Three weeks before Eugene passed away, he was unable to get out of bed by himself. Therefore, he had to be transferred to a care facility. He struggled both physically and mentally. He felt defeated. Sometimes he expressed his mental agony through negative words and attitude, even indignation. He kept saying to his friends: "I am not going to live very long”, or “I am about to die”. His friend kept reminding him: ”you will never die if you believe in Jesus, because Jesus said: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.’ (John 11:25-26). So, it’s only your body that is dying, but ‘your life is now hidden with Christ in God.When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.’ (Colossians 3:3-4)”. But he didn’t display a strong conviction of that.
On July 8th, 2022 Friday
On July 8th, 2022 Friday, Eugene said sadly to his friend: “I don’t think I am going to recover. I am going to die.” His friend said to him: “Yes, Gene. You are in an Exodus (see the Bible Books of Exodus and Numbers). You are leaving Egypt——which is this world, towards the Promised Land——which is the eternal world to come. You must live by faith and not by sight. Because by sight, all you can see right now is death——your body is wasting away; you cannot eat; you have no taste for food. Your health is deteriorating. But by faith, you will be able to see the bigger reality, the reality of God’s realm——His kingdom and His promise——the resurrection, the New Heaven and the New Earth. Then you will not lose heart. To live by faith means to rely on God’s providence and obey God’s will to endure the current hard circumstance, like Jesus did when he was facing the devil’s three temptations in the wilderness. God did not provide Israel the tasty food of Egypt like meat and onion, but gave them the manna, which provided good nutrition to their bodies even though it might taste plain. Similarly, the food you were given now might not be tasty to you, but you should still try to eat it because your body depends on it for nutrition.” Eugene replied: “That is a perfect analogy!”
On July 10th ,2022 Sunday
On July 10th ,2022 Sunday, Eugene’s friend read the Scripture of Romans 8:18-39 to him, which read:
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God…37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:18-39)
After the bible reading, Gene said: “I am happy to hear the Bible.” And he expressed gratitude.
On July 11th, 2022 Monday
On July 11th, 2022 Monday, Eugene’s friend sung the hymn “Because He lives” to him. After he heard it, he said: “That is beautiful!”Then his friend read to him Revelation 21:1-8, and said to him: “see, God will make everything new, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things is passing away. The new order of things is coming, you just need to sleep a little while after you die, then you will be resurrected in glory, if you hold on to your faith.”
In the last 8 days of Eugene’s life, he experienced a dramatic and profound spiritual transformation.This was because God came to settle accounts with Eugene and he wrestled with God like Jacob did in Genesis 32, pleading for God’s blessings.
On July 15, 2022 Friday
On July 15, 2022, Friday morning, Eugene heard his friend talking on the phone to the care taker in his room, he desperately wanted to speak to his friend, saying: “I need to talk to you!I am in desperation! I am in desperation! I do not believe in God.”His friend rushed over to his bedside, praying earnestly for him on her way.When she got there, she asked him: “What happened to you? Did you have some bad dreams or bad experience?” He said: “yes”. But he didn’t want to say more about what bad dreams or experience he had.And he seemed having an attitude.
But when the care taker Pat was about to leave, his attitude changed.He became softened in his attitude.He said to Pat in the sincere tone: “Thank you very much. You are very loving.”Pat was happily surprised and reply to him: “ Oh, thank you! I also try to get to heaven, you know.”Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “You keep your faith in God; so, our labor won’t be in vain, OK?”
After Pat left, Eugene’s friend started to play the audio Bible to Eugene from the Bible app on her cell phone.The selected Scripture was Luke 18:9-14; this passage is Jesus’ teaching with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other;for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Then Eugene’s friend told Eugene: “You need to be humble, like the tax collector; he was in desperation also, because of his sinfulness.But he cried out to God’s for mercy, saying: ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ Then he went home justified before God.”
On hearing this, Eugene said: “That was beautiful.” This brought comfort to his friend.Because in her opinion, Eugene had been kind of self-righteous and egotistic in the last couple of years, somewhat like the pharisee.Now he finally was able to identify himself with the tax collector (, which is the right place God wanted him to be) and feel a sense of desperation for God’s mercy.
Later, Eugene’s friend played another audio Bible chapter, Genesis 32, to Eugene; The selected Scripture was about Jacob wrestling with God.In that story, Jacob was in great distress the night before he was to meet his brother, who, many years ago, vowed to kill him because Jacob had stolen away the birthright from his brother. For the fear of losing his life, Jacob left home to a foreign land to escape his brother’s anger; 20 years later God led Jacob to return home, thus he had to face his brother; but Jacob feared that his brother might kill him and all his household when they meet.That night, while Jacob was praying, desperately asking for God’s protection of his life, a divine figure came to wrestle with Jacob till daybreak.
25 Now when He [the divine figure] saw that He did not prevail against him [Jacob], He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” 27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed. 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Genesis 32:25-30).
“Israel” means “struggle / wrestle with God”, also means “Prince with God”.
But Eugene seemed fall asleep when his was listening to these Scriptural passages.
Then Eugene’s friend said to Eugene:
“You need to be like Jacob, he was in desperation also, fearing for the impending doom about to come upon him. But he didn’t give up. He prayed earnestly for God’s mercy and God’s protection for his life.He wrestled with God in desperation and in persistence, taking tight hold of God and not letting Him go, saying: ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’ As a result, he prevailed, in the sense that he finally obtained God’s mercy and God’s blessing. And in that blessing, God gave him a noble new identity, ‘Israel’——translated to ‘the one who wrestled with God and prevailed and become the prince with God’, which means ‘the son of God’ ”.
On hearing his, Eugene said in his half-awake, half-sleep state: “That was a beautiful dream.”
In the afternoon on the same day, the Chaplin Pastor Rick and the social worker Debra from Precise Hospice visited Eugene.He told the Pastor that he did not have the assurance that he was saved and would be in heaven.The Pastor told him that he just needed to have a faith like a mustard seed Jesus spoken of in Matthew 17:20: “I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Then Eugene said he believed in Jesus and in God.
Later in the afternoon, Eugene’s friend was told that Eugene asked for her; so, she visited Eugene again.When she entered Eugene’s room, she saw Eugene struggling in his bed, holding the rail of the bed, trying to get up.When he saw his friend, he said to her pressingly: “hold me! Set me up! Prove to me that I am not dead! Prove to me that I am alive!”His friend came to hold him, helping him to sit up in a comfortable position, and told him: “You are alive, you are alive.” He said emotionally: “Hell is such a terrible place!” “I am in intense pain.” “My back is in intense pain.”…After he was calmed down a little bit, he said in a very serious tone: “Hell is real! Hell is such a powerful reality!” … On hearing this, his friend felt a sense of urgency to find a Scriptural passage that could answer him.She remembered a Scriptural passage in Matthew 16, which read:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Then, Eugene’s friend played the audio Bible of Matthew chapter16 and chapter 17 to Eugene, using the Bible Gateway Audio Bible app on her cell phone. Matthew Chapter 16 contains the above Bible verses; Matthew Chapter 17 is about Jesus’ transfiguration.
When Eugene was listening to the readings of Matthew 16-17, he looked very much absorbed into it. Sometimes he waved his arms to show his excitement, and sometimes he put his palms together devoutly to show his gratitude. After the audio Bible playing finished, Eugene said exuberantly: “This is the reality!” Eugene’s friend said to Gene: “Yes, Gene. If you confess Jesus is your Lord——on Jesus The Rock and this confession of yours, God will build His church, which is you and me; and the power of hell will not prevail over you. You will be given the key of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth, even demons, will be bound in heaven for you.And whatever you loose on earth, even the bondage of sins, will be loosed in heaven for you. Then you will be resurrected into eternal life, in a new glorious body Jesus had shown us in His transfiguration.” Eugene said: “this is infinite! This is infinite!” His friend answered: “Yes, this is infinite grace! Not only God rescued us from the bottomless pit of hell, but also, he will lift us up to high heaven, to be seated with Christ His son. This is a tremendous grace, isn’t it?” Eugene kept saying: “this is infinite, infinite!” Eugene’s friend asked him: “You believe in Jesus’ atonement, do you?” He said: “Yes, I believe! I believe!” Then he said to her: “Now you believe that I believed, do you?” His friend replied: “yes, I believe that you are saved. God loves you. You are secure in God’s hand. No one can snatch you out of God’s hand (John 10:27-30).”
After that, Eugene’s friend played audio Bible passages, Romans 8:18-39 to Eugene. After finishing the Scriptural listening, Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “Remember the documentary named Metamorphosis you took me to SMU (Southern Methodist University) to watch many years ago about the butterfly ? Right now, you are experiencing this process of metamorphosis, just like a caterpillar does. Your body is disintegrating. You feel you are dying, just like a caterpillar must have felt when its body is dissolving into a molecular soup in its chrysalis, being helpless and seemingly hopeless. But in fact, God is doing His magical work of re-creation in that chrysalis. Using that molecular soup of the dissolved body of the caterpillar, God is recreating a brand-new life.At the designated time, from that chrysalis will emerge a new creature——a beautiful butterfly——free, glorious and transcendental. I believe God created butterfly in order to illustrate our future resurrection. As the Scripture says:
‘18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.’
By this promise we know, God is doing His work of re-creation in YOU also; He wants to transform you into a glorious new being, in the image of His Son Jesus, so that you may be glorified as a son of God also, in the day of the resurrection——of the revealing of the sons of God——this is the earnest expectation of the whole creation. This glorious hope will be fulfilled in you if you endure to the end, be faithful to the end and submit to God’s will to the end."
Eugene rejoiced and tears came out of his eyes….
On July 16, 2022 Saturday
On July 16, 2022 Saturday, when Eugene’s friend visited Gene, Gene looked very pale.He couldn’t take in any solid food; his friend tried to help him to take as much fluid as possible.After taking in a little bit of soymilk, he seemed very uncomfortable, as if he experienced some uncontrollable urge.He wriggled and desperately asked for help, but his friend didn’t know how to help him.He was very frustrated and said: “I want to die.”Again, this saddened his friend.His friend said to him: “you are dying.But you have overcome death.You have passed from death into life, because you believe in Jesus (John 5:24). You are victorious.You are an overcomer, by the blood of the lamb.”
Then Eugene’ friend read a Bible passage to Eugene.The Bible passage was Revelation 12:10-11, which read:
“10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
After that, Eugene’s friend played audio Bible to Eugene.The selected Scripture was Matthew 4 and Revelation 14.Matthew 4 recorded Jesus in the wilderness facing the devil’s three temptations and how Jesus answered the devil’s temptations with the words of God.Revelation 14 contains the declaration of the three angel’s messages; many years ago, Eugene discovered the parallel between Jesus’ answers to the devil’s three temptations and the three angel’s messages.
After the audio Bible playing finished, Eugene said: “It is powerful! Powerful!”
On July 17, 2022 Sunday
Before Eugene was transferred to the healthcare facility, Eugene had expressed his determination of not using any pain medicine.But later, he accepted the pain medicine. The pain medicine Eugene was given was Tramadol.
On July 17, 2022 Sunday, the nurse asked Eugene’s friend whether Eugene would accept a stronger pain medicine, morphine in liquid form for pain control, because Eugene’s health is declining rapidly.Eugene’s friend did some research on Tramadol and morphine, and learned that they were both opioid based drugs. Therefore, they potentially could have addictive and mind-altering effects on those who take them.
Eugene’s friend came talk to Eugene, said: “I want to ask you an important question; a few weeks ago, you expressed your determination that you would not want to take any pain medicine; is that still valid?”Eugene said: “Yes, that is still true.I do not want any pain medicine.” “Maybe Tylenol is OK?” Eugene’s friend asked.Eugene said: “No, it is harmful to me.”Then he added: “I want to live in pure heart.”“Pure heart to God?” His friend asked. “Yes, pure heart, pure heart.”He repeated.
After that, Eugene’s friend sung the hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” to Gene.After hearing the song, Eugene mumbled to himself: “cling to the cross, the cross…”.His friend encouraged him, saying: “Yes, we will cling to the cross”.
On July 18, 2022 Monday
On July 18, 2022 Monday, on Eugene’s wish, the nurse discontinued all pain medicine for Eugene except for Tylenol.
During her visit, Eugene’s friend played audio Bible of 1 Corinthians 15 to Eugene.But before the finish of the chapter being played, Eugene protested, saying: “I want to hear Jesus! I want to hear Jesus.”So, Eugene’s friend played the Matthew 25 and 26 to Eugene.
On July 19, 2022 Tuesday
On July 19, 2022 Tuesday morning, Eugene told the visiting nurse Lori that he had an unpleasant dream. In the dream, he did something bad and he was going in a fast speed.Lori called Eugene’s friend and told her this story, she also noticed that Eugene was kind of restless and she suspected that Eugene might have pain. She put Eugene’s friend on the phone to talk to Eugene. On the phone, Eugene’s friend asked Eugene whether he was in pain, and whether he wanted to be on Tylenol; Eugene struggled with difficulties to speak, and finally he spoke a sentence: “I want to take only what God approves”. After thoughtful considerations, Lori and Eugene’s friend both agreed that Eugene didn’t seem to have severe pain and would be better off without Tylenol. So, Eugene was taken off all pain medicine from that day, in honor of Eugene’s determination of not taking any pain medicine.
In the afternoon when Eugene’s friend visited Eugene, she played audio Bible chapters of Hebrews 1-7 and 10-12 to Eugene.
In the middle of audio Bible playing of Hebrews 12, Eugene interrupted the audio playing with a loud voice: “I realize that I am naked!” Eugene’s friend stopped the audio and asked Eugene: “Do you mean that you are naked physically, or spiritually?”Eugene did not answer directly, but he said: “I am naked, I was so stupid…”. So, Eugene’s friend understood that he realized that he was spiritually naked.She said to Eugene: “it is not too late.If you repent, Jesus will cloth you with a white robe of fine linen, which is the righteous deeds of the saints. ” (Revelation 19:7-8).
Then Eugene’s friend read to Eugene 1 John 1:8-9, 1 John 2:1-2, Revelation 19:6-8, which read as:
1 John 1:8-9 “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
Revelation 19:6-8 “6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Eugene’s friend told Eugene: “Notice the scripture said: ‘to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright….’, so it is not by your own righteousness, but by Jesus’ righteousness that you will be given the fine linen, clean and bright.”
On July 20, 2022 Wednesday
On July 20, 2022 Wednesday, when Eugene’s friend visited Eugene in the afternoon, Eugene looked much weaker than the day before; his eyes was closed. When his friend talked to him, he was not very responsive. His friend noticed that he tried to say something but he couldn’t speak.
His friend decided to play
some Christian music to him on YouTube from her cell phone. She chose a
very inspirational song, “Army from the River of Fire”; because the
lyrics of that song came from the Book of Revelation. And the Book of
Revelation is a Bible book very close to Eugene's heart. It was the love
of his life.
The song was sung in Chinese. While the song was
played, Eugene’s friend read out loud the English translation of the
lyrics of the song to Eugene. After "Army from the River of Fire" ,
Eugene's friend also played another powerful song, the hymn “Oh the
Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” and sung along with video. In the middle of
the music playing, Eugene uttered a sentence: “Thank you for playing the
music for me.”
(Afterthought: Ever since Eugene's illness, Eugene's friend had been praying
that God would use Eugene's suffering to purify him——to baptize him
“with fire and with the Holy Spirit” - Matthew 3. Now Eugene's friend
believes that God indeed performed this miraculous work on Eugene during
the last eight days of Eugene's life to bring him to final
sanctification, to make him worthy. Indeed, as the lyrics said:
"How great, how marvelous
is Your deeds——We have seen it! How righteous, how truthful, is Your
Way——Higher than men's way!" Indeed, "Worthy is the Lamb——the King of
kings, the Lord of lords, our Redeemer, our Sanctifier and our Maker!")
After the music playing, Eugene’s friend played audio Bible of Isaiah 4, Isaiah 66 and Revelation 14-22 to Eugene.When the chapters of the Book of Revelation were played, tears came out of Eugene’s eyes.Then Eugene’s friend read to Eugene the verses in the Book of Revelation pertaining to cloth——Revelation 19:6-9, Revelation 3:4-6, Revelation 3:18, Revelation 16:15, Revelation 21:1-2 and Revelation 22:10-15.
Revelation 3:4-6 "4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 16:15 "15 Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 22:12-15 "12 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what they has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."
Eugene responded: “Yes”.
Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “Yesterday, you said: ‘I am naked!’ and worried about not wearing cloth. Don’t worry. If you persevere to the end with faith, Jesus will give you a white robe to wear. Jesus is coming soon, with His rewards with him, to give to all those who long for His appearing. When Jesus comes, you will be wakened up, and then you will be granted a new cloth, which is your new body, in the resurrection.” To convince him of that, Eugene’s friend re-read Revelation 19:6-9 and Revelation 22:10-15 to him the second time.Eugene did not give further more obvious response, but Eugene’s friend believed that Eugene took in those words of comfort.
On July 21, 2022 Thursday
On July 21, 2022 Thursday, Eugene was no longer able to take in any food nor drink.He was well washed by the nurse and looked clean.He laid on bed quietly.When Eugene’s friend visited him in the afternoon, she decided to play gospel songs and hymns on the YouTube from her cell phone to him.She played the following songs:
“Amazing Grace”
“Be Thou My Vision”
“O the Deep, Deep love of Jesus”
“You Raised Me Up”
“He Hideth My Soul”
When “He Hideth My Soul” was played, Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “Gene, Jesus will hide your soul in a cleft of rock. That rock is Jesus. He hideth your life in the depth of His love and covers you there with His hand.” “Jesus takes your burden away.” “Gene, when clothed with His brightness and transported you rise, you will rise from the dust to meet Jesus in cloud of sky. Then you will shout with the millions on high!” When Eugene’s friend spoke this to Gene, she was reminded the vision God gave Eugene many years ago; in that vision, Eugene saw himself in a heavenly congregation, worshiping God, “shout with the millions on high”, overjoyed and overwhelmed by the wonderful love of God.
Then Eugene’s friend played the audio Bible of Matthew 5 to Eugene, and then said to him: “See, Gene, Jesus said: ‘blessed are the poor in spirit’. So, make sure you confess all sins you can think of before you die.”
Mathew 5:1-11 1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
After that, Eugene’s friend played the audio Bible of Isaiah 61 to Eugene, and said to him: “See, Gene, God will give you a garland instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead mourning. ’God will rebuild you from ruins, and raise you up from devastations.” “See, God will faithfully bring you the reward; He has made an everlasting covenant with you. The ‘everlasting covenant’ is the New Covenant, established on the basis of Jesus’ blood.This is the Blood Covenant.” “See, He promised to cloth you with garments of salvation, and wrap you with a robe of righteousness!”
Isaiah 61:1-10 1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord anointed me, to bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives, and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, …
4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins; They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.…
8 For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; And I will faithfully give them their reward, and make an everlasting covenant with them….
10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a groom puts on a turban, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
On July 22, 2022 Friday
On July 22, 2022 Friday, when Eugene’s friend visited Eugene, he was laying on bed, looking like at his last gasp. He was unable to speak. His care taker Pat said Dora came visit Eugen and just left ten minutes ago.
As soon as Eugene’s friend arrived, Eugene’s friend and the care taker Pat started to play gospel music to Eugene on YouTube from her cell phone.The following was the played list:
“Amazing Grace”
“It is not Death to Die”
“Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd”
“Nearer My God to Thee”
“You Raise Me Up”
When the song “It is not Death to Die” was played, Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “It is not death to die, Gene, Jesus has conquered death!”
When “Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd” was played, Eugene’s friend applied the lyric to Eugene, saying to him: “See, Gene, the LORD is your shepherd, so you lack nothing.In meadows of green grass, He lets you lie down. Beside the still waters, He patiently leads you, restoring your soul. He restores your soul.For His holy name’s sake, He guides you by right paths, though you may stray to the vale of deep darkness.” “See Gene, God has prepared a table before your enemy, the devil.You will make your home place in the house of the LORD.”
When “Nearer My God to Thee” was played, Eugene’s friend kept praying in her heart, that God would draw Gene nearer and nearer to Him as Gene was approaching his end——his departure from this world.This thought was in her mind: “Indeed, he had been a wanderer, and now his sun gone down, darkness be over him, apart from Thee his lot would be nothing but a cold stone. Yet in his dream may he be nearer, O God, to Thee. For only in Thy bosom, he could find true rest.He really doesn’t belong to this world.He belongs, O God, to Thee….”
Pat said she likes “You Raise Me Up”, so she played “You Raise Me up” to Eugene and sung along with the music. When “You Raise Me Up” was played, Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “See, Gene, God will raise you up, raise you up to heaven. God will raise you up, so you can stand on the mountains, to worship God.” (She recalled that vision God gave to Gene that he was worshiping God in heaven filled with joy and wonder.) “God raises you up to walk on the stormy seas, which is right now. You are strong when you are on Jesus’ shoulders. God will raise you up to more than you can be, to be the son of God. Remember the Bible verse?‘To all who receive Him, He gives them the right to become the sons of God’ (John 1:12). Gene, God wants you to be His son.” (She recalled that many years ago God indeed gave Eugene a vision that God wanted to be his Father.) she continued: “God wants you to be blameless before him, so if you have any regret, just confess to God your sins, and ask for forgiveness, He will forgive you.As the Bible said: ‘if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just; He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9), because Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2).”
Pastor Rick came by and prayed for Eugene as well as for all who were helping and caring for Eugene.
After Pat left, Eugene’s friend played two more gospel music to Eugene. They are:
“Pass me not, O gentle Savior.” When this song was played, Eugene’s friend told Eugene: “Gene, like that little kid, you can also cry out to the Lord: ‘Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry! While on other thou art calling, do not pass me by!...’ ”
“Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” This was the last song Eugene’s friend played to Eugene before he passed away. The song is so hauntingly beautiful, and was so perfectly fitting to Eugene’s situation and circumstance, as if it was by God’s providence that this song should be Eugene’s last death cry, which is also the most appropriate one.
After this song was played, Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “Gene, Jesus is the lover of your soul. ”
After playing that last song, Eugene’s friend decided to play the audio Bible of John 1 and John 5 to Eugene.
John 5: 24-25 “…24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. …28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “See, Gene, he who hears Jesus’ word and believes has eternal life; he has passed out of death into life.See, Gene, ‘An hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God and those who hear will live.’ See, Gene, 'an hour is coming, in when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life!' ”
After playing John 5, Eugene’s friend decided to play the audio Bible of 2 Corinthians 3-5 to Eugene.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 5: 1-10 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
While the above audio Bible of 2 Corinthians 3 and 4 were played, Eugene’s friend said to Eugene: “See, Gene, ‘Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,’ ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.’ The flesh avails nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life.Your body is failing, but the Spirit will raise you to life.Know that He who raised Jesus will raise us also to live with Jesus. ‘Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.’ Your outward life, which is your body, is failing, but your inward life is being renewed day by day by the Holy Spirit.Because day by day you are closer and closer to the greater reality of eternity in the heavenly realm, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. See, Gene, ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,’ so ‘we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.’”
While the audio Bible of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 was played, Eugene’s friend realized that the verses was so profoundly fitting to Eugene’s situation and circumstance, that it was as if God’s specific answer to Eugene, addressing his anxiety of being without cloth. While this Scripture was played, Eugene’s friend took a quick picture of Eugene, and said to Eugene: “See, Gene, you will not be found naked. For you will be ‘further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.’ Now God ‘has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.’ ‘For we live by faith, not by sight.’ So be of good cheer.”
After that, Eugene’s friend said good bye to Gene, and told him: “God loves you, Jesus loves you.”
After Eugene’s friend came back home to take a closer look at the picture she took for Eugene when the audio Bible of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 was played, she found that on that captured picture, Eugene showed a smile on his face while listening to those Bible verses. Eugene’s friend believed that Eugene’s mind finally settled with the answer God gave him through those Scriptural passages. And it turned out that those were the last Scriptural passages played to Eugene before he passed away.
In the evening, at about 9:30pm, Eugene’s friend thought about Eugene while washing dishes, she thought: “Maybe this is the final hour for Eugene, and he must be lying on bed feeling very lonely”. She prayed for Eugene, asking God to send holy angels to tend Eugene in his last hour, to guard Eugene’s heart in his Exodus from this world, to guide Eugene’s soul to enter eternity, to escort Eugene’s spirit to his destination before God’s throne.
After washing dishes, at about 9:45pm, Eugene’s friend checked her cell phone and found there was a new voicemail from the on-call nurse of Precise Hospice, asking her to call back.She called Precise Hospice’s on-call nurse; and the on-call nurse told her that Eugene had just passed away, and she was on her way to certify Eugene’s passing away.