Sunday, February 20, 2011

Vision Into Heaven

Most people are hesitant to spend much time in the book of Revelation because it is complicated, and it raises many questions of the meaning. But much of the book is very clear and has great meaning to us as Christians. The Bible ends with this Revelation, this view directly into heaven. The introduction tells us that Jesus reveals these things to John who is on the Isle of Patmos. Patmos is a Greek Island, quite rocky and still there today. The book describes many things that are yet to come; and we can't cover all of that here. But it is especially interesting to look at the throne scenes in chapters 4 and 5. In 4, there is a view of the Father on the throne. In chapter 5, we see Jesus there on the throne and some of the things that are going on around Him. The reader should spend a few minutes reading these two chapters. Nowhere else in this life can one get a vision into heaven like this.


Note these passages in the book of Revelation, chapters 19-22: "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True...He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God" (19:11,13). "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.....and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (20:11-15). "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (21:2-4). "There shall be no night there; They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever" (22:5). This is such a beautiful and powerful vision into what awaits us, as Jesus promised.

Let's make sure that we are there, that we serve Him in the way He wants here on earth...during our short time here. Thanks for reading. Have a great week!

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