Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Heavenly account (Part 1) Message-ID: Date: 18 Mar 91 16:44:24 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 61 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu God bless everyone of you, A couple of weeks ago I posted this account in another newsgroup of a man in the early 1900's named Seneca Sodi, who died as was allowed to give testimony to another man, named Rev. Elwood Scott. the { } are my comments I've added. Even with this brief survey from the testimony, my summary is long so I will break it up into 5 postings. Read and enjoy! * * * {He starts off his account by telling how he had just finished eating dinner and his two servants, Sena and Serva, were busy around the house. He hears a loud trumpet call. He feels weary and lays down. Then his earthly consciousness fades away}: The next thing I observed was that I was standing in one corner of the room looking with deep interest upon my body, which was lying in quiet repose upon the bed. I cannot well describe the strange yet joyful feelings of my soul on finding myself released from the body. I came forward and stood beside the bed and with feelings mingled with joy and pity I said to my body, "I feel sorry to leave you behind, but you are still mortal and will be till the resurrection." I next saw three angels with me who seemed busy with some peculiar embalming process for my body, which I did not understand. They spoke to me most pleasantly and said: "Be not afraid. We are come as your escorts to your heavenly home, the light of which shines so brightly upon you now." [...] From this time I began to feel a strange upward bounding tendency. My spirit felt a mighty pull heavenward as though elastic cords were fastened to all parts of my soul, with the other end reaching into the skies. Sena and Serva sat weeping by the bedside. I tried to speak to them, but could not arrest their attention. I walked near to them and laid my hand upon their heads, but still they did not comprehend me. They only seemed to weep more bitterly fore there seemed to be a soul touch. Then again their tears would dry and they would scan the room as though some voice had been heard, and I felt sure they realized something of my presence without comprehending the truth as to how it was. The angels now began to sing and oh such sweet music I never heard while in the body. When they had finished the anthem, they said, "Will you now follow us?" When we stepped outside, I saw the chariot which seemed to be made of light. It was standing still at the threshold. I under- stood its meaning and the special errand of the angels, and I longed to spring within, as I fairly shouted "Hallelujah," which I am sure the angels heard, for they quickly said, "Glory to God in the highest." [...] I found I could converse with the angels with perfect freedom. There seemed to be a kind of comprehension of ideas without the effort of words; and yet we spoke as spirits speak. [continued in posting 2] John Emery emery@tc.fluke.COM