Or was it a vision? I don't know what it was exactly, except that it seemed to be an alternate state of consciousness (an "in the Spirit" state, I believe) when I experienced this.
It affected my life profoundly and speeded up the desire to let people know about salvation through Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. One reason why I count this vision as a personal revelation from the Most High is because I do not think that it contradicts what I know of the Bible in any way. Another reason is that I did not seek this vision or dream.
Those who will adamantly stand against anything supernatural might in high possibility disregard what I have to say. To those overly "rational" people, I would like to ask you to consider it possible that you do not store all the knowledge of the universe in your mind. To others, I ask that you compare it with and test it against the Bible.
I do not claim to be a supernatural person in any way. I believe that I am an ordinary person who is extremely happy to receive this "information." Is this the product of a fertile imagination? Well, that would be a compliment that I would like to avoid. :)
Freely I have been given, and freely I give back. I do not know how it may affect you, although I can tell you that people have either considered me blessed, a "kook", or someone who is not being truthful. Regardless of what anyone has said thus far, I still believe that God gave me this vision.
Here then is the excerpt of the text which I shared with many people via e-mail. This is the first time that I am putting it up on a World Wide Web page. Those who are waiting for the Lord's coming will be encouraged; others most probably will not.
"I had a vision of Jesus' return during my Spring of '94, and I have been led to believe that He is coming soon. I have no idea when or at what time, but I felt that the vision reassured me that He is coming soon.
"Although the vision that I am about to share with you might be similar to what you have been taught at Church, please understand that I do not believe that Church doctrines have led to this vision. By the way, although I do attend services at a local denominational church out here in Houston (which does not talk much about Jesus' Second Coming by the way), I do not subscribe to the view of denominations per se: I prefer to know whether a person is in Christ or not.
"Also, I have asked Jesus to come soon several times through several years (as a sort of prayer), but this was the first time that I actually could "see" what it would be like.
"Here then is my personal, reassuring vision:
"I found myself standing outside somewhere during a very cloudy day, and I had the sense that something exciting was going to happen.
"I don't know how to explain it, except that I did not have to hear with my physical ears to know what was happening; rather, I could sense it. And then it struck me - a wonderful thought, revelation, call it what you will - that Jesus was coming back, and in the time frame that I was in, it was NOW!
"You can imagine how excited I was; I started to wonder what would happen and kept looking up. I knew within my heart that I would be taken up: I did not know how, however. The moments, which must have passed by furiously, seemed to tick slowly in my anticipation.
"Then, I heard a shout (I could not see what was happening exactly, and if I did, such a memory has been taken from me). Actually, it seemed to get louder in intensity, and more widespread, until it seemed to me like a giant stadium full of people shouting - only far more wonderful, uplifting and intense.
"Yes, it was uplifting. In fact, I became so caught up in it, that I began to shout - and with so much happiness! I didn't care one bit if anyone heard me!
"And then a burst (or was it a beam?) of energy seemed to explode straight out of my forehead, and I was beginning to be overwhelmed by its power. It seemed to spread out beyond my head to my neck, shoulders and beyond; in the meanwhile, I had a sense that I was being translated at a tremendous speed.
"All this was so overwhelming that I found myself being jolted back into my physical body which left me getting up and - in spite of my weariness - smile a huge smile of happiness, and although a little surprised that the vision was not happening in the NOW now, hoping in my heart "I hope that's the way it's going to be when He comes back!"
"Finally, Thank You dear friend for listening.
"I hope this has been a blessing to you as it has been to me.
"I look forward to seeing you on the Day of the Lord, which of course, is something that only God knows when will happen.
"May God Bless You. Amen."
The above vision has enormous implications. If it is a prophetic one, then I would suggest that everyone get ready, because the Lord's coming is near. I have attempted to avoid any idea of a pre, post, or mid-tribulational view of the Rapture (which the above vision definitely does seem to indicate).
I do realize that I mention Jesus' second coming as coinciding with the Rapture, but when I wrote this, I felt strongly that He was coming back for me (and many others besides), that I was to be taken up to meet Him.
While a pre-tribulational viewpoint might be the answer, I do understand that God only knows the time of the Rapture.
If the vision is just something that the neurons and synapses of my brain managed to conjure up, you don't have to worry.
But the very fiber of my being tells me that the essence of it is true.
The final time of the Rapture is not something I know -- nor is it something that any other human could know (according to the Bible), but one thing I do know for sure: I look forward to it with eager anticipation.
- Binoy Samuel (March 13, 1995)
Note:
It's been such a long time since I had this vision/dream. Yet I am convinced
that it was a gift to me from God. Nearly two years later, it still stands out in my mind.
Signs all around -- in this world of ours and beyond -- seem to indicate the soon return of
Jesus Christ. I pray that I will be ready for His coming, just as I hope and pray that you
will to be there to greet Him. God bless you all. (March 06, 1997)
The message of Jesus' return is not one of despair for the Christian believer; rather, it is one of hope.
So let us not become weary in doing good. Let us not worry about what tomorrow will bring. Let us continue to live our lives courageously, lovingly and hopefully, doing everything unto the Lord. (January 11, 1998)