My Mother Saw the Gates of Hell

As far back as I can recall, my mother would not permit discussions about hell in our home. From her point of view, in order for hell to exist, there would need to be rescuer or savior or at least a path available by works.

My mother instead adopted the new age approach that all roads lead to heaven. That notion was much more comforting and far less painful than having to repent. 

My mother held that position until she lay dying of cancer in a hospice bed. The day before she passed away my best friend told me, “At some point in this you are going to have to take your mother through the salvation prayer and you need to be ready.” I quickly told her that God would have to appoint someone more qualified, because I had never convinced her of the need for salvation.

I know God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called, because the next day my mother awoke from a long, deep sleep and grabbed my hand demanding, “You have got to get me out of here!” I looked at her puzzled and said, “Get you out of where?” She replied, “I am looking straight in the gates of Hell and you are the only one that can save me!”

What she described seeing was horrific enough for a lifelong belief to evaporate in a moment. I asked my mother if she had ever verbally accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and repented of her sin? She said, “No.” My mom was a church attender her entire life, had read her bible but the words had never penetrated her heart. She had no relationship with Jesus and she sovereignly became aware that this lack would cost her eternal life with God.

I led my mom through a salvation prayer and she passed away peacefully the next day. I have come to believe that God is faithful to give many those last-minute opportunities and I am so thankful that he allowed my mother to experience this so she might choose life.

Several years after this I was asked to write an evangelistic testimony to reach the lost. I shared the story of my mother. The pastor leading the group suggested I get a copy of Bill Weiss’ testimony, “23 Minutes in Hell“. It’s a riveting account of one man’s visitation to the place of eternal torment. Later that morning in church someone handed me the CD. I thought this was planned but found out later it was not.

I listened to the CD on my way home that Sunday. Bill Weiss spoke of things, during his spiritual transport to hell, very similar to what my mother had seen. As I sat shaking on the couch at home, my daughter walked in and asked me what was wrong. I told her about the CD and how it lined up with what her Grandmother told me she had seen. My daughter then asked me, “Do they talk about the holding cell in Hell and how they rip off your skin? Does he share the smell, the fire in the pit, the heat and the fear?”

With each question I grew paler, and then said, “Oh, you have heard this CD already?” You need to know before I come to the next part that my daughter was part of the Gothic/Goth group in high school. “No,” she said, “when I was in high school, I had to write a poem for class one day, and I asked the gates of hell to write it for me. My hands started flying on the computer. I am telling you what I wrote.”

I have never written this account down before. On occasion, as the Holy Spirit leads, I have been prompted to share it with the lost, in hopes that they would see the realities of hell and the need for Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior so that this fate can be avoided. (For a sequel to this story, see my blog on ” Generational Sin -How Fast Can It Travel?“). Time is short; are you living Gods purpose and calling? Don’t wait until it’s too late. Events are moving quickly in the natural realm and there is a shaking happening. Are you ready today to meet Jesus?