God raised Jesus from the dead and Jesus appeared, in the form of a man, to many on this earth before HE was taken into heaven.
For 40 days, Jesus walked on this earth and appeared in the form of a man as a testimony to HIS resurrection from the dead, and speaking of the kingdom of God, and appearing to more than five-hundred as a witness to the resurrection of the dead, before Jesus ascended into heaven.
Acts 1:3 To whom also HE shewed HIMSELF alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
I Corinthians 15:3-6 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that HE was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, HE was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
4 And that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that HE was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, HE was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
8 And last of all HE was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Paul speaks of seeing Jesus. This is a report of that "appearing".
Acts 9:3-5 And as he (Paul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord?
And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
I believe Paul "saw" Jesus as we today see Jesus. It was a spiritual experience. Jesus was revealed to Paul by a bright light and a voice from heaven speaking to him.
In Acts 26, Paul tells this again as follows:
At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
***
The apostle Paul was one of the New Testament apostles which Jesus gave to the church after HE arose and was in heaven.
Ephesians 4:8-12 Wherefore HE saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that HE ascended, what is it but that HE also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? HE that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that HE might fill all things.)
11-12 And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Luke 24:33-37 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
(Now that HE ascended, what is it but that HE also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? HE that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that HE might fill all things.)
11-12 And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
All New Testament church ministers are given to the church by Jesus as HE sits at the right hand of God in heaven.
Jesus reveals HIMSELF in different ways to assure that minister of the call of Jesus that is upon him.
Shortly after I was born again in 1975, in the night I was transported into heaven. I was with God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit although I saw no physical images. It was a spiritual experience. At that time I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, (made one with the Word of God) while God and the Holy Spirit witnessed.
A few nights later, the exact same thing happened again.
At first I didn't understand why this happened but later I came to believe it had to do with the two ministry offices to which I had been called by Jesus, apostle and prophet.
***
God will change us out of these physical bodies before we are taken into heaven. We will then be in "spiritual bodies".
I might have experienced that "spiritual body" the two times I was taken into heaven.
I had no physical image of our human bodies as we do today but I did know I was with Jesus and with God and with the Holy Spirit, although they had no physical type of images.
In heaven I think we will know each other, as I knew God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit ... but we will have no physical bodies like we do today.
Paul tells of this in I Corinthians 15.
20-23 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto HIM (God) that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36-38 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
36-38 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.
***
Chris Mackin, who managed our office in the early ministry years, told me this: She had a dream and was in heaven. She was speaking with another person when two women came in and she knew one of the women was me. She hadn't seen me in a long time. She couldn't tell which of the two women was me but she knew she would recognize me when I spoke.
***
I Corinthians 15
39-41 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42-44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45-48 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
45-48 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51-53 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Blink your eyes. That is how fast we will be changed out of these earthly bodies into our spiritual bodies.
***
After God raised Jesus from the dead, before Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus appeared in bodily forms for 40 days on this earth to various men and women.
Sometimes HE appeared not allowing them to see HE was Jesus. HE just appeared to them as a man. Then HE revealed Himself to them as Jesus.
HE also caused them not to know Him and then HE opened their eyes so they knew HE was Jesus.
***
Matthew 28:5-10 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
HE is not here: for HE is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell HIS disciples that HE is risen from the dead; and, behold, HE goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see HIM: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring HIS disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell HIS disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell MY brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see ME.
HE is not here: for HE is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell HIS disciples that HE is risen from the dead; and, behold, HE goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see HIM: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring HIS disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell HIS disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell MY brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see ME.
***
Matthew 28:16-18 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw HIM, they worshipped HIM: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them
***
Mark 15:9-11 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, HE appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with HIM, as they mourned and wept.
And they, when they had heard that HE was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
***
Mark 15:12-13 After that HE appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
***
Mark 15:14 Afterward HE (Jesus) appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after HE was risen.
***
Luke 24:10-12 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
***
Luke 24:13-32 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus HIMSELF drew near, and went with them.
But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.
17 And HE said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto Him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And HE said unto them, What things?
17 And HE said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto Him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And HE said unto them, What things?
And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him. But we trusted that it had been HE which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that HE was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but HIM they saw not.
25 Then HE (Jesus) said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?
25 Then HE (Jesus) said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, HE expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and HE made as though HE would have gone further.
29 But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And HE went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as HE sat at meat with them, HE took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and HE vanished out of their sight.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and HE made as though HE would have gone further.
29 But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And HE went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as HE sat at meat with them, HE took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and HE vanished out of their sight.
(By the breaking of bread, The Word of God, we know HIM.)
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while HE talked with us by the way, and while HE opened to us the scriptures?
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while HE talked with us by the way, and while HE opened to us the scriptures?
(Jesus opens the scriptures to us and gives us understanding of The Word that we, too, may see.)
Luke 24:33-37 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
And they told what things were done in the way, and how HE was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
John 20
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about HIS head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that HE must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that HE had spoken these things unto her.
John 20
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38-40 And HE said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts
Behold MY hands and MY feet, that it is I myself: handle ME, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see ME have.
And when HE had thus spoken, HE shewed them His hands and His feet.
44-45 And HE said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened HE their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
45 Then opened HE their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
(We cannot understand things of God unless Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God, reveals the scriptures to us.)
I Corinthians 12:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
***
John 20
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about HIS head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that HE must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that HE had spoken these things unto her.
***
John 20
20 And when HE had so said, HE shewed unto them HIS hands and HIS side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when HE had said this, HE breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
But he said unto them, Except I shall see in HIS hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into HIS side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Matthew 24:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, HE (Jesus) is in the desert; go not forth: behold, HE is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
Acts 7
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him (on Stephen) with their teeth.
55 But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
26 And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
(The doors were shut. Jesus just appeared in the midst of them.)
27 Then saith HE to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
27 Then saith HE to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
(That is us today who believe without seeing a physical body of Jesus.)
And Jesus says to us today:
Matthew 18:19-20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Since the taking of Jesus into heaven, Jesus lives in each believer by HIS Spirit to teach him and guide him.
We hear His Word.
The apostle Paul says:
II Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Jesus speaks to us today by HIS Spirit who lives in us bringing to our minds His thoughts.
***
A warning from Jesus concerning the deceptions of the end times.
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, HE (Jesus) is in the desert; go not forth: behold, HE is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Therefore I would be very suspect of anyone who came saying Jesus appeared to him in a vision in the form of a man.
Jesus is in us and "appears" to us in the form of a "WORD", a thought brought to our minds to lead us and guide us and teach us.
Jesus gives us continual help now and forever by HIS Spirit who lives in the believer.
For the following is done for us by the Holy Spirit:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Jesus speaks to us right now by HIS Spirit.
I believe people will come saying they have seen "Jesus". I believe that will be one of the false Christs which Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24. I believe some of the false Christs of the end times will just appear all of a sudden in a bedroom and will look like a man and the person will think it is Jesus. Often the vision will be similar to that long haired photo which many think symbolic of Jesus.
But in I Corinthians 11, we read the following:
I do not believe Jesus had long hair.
***
Today Jesus sits in heaven at the right hand of God in the form of "The Word."
Jesus will come and gather the elect but even then we hear that Jesus will come "with a shout". There is nothing indicating to me that Jesus will appear as a human when HE raises the dead in Christ and when HE gathers the elect of God from off this earth.
I Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord HIMSELF (The Word) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord HIMSELF (The Word) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
The dead are raised "with a shout", the Word raises the dead.
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We do have a scripture saying the "sign" of the Son of Man will come in the clouds. And all will see HIM. Even this could be something very unexpected. HE might not be in the form of a human as people probably picture.
Jesus is "The Word" now and sits at the right hand of God, a spirit. Jesus came for a season in the form of a man, but Jesus from the beginning was and is "The Word".
I think it is all set up so fleshly humans will picture the form of a man and therefore these false Christs of the end times will appear in visions to people looking like a human figure which is what most people picture when they think of Jesus.
I see The Lord, Jesus, as "The Word" when I think of Jesus.
But I believe each of us who belong to God will know Jesus, though it will be more deceptive than we think and even the elect would be deceived, "if possible", but I don't think it will be possible.
Even now we are being warned.
(We have several examples of Catholic women reporting a Catholic saint appearing to her in her bedroom to tell her something. Catholic saints are men and women appointed by other men and women. This makes it even more questionable when a vision appears of such. We even had one of our own church group report that I, Joan Boney, had appeared to her in a vision in her bedroom. This woman had a Catholic background. I tried to turn her from thinking that was a vision of God. This seems to be very pertinent happening among Catholics.)
Pray that you not be deceived by visions from strange spirits, for in the end time I believe these things will happen.
Focus on that which Jesus said in Matthew 24.
And if you do have a vision, I think it is good to ask God to show you if that vision was from HIM.
There are visions that are from God but I do not believe they would be of Catholic appointed saints. The visions that I see in Bible are given to help the church person or group. If there is no real help, I would question that vision.
I've had several open visions from God. In one, God showed me that a man in the church who had the disease ALS was going to die but his spiritual condition was good. He died a week later. I communicated this information to his wife and two children to help them.
God gave me an open vision concerning my house in Texas. It had been on the real estate market for several months and had not sold. God gave me a vision. I saw a man drive past the north side of the house. He was looking intently at it but passed it by. But when he got to the alley, he stopped his car, backed up to the side of the house and looked at it reconsidering. In 2020, that is exactly what did happen. A man made an offer on the house and then cancelled the offer. A few days later, he bought the house. This vision helped me to hold on to hope concerning that house.
In December 2018, I was in hospital where I had surgery after an accident. After the operation, I saw one of our church members standing at the foot of my hospital bed. She stared at me. Then she turned and walked away from me, disappearing through the wall. They had been giving me pain medication and I thought I had been hallucinating from the drugs. But about two weeks later this same woman came to my hospital room and said, "I don't care about anyone or anything anymore." She snuck out of my room, disappearing while a nurse was working on me. I never saw this woman again although a few weeks later she did apologize by email, saying she had no charity toward me.
I told her God had shown me in a vision that she would disappear. I encouraged her not to worry about doing this for I was glad she left. She had been a burden for 39 years. Her faith was apparently in me rather than being in God. I could do nothing to help her and she pulled me down with her lack of faith in God.
Visions from God can be very helpful.
But visions from strange spirits would be destructive or would cause the person to be puffed up in religious pride and nonsense. And I believe there will be many visions in the last days from strange spirits.
Paul spoke about visions of angels which they reported but had not seen. It was just their own fleshly mind conjuring visions.
Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
***
God did allow Stephen to see into heaven as the religious people were killing him.
Acts 7
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him (on Stephen) with their teeth.
55 But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
(I saw Jesus twice when I was taken into heaven but I saw no physical images. No man has seen God and I didn't see God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit but somehow I knew them. At that time I was merged into the body of Jesus, with God and Holy Spirit witnessing.)
In this case of Stephen, he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. We do not know that there were any physical images. It was of God and must have greatly strengthened Stephen.
I know of a woman who heard men singing in her attic shortly before she died. I knew immediately these were angels.
And Stephen said: Acts 8
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Visions can be wonderfully helpful when they are of God.
We also must understand that in the end times, there will be false Christs and false prophets who might appear to individuals and lead them.
Jesus warns us: Don't follow such. (Matthew 24)
***
Jesus says:
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.
*****