The original version we obtained contained these following interjections by the author, mainly regarding his interaction with Seneca Sodi as he transcribed his testimony.Many of these digressions also broke up the testimony in chapters, which the current publishers feel is a distraction to the story as it draws too much attention to the act of transcription. The original chapter divisions have not been preserved but for a line of asterisks in the text, but all other original comments have been preserved as follows:
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a.
“Now,” said Seneca, “I must leave you for the night. You are weary and tired and must sleep. I will see you again on the second evening from this,” and he vanished from my room. I sat musing. Where has he gone? Where does he stay? What is his food? Has he now no human association on earth? Can he not reveal himself to others as he has to me? When he comes again I must entertain him and find out, if possible, other secrets of his sojourn on earth.
* * *
The day with its busy cares was passed. The evening was lovely indeed. The stars had just begun to show their presence in the twilight and I was waiting in my library at the appointed hour. The door opened and Seneca Sodi came in. I arose to greet him, and said, “Good evening,” and tried to clasp his hand in mine, but felt no touch of a material palm to mine as is usual. He replied: “I am glad to see you, my son. Are you prepared?”
I told him I was, but felt a strange feeling of awe mingled with fear. His spotless purity seemed to come before me, and my own sinfulness and unworthiness was so apparent, but I summoned all my courage and said, “I am ready for your message.”
He asked me, “Have you faithfully transcribed the previous message?” I told him I had and showed him the manuscript. He quickly looked it over with satisfaction and said, “You may now write,” and he proceeded as follows:
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b.
“Now,” said Seneca, “you are weary and need sleep. May God’s good angel guard and give you rest.” And so saying he vanished.
* * *
On the second evening again I was waiting for him, not knowing certainly, however, that he would come at that time. But I hardly had my studio in shape for such a visitor until he was by my side. His garments shone with a peculiar brightness and his face was all aglow with the light of heaven. I said, “Seneca Sodi, do take a seat and explain to me the mystery of your body and your food. Both your hand and the fruit of your basket evaded the grasp of my hand.”
“At another time, my son, I will make it clear to you. Are you ready for my message?”
“I am,” I replied. He then proceeded as follows:
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c.
“Now,” said Seneca, “I must let you rest, you have faithfully served me, and are weary. I will see you again on the second evening,” and he bade me good-night and was gone.
* * *
At the appointed hour my silken bearded friend came in and with the usual greeting I welcomed him into my studio and said, “Seneca Sodi, I am most deeply interested in your narrative, and was eagerly waiting your coming.”
“Are you ready?” he asked. I told him I was He then proceeded as follows:
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d.
“But,” said Seneca, “I cannot describe to you these wonders tonight, for you are already weary.” So saying, he bade me good-night and was gone.
* * *
The sun was just setting when Seneca came again. I was on my knees in prayer, and as I opened my eyes he was standing by my side. “I greet you again tonight, my son,” he said, “and with God’s blessing upon you, we will now proceed with the narrative.” He commenced by saying:
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e.
At this Seneca Sodi stood up and said, “My son, I will see you again at the appointed time. The blessings of God Almighty be upon you, and among these blessings cause His face to shine upon you and give you rest.” I looked up from my writing only to see him vanishing from my room.
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f.
“Now,” said Seneca, “I must leave these holy men and the chariot till I see you again,” and so saying he bade me good-night.
* * *
I was very eager for Seneca’s return for he had left the chariot filled with men en route for the children’s Polytechnic and the remainder of his narrative I was exceedingly eager to hear.
A gentle rap at the door, it opened, and my silken bearded friend stepped in. “I am glad to see you, Mr. Sodi, I have always welcomed you, but never more than tonight. I have everything ready for your message.”
“You shall write it, my son,” he said, and he began:
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g.
“Now,” said Seneca, “I must leave you rest. The hour is late and you are tired.”
“But,” I replied to him, “are you not tired also?”
“No, I never tire any more, nor ever feel weary, but I long to get back to my Father’s house. Just as soon as my task to the world is done through you, I shall speed with all haste to my treasures above. Be of good cheer, my son. A reward is in waiting for you.” So saying he bade me good-night and vanished from my sight.
* * *
“You are on good time tonight, Seneca, and I am rested and ready for my evening’s task.”
“I am glad,” said Mr. Sodi, “to see you in good humor and in such fine spirits. May the Almighty Father bless you tonight as I give you my message:
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h.
(But of this matter I will speak to you again later, if you wish.)
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i.
Seneca now said, “You have written enough for this night. Transcribe all carefully and I will see you again as usual,” and so bade me good-night.
* * *
(I freely confess that by this time I was so carried away by the wonderful revelations of Seneca Sodi, that I could scarcely think of anything else, day or night, and after he would leave me some nights I would dream I was in heaven and walking the same streets where I had gone in vision and on waking felt disappointment that I was not there.)
But it was now time for his return. My manuscript and everything was ready. Really, I was eager for his coming, for I was eager indeed for another trip into paradise and further to see how saints in heaven assist each other. A rap was heard on the door and Seneca came in.
“Good evening,” he said, and came and gripped my hand with that peculiar touch that only the hand of a spiritual body can impart.
I welcomed him to a seat, but he said, “Where is your manuscript?” He quickly looked it over, with a smile and nod of approval. “Only,” he said, “I fear we have not put the soul and spirit of my concern into the message as we should have done. The eager concern I have that it may stamp itself upon all who read, that they may feel the importance of a due and rightful preparation for the life to come, for men do not know what they are doing when they trifle with the vast concerns of an eternal scene, but when you, dear son, have done your best, God will bless your effort and mine, for it has been sent.”
After I again assured him I would do all I could to faithfully declare his message, he took his seat near me and began as follows:
We closed our last meeting while in David’s chariot at the gateway of the children’s great amphitheater and were planning a tour to a distant point in paradise.
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j.
“Now,” said Seneca, “you must rest for a few minutes, and while you rest will you share in the fruit of my basket?” I put out my hand to take what seemed a beautiful orange, but I could not grasp it. I seemed mortified to think he was eating and I could not.
“Why is it?” I said.
“This fruit,” said he, “is but a tiny sample of what I have been telling you about. You will not forget that the heavenly world is a spiritual kingdom, and all things have a spiritual nature, and truly you can only eat of this fruit after you have crossed the boundary of your earthly habitation.”
* * *
“You may now write again,” said Seneca.
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k.
“Now,” said Seneca, as he turned to me, “you may rest for the night. Faithfully transcribe and make the message plain.” He turned his back and with a pleasant good-night, disappeared from my room.
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l.
At the appointed hour Seneca came in. He seemed to hasten to his usual place for his story left him sitting in the chariot at our last meeting.
“My son, have you everything ready for the message?”
“I have,” I replied, and he proceeded as follows:
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m.
Seneca Sodi now said, “I leave you, my son, for a little rest.”
I threw myself back in my chair with my eyes closed and reverently thanked my God for such revelations of the unseen world.
“Oh, how real is the future life,” I said. “I devoutly wish I was there now. No trouble, no sorrow, no death. Oh, heaven, not far away, may thy gates be opened for me, and may the angel’s chariot hasten to my humble cot!” I thus mused and prayed until I was fast asleep.
* * *
Seneca Sodi returned and said, “You may write again,” and he proceeded as follows:
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n.
“Now,” said Seneca, “you are weary and must rest. Sweet sleep and the peace of God be with you!” As I looked toward him, he vanished from my sight.
* * *
Seneca came as usual and glancing over the manuscript, he suggested a few changes here and there and then proceeded as follows:
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o.
“You may now rest,” said Seneca Sodi, “for I know you are weary and tired,” and handing me the scroll to be copied with care, said good-night.
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p.
* * *
The evening was most lovely indeed. Seneca Sodi came as usual, very full of pleasantness and joy, and glancing over the manuscript, especially the scroll, suggesting a few corrections here and there, he said, “Are you ready for me, my son?”
“Indeed, I am eagerly waiting for your message,” and he began:
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q.
“Now,” said Seneca Sodi, “you must rest. Faithfully transcribe what I have given you and I will see you again soon.”
As usual, he bade me a kindly good-night, and was about to vanish from me when I said, “Oh, Seneca, my soul is so ravished with your narrative that I wish you would remain all night and take me through the great congregation.”
“You will hear me again, my son,” he said and was gone.
* * *
Seneca came again as usual. His face was beaming with great joy and gladness.
I said, “Why are you so exceedingly happy tonight?”
He quickly replied, “Because I am going to take you tonight where I long to be myself.”
“Well,” I said, “I am eager for your message. When you left me last night, we were traveling very near the Throne.”
“Yes, my son, and I will tell you more of it now.”
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r.
Seneca now said. “Faithfully transcribe and I will see you again as usual. Good-night.”
* * *
I was eagerly waiting for Seneca’s return, to know further, myself, the things of the Throne of God. He was on time and greeted me with his usual pleasant smile and said:
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s.”The revelations he gave us, I will not describe tonight. I must leave you now,” said Seneca. “You are tired and have need of rest,” and he vanished from my presence.
* * *
Seneca came bright and early His face was beaming with holy joy and light. He quickly looked over the manuscript and was pleased and said, “This part of your task is nearly done. Fully carry out all the further details and you will not be disappointed in your rewards.”
“When I left you last we were eating some fruit nearby a fountain on the east side of the Throne and …
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About Edward Johnson and ‘40 Days in Heaven’
Edward Johnson originally found this manuscript on line at www.spiritlessons.com, made his own hand bound copy and was reading it one day when the Lord spoke to him, “You don’t need to keep those chapter divisions.” First looking down at his homemade copy, he then looked up to the sky and asked, “Why? I’ve already printed my own copy.” To which the Lord replied, “I want you to republish this story. Do it as a first fruits offering of your book publishing ministry.” That prophetic word started a long editorial process that eventually led to the 2008 printing of the first edition of 40 Days. Despite many challenging obstacles, the “first fruit” 1,000 copies were done just before the Christmas holiday that year and distributed to the community in Hong Kong, some to the Philippines, USA and others mailed across the world, all for free, despite many personal financial struggles. But the fruit of this sacrifice was soon to manifest as stories immediately circulated back about lives that were touched, hearts healed, hope restored and faith renewed by this classic spiritual gem, seemingly lost for many years, now restored and edited for a wide, modern audience. A year later the book was prepared to be released for sale, and, under the watchful care of the Lord, is again spreading its wonderful message of hope and truth around the world in printed and audio form.
Edward is called and serves as a Prophet of the Lord, along with his wife, but they also serve the community in other ways, spending much of their time training and equipping the saints, especially in inner healing, spiritual communion with the Lord (which is learning to speak with God in two-way conversation through the indwelling Holy Spirit, something every believer can do regardless of gifts), and prophecy.
They also have their own book titles, such as Foundations of the Kingdom, a book containing revelation from the Lord about the shift out of the church age, into the Kingdom on earth, and other titles on prophecy and ministry. They also publish a monthly journal of prophecy, the Hong Kong Intercessor, which is available for free from the website www.kingedwardltd.com, which you may also enjoy.