In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."
—Isaiah 6:1-5

Truths to learn:

• God is a holy God.
• We cannot enter His presence because of sin.
• God forgives and cleanses.
• Forgiven servants can have significant ministry.

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
—Acts 7:55-60

Truths to learn:

• Hatred will keep you from seeing the truth.
• Jesus is present at the death of His servant.

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven... He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
—2 Corinthians 12:1-2,4

Truths to learn:

• Heaven is real and God is able to take people there.
• The experiences God gives us are not to exalt us.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
—Revelations 6:9-11

Truths to learn:

• Our spirits inhabit heaven before the resurrection.
• Those who have died have some knowledge of events on earth.
• More than anything, we will want to see God's glory served.
• There is a direct connection between our lives on earth and our future lives in heaven.

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
—Revelation 7:13-17

Truths to learn:

• Heaven will be a place of incredible activity.
• Each of us will have tasks that fully engage us.
• God's people will experience shelter and satisfaction.
• The worries of this life will be gone.
• We will see the pattern of our lives from God's perspective.

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
—1 Corinthians 13:12 (Message)