Acts 6-8: Seeing Heaven

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. - Acts 7:55-60 NIV

I just fiished reading the book "Heaven is for Real"  about a small boy who falls gravely ill and afterwards reports what he saw while he was in heaven.  One of the amazing things about the book is not what he saw, but the zeal he possessed in wanting to be sure that everyone who died knew Jesus.  He knew that people would not glimpse what he saw when they died unless they had accepted him. 

Stephen saw the same thing.  He saw heaven and Jesus a the right hand of God.  That was enough for him.  'Don't hold this against them,' he asked of the Lord.  Stephen had glimpsed eternity and as such, nothing on earth, not even the method by which he died could be measured against what waited for him and no one, no matter how wicked, should not experience God's mercy and what waits for them if they will accept it.

2010 Post - Acts 6-8:  Someone's Got To Do It