How long do you think it will be before we feel that unannounced tingling in our bodies and we are instantly changed from corruptible flesh to creatures of eternity? Five years? Five weeks? Tomorrow? Maybe Today?
How much farther do you think the Lord will allow this world to go in its quest to create a Godless utopia? Will man finally discover the cure to disease, the secret of immortality and the keys to global peace? Will cloning, genetic manipulation, designer babies and doctor-assisted suicide become the overwhelming order of the day?
We live in a time of Divine forbearance, where God is holding back His hand of judgement to allow His faithful saints to continue winning lost souls to the Savior. But while the love of God is eternal, His patience is not! The Word of God is very clear that there will be a time when God will say, "Enough!" His patience will run out, and the last person to be saved in the dispensation of Grace will finally have said that wonderful "Yes" to Christ.
In that tragic and yet blessed moment, a shout will ring out throughout Heaven. The trumpet of God will sound and the Savior will part the curtain between Heaven and the clouds. The glorified bodies of the saints who have died will be joined with their spirits.
"Then we who 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 be ever with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to receiving my glorified body. No more sickness and pain. No joints that give us trouble. Strength and capability beyond what we can imagine on this earth. The apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:53-55)
What do you think will be the first order of business, once we have been joined forever with the Lord at the Rapture of the Church? There will, of course, be the time of greeting. And we will certainly be fed at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. What's more, we will learn in short order what will be our position in eternity, when we stand before the Lord at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
But may I suggest something that could possibly precede those marvelous events? In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John was witness to an amazing occurrence that will one day take place around the throne of God. It is the opening of the seven-sealed scroll of the judgement of God.
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw an angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll, and loose its seals? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the scroll, neither to look on it. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the scroll, neither to look on it. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the scroll, and to loose its seven seals." (Revelation 5:1-5)
Later in that chapter, there is named a multitude of over 100 million who gave praise to the Lord as He executes the judgement of God upon the Tribulational World. In that we will be joined with Christ at the Rapture of the Church for all eternity, may I therefore suggest that we will be numbered among those who witness the opening of the seals? It may well, that this awesome event will be the first of our experiences following the Rapture!
How many times we have read this passage with wonder, awed by the splendor and drama of that Heavenly scene! The sheer experience of being caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord will be stunning enough, but then, to be ushered into the Throne Room of God to observe the opening of Revelation Judgement - my, what an expectation that is!
One moment, we will be about our daily business. But then, in the twinkling of an eye, everything will be changed. None of our little plans will mean anything anymore, for we will find ourselves in the presence and the glory of the eternal God. That could happen this year. It could happen today!
When we think about the tragedy of the suicide of those hapless individuals who made up Heaven's Gate Cult, it causes us to pause and think about our faith. They had only delusion, but were prepared to lay down their lives in its service. We, on the other hand, have the assurance of the absolute truth of the Savior. They purposed, by their own hand, to leave this world to meet what they believed to be an approaching spacecraft. We, through the mighty power of God, will leave this veil by no effort or merit of our own.
Are we as anxious and prepared to meet the Savior as they, in their confusion, were to leave this life? This is not a call to fanaticism and insanity, friend, it is a call to clear-eyed reality! How seriously do we hold to that which we believe?
It may well be that the world will use tragedies a such as this to explain away our departure, when the Rapture does occur. That amazing possibility becomes more certain with each and every day that passes.
In humble service of our coming King, Dave Breese, President World Prophetic Ministry
The above was presented as a service to interested parties.
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