A Vision from 1 John 1: A Journey into Freedom

- by Rabon Johnson

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As I was reading 1 John 1, these verses stood out to me:

 

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8-10 (NKJV)

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I asked God what it truly means that no one can boast of being without sin. I really leaned into Him, seeking to understand, and that’s when something amazing happened—I was taken into a vision.

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I found myself in a vast, open landscape. At the center was a calm, glassy lake. All around it stretched dry, barren land. Across the lake stood a blood-stained cross, and nearby was an ancient, empty tomb with the stone rolled away. The sky was glowing with a deep orange sunset. On the lake’s edge grew gentle grasses, contrasting with jagged rocks off to the side.

Beside the lake stood a tall, dignified man in a long tan robe with tassels and simple sandals. His face shone with such bright, divine light that I couldn’t see any features. I knew instantly—this was the presence of God.

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I stood next to Him and noticed His hands—massive, about three times the size of mine. They looked ancient, full of wisdom and grace.

Then I heard Him call me by name. He said,

“My son, you've been through a lot, but you're still not free. Guarding your heart so tightly to avoid sin is not true freedom. That’s still a form of bondage. My people were never meant to live imprisoned.”

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He handed me a large silver ring—it looked like a simple napkin ring. It was unpolished and plain, with a few etched lines. It was heavy, but humble.

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Then the Lord pulled from His side a large, black mass—like a garbage bag, but so dark I couldn’t even see its edges. He said:
“Look out into the horizon. You’ll begin to see words and images in the sky—everything in your heart that needs to be removed. These are the things that must be dealt with so you can walk in the true freedom that Jesus has paid for.”

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Suddenly, words started rising from my chest, floating above me. I could grab them with my hands and place them into the bag. I saw liquor stores I had visited, names of websites I shouldn’t have seen, memories, moments—all coming up. Each time, I would take hold of them and place them between the hands of the Lord, placed in the bag.

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This went on for what felt like hours. I was shocked by how much was still lodged deep in my heart.

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When I thought I was done, God nudged me:

“Look deeper.”

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With His help, I did. Now I had new strength and understanding. I saw the words “fear of failure.” It started small, but as it floated into the air, it grew massive. I grabbed it and placed it into the bag. This time, I noticed the bag grew larger. I felt something lift from my heart.

Then came “pride,” and after that, “self-condemnation.” Each time, the bag expanded, and I felt my soul getting lighter. The more I gave to God, the more I felt freedom washing over me—even in my physical body, as I sat in my kitchen. I was being set free, thought by thought.

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Then the Lord said,

“Now, son, give this bag to Me. What does it look like to you?”

I said, “It looks like an O, but I don’t know what it means.”

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He took the bag, threaded it through the silver ring, and sealed it shut so it could never be opened again. He handed it back to me and said,

“Grasp the ring. Now, enter the lake.”

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As I approached the lake, the bag felt heavy. The Lord said,

“If it becomes too heavy, My Son Jesus will help you carry it.”

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I stepped into the water, and instantly, I was dressed in a pure white robe with sandals. The lake wasn’t like regular water—it was thick, and red. When it splashed against my robe, it didn’t stain. It bounced off.

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The Holy Spirit revealed: “You are standing in the Pool of the Resurrection—the very blood of Jesus.”

I walked in until the blood was chest-high. The Lord said,

“Now turn to face Me. Take the ring, go under the surface of the blood, and come up again.”

I did, and when I rose, the bag was gone. All that remained was the ring.

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Then the Lord said,

“Place the ring on your finger.”

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I was confused—it was huge! But as I lifted it toward my hand, the ring began to change. It turned into pure gold, sparkling with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and gems I’d never seen before. It shrank to fit perfectly on my finger.

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I asked, “Lord, what is this ring?”

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He said,

“It’s your crown of overcoming. It’s a symbol of victory.”

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I was overwhelmed by His goodness. Then He said something even more beautiful:

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“Anytime you need to release something—anything weighing on your soul—come back here. I have many bags for you.”

Right then, I thought of something I’d forgotten earlier. The Lord called out,

“That’s okay, son. Come back to shore. Take off the ring.”

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As I removed it, it turned back into that plain silver band. The Lord pulled out another black bag and said,

“You can come here anytime.”

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The vision faded, and I found myself back in my kitchen. The Holy Spirit spoke clearly to my heart:

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“This is what it means to take every thought captive before God. To confess it, release it, and let the blood of Jesus cleanse you. There's nothing you need to do—only believe in your heart and confess with your mouth.”

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I felt the weight of the world lift off me. I realized I had built so many walls trying to protect myself from sin—but now, I didn’t need them anymore. Because I wasn’t carrying sin anymore. I was truly free.

 

Are you ready to visit the Pool of the Resurrection?

The Lord is waiting with bags in hand. He has a ring of overcoming for you, too. You can come anytime, just as you are. Receive the freedom, healing, and love only Jesus freely offers.

 

Simple Steps to Freedom:

1. Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for an hour. Before you start, take five deep breaths: inhale for five seconds and exhale for five seconds each time.

 

  2.  Ask the Holy Spirit to bring you to the Pool of the Resurrection. Picture yourself standing at the Father’s right side, he is holding a bag so dark you can’t see its edges.

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  3.  Take a moment and ask God to clear your mind so you can understand everything—every word, place, person, or thing you’ve done or should have done—that needs to be removed from your soul, mind, and spirit.

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  4.  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight and guide you to the truth.

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  5.  Now wait for each word, image, or thought that comes up. Grab it and put it in the bag the Lord is holding. Keep going until He tells you to stop. As you do this, you will feel lighter.

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  6.  When you're done, the Lord will let you know. Ask God to close the bag and thread your ring on. 

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  7.  As the Lord gives you the bag, picture yourself moving to the side of the Pool of Resurrection. If the bag feels too heavy, ask Jesus to help.

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  8.  Now step into the pool.  When you step into the pool, you’ll see you’re wearing a white robe.

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  9.  Wade into the pool until the water is chest high. Hold onto the ring and dip completely under the surface, then stand up straight again. You’ll feel all your burdens lifted, covered by the blood of Jesus.

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10.  Put the jeweled ring on your finger and head back to shore. With every step, you’ll feel better. When you reach the shore, you’ll feel completely renewed and at peace. 

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“So if the Son (Jesus) sets you free, you will be free indeed” – (NIV)

Congratulations, you are free!

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If you do not feel free and would like guided help through this process, please schedule an appointment with our ministry team.