Saturday, October 25, 2014

Michael Shigaba's Encounter with Jesus

A Christian brother I know in Nigeria, named Dr. Theophilus Ayodele, recently sent me a video testimony of a brother, named brother Michael Shigaba.  Dr. Ayodele is a civilian medical doctor serving in the military hospital in Jos, Nigeria. Brother Michael Shigaba is a member of the Apostolic Faith Church in Gwagwalada Abuja FCT, Nigeria.  The story below is a transcript of his experience when the Lord Jesus Christ and an angel appeared to him and took him to heaven in the year 2010.  It is based on the video of his testimony as recorded in The Apostolic Faith Church Anthony Village in Lagos State Nigeria.

Brother Michael Shigaba
Brother Michael was raised in a pagan family. By the mercy of God, he was drawn out of that in 1995, and began to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.  But on March 7, 2010, he became sick after an evening worship service. Before he reached home it became worse. His wife had traveled abroad, so he remained at home alone. He cried out to the Lord to heal him, but he became worse.

Around noon the next day, which was Monday, a brother came and prayed for him and said he would be healed.  However, he became even worse.

On the next day, Tuesday, he went to work and when his workers saw him, they immediately saw that he was sick.  They wanted him to go to the hospital, but he refused to do so.  He simply returned home and just rested.

On Wednesday March 10, 2010, he entered his house and asked God to heal him. At one point, he came out to the kitchen for water. As he was going back to the sitting room, he tripped and fell, hitting his head. He opened his eyes and he found himself in another village on top of his mother’s grave, who had just passed away the previous month. She had not been a Christian.  It was very dark there, but suddenly it became very bright. It was so bright he had to cover his face with his hand. Here is brother Michael's testimony in his own words, regarding the amazing encounter that happened next.

Michael Shigaba's Testimony
After a few minutes, I saw a man with white garments, very tall, holding a sword in his right hand. He was coming toward me. He used his sword and pointed at me saying, “Take that Word of God.” And behold, it was a Bible – a very big Bible. He said I should open the Bible and read Proverbs 5:21, which I read. He asked me, “Have you read?” Yes. “Ok. We are going back to your house now.” Immediately [when] He said it I found myself with that angel, that white man, in my bedroom in Gwagadalada Abuja. And now there was a second man there with me and the angel. The room was full of bright light (more than at village). The man was sitting beside my bed, on a chair, although there was no chair in my bedroom. His garments were a brighter white than the other one. And His face was so bright, I could not look at it. He now asked the angel, “Are you back?” The angel bowed before Him and said, “Yes, I’m back, Master.” He said, “Ok.” He called my name. He said, “Mike.” I said, “Sir.” He said, “Do you know Who is talking to you?” I said, “No, Sir.” He said, “Mike, you don’t know me? But you have my picture in your house. But you don’t know Me. I am the Master. I am Jesus.” As soon as He said “I am the Master. I am Jesus,” I became weak. Then I was not able to look at him directly. He had to use His right hand as if He cleaned His face. Then I was able to look at Him. It was wonderful. He said, “Do you know why you found yourself on top of your Mommy’s grave?” I said, “No, Sir.” He said, “Good. It’s because you love that dead woman more than Myself.” (His mother was not a Christian).

I said, “But, Sir…”

He said, “No” in a gentle voice. In fact, I cannot describe how that gentle voice is—very gentle.

He said, “No, no, no, no. Don’t argue. Yes!” And right then, I knew that “Yes”. He said, “What you used to do for me since you came back, from your Mommy’s burial, you have stopped doing it. You used to pray for thirty minutes every day…for the work of God. Have you been doing it?” I said, “No, Sir.”

“What about the Higher Way, the tracts that you used to give people, even at home and the place of work. Have you been doing it? You have been doing it secretly. Nobody knows. But we keep the record.”
I was speechless. I was just looking at him. He said, “Mike,” with a smile. “That is why you found yourself on top of your Mommy’s grave, because you love her more than Me. Now…we are going for a long journey.”

As soon as he said that, my mind thought of money. I now opened up and said, “Sir, there is no money I have. The only money I have is 2,000 inside my Bible.”

He looked at me and He smiled. He said, “Mike, the journey we are about to go on doesn’t need any currency of the world for that journey. Just dress yourself.”

I looked at my “standing hangar” and I brought out the clothes which I had already ironed, and I dressed myself. After I had dressed myself, He looked at me and said, “Mike,” with a smile. He said, "Those clothes you are putting on will not qualify you for the journey."

Overseer: "What dress was that -- shirt and trousers?"

Michael: "Shirt and trousers and shoes."

I said, “Sir.”

He said, “No. No problem. Don’t worry. I am going to dress you well.”

Immediately when he said, “Don’t worry. I am going to dress you.” How we disappeared from that room I cannot tell. Is it through the window or through the door, or through the roof? I cannot tell. The place where I found myself with Jesus and the angel was a very big roundabout. Very big! And it was decorated with flowers, which in fact, my mouth cannot describe those type of flowers. I have never seen that type of flower in this world. Then the glass [pavement] that they use to create that roundabout…this time around I was with [wearing] white, like Jesus and the angel. So, I cannot describe how that place looked.

Then there were two roads, one by the right and one by the left. And Jesus told the angel, “Lead him to the right side.” I was following the angel. As I was following the angel, we started the journey from that roundabout. In fact, the road was so narrow—very narrow—that both sides of the road were decorated with flowers again, just like the roundabout. The flowers—oh, what beautiful flowers!—which my mouth cannot describe. The road was in the middle of those flowers. But the road was very rough. I fact, I could not trek fast on that road like the angel did.

By the right, there were white garments on top of those flowers. White garments! Some garments were old and some were new. And I saw buckets, brooms, and two small towels on top of some of the garments. Then on the left side of the road there were musical instruments. There were violins, trumpets—many! Then there were songbooks that the choir orchestra uses for the service of the Lord. There were there. I looked around. Then I asked Jesus, “Sir, what are all of those things—the garments?”

He looked at me and He said, “Oh, you are wise to ask that question. I am happy to hear that. Yes, I’m happy.” He now said, “These are the garments of salvation that were given to men and women who were born again, who pray through to salvation. The God of heaven gave them this garment of salvation. They belong to the children of God. They have dropped them on their own." That is what He said.  He said, "Those ones that you see -- brooms, buckets, towels...They belong to some ushers." And those are the brooms that we used to clean as ushers! He said, "The instruments, the songbooks, they belong to choirs. They have left! Oh, they used to praise God. They used to praise Us, to worship God, but they dropped them and they left on their own." To where? He said, "Some of them were in miracle centers," which He Himself is not there -- that is Jesus. He said Himself is not there.

There was one particularly white garment [I spotted] that was very new and fresh. I touched that garment. I said, “This one looks like the one my wife used on the day of our wedding.”

He said, “You want to know the owner?”

I said, “Yes.”

He said, “Just wait until we cross over there. I will show you the owner of that garment.”

The road! He said, “Do you know this road?”

I said, “No, I don’t know this road.”

He said, “This is the road that leads to heaven—very narrow. Were you able to walk faster?”

I said, “No.”

He said, “This is the road that leads to heaven, and that is why some have gone off this road, dropped their garments. And they were complaining about this road. No man, no woman that wants to get to heaven will be able to without passing this road. It’s impossible! Anyone who wants to make heaven must pass through this road. But because it’s very difficult, you see them complaining and murmuring, and then they leave.”

He said He has the power to command, and he will find himself where they are going. But He wanted me to experience that road. That is why He allowed to walk on that road.

As we were going, the garments were on top of those flowers...the instruments, the song books.

There is place we reach with a river, very narrow river. It was such a beautiful river. In fact, he said that a three-year-old child could cross that river. When we got there, Jesus crossed and the angel crossed. But I tried to cross, and I could not cross. Jesus was telling me, “Just cross!” I tried. No way. I cannot cross. He looked at me. He spoke in a language I have never heard.

Immediately when He spoke, I found myself in the middle.

He said, “Do you know why you cannot cross that river?”

I said, “No.”

He said, “Without Me, you can do nothing. That is why you cannot cross that river on your own.” And no child of God can do anything without Him.

He said, “Let’s go.”

In fact, that river I can’t describe. The stones inside that water you see there. So beautiful! Pure white stones!

He said, “Let’s go ahead.”

After we left that river, He now brought something like a mobile phone, and He gave it to the angel. He said, “Show him the record!” When I heard it, I didn’t know what He was talking about.

Immediately the angel opened it. It's just like open and close." [Michael motions as if he is opening a flip-top phone]. "Immediately he opened it, and it became a big screen. Jesus now said, “Just sit down and watch.” Immediately when He said, “Just sit down and watch,” He left. And the angel did, too.

So I was looking around for a place to sit. There was nothing to sit down on. After some minutes, Jesus came back again. And He said, “Oh, you are looking for where to sit down. Don’t worry.” He spoke again in another language that I did not understand. Immediately when He spoke, a big stone—white stone!—precious stone!—came out. He said, “Just sit down here.” That is where I sat down. And immediately, the angel came back.

He now told the angel, “Start from the head. Let the angel start from the head.” When he opened the screen, behold, it was our district headquarters, Jabi Church (In Abuja , Nigeria).

He said, “Yes, you know this place.”

I said, “Yes. This is our district headquarters.”

He said, “Ok, let the angel open the inside,” because that was the outside. Then he opened the inside. Ha! The congregation! As I was watching, I saw myself again, in that screen, following Jesus. As we just entered, the ushers—we started from the ushers—some ushers were putting masks on their faces—masks, starting from the ushers. Then the congregation, the majority of [them], were putting masks on their faces.

Then Jesus now asked, “Do you know those people who were putting on masks?”

I said, “No.”

He said, “Ah! Their salvation is fake, and they are still in My house.”

Overseer: Were you able to recognize anybody?

Michael: No, because the masks covered their faces. But those that did not put masks on their faces—oh, the light that shined on their faces was brighter! But I can still recognize some faces in the congregation. You know, I don’t worship there. [I am] not [acquainted with] much people.

Then, after the congregation, the platform. The ministers sit, just a few ministers, that were putting on that mask. I saw our overseer. "Ah!" I said, “This is our overseer.” He said, “Do you know him?”

I said, “Yes.” Oh, the face was shining! I was not able to look at his face a second time.

He said, “I have settled* his case, and I’m still praying for him.”

After that, I saw the wife, our mom. I said, “This is his wife. This is our mother.”

“I have settled* her case, and I’m still praying for her.”

Then our assistant overseer, Brother Hope, the same thing!—and other ministers followed.

He said, “I have settled* their case.” And those in the congregation, that their faces are shining, the same thing.

He said, “I have settled*..." They belong to me.

Then the majority of the choirs were putting masks on. The majority. He said, “Do you see them? They are having fake salvation, like others in the congregation.” He said, “They do not belong to Me.” But one thing Jesus said. He said, “If they can come back today, there would be their garment of salvation. And I’m going to receive them again.”

After that, He now told the angel to bring another group—two groups. The first group was women. In fact, the way the worldly women used to chew their gum—that is how their mouths were so busy—very busy! He said, “You see those people?”

I said, “Yes.”

“That is their own department in My House. That is their own work.”

I was so surprised.

Overseer: Which work?

Michael: That is gossip, backbiting. He said, “That is their own work.”
 
Then the second group—oh, the way they were dressed! These costly clothes, They dress well. All of them were holding food flasks. All of them!

As they were holding the food flasks, I saw them busy, checking other people’s food flasks.

Jesus said, “Do you see them? That is their work again—fashion of the world. They are after the things of the world. They dress like the world.” They don’t belong to Him. “And you see them? They are checking other people’s food. They want to know the kind of food so-and-so family cooks, the kind of food so-and-so individual are preparing —in My House! He said they don’t belong to Him.

He repeated the same thing, He said, “But if they repent and come back to Me, their garment is available. I’m going to give it to them again.”

After that, He now told the angel that opened the branch, the angel opened the branch. Behold, it was my branch where I was worshipping -- the Gwagdalada branch.

I said, “This is my church?”

He said, “Yes! You know this place?”

I said, “Yes, this is my church.”

He said, “Ok.” Behold! All the members, starting from the pastor, Reverend Jima, he was the first person in the queue—one single line! He said I should open to 1 Corinthians 14:40. It talks about doing things decently and in order.

He said, "Heaven is an orderly place, a decent place. But some people are doing things anyhow in the House of God." He said, “In My House.” They are doing things anyhow.

He said, “Look at that single line, starting with the pastor.” And each – both the children and the adults -- were holding golden staff. Golden staff! Each! And there was a fire, a very big fire. Before you cross that fire, you have to put your golden staff inside that fire. Jesus said, “Just watch and see.”

The first person is that pastor. When the pastor got there, he put his golden staff. Immediately the staff came out, back to his hand. And he crossed. And the next person is the assistant pastor. He put down his own staff. It came out again. And so the wife of the pastor, the same thing. And others!

He said, “You see that staff, that represents their salvation. Those that their own came out and they were able to cross, their salvation is genuine.” They belong to Him. But there are some that cannot make it. When they put their staff, it remains there, and they cannot cross. But the children’s (inaudible) is automatic. It’s automatic! And those at the age of accountability, they cannot. They didn’t cross. And what happened is that maybe a husband would cross, and the wife failed to cross. You see the husband begging.

Jesus said, “You see? There is no begging here. And there is no help here.” And He said when they were on Earth, they can beg, they can help each other. When He called that name “earth”, the world, it was then that I remembered, “Did I come from another place?”

He said, “Those people, their own salvation is fake. Their mind is not there, but they’re still in My House. So, because of a little problem, they left. For some, because their prayer is not yet answered, they cannot endure. They left."

They now brought out someone, a sister. I know this sister. I call this sister’s name.

He said, “Do you know her? That is the owner of the fresh white garment you saw on the road. You said how you want to know who the owner is. That is the owner.” And I looked at this sister, who was preparing for her wedding, and the wedding was outside the Church.

He said, “That is the owner. It was just recently that she dropped her own garment, and she’s going to the world. But if she can only turn back now, I am going to receive her back, and give her garment of salvation.

He now said I should read Proverbs 6:27-28, which I read, which is a question there.  After I read of that place, He said, “This is that place. The reason why their clothes are not yet burned is because of His mercy. The reason why they passed that hot coal and their feet did not burn is because of His mercy. But very soon—He said very, very soon—His mercy is going to cease. He’s going to close the door of His mercy. And there will be no more mercy given.

Overseer: The Bible that you read, where did you get it from?

Michael: It was from the screen, but in the village, it was Bible. I hold it like this. But in the screen, He said read it. And behold, the chapter and the verse is there.

Then the angel, after I read that place, the angel now asked Jesus. He bowed down himself and he said, “Master, what is the next for this man?”

He said, “Let him read Daniel 12:13,” which I read. [Editor's note: The verse states: "But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age." (Dan 12:13)].

He said, “Take him. Let him go and rest, just like what he read in that chapter.”

Immediately when he said that, I found myself in another place this time around. The road, the road was gold. In fact, I cannot describe how that road is. With flowers again. Decorated with flowers. It is different from the other route, the first one.

When you are walking, you see yourself as you are." [Michael looks down as if he is looking at his reflection in the transparent gold pavement.] "Oh! I was afraid. The angel looked at me and said, “Are you afraid? There is no fear here! You will not fall down. You are free. Walk as I’m walking.” In fact, I can’t describe that place. My mouth cannot describe that place. That place, so beautiful. The kind of leaves, the kind of cloud, the weather. In fact, I was so happy, and immediately, I forgot about what I saw in that screen. I forgot about it! Very beautiful place! In fact, I see there was another peace, joy in me, as I was moving, following the angel. It was a beautiful place, a place that I can never forget. I can’t forget.

I travel with my director in the place of work, going to many places, but I have never seen such a place that I can compare with that place. It is a beautiful place.

As I was moving together with the angel, somebody touched my back. I looked. Behold, it was Jesus. He said, “Look at your right side.” I looked at my right side. Behold! My wife and my single brother and the baby. He said, “Do you know these faces?”

I said, “Yes! This is my wife. This is my single brother.”

He said, “What about that baby?”

I said, “My wife is still pregnant.”

He said, “That is your baby. Talk about your baby. That is your baby.”

They were wearing white garments, my brother and my wife and the little baby. They were by the roadside, smiling.

Jesus now said, “Look.” And before them on the front of the road, there was a big gate—very big gate. Oh! The place was very far, but you can be able to see yourself, like a mirror. The gate. Hallelujah songs. It was a wonderful place. I regret of coming back. It was a wonderful place!

Jesus said, “You are going back because of your wife and because of your brother. You remember he’s the only one on earth...” Anytime He said “earth”, I would now say, “So I am from another place?”

He said, “Yes, you are going back.”

I said, “No, I’m not going back.”

He said, “Listen,” with His gentle voice. “This place is obedient. There is no disobedient there.” He said “obedient”. “Whatever you hear here, just obey.”

I was not happy. I know after my God is my wife. I love my wife. But that while I saw the face of my wife, I don’t want to leave that place. I said I should come back because of my wife: no. But that place, whatever they tell you to do, you have to do it! And I turn back—with sadness. I was not happy to turn back. I had already seen the city, the pearly gate. Ahh! It’s a wonderful gate! If I cannot describe that place, how I wish everyone of us here would experience what I experienced.

He now said when we were coming back. He now said, He called me. He said, “Michael.”

I said, “Sir.”

He said, “What is your purpose in life?’

I was speechless.

He said, “Your purpose in life is Me, Jesus, in you. That! You are going back, you are not going to the world, to start pursuing the things of the world.” In fact, after He said it, He said I should read Proverbs 5:8. [Editor's note: The verse states: "Keep your way far from her And do not go near the door of her house." (Pro 5:8)]. I read that place, He now told the angel, “Take him back.” So He told them that I was going back to the world. He said, “Take him back.”

As we were coming, Jesus now called the angel again. He said, "When you’re coming back, cover him with this end time message.” That is what I heard. I don’t know what He gave the angel. Immediately the angel collected it.  How we found ourself in my bedroom, I cannot tell. Myself and the angel again, back to my bedroom. I was surprised. Do you know what happened? The angel said, “Look, look at the bed.” I looked at the bed. I saw myself again, lying down. And myself standing with the angel! He said, “That is your body. That is your house. You know, you have a house. You are free to go out and you are free to come out. You went out. Now enter.”
I was afraid. I said, “No.”

He smiled. He said, “Enter! That is your body.”

I looked at myself.

“It’s okay. You don’t know what you’re going to do. Just lie down, very close.”

I went and I laid down very close to the body, and I became one. Then I started feeling the heat, the hotness of this world of sin. Then I know that yes, it’s just like you are in the AC. And after some time you went out, feel the hotness.

That was 5:00AM, Friday, from Wednesday. The angel now asked, “Where is your CGS?”

I said, “That is the place I kept.”

He said, “Do you know this is the time you use to pray for morning prayer?” And yes, when I was alone, I used to have my morning prayer, 5:30AM. But when I married, my wife said, “No, let’s start at 5:00AM.” And that is exactly the time I came back to this world of woe.

We opened. The angel opened. He said, “Let’s sing hymn number twenty.” We sang together with the angel. He now said, “Lie down.” I laid down, and he said, “The Master said I should cover you with this end-time message. So I’m going to cover you.”

He now brought white cloth and covered me. I was covered with that white cloth. Then after that, the angel left. I don’t know how the angel disappeared from that place. I don’t know. He left.

Overseer: Before you were covered, were you inside your body?

Michael: Yes, I was already inside. I’ve already entered inside my body. Before the angel now asked me, he said, “Where is the CGS?” He left. Then, after the angel left, I saw myself covered with white cloth. I was afraid! I have to shift that cloth beside my bed. It was then that I was able to use my handset and call one of our brothers to come and pray for me. In that text, I told him that I was inside my house since Wednesday. Let him come and pray for me.

When the brother came, it was around 6:00. The brother came. He said, “Ah! Bro Mike, what is the problem?” that since Tuesday has been trying my line till Wednesday. And some time if he tried, it rang. Before they would say, it switch off. And then, when they were there, the angel and Jesus, anytime my phone rang, the angel would just off the handset. He said, “This is no time for you to receive a call,” before we left.

Overseer: Now, when you came back, you were dressed in your natural clothing? What happened to the dress you are wearing?

Michael: When I came back, in fact, the only thing is the cloth that the angel used to cover me and my knickers. The dress that I put on, for the journey, is…that brother that I called, he is the one that picked that dress from the floor with my shoes.

Overseer: …what you were wearing before.

Michael: Yes! But when I came back, I just found myself covered with the cloth and my short knickers.

Then when the brother came, he said, “Ah! What!" He has been trying…


I said, “Yes, heaven visited me…the sickness is for our own good, it’s for our help, it’s for the glory of God.”

Overseer: What happened to your knee? Do you know when you started with that? You were sick, you had a bad headache, and you knocked your head. So when you came back, no more pain like that.

Michael: Yes, no more pain. And when the angel was going, he said, “Do you know that Jesus has healed you?" before he left. But the leg is because of that while we were walking on that route, my leg became heavy, but the head, the pain disappeared. But these two legs I was not able to walk with it then. It was when the brother came and prayed over me that I was able to walk again. Then I now told the brother that I look at that cloth.

He said, “Ah! White cloth? How could?”

I said, “The angel covered—‘

He said, ‘Eh? He said a long journey; two days: a long journey.”

I said, “Yes.”

He said, “This cloth that you were—“ he was able to touch the cloth. He folded it with fear! And kept it somewhere. He prayed over me and then he was preparing to go to work. So he said when he comes back from work, he will hear better. Then he has called my senior brother from the town to come down.

When the brother left, it was around 12:00PM that my brother came. When he entered, he said, “Ah! What is the problem? Hen   …since four days before this now, we have been trying your line. It was no going.” He said it was later that they told him I am sick.

I said, “Yes, but Jesus has healed me already.” My mind still went to that cloth. I now told him that, “Check that cloth.”

He said, "Which cloth?” He looked at the wardrobe. He said, “Ah!” He was afraid. He said, “This cloth is not ordinary. Where did you get it?”

I said, “Yes, I traveled with Jesus.”

For him to touch that cloth, he was afraid. I said, “Just try to open it.” It was when he opened it that I noticed there is something—there is a writing there. Even myself, I didn’t know that there is a writing there.

He said, “This is blood?’ The brother started weeping. He said, “This is blood. How?”

I said, “No. Jesus said that is the end time message. Can you read it?” He read it. He said, “’Jesus is coming soon.’” He started weeping. He started weeping.  He said, “How do you –-We can—How do you?— You can touch it?” And when we were coming back, Jesus said, “When you go back, tell the head of the church!" That is what Jesus said. "Tell the head of the church.” That is what He said before we came back with the angel.

I now folded it inside black nylon and I tie it. On Sunday, I went to the church. I met the pastor. I speak everything. He said, "Ahh!" The man was afraid. He was weeping! He said, “Ok, what is there on Monday, by the grace of God? I am going to pray for you so that the Spirit of God will remind you so that you will not forget. You will go and meet the overseer. I am not the head. Go and meet with the overseer. And I am going to try to call him that you are coming.”

On that Monday, I go the overseer’s office. He was not on site. And on Wednesday, as I was going back, the devil said, “Ah! There is no need for you to go and meet your overseer. In fact, you will not even meet him. That you have already told the pastor, ‘What is the need of you to go and tell your overseer?’” I said, “Ah! This is the voice of the devil. Is it not the pastor that said I should go and tell the overseer? I entered the vehicle. There is a place called the [inaudible around 50:49]. After we passed that place, the front tire of that vehicle busted. I said, “Whether you like it or not (the devil), I am going to deliver that message.”

Overseer: Was there any other message that you were supposed to give to the head of the church?

Michael: [Shaking his head, “No."] That was just [my testimony of the experience].

Michael: So before I went to the overseer’s place, that Sunday that I met the pastor, when I came back with that cloth, that I was going to the overseer’s next day, which is Monday, the cloth came out from that nylon. I tied the nylon, but it came out on its own. In fact, it was that time that I was afraid to handle the cloth. It was then that I went and bought a new brown envelope. I kept it.

Overseer: You put it in a black nylon before, and it came out on its own? Now you have a brown envelope where you keep it and nothing. How did you get the brown envelope?

Michael: Yes, sir… (inaudible)…I bought it.

Overseer: And you put the cloth inside the brown envelope.

Michael: Yes. And it is then that the cloth has been there.

[At this point in the video, the cloth is held up by two people who are standing behind it to display it.]  

Overseer: The name of two people you mentioned you didn’t mention their names. The first brother that you called when you came back to your senses, and then secondly your brother that came to your house.

Michael: The first brother that I mentioned is, his name is Bro DimejiYusuf.  He is the organist in our church, (Gwagdalada) church, by the grace of God. And the second brother is my senior brother, that is Bro Samson Shigaba. …On the road to heaven, yes.

Overseer: That is the same person you saw [beside the road to heaven near the pearly gate].

Michael: On that Wednesday that I finally met the overseer, as I was coming back, I started praying, telling God, committing my wife into His hand, that God should please on that date for her, on the day that she would deliver. Let her deliver safely. God said I should stop praying. I should start praising Him. And immediately I started praising Him. He now said stop. He now asked me a question. Can I remember the date of my wedding? I said, “Yes. It was on the nineteenth, Friday, September 2008.”

He said, “Okay. Watch! I’m going to surprise you on that nineteenth.” Then I don’t understand. I continued praising Him.

Then Thursday I now called my wife that there I’m coming to Zaria tomorrow, Friday, by the grace of God. She said, no, what she needs is prayer, that I should not disturb myself, that the money I have, I should be managing it. That the brethren are praying for her, and I should just be praying for her. I said, “No. no problem. God has already made a way for me. I’m coming down.”

On Friday, I got there. After I entered the vehicle, God said, “As you are going, you are to hold your baby.”

I said, “Amen.” Twice!

When I got there, oh! I looked at my wife. She said, “Yesterday that you called, which is Thursday, immediately you finished talking with me, the baby, the labor started little.” That was 2:11AM [when] I got to Zaria.

After we talked for some minute, the labor become much. She cannot talk to me again. I was inside the mother’s sitting room while she was inside the bedroom. God said, “What are you waiting for? Go on your knees.”

It was around 11 AM. I went on my knee. I said a prayer. And she was there, praying. It came a time that she cannot even pray again.

From that 11 AM till 17 minutes past 3, the baby came out.  I heard the cry of a baby. Then I have already called the pastor and some of our brethren.

When the baby came out, God said, “Look at the calendar.” It was our church calendar, (inaudible). Behold, it was the nineteenth, which is Friday again. He said, “You remember the date of your wedding?”

I said, ‘Yes.’

He said, “That is it. I surprised you. I told you that I’m going to surprise you.”

I don’t know how to describe this God. That is how the baby came out, on the same date!

Overseer: But then, Brother Mike, why are you surprised? We’ve heard before that women delivered on the date of their marriage.

Michael: You know, God said that He was going to surprise me. And that is why. It happened. Exactly what God said.

The video is prefaced by an audio introduction by the present overseer of the Apostolic Faith Church in Lagos, Reverend Adeniran. This is the head of the church whom the Lord Jesus told Michael to take the message to.  He endorses the testimony and says we should accept it along with the end time message, because "the cloth is here."

Watch Michael's Video Testimony.

The White Cloth with Its End Time Message
White cloth from heaven with end time message in blood,
that states: “Jesus is coming soon.”
When the Lord sent brother Michael back to earth, he handed the angel a white cloth and told him to give Michael this end time message and cover him with it.  Written upon it in red letters are the words, “Jesus is coming soon.” Since the cloth and the message written on it came from the Lord, and the message is about the Lord Himself, the message must be written in none other than His own precious blood. Dr. Ayodelle advised me that the church obtained forensic lab testing on the blood that is on the cloth and the results determined that it is not normal blood.

In brother Michael's testimony, he said that when he returned to his body and showed the cloth to people, they were afraid to touch it.  They noted that it was no ordinary cloth and wondered where he got it.  They wept when they saw it and read the writing upon it.  This was true of the two brothers who came to Michael's home, as well as his pastor. 

The white cloth with the end time message
I looked at the photo of the cloth very carefully, zooming in to the highest level of magnification in my photo software, so that I could see individual pixels.  When I did so, I made the following observations:

1. The blood turned the cloth whiter along the edge of the written letters.  It is not visible to the naked eye unless you zoom in to a high magnification level with the photo software.

2. The words were written at the bottom right corner as if they were the final words on a page. The implication is that there is nothing else left to happen before the Lord's return.

3. The letters of the very last word ("Soon") were on the very bottom edge of the cloth, even to the point of being written on the final row of thread.  Again, it emphasized the finality of the time we are in right now, the lateness of the hour, and the nearness of His return.

The word "soon" showing whitening
4. The final stroke of the letter "N" in the last word ("soon") seemed to extend off the cloth!

Seven Lessons Learned
I am personally convinced that this testimony is true, because it agrees with Scripture, there are witnesses, and we have the cloth to prove it, along with its urgent, end-time message written in human blood that is not normal.  So I would like to recap seven of the lessons we have learned from it.

First of all, Jesus is coming soon, and the church is late getting herself ready.  There is no time left to put off getting ready.  That is the most critical message from this entire testimony.

Secondly, this sickness that brother Michael had was for the glory of God, so that we might be warned and have the chance to get ready for the Lord's imminent return. Let us not be like brother Michael, who had left his first love, after his mother died, and had stopped doing the good works he did for the Lord that he did at first.  That is a very dark place to be in, as the Lord showed him when he found himself at the grave of his dead mother, who was not even a believer.  Be careful not to dwell upon dead loved ones, always remembering them and missing them in such a way that it causes you to slacken in your zeal and service for the Lord.  Keep Him first and love Him above all others, even your mother and father.

Thirdly, it is possible to be a born again Christian, who even has a picture of Jesus in your house, and yet not even recognize Jesus when you see Him in person.  Don't let that happen to you! Spend time with Him in prayer and His Word getting to know the real Jesus.  He is holy, all-powerful, majestic, more beautiful than diamonds, and his face shines brighter than the sun.  Angels bow before Him and answer to his beckon call.  He is all-knowing, and keeps the record of everything we do, whether good or bad.  Remember the Scripture the angel gave to brother Michael: "For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths." (Pro 5:21).  If you are spending time with the Lord in private prayer, or handing out gospel tracts to people, He is watching it all and keeping a record.  The same goes if you are putting anyone else or anything else before Him, or if you are not praying and doing good works for Him.

Fourthly, the clothes of this world -- no matter how beautiful -- cannot qualify you for the journey to heaven.  You need to be dressed in the white robe of righteousness that only the Lord Jesus can cloth you in. (See Righteous Deeds and White Robes).

Fifthly, the road to heaven is a very difficult and narrow road! Anyone wanting to get to heaven must take this route.  There is no other way.  Walking on that road is arduous, painstaking, slow going, and requires great effort.  yet those who journey on it have great peace and joy in their hearts.  Many who were once on the narrow road have left it, because it was too difficult, or because of some little problem, and also left their white robes behind on it. This does not mean they have left the Church, because they may in fact still be in the house of the Lord, but their mind is not there. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mat 7:13-14).  If anyone has left the narrow road and returns to the Lord Jesus now before it's too late, their white robe is waiting for them.

Sixthly, many people in Church actually have fake salvation.  They are not putting into practice the words of Jesus and acting upon them.  Instead they are wearing the fashions of this world, concerning themselves with worldly things like food, coveting what others have, backbiting and gossiping about others.  While they may be serving in the Church in various ways, such as choir members, worship leaders, or ushers, they are wearing masks as hypocrites do, which is perhaps why the Lord does not recognize them on judgment day. Although they call Him Lord, He will say to them, I never knew you.  Jesus said, "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.' (Mat 7:22-23)

Seventh, heaven is a glorious and beautiful place.  All things there are done decently and in orderly fashion, just like the straight line that brother Michael saw the people lined up in at church, beginning with the pastor and his wife, who were first in line.  We cannot do things any way we like in the Lord's House.  "But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner" (1Co 14:40).  The people in heaven are dressed in white robes; the grass and flowers are beyond human description; the road is paved in pure, transparent gold; the gates of that city are pure gold. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city." (Rev 22:14). Just to see the gates of that city, you would never want to come back to this world of woe. 

There is also another place where the fire burns up people who are not qualified for heaven, although they may be in the Church.  "Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?" (Pro 6:27-28).  The only reason they are not being burned up by the fire immediately here on earth is because of the Lord's mercy.  But very soon — very, very soon — His mercy is going to cease. He’s going to close the door of His mercy. And there will be no more mercy given.  No amount of begging by them or their loved ones will change their plight.  They will be unable to pass through the fire without being hurt by it, and they will be destroyed.  While all the little children will be able to pass through the fire and enter heaven, that is not the case with the children who have reached the age of accountability or with the adults who are in church, who do not have a genuine salvation. Therefore, as you walk through this life, stay away from sin, "Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house," (Pro 5:8).

Your purpose in life is not to pursue the things of this world.  Your purpose in life is Christ in you.

Jesus is coming soon! Repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Prepare to meet your God!
--

Footnote:
*By the expression "I have settled their case," the Lord meant that the particular people are safe in the arms of Jesus, and are free from harm, since they have genuine salvation and are not hypocrites, unlike some in the congregation.  The Scriptural basis for the expression "settled their case" may be found in John's first epistle, which states: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 Jn 2:1-2)

Credits: All the praise and glory goes to Jesus for giving brother Michael Shigaba this encounter and its message.  And I would like to thank my oldest daughter for the many days and hours she spent lovingly and painstakingly transcribing this entire testimony into writing, so that people all over the world can read it, who may not be able to understand brother Michael's English so clearly.  This written version also provides a means for others to translate it into other languages, so that the maximum number of people may be impacted by it.  I would like to thank my dear brother, Dr. Theophilus Ayodele, for informing me about this testimony and for mailing me a DVD copy of it all the way from Africa.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note:  Michael Shigaba is not personally connected with this site. Please prayerfully listen to this brother's testimony, and use the Testimony Review Process adopted by this blog, as you decide for yourself whether the Lord has spoken to him.  For issues and concerns, each person must confirm with the Lord, whether something is valid or not. For more information on our position, please see Disclaimers.

You are invited to read or listen to the many, amazing testimonies of the supernatural realm on the Home page of this blog, a few of which are listed below. I also recommend reading Michael Thomas Sambo's Revelation of Heaven and Hell, Visitation of Jesus to Samuel Oghenetega,   The Judgment Seat of Christ, Only the Holy -- Three Shocking Testimonies, Angelica Zambrano Hell and Heaven, Righteous Deeds and White Robes, Drifting Away, and Discerning the Things of the Spirit. You may access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Sale of Christian Music and Art -- A Robbers' Den?

Christ Cleansing the Temple
It's been accepted as common practice among Christian musicians and artists to sell their music and artwork, as we all know.  They charge a price for their music albums and for their concerts, as well as their paintings and even electronic images of their artwork.  In fact, they even require that you purchase a license just to display the lyrics to their copyrighted music during worship in Church! But is that right?  Is it right sometimes in certain circumstances, but not in others? What does the Bible say about it?

You will recall the passage of Scripture describing the time when Jesus went into the temple and drove out the merchants selling their merchandise and the money changers.  He told them that they had turned His Father's house into a den of robbers or into a place of business.

"And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, 'Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business.' His disciples remembered that it was written, 'ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.'"  (Joh 2:14-17)

Matthew's gospel states: "And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He *said to them, 'It is written, '"My house shall be called a house of prayer"; but you are making it a robbers' den.'" (Mat 21:12-13)

Selling Christian Music
What is the difference between those merchants selling animals to be used as offerings unto God and merchants selling Christian music for profit?  In many cases, it was the Lord who gave the songwriters or recording artists the songs of worship and praise.  He didn't give it to them for their own benefit to claim as their own or to sell for profit.  He gave it to them for His glory and for His kingdom and for His people to bring offerings of worship and praise unto Him.  In fact, many of the songs contain direct quotes from the Scriptures, such as the Psalms and the book of Revelation, which were originally inspired by the Holy Spirit, not by the modern songwriter.  

In many cases, these things are sold inside of Churches, but it makes no difference what the physical location is.  The Church is not just a building. Just because this is done in a public forum, like Christian bookstores and Internet shopping outlets, does not make it right.  The Church exists wherever two or three are assembled in Jesus' name.  So the passage I have just quoted is directly applicable to the sale of music and art.

I do believe as Keith Green did that when God has given us a gift and a ministry that we should not charge people, but rather accept offerings.  "In 1979, after negotiating a release from his contract with Sparrow, Green initiated a new policy of refusing to charge money for concerts or albums." -- Wikipedia.

Worship is not for sale!  Neither is Christian ministry! I am open to dialogue on this, but if you believe in selling Christian music, then please cite the Scriptures that you believe allow that practice.

Selling Christian Art
And the same goes for sacred Christian art, paintings or drawings of our Lord Jesus or scenes from the Bible. In some cases, this is simply putting the Bible into pictorial format, and selling it for profit. What's the difference between that and selling the Word of God or selling the Bible?  Even if there are indeed certain instances where it is appropriate to sell Christian art, it is wrong to prevent other brethren in Christ from even using an electronic image of that art for non-profit purposes, unless they pay a fee, even when proper credit is given to the artist and copyright is cited.  One godly, Christian artist friend of mine DOES allow the use of electronic images of his art with permission, as long as he is credited as the artist, copyright is cited, and a link back to his website is given.  I truly appreciate this brother’s gracious attitude, which is very generous, and I would be open to comments from my readers on this topic.

Should Christian artists charge only for their production and shipping costs, and accept only love offerings for their work as Keith Greene used to do with his music?  When would it be appropriate to charge a set price, and in what circumstances would it not be, according to God's Word?

Selling God's Word
Now that brings up another issue, which is the sale of Bibles.  I personally have no problem with publishers charging enough for Bibles to cover their costs in producing them, in terms of the printing and distribution.  But these days Bibles are exorbitantly expensive, when they should be relatively inexpensive or free.  In the front of my Bible -- and yours, too -- it says that it is copyrighted and that it may not be reproduced in any form without permission.  The Word of God is not for sale! According to the Word of God, nobody has the right to do so or to prohibit people from copying and distributing it.

Do you think it is ever appropriate for publishers to prohibit people from copying or distributing the Scriptures?  Do you think it is appropriate for them to make a profit from God's Word?  If so, based on what Scriptures?

Selling Prophecies, Sermons, Teachings, and Oil
What is the difference between selling Christian music, art, and Bibles, and selling sermons?  If the Lord gave you the sermon, you have no right to sell it for profit.  It is no different from selling your Bible teachings from the Lord. Yet how many are out there hocking their teaching sets on CD or DVD, or in books!  And what is the difference between that and selling bottles of anointing oil for a price?  How about selling pews or seats in church, as some churches once practiced?  Is it right to sell prophecies?  Absolutely not!  That's how false prophets operate, giving prophecies for a price, which is not too much different than paying a fortune teller.  So why have we accepted the worldly practice of selling God's gifts and talents like music, art, preaching and teaching?

Using Gifts and Talents to Generate Wealth
It is wrong to use the gifts and talents the Lord gave you to generate wealth for the purpose of fulfilling your heart’s desires or for your own plans and designs. It should be done in the name of Jesus, for the Lord, and for the glory of God alone. As we use our gifts and talents, we must avoid covetousness, which is “a strong desire after the possession of worldly things” (Easton's Bible Dictionary). It is “a strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense” (Webster’s). This sin is condemned in Scripture and listed among those that would exclude one from heaven (Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:9, 10; Matthew 6:20).

And you should not turn the house of God into a business or rob others, especially the poor, or take advantage of them. In fact, you need to consider that the poor may not be able to afford these things, but may benefit greatly from them. The kingdom purposes of God must be first, not greed, covetousness, or selfishness.  The Lord defines greed as having more than you need.  The Lord defines selfishness as keeping everything for yourself while others don’t have.

Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Mat 6:24)

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1Ti 6:10)

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” (Heb 13:5)

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21, NIV)

If one is truly only charging enough to cover costs and provide a modest income for his family, that is between him and God. The Lord knows each heart, and each one will give an account to God for his own actions.

“So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Rom 14:12)

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mat 6:33)

"Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'” (Lk 12:15; also see Mt 23:25)

It is wrong to charge churches and other non-profit Christian ministries for the mere use of electronic images or for the use of lyrics, or for the use of songs for non-profit ministry purposes, as long as proper credit is given and they are used for the glory of God, in Jesus name and not for generating wealth, producing new products for sale, or fulfilling one’s selfish desires.

We must be righteous and blameless in our conduct, and operate with integrity, not as the world does.  The Church is not a business!

Offering Teachings, Poems, Art, and Songs for Free
I do not charge anything for any of my blogs, and neither have I monetized my blogs (you will notice that there are no banner ads or popup ads on my websites), although we certainly would gladly accept an offering if someone chose to do so. Rather than publish them as books and sell them, I have made my writings available to the public free of charge, and you can find them all at Writing for the Master. The same goes for the songs we have written, which are available free of charge to the public at Jesus Reigns. Our children's poetry is also available free of charge to the public at Verses to the King, just as their artwork is at A Brush with Life.  Rather than seeing these as an opportunity to make money, we see them as a gift from God meant to bless people.  There are many others who share our perspective, such as The Gideons International, who give out free Bibles, as well as Rick Meyers, who freely gives away the electronic Bible known as e-sword.  

In turn the Bible teaches that the one who is taught the Word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. (Gal 6:6).  That means that people should give to support ministries that are blessing them spiritually.  I think it would be entirely appropriate and would please the Lord if those who read my articles gave an offering, even if it was a small one, so that our needs could be met and we could continue with our ministry. But there is no such thing as a mandatory love offering in order to receive Christian ministry.

Peddling the Word of God
I realize that the worker is worthy of his keep (Mt 10:10) and if a man preaches the gospel, he has a right to make a living from the gospel (1 Cor 9:14).  We may accept offerings and live by faith, trusting God to provide for us, as we share with others the gifts and talents He has blessed us with.  But that does not mean we have the right to charge people a set price for our music, artwork, prophecies, preaching, or teaching, unless it is simply to cover the production and shipping costs.  Charging a set price (over and above production and shipping costs) is just as ridiculous as requiring a mandatory love offering. Those who do so have made money their idol, and the practice of charging for these things is basically peddling the Word of God.  Paul said, "For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God." (2Co 2:17)

Buying the Gift of God with Money
Let's not forget what the apostle Peter said to Simon the sorcerer.  "Peter answered: 'May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.'” (Ac 8:20-23).

There is a parallel between the sin of Simon the sorcerer and what some people do today to sell their talents for money.

Confirmation from South Africa
After I wrote this article, I sent it to a sister I know in South Africa, named Susan W.  She is a former Muslim, who is following Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  I did not even know anything about the talent the Lord has given her with singing, but she has a beautiful voice, and many people have remarked to her about it.  Some have advised her to record her music on albums, and write her own songs, and sell them, but she has refused to do so. After she read this article, she wrote back to me the following letter:

"Dear brother Len,

"This article is very thought provoking."

"In my early years, I was singing in church and people loved my singing in praise and worship.  Many of the Pastors of the church that I attended, would never start preaching without asking me to present a worship song.  I sang only, after coming from the prayer closet. Many people asked me to record the songs and write my own and sell.  I resented that and I said that I could never use what the Lord has given me to make money with.  I remember a certain gospel musician from the country of my ancestors, the land of Kenya, approached me and she asked me to go ahead and record.  I resented.  I was even invited to go and sign in India but could not go because I did not have any financial means to.  I have never recorded and I do not sing anymore, but I sing unto the Lord on my own...I am His workmanship and I live to bring Him Glory and Honor."

"People are singing (the so called artists) and selling their music to have material gain.  Many years ago, I listened to a radio interview of a very famous established gospel (praise and worship) musician.  She said in the interview, that nowadays people are peddling their songs.  She said that she and her group would fast and pray before they could even produce a song and record it.  Seeking the Lord’s will and what message He wanted them to pass on.  Their music cassettes were affordable."

"If you listen to prophet Dr. David Owuor during his trip to Cameroon earlier this year, you will hear clearly that he is against peddling and he says if God has sent you somewhere to take a message, you do not need any money.  The one who has called you, will provide for you, because it is His work and not you sending yourself.  However, you can ask for donations, if anybody is willing to financially support.  Look for instance at Maurice Sklar.  He operates from this principle, too, if I am not mistaken.  Have you seen the late sister Choo Thomas and how she operated?  I got in touch with her in 2008 and was in contact with her all this while until she passed on.  She sent me her DVDs for free.  She was charging for her book Heaven Is So Real but to get the money for production only."

"There is no difference in what is being done by the so-called Christian Gospel singers (artists) than doing any other business.  They are not singing or preaching with compassion for the lost, but to make money for themselves and drive big cars, own huge houses.  Brother Len, people will burn in hell!"

Warning to Those Using Talents to Make Money
I hope that this has served as a wake up call to the Church about this worldly practice. There is a difference between accepting offerings as a workman worthy of his keep versus selling things to make money.  The Lord is against greed, covetousness, selfishness, merchandising in the Church, selling the gift of God for money, and peddling the Word of God.

I would like to close with a warning given to Samuel Oghenetega by the Lord Jesus Christ.  This warning is to those using talents to make money.  The Lord said, "Tell those using the talents I gave them to make money and their hearts' desires to stop or else I will take it from them and give it to another. I will cast them into the lake of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mt 25:14-30."  I did not say that.  The Lord did.  Stop fulfilling your own plans and designs. Invest your talents in His service.  Give your talents to God. If you have been practicing this sin of peddling the Word of God, selling your Christian merchandise in the Church or to the Church for profit, then I repeat to you the words of our Lord: Take these things away; stop making the Father's house a place of business!

To those who thought you could sell the gift of God for money, you need to know the Bible calls it wickedness. Your hearts are not right with God. As Peter said, you had better repent of this wickedness before Jesus comes, and cry out to God for mercy, in the hope that He may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For you are captive to sin. You may also need to make restitution to the poor people you have robbed. He still loves you, but He will not lower His standard of heaven for anyone.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.  Christ Cleansing the Temple, by Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1875

Author's Note: If you disagree with this article, please pray about it and leave thoughtful, referenced comments that would be conducive to healthy dialogue. If you enjoyed this post, you may also like A Trip to Hell, The Forgotten Sin of Worldliness, Visitation of Jesus to Samuel Oghenetega, What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel?, Australian Pastor Raised from the Dead, Holy Living in a Perverted World, and the other posts on the home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Alcohol and Cigarettes -- Nine Divine Revelations

In my previous articles, The Forgotten Sin of Worldliness and Holy Living in a Perverted World, I have exposed the broad path of worldliness that so many have taken, which leads to destruction. I have also called the Church back to the narrow path of holiness that our Lord Jesus requires of all who follow Him, which leads to life.  It seems as though so much of the world has gotten into the Church that we no longer recognize the worldly things in our lives. We simply don't realize the extent to which we have compromised. In this present post, I would like to highlight two of those things in particular that are very commonly accepted among Christian believers, which are drunkenness and smoking cigarettes.

First of all, the Scripture is very clear about this. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the apostle Paul wrote: “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

The natural tendency when we hear this is to debate about what it means to be drunk or to come up with our own definition of drunkenness, so that it will allow us to continue with our habit.  But let's look at what the Lord has shown several different individuals through divine revelations of hell that were given to them.

Adelaida De Carrillo
Adelaida De Carrillo
A sister named Adelaida De Carrillo from Bolivia was taken to heaven and cleansed of defilement.  She said:

"Then my nose went through the same process, a black liquid came out of my nose and later a white one. My nose was anointed, but the whole process was very painful. I said, 'Lord please tell me the things I did with my nose that didn't please you.'"

"The Lord said to me, 'Some of your clients smoke cigarettes and you breathe in that smoke through your nostrils because you were once a smoker and you still feel comfortable sitting with them while they are smoking.'  I said, 'Lord, I know, forgive me, have mercy on me.'”

"The Lord said, 'You are the same with all those smoking cigarettes and all that drink alcohol whenever you stay there with them breathing in the smell of the cigarette or alcoholic drinks.'  . . . 'This is my reason for cleansing you, so from today whenever you see anyone smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol you won't be comfortable among them any more, it will rather disgust you.'”

In hell she saw the souls of the alcoholics.  She said:

"The Lord took me to another place in Hell that appeared like a big club. I heard the souls there shouting and crying for mercy. I asked, 'What is going on here?'

"Jesus said, 'Take this message to all those drinking alcoholic drinks, to all those drinking alcohol day and night, to all those drinking into their body things that don't edify them, to all those using even their children's money for alcoholic drinks, take this message to all those women that drink alcohol, for them to amend their ways through this message.'"

"I saw a table placed before these lost souls.  On the table were drinks, and the souls were forced to drink against their will. They were engulfed in flames, and in the bottles they were drinking from was just acid.  I saw how their souls exploded and cried, 'Lord nooo! I can't take this anymore.'”

"I saw a man in Hell.  While on Earth the Lord had sent an Evangelist to him while He was drinking in a bar. The Evangelist told him to give his life to Jesus Christ, because the Evangelist felt he was going to die soon. This man insulted the Evangelist; calling her a mad woman. That same day, he came out of the bar drunk, he had an accident and now he is in Hell.  He was being forced to drink in Hell, he tries to escape the torment, but the demons would not let him, he will be tormented Hell forever."

Adelaida also saw cigarette smokers in hell! She said:

"Cigarette smokers also have a place in Hell!  All those smoking marijuana have their place in Hell, they are tormented forever."

You may read more at Adelaida De Carillo's testimony of heaven and hell.

Emmanuel Agyarko
Brother Emmanuel Agyarko from Ghana was taken to hell in a vision and said: "I was later shown two people who were in hell for smoking. So people have to know that smoking would take them to hell."

You may read more in the Vision of Hell by Emmanuel Agyarko.

Ayodelle Sawyer
Sister Ayodelle Sawyer from Sierra Leone was taken to hell, where she saw her father, and one reason he was there was that he had been a drunkard.

You may read more in Sister Ayo - a Revelation of Heaven and Hell.

Angelica Zambrano
Angelica Zambrano
A sister from Ecuador named Angelica Zambrano was taken to heaven and hell.  In hell she saw a young man in torment, who had used drugs and alcohol. She testified:

"The Lord said to me, 'Are you ready to see what I am going to show you?'  'Yes, Lord,' I said.  He took me to a cell where I could see a young man being tormented among the flames.  I noticed that the cell was enumerated, though I couldn't understand the numbers, they seemed to be backward.  There was a huge plaque in that cell, and the young man had the number '666' on his forehead.  He also had a big metallic plate that was encrusted into his skin.  The worms that were eating him, were unable to damage that plate; neither did the flames burn it.  He screamed, 'Lord, have mercy on me.  Take me out of this place.  Forgive me, Lord!'  But Jesus would respond, 'It's late, too late: I gave you opportunities and you would not repent.'"

"I asked Jesus, 'Lord, why is he here?' Then I recognized him. On Earth, this young man knew the Word of God, but abruptly he walked away from the Lord, preferring alcohol, drugs and walking on the wrong path.  He did not want to follow the way of the Lord.  Jesus warned him many times on what could happen to him.  Jesus said, 'Daughter, he is in this place because anyone who rejects My word already has a judge: The Word that I have spoken will judge him in that last day,' (John 12:48) and then Jesus wept." 

You can read more at Angelica Zambrano Hell and Heaven.

Seven Colombian Youth
The Seven Colombian Youth
A brother from Columbia named Lupe testified in the Revelation of Hell to Seven Colombian Youths of seeing a man named Luis, who had once been a Christian and died when he was drinking alcohol in a bar. Lupe testified:

"We moved closer to a large flame that was ahead of us. It was huge and burning intensely.  I continued to slowly descend as I watched multitudes of flames and heard millions of souls crying with one voice."

"Then I saw a wooden table that was not being consumed by the fire.  It had what appeared to be beer bottles on it.  They looked refreshing, but they were full of fire.  While I was looking, a man suddenly appeared.  His flesh was almost completely destroyed and what was left of his clothes were muddy and burning.  He had lost his eyes, mouth and all of his hair in the fire.  He could see me, even though he had no eyes.  I tell you, it is a person’s soul that thinks, reasons and truly sees, not their natural body."

"The man extended his skinny hand toward the Lord and started to cry out, saying, 'Lord, have mercy on me!  Lord, have mercy on me!  I am in pain!  I am burning!  Please have mercy and take me out of here!'  The Lord looked at him with compassion, and I started to feel something warm in my hand.  I looked and found that it was blood...the blood of Jesus!  The Lord's blood came from His hand as He watched the man suffering in the flames."

"Then the man turned his gaze in the direction of the table and walked toward the bottles.  He grabbed a bottle, and as he was about to drink from it, fire and smoke shot out of it.  He put his head back and screamed like I had never heard anyone scream before.  He cried with great pain and sorrow, and then started to drink what was in the bottle.  The bottle was full of acid; it totally destroyed his throat.  You could see the acid passing through his stomach and hurting him."

"The number 666 was engraved on the man’s forehead.  On his chest was a plate made of some unknown metal that couldn't be destroyed, not even by the heat or the worms.  It had some letters written on it that we could not understand.  The Lord, in His great mercy, gave us the translation of what was written: 'I am here because I am a drunkard.'  He begged the Lord for mercy, but the Word of God is very clear when it tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:10, 'Thieves, greedy people, drunks, slanderers, and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God.'"

"The Lord showed me the man's last moments on earth as if I was watching a movie or film.  Something like a large television screen showed me his last seconds before his death.  The man's name was Luis and he was drinking in a bar.  I saw the same table and the same bottles in the bar.  His friends were around the table.  (I can tell you this now, there is only ONE TRUE FRIEND, and His name is JESUS CHRIST.  He is the Faithful Friend.)  Luis was drinking and his friends were already drunk.  His best friend took a bottle, broke it and started stabbing Luis.  When he saw Luis lying on the floor he ran away, and Luis bled to death on the floor.  The saddest thing was that he died without the Lord."

"In the middle of all this, as all those souls in hell were crying out, I asked the Lord, 'Oh Lord, please tell me, did this man know about you?  Did he know about your salvation?'  The Lord sadly replied, 'Yes Lupe, he knew about Me.  He accepted Me as his personal Savior, but he did not serve Me.'  Then I felt even more fear.  Luis cried louder and shouted, 'Lord it hurts!  It hurts!  Please have mercy on me!'  He extended his hand again toward the Lord, but Jesus took my hand instead and we walked away from the flames.  The flames consuming Luis became more intense, and he cried louder, 'Have mercy on me!  Have mercy on me!!'  He then disappeared in the flames."  

You may read more in Revelation of Hell to Seven Colombian Youths or read the full testimony here.

The Lord's Church
Len with brother Yong-Doo Kim & his wife, Mrs. Kang, Hyun-ja
A sister named Baek Bong-Nyo from The Lord's Church in South Korea was taken to hell.  There she saw the father of brother Yong-Doo Kim in torment.  She testified:

"Later, I saw our pastor's father in hell.  An evil creature was about to throw him into some type of large pot, that had dark, rotten liquor boiling inside.  I asked the Lord, why he was here.  Jesus replied, 'He sinned very much and was abusive to his wife.  He loved to drink.  Alcohol was his idol.  His alcoholism affected his work, and he neglected his children.  His children had a difficult life.  As a result, he will taste and be tormented in this rotten liquor forever.'  The pastor's father began to shout, 'Oh, I have done many terrible things.  I wished my wife had accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.  She could then enter Heaven.  When I was on Earth I gambled and drank all day.  I never took care of my family.  I did not take care of their basic necessities.  My wife labored all day to feed our children.  I am responsible for her difficult life.  The sins I had committed are being paid back.  I deserved to be cursed.  Please, when you go back to the world, tell my youngest son to continue to attend church.  Tell him to be faithful to the Lord and believe.' He also asked me to tell his sons not to attend church in vain.  They should keep the Sundays holy, repent sincerely, and walk with the Lord faithfully as a Christian.  He continued, 'I am in hell and tormented.  Hell is the final end, an endless torment.  It is hopeless.  Please evangelize to your brothers, sisters, and relatives so that they may have a chance to go to Heaven.'"

A brother named Lee, Haak-Sung from the same church as Baek, Bong-Nyo testified of his experience seeing hell:

"Later Jesus took me to hell.  I was shown a place where multitudes of people were screaming and shouting in pain, inside an enormous heated black pot.  Outside of the pot, there were countless evil spirits walking and flying in all directions.  Jesus said, 'Haak-Sung, do not be afraid.  The numerous evil spirits cannot harm you as long as I am here to protect you.  This is a place called the torment of the boiling pot.  It is a place for alcoholics and people addicted to smoking.' As the people entered the boiling liquid, their flesh disintegrated.  Strangely, there was fire inside the boiling liquid.  After showing me this, Jesus took me back to the church."

Brother Yong-Doo Kim's son Joseph Kim also saw hell.  He testified in the book called Baptized by Blazing Fire:

"Since my eyes are opened spiritually, I am most often very surprised with the spiritual state of other people. At any time, I am able to see their spiritual state. I am able to see when I walk by them or whenever I speak with them. It does not matter if my physical eyes are closed or opened. The Lord shows me the spiritual aspects of other people."

"The Lord also taught me when to speak and when not to speak. He had strictly distinguished the difference to me. Whenever I was unaware and spoke freely, the Lord rebuked me. I had to have the Lord’s permission on every little matter. It was very difficult and tiring. However, when it came to hanging out with kids my age, the Lord never told me not to hang out with them."

"The Lord had told me that I could hang out with them and have fun but to be very careful of their deceiving spirits. Around noontime, on the way to church, I happened to pass by the outside bar that was open. The people were drinking hard liquor and beer. They were having a good time partying. I felt like vomiting from the unpleasant smell of liquor and cigarette smoke. I passed by holding my breath. However, I decided to go back to the outside bar and closely observe the drunk people. I wanted to know with my spiritual eyes what could be in the glasses of liquor and observe the circumstances."

"The drunk people held onto big beer glasses. I was very surprised as I saw the beer glasses with my spiritual eyes. I was not sure of what I was seeing, so I double-checked by opening my eyes more widely. In the glasses of beer, I could see wriggling snakes. They looked like king cobras. The small glasses of hard liquor were filled with small stringy snakes. The scene was very disgusting. I could not watch anymore."

"The people did not care about anything except drinking more. In fact, they appeared to be competing with each other on who could drink more or faster. As they drank in a binge, the small stringy snakes that looked like king cobras said, 'Oh, I feel great!' The snakes shook their tails and went down the throats of the drinkers. Jesus appeared next to me and said, 'Joseph! Watch this scene very carefully and remember. Then go tell Pastor Kim to write this scene in the book.' The people cheered and shouted as they toasted and drank."

"Moreover, in this scene, as some people took out their cigarettes and lit them, they inhaled and blew out the smoke. When they blew out the smoke, a dark smoke continuously blew out from their noses and mouths. Suddenly, in an instant, the smoke transformed into a king cobra snake. They snakes came out from the smokers’ noses and mouths but they went back in as the smokers inhaled."

"Bizarrely, when the snakes re-entered the smokers’ bodies, the appearance of the snakes became more heinous than when they initially came out from the smokers’ noses and mouths. As the snakes re-entered the smokers’ bodies, the snakes had an evil facial expression. As the partying continued, the number of smokers increased. The liquor glasses were all filled with different, small stringy snakes and the snakes from the cigarettes. The people were really drinking and smoking snakes. The party was really a party of snakes. As the party drew to a close, I realized it was not a party of people drinking and smoking, but it was a party of snakes eating people. The scene was revolting and I was getting sick witnessing the event. I decided to leave."

"Whenever I see drunk people walking unsteadily, I am able to see the various kinds of large and small snakes coiled around the drunks from the top of their heads down to their toes. Both of the drunk person’s eyes are covered with a snake sitting coiled up and hissing. There was also a snake sitting coiled up on the drunk person’s head and it glanced at me evilly as it hissed at me with its tongue."

"As people smoke cigarettes and they pass by me, the smoke lingers in the air and with our physical eyes, we see it fade and dissipate into the air. But in reality, the smoke turns into snakes which comes from the smokers’ mouth and then instantly go back into their bodies. When the snakes enter the bodies of smokers, they do not come out from the bodies of smokers on their own. Moreover, the snakes lay their eggs inside the bodies of smokers and as a result, more snakes dwell inside their bodies. Within time, swarms of snakes are housed within the smokers’ bodies."

"I thought I would only witness these events or the demon snakes from outside the church. However, some Christians from throughout South Korea who would visit our church to pray and be blessed would end up screaming. They screamed and fell on the floor as they hissed with their tongues as the Pastor would draw close to pray for them. I witnessed countless scenes of such events and still continue to do so presently."

"When drunks and smokers speak, I could hear them speak though they were speaking with a crooked tongue. The sounds of their words were crooked. As I see and hear them speak with my spiritual eyes, I could see that the snakes were hissing and speaking in their place. As I witness these accounts, I am startled all the time. When the drunks vomit to the ground, I am able to see coiled snakes on the vomit. In the market stores, where they sell all types of liquor, I can see swarms of stringy snakes swimming and dancing in the bottles. I am always able to see that."

You may read more at Baptized by Blazing Fire -- a Korean church's testimony.

Scriptures about Alcohol and Drunkenness
Here are just a few more Scriptures about the use and abuse of alcohol:

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-21)

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit," (Eph 5:18)

"Woe to you who make your neighbors drink, Who mix in your venom even to make them drunk So as to look on their nakedness!" (Hab 2:15)

"Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding." (Hos 4:11)

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise." (Pro 20:1)

"Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags." (Pro 23:20-21)

"It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to him whose life is bitter." (Pro 31:4-6)

"Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!" (Isa 5:11)

"Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink," (Isa 5:22)

"And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment. For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, without a single clean place." (Isa 28:7-8)

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things. And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast. "They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink." (Pro 23:29-35)

A Perpetual Statute for Priests About Alcohol
“The LORD then spoke to Aaron, saying, ‘Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die--it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations-- and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.’" (Lev 10:8-11; cf. Eph 5:18).

The New Priesthood of Believers
"But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of god; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."  (1Pe 2:9-10; cf. Ex 19:5-6)

The New Temple
"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1Co 3:16)

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." (1Co 6:19-20)

Also see Joel 1:5; Amos 4:1-2.

Scriptural Basis That Cigarette Smoking is a Sin
The standard for heaven is high and although the Lord still loves you, He is not going to lower His standard for anyone. God is no respecter of persons (Rom 2:11; Ac 10:34), so don't make excuses that you are a special case and God understands. No, He will not make exceptions for anyone.

Cigarette smoking is a dirty, nasty habit, and smokers often receive the due penalty for it in their physical bodies (Rom 1:27). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), "Lung diseases caused by smoking include COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Cigarette smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. If you have asthma, tobacco smoke can trigger an attack or make an attack worse." Moreover, the American Cancer Society states: "Smoking is a major cause of many other deadly health problems − heart disease, aneurysms...and stroke. Using tobacco can damage a woman's reproductive health and hurt babies."

There is an abundance of medical and scientific evidence that smoking destroys the body of the smoker and those who inhale their second hand smoke. The Scripture says, "If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1Co 3:17). The Scripture also says, "Love does no wrong to a neighbor" (Rom 13:10a), so you smokers are not loving your neighbor, you are harming them. Therefore, if you smoke tobacco, you are breaking the second greatest commandment, which is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mk 12:31).

Another word for habit is addiction. "Addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance." Webster defines addiction as "The act of devoting or giving up in practice; the state of being devoted." That means that an addiction is the act of devoting yourself to something or giving yourself up to it in practice. Smokers have given themselves up to cigarettes, and are devoted to them! You cannot be devoted to them and to God, too. "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (Mt 6:24).

Smoking is an idol! Idolatry is an abomination to God, which the Bible strongly condemns! Webster defines an idol as "Any thing on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment." And the Word of God says, "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." (1Jn 5:21) And Paul said, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." (1Co 6:9-10)

You cannot be a disciple of Christ unless you give up everything (Lk 14:33). That means if you come to Christ, you must give up smoking and every other addiction. If you are going to give Him 99%, you might as well not follow Him at all, because He won't accept less than 100%.

To smoking husbands and fathers I say that as the head of your wife and children under Christ, you should be lovingly leading them by example.  You are supposed to follow Christ, and imitate Him, and He never smoked. There is also no smoking in heaven and no place in heaven for smokers of any kind. Smokers have their place in Hell!

You are a slave to whatever has mastered you (2 Pe 2:19). So you smokers are slaves to cigarettes.  But if you will accept the Truth that I am giving you, you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free. Those cigarettes don't glorify God the Father or the Lord Jesus Christ His Son.  We are supposed to do all things for His glory and in His name. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord." (Col 3:17). "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of .... do all to the glory of God" (1 Co 10:31). Since you cannot smoke for His glory or in His name, then you must not do it. "Anything that is not of faith is a sin" (Rom 14:23).

And you ministers of the gospel who are smoking, I am warning you that your role makes this sin even more serious. "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1). You are supposed to be consecrated to the Lord's service, devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God (Ac 6:4), leading people to Christ, and showing them how to get to heaven. You are supposed to be practicing and preaching holiness, righteousness, and truth. An overseer must be above reproach, not addicted to substances (Tit 1:7), because when you yourself are addicted, you are like the blind leading the blind. "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?" (Lk 6:39). First get set free from bondage yourself, before you attempt to set others free.

I do not speak in anger or judgment on you, but only love. The Word of God will judge you on that great day. And all these Scriptures I have just cited will judge you. "Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Lk 13:5). I don't want that to happen to you, but it's your choice. I smoked cigarettes from age twelve until the Lord delivered me as a newborn Christian at age nineteen, after smoking for seven years. At times I smoked quite heavily. If my memory serves me right, I smoked up to two packs a day at times. So I know how addictive nicotine is, and I know first hand the power of God is great enough to break it.

Nobody will be there by your side at the Judgment. You will stand there all alone and you won't be able to make one excuse for sin, so don't rely on any other person's behavior as an excuse for your sin. You won't be able to say, "My wife smoked, so it was too difficult for me to quit." Or "I was unable to break the habit, because my husband's smoking was too great a temptation for me." Or "I smoked because my father did it or my pastor did it, and I didn't know it was a sin," Or "My friends did it, and I thought it was cool."

Your money belongs to the Lord and you must give an account for the way you spend it. Can you afford to spend it on those expensive cigarettes to support your sinful addiction? There are people dying and perishing in hell because the gospel did not reach them. Missionaries are willing to go and preach to them, but they need funding. Do you think you will have any excuse on Judgment day for spending the Lord's money on cigarettes, while people went off to hell for eternity? Remember what the Lord said to the servant who did not use his Master's talent wisely: "You wicked, lazy slave!" And He ordered: "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Mat 25:30). Don't smoke the resources God has given you to steward.

Destroy those devices of satan, also known as "coffin nails", "lung darts", and "cancer sticks", since the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work (1 Jn 3:8). Cigarettes are the property of satan and you don't want to be found with one of those in your possession when Jesus comes in all His glory, or else you will not be going up in the rapture. He is coming for a holy Bride without spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:26).

King James on Cigarettes
I believe that King James I of England said it well when he stated that cigarette smoking is "a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless."

Putting it All Together
Dear friend, I think the Lord has made it abundantly clear from these Scriptures and divine revelations that those who drink alcohol and/or smoke cigarettes will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.  The Lord has shown this independently to nine different people in seven different nations, including South Korea, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Zambia.  I hope that this article has helped to confirm to you what is already written about this in the Bible, which is the Word of God.

The apostle Peter said, "a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him" (2 Pe 2:19b, NIV). There is no repentance in hell, and that is why people must continue forever to do the sins they were committing on earth. So if they were a drunkard, they must drink forever as a form of torment.  In hell, the deceptions they fell for on earth are in their true form, so the alcohol burns their mouths and stomachs like acid or fire.  If they were an immoral woman, the demons stick sharp spears up their private areas and large snakes go up into them.  If they were a liar, the demons force them to tell lies.  If they were a worldly dancer, they must dance non-stop for eternity. In His love, God gives them what their hearts desire. "Whenever the love of sin controls a soul, it is the greatest of all punishments for them to be abandoned to that evil love" for all eternity (Visions of Heaven and Hell, by John Bunyan). It's torment, because their is no repentance in hell and there is no mercy in hell.  Mercy is only available while you are on earth. 

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Gal 6:7-8, NIV).

If you are using alcohol or cigarettes, you need to know that those sins will take you down to hell, so repent of your sin today before Jesus comes.  Ask the Lord to have mercy and forgive you.  Ask Him to cleanse you.  Pray through Psalm 51.  Not only to say, 'I repent,' but turn from the acts. Take all the alcohol in your house and pour it down the toilet.  Don't ever buy alcohol again.  And if you have tobacco products in your possession or in your home like cigarettes, then destroy them.  You may want to take them out of the packs and flush them down the toilet where they belong, so that nobody else can smoke them.  And never buy cigarettes again.  Ask the Lord to deliver you from these highly addictive substances, and He will be faithful to do it.  I for one was delivered from both alcohol and cigarettes, and He will do it for you, too, if you sincerely repent and ask Him for deliverance.

I recommend that you get with someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit and power, who can bind those filthy demons and cast them out of your life.  If you don't know of anyone like that, then after you have given your life to Jesus, and repented of alcohol and cigarettes, renounce those things as well. Say solemnly and loudly before God in prayer, "I renounce my past use of alcohol and cigarettes. I reject these substances as tools of satan to take me to hell."  You might say, "In Jesus Name and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I bind you filthy spirit of alcoholism and I command you to come out of me now and I forbid you to ever go back inside of me again!"  Do the same with the spirit of cigarette addiction and send those snakes slithering away. (For more help on this, see Demonology 101).

I also recommend that you get an accountability partner, which is another Christian brother or sister, who will keep you accountable.  This is a person who will meet with you (brother meeting with brother, and sister with sister) each week for prayer, Bible reading, and discussions about your life in Christ.  You need to give this person permission to ask you any question he or she wants to ask, such as "Have you smoked a cigarette this week?" or "Have you taken a drink of alcohol?"  And answer them honestly.  The Bible tells us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other, so that we may be healed.  I pray that this article will be of some help in bringing you to that place of healing and deliverance from bondage to alcohol and cigarettes.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted. 

Author's note: Please prayerfully listen to these testimonies, and use the Testimony Review Process adopted by this blog, as you decide for yourself whether the Lord has spoken to these people.  For issues and concerns, each person must confirm with the Lord, whether something is valid or not. The individuals mentioned in this article are not personally connected with this site. For more information on our position, please see Disclaimers.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like The Evil Spirit of Alcohol, Delivered from Cigarettes and Saved, The Forgotten Sin of Worldliness, Holy Living in a Perverted World, Australian Pastor Raised from the Dead, Pleasing the Lord, and the other posts on the Home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.