People I Met at the Gates of Heaven | Don Piper | Joni Table Talk | Joni Lamb

coming up Don Piper reveals the people you'll need at the gates of heaven and why the conversation starts now in a single moment everything can change the closing of one chapter the beginning of something new when miracles become reality and we get a glimpse of what lies beyond the place where heaven meets earth have you ever wondered what happens the moment you leave your earthly body behind and arrive in heaven are you curious about the amazing things God has prepared for you in eternity well today's guests received a special glimpse into the heavenly room and he's here to share about his time there and what that means for us but first joining me around the table is my dear friend Kendra Kelly Dean how are you oh I'm good and I love these programs I'm already getting emotional but it's just I was reading the notes for this show and I just I just love our God so much oh I know you know and there really is always caught heaven there is a release we have lots of friends and loved ones that are already there we do you know and so it's gonna be an awesome day yeah when that finally happens but I love this this is gonna be an awesome show Northy Newton has nothing everything about heaven we all get to rejoice if only I could sing today she called me that was one of the first songs that I recorded was when we all get to heaven and that came to your mind yeah well I don't even know how I got brought up in my quiet time somehow but I was like seven years old and I would put like mom's cassette it and like your music all the time I want you to find that music when we all see it it's a great song to do you remember that song I do I do a raised Baptist we sing it a lot and welcome back to the table Don Piper welcome I'm just thrilled to be here good to have you what a wonderful opportunity of course everyone has heard about your book 90 minutes in heaven there was a movie done on it as well so we're gonna be talking today about his new book people I met at the gates of heaven so what exists after this life will we go on living will we be alone will others be there we all have questions and wonder about what lies beyond but if you ever get a glimpse and live to tell about it thirty years ago Don learned firsthand what awaits us after this life when he died on a roadside in Texas and spent 90 minutes in heaven I was on my way to church in January of 1989 I was crossing a rural bridge in East Texas on a rainy cold day an 18-wheeler came down an embankment and swerved over into my lane and hit me head-on really just drove over the top of my car crushed me in it I was killed instantly four paramedics who arrived on the scene did everything they could have tried to revive me resuscitate me they were unsuccessful I had literally been dismembered the moment the truck struck me I was standing at the gates of heaven there are 12 gates in heaven I've been blinded by it if I'd had earthly eyes but I didn't and I'm looking at the gate and I'm panning down the gate and I'm looking into my grandfather's face well Don Piper has been in ministry for more than 33 years and his story has been told all over the world but he's just now revealing the most intimate part of his journey to heaven the people who met him at the gates before we get into the people that you met at the gates a lot of people watching today may not have heard what happened to you that day so if you would just recount that again I know we saw the the rollin on it but how old were you and you were going on a bridge right tell us what happened yeah I was 38 married three kids pastor of a church in Alvin Texas just south of Houston and I'd been at a conference north of Houston probably 120 miles Mike Church and great conference ended on a Wednesday morning it's raining it's very cold it's just a miserable day but I'm on my way to church I've got a stack of sermons on the seat beside me I'm gonna begin a new sermon series I'm going home yeah and my wife is teaching and our children were in school so there's nobody at home because that came into that came that became an important factor because after I was hit by the truck they couldn't reach anybody so I was on a bridge in a narrow bridge and it's a steel bridge one of those superstructure bridges I'm almost off of it actually at the other end is a steep embankment an 18-wheeler comes down that embankment at a high rate of speed and and swerves to miss a slow car hits me head-on goes over the top of my car crushes it goes back over and d'Alene he's supposed to be in hits two more cars so it's a it's a four vehicle pileup on what it's called the Trinity River bridge and it's just a horrible accident amazingly nobody else is hurt but me eventually four ambulances arrive because there's four victims and lots of police and they're trying to discover how everyone's doing when the paramedics didn't have to work on the other people they were released to work on me because it was obvious I was in bad shape and I mean disarmed is in the backseat of the car and my left leg is laying on the floor of the car and my right leg was crushed and it I was available on the steering wheel this is before airbags and I had brain damage because I hit against the side of the car it was just a you know a horrific accident they couldn't revive me even though they tried everything so the body is covered up with a tarp because all the windows are going out of the car and it's raining and they don't want anybody to see me because it's gruesome do you have any memory from when you saw the 18-wheeler coming your way not really so so pretty much all you remember is you're on the bridge driving but from there on the next thing I remember is an hour and a half later when I'm under the tarp the body is and the man who felt God speak to him and say pray for me was in the car holding onto my right shoulder which is the only thing I didn't break okay so let's go back to so for paramedics they've covered you with the tarp we can all be sure eyes that rainy cold day he said he was praying for you know that's what I was gonna say so this man comes along after you're your dad I don't know him don't even know where he's coming into the charge yes the body's under the tarp I think they like you pleaded with them dick auto wrecker the man who felt later God pray for he washed on the bridge he just hears God say pray for the man in the red car that's all which will show you the power of prayer absolutely I'm only here because of prayer yeah I had nothing to do with my survival I believe in prayer I think God answers prayer yeah you know in when Jesus is giving his incredible sermon I am the way the truth and life right after there says you may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it in my name qualifies that but this guy was praying that I would live in my name even though he knows he's I'm dead yeah so he gets permission to crawl in the car which they were very reluctant to do they were afraid he was gonna get hurt by twisted metal or broken glass he's under the tarp he's praying he's got his hand on my shoulder so this goes on nearly an hour and a half from the 11:45 a.m. accident at 1:15 he's praying and singing that song what a friend we have in Jesus and who would pursue that long in prayer yeah well just wasn't gonna give up the coroner was called and the coroner has not arrived to release the body they do an investigation so he's gonna pray until they make him leave so he's praying he's seeing that song I start singing with him he got out of the car really fast the policeman said officer the dead man is singing sure it's just probably your imagination you know he's he's not only dead he's very dead and he's been dead for quite a while no I heard he's thinking so they are really kind of ignoring him at that point three of the four ambulances have left he goes around and stands in front of the last remaining ambulance and he knows they're packed and leaving and he says out loud for everybody on the bridge to hear it I'm gonna lie down here on this bridge in front of this ambulance if you leave without him it's so they basically just humored him walked over and lift up the tarp and you know fine and they found a pulse and so they for slept into action regrettably the equipment to break open the car was not on the scene because I was a fatality they didn't need it moving a living persons very different from removing someone was not they had to order that from 30 miles away it eventually came out and then they began to dismantle the car what I really remember first you know other than water friend we have in Jesus says about eight guys were under me because they were trying to keep the limbs together and they put me on a gurney and I'm looking at the girders of the bridge above me and rain is falling on my face and I think to myself for the first time something really bad has happened and it's happened to me that was your first it's my first recollection the fact that you were even cognizant yes yeah I mean that yeah so the part of this that again is the miraculous part is the whole story is but you died instantly and and because of that your heart stopped yes and so because you would have bled yeah I have massive wounds yeah massive wounds on my arms legs so large that they they couldn't have liked clotted or something that he would have just I would just bled to death because the heart is beating even faster because you're really agitated and it's not beating it stopped at that moment I'm killed instantly so I didn't really lose any blood I had a little blood coming out of my nose and ears and eyes which indicated brain damage so I was killed in the accident I didn't have a near-death experience I was dead what caused you to die right on impact blunt force trauma you know it was just the sheer impact of it and a lot of people and accidents maybe they don't even appear to have much damage but it's blunt force trauma which would help you understand stories about when people are dying slowly yeah and there and they come out of there absolutely they can see it but for you it was I've heard a lot of those stories and III think they're very accurate because I think life and death you know we're always one breath away from death many people pass away in that in that sense they are rising because you know the angels are the ones who bear us up it's so they are rising and you may maybe have been with people who are at the end of their life and it's it's a holy moment because sometimes they'll reach out sometimes they'll try to set up and they'll even mention names of people that they're seeing because they know where the going yeah and they can see it for me with a hundred mile an hour impact I'm suddenly looking my grandfather's face and and one of the amazing gates of heaven there there 12 of them and I'm at the gate how did you count 12 of them or did you counter need you just no no Scripture in Revelation it says there twelve gates of them for the twelve tribes and so I don't know what gate we're gonna be at but we'll be one because we're all were coming to yes they were expecting yeah they were expecting me they knew I was coming that day and I think everybody in heaven knows who's coming one of the most common questions I get asked is the people in heaven miss me and the answer is no they don't miss you they expect you they don't miss you they expect you because they're not confined about you're not in time like we are yeah you know like my grandmother died 30 years ago and my best friend died six years ago and my father-in-law you know that's not an it there's no death in heaven there's no pain in heaven there's no night in heaven there so there we have to suspend everything we know about this earth when we start thinking about heaven it's all different there was something that you said that I thought was really powerful in the notes and it was you said that when you you came to and obviously there are all these colors that you didn't even know the name for the colors but you said that there was a smell yes there was this a Roman aroma about heaven and the only way that you knew how to describe that was that it was frankincense or the smell of prayers indeed in Revelation says that the prayers of the saints rise from the throne of God so you can actually smell the aroma of those prayers as they as they as they arrived at God's throne and he they emanate from his throne so yes there's smells all of our senses are heightened beyond words all of them the heaven experience from me is the most real thing I've ever had in my life this seems dim and doesn't match up now and I've had some glorious time since I came back but there's some beautiful there's beautiful creation on earth oh well everything is heightened exponentially there if you're if you're looking at the light you wouldn't be able to see the light of heaven with these eyes how old were all the people that you knew - were they were you last 38 when the truck hit me so I'm you know kind of prime of life like I said married three kids I'm on my way to church so age is not an issue in heaven you know Adam and Eve were never children I mean they they were created for fellowship with God and so that apparently is the age that God wants to identify with us you know I used to ask if Adam and Eve had navels no I don't think they did you know they were not born they were created yes so that's that's you know aged adulthood is a stage of life on Earth there are no stages of life in heaven because there's no birth there and there's no death there so aids never ends up being an issue I fully recognized them as themselves the Bible says we will know as we are known and I did know them I didn't have to be introduced to them I knew where there was I think I won't even be introduced to the people inside when I go inside because I'll know them and they'll are me so heaven is about knowing we all want to know answers to questions and in heaven we'll get them but there'll be a lot of questions that we want to ask here they'll be irrelevant they're looking for someone there in heaven that you couldn't find no I did see some people that I probably wouldn't have expected if I was like thinking all I wanted me in heaven but you know these people did have an impact on me they did influence me positively and because maybe if something negative they did influence me positive and so they met me at the gates of heaven I get asked that question when I went back to my high school oh my goodness years later one of the guys I went to high school with came up to me and I mentioned a name in 90 minutes in heaven somebody greeted me and this this guy was a very prominent lawyer he comes up to me very cheerfully and he just says the name as a question I could say John Smith John Smith and I said yes he just began to weep you know because he wasn't too sure about John Smith now he was so heaven was like that it was a revelation in a sense of who's there I don't think we'll be surprised by who's there but we might be greeted in some cases by people that we have to stop and think now what did they how did they interface with my life and they did and it was a positive thing in the long run my next-door neighbor took me to church when I was nine years old because nobody else would and that's the only way I had to go and I remember being in elementary school and the Gideons handed out Bibles that's where I got my first Bible and I just began to read it so a lot of people influenced me so that when I was 16 years old and I had been invited to church by some teenagers which is always peers you know invited by teenagers they invited me I don't know if I would have gone if it had been teenagers yeah I just got my driver's license I borrowed my mother's car I Drive myself to church and I don't know whether they were more excited or I was more excited because they came to my house and this is very important for young people I knew I would know somebody when I walked in the church and they were excited because they came to my house and invited me and I showed up so it was a win-win thing for some 16-year old and they were there they were part of some of those people absolutely the question I ask you and you're gonna love this Becca is I said you said all the senses are arrested in that there it's overpowering to our five senses what heaven will be what you see what you hear what you smell what you feel but I said to you what was the thing that stood out to you the most right outside the gates and you said music music musical person but I'm not very good at it you know and I and it's kind of frustrating because all my family are very gifted singers and musicians so I got left out of that stood out to you all very much did you hear very much so over the heads of the people beside the Angels that were hovering around was music and I heard literally thousands of pieces of music at the same time all of them glorifying God because he alone is worthy of our worship so this is being lifted up to the throne of God and we get to hear it even though it's for him and and that's astoundingly you know years ago I was a disc jockey one thing you never do on the radio is played two songs at the same time you'll get involved in heaven I heard thousands of songs at the same time absolutely they all fit together and really only one song kind of really stood out above them all and that is simply holy holy holy holy holy holy because he is and we're not so this music is the thing I brought back with me the more weary I grow here the louder that music gets in my soul and I can't wait to hear it again and what I want to do is have everyone else hear it yes and that's kind of what we're here for is to is to get people to be there in the presence of God and hear the glorious music that that praises him well you know earlier dawn was on our live program and and Marcus felt directed of the Lord to to pray the sinner's prayer and I really felt that same thing today on the table there are some of you that you're really not ready to meet the Lord and maybe you were just watching today because you're interested in hearing about somebody who died and so now is the time I believe that the Lord is calling your name and I believe you're ready to open your heart up and receive Jesus into your life so Beck I wonder if you would just lead us in a sinner's prayer and we will repeat after you just a little simple prayer inviting the Lord into your heart and then we're going to give you that opportunity right now because we want you to be in heaven with us one day okay dear Lord Jesus I confess that I'm a sinner I confess the ocean and I repent for my sins repent for my sins and ask that you would forgive me forgive me and God is asked Jesus God has just asked Jesus so you would be the Lord of my life and my Savior and my Savior I believe you died on the cross I believe you died on the cross and I received the free gift of salvation I received the free gift of salvation and a Holy Spirit I ask that you would fill me to overflow and god I just thank you thank you that I'm a new creation in you in Jesus name Amen amen amen that was awesome I know many of you prayed that prayer and I want to tell you did this is the best day of your life because you know the Bible says that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins to cleanse us from all unrighteousness it doesn't matter what mistakes that you have made you are just like Becca said a new creature in Christ Jesus and today is a new day and you say but wait I was raised this and I'm you know I'm this religion and I'm the I don't it doesn't matter Jesus came to save all and so it doesn't matter what your background is someone said well why do you Christians always say Jesus is the only way we say that because the Word of God says that and Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except by me so I say to you why are you asking that question I'm asking you this question why would you not receive the free gift of salvation that entitles you to heaven that what we're talking about we do have a book available for those of you that prayed that prayer it's entitled now it's an English and it's in Spanish and that toll-free number is on the screen for you to call let us know that you pray that prayer we want to send you that book you can also go to de Starcom and click on prayer and say hey Joanie in Table Talk ladies and Don Piper I prayed that prayer and I want to tell someone about it let us know we'd love to send you that book can be a blessing to you so the people that you saw in heaven what did they say or communicate with you and what what is the takeaway from that that group that God hand-picked to greet you as you came to have a Norfolk question you know I was really thinking when you were praying that prayer I was thinking about the Bible says the angels in heaven rejoice when one soul is born of the kingdom of God think about all the singing going on right now in heaven those folks are watching who just gave their heart to Jesus and they're in scribing those names in the registration book up there they're expecting you and we can't wait to see you there where well the people agree to me at the gates of heaven were simply the people who helped me get there they did do things for me purposely they were you know this is a purposeful thing you need to you need to decide to do this and they loved me into the kingdom of God all the things that they did and so I came back and lay in that hospital bed for a year 13 months and then two more years of therapy and Rehab I realized in no uncertain terms we're here to help everyone else get there and we have much work to do that's what you're doing right now and this is an everyday thing with our friends and family and neighbors and classmates and co-workers and and the people who just live down your street we we love them here don't we want to love them there well then we have a lot of work to do and this book is really about doing it as you go yes and three kids came to my house in the summer of my my 15th year and said we would like you to visit our church that was purposeful but all those other people influenced me too so that when the time came I was ready to go I wasn't planning to die that day but I was ready I love that so each of you of course we we all say we want to see Jesus okay yes that's our first for sure but one person that you can't wait to see in heaven oh my lord well my grandmother and my cousin Shawn for sure and I just I feel like I have to say this one of the things that you said when you saw all these people who had encouraged your walk of faith when you they greeted you in heaven you said all of them are without blemish yes all the more perfect form there were no scars nothing and they just said there was one person in heaven that had scars and that was Jesus the only man-made thing in heaven are the scars of Jesus see he is the way I know the way I just had to say that oh good Dorothy you're one person grandmother grandmother yes Becca pop on me me for me I have to say my grandfather Trammell mm-hmm and my grandmother I want to see every one but sure you're one person my daddy your dad you're one person you know in the 30 years since this happened I've done funerals for many people I would have to say my best friend David Gentiles I loved him and I knew he loved me he's the one who led the prayer meetings all-night prayer meetings for me to live at the hospital and he was a he was the most loving human I have ever met you way to see him again I miss him I'm sorry for your temporary separation from your loved one it's real but it won't last the next time you see them never again will you say goodbye them there are no goodbyes in heaven well each of us will have our own personal welcoming committee when we arrive in heaven and depending on how we choose to live our lives we can also have the privilege of welcoming others home so who are you going to help make a reservation in heaven and who will you greet at heaven's gates if you're watching today and you want more boldness when it comes to sharing your faith or maybe you prayed that prayer with us just a moment ago again I want to encourage you to call that toll-free number that's on the screen we have prayer partners standing 24 hours a day 7 days a week ready to pray with you I just think it's important to tell someone when you make a confession of faith and you accept Jesus into your heart in your life it not only is a great testimony but it makes you stronger and we want to again send you that book now what you can also go to Daystar calm and submit your prayer requests by clicking on prayer and I want you to know that we pray over all the prayer requests that come in at Daystar I want to thank Don Piper for joining us at the table today remember to pick up a copy of his book people I met at the gates of heaven and for more visit him online at Don Piper ministries calm and don't forget to join the conversation online by leaving us a comment on Facebook Instagram or Twitter we love hearing from all of you I'm so excited about heaven aren't you in our future this life is but a stepping stone to the life to come so let's occupy till he comes and let's see how many people we can take to heaven with us that's why we do what we do every day here it they start we'll see you next time bye bye for today this has been a day star television production

Channel: The Way Of Life Church

Views: 1,536,476

Rating: 4.8026276 out of 5

Keywords: the way of life church, groeschel, lifechurch, life.churchtv, church, god's word, sermon, Christian, bible, God, Joni Table Talk, Joni Lamb, People I Met at the Gates of Heaven, the Gates of Heaven, Heaven, Don Piper

Id: tvuJDoY2icc

Length: 28min 30sec (1710 seconds)

Published: Fri Jul 19 2019