A man and his wife were seated on a stage before a large gathering of people. Those in attendance had come to glean from this man and his prophetic revelations and insight. He begins to tell them that he wants to prepare them for visitations to the third heaven, or what he calls “raptures”. In preparation for this, he instructs them to take deep breaths while discouraging praying, stating that thinking with your mind and praying is the worst thing you can do. He tells those in attendance that angels are unemployed and in need of a job, which is the need for these visitations. He tells them to pull up the anointing, the second Adam, out of themselves. For those who have hooks in them from past sins and curses, he tells them the hooks will begin to come out of them as they go up. As he leads them in this visitation through breathing and such, he encourages them to make these trips as often as they like. The man speaking was Bob Jones, and this teaching with application took place at least twice at Bethel church.

To some, this might seem an isolated incident, but it is not. There are numerous ministers who have shared their trips to heaven and their visions of heaven. Kat Kerr has written books and given numerous interviews, ministering publicly about her regular trips to heaven, telling of roller coasters, cows driving tractors, Jello land, and singing flowers. Rick Joyner wrote a chapter in The Final Quest detailing his vision in heaven before the Throne and his conversations with people in heaven, including the apostle Paul. Heidi Baker says there is a room in heaven called the body parts room where people can simply request body parts for healing others. Todd Bentley has spoken of attempting to visit the third heaven but being hindered by the Dalai Lama spirit. He later tells of Bob Jones helping him with this hindrance as Bob also had experience with this same spirit. Patricia King was also influenced by Bob Jones in going to heaven at will. Children were allegedly taken on trips to heaven by a Bethel children’s ministry leader, and this was by her own admission.

These visitations are not related to near death experiences, and this is a mere sampling of accounts relayed by many who claim heavenly visitations as common place experiences. There seems to be the implication in some circles that these kinds of encounters are required to have a special relationship with Christ. People are encouraged to engage in such acts without questioning if this should be done or even considered. In all sincerity and genuine concern, we need to be asking if these trips to heaven are Biblically sound and if God is truly being glorified and reverenced. We need to appeal to Scriptural examples and to ask who is being glorified in these accounts and if there is great deception taking place. The supernatural is intriguing to us all. It can also lead us further away from God.

A Biblical View of Heaven

The Old and New Testaments provide accounts of those who saw into heaven or had visions centered upon God’s throne. Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah seeing the Lord high and lifted up and the angels surrounding His throne to worship Him. We can see a type and shadow in this account of one who stands before God, acknowledging the need for God to cleanse him. Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 1,10). Daniel had a vision of the Ancient of Days, describing His glory and majesty (Daniel 7). We read of Micaiah in 1 Kings 22:19 and his vision in heaven and what the Lord had to say concerning Ahab.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2-6, Paul speaks of himself in the third person saying, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.” Paul saw things no human being was permitted to speak. He also refrained from boasting so as to prevent others exalting him. What do we make of those who write volumes of books detailing places and things in heaven, sharing things they are freely permitted to speak while being honored by those they claim to see in heaven while an apostle of Christ was not permitted to tell of what he saw?

Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God before he was about to be stoned to death by those who refused to hear the truth of the Word of God (Acts 7:55). The apostle John recorded details in Revelation 4-6 about the Lord, His throne, and those who worshiped Him. He also recorded details of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22. In all of these Biblical accounts, we can find a few similarities. The glory of the Lord and worship unto Him was the central focus. It is also worth noting not one of these men initiated the vision or experience in heaven. These were not group field trips, and they did not occur due to deep breathing with heavenly travel guides. These took place according to the will of God rather than being self willed, and in each instance, God was glorified.

Be Encouraged

The Bible does give us some insight into heaven, and this brings us great encouragement as citizens of heaven. Yet we cannot fully comprehend it all in this world. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” Colossians 3:1-2 reminds us we have been raised with Christ and to seek the things above where He is seated. We are to set our minds on Him. We look toward the hope we have in Christ of eternal life. He will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20). We look to the things that are eternal rather than temporal (2 Corinthians 4:18), and no trip to heaven is necessary in order to meditate on these glorious promises.

Let me leave you with one final encouragement. Personal supernatural experiences are not the barometer for your relationship with Jesus Christ. Any personal experience in this arena is to be tested against Scripture and not taken at face value as from God. Faith in Christ for salvation and eternal life is what defines your relationship with Christ. He is the essence of our reconciliation to the Father. He is the object of our faith. He is the reason we long for eternity.