Visions of Aimee Semple McPherson
Eleven first-person accounts of visions, heavenly encounters, and the divine leadings that founded her ministry, transcribed verbatim from her own published sermons, autobiography, and writings, from her baptism in the Holy Spirit as a girl of seventeen through 1922.
Harvest Vision - 1908
Her baptism in the Holy Spirit — Ingersoll, Ontario, on a Saturday morning during a blizzard, the winter of 1908, when she was seventeen
An all-enveloping blizzard was raging!
Canada, our “Land of the Lady of the Snows,” shivered beneath her mantle of glistening drifts upon that memorable morning when, after a week of earnest, almost continuous prayer, the Lord gloriously poured out His Holy Spirit upon my waiting heart.
Oh, the inexpressible nearness and dearness of the Christ He there revealed!
Flood-gates of prayer and praise were opened.
Vistas of Harvest were spread before my enraptured gaze!
My heart was melted in the love of Christ at that hour!
The fountain of my tears was opened, and there at His feet I pledged Him my all, if He would but take me, unworthy though I was, empty me of self and make me, as indeed He waits to make us all, a vessel through which His own Message might flow.
There came before me a vision of rolling fields of whitened harvest extending unto the ends of the earth. Even as I looked, each head of wheat became a human face; each upturned leaf, an upraised hand. The Lord gave me a sickle that day when He baptized me with the Holy Spirit—the sharp sickle of His dear Word. He bade me gather in the grain, but ne’er to use my sickle to cut or wound another reaper, never to reply to criticism; but to attend to the business in hand and work while yet ‘twas day.
Source: The Holy Spirit (booklet), Preface, p. xiii. The date is established by her own fuller account in This Is That (1919), ch. V, where she writes of “I, even I, away down here in 1908” speaking in tongues for the first time after tarrying Friday until midnight and receiving the baptism the following Saturday morning amid a Canadian blizzard.
Angel Lined Path - 1908
At her betrothal to Robert Semple, in the very room where she had received her baptism, Ingersoll, Ontario, 1908
This is the first time I have ever attempted to lift the veil even a little from that sacred, hallowed hour, when we kneeled side by side, hand in hand, and he reverently prayed God to look down and solemnize our engagement and send us forth as true laborers, in obedience to His call, to rescue poor perishing souls from eternal destruction.
While on my knees, with closed eyes and throbbing heart—(Why, this was the very room in which I had received my baptism!) the room seemed filled with angels who lined either side of the golden, sunlit path of life that stretched away into the vista of coming days of glorious love and joyful service to our Lord and King.
Here was the visible answer to the call.
Here was the loving human hand sent to unlatch the gate of opportunity and guide my steps into that shining path and start me well upon the way—that way that has led through sunshine and shadow, tears and smiles, joys and sorrow, life and death, mountain-top and valley.
Source: This Is That (1919), Chapter VI, “Calling into the Vineyard, and Marriage”
Prophetic Message - 1910
Given by Mrs. R. J. Semple, in Belfast, Ireland — February or March 1910
THE VOICE OF the Lord came unto me, saying, “Lift up thine eyes that I may shew thee my plan concerning thee. Give me thine ears, that I may speak unto thee concerning the preaching of My gospel.” And I said unto Him, “Yea, Lord, not mine eyes and my ears only turn I unto Thee, but my whole soul, my whole being longeth to hear Thy voice.”
Straightway, mine eyes were opened, and I beheld a Book of light and wisdom. Its pages were written in letters of fire, and the words thereof were words of power and glory; giving death and life; giving bondage and freedom; making deep wounds and also giving healing; giving great hunger and also satisfying the hungry soul; causing great sorrow yet giving great joy; telling of endless gloom and despair but revealing a life of endless bliss and glory; causing great drought and thirst throughout the earth yet giving showers and rivers of living water and bread unto the nations thereof.
But I beheld that—as the light of the Book shone forth, dispelling gloom and darkness, giving light unto the world—there came those clad in priestly robes and ministerial attire. Each one held in his hand a scroll and was writing thereon with a pen, and the name of the pen was the “Wisdom of Man.” I beheld the writing; it was the wisdom of man, the thoughts and theories of men. When they had ceased to write, I saw them take the pages they had written and cover with them page by page the Book of light and life, so that the light thereof was obscured as the word of man obscured the Word of God. Then saw I that they brought great stones and mortar and built a wall about the Book, and my heart was sore within me, for I beheld the nations groping in darkness, searching for the light that was hidden within the Book. Then cried I unto the Lord, “How long, how long shall this be? Shall Thy mercy endure forever, O Jehovah?”
But straightway lifting up my eyes, I beheld a messenger of the Lord running swiftly, clad in a white garment of righteousness, and his inner garments were the garments of humility. His face shone with heavenly light, while within his hand he held a flaming sword.
And I beheld that, as he advanced, he came unto the Book whose pages had been covered, and wielding the flaming sword, he severed page by page the writing of man that had obscured the pages of light and power and life, so that they were again revealed unto the blinded nations. The wall of stone and mortar he overthrew, so that again the rivers and life-giving waters flowed forth into the regions around about. Give ear, therefore, and hearken unto the voice of God, and let him that hath understanding, understand aright.
And the Lord spoke unto me, saying, “The Book which thou seest is the Word of the living, the eternal God. The burning words thereof are the words of the Lord Jehovah who liveth and reigneth with power. The writing that obscures it is the dark and foolish sayings and theories of the unbelieving and false church. But behold, even as thou sawest the messenger of light come forth, even so have I chosen and ordained thee, that thou shouldst go forth and clear away the debris and contamination with which they have covered and obscured the light of My Word. I have chosen thee and called thee by name that thou should speak unto My people. Look not upon the pages that contain the theories of men, but upon the burning, flaming words of My Word as revealed and illuminated by the Holy Spirit whom I have given unto you.”
And again I beheld the messenger of God, holding the Word of power aloft. The nations looked upon it, and where the light of its pages shone forth upon the earth, it dispelled the gloom and darkness and shed forth the light of day.
“Even so hold thou My Word unto those whereunto I shall send thee. For I, even I, shall break the fetters that bind. I, even I, shall give liberty unto those in bondage, and light unto those in darkness through thee if thou shalt be as clay in my hands. ”
Source: Collected Sermons & Writings, Volume 1, p. 5
Death of Robert Semple - 1910
At the death of her husband, Hong Kong, China, August 1910
Then, as I stood by his bed and saw that even unconscious as he was, the light of the glory world illuminated his face, I sank down in a heap by his side and clung to his cold hand. He did not open his eyes, did not see me. However, I think he must have been seeing Jesus, so rapt was the expression that lighted up his countenance.
Then, at that moment, when all the world seemed to be crumbling and slipping from beneath my feet, the Comforter, the blessed Holy Spirit, whom Jesus had sent, rose up within me and revealed Jesus in such a precious way, made the will of God so sweet, showed the prepared mansions so real that I shouted “Glory!” by the death bed of Robert Semple, from whom I had never dreamed of parting. Waves of joy rolled over my soul, and I was lifted from earth to heaven, and it seemed as though I accompanied him right to the pearly gates. “The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Source: This Is That (1919), Chapter IX, “The Death of My Husband”
Blood-Sprinkled Mercy Seat - 1916
August 6, 1916
IT WAS AT the close of the meeting Sunday night, August 6, while praying with the seekers after a glorious day, that the power of the Holy Spirit came upon me in a mighty manner, and I was slain of the Lord. It seemed as though a mighty wind caught me and lifted me up into heavenly places with Christ Jesus. I found myself entering a room, the four walls and ceiling and floor of which each seemed to be composed of one immense sheet of purest, absolutely white pearl.
In the center of this room stood what appeared at first sight to be a bench of wondrous workmanship, also composed of pure white pearl. I found myself kneeling before it and was made to realize that this was the mercy seat. Oh, that blood-sprinkled mercy seat! I pray that the Lord will make it as real to you as He did to me. Above me, floating in midair, was a glorious being I felt must be a cherubim or seraphim; in his arms he held a large bowl of purest gold—filled with blood with which he continually sprinkled the mercy seat. On the opposite side of this seat with a thrill, I beheld the Master standing. I felt oh so unworthy to be here in this spotless, white room, and in the awful, divine presence, and I bowed my head to the floor.
I became conscious that I was kneeling in something soft and yielding, and upon looking, I saw that round about me and beneath me was a snow-white pile of ashes—the ashes of humility upon which countless praying saints had kneeled before. I felt I must bow low and gather these ashes of humility and sprinkle them upon my head. As I did so, I beheld that I was clothed in a robe of black sackcloth, and I drew this robe about me that I might be covered in His presence with true humility and contrition. Beneath the mercy seat and on the opposite side, I beheld the pierced feet of the Master. Timidly my adoring eyes swept lovingly up that blessed form I loved so dearly, but His face seemed to be hidden by a bright cloud of glory, and I felt I must not gaze longer upon this golden radiance.
I then beheld His pierced hands. One hand was outstretched, and in it He held a dead apple tree branch. The other hand was folded upon His bosom, and in it He held a dead grapevine branch. As I was puzzling over the significance of the two dead branches, I was made to know (by the Spirit, who when He has come takes the things of Jesus and reveals them unto us) that the apple tree represented salvation. The grapevine typified the Holy Spirit. That as we make our petitions unto the Lord, He holds the ones for whom we pray in His own hand. The Spirit began to pray through me for the growth of the apple tree branch. He held it extended in His hand, awaiting its growth, which was to come only in answer to prayer, offered in the sackcloth and ashes of humility, and presented over the blood sprinkled mercy seat.
As I prayed, a miracle was wrought before my eyes. First, the dead and withered bark showed signs of returning life; the bark no longer hung loosely but fitted tightly and appeared green. The twigs suddenly burst forth into bud, then flowers and tender leaves unfolded before my eyes. Tiny green apples followed, and they began to expand. I was so delighted with this miraculous answer to my prayer for those who had been dead in trespasses and sins and were now growing in the newness of life, that for a moment I ceased to pray. The garment of sackcloth seemed slipping from me, and much of the ashes had fallen off. To my horror, I beheld that the growth had ceased, and the fruit was yet imperfect. I was reminded that I must put a fresh supply of ashes upon my head, draw the sackcloth tightly about me, and over the blood-sprinkled mercy seat, pray without ceasing. Then and only then would the apple of salvation come to completion.
With renewed earnestness and encouragement, I humbly prayed, and soon the apple hung perfect, full-grown, and mellow. With tears of gratitude, I realized that full salvation through the finished work of Calvary had come to the ones for whom I prayed. Immediately, the apple of salvation was perfect, the other hand, which had been folded upon His breast, was extended with the lifeless branch of the grapevine clasped in it still. As I bowed before Him in sackcloth and ashes, the Spirit made intercession through me, over the freshly blood-sprinkled mercy seat. The resurrection life of Jesus seemed to flow through and permeate the vine, and it was filled with life. Tiny curling tendrils appeared; small leaves began to unfold before my enraptured eyes; tiny grapes came forth and grew until at last the perfect cluster of grapes appeared. Each grape a full globule of wine, the wine of the Spirit.
The work was complete, and I found myself again in the midst of the saints. But oh, the holy hush in my soul as I contemplate the intercessory life and the mercy seat experiences, the ashes, the sackcloth, the cherubim, ever freshly sprinkling the pure mercy seat with the blood from the golden bowl, and the radiant form of the Master, as in His wounded hands He ever holds the object of our prayer, as it comes to Him over the blood-sprinkled mercy seat.
He awaits your prayer. Don the garment of sackcloth; remember the ashes of humility; take fresh courage, for when Zion travails, she shall bring forth.
Source: Collected Sermons & Writings, Volume 1, p. 15
Prophecy at Durant Campgrounds - 1917
Durant Campgrounds — March 20, 1917
IT WAS NIGHT, and darkness was upon the face of the earth; yea, gross darkness covered the people. Behold a light coming out of the darkness, a voice calling through the gloom. I lifted my eyes and beheld the presence of the Most High, the Holy One of Israel, the Lamb without blemish. His glory and the brightness round about Him outshone the brightness of the noonday sun. As He drew near me, I hid my face before the radiance of His coming. He spoke, and my soul fell within me at His voice. My strength departed from me, and I fell at His feet as one dead.
I heard His voice saying, “Fear not, oh My child. Stand upon thy feet and follow thou Me.” But my strength had departed, and I could not stand; then put He His arms about me, and behold we were lifted up from the earth. He carried me in the spirit and sat me down upon my feet before a small mountain, saying, “Hast thou considered this mountain of blessing?” Then measured He the mountain round about, and I beheld the measure thereof, and it was one hundred cubits. Flowers of praise bloomed on its sides; tiny streams of praise issued forth therefrom.
Then caught He me up again in the spirit and sat me down upon the earth at the foot of a very high mountain whose top I could not see, for it was beyond the clouds—its measure could not be taken. An exceeding high mountain flowing with milk and honey; trees laden with fruit whose clusters hung upon the vine; the mountain of the Lord, which He builded for His people.
Then He said unto me, “Why have My people stopped at the small mountain of small blessings? I, even I, have come to lead them forth to My great mountain, from weakness to strength, from defeat to victory, from showers to torrents, from the brooks to the rivers. Oh, why have My people not gone on to the fullness? I have said greater things than I do shall ye do because I go to my father. Speak unto My people; cry out. Leaving the things that are behind, let us press to perfection. Oh My people, I am longing to show forth My power. I am waiting to do My strange acts. I am waiting for a yielded people; yea, even a worm with which I can thrash a mountain. I seek not wisdom nor thy strength. I seek humility and yielded hearts.”
Then spake the Lord, “Look at thy side. The altar of the Lord which My people have builded for me.” I looked as He commanded and lo! a bright fire was burning upon the altar: sacrifice and praise through the Holy Spirit arose as a sweet smelling savor to the throne. But lo! as I looked, the fire sank lower and died away in strength till only the coals were left. Then the Lord said with sadness, “Go speak unto My people—wherefore has thou ceased to offer thyself as a sacrifice with thy praise as a sweet smelling savor upon My altar? Return thou unto thy first love, unto the wholehearted sacrifice, also the sacrifice of praise; and behold, I will send an awakening amongst the people. The flames shall be kindled upon My altar,” saith the Lord.
“Behold, the time is short. Whatsoever thou doest, do quickly. Behold, at thy gates lie all manner of precious fruit. Hasten! Hasten! Enter in, My children. Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me. Seek My fullness. Enter thou in, for lo! I come quickly.” Even so, amen.
Source: Collected Sermons & Writings, Volume 1, p. 20. A near-identical version of this prophecy is reprinted later in the same volume within “Press On to Perfection” (given prior to May 1919), where “hill of blessing” replaces “mountain of blessing.”
California Promise - 1917
On the eastern seaboard, c. 1917–1918 — her daughter Roberta was near death with influenza and double pneumonia, on the eve of the journey west to California
Upon my return to the dingy little apartment, I groped blindly for the stair railing and slowly pulled myself up the squalid steps. I was met at the top landing with the news that my little daughter’s condition had developed into influenza and double pneumonia. Fear gave wings to my feet, and I wove my dizzy way into her room. She lay unconscious . . . very weak and very small, beneath the coverlets. Groping along the walls for support, I felt my way to my own room and fell to my knees beside my bed. “Oh, Jesus,” I sobbed, “everyone can stand just so much. You took Robert; d-don’t take R-Roberta!”
Suddenly my own shivering and shaking ceased. I saw a vision of my Lord standing close . . . just before me. Slowly my eyes traversed the distance from his nail-pierced feet to his glowing eyes. Then, for one of the few times in my life, I heard his glorious, soul-thrilling voice speak to my heart, “Fear not. Your little one shall live and not die. Moreover, I will give you a home in California where your children shall go to school. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young.”
Then the vision faded. With uncertain steps and tear-blurred eyes I made my way back to the dreary, unheated, front bedroom. Saints had prayed for Roberta, and she was immediately better . . . even conscious. Kneeling beside the bed, I murmured, “Darling, you are going to live and not die, and we are going to have a little home in California where you are going to go to school.”
“Mama,” she answered weakly, “could I have a canary bird too?” “Yes, darling,” I promised rashly.
At that moment, my son, Rolf, came into the room. “Mama,” he said, “may I have a rose garden too?” “Yes! Yes!” I cried, for my faith was strong at that moment, “Yes, wee man . . . a big, big rose garden in California.”
Source: Aimee Semple McPherson, The Story of My Life (Word Books, Waco, 1973), compiled by Raymond L. Cox, Chapter 9, “Along the Atlantic Seaboard,” p. 101.
Vision of Demons & Angels
Undated (from the sermon “Praising the Lord”)
The Lord taught me a wonderful lesson some time ago, demonstrating the majesty and power of praise. I was seated on the rostrum in my tent during the evening meeting. Not only was every seat in the big tabernacle filled and crowds standing in the aisles, but all about the outside of the tent, hundreds and hundreds stood closely packed together. It was the early days of the meeting, and conviction had not yet taken the place of curiosity. Therefore, as a great many of the onlookers were Roman Catholics and the balance unused to any demonstration of the power of God, the very air was filled with unbelief, skepticism, scoffing, and ridicule. The people would listen as long as we sang…or was it because that drowned their murmurings? But as soon as anyone endeavored to speak, the whisperings and the murmurings would begin until another song was started.
As I stood there on the platform with my eyes closed, I saw the entire tent surrounded with great black demons with huge batlike wings. Each demon seemed to stand about ten feet tall and as they stood in a circle completely surrounding the tent, they were so close together that their wings touched tip to tip. They stood close to the border of the tent, and with my eyes still closed, my heart began to cry out, “Oh, Lord, what shall I do?”
And He spoke to me in such a real way, in that calm, undisturbed voice which those who love the Prince of Peace know so well: “Just begin to praise Me. I will do the fighting. You do the praising.” So I began to praise Him.
“Praise the Lord!” The first time I said it, I noticed the demons seemed to tremble.
“Praise the Lord!” The second time, I shouted it. I am sure my voice was heard above every other sound, and I saw each demon take one step backward, away from the tent.
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!! Praise the Lord!” Each time I said “praise the Lord,” the demons took another step backward, until I lost all sight of them in the distance.
“Praise the Lord!” The next time I said it, I saw in the distance a circular band of angels standing around the tent.
“Praise the Lord! PRAISE THE LORD!” Each time I praised Him, they took one step nearer, another step nearer, still another step nearer, till at last they stood at the very border of the tent— such tall, wonderful looking angels, with their beautiful white wings spread so wide that the wings of each touched, tip to tip; the ones of the next angel on the right and on the left. Father had sent one of His legions of angels to guard the tent.
Perhaps not another person in the tent saw the vision of this great shining band of angels, yet everyone inside and out must have sensed the presence of the divine, for not only did a great peace steal over my soul, but the whole audience was hushed. When I opened my eyes I could see only the people looking with rapt attention, but closing my eyes again, I could see the angels just as plainly as I could see the people.
Is it any wonder that I believe?
Source: Collected Sermons & Writings, Volume 1, p. 318
A House Unto the Lord - 1920
Los Angeles, summer 1920 — under the call to “build a house unto the Lord,” she was led to Echo Park and there visualized the temple that would rise as Angelus Temple (dedicated January 1, 1923).
One day in the summer of 1920 the call rang so urgently in my heart that I climbed into the automobile and with my mother set out in search of land. Reaching the corner of Figueroa and Third Street, where we usually turned into the heart of the city, I was strangely impressed to drive on another block and then turn toward Glendale Boulevard. I had never been in this section of Los Angeles before.
In just a few minutes we reached Echo Park. “Oh, this is heaven!” I cried, “the most beautiful spot for a house of the Lord I have ever seen. It’s right in the city, yet so restful.” There flashed before my mind scenes in other great cities where I had preached. When the buildings had to be emptied between meetings, the people had stood in hot sun or rain hour after hour waiting for the auditorium doors to reopen. “Here they would have parks, trees, grass, and benches, picnic tables, rest rooms—everything they could desire to be comfortable between meetings!” I exclaimed to mother.
Just beyond the park we spied a circular piece of property. “What a wonderful site that would be for the tabernacle!” I exclaimed. Like a flash from heaven I visualized the general plan for the structure. There leaped within my heart the assurance, “This is the place!”
Source: Aimee Semple McPherson, The Story of My Life (Word Books, Waco, 1973), compiled by Raymond L. Cox, Chapter 12, “A House unto the Lord,” pp. 118–119. A divine leading and visualization rather than a seen-vision; she herself calls it the “vision of the tabernacle.”
Wonderful Vision - 1920
August 1920
IT HAD BEEN a hot and wearisome day at a camp meeting. My duties had been long and strenuous. Now the last sermon had been preached, the last seeking soul faithfully prayed for, but I still knelt on the altar. The hour was so late, and I was so tired and empty. I felt I must ask the Lord to touch and bless me before I retired.
“Oh, Jesus dear, precious Saviour, will you please lay your hand upon my head and bless even me? Let me see Thy beautiful face and hear Thy tender voice; strengthen, encourage, and comfort me before I go.”
Almost immediately my prayer was answered. A sweet tranquility descended upon my spirit like a mantle from the skies, wrapping me in its holy stillness. How calm, rested, and detached from my surroundings I felt. My body slipped to the floor before the altar, but I made no move to prevent it, lest I disturb this “shut-in-ness” in the presence of the Lord. Then I saw a vision.
The whole world was wrapped in darkness. One could not see an arm’s length through the blackness of the night.
But, hark! Out of the gloom there came a sound of voices sweetly singing:
Oh Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song?
Christ returneth, Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen.
At the sound of that great “Amen,” a streak of lightning tore its way through the heavens, from the east unto the west, rending them in twain. As I looked, the skies began to roll apart as smoothly as folding doors upon their hinges. Shafts of heavenly light came streaming down through the opening, piercing the gloom of Earth and illuminating it with wondrous radiance. Through the aperture, I saw descending first the pierced feet, then the garments white as snow, then the extended hands, then the beautiful face and head of Jesus Christ, my Lord. He was surrounded by an innumerable company of angels. In fact, quickly as a flash of lightning, the entire heavens were filled with seraphic heavenly hosts, cherubim and seraphim, angels and archangels—surrounding the Christ of God. They were coming down, down, down in a beauty that beggars description. I thought of those great skyrockets bursting in the air in multicolored glories and coming down in silent grandeur through the night. I know of nothing else with which to compare their wonderful descent.
Every angel carried a musical instrument. Many there were having harps of various shapes and sizes. They were different from any that I have ever seen upon Earth, and of marvelous workmanship. There were those who carried long silver trumpets and other musical instruments the likes of which I had never seen before. The first part of their glorious descent was made in silence. Then, suddenly, the Lord put His hand to His mouth and gave a shout, calling and awakening His people. At the sound of His voice, every angel struck his harp of gold and sounded upon the silver trumpets. For years people have talked about the lost chord, but oh, surely there had never been a chord of such melodious, wondrous beauty as this. As they struck their harps, it seemed that the very stars of the morning broke forth into singing and trembled beneath its majesty. The earth began to vibrate, and the dead arose from their graves. They came from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south and ascended through the air in beautiful white garments that seemed to float about them; their faces were turned upward, and their hands extended to the resplendent heavens.
They were rising higher and higher into the air to meet the central figure of the Lord as He came down with His host of angels. As the resurrected dead rose through the air, they seemed to gather in toward the center of the heavens, taking their places as though by prearrangement in a shape that began to resemble a body.
Then the Lord gave a second shout, and, at the sound of His voice, the angels again swept their golden harps and sounded upon their instruments—holding the chord until the very stars shook, the earth rocked, and the mountains trembled. At that second shout, those who were living and remained upon the earth—whose garments were washed white and whose hearts were looking for the coming of the Lord—were caught up together with those resurrected from the graves to meet Him in the air. They came from every direction—from mountains, valleys, plains, and from the islands of the sea—to take their places in the body. Some were in the head, some in the shoulders, some in the arms of the body, some in the feet; for though there are many members, there is but one body (1 Cor. 12). What a picture! They were going up, and the Lord was coming down. Soon they would meet in the air, and what a meeting that would be!
As I gazed upon this scene, I was overwhelmed, and my heart burst forth into the cry “Oh, dear Jesus, aren’t you going to take me? Jesus, you know I love you; I have been waiting and looking for you so long. Oh Jesus, surely you are not going to forget me. Oh Lord, take me!”
Suddenly, I found myself running up a steep and rugged hill as fast as my feet could take me. Once I stumbled and fell (that must have been the time I almost backslid, and got out of the Lord’s work, running from Nineveh to Tarshish), but I arose and started to run again. Up and up I ran, and this time, praise the Lord, I did not stumble. Up and up I went, until at last I had reached the top of the hill; but instead of going down the other side, I went right on up. Hallelujah!
The bride was still rising to meet the Bridegroom, and I was rising, too. What a wonderful sensation—sweeping through the air! All weights and fetters laid aside, rising to meet the Lord.
As I went up, however, I began to weep again, crying, “Oh Lord, is there no place for me in the body? It looks as though ’twere completed without me?”
But as I drew near, I saw that there was a little place unfilled in the foot. I slipped in and just fitted there. Glory to Jesus! When the Lord gives us a vision, He does not tell us how high and important we will be, but shows us our place at His precious feet. It may be that the Lord will permit me to be a part of the foot of the glorious running, soul-winning bride, until He shall appear to take us to Himself forevermore.
With the body completed, I seemed to be standing at a distance again. I saw the bride and Bridegroom meet. Her arms were extended up to Him; His arms reached out and clasped her to His bosom. Oh, that embrace! Oh, that meeting in the air! How can I describe it? The angels were playing softly now upon their harps. How wonderful the music was! They talk about Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” but all, you wait until you hear our wedding march at the meeting in the air. The bride, however, seemed to be listening to nothing but the voice of the Bridegroom. I saw Him wiping the tears from her eyes and saying, “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”
Now they were going up together—higher and higher they rose, melting through the starry floor of heaven, disappearing in the distance as the heavens rolled together again. Upon the earth there descended a deep, thick darkness, a hundred times blacker than it had been before. ’Twas a famine for the Word of God. But up in heaven a light was shining brighter than the noonday sun. Oh, how bright and glorious it was: the mellow golden light of a newborn sunrise seemed to rest upon everything, tinting each spire and dome with a border of gold and crimson. Here all was life, music, and movement. The greatest day ever known in heaven or upon Earth had dawned. The wedding day had come!
The angels had formed a great long aisle leading from the heavenly gates to the throne of pearl, upon which sat One so wonderful, so dazzlingly glorious, that my eyes could not gaze upon Him. Line upon line, row upon row, tier upon tier—the angels stood or were suspended in midair at either side of the aisle thus formed. Above this aisle, the little cherubim formed an arch, singing sweetly and playing upon tiny harps.
As they played the wedding march, down the aisle came the bride and Bridegroom. She was leaning upon His arm and looking up into His face. Oh, the love, the joy, the hopes fulfilled that were written upon her fair and lovely countenance. ’Twas as though she were saying, “Thou beautiful Bridegroom, Thou Prince of Peace, Thou Pearl of Great Price, Thou Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley—I love Thee; oh, I love Thee! How long I have been looking forward to this day, how I have yearned to see Thy face, to hear Thy voice. True, I have seen Thee through a glass darkly, but now, oh now, my Saviour, slain Lamb of Calvary, I see Thee face-to-face! Oh, Jesus, to think that I shall live with Thee forever and forever! I will never leave Thee more, but I shall lean upon Thine arm, rest upon Thy bosom, sit upon Thy throne, and praise Thee while the endless ages roll.”
As the bride looked into His face, Jesus, the Bridegroom, was looking down and smiling upon her clad in her white robes with her misty veil floating about her. Oh, that look in His eyes, that tender expression upon His face. ’Twas as though He were saying, “Oh, my love, my dove, my undefiled, thou art fair; there is no spot in thee. Before you loved Me, I loved you. Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love. I loved you when you were deep in sin; I loved you when you were far away. I loved you enough to leave My Father’s home to go forth to seek, to save, to rescue, to draw you to Myself. I loved you so much that I died for you; I died to redeem you and to fill you with My Spirit. Oh, My bride, you have been faithful. Coming out of great tribulation, you have washed your robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. You have endured hardness as a good soldier, and now through Me, you are more than conqueror. How long, how long I have waited for this day when you should be caught up unto my side. Oft have your feet been pierced with thorns, but here the streets are paved with gold. Oft the way was rugged and steep, and your tears have flowed unbidden; but now behold, the last enemy, even death, is conquered. Nevermore shall a shadow fall across your pathway, nor a teardrop dim your eye. Forever and forever you shall dwell with Me in the presence of My Father and the holy angels—My bride, My wife forevermore.”
As they made their way up the aisle and neared the throne, the angels broke forth into soft, sweet singing: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the linen is the righteousness of the saints.”
As they walked into the brilliant light that sat upon the throne, my eyes were blinded with the glory, and the vision faded from my sight, but it is indelibly stamped upon my mind.
Oh, I am looking forward to His coming, His glorious coming, and the day wherein the bride shall be presented to the Bridegroom. Are you preparing for His coming? Would you be ready if the clouds roll apart and the heavens cleave in twain, and you should hear Him descending with a shout just now? If not, come to His feet today, fall upon your knees in contrition before Him, and cry, “Oh, Lamb of God, I come. Help me to yield my life completely to Thee; make me all that Thou wouldst have me to be; cleanse my heart; fill me with Thy Spirit; fill my vessel with oil. Help me to bring others with me that, when Thou shalt appear, I shall see Thee and be as Thou art.”
Then, rising from your knees with heart made pure and garments clean, your voice will be added to the swelling chorus, saying, “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Thy bride is waiting and longing for Thee.”
Source: Collected Sermons & Writings, Volume 2, p. 59
Vision of Ezekiel & Name "Foursquare" - 1922
Oakland, California, July 1922 — preaching on the four faces of Ezekiel’s vision (man, lion, ox, and eagle), which she read as Christ the Savior, Baptizer, Healer, and Coming King, the name “Foursquare” was given to her. Her last American revival before the dedication of Angelus Temple.
Here is a perfect gospel, a complete gospel, for body, for soul, for spirit, and for eternity, a gospel facing squarely in every direction.
The whole tent was enveloped as I developed this exposition of God’s Word. It was as though every soul there was aquiver with the harmony of celestial music. In my soul was born a melody that seemed to strike and be sustained upon four full quivering strings, as I thought upon the vision of the prophet Ezekiel. I stood still for a moment and listened, gripping the pulpit, almost shaking with wonder and joy. Then there burst from the white heat of my heart the words, “Why—why, it’s the Foursquare Gospel. The Foursquare Gospel!” Instantly the Spirit bore witness. Waves, billows, oceans of praises rocked the audience, which was borne aloft on the rushing winds of Holy Ghost revival.
Since that day when the Lord gave me that illumination, the term Foursquare Gospel has been carried around the world, as vividly and fittingly distinguishing the message he had commissioned me to preach of Jesus the Savior, Jesus the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Healer, and Jesus the Coming King.
Source: Aimee Semple McPherson, The Story of My Life (Word Books, Waco, 1973), compiled by Raymond L. Cox, Chapter 11, “Oakland, California, and Australia,” p. 112. The vision expounded here is the prophet Ezekiel’s; her own part was the illumination by which the movement received its name. The book’s Epilogue records that on September 26, 1944, in this same Oakland auditorium, she preached her last sermon on the same fourfold gospel and died the following day.