Caught Up Into Paradise
Stories
Vision Stories
True Accounts Of Visions, Angels, And Healing Miracles
And I know that such a person -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows -- was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. (vv. 3-4)
He was an average-size man with a deep bass voice that reminded you of Harold of the Statler Brothers. He had sung in the church choir and a men's quartet for many years. He was a caring and loving man, and a Christian in the best sense of the word. If asked to give his testimony at a worship service, he would do it only after much arm twisting. He preferred to live his love for God rather than speak it. He did a good job of influencing many lives by his lifestyle and his actions. I think it was his smile and kind words that were most noticeable.
In his mid-eighties, he started to experience a number of health problems. He would get one ailment under control only to have another arise. His deep bass voice was no longer strong and vibrant, and the day finally came when he was admitted to the hospital for the last time. The doctors told his family that he would soon die.
For whatever reason, the children wanted a detailed account of just how their dad's last days would be. They wanted an hour by hour account. When would he no longer know them? When would he go into a coma, or would he? The doctors complied and gave them updates each day of what to expect. His health continued to deteriorate.
I remember visiting him every day of the last week of his life. He was at a point where it was an effort for him to do anything. He could sort of get that smile, but it was an effort. He could say a few words, but only a few.
On the day before he died, I went into his room and was amazed at what I saw. He glowed like one of those fluorescent key chains after the lights go out. His smile was back, his voice strong and deep. As soon as he saw me, he said, "Pastor, it was wonderful. I was there last night. I was in heaven and it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. And I am going there forever tonight." He went on to tell of the beauty of heaven. On that day, he was as excited as a kid with a new toy. Then he thanked me for our friendship through the years and said that he would be leaving that night. The next morning I received word that he had died.
The family heard this story over and over all day as people visited their father. For some reason, he had many more visitors than usual. Each person heard the story of heaven. Each of them saw the glow that encircled him. All of the nurses, and any of the other hospital staff who saw him that day, heard the same story. The doctors said it was just a matter of hallucination.
Before and after the funeral, those who had visited him asked me what I thought of his vision. I told them I believed every word he said. His vision of heaven helped many people accept his death and took some of the fear of death from them ... but not the doctors.
The man's name was Burr Hilvers, and he lived in Cuba City, Wisconsin, for most of his life.
Ena Minckler
I had a minor operation in 1976, and sometime during the three hours while they were trying to bring me to, I left my body and went up through a black hole. It was a long way up, but I was through it in no time. Still, I did not feel like I was moving fast.
I had a feeling of very great love. I'm sure I was in heaven. The love was more than a mother feels for her children. I saw adult people moving around. The light was just right. There were no shadows anywhere from anything. I'm sure it was "God's light." I did not want to come back. To this day I can still feel the love.
He was an average-size man with a deep bass voice that reminded you of Harold of the Statler Brothers. He had sung in the church choir and a men's quartet for many years. He was a caring and loving man, and a Christian in the best sense of the word. If asked to give his testimony at a worship service, he would do it only after much arm twisting. He preferred to live his love for God rather than speak it. He did a good job of influencing many lives by his lifestyle and his actions. I think it was his smile and kind words that were most noticeable.
In his mid-eighties, he started to experience a number of health problems. He would get one ailment under control only to have another arise. His deep bass voice was no longer strong and vibrant, and the day finally came when he was admitted to the hospital for the last time. The doctors told his family that he would soon die.
For whatever reason, the children wanted a detailed account of just how their dad's last days would be. They wanted an hour by hour account. When would he no longer know them? When would he go into a coma, or would he? The doctors complied and gave them updates each day of what to expect. His health continued to deteriorate.
I remember visiting him every day of the last week of his life. He was at a point where it was an effort for him to do anything. He could sort of get that smile, but it was an effort. He could say a few words, but only a few.
On the day before he died, I went into his room and was amazed at what I saw. He glowed like one of those fluorescent key chains after the lights go out. His smile was back, his voice strong and deep. As soon as he saw me, he said, "Pastor, it was wonderful. I was there last night. I was in heaven and it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. And I am going there forever tonight." He went on to tell of the beauty of heaven. On that day, he was as excited as a kid with a new toy. Then he thanked me for our friendship through the years and said that he would be leaving that night. The next morning I received word that he had died.
The family heard this story over and over all day as people visited their father. For some reason, he had many more visitors than usual. Each person heard the story of heaven. Each of them saw the glow that encircled him. All of the nurses, and any of the other hospital staff who saw him that day, heard the same story. The doctors said it was just a matter of hallucination.
Before and after the funeral, those who had visited him asked me what I thought of his vision. I told them I believed every word he said. His vision of heaven helped many people accept his death and took some of the fear of death from them ... but not the doctors.
The man's name was Burr Hilvers, and he lived in Cuba City, Wisconsin, for most of his life.
Ena Minckler
I had a minor operation in 1976, and sometime during the three hours while they were trying to bring me to, I left my body and went up through a black hole. It was a long way up, but I was through it in no time. Still, I did not feel like I was moving fast.
I had a feeling of very great love. I'm sure I was in heaven. The love was more than a mother feels for her children. I saw adult people moving around. The light was just right. There were no shadows anywhere from anything. I'm sure it was "God's light." I did not want to come back. To this day I can still feel the love.
