Heaven, an Unexpected Journey: One Man's Experience with Heaven, Angels, and the Afterlife

by Jim Woodford

Let’s make this personal—you were created by the breath of God. You were created to carry His light as bright as the angels Jim encountered. You were created with free will, able to choose your own way. Look at the words of the psalmist a little more carefully. You were crowned with the very glory and honor of God. You have eternal value. You were created to rule over the works of creation with tremendous authority. It was for you that the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue you from the darkness if you would only call out to Him.

It was the pervasive fragrance of love that permeated everything around me in Heaven. It was a scent that filled my senses and flowed along with the breeze. I turned to the angel on my left and I said, “They smell so beautiful.” The angel said, “Yes, James, that is the scent of sanctity.”

Take a minute and consider that at this moment the One who created you desires to have you come out of the shadows and live in the light of His presence. He is calling you “out of darkness into His marvelous light.”5 Out of the shadows of doubt and disbelief, out of the shadows of shame, out of the shadows of death itself. He is establishing His throne room even now in you. Let’s take a few minutes and come out of the shadows. Quiet your heart the best you can. Sit for a moment and take note of the breath going in and out of your body being refreshed moment by moment. Now, become aware of the sounds around you. Sounds of nature—even sounds of the normal activity of life. All of nature can clearly testify of the presence and nature of God. The apostle Paul said, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made.”6 Now, listen carefully.

If you want proof that prayer works, pray for someone else and watch what happens. God loves a selfless prayer. God loves “knee-mail.”

God so loved Jesus and His sacrifice for mankind that He decreed that no one in Heaven would be any older than the age Jesus was when He died.” So, everyone in Heaven will appear to be in their early thirties. Some might wonder how we could identify a 95-year-old uncle or grandparent who passed on before us. Somehow, in the spirit, you will recognize them and they you. In Heaven, we are recognized more soul to soul than on the basis of age or appearance.

Another notable exception to those who appeared to be in their early thirties were children. And there were children playing everywhere! There were some who were very young, even infants.

We approached another building that held features different from the previous ones we had seen. The building before us was illuminated with alternating waves of soft light that shimmered across its surface from pink to blue and back to pink again. I asked, “What is this building?” The angel replied, “This is the nursery.” “Nursery?” I said, astonished. “Yes.” “How and why would there be a nursery in Heaven?” I asked. The angel said, “This is the nursery for souls of aborted babies or other babies miscarried or lost in their innocence.” He went on to tell me that the light of God was in each of these babies and that light longs to return to the Source—God Himself. They are cared for and raised to full age here in the love of God. Eventually they are free to join the general populace of Heaven. I asked, “Are they like children of earth?” The angel smiled and laughed, responding, “They are very much like children on earth. And Jesus loves these children.”

I was told that this is where the souls of aborted children go until they can enter the fullness of their purpose in Heaven. They mature as on earth but much faster as they are beings of light. It’s not about physical development; it’s about growing in their purpose in Heaven. Again, it is difficult to understand or explain the passing of time or maturity within a timeless Heaven. But a two-year-old is like a six-year-old on earth. Some of those who come to maturity choose to stay on there to help other little souls on their journey to maturity in Heaven.

People invariably ask, “Will I see my pet in Heaven?” We humans share life and affection with our pets. In truth, I saw dogs and cats and other animals all over the place, not to mention the beautiful horses. There is not a separate place for them. If you have something that you loved dearly in life and it returned that love to you, it will greet you in Heaven. No, they are not human, but somehow they represent love to us. I will leave it to the theologians once again to sort out the theology.

any creature that had the capacity to bring joy and return love to you in some fashion will greet you in Heaven.

Rather than do works for Jesus, let’s think of doing them with Him. Listen again to the tone and words of His voice.

Grace is initiated on the thinnest request of man for the greatest glory of God.

Grace puts us all on equal ground. It is the sole means of salvation. This does not mean universalism—that everyone is automatically in. There is the necessity for conviction of sin, repentance (turning toward Christ in faith), resulting in conversion, leading to justification based on the blood of Jesus Christ alone.