Sister Choo Nam Thomas was a Korean American and an author of the best selling book called Heaven Is So Real! In 1992, she became a Protestant Christian and two years later she claimed to have seen Jesus Christ at her church Neighborhood Assembly of God in Tacoma, Washington. In 1996, she stated that she was taken to heaven, the story of which was published in her book. The book has been translated in more than 60 countries.David Yonggi Cho also helped with this book's translation work. Many readers have stated that their faith have been impacted by reading her book or by watching her video of the book.
Personal life
Thomas was married to Roger Thomas. She was a housewife until the time she wrote "Heaven Is So Real". Choo Thomas died on April 13, 2013 at age 74 of ovarian cancer. She is survived by her son, John Thomas, his wife and two children and her daughter, Teresa Lang, and her two children.Visits to Heaven
Over a period of time, Thomas claims to have made a number of visits to Heaven accompanied by Jesus.Although in some instances she stated that these were physical visits, on other occasions she implied that they were out of body experiences as she said that she could see her physical body still lying on her bed while she ascended to Heaven, while in others, she saw her "transformed body" in a vision.These heavenly visits normally begin in the same manner. She and Jesus walked and talked together on a beach before going onward to Heaven. She often spoke about being given special clothes to wear for her visits. Her visions contained accounts of seeing hell, where she saw both her mother and her father (in hell), mansions, children, Abraham and the Apostles. She went on long walks, ate fruit and fish, and sat at a special pool to speak with Jesus. Her responses to these visits were generally one of awe, humility, and praise - which is expressed in her singing special "heavenly songs".
She stated that it was during these visits that Jesus told her to write the book "Heaven is so Real", which is to be the "last chance for people to realize how soon I (i.e. Jesus) am coming for my people".
Parts of her visits to Heaven were taken up with learning a special dance which Jesus told her to perform during church services. Jesus taught her every move, and every move, turn, twist of the wrist, etc., had to be performed exactly as he instructed her. She claimed that it took her a considerable time to learn every move, and some time longer before she was permitted to do this dance.
The book contains its own apology. Thomas contended that only "spirit filled people" are able to discern the truthfulness of her message, while those who reject her message are under the influence of the devil. She said that she is an "end time Prophetess", and as such all should listen to her, and those who doubt her message are rejecting the word of Jesus. She wrote that Jesus said that those who reject her message are "the doubtful and ones who don't know my Word". She further wrote about the occasion when the Holy Spirit led her to the front of the church to dance and the Pastor took her by the arm and made her sit down and not disturb the congregation. She indicated that Jesus told her to leave this church because, "He didn't believe you because the devil got to him. . . Any pastor who mistreats My special servants and My prophets will not be blessed".
Teachings
Thomas' book states:A) that tithing (the giving of 10% of one's income to the church) is important to Jesus in heaven. The tithe is to be on one's gross, not net, pay. She stated, "The Lord has showed and told me clearly that whoever doesn't tithe will not see his face because they love money more than Him". And again, "Any Christian who does not tithe will not be blessed." However, she stated that those who did tithe would be greatly blessed. The bible explains in Luke 16:13 that you cannot serve both God and money. By choosing to tithe, a person both respects God and reflects faith as they are choosing to honour God above everything else.
She indicates that "only the obedient" enter heaven, and because tithing is a sign of obedience, those who do not tithe, are not obedient.
B) that the poor are poor because they do not tithe
She stated, “Many Christians are poor and have many problems in their lives because their hearts are not right with Me and they don’t tithe. Any Christian who doesn’t tithe will not be blessed because they love money more than My Word. Those who love money more than My Word will never see My kingdom. You already know where they will be at the end.”
C) that while Choo is alive, Jesus would make her rich and would give her a huge house and a red luxurious automobile.
She stated, “The entrance to the yard was a huge gate. A bright, shiny red car was parked on the left side of the garage. It was a luxurious automobile. The vision evaporated and the Lord spoke to me: “Did you like what you saw?” “It was beautiful, Lord.” “It will be yours.”
D) that when she is rich, she will end hunger in the world (even though she died).
She stated, "I told the Lord that when He makes me rich, like He has promised that I will be, there will be no hungry children in this world."
E) that "animals will live with us in paradise. So many people wonder if their pets will be in heaven, and I am happy to let them know that heaven is a place of beautiful flowers, peaceful animals and glorious radiance where people and animals alike will never experience pain, hardship, death or suffering ever again."
According to her book, animals have an immortal and eternal soul like human beings. They have the hope of resurrection too.
F) that there is no death in paradise while on the other hand says that death exists in paradise. Choo Thomas´ book affirms that fish are the only that die in Heaven. Souls in Heaven have to catch fish in order to grill them and eat them.
Choo Thomas’ book stated: “What are all the fish for?” I asked. “This is food for the kingdom,” the Lord replied. The Lord simply pushed a button on the side of one oven and a fire began. He then assumed the role of a cook, right in front of me. He grilled the fish until both sides of it were brown. The Lord gave me that half of the fish. He ate the other half while I devoured the portion He gave me. It was delicious. "and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev 21:4)
G) that George W. Bush would save many souls from Hell:
She stated, “The Lord had told me during the preceding national election year in the United States that George Bush was His chosen man for the last days president. I knew why it was so difficult to complete the election process with so many disputed votes and other problems. This was because Satan knew that George Bush would make a difference to the Christians of this world, and the enemy was so against him.”
“The Lord told me that through President Bush He would lead many souls to himself in this last day, and the enemy would try very hard to win.”
H) that all people who did not know Jesus will go to Hell, although they have been good people.
She stated, “they were doomed to spend all eternity being scorched and burned as they endeavored to escape the flames of hell. “Who are these people?” I asked. “My daughter, these people did not know Me.”
“Lord, what about my parents?” I asked. “I know they weren’t saved, but they were good people.” “I’m sorry, my daughter. There is nothing I can do for those who do not know Me.”
I) that in Heaven we will have to eat.
She stated, “The Lord picked an oval-shaped purple fruit and handed it to me. Then He did the same with a round, deep-red fruit. I ate them, but I could not taste them very well. I reciprocated by picking a small, round, pink fruit for the Lord to eat.
Even when the Scriptures say: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost". (Romans 14:17)
“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.” (Rev. 7:16)
J) that sickness is often a sign of sin, and that those who are sick need to cast out the devil, pray, search their hearts for sin, and repent. Sickness and problems in one's life are also caused by the devil.
What Heaven is like
- Heaven is a garden, with flowers, tree lined roads, and white fences.
- She states that the food of heaven is fish, and recounts a time when she and Jesus went fishing in heaven. On another trip to heaven she played with the fish. She often talks about Jesus and her going for boat rides in Heaven with Jesus rowing the boat.
- Heaven contains a brown lifeless valley outside heaven where disobedient Christians go (a third eternal destination), while "sinful Christians" are sent to the Lake of Fire.
- She saw a literal "Mansion" which was to be hers in heaven.This idea of Christians having a "Mansion" is taken from John 14:2 in the King James Version of the Bible, "In my Father's house are many mansions." Rather than being a translation of the Greek term μονή in the New Testament, this is a transliteration of the Latin word "mansiones". The modern understanding of the term as a very large house rather than a dwelling place confusing the meaning of the original Greek word and the later Latin for modern readers.
- Heaven´s mansions have bathrooms and beds.
- Jesus dresses for his birthday in priestly robes on Christmas day.
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