Pastor talks about heaven in new book

The Rev. Justin E. Garner Jr. knows when he talks about having seen Heaven, some people dismiss his claims.

"What I say is true," he said. "There is no embellishment."

That also applies to his ability to see spiritual beings, the angels and demons among us.

"There is a war going on for the soul of man," Garner said.

Garner, 52, is co-pastor with his dad, the Rev. Justin E. Garner Sr., at Cornerstone Full Gospel Church on Second Avenue in Columbus. They also lead Cornerstone Ministries, which was established in 1982.

Garner describes what he has seen and heard in his new book, "Through the Eyes of the Watchman: Visions, Dreams and Spiritual Travels From the Front Lines."

He will be signing copies of the book, which was recently published by WestBow Press, from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Walmart on Gateway Road. Amazon and Barnes & Noble sell the book online.

While there are stories of people seeing Jesus during near-death experiences, such is not the case with Garner. He said he had his vision when he was 17 years old, sitting on the stage as his father led a church service. He said it was not a dream, because he was awake.

Garner described seeing a bright flash of light that did not go away when he shut his eyes.

"It was intense, like the most powerful, pure white flashbulb you could imagine to see," he said.

Garner said he was then drawn into this light. He described the place he was taken to as very bright but with no sun. There was a dark blue sky. He said he stood alone on a cobblestone road. Both the road and the buildings along its sides had rich colors.

Soon, people in colorful robes gathered, waving large palm leaves and cheering as they greeted a man in a white robe and brown sandals.

Garner said he realized he was face to face with Jesus Christ.

He described Jesus as having olive brown skin as though he had been outside his entire life, but his skin was smooth instead of wrinkled. He had shoulder-length wavy hair and a close-cut beard.

There was a distinct difference from the Jesus he met and the one of which he had seen portraits.

"His nose was not pointy like many Europeans," he said. "It was larger and rounder."

In the book, Garner describes the meeting this way, "If love has a color, it would be the blue of our Savior's eyes. The depth of gentleness, love and kindness in his eyes was so deep that one could be lost in his gaze forever. He moved very close to me and took my head in his hands. He gently kissed my forehead, smiled at me and said, 'The kiss of Jesus is in your forehead.' Then, I was back."

Garner said he wrote the book because he believes it is mission to share the word of God with others. In the book, he shows a report from a polygraph test he took in Atlanta in which he was asked about his heavenly experience. The conclusion was that there was "no deception indicated."

Garner said his biggest surprise about his experience was that the streets of Heaven were not paved with gold as he had heard.

Faith has long been a big part of the Pentecostal preacher's life. When he was 15 years old, the Florida native began to travel during the summer through Georgia and Alabama with his father and a tent ministry, one in which he said he witnessed many miracles, including healings and spiritual restoration.

He and his father traveled in an old school bus that pulled a trailer.

"We had to put up the tent and set up the chairs," Garner recalled.

He said there was not much money, but people would often bring them food.

Cornerstone Full Gospel Church here began in a storefront and is now in its fourth location. A renovation is underway.

Garner, a former Navy sonar technician, does not depend on the church for income. He and his wife, Diana, own D & R Global Enterprises, an energy conservation consulting firm dealing with computerized heating and air-conditioning systems.

Asked what was the message he wanted to get across to people with his book, Garner said, "I want them to keep the faith. With faith, there is hope. All things are possible for those who believe."

This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 11:48 PM with the headline "Pastor talks about heaven in new book ."