a most amazing story

https://www.seeds.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50

An Amazing Revival in the Fiji Islands
Written by David S. Rathjen
Thursday, 21 August 2008
The story I am about to tell you will stretch your belief to the very limit. I am telling it as near as I can remember, from the many times I heard it from the lips of Pastor Bill, Superintendent of the Western Division of the Assemblies of God in the Fiji Islands. He is the Director of three hundred pastors on the western side of Fiji. (no photos needed for this up-date!) Early in February 2008 four young men went on an evangelistic mission in the Yasawa Chain of Islands. After the meetings as they were returning home from the ferry on the Main Island, they were involved in a terrible accident. Their car went out of control and tumbled end over end seven times, ending up-side down in a deep ditch. The first part of the story was told by three of the boys who were totally uninjured.

Part One:
As they were gathering their wits in the over-turned vehicle, they heard the voice of the driver asking them if they were alright. When they affirmed that they were OK, he then asked them to get out of the car and flag down the first motorist who would come along. Upon reaching the roadside, they realized that Sevuloni, the driver, was still in the car. They found that his body was halfway through the broken windshield with his head buried in mud. They were amazed that he could have uttered any words from the position he was in.

Upon pulling him out of the mud, both his eyes popped out and hung down on his cheeks. His skull was severed across the forehead, with the upper half raised up like a trunk door of a car. His head and hair were full of shattered glass and mud. Stranger still, came the calm voice of the terribly injured boy when he uttered the words, “Thank you Jesus”. Sevuloni wasn’t breathing, nor were there any signs of life.

A police cruiser had stopped, and the officer asked what was going on. The body was quickly loaded into the van, and a speedy trip was made to the hospital some twelve kilometers away. In the high-speed journey, there was a fly-by accident with another vehicle. Seeing that no one was hurt, the police officer elected to keep on going and settle damages later. To his amazement, the injured boy said, “I love you Jesus.”
“Is this man a preacher?” asked the surprised officer. When informed that the lad, whose name is Sevu (abbreviated), is just a sincere young Christian boy, the policeman continued to drive. At the emergency entrance of the hospital, the paramedics were so shocked, they had to be told to hurry up and bring a stretcher and get the boy into the emergency ward.

A doctor examined the young man, finding he was not breathing, nor were there any signs of life. Taking into account the terrible injuries to his head, he pronounced him dead. As he turned to go, the injured boy quietly said, “Thank you Jesus!” Greatly puzzled, the doctor wheeled about and said, “What is going on here? You better clean him up and remove the glass out of his head. Cover his eyes with a bandage and keep him right here under observation.”

They called his mother to sit at his bedside, and nurse to attend to him and report any changes. His brain was so damaged that nothing could be done regarding his broken skull. His eyes, though protected with bandages, were still hanging out of their sockets. There was no sign of life, except for the occasional utterance, “Thank you Jesus”, or “I love you Jesus”. The body laid there in this ultra-comatose condition for three and one half days.

There was no medical description for the state of this inert, yet talking man. His body functions were so faint and decelerated as to be almost non-existent. Perhaps it was similar to extreme hibernation that some species achieve when there is no detectable functioning metabolism. Word began to spread about this patient’s highly unusual condition. Many were the prayers that ascended to God on his behalf. The nurse who was given charge of this unprecedented case, happened to be a Christian. She was very attentive because she realized something supernatural was taking place.

Part Two:
As Sevuloni was driving the car, suddenly he was blinded by a great light, and lost control of his vehicle. He doesn’t remember the crash, but only of being suddenly lifted up and out of the tumbling vehicle by two angels in white garments. He was taken up to a place they called Paradise. He described Paradise as being a waiting place for the souls who are redeemed, and are waiting for their mansions in the New Jerusalem.

One of the first things the angels showed him was the death-rate of planet earth. Streams of disembodied souls were streaming out of the world like grains of sand being poured out of dump trucks. Thousands upon thousands were being poured out every minute. The vast majority of them were going to Hell. A tiny minority were entering into Paradise. The road to Hell and the gates thereof were very wide in order to accommodate the surging river of lost humanity. The gates of heaven, on the other hand, were so narrow that redeemed souls were entering single file. This was very troubling to Sevu. Could it be that many who were convinced that they were right with God, were deceiving themselves?

According to the angel, construction in the New Jerusalem is all complete. All mansions are finished and waiting for occupancy. He was told that the size and value of each individual mansion depends entirely on the number of souls one wins to God during one’s life-time on earth. “The winning of souls to Jesus Christ”, according to the angel, “is the highest priority in the Kingdom of Heaven. Nothing compares with the value of snatching souls from the fires of Hell, and pointing them to Jesus, The Doorway into the joys of Heaven.”
He remembered the story about the Lost Sheep, and how the Shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep safely in the fold and went out into the darkness to search for the Lost Sheep. The way Jesus told it, there is more rejoicing in Heaven over one lost sinner being rescued from certain destruction, than in ninety-nine who are safely in the fold.

The angel pointed to a big clock on a wall. “Look,” he said, “it is a minute and a half before midnight! At any moment now the Rapture will take place and Christ will bring home to heaven all those who truly believe in Him, See, the tables are all prepared for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The food is already on the tables. Food preparation is already complete. All that remains is for the Guests to arrive.” He was then shown a place where God keeps an immense supply of body parts. “When the Lord performs miracles of healing on earth,”
the angel explained, “God does not repair or mend the problem part, He replaces it with a new one. God makes everything new. The old is removed as the new replaces it.” God is prepared for every human emergency, but so few people claim by faith what He has provided!

Sevuloni was told that Paradise is presently located inside the enormous City Four-Square. Paradise is the ‘waiting place’ of the dead in Christ, and for those who will go up in the coming Rapture. Jesus, the Judge, will then try by fire the works of believers at the Bema Seat Judgment. All works that are not done in the will and power of Jesus Christ and for His Glory, will be burned up. Then, and only then will believers place in the New Jerusalem be determined and allotted. The Central place in the New Jerusalem will then become the residence of the Great Triune God. The angels emphasized the importance that all our efforts on earth be engaged in the rescuing of souls from the horrors of Hell, and preparing them for everlasting Life in Heaven. Any other type of Gospel will be judged, not rewarded.

Sevu tried to describe the innumerable precious gemstones everywhere apparent, that were being illuminated by the Glory of Father God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The whole of Heaven was lit up in this way in an astonishing, indescribable, fluorescence of glory.
Sevu was amazed that he instinctively knew people in Paradise. He knew relatives who died before he was born. He saw Christians he had known, who had died and gone to Heaven. He was amazed at the very few young people he saw in Heaven. Paradise was full of people of all ages, but young people were conspicuous by their scarcity. The angel told him he would soon be returned to his body on earth, and that he must warn the young people especially that they must repent and turn to God.

“Now, we will show you what Hades is like,” said the angels. “It is located in the middle of the Lake of Fire. It is the waiting place of the damned, until the Great White Throne Judgment takes place. After those who have rejected Jesus Christ are judged and sentenced to eternal punishment, Death and Hades, with all who are imprisoned in them, will be poured into the eternal Lake of Fire, which is heating up right now.”
Hell, according to Sevu, is a place of unending torment. He saw a woman he knew who had been a very negative critic on earth. She enjoyed spreading hurtful stories about others. The very demons who prompted her in evil deeds while on earth, were her tormentors in Hades. He was troubled at the enormous number of young people in Hell. “Why are there so many young people here,” he asked the angels. “Youth is the age when people on earth are choosing whom they will serve,” was the answer. “Young people tend to go through a period of rebellion. In this condition they often precipitate their death, and end up here. When you return to earth, you must warn them to get right with God, now, not later.”

There were preachers in Hell that Sevuloni had known. He was amazed to find them there. He was told that they had not preached the frightening truth about Hell, the destination of those who reject Jesus Christ. These preachers also had not been warning people of the very soon-coming of Jesus Christ. Then again, they had been watering down the Bible truth about the deadly seriousness of personal sin. “You must tell your people,” stressed the angel, “that Hell is very real, and that they must seek God and Heaven through Jesus Christ with
all their soul, strength and being. Tell them to resist Satan and evil completely so they will not come to this dreadful place.

Sevu was then taken back to Paradise. “You must return now to earth, and your waiting body,” the angel told him. “But I don’t want to go back to earth,” Sevu cried, “I want to stay in this wonderful place of love, blessing and joy!” The angels were adamant that he return to earth. “That is why you have experienced this whole ordeal. You must warn people that they must prepare to meet their God.” The angel picked a fruit from a tree growing by the River of Life, saying “Eat this and it will help with your healing. Your healing will be progressive. You will spend four days in Intensive Care, and two weeks in Recovery. Your complete healing will depend on your being faithful in humbly telling your people the things you have seen and heard.”

Sevu was taken down until he could see his death-like body as it lay on the hospital bed. He was concerned about how he would re-enter that emaciated form with its broken skull and gaping eye sockets. He had been free of its hindering limitations for three and one half days. His questions were soon answered as he entered the body with a swoop, headfirst through its feet. As soon as he entered his body, it became alive, beginning to stir and waking up from its deep sleep.

Those lingering lovingly near that ultra-comatose body began seeing amazing things. As the Doctor removed the covering bandage, the dangling eyeballs popped back into their sockets. The severed skull went back into place. The young man sat up, saying, “I am hungry. Please give me something to eat.” Seeing a plate of fish and vegetables near-by, he asked if he could have it. The nurse told him he must have liquids only, no solid food. Sevu insisted that he was OK, and wanted the fish and vegetables. He ate it up with no after ill-effects. True to the angel’s predictions, healing occurred progressively. He spent four days in Intensive Care, and two weeks in Recovery.

Pastor Bill Naivalu, Superintendent of Fiji’s Western Division of the Assemblies of God, was naturally wary that the lad’s imagination may have played some part in the amazing story he had to tell. “I don’t want you to be telling your story until everything is documented, and every-thing lines up with the Word of God. Too much discredit has occurred in Christendom because of well meaning people who let their imagination prevail over actual facts.” He examined the whole matter from beginning to end, and arrived at the conclusion that there were too many witnesses who all agreed. There was too much documentary evidence for it to be other than as recounted. The sincere transparency of Sevu was convincing as he told and re-told his experiences. Everything lined up with the truth as recorded in the Bible.

We are going to do a test event,” he told Sevu. “You say you have a message from God? We will hold a test service in the remote town of Vatu Colo.” The meaning of the name is ‘Gold Town’, a once-thriving town near a gold mine. Since the gold has been depleted, the town now has only half its former population. Everything, including the Christian religion has been in decline there for years. It would be a good place to test the event.
After modestly informing the town’s people that Sevuloni would be sharing his experience at a meeting on April 27, 2008, the team arrived at the big meeting hall. The whole town had turned out for the meeting. An enormous crowd was trying to get into the building. Pastor Bill requested that all the Church people go
outside the building so that invited Town folk could get inside. The building was filled to fullest capacity, with many people standing outside.

The service was purposely kept low key. Pastor Bill offered a simple opening prayer. A hymn was sung. There was no special music. A brief introduction was made. Then the service was turned over to Sevu. There was no preaching. Sevu simply recounted his experiences in the other world. The congregation of non-church people was intensely impacted by his words. The presence of God in that meeting like nothing Pastor Bill had ever witnessed in forth-five years of ministry. No invitation was given, but everyone in that meeting, plus those who were outside, wanted to get right with God. Two thousand people that day registered their decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.

The next weekend saw another momentous gathering. It happened at a Youth Convention in the huge Assembly of God church building in Lautoka. It was a three-day event, with the closing meeting being given over to Sevu’s testimony. Again, there was no hype or worked up excitement in the meeting. Once again the simple recitation was backed up by a tremendous sense of the presence of a Holy God.
The young people were sitting in the front rows of the huge wrap-around sanctuary. Thousands of others filled the rest of the place to capacity and then some.

For an hour and twelve minutes the lad related the message the angels had given him. The effect on the vast congregation was electric, with multitudes drenched in tears. Pastor Bill affirmed that even he was affected as never before by an over-whelming sense of the presence of a Holy God. Many believers also were re-evaluating their present relationship with God, and realizing that their own righteousness was like filthy rage to a holy God. They realized anew that only by God’s grace was salvation possible. They also realized in a new and powerful way, that acceptance before God’s infinite purity is only possible when one is clad in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, His beloved Son.

As Sevu was summing up his story, Pastor Bill said that the seat he was sitting in became too hot to sit in. He stood up and looked up. The whole ceiling at the front of the great sanctuary was full of ethereal fire. Suddenly all the young people saw it also. There was no need for an alter call. The youth group literally rushed forward, throwing themselves prostrate before the altar.

They fervently prayed, repented, confessing their sins, and re-dedicated their lives to God for a period of four hours – from nine PM until one AM. During that time they simply could not get up because of the weight of conviction that was so heavy upon them. The travail of their souls was followed by a scene of intense joy and peace over the realization that their sins were forgiven, and for the glory of a renewed relationship with God.
Many others had crawled under the pews, covering their heads with their hands and crying out to God for mercy. Pastor Bill had never seen anything like it before. He asked some of them later why they had done that. Their answer was that they were scared stiff because they felt so unprepared and unworthy in the presence of such a loving and holy God. Time alone will tell out of the thousands who had undergone such soul searching that night, how many received a renewed and lasting relationship with the beloved Son of God.
One week later, another meeting was held in the sleepy little town of Ba. As Pastor Bill would be in San Francisco at that date, he asked that the meeting be held in the park, because there was no venue in town big enough to accommodate the crowd that would attend. Those in charge thought otherwise, and decided to use a church building. Never in their life-time, had there been need of a bigger venue in Ba for religious purposes, than would accommodate three hundred people.

To their dismay, eight hundred intensely determined people nearly wrecked the place trying to get into the building. It was mayhem, with people trying to crowd by and over one another in order to find a place where they could hear and see what would happen. They tried desperately to enter at every door and window in the place, as if their very lives depended on getting in. No one remembered to try getting into the meeting place through the roof. Over six hundred made decisions that night to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives. More business was accomplished for eternity in that one Holy Spirit meeting than in the previous forty years.

The most amazing thing about this move of God is that, whole towns and cities are being mightily impacted. Someone has come back from death and is warning them to prepare to meet a Holy God. The loving Holy Spirit of God is melting the resistance of the most hardened and rebellious of sinners. Those who had a cool head-knowledge of God, new have an exhilarating heart-relationship with Him. The fear of God, which is a very deep, reverent and loving submission to the Lord, is the prevailing response of those who are touched by these meetings. People are forgetting about denominational differences as thousands from many faiths are crowding together to hear what God has to say to their hearts today.

At the time of this writing, May 24th, 2008, two more meetings have been held in the towns of Raki and Nadi. One thousand and seventeen persons accepted Christ in Raki. The meeting in Nadi (pronounced Nandi), was even more amazing. Altar-workers, who were trying to help earnest seekers, were overwhelmed by the response. Somewhere well in excess of one thousand persons registered decisions to surrender their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in that meeting.

Pastor Bill made a special trip to Abbotsford, to see Phyllis and myself in order to tell us the story. In two and one half days while in Abbotsford, he told this story fourteen times to churches, small meetings and interviews. Many were stirred deeply as he shared. He is greatly concerned because there are no adequate follow-up materials in Fiji for the thousands of converts coming to Christ each week. With meetings in Fiji lined up for Sevu until December, and more in 2009, it is crucial that an adequate Follow-up program be initiated immediately.

We, of Multi-Media Ministries Inc., are working together with Seeds International to meet this urgent need. We are short $10,000 to reprint enough copies of the ‘Seeds’ follow-up booklet in order to begin this project. After returning from a three week mission to Romania on July 3rd, we plan to go to Fiji in mid July, The Assemblies of God want me to examine every detail of Sevu’s experience and write a booklet about it. We need your most earnest prayers during this busy summer!