Few stories capture the mystery and majesty of God’s presence like that of Rabbi Felix Halpern. Once a successful businessman in New York’s diamond district and an Orthodox Jew by family lineage, Felix’s journey to Yeshua as Messiah and his near-death encounter with the glory of God stand as a powerful testimony of faith, transformation, and eternal hope.
In this article, I’ll walk you through his remarkable journey—how he went from the diamond trade to a life of faith, how a medical crisis led him into the very presence of God, and what he brought back to share with the world.
From Orthodox Roots to Messianic Faith
Felix was born into a Jewish family deeply rooted in tradition. His grandfather was an Orthodox rabbi, and many in his paternal line perished in the Holocaust. His father alone survived. Growing up in the Netherlands and later in the United States, Felix always carried the weight of his heritage.
But God was drawing him to something more.
In the 1970s, Felix encountered Yeshua (Jesus) as the promised Messiah. What many Jewish people would consider unthinkable—accepting Jesus as Savior—became the fulfillment of his deepest longing.
As Felix explains, he didn’t stop being Jewish. Rather, he became what he calls a “completed Jew,” finding in Jesus the fullness of his faith:
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
That transformation launched Felix into a new life, but God wasn’t finished with him yet.
Success in Business, Call to Ministry
For 25 years, Felix thrived in the diamond and gold business on 47th Street in Manhattan. He rose to the position of vice president of a company and lived a life of material blessing. Yet the call of God grew louder.
One day, God told him to liquidate everything—retirement, savings, security—and trust Him completely. The timing seemed impossible. Felix and his wife had just built a home, carried a high mortgage, and were preparing for their daughter’s college future. But his wife, a Jewish believer herself, confirmed what God had spoken. Together, they stepped out in faith.
Felix describes faith as a journey where one day you feel like the captain of the Starship Enterprise, boldly going where no one has gone before—and the next day you feel like the captain of the Titanic, sinking beneath the waves. Yet through it all, God was shaping him for something greater.
A Medical Crisis and the Near-Death Experience
Years later, Felix faced a health crisis that would change everything. Misdiagnosed with a thyroid condition, he was prescribed medication at dangerously high levels. Within weeks, his body collapsed into what doctors called an “inner storm.”
As his physical body shut down, Felix crossed over into a realm beyond death.
He was immediately aware: “My circle of life had come to an end.”
And yet, God had more to reveal.
The Angelic Presence
In this moment between life and death, Felix found himself attended by a powerful angel. He describes it like being rushed into an emergency operating room. The angel moved his hand over Felix, ministering not to his body but to his soul.
This encounter prepared him for what came next: the full unveiling of God’s glory.
“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”
(Hebrews 1:14, ESV)
Encountering the Glory of God
Felix was then ushered into the throne room of God. What he experienced defies earthly language.
He saw light and fire—so intense that his eyes felt heat. He fell prostrate, unable to stand in the overwhelming holiness of the Almighty. There was no thought, no distraction—only the presence of God Himself.
Felix describes the glory of God as “beyond perfection.” Having worked in a gold refinery, he knew what refining meant. But God’s presence was the ultimate refinement—pure, holy, consuming, yet filled with unending love.
Like Isaiah, who cried out when he saw the Lord high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1–7), Felix was undone in God’s presence.
Lessons from the Throne Room
In the presence of God’s glory, Felix received revelations that continue to shape his ministry today:
- Faith must be transformational, not transactional. God revealed how many prayers are merely transactional requests, rather than transformational encounters with Him.
- True security cannot come from wealth or work. God showed Felix that his career had become his security, and it had to be surrendered.
- God’s heart is for His people. Especially as a Jewish believer, Felix carries a burning call to love his people and reveal Yeshua as their Messiah.
A Vision of Heaven and the Second Heaven
Felix was also shown glimpses of heaven’s beauty. He saw rivers whose beds sparkled with gemstones—diamonds, rubies, and precious stones more glorious than anything he had handled in the diamond trade.
He also saw the reality of the second heaven, a realm of demonic forces. There, pitiful demons tried to climb toward him, even attempting to grab his ankle, but they could not touch him. The blood of Yeshua was his protection.
“They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
(Revelation 12:11, ESV)
This vision gave Felix renewed confidence in spiritual warfare: no principality or power can stand against the blood of Christ.
Returning with a New Mission
When Felix returned to his body, he knew he had been given life back for a purpose. Like the Apostle Paul, who longed to depart and be with Christ but remained for the sake of ministry (Philippians 1:21–24), Felix now saw himself as a man on assignment.
He emphasizes that believers are “foreigners in this world,” yet called to bring heaven to earth by living in God’s glory daily. His ministry since then has focused on teaching believers how to walk in transformational faith and how to live cleansed, surrendered lives in God’s presence.
The Heaven Soul Cleanse
One unique revelation Felix brought back is what he calls the Heaven Soul Cleanse. Just as the body can undergo a detox, the soul can undergo a cleanse.
The practice involves surrendering all personal needs to God for 30 days, while praying through the Psalms daily. Instead of praying from need, you pray from surrender, allowing God to realign your soul with His Spirit.
This practice, Felix teaches, opens the believer to live in the “atmosphere of God’s glory.”
Watch the Full Interview
I’ve only scratched the surface of Rabbi Felix Halpern’s powerful story. To hear his full testimony—including his early journey of faith, his near-death experience, and his vision of heaven—watch the complete interview on the Two Christian Dudes Podcast here:
👉 Watch Felix Halpern’s Interview on YouTube
Get the Book: A Rabbi’s Journey to Heaven
If this story stirred your heart, I strongly encourage you to go deeper by reading Felix’s book, A Rabbi’s Journey to Heaven. It includes his full testimony along with a CD teaching and the Heaven Soul Cleanse prayer guide.
👉 Order A Rabbi’s Journey to Heaven on Amazon
Final Thoughts
Felix Halpern’s NDE reminds us that life is fragile, eternity is real, and God’s glory is greater than anything we can imagine. His story echoes the heart of Scripture:
“In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
(Psalm 16:11, ESV)
The good news is that the glory Felix encountered is not reserved only for after death. Through Jesus Christ, we can taste heaven even now—and live transformed lives that shine as witnesses to the world.
