What Then?

WHAT THEN?

Revelation 4: 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

We’ve come now to a point of controversy among believers. Some believe the church is still on earth at the time of Johns vision; truly they are. But, John speaks not of the living at that present time, though the age of its later appearing was under way. Some place no significance upon the open door to heaven other than John got a glimpse of heaven before his final reward. It is significant to remember that He was told that he would be shone the past, present and future. Some believe that his ‘going up’ represents the saints entering into heaven as a group before the beginning of sorrow on earth; God’s wrath. Paul and other bible writers explained the true church leaving earth to be with the Lord. There will be a taking away of the church before the wrath of God is poured out on the unbelievers and the deceived church of Laodicean; the seventh church period individuals. That age is well underway. Any day now, we could hear the sound of the trumpet.

1 Thessalonians 4: 12 “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. We can be comforted knowing that we will not suffer the wrath of God to come upon the world we (living or dead) leave behind.

Luke 21:25 “...Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

There is safety and security reserved for all the saints in the time of tribulation of God’s wrath; soon coming. Be wise, therefore, for the souls astray and your own. Be among those who turn many sinners to righteousness, and turn from the errors of your own ways. Unto righteous knowledge before God who can save their souls from death. We will share in the glory of those we have led to heaven’s gate. (James 5:18-20) 19 “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

John heard one of the angels asking how long it should be to the end of these wonders, a solemn reply was made, that it would be for a time, times, and a half time; the period mentioned in James 7:25|, also in the Revelation. It thus specifies 1260 prophetic days or years, beginning from the time when the power of the holy people should be scattered. The impostor Mohamed, and the Catholic religion, began to gain prominence about the same time; and these perputrated a twofold attack upon the church of God. We see it fattened to readiness for removal. But all will end well at last for all opposing rule, principality, and power, shall be subdued, and holiness and love will triumph, and be honored, through and ‘beyond” eternity. The end, this end, shall come.

What a truth of so many varied events, reaching down through many successive ages, even to the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the taking away of His Bride, the Church! We must be content in waiting for it is our comfort that we shall not go till God calls us unto Himself. We labor until he is done with us in this world. Then we will hear: “Go thou thy way, thou hast done thy work, therefore now, go my good and faithful servant, and leave it to others to take thy place. It was a great comfort to Daniel, To me and to all the saints, that whatever their lot is in the days of their lives, that we all shall have happy returns in the end of the days. We are urged to take great care and have concern to secure this promise. Then we may well be content with our present state as was Paul, and welcome the will of God. Believers are happy at all times; we rest in God’s Grace by faith now, and a rest is reserved for them in heaven at last and eternally. (1 Thessalonians 1:part of 9-10 in full.)”... ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. Hebrews 4:3 "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.”Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (1 Thessalonians 5): 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober; having part in the first Resurrection unto eternal life. Know God, know peace. Amen. 03-05-2020 BLL