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Read the Book:
Inside the Gates of Heaven by Oden Hetrick

Chapter 11

The Garments of Heaven

There are three different garments here: the garment of humility; the robe of righteousness; and the garment of praise. To be fully dressed, we put them on in that order. Here in this paradise area between the suburbs and the Most Holy Place, the bodies of saints are completely covered with permanent white light. The body may be a spirit body or a glorified body, in either case it is white. Since I was accustomed to the pigskin color of earth beings, I thought white was rather dull. But they told me I would learn to appreciate their white soft opaque appearance — and I did. But there is color to their hair, eyes and lips.

Bless the LORD, o my soul, O LORD my God, thou art very geat; thou art clothed with honor and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment… — Psalm 104:1-2

The first garment covering this body of soft white light is the garment of humility. [I Peter 5:5] It is long and white, looks like opaque soft velvet and fits very neatly because it is tailored to fit. This garment of humility is for everyday use around the mansion and for performing humble service. It is also called the robe (or garment) of salvation.

Then there is a shining white garment of fine linen called the robe of righteousness. It is worn over top and completely covers the garment of humility. The robe of righteousness has fullness, it also reaches down to the feet and is also neatly tailored.

They shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. — Revelation 3:4
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. — Isaiah 61:10

Both men and ladies are dressed alike but masculine and feminine forms can be distinguished, even when they are fully dressed. This shining garment is worn for banquets, for fellowship at the Tree of Life and River of Life and for other social activities in the Holy Place.

The final garment is coat-like and sleeveless. It is worn for praise and worship activities in the Most Holy Place. It is a very beautiful gold-threaded and jewel-decorated garment. To be dressed in all the robes of Heaven speaks of salvation, righteousness and praise. These garments compare to the garments worn by Aaron the High Priest.

To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of The LORD that He might be glorified. — Isaiah 61:3

high priest
 

This drawing of an Old Testament High Priest shows how he was dressed when he went into the Most Holy Place of Moses’ Tabernacle to minister before the Lord. His first garment is a white linen embroidered coat. On top of that is a blue robe with golden bells between pomegranates around the hem. Over that is a linen ephod colored blue, purple, scarlet and gold. Around his waist is a girdle. On his golden breastplate are twelve precious stones in four rows:

1. Sardius, Topaz, Carbuncle

2. Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond

3. Jacinth, Agate, Amethyst

4. Beryl, Onyx, Jasper

On his head is a Miter. In his hands is a censer filled with incense.

In Heaven we are not concerned about tomorrow because we are so happy and satisfied today, but we do mark periods of time. The days are 24 hours long and there is no night here, but there is a corresponding soft-light quiet time of about seven hours. The other 17 hours are the bright part of the day, with gold as the predominant color and blue as the next prominent color. The day begins with the dawn, so to speak, of the brightness. During the soft-light time, companions are together in their mansions reclining, talking, singing to each other, enjoying the garden of nuts and spices, viewing audio-visual scenes of knowledge or entertainment, and other things you will learn when you come here to stay.

There is also a seven-day schedule of events, the seventh day being mostly for worship activities described later. There are twelve months in a year, 1000 years in a millennium, 7000 years in an age and seven ages or 49,000 years (or 1000 generations earthly speaking) to an age of ages.

Looking now toward the center of Paradise, we see that the land slopes gently upward as we follow the straight street leading from the eastern gate to that tall structure ahead of us. That is the Most Holy Place where God is made visible on His Throne. We’ll visit there soon but, first, let’s look at my City Mansion.

Chapter 12

THE CITY MANSION

(there are also dwellings in the outer environs or suburbs)

This mansion is surrounded by about ten acres of land and about an acre of flower gardens. The front yard is surrounded by seven-foot-high arbors of constantly blooming flowers, and the gate is an open heart-shaped arbor, covered with large red fragrant thorn-less roses. This arbor has seats inside on the left and on the right. I have many happy memories of my visits to this place.

This mansion has three stories with a five-story tower on the front right corner. A large double door in this tower takes us into a large circular vestibule about twenty feet in diameter. To the right, a door leads to a large banquet room. To the left a door leads to a large living room or social hall. In the center is a stairway to the upper floors and a door to the kitchen and the back of the house. The backyard is a garden of spices, flowers, fruits and nuts with rose-arbor hiding places where companions fellowship together and with Jesus. On earth Jesus appeared only one place at a time. Here, Jesus appears many places at the same time.

O Thou who dwellest in the gardens, the companions listen to Thy voice, cause me to hear it. — Song of Solomon 8:13

On the second floor there is a study library, a music room containing a large piano-like instrument with three keyboards, and a large open balcony facing the garden of spices. On the third floor there are rooms for study, meditation and servants. There are saints who desire only a small place in Heaven and they are servants here and doorkeepers and caretakers. They enjoy seeing to it that fruit from the garden is picked, dried and stored with nuts and spices in preparation for a banquet.

At banquet time, the companions who own the mansion invite their guests who come as companions. Jesus sits at the head of the table while the owners of the mansion sit at the servant end of the table. We sit in seats for two people and dine and listen to Jesus tell of wonderful things we will learn and see and do in Heaven. There is a very delightful Spirit of love and communion. Platters are passed from left to right containing small delicacies like nut butter cups and dried spiced fruit. There is soft melodious music by angelic choirs while bouquets of colorful flowers fill the air with sweet fragrance.

On the lower level of this mansion is a treasury. It contains rows of bins made of clear glass dividers. These bins are about 2 feet wide, 4 feet long and 2 feet deep, each filled with gems of a different color. When I first saw these treasures, I exclaimed to the angel who was my guide, Are these all mine and how did I earn all this? I was told that God generously rewards His saints for even the smallest acts of kindness.

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for His great mercy for by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, He has given us a new birth, and a living hope for an eternal inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and reserved for us in Heaven. — I Peter 1:3-4
And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say to you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. — Matthew 10:42

This Holy Place of Heaven is a delightful place to be, but there are far greater glories to be enjoyed by saints who seek the face of God Most High. Blessed be His Name forever!

Chapter 13

THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

Looking now again toward the center of Paradise, we see a majestic round tower, shining with all colors of the spectrum — the very center of the City of Heaven. It is 300 miles across and almost a thousand miles high. In case you wonder about the huge distances of Heaven, consider that the moon is over 230,000 miles above the earth and we think nothing of this distance when we look at the moon. Likewise the large spaces (distances) of Heaven are no problem to the saints and the angels who live here.

This round tower is called the Temple of Heaven because it contains the Throne of God and of Jesus.

The Lord is in His Holy Temple, the Lord’s Throne is in Heaven. — Psalm 11:4
And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air: and there came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. — Revelation 16:17

The space within the tower walls is called the Temple or the Most Holy Place. It is the place of the Most Holy Presence of the Most High God, the highest state of existence for a person from planet earth. Isaiah was here [Isa 6:1]. Here the devoted saints of God dwell in chambers of divine delight, and behold the face of God. These Chamber Mansions are located in the wall that surrounds the Throne of God and of Jesus.

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in His temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. — Revelation 7:15

The source of the light of Heaven is the brightness of the Glory of God and Jesus. This glory light causes the Throne to be so bright that it appears like earthly snow when the sun is shining on it. And this Light shines through the walls of the Temple making the chambers there a very bright place to live. Sometimes the Light is so bright that the walls seem invisible and sometimes the walls sparkle with rainbow colors, like a tower made of diamonds with light shining thru and changing slowly.

The Light of Heaven is like a golden sunrise reflected on a blue sky. In this Light, flowers, fountains and surroundings sparkle and shine with delicate rainbow hues. Heaven is a very beautiful place, and the half has not been told.

(King of Kings) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light that no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting. — I Timothy 6:16

This Temple of Heaven has three gates — North, East and South. We are heading toward the East Gate but before we get there, we come to the three Gardens of Fountains that completely surround the outside wall of the Temple, and are enclosed at the outer edge by a delicate trellis.

Some of these sparkling fountains are small and gentle and others rise to great heights. They all fall into basins made of inlaid jewels intricately designed. Each fountain and basin is different and each design is different. Again this water is not cold and wet. It is a visible presence of the Spirit of God, Who in the Bible is revealed as water and as oil, Who also took the form of a dove, a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. So likewise in Heaven, the Spirit of God is manifested in many ways such as fruit on the Tree of Life and water in the crystal fountains and the crystal River of Life.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. — Psalm 34:8
The water that I shall give you, will be in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life. — John 4:14

Chapter 14

THE TEMPLE WALL

Passing through the Gardens of Fountains, we come to the gate on the east side of the Temple. The wall of this Temple appears to be made of multicolored snowflakes, but it is actually a very substantial substance. Being 15 miles thick, there is space within this wall for millions of rooms of all shapes and sizes and descriptions, and they are designed for every purpose necessary to the operation and administration of this City.

Within this wall of the Most Holy Place there are rooms called temples of instruction where every necessary subject is taught. Here the children who for any reason died prematurely, are taught basic heavenly knowledge. Some of these children join the angelic choirs and provide music for banquets or other occasions where their music is desired. Also in these rooms, the saints are taught the knowledge of heavenly companionship. We plan to sit in and listen to the teacher in a class for children and a class for companions.

In this Temple wall there are rooms with picture screens where knowledge is presented in a three-dimensional review of important events. Your life is on record here (and that’s enough to keep anyone humble). One of the events reviewed is the crucifixion of Jesus. Even in Heaven, the story of Jesus is still the sweetest story ever told. Wouldn’t you like to see the story of Jesus as it really was?

Now before we enter this Temple and Most Holy Place of Heaven, let me say that it is not just another place to visit. It is very sacred, very hallowed and very different from things understood by most earth beings. If we were to consider the dimensions of existence as being numbered from one to seven, Heaven’s Most Holy Place would be number seven. The Presence of God in this Temple is the highest state of human existence, and it is only for the holy people of God. It is impossible for me to describe the things of this Temple in a way thay they would be understood by those who have no spiritual perception, because higher spiritual wisdom always appears foolish to those who do not want it.

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. — I Corinthians 2:14
… Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. — Colossians 1:9

So those who would understand what I am about to describe must be spiritually and heavenly minded. They must seek the God of Heaven and love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. And be assured that those who truly seek God will find Him. Those who find the devil were not seeking God.

I love them that love Me; and those that seek me early shall find me. — Proverbs 8:17
And you shall seek me, and find me, when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13
If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more surely will your heavenly Father give His Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him? — Luke 11:13

The Bible explains that The Most Holy Place of Moses’ Tabernacle on earth could only be entered once a year, by the high priest, who was ceremoniously prepared and wore special clothing used for no other purpose. The Bible also tells us of a time when two of Aaron’s sons offered strange fire to the LORD, that He had not commanded, in the Holy Place. So the LORD’s Presence consumed them and they died. Their relatives took the bodies out. [Leviticus 10:1-10] Yahweh Himself said He will be treated as Holy, by those who come near Him.

(after Nadab and Abihu died) Moses said to Aaron, This is what Yahweh spoke saying, I will be sanctified (set apart as holy) in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. — Leviticus 10:3

So surely the Most Holy Place should be considered even more sacred. I’m not trying to scare you; only to let you know that Heaven’s highest pleasures are not given to unsanctified triflers. They are given to those who drink of the Spirit of God as a thirsty soul drinks from a cool mountain spring. They are given to those who breathe in the Spirit of God as they would breathe in the fragrance of flowers on a cool summer evening.

As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: then shall I come and appear before God? — Psalm 42:1-2

The saints in Heaven’s Most Holy Place also wear clothing that is different from what they wear in any other part of Heaven. They themselves are also specially prepared, but they are not limited to one visit per year, because there are Chamber Mansions located on the inside of the walls of the Temple that face into the Most Holy Place. Companion saints spend much time in these chamber homes. From these they can behold the face of God on His Throne.

Before we partake of the Lord’s supper on earth, we examine ourselves lest we partake without being worthy and perhaps get sick or die [I Corinthians 11:23-33]. I trust the foregoing admonitions have helped us to examine and prepare ourselves to enter into the Lord’s presence in the Temple of Heaven.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer. — Psalm 19:14

In Paradise, also called the Holy Place, we traveled mostly by the slow method. Here in the Temple or Most Holy Place we travel mostly by thought.

Chapter 15

THE CHILDREN’S NURSERY CLASS

We go first to the children’s nursery within the wall surrounding the Most Holy Place. Here the souls of infants from earth, including premature infants, begin to realize their existence. The infants are put into classes by angels according to their scientific, musical, artistic, social, etc., abilities. Then they are taught the knowledge and skills of Heaven by very gentle and loving angels and saints. The infants and their angel teachers live in the Light of God the Father and Jesus the Lamb as this Light shines through this wall and through these rooms on its way to light the City of Heaven. Jesus said of little ones:

In Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in Heaven. — Matthew 18:10

At an appointed day the angel teachers gather their graduating students to an assembly in a very large room. Here they are addressed by a masculine and a feminine being who are companions. Listen as the feminine being speaks to the children:

Children, we have come to you by the will of Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us that He might bring us to His beautiful home, the Holy City of God, where you now abide.

We are from earth as you are, and we have come here to be your spiritual parents and to adopt you as our spiritual children. God your heavenly Father is delighted to have you in His House, and you will not ever have to suffer the things of earth any more.

Your angel teachers are instructing you in the perfect Law of Liberty, that is the Word of God. And it is to your own personal benefit that you apply yourself with all your heart, soul, mind and strength to the understanding of these principles. Let these pure words of God sink down deep into your intellect, emotions and will that there they may, as seeds, grow into the fruit of the Spirit, to make you sweet, kind, gentle, loving and patient. Then you will be full of praise, worship and adoration to your Divine Creator, Redeemer, and show love to others with lots of hugs and kisses.

These orderly and obedient children take these words as permission to fellowship. So they begin to laugh and to hug and kiss one another. After a minute or so, their adopted spiritual mother says, Children, save some hugs and kisses for your adopted parents.

Hearing this, the boys and girls flock as a cloud around their spiritual parents who delight themselves with the hugs and kisses of these darling little children with their chubby little arms and sweet innocent countenances.

After every child is hugged and kissed by both adopted parents, the children resume their orderly places. Then their spiritual father says, Children, Jesus is coming very soon. Follow me and do as I do.

As the words follow me are spoken, the two parents unite as one in the intimacy of Perfection because this is the requirement for standing in the presence of God. The parent instructor now faces away from the children and toward a bright object approaching from a great distance. The parent instructor then kneels down and lays his beautiful jeweled crown in front of him. Seeing all this, the children, who are trying to follow instructions, are a little perplexed at not being able to unite as their parents did; neither do they have crowns to lay before them. So when the parent instructor kneels and raises his hands in worship, the children are relieved and happy to at least be able to kneel and raise their hands.

The approaching Light is Jesus, followed by a multitude of heavenly beings. Jesus comes into view at an elevation that enables everyone to see Him clearly. He is seated on a golden and elaborate but conveniently-sized chair. His attendants are standing on space around Him.

Jesus then says, Let the little children come to Me.

Immediately the parent says, Children, come to Jesus. and then he rises and proceeds up to Jesus’ right hand. The children, likewise, rise up to Jesus whose smiling countenance wins their hearts. As the children are standing in a neat formation in front of Jesus, He motions to angels at His left who give each child a shining golden crown. This golden crown represents everlasting life. When each child is wearing a crown, Jesus reaches out His hands toward them causing the children to break ranks and ascend in a cloud-like formation around Him, each child wanting to hug and kiss Jesus. This scene lasts until every child is hugged and kissed and blessed by Jesus, and graduated to the next grade. Then Jesus, with His company, departs, leaving the children with the reality of a loving Savior — and leaving the attendants of this nursery on cloud nine, living in Heaven and living in the Spirit.

This book is copyrighted with all rights reserved and part two is not to be put on Internet. So to read the rest of the book please see the order blank.

©2009 All rights reserved

This book is protected by copyright laws of the USA. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical — including photocopying or putting on anyone else’s website — without written permission from the authors.

Next: read  Chapters 16-20

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[including part 2, not available online]

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