I was still aware of those around me I could hear their cries and sense their grief But was physically incapable Of responding to them in any way There was surprisingly no sensation of d**h But without doubt, I knew I was dying As my spirit and body naturally And without effort began to separate An entirely new dimension of reality unfolded Like the slow opening of a rare flower Celestial mysteries were revealed from beyond The atmosphere was permeated With the healing melody of an invisible choir And I knew I had entered the domain of the living God My eyes beheld a vast concourse of souls from every nation Dressed in the spotless garments of the redeemed With a loud voice they echoed praises to their King I saw a mighty throne around which was seated Four and twenty elders with crowns of glory And like the sound of rushing waters they began to sing Holy, holy, holy They sang Holy, holy, holy I heard them say Holy, holy, holy is the Lord They said Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy is Lord The whole principle of living was different Food and water wasn't needed to sustain life There was no mental agony, tears Source of tears or any physical pain Light did not come from one source like the sun But God's glory illuminated everything So shadows did not exist, neither did elemental changes Like snow, storms or even rain Then, in all of it's pristine graduer, I saw the Holy City Suspended like a cube at the expanse of eternity Fifteen hundred miles high and just as deep as it was wide Indescribable colors were refracting everywhere From the precious stones it was made of With twelve angels guarding the gates Fashioned from one solid pearl on each side Then, from behind me, I could sense the presence Of one whose virtue shot through the very fibers of my being As I slowly turned, a glorious radiance consumed my eyes His silhouette was backdropped by the immense sea of gla** And for the very first time My eyes beheld one altogether lovely The Lily of the Valley, the Fairest of Ten Thousands My Lord, my Saviour Jesus Christ I threw up my hands and cried Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy is the Lord My soul said Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy is the Lord His eyes were filled with tenderness Encouragement, strength and love His countenance proclaimed He knew everything There was to know or ever worth knowing Being with Him was to have everything I ever wanted Be everything I ever imagined And arrive at everywhere I only dreamed of going Then the same Voice that spoke the worlds into existence Spoke my name in affectionate tones He said, "My beloved child, there are those left behind Who are deeply grieved at your d**h They've prayed I return you to your earthly life And because of their faithfulness to Me I am willing to grant their request" I said, "Lord, if my loved ones only knew The limitless wonders of Heaven If they could steal but one brief glimpse of glory I know what they would do" "Because they loved me, they'd never ask That I return to the confines of my human body Lord, I can't go back, please let me stay with You" For You are the resurrection of the life The Son of the Living God You're the only one worthy of honor And glory and power and praise Master, only You make all things new For You alone are Lord and God, Saviour and King And forever and ever, throughout all eternity I'll join the hosts of heaven As they praise You day, after day, after day singing Lord of all the Earth Forever He shall reign Lord of glory, lamb of God And holy is His name My soul says Lord of all the Earth Forever He shall reign Lord of glory, lamb of God And holy is His name And holy is His name