The Looking Glass
by
Tony Alamo
A few years after I was born again of the Spirit, I saw the Lord Jesus Christ with my eyes wide open. Sue was asleep, and I was wide awake. The room was pitch dark when a Spirit resembling a three to four-foot fluorescent light appeared in the room. It came into the room with a hissing sound, and with another hissing sound it formed itself into an oval-shaped mirror with a gold frame around it. Jesus was sitting in the mirror. He sat upon a purple throne-like chair that was trimmed in gold. The purple fabric looked like velvet. The back of the chair came up almost to the top of His head. There were no marks on His forehead, nor were there any nail scars in His hands, because in Heaven everyone and everything is perfect. There is no imperfection in Heaven. This means the song “I shall know Him by the print of the nails in His hand” is not scriptural. There are no marks that Satan has caused that can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus was wearing white clothing, and a thin gold crown around one-half inch high sat on His curly black hair. The gold crown looked so natural and proper sitting on His head that it made me wonder why people in the world with hair don’t wear them. That crown looked much better than a hat. Again, I was wide awake and the vision was in full color.
Jesus is not blonde and blue-eyed with long, stringy hair. He had the same skin color as myself, olive, which everyone in my life calls Caucasian. Again, He had black, bushy hair and a gold crown, which was about a half inch thick. It sat right on the top of His head and it looked like it was supposed to be there. And again, I wondered why no one ever thinks to wear a crown because it looks so good. His eyes were dark brown or black, and He was very handsome, better looking than any man I’ve ever seen. He was looking directly at me. By the way He looked at me, I could tell that He knew all about me and that He liked me as a person.
Up to that point in my life, I never knew for sure that God liked me, but I could tell that Jesus did, and the knowledge of that gave me a lot of comfort, even to this day. Would you like to know that the Lord liked you, too?
God’s Word, the Bible, tells us that God loved us all so much that “He gave His only begotten Son [the Word of God], that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This means if we believe the entire Word of God, which is Jesus, then we are saved, born again of the Spirit and on our way to Heaven. It never had occurred to me that Jesus also liked certain people, although in His Word it’s plain to see that He loves some people and hates some people.1 But again, it just never occurred to me that God liked me. It was and still is such a good thing to know. If He ever lets you know that He likes you, I’m sure that you will be relieved like I was and still am, and that you, like me, will have more confidence in approaching the throne of God and talking to Him through the Holy Spirit.
In this vision that I saw of Jesus there was a look of concern in His eyes, like He wanted to give me some urgent warning. I didn’t know what it was. He began talking to me but His voice was broken. It was like He was on radio, on the air, and somebody was quickly turning His voice on and off, on and off, all the time He was talking to me so that I couldn’t get anything He was saying. Later, I found out that His concern was that I wasn’t communicating with Him much at all. He wanted to let me know that the most dangerous thing in the world is not communicating with Him daily— “pray[ing] always” (II Thes. 1:11) and “Pray[ing] without ceasing” (I Thes. 5:17). The thing the Lord was telling me was true. I was almost never reading the Word or praying. I wasn’t seeking Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength through the Bible, the Word of God, nearly as much as He commands us to do for our own good.
When I looked at Jesus, I could really tell that the Scripture that says He knew us “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4) was true.2 He knew everything about us, even before we were in our mother’s womb, and He knows in advance what we will do with the life He gives us in this world. Being in His presence told me that.
Jesus is a Jew, just as the Bible tells us.3 I am Jewish. My dad was a Jew, and it’s debatable as to whether my mother was. Her father’s name was Torah.
When I first saw the Lord in the mirror, I thought He had come to take me to Heaven with Him. I was so excited. I got a big smile on my face, raised my arms towards Him, and said, “Lord!” I was so happy. But then He put His hand, which had no scar on it, toward me, and He said, “Not now.” That was the biggest disappointment in my entire life. Heaven looked so wonderful. It was so clean and free from oppression, no death. There was no terrorism, no antichrist church of Rome in Heaven, and no antichrist government, the beast, in Heaven. There was no antichrist media, no filth, no unhappiness, no sadness, no pain, no death, no disappointments, no liars, no thieves or robbers, no curse, no adulterers, no fornicators, no rapists, no homosexuals, no lesbians, no pedophiles, no covetousness, no jealousy, no imperfection, no abuse, no murder, no corruption, no extortion, no slander, no character assassination, no twisting of words, no sickness, disease, or infirmities, no pain or suffering, no hunger, no fire, no floods, no disasters, no corrupt government agencies, no corrupt judicial system, no haters of God, no one who hates you or anyone else. There was only happiness, joy, and kindness. There was being always young and always beautiful or handsome. There was no impurity and no fear of anything, only peace, tranquility, and no annoyance ever. The climate, the weather, is always perfect. Now maybe you can understand a little bit of why it was so disappointing to me when the Lord put His hand towards me saying, “Not yet.”
For the brief moment I thought I was going to be with Him I was so excited that I forgot about everything and everybody, even my wife, Susan, that I loved so much. I wasn’t able to think of her or anyone else in the world. Before this vision, I had a fear that if I ever saw the Lord that I’d be terrified. But when I saw Him, there wasn’t any fear at all, only the exceeding desire to be in Heaven with Him. He looked just like a man, but I could tell when I looked at Him that He for sure possesses all power in Heaven and on earth, and with ease. Jesus said, “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). I remember a Scripture in Job which says, “Behold, He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who is able to say unto Him, What are you doing?” (Job 9:12).
Susie and I had a large congregation of young, newly saved Christians, almost all hippies, in the mid-sixties, and I got myself so involved in building, buying, and fixing living facilities for them that I was neglecting the most important thing in the world, which is reading the Bible and praying.
Jesus was warning me that I would go to Hell and the lake of fire if I wouldn’t seek Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength every day and night.4 He showed me that if I wouldn’t read the Bible, pray, teach, and preach what I’ve learned, millions of souls would be lost, and I’d be accountable for all of them at the judgment bar of God on the last day.5 We are accountable for all the souls that we didn’t win to the Lord but could have if we would have obeyed Jesus, the Word of God.
The people of this world and the ministers that I hear have no idea that we are, right now, at the end of time.6 Jesus explained how dangerous it is for people to be involved with religious fiction. It is, in reality, just that, “fiction.” And the Bible calls science “science falsely so called” (I Tim. 6:20). True science is this: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” and then the rest of everything created by His Word (Gen. 1:1-2:2).
Again, truth and reality is that God is beginning to pour out His wrath on this world. Ask the people in New Orleans, Indonesia, and hundreds of other places in the world. Remember this, there is no such person as “Mother Nature.” I can’t believe how the people of the world can’t see that at one time God destroyed the world with water.7 This is a proven fact. It is history. Still they commit the same sins as they did in Noah’s day. It is worse now than it ever was. It is amplified until the stench of it has reached Heaven. God the Father and His Word, Jesus, tell of the things that will abruptly come to pass. He tells us that at the end of time there “shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake [those of us who really believe God] those days shall be shortened” (Matt. 24:21-22). You can look into the mirror, the looking glass, the Bible, and see for yourself.
All these things will begin happening abruptly without any further warning. This earth will be turned into a nightmare for those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. They will be crying out in terror, saying “Can’t science, can’t fictitious religions do something about this? Can’t the President, governors, and other government officials do anything about this?” No, they will not be able to do anything about it. They will be running for cover just like everyone else except those who are born-again, Spirit-filled Christians. We will be rejoicing while those who rejected God, God’s Son, and God’s mercy will be screaming their heads off in fear of the knowledge that their souls will soon be in Hell and the lake of fire forever.
There are more false prophets and other liars on earth than ever before.8 The unsaved, the ungodly, the wicked people of the world have prepared themselves to be burned. Whether they know it or not, they have rejected God’s mercy. Even though some Christians may be the very elect of God, the Lord tells us that Satan’s deception will be so strong in the last days that even the very elect will be deceived if it were possible, and that possibility could only exist if the very elect would begin believing the spirit of Satan.9 We are to “resist [Satan], and he will flee from [us]” (Jas. 4:7). Resisting means we must fight the spiritual war, the war of words between God and Satan. We must wrestle. The Bible calls it a wrestling match. It is the match between God’s Word and Satan’s words.
The Apostle Paul stated he “fought a good fight, [he] ha[s] finished [his] course” with the Word of God (II Tim. 4:7). By the Spirit Paul said we Christians “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). This is the reason why the Lord gave me the vision of Himself in the oval-shaped mirror or looking glass. Christ was telling me to put on the full armor of God. That means to put on the entire Word of God, the Bible. Don’t just read it, look into it. It is God’s mirror for you to look into to make you ready for Heaven, for you to see if you measure up to God’s standard in God’s Word in order to enter Heaven or will be a castaway spending eternity in Hell and the lake of fire. It is our looking glass. You will never learn of God or His Son Christ Jesus unless you look into the looking glass, the Bible. The mirror or looking glass is “the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Christ]” (John 14:6).
Study the Word of God yourself in order to see if you will measure up to God’s standard so that you can spend eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible is also the measuring stick in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, verses 1-2. It tells us if we don’t measure up to God’s standards by the Holy Spirit, we’ll be placed outside with the lost, the Gentiles. The looking glass tells us of what sin is so that we may repent of it by the powerful blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. By doing this, we make ourselves ready for Heaven. This world is a dressing room for eternity. Where will you spend eternity? Will it be Heaven or Hell? Get ready to meet the Lord immediately, because the end of time is at hand.10
The Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit warns everyone to arm and armor ourselves with the Word of God. He says, “Take unto you the whole armor of God [the Word of God], that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand [survive the big fire which will burn the very elements]. Stand therefore, with the belt [or girdle] of truth [which is the Word of God] buckled around your waist, and having on the breastplate of righteousness [which can only be attained through having the entire Word of God in your heart, soul, mind, and spirit]; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace [this means standing on the Word of God, standing on God’s promises. In addition to all this,] take up the shield of faith [which again is the Word of God], with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” You may ask, “What is the shield of faith and how do we extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one with it?” Your and my shield of faith is our prayers of faith to God, which are incorporated within the Word of God. The God that we pray to is the only one who is able to extinguish all the fiery darts, and flames that will surely come against us. God promises that when we ask for things according to His will in prayer, we will receive them.11
The Word of God clearly shows us to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8).
Now “putting on the whole armor of God” is found in Ephesians chapter 6, verses 17-18: “And take the helmet of salvation [which means know the entire Word of God, which is Christ, and also means put on the mind of Christ, which is a mind filled constantly with the Word of God so that no one is able to deceive you], and the sword of the Spirit, which [again] is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” It is for your and my own good that we do this, because if we do not, we will be castaways, just as the Apostle Paul said he would be a castaway if he didn’t preach the Word of God.12 How could he or we communicate the Gospel, the Word of God, to the lost people in the world if we ourselves don’t study the Word to know it? In order for us to know Jesus, we must know the Word, because the Word is Jesus. Hence, we cannot preach Jesus the Word unless we diligently study the entire Word of God. And how will the people of the world ever know Jesus, the Word of God, the truth, if preachers, teachers, evangelists, pastors, and prophets are not sent to them? “How then shall [the people of the world] call on Him [Jesus] in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:14-15). We cannot be saved unless we receive Him, the Word, for it is written, “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).
God magnifies His Word, the Bible, above His name (Psa. 138:2). Therefore, we must magnify His name far above ours or any other thing we value in this world. To magnify the Word of God is for our own benefit.
I was astonished to read in the book of James that the Word of God, again, which is Jesus, is the mirror, the looking glass for us to look at to see if our reflection in it is like Jesus. If we are to enter Heaven, we must look into the mirror, the looking glass, always, to see if we reflect the same image Jesus reflects into us through His Word. Jesus appeared to me, not to flatter me, but to show me the meaning of this Scripture. We cannot look into the mirror, the looking glass, to see what we are, then walk away from the mirror and forget what manner of man we are or are supposed to be (Jas. 1:24).
Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes says by the Holy Spirit that we must, in this mortal life that we live in this world, “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14). I pray that after reading this supernatural experience which God gave me, you have made the decision to receive the Word of God, which is receiving Jesus as your personal Savior. Don’t put it off another moment. Be born again of the Spirit now by saying this prayer:
Prayer
My Lord and my God, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. 2 I believe that He died on the cross and shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of all my sins. 3 I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit 4 and that He sits on the right hand of God at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart and I invite You into my heart, Lord Jesus. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that You shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 You will not turn me away, Lord Jesus, You will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because Your Word, the Bible says so. 8 Your Word says that You will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that You have heard me, and I know that You have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as You command and sin no more. 11
Please contact us for more information or for literature on other topics which may be of interest.
Tony Alamo Christian Ministries Worldwide
P. O. Box 2948
Hollywood, CA 90078
Twenty-four hour prayer and information line: (661) 252-5686
Tony Alamo Christian Ministries Worldwide provides a place to live with all the things necessary for life
to all those
in our United States locations who truly want to serve the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Services held in New York City every Tuesday at 8 P.M. and at other locations nightly. Please call for more information: (908) 937-5723.
MEALS SERVED AFTER EACH SERVICE
Ask for Pastor Alamo's book, The Messiah, showing Christ from the Old Testament revealed in over three hundred thirty-three prophecies.
Become a laborer in the harvest of souls by becoming a distributor of Pastor Alamo's literature. All of our literature and audio messages are free of charge, including shipping.
THIS LITERATURE CARRIES THE TRUE PLAN OF SALVATION (Acts 4:12).
DO NOT THROW IT AWAY, PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE
Those of you who are in other countries, we encourage you to translate
this literature into your native language.
If you do reprint, please include this copyright and registration:
© Copyright 1996, 2006, 2007 All rights reserved
World Pastor Tony Alamo ® Registered 1996, 2006, 2007
The Tony Alamo Christian Ministries Worldwide is a division of Music Square Church, Inc.
The Looking Glass "footnotes"
1 Psa. 139:19-22, Prov. 6:16-19, 8:13, Isa. 61:8, Amos 5:15, 21-23, 6:8, Zech. 8:17, Mal. 1:3, Matt. 6:24, Rom. 9:13, Heb. 1:9, Rev. 2:6, 15 return
2 Isa. 40:21, Matt. 25:34, Eph. 1:4-5, 11, Rev. 17:8 return
3 Gen. 14:13, 22:18, 26:4, Matt.1:1-17, John 4:9, Heb. 2:16 return
4 Deut. 6:5-7, Prov. 1:24-26, Josh. 1:8, Judg. 2:17, 19-20, Psa. 1:1-3, Jer. 11:9-12, Matt. 5:13, 6:22, 24:12, 24, Mark 4:7, 8:38, 13:22, Rev. 3:18 return
5 Matt. 15:14, Mark 10:51-52, Rom. 10:17, Heb. 11:1-6 return
6 Psa. 102:25-27, Isa. 24:19-20, 51:6, Matt. 5:18, Mark 13:24-37, II Pet. 3:10-13, Rev. 20:11, 21:1 return
7 Gen. 6:13, 17, Ch. 7, Matt. 24:38-39, I Pet. 3:20, II Pet. 2:5 return
8 Matt. 24:3-5, 11, 23-24 return
9 Mark 13:5, 22 return
10 Matt. 24:3, 14, 29-31, 35-39, Amos 4:12, Matt. 12:36-37, Rom. 14:11-12 return
11 Matt. 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10, I John 5:14-15 return
12 I Cor. 9:27 return
"Prayer" Footnotes:
1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return
2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return
3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return
4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return
5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return
6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return
7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return
8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return
9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13return
10. Heb. 11:6 return
11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return