For simplicity I will refer to that soul as “he” rather than “he or she”. From Scripture and all the 50-some witnesses I have read, much is clear. First of all, all pain and discomfort ended the moment his spirit left his body. He will never have felt more alive and whole than he did at that moment. He may wonder why the nurses are fussing over him; he feels absolutely fine! Then he will leave Earth by one of any number of means and arrive in heaven. There he will suddenly be clothed, usually in a white robe of purity, but a few said they were in ordinary clothes for their culture. He will probably have nothing on his feet. When he arrives he will be instantaneously transformed into his best, most attractive self, probably like when he was in his thirties. Whatever physical ailment or disability or loss he had will be totally healed and restored. Also his spirit will look just like himself in every detail, even though he has no physical body, but a translucent spiritual body.
He will not be alone when he gets there. Most likely all those who have died before him and who had some part in his becoming a Christian or growing in the Christian life will be there to welcome him to heaven. They will take turns enthusiastically greeting him and expressing their joy at seeing him. They will have the happiest smiles and grins he has ever seen.
The love of God and His Son permeates heaven, and he feels more joy, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and completeness than he ever did on Earth. At some point he will meet Jesus. Experiencing His love and acceptance first hand will be an awesome joy. He will not want to leave Jesus’ presence, but Jesus will always be there and available. Jesus can be many places and with many people at the same time. Also he will laugh much, since witnesses have said Jesus’ sense of humor is greater than anyone else’s.
He will very likely be standing outside the gate on a grassy hill on which the grass is the greenest shade of grass he has ever seen and appears perfectly manicured, even better than the greens at the Master’s Golf Tournament. As he stands on the grass the three-inch blades come up through his feet and send energy throughout his body. As he walks, he leaves no footprints or damage to the blades of grass.
At the gate, an angel will note that his name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and he will enter one of the gates. Someone will accompany him and show him around heaven, perhaps one of those who met him, perhaps an angel or two. He will walk on streets that look like they are made of gold and glass that makes them seem wet. But when he steps on them, he feels no water. He sees flowers that are more beautiful than any he has seen on Earth and they seem to turn their flower heads to him as he passes. When he picks one, the fragrance is wonderful. When he puts the flower down, it continues to grow. He even hears faint hymns of praise coming from the flowers that accompany the hymns of praise he hears from the choirs of angels singing and the people of different villages singing as he passes. He, too, will join in the singing with a better voice than he has ever had. If he so desires, he might rise up in the air and take in the view and the sounds from a higher perspective.
He may come to the River of Life and taste one of the fruits from one of the Trees of Life growing along the edge of the river. When he puts it to his lips, it melts into the most delicious taste he has ever had, kind of like a mixture of peach, pear, and honey that runs down his throat and then evaporates. What remains of the fruit also evaporates, but a new one grows in its place. His friend invites him to step into the river. He eventually goes in over his head but never drowns. The water is neither hot nor cold but just right and has a taste like honey. He may play with the beautiful pebbles on the bottom of the river. When he steps out, he is instantaneously dry and his hair is in order. Also he feels something has happened and his friend tells him the water has washed away all of his earthly cares and memories of sin and prepared him for complete enjoyment of heaven.
What he is experiencing there is the life he has always wanted. It is the life for which he was made. It is the one that allows him to be fully the man God created him to be. As much as he loves the people he has left behind, he does not want to return.
I will end with my personal testimony of seeing the heavenly transformation. I had a vision of my first wife about a week after she died. I was looking at her portrait photograph when it suddenly took on a living three-dimensional appearance. At that moment, I saw her more whole and complete and full of joy than I had ever seen her in life. The problems with which she had struggled all her life were completely gone. She was radiant, confident, whole, joyful, and beautiful. The vision only lasted a second or two, but it spoke a lifetime of what happens to us when we get into the Lord’s presence in His kingdom. After that, though I missed her, I praised God for what she is now compared to when she was on Earth. Someday that will be me, too, when my work here is finished.