirt
and a pair of slacks. The color of the garments was a pastel, baby
blue with one of the garment pieces being a shade lighter than the
other piece. The blue was so light that it was almost white. I realize
that these saints I was viewing had not yet received their glorified
body because that must wait until the first resurrection.
At first I was disappointed that I was not permitted to travel in the
tunnel with the saints, but the disappointment was eased when I was
told that we were going to the same place they were going. After all, I
knew that if my physical life was going to be extended, I would have
to appear before God. Even now, my physical life was still the
uppermost thing to me.
As we traveled along, I noticed all around me that the demons were
beginning to drop behind. The Gates came into view and the closer
we got to those Gates, the farther behind fell the demons. When we
arrived before the Gates there were no demons in view. Although the
Gates of the Third Heaven opened out into the Second Heaven, no
demon could come close.
Instead of allowing me to enter, the angel stationed me before the
Gates, slightly to one side. He instructed me to stay there and watch
as the saints were permitted to enter into Heaven. As the saints were
allowed into Heaven, I noticed a strange thing. They were permitted
to enter only one at a time. No two were permitted to enter those
Gates at the same time. I wondered about this but it was never
explained to me. I’ve studied about this often since I have returned
and now I think I know why. I believe this is a tribute or a salute to the
individual. After all, that individual made the choice with his own
sovereign will. Remember, it had been pointed out to me specifically
that we, as images of the Living God, possess a sovereign will
through which we have the right to choose our own destiny.
As the saints were being admitted, I was wondering why I was not
being allowed to do what I came to do. I was so impatient to get my
request before God that I missed the whole point of what I saw. This
point was so important that the Holy Spirit told me Himself. I watched
the fifty saints enter Heaven but the point I missed was the time
frame involved. It was explained to me that at the same time those
fifty saints died on Earth, 1,950 other humans also died; or only 50
out of 2000 made it into Heaven. That other 1,950 were not there.
Where were they? That was only 2 1⁄2 percent going to Heaven!
Ninety seven point five percent did not make it! Is that representative
of the entire would today? If so, 97 and 1⁄2 percent of the population
of this world today is not ready to meet God. The sad part, my friend,
is that is exactly representative of this Laodicean Church Age in
which we live today. We are now in the time when the great majority
of church goers are only “mouth–professors” and not “heart–
possessors.”
At the outset, I stated that I would not try to convince anyone of
anything I said. However, I would like to offer as evidence the parable
of the sower as told by Jesus in the thirteenth chapter of the book of
Matthew. If you read this chapter closely, you will notice that three
out of every four people who heard the gospel preached, turned it
down. That is seventy–five percent anyway you look at it. I am talking
about three out of every four people who bothered to hear the
gospel, turned it down! The sad part about this is the overwhelming
majority of the people that did turn the gospel down, do not know that
they have turned it down! They have bought a lie of Satan and have
been deceived. They have been led to believe something that is not
the truth and they been fooled by Satan into rejecting the gospel!
Place the seventy–five percent who turned down the gospel with
those in the world who made no pretense of hearing the truth and
you have the overwhelming ninety seven and one-half percent of the
population today!
As I contemplate this fact. I now understand the Lord’s disgust with
the Laodicean–type Church. I also clearly understand the verses of
scripture in Matthew 7:22-23 that describes how many people will
stand before the Throne at the Judgment pleading. “Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in they Name? And in thy Name cast out devils?
And in thy name done many wonderful works?” only to have the Lord
process to them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity...”
Chapter 10: The Rude Awakening
My escort told me to stand to one side of the Gates and present my
case. He assured me that God would hear and answer my request.
As I stood before the Gates, the sense of joy, happiness, and
contentment radiated out from Heaven. I could feel the warmth it
produced and as I stood there to plead my case. I could feel the
awesome power of God. No being could possibly appear before Him,
even separated by a gate as I was, without experiencing this
awesome power, might and majesty. At first I had a sense of fear,
sort of guilt feeling that is always produced in me when I believe I
have imposed on others. In my mind’s eye I could just visualize a
busy God who was annoyed with me for taking Him away from
important things. Then, just as suddenly as this feeling came, it
passed. I then found strength or boldness in my belief that I had
served my God faithfully for many years. To me, I was convinced that
this request of mine would be a snap!
Boldly I came before the throne and started out by reminding God
what a great life of love, worship, and sacrifice I had lived for Him. I
told Him of all the works I had done reminding Him that I was now in
trouble and only He could help by granting me an extension on my
physical life. God was totally silent while I spoke. When I had
completed my request, I heard the real, audible voice of God as He
answered me.
The voice I heard was not like the sweet voice that Satan had used
to trick me before in the valley. You could put together the noise of all
the storms, volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes and they could in
no way imitate what I heard. The sound of His voice was in no way
like the sweet voice I talked about earlier. The sound of His voice
came down on me from over the Gates even before the words hit me.
The tone of His anger knocked me on my face as God proceeded to
tell me just what kind of life I had really lived. He told me what He
really thought of me and even others who did as I had. He pointed
out that my faith was DEAD, that my works were NOT
ACCEPTABLE, and that I had labored in VAIN. He told me that it
was an abomination for me to live such a life and then dare call it a
life of worship. Furthermore, He said to those who do it, they are in
danger of experiencing His everlasting wrath. As God dealt with me,
He displayed His wrath to me. Notice, it was not His everlasting
wrath. He did say there are some who will experience His everlasting
wrath.
I could not believe He was talking to me in this manner! I had served
Him for years! I thought I had lived a life pleasing to Him! As He was
enumerating my wrongs, I was sure He had me confused with
someone else. There was no strength left in me to even move, let
alone protest, yet I was panicking within myself. No way He could be
talking about me! All of these years I thought I was doing those works
for God! Now He was telling me that what I did, I did for myself. Even
as I preached and testified about the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I
was doing that only for myself in order that my conscience might be
soothed. In essence, my first love and first works were for myself.
After MY needs and wants were met or satisfied, in order to soothe
my conscience I would set out to do the Lord’s work. This made my
priorities out of order and unacceptable. Actually, I had become my
own false God.
He makes it plain in His teachings that He is a jealous God and will
have no other gods before Him; flesh, stone, blood, or whatever. He
will have no other gods before Him. God told me that He would not
accept this kind of worship in the day of the Pharisees and He
certainly was not about to accept it now in this the Laodicean Church
Age. He put it to me as plain as words and actions could make it. In
order for our works to be acceptable, we must work according to His
command in Matthew 6:33 which empathically states, “But seek ye
first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these other
things shall be added to you.” As God told me about my true motives,
the verse of scripture in Matthew 16:24-26 and Luke 14:26-33
became so clear to me. In Matthew 16 it states, “Then said Jesus
unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him DENY
himself and take up his cross, and follow me, for whosoever shall
save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it.” In Luke 14 beginning with verse 26 it is stated, “If any
man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and HIS OWN life also, he
cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and
come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to
build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether
he have sufficient to finish it?” In verse 23 of this same chapter Jesus
makes the following statement which is the cornerstone of the two
portions of scripture previously stated: “So likewise, whosoever he be
of you that forsaketh not ALL that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
Only now as I was here before Him being chastised did those two
portions of scripture become crystal clear to me as to their true
meaning. As God told me about my TRUE MOTIVES, I could see
plainly for the first time how MY WORKS were DEAD. Because God
was displaying His wrath toward me, I could not stand nor could I
speak. No strength was left within me as I was nothing more than a
wet rag lying there writhing in agony. It indeed, was fortunate for me
that this was not God’s everlasting wrath, only temporary wrath.
However, at this time I did not know this was only temporary.
It needs to be stated that at no time while God was chastising me did
He say I was not saved nor did He say that my name was not in the
Lamb’s Book of Life. He never mentioned salvation to me at all but
only spoke about the works produced through my life. He told me the
type of life I lived was an unacceptable life for a true Christian. As He
spoke to me of my dead works, he indicated that there are some
people who are not saved but think they are. These people will
experience His everlasting wrath. He also made it plain to me that
there are others of His children who will find themselves in my
present condition on Judgment Day. This revealed to me the true
meaning of 1 Corinthians 3:15 which states, “If any man’s works shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so
as by fire.”
The first time I started to enter the Third Heaven, the angel stopped
me. At that time he did not tell me I could not enter. He only said that
if I went in I could not come out again and that I would have to
remain there until God brought me back with Him. Notice that I made
the choice not to enter Heaven but to have my physical life restored. I
was unaware that I had made that choice at that particular time. I
thought I had been living in the Lord’s will and I was not thinking in
terms of unfinished work. My choice was based entirely on SELFISH
MOTIVES.
There are no words that can describe the pain I endured as God’s
wrath was upon me for this life of so–called service. The agony was
beyond the scope of the imagination and the remorse that I felt
produced a very heavy burden similar to a physical weight pinning
me down or an enormous stone crushing me. Growing weaker and
weaker, my mind was frantically racing in an effort to grasp what the
Lord was telling me while recalling each actual incident. God leaves
no room for error and that includes whatever is in our minds.
The surprise was so overwhelming in its magnitude that it rendered
me senseless. My strength left me immediately, just as though I had
been hit by a bolt of lightning. Even if God would have ceased and
allowed me to speak on word of protest, I would not have been able
to do so. I had absolutely no strength whatsoever to utter anything or
to project my idea. In my mind I was constantly DENYING the wrong
in my life while acknowledging the fact that I had committed them. My
conscience was asleep but my mind was NOT.
Slowly, it all began to be absorbed by me. Remember how the Bible
tells us to have no other gods before us? I had thought that the Most
High God was the only God of my life, but I was not fulfilling that part
of scripture which tells us that if we allow anything to come between
us and the Lord, (whatever it may be) it becomes our “God.” I
realized that each day of my life was devoted only to MYSELF! My
whole life I was preoccupied with MY needs FIRST and THEN I was
concerned with what the Lord wanted. The money to help the church,
the poor, or anything else was secondary because I was my OWN
“god.” Naturally, the devil was contented with allowing me to remain
in that condition because as long as I was in that condition, I was of
no use to the Lord and His kingdom.
I allowed this to occur because I was really indifferent to the things of
the Lord. It was too uncomfortable to change and I was convinced I
could remain as I was without having to really DO anything (such as
following the Lord’s commandment about DENYING myself and
picking up my cross daily to follow HIM.) For this reason, my life was
wasted and amounted to absolutely nothing in the Lord’s eyes.
I hope that you understand what it is that I am saying because it is
the whole point of this chapter. The fact is we must prove we are
really Christians by first examining our motives behind each deed in
our lives, and then repenting and recommitting ourselves to follow
the Lord daily. When we decide to serve Him FIRST, this decision
must be followed by ACTION or it will be as useless as if we did not
decide to do so in the first place.
Chapter 11: My Real Father
When God was through with me the interview was over as suddenly
as one would turn off a faucet. I was not allowed to linger or even
reflect on what God said. The angels immediately carried me away
as if I were as wet rag having no strength in myself. Totally
annihilated, I could not even gather my thoughts.
The angels carried me back through the Second Heaven, through the
dimension wall, and into the hospital room where my body was lying.
It was not until I reached the bed upon which my body lay did I regain
my composure. As I regained my composure, I vehemently
protested, “No! No!” I told the angels, “God did not answer me! He
did not say yes or no to my request! Please, oh please, take me
back!” I pleaded with the angels.
God is a God of order and He never does anything haphazardly.
Since all of this entire experience had been planned by God, the
angels complied with my request to take me back. God was dealing
with me gently and tenderly through His great LOVE knowing what
was necessary for me to experience in order for me to have the
scales fall off my eyes.
During the time God was displaying His wrath toward me, I thought
this wrath was terrible and painful. I found out later that it was nothing
compared to the pain the lost will experience when they receive His
everlasting wrath.
While in route back to the Third Heaven, I was beside myself trying to
come up with a logical reason or legitimate basis on which to plead
my case. God had already told me that my life had been a failure,
therefore, I could not offer my past life as evidence of my intentions
to serve Him. Somehow or another, the thought of Hezekiah came to
my mind. When God sent word for him to put his house in order, he
cried and prayed and God heard him. God extended his life for fifteen
years. I remembered from my studies about him that Hezekiah was
the “good–old–boy” type, similar to me. I remembered how he had
good intentions in his heart but how he had trouble translating out
those intentions into everyday living. Since this seemed to be the
same kind of trouble I had in my life, I concluded that God dealt with
Hezekiah based on the intentions of his heart. Because of this
assumption, I concluded this reasoning would be the basis of my
plea.
Upon my arrival back before the third heaven, I was brought to the
same place from which I had previously pleaded my case. Not nearly
so bold this time, I remembered how God's wrath had floored me
beforehand. Nevertheless, I had asked God for a favor and God had
not answered. Wanting his answer no matter what it was, I timidly
started pleading my case again.
This time God did not knock me down but let me talk. God did not
talk to me in anger but started out answering me in a tone of pity.
Before it was all over, God was speaking in sorrow.
Opening my plea by quoting scriptures to God, I began by telling him
all about Hezekiah. I told God that I figured out that Hezekiah was
the "good-old-boy" type, that the intentions of his heart were pure,
but he seemed to be unable to translate out those intentions into
everyday living. Here I was, an insignificant nothing and the smallest
creature in all his universe, bartering words with this great and
awesome God who had created it all.
I said, "Father, if You will grant this request, I promise you I will do
better the next time."
The Lord answered me thusly, "Howard Pittman, you have promised
before." God did not have to say another word. There they were, all
the promises I had made to a holy God in my past entire life. Not one
of them remained whole. Somehow, someway, I had managed to
break them all. With nothing left to say, no words in all my
vocabulary, nowhere to go, I fell on my knees before him. All I could
say was "Amen" to my own condemnation. I knew that if at that
moment God would banish me into the pits of hell, it would be just to
say "amen" to my own condemnation.
At that moment God did not demand justice but showed me mercy.
The scales fell from my eyes and my soul was suddenly filled with
light. That powerful, awesome, all-consuming God was now not
evident. There on that throne dealing with me was my REAL Father.
God was no longer a distant God, but a real, genuine Father. The
realization of his being my true Father and my best friend came to
me for the first time in my life. The wonderful relationship I had
enjoyed with my physical father and the wonderful love we shared for
each other was suddenly brought to mind yet magnified a thousand
fold. For now I was with my real Father, the one who loved me so
much that God left all of his creation to deal with me, the prodigal
son.
For the first time in my life, I saw in my mind's eye who God really is.
For the first time I met God as God truly is, my real Father, my very
best friend. As the realization of who God is flooded my soul, great
and painful sorrow also came. Sorrow came when I realized that
through disobedience I had hurt my Father. This realization and
sorrow produced actual pain which was not just a guilt feeling but
actual pain similar to what one would experience in the flesh when
one sustains a physical injury. At this point in time, God started
dealing with me in sorrow and no longer did the tone of his voice
express pity. Instead, the sound was of genuine sorrow. I suddenly
realized that God was hurting too. God was hurting because I was
hurting. Being a true and just God as God is, God had to allow me to
suffer the pain and God could not lift it from me. Although God had to
allow me to suffer the pain, God would not allow me to suffer it alone.
God the most High, the most Supreme, the Creator of all, the Father
of all would not let me suffer alone.
By this time I suddenly realized that my physical life was not so
important after all. What I was really concerned about now was what
my Father wanted. His will had suddenly become the first thing of my
life and my physical life was no longer important. This is when God
gave me back my physical life. Only when I reached a place that my
life did not mean anything to me, did God give it back to me. Now
that the prodigal son had returned, the Father could talk at last. God
could tell me what my trip to heaven was all about and that God had
a message God wanted me to tell people on earth.
Chapter 12: Wake Up!
I now repeat for you point by point the entire five point message that
God gave me to deliver to this world today.
Point Number 1: For those who call themselves Christians, this is the
Laodicean Church Age in which we live. A high majority of so-called
Christians are, in fact, living a deceived life. They talk Jesus and play
church, but do not live it. They claim to be Christians and then live
like the devil. They have bought the great lie from Satan who tells
them that they are alright. He tells them that it is alright to go to
church on Sunday and attend mid-week services but as far as the
rest of the time is concerned, they are to get all they can out of life.
As far as their Christian life is concerned, they believe they are
comfortable and have need of nothing and as a result, they are only
lukewarm Christians if Christians at all.
Point Number 2: Satan is a personal devil.
Point Number 3: To the whole world, this is Noah's second day. As it
was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of
the son of man. Humans took no thought of what Noah was saying
nor did humans believe that anything was about to change. Humanity
could see the storm clouds over the horizon, but yet did not believe
the rain was imminent. Notice the close parallel today. Humanity can
see all the signs of the last days, yet humanity does not believe that
anything will change. He does not believe in the impending coming of
our Lord and he does not prepare to meet God."
Point Number 4: For those who claim to be Christians, they are
supposed to be ambassadors for Christ here on earth. One cannot
have any true witness or power in his life unless that one lives his
Christian faith at all times, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week. To be a true Christian one must live it, not just talk it. To honor
God with your lips and not your heart is not acceptable. Those who
accept the responsibility of teaching, preaching, or any leadership
role have much for which to answer.
Point Number 5: God is now in the process of recruiting an army with
which God will shake this old world one more time. By working
through his soldiers, God will produce great miracles that will shake
the established hierarchy of the so-called organized religion that is in
this world today. These soldiers that God is now recruiting will
demonstrate the power of God to a greater extent than did the
disciples in the Pentecostal age. Now the recruitment has begun in
earnest because God is about to perform the great miracles through
his army that God promised us God would do in the Bible. John the
Baptist brought the spirit of Elijah into this world and he did not even
know he had it. John denied it, but Jesus confessed that it was so.
The purpose of that spirit was to make straight the paths of the
coming of the Lord.
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"The Alpha and Omega, the Cause of all the universe's existence
was hurting because a mere Earth child was hurting. Oh, what Love!
What Understanding! It was so far beyond anything a mere Earthling
can understand. Oh how precious just one, little, insignificant Earth
child is to that Great God" – Howard Pittman
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