GOING TO HEAVEN AND OTHER WORLDS

Sister White was a prophet and she had a vision about going to heaven and other worlds.

This vision started when Sister White saw two saints with their attending angels. She was given wings, as well as an attending angel. Then the Lord brought her to another world where the grass was a beautiful lush green, and the birds sang sweet songs of joy. The people there were noble, majestic and lovely. Their faces beamed with the light of Christ, expressing their happiness and freedom.

Sister White asked one of the inhabitants why they were more lovely than those on earth. The reply was, “We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on earth.” Then she saw two trees; they both looked the same, the fruits of the two trees looked much the same also. But one of them they could not eat from because it was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Her attending angel said, “None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree, but if they should eat, they would fall.”

Sister White was then taken to another world where Enoch was. This world had seven moons. In Enoch’s right hand he had a palm, and on each leaf of the palm was written “victory”. On his head he had a wreath and in the middle of each leaf was written “purity”. Also he had a bow that confined the wreath and on it was written “holiness”. Above the wreath was a beautiful crown that shone brighter than the sun.

Sister White begged her attending angel to remain  there, but he said she could not. But when Jesus comes, if she remains faithful, then she would go to heaven with Him.

It s is my wish and prayer that we will all be able to go to heaven and dwell there for eternity. Amen.

Sarah Newby

 

JACOB’S LADDER

The dream about the ladder was seen in Jacob’s dream on his way to his mother’s country, while fleeing from his brother Esau’s anger. Jacob stole the birthright from Esau making Esau want to kill his brother.

Jacob’s mother suggested he to go to her homeland to find a wife. So Jacob left. On his way, he thought of how he had done a great sin. This bothered him, and he did not want to sleep, until sleep gave way. Jacob had a very strange dream. “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.” Genesis 28:12–13

During this dream, God spoke to him. God said, “And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” Genesis 28:14–15. Jacob felt touched by Jesus’ kind words.

He pondered on what Jesus said and decided that Jesus was a merciful God; a God who forgives, not hates. Jacob later decided he would change his life. He wanted to live a better life than the old one. From now on he would serve the Lord. Jacob soon made a promise to God.

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.” Genesis 28:20–22

Jacob called this place, Bethel. Jesus is our ladder to heaven. By Him we are allowed access to heaven. Jesus said, “ I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

“We can ask Jesus anything. He can forgive our sins. If we have any problems, we can ask Him. No one should be afraid to pray for forgiveness. The ladder is always there. We can climb it any time we like. It is my wish and prayer that we may never be afraid to ask Jesus anything, and that we may climb the ladder to heaven. Amen.

Stephen Newby

 

JOSEPH’S DREAMS

Joseph was the second youngest son of Jacob’s 12 sons. Jacob loved Joseph, the son of Rachel, the most. Joseph loved his brothers also, and sometimes told them what not to do, and he would advise them. His brothers did not like that at all. Joseph was younger than them, and they were annoyed with him giving them advice. His older brothers brought much grief to their father, Jacob.

We are told that Joseph was of a different character, with an attractive appearance, which reflected an inward beauty of mind and heart. Joseph gave evidence of moral earnestness and firmness. He listened to His father’s instruction and loved to obey God.

Jacob’s affection towards Joseph was to become a cause of trouble and sorrow. Jacob unwisely showed preference to Joseph, and this made the other sons jealous. Joseph did not want to see his brothers sinning against God, and laid the matter before his father. With deep emotion, Jacob implored his sons not to bring reproach upon his name, and above all, not to dishonour God.

Then Jacob gave a gift of an expensive coat of many colours to Joseph, something which was usually worn by a person of distinction. This made his brothers become suspicious that their father intended to pass by his elder children and give the birthright to Joseph.

Then, Joseph had a dream. Afterwards he told the dream to his brothers. This is how it went (as told in Genesis 37):

“For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?” exclaimed his brothers in envious anger.

Soon Joseph had another dream. “Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.”

Jacob, who was present to hear his dreams, spoke reprovingly. “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” But, regardless of his words, Jacob believed that the Lord was revealing the future to Joseph.

As Joseph stood before his brothers, his beautiful countenance lighted up with the Spirit of Inspiration. They could not withhold their admiration, but still hated the purity that reproved their sins. His brothers hated him not only because of the dream, but for his boldness in telling them about it.

The first dream shows his supremacy over his brothers, and the second one extended to his whole family. Despite the reaction of his brothers after telling them the first dream, he still told them his second dream. This dream only intensified their hatred.

One day, Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers who were looking after the sheep in far-away fields. His brothers saw him coming and they said, “Behold, the dreamer cometh.” Envy and revenge now controlled them. “Let us slay him,” they said, “and cast him into a pit.” But then they sold him instead to a caravan going to Egypt.

In all the land there was a great famine, but there was grain in Egypt. Jacob sent his sons to buy food. They were directed to the presence of the King’s deputy, and they bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. Joseph knew his brothers but they did not recognize that it was him. His Hebrew name had been changed, so there was not much resemblance between the Prime Minister of Egypt and the sibling that they had sold to the Ishmaelites.

As Joseph saw his brothers bowing down and making obeisance, his dream and the scenes of the past were clearer before him. A second time his brothers came to him; Joseph’s dream came to his mind. Joseph’s dream was fulfilled. His family did bow down to him.

God knows the future and we must understand and accept what is shown to us. God took care of Joseph throughout his life and prepared him to become a real blessing in the world.

May we also be faithful and true to God, is my wish and prayer. Amen.

Tiffany Bessec