Experience description:

Before the experience:  I had a terrible cold.  I was trying to sleep but couldn't breathe and kept waking myself up.  But I was so exhausted that I finally fell asleep.

After the experience:  When I had awoken at 1:30 am gasping for air, I was crying because of the LOVE I had felt during this dream or NDE. I was unfamiliar with NDEs, so I was asking myself if I had died or if I had visited heaven, or if it was just a dream.   I went to the kitchen because I couldn't breathe well and had the worst sore throat of my life.  I gargled with cayenne pepper for an hour and I was finally able to clear my nasal passages.  I told myself that if I remembered my dream/NDE vividly in the morning, that I would write it down.  I figured that if it was a dream the details would fade by morning.  If I had really gone to heaven, then I would remember it as an experience.  I wanted to write it down right then, but I was too exhausted.  I was able to go back to bed and sleep for about five hours.  When I awoke, everything was still vivid, though I could no longer remember exact words.  But I remembered what happened, and I began crying again from the amazing LOVE I had felt. 

I immediately wrote it down.  This is from my journal:  Oct. 8, 2011  I awoke at 1:30 am with the most amazing and realistic dream.  There were still tears in my eyes.  Very lovingly a soft voice began counseling me about choices - that I could choose 'this way' or 'this way' and I was shown two paths.

I unfortunately don't remember all that was said, but it all made sense - an 'aha' moment.  He did tell me to follow his apostles and I remember thinking, 'Am I being tricked?  Is this Satan in disguise?'

Once I thought this I was immediately shown the end of one path (like looking at a game board of stepping stones) while at the same time I began seeing bright yellow and white rays of light - like the sun rising.  It was so bright and colorful unlike anything I'd ever seen before and I remember thinking 'it is not neon' (someone had told me Satan uses neon or florescent ugly colors when he tries to trick you).

At the exact time I was seeing the rays of light I was feeling a presence, a shadowy 3D profile of Christ and I FELT this incomparable sense of LOVE and I began to weep.  (And every time I think of this love I begin to cry.) [Note: I did not feel the LOVE until I asked the question in my mind, 'Am I being tricked?'  The answer immediately came – I felt a wave of LOVE wash over me and envelop me and I knew it was God.]

I began to think, 'Who am I that Christ would visit me?  I am so small and insignificant.  Others so great may not have had this visit, why did I have it?'  I was quickly brought back to life and sat up thinking I was dying, and that this is how God makes Himself known to people who aren't Christians to reach them to make their choice before death.

I wondered if I was going to die soon, if I'm not a Christian after all, or if someone who is not a Christian will die and the person left behind would be comforted by my experience.

I reconfirmed my belief in Christ.

When I woke up this morning I told my husband that I thought I had met Christ in my dream.  I was surprised when he nodded his head slowly, completely agreeing with me that I had, and said that today was the day of atonement, the day God speaks to his people in dreams!  (He had been up for an hour and had just read about it.)

I also woke up thinking of the words 'shekinah glory' (I had never heard this before.)  I looked it up - it is a form of Hebrew word that means 'he caused to dwell' - signifying that it was a divine visitation of the presence or dwelling of Yehovah God on this earth.  (And I wrote more about this.)

On 7-12-2012 I read over what I had written to see if I had forgotten any of it, or if I had remembered it all, and I was surprised at how little I had recorded of what I saw, so I filled in more details.  This is what I then wrote:  I felt that this WAS Christ, that I was being shown Him in one of the forms that I would instantly recognize him - an illustration from one of my son's books we had of Jesus sitting under the tree with children all around him and on his knee, and He was also beckoning me to come to Him.  I could not see His face, but I knew who He was.

My mind also knew that this was a form used that my 'human mind' would recognize, that it wasn't His true picture.  Also, while I could hear him talk, it was more in my head, and he could read my thoughts.  I remember the colors!  The brightness!  The LOVE!  To this day, 7-12-12, I have been highly affected by this dream and I've changed my life accordingly. 

On 3/31/14 I read it all again and wrote 'confirmed' - I was beginning to think it was too fantastical to have died for a few minutes and visited heaven, so I re-read what I had written, and it all came flooding back, and so I wrote 'confirmed' that I really do believe it wasn't just a dream - that I really visited heaven.  I wrote that I've gone from never mentioning Christ to bringing Him into many conversations with people, because in my dream/NDE I realized that I was on the 'lukewarm' path.  I was not interested in sharing Christ.  I had told myself before my experience that in America everyone has heard the gospel - it is constantly on the radio and tv and churches on every corner.  Who was I to share it?  My experience changed my attitude.

Today, 4/16/20, I noted that the day it occurred I DID write 'I was quickly brought back to life.'  I've always referred to it as a dream, but in my heart, I've always believed I died and went to heaven for a few minutes and that Christ really did speak with me.

I want to expand a little on what I saw about the two paths.  I was shown two paths from way up high above - one was wide and curvy and fun with lots of people that looked like ants; the other looked steep and narrow with fewer people and more hardships, like rugged terrain - an unpaved path of stepping stones - a harder path, not paved smooth like with concrete - and one led to a gray fortress and one to the bright sun and this beautiful, incredibly vivid and colorful park setting with Jesus and children and animals like deer and birds and dogs and cats and butterflies.  The paths were from above, not up close; but the park I was in with Jesus.  He beckoned me to him and I went closer, but then suddenly was there before me, and he talked with me and showed me the two paths and told me it was my choice, but that he hoped I would choose the same path his apostles had chosen, which led to...and he swung his arm out showing me the park. 

Then it was instantly over and I was awake and gasping for breath.  I felt he was telling me that I had stumbled and was now on the wrong path, but it was my choice.  I could continue, or I could correct my course.  This caused me some distress upon awakening.  But within one week I felt that I had gotten back onto the right path and changed my life accordingly.  I look back on the experience with pleasure now.

When I awoke I remember thinking that it reminded me of a Candy Land board, though not so simplistic (and that game only has one path).  But the sensation of looking down at a path, like from up above a board game far away.  The closest I’ve seen to describing the colors is when I saw pictures of the Great Barrier Reef under water.

Years later, when I read Pilgrim's Progress, it reminded me of my experience.  Some details are beginning to fade now - but not the experience itself.  I still remember being enveloped in LOVE.  It made me cry for years because it was so overwhelming!  So joyous!  Now, I just smile and am happy when I think of it.  I'm not afraid to die because I've visited heaven and I know Jesus Christ.

However, I still do fear judgement day, because I think at that time all my sins will be made known to everyone.  All my actions and how I've treated people and the cause and effect of my actions and words.  While I don't fear going to hell, I don't feel worthy to be in heaven.  Thus, of course, the reassurance of knowing Christ, because it is through Him that we get to enter heaven - not by my good deeds and words.  So it's not quite fear - I think it is embarrassment.  I'm not as good as I want to believe myself to be.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     I was surprised, in re-reading my journal, how much I initially left out of what I saw.  I think it was because I was overwhelmed with the amazingness of it all.  I wanted to get the gist of it down immediately.  There was so much to remember, and yet I didn't record as much as I thought I did!  A few months later I went back and filled in more details, but still not everything.  Writing it down now I am able to use more descriptive words of what I remember.  I've often closed my eyes and thought of the colors - and like I wrote later, it was like the colors under water at the Great Barrier Reef.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      While I was in heaven.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      More consciousness and alertness than normal   Thoughts were like speaking.  My body felt lighter.  I could take in more details - see farther (I am near-sighted in everyday life).  When I thought a question, the answer was immediate.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I am near sighted in real life.  I can see small details up close, and read the tiniest print.  For distance I must wear glasses.  When people wave to me across a large room I don't know who they are without my glasses.  In heaven I could see far, and I could see details.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I do not recall any difference in my hearing.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Confusion at first - fear that I was being tricked.  Then an incredible wave of unconditional love that I felt could only be of God, so I felt relief.  I felt LOVED.  When shown the paths I felt a little sad and a tiny bit worried.  I was sad and worried for myself and others on the paths.  Then I felt joy, looking around me.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes   It was yellow and white light brighter than the sun.  As I became conscious of it, it started out as rays of light, like the sun rising, but then it didn't become a point of light like the sun, instead it was spread out, making everything vivid and beautiful.  The perfect light for vivid colors.  Like the pictures you see under the water at the Great Barrier Reef - how it is all lit up with vivid colors.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin
When the rays of light began it was then that I sensed a presence, and saw a 3D profile of a man sitting with children around him.  I could not look upon his face. He kept his profile towards me, even when speaking, and he had a hood that kept his face in shadow. But I knew instantly that it was Jesus Christ.  I mention 3D, because all pictures I've seen of him on earth are flat, 2D.  This was real.  He was there.  It wasn't an illustration of Him.

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   Yes   I saw Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jehovah.  I knew it was Him, and my mind was telling me He was being shown to me in a form in which I would recognize Him, that I was unable to physically look upon his face at that moment though.  I was remembering that no one can look upon the face of God and live.  I felt like I was alive and meeting Him and was just being shown a glimpse of heaven.  I never thought I was there to stay.  It was a quick visit; a glimpse to keep me on the right path.

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   Yes   I only saw children and animals.  I did not know any of them.

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   Uncertain   Jesus talked to me about the choices I was making, but I don't remember if he brought up anything in particular.  Upon awakening, though, I knew I had been on the wrong path, that I was being a lukewarm Christian - that I had given up much of my Christian witness and that I needed to recommit myself to Christ and His ways, and not what the world teaches.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
It was a park-like setting, but more vivid and glorious in color and peacefulness.  No sun, but everything was bright, as though a huge sun was lighting up the whole park overhead, but no pinpoint of brightness, and no extreme heat.  It was perfection.  Think of the most beautiful day you've ever seen with everything pristine and clear and bursting with vivid colors.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
Jesus beckoned me to him, but all at once without really walking to each other across a great distance, we were together.  Also, when I would think something the answer would appear immediately.  The whole visit felt too quick.  I would have liked to stay much longer.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   Everything about myself or others
Upon awakening I wrote down, 'I unfortunately don't remember all that was said, but it all made sense - an 'aha' moment.'

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Yes   I was shown two paths.  One led to a gray fortress that I felt was destruction.  The other led to the park I was in with Jesus, which I took to be heaven and ever-lasting life.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   When I thought I was being tricked by Satan, I was overcome with a wave of unconditional LOVE that enveloped me and I knew it could only have come from God.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   Uncertain   I do not understand what this question means.  If it means did I feel I was connected to the universe or one with the universe - NO.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   Yes   I learned that what we do on Earth is important to God and we make choices that affect our spirit/soul when we die.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   Yes   I learned that the difficult path is the right one.  It leads to heaven.  The easy path is deceitful and leads to the gray fortress and destruction.  I learned that I was to follow the apostles' path because it leads to life, to Jesus, to heaven.  But that it was my choice.  I wouldn't be forced.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Yes   I thought I knew what unconditional love was when my son was born.  Now I know that God's love is more infinite than I ever thought possible.  It envelops you.  It made me cry in joy, but also in relief, that He understood, and that He is kind.  Upon awakening I wrote that when I saw Christ 'I FELT this incomparable sense of LOVE and I began to weep. And every time I think of this love I begin to cry.'

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   Yes   I felt, upon awakening, that Jesus had told me I was a lukewarm Christian and that I was on the wrong path.  I felt that the purpose of my heavenly visit was to correct my course and be purposeful in my Christian walk to share with others about Christ's love and forgiveness, and to be a Christian witness to show how He wants His followers to live.  I felt he was telling me to be bold, courageous, and purposeful.  To stop shrugging my shoulders and saying 'whatever.'  To speak the truth in love when people were spouting falsehoods about life, love, and especially about Jesus and how He's shown us how to live in the Bible.

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience  

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the ex   I don't remember my dreams from this time.  I do remember events, though some details have faded.  I remember this as an event, with most details still intact.  That is why I believe it was an NDE and not a dream.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   I began reading my Bible.  I read it straight through several times, using different translations.  I began praying daily.  I began going back to church.

My experience directly resulted in:   Moderate changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes   I was just more certain in my Christian beliefs.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   No  

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     It was all important.  It was short - so one part was not magnified over another.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  Within 7 hours of my experience I shared it with my husband, and he 100% believed me.  He said it was the Jewish Day of Atonement, and he had just been reading that it was a day when God spoke to His people through dreams and visions.  We are not Jewish.

Within the week I told my mom.  She also believed me.  My brother was more skeptical, thinking it was just a dream.  My son was only 4 at the time.  He believed me and told me that when he was in heaven before he was born, he had a white dog there named 'Tortilla Achoo' : )  We had never talked of him being in heaven before he was born, and here on earth he was scared of dogs.  He talked about this dog for quite awhile afterwards.  Who knows? : )

A few weeks later I was cleaning up my e-mail list and saw the name of a former neighbor.  I was going to delete her e-mail address, but then felt prompted to contact her.  I told myself that if she didn't respond, then I'd cut her from my list.  She responded immediately, telling me she was returning from her husband's funeral.  She came over the next day and I read to her what I wrote down after my experience.  She believed me and was comforted.  She and her husband were new Christians.  We've stayed in contact ever since.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   I had heard about people visiting heaven during surgery, or dying before being resuscitated.  I heard about Shirley McClain, but thought she was a nut.  However, I had never heard any DETAILS about what anyone saw or experienced.  I had never read a book about it.  This was before YouTube was big, so I had never seen a video about it or anything on TV.  I knew people claimed to have an NDE, but I didn't know anything about it or what they experienced, and I never took it seriously.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   I definitely believed that I was taken up to heaven, but was unsure as to if it was a dream visit, or a NDE.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   There have been times when I've thought that maybe I just dreamt it, but then, how could I possibly remember so many details and feelings about it if it were only a dream?  I don't remember any of my other dreams in detail like this.  I have a few snippets of other dreams in my life - but none that affected me so much that it CHANGED MY LIFE.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   Yes, in that I am more sure of myself.  I have more conviction.  I have unshakeable faith now, and can't be easily swayed by another's viewpoint.  I've been very open minded about many 'spiritual' things, even afterward, but once I compare what people say to the Bible, I always stand firm in what the Bible says, for I feel it is the ultimate truth.  I have positive relationships with most everyone.

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I began going to church again the following week.  My beliefs didn't change - they were cemented by my experience.  Like I mentioned in another question, now I pray more, read the Bible more often, usually daily.  I read the Bible cover to cover several times.  I pay more attention to Christians and what they say, teach, preach; can see false teachers that don't align with the Bible.  I know what I believe and can back it up with Scripture.  I believe the Bible is inerrant.  I believe Christ died for our sins and was resurrected.  I have an unshakeable faith in the afterlife.  I know it is real.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   No  

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   No, you've covered it all.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   I've told it all.

What could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do that would be of interest to you?  Compile statistics of events, I guess.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience?              I have just written about the one experience I had that I believe was a NDE.  At that time I did not leave my body, I did not hover over it. However, when I was 15 I had an out of body experience due to a drug, but I was 'tethered' to my body.  I couldn't fly or go into the trees, but I saw myself walking from in front, and then I floated over myself and watched my friends and I from behind.  It's an experience I never forgot, and it is why I never doubted we had souls.  Also, in my late 20's I was at work and in the hallway I turned a corner, and my spirit was 3 steps ahead of my body.  My body caught up and I thought, 'That was like what happened to me at age 15.'  It has never happened since.  Of course, I thought it very strange.  I bring this up to say that perhaps you could have a question that asks if you've ever had an out-of-body experience in addition to an NDE.