Act Two

Okay, you’ve taken the time to visualize the reaction of your loved one at finding himself physically dead. That’s act one in your mental move. What happens next, in act two, is truly amazing.

Jesus told a story of a man named Lazarus who “died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.” (Luke 16:22 NLT) In those days, before the resurrection, saved souls went to paradise, which is not exactly the same place as heaven. Since the resurrection, saved souls ascend into heaven. And they are carried there by angels.

Visualize the person, still in the room with their own dead body, suddenly becoming aware of the presence of an angel. You should picture the angel as a human form, clothed in white, with an angelic expression on his face. Wings are optional. In the Bible we encounter some angels who don’t have wings. They’ll be able to fly without them. Trust me. You should definitely visualize the angel as having the same color skin as the person who has just died.

The angel is probably going to say something along the lines of “it’s time to go.” Visualize the person who has just passed into the next life as understanding what this means and accepting everything that is about to happen without the slightest trace of fear (even if they were afraid of heights in this life).

Picture your loved one being picked up by the angel and beginning their upward flight by passing through the ceiling. Imagine the look of wonder on their face as they pass through the ceiling and as they rise higher and higher in the sky. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to fly up in a rocket and see the earth from orbit. I will eventually get my wish but I won’t need a rocket to get up there.

Imagine the look on the face of your loved one as they rise higher and higher. Visualize them looking down on the earth. See them moving out into the vastness of space. Picture them looking back as the earth grows smaller and smaller. I don’t know about you, but I plan to ask the angel for a flyby of Saturn on my way out. Saturn is probably the most beautiful object in the solar system.

At the time of death and the funeral your mind will be full of the mental pictures of a dead body. Perhaps you saw the remains of the person at the hospital immediately after they passed away. In most cases you would also see the remains of the person at the funeral home. You need to fight back against the great optical illusions with vivid, faith based mental pictures of what really happened. Visualize the ascent of your loved one toward heaven. This is act two of your mental movie.