Each day we have trials, pains, disappointments and sometimes we get so caught up in the moment we do not dwell on what is ahead of us. Sometimes in the moments we look ahead but we skip a few steps along the way. We look heaven bound and how someday there will be no more pain and no more sorrow but we forget the steps in between. If we do not focus on our God today and be accepted through Jesus Christ our Lord , our future will be doomed. We must build a solid foundation through reading the scriptures and fellowshipping with other believers because if we do not the doubts that creep into our lives can overtake us. Let’s look at scripture and see what God has to tell us today.
I am drawn to Revelations 5 - 8 today, if you have a chance it would be good if you could read those chapters. In Chapter 5 we see a glimpse of Jesus in Heaven. We see that He is the only one worthy to open the sealed scrolls. Verse 6, “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out to all the earth." That is not the picture I envision when I picture Jesus in Heaven.
In Revelation 6 we see the seals opened. The one I want to focus on today is the fifth seal. Revelations 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. (10) They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” That really isn’t what I think of when I think of Heaven. I think of no more pain and suffering but as I understand the scripture, there will still be questions in Heaven but they won’t be the questions I always thought I would ask, or at least not at this point.
Chapter 7 is the introduction of the tribulation. I don’t know if you are a pre-trib, mid-trib or post-trib believer or if you even know what that means but I think it is worthy to note that we as Christians are not exempt from pain and suffering. When the Lord returns our work will only be beginning, there is a battle to come and we will be a part of it. The joyous part of that is that He wins!!!!!
Chapter 7 speaks of the tribulation and there will be seals on the foreheads of the servants of God. Note there are only 144,000 servants of God at this time, on all the earth. Now look at verse 9, “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation., tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried in a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and the Lamb.’’ In verse 14 it tells us who these are, (13)“Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in the white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?’ (14) I answered, ‘Sir, you know.” And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (15) Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. (16) Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them nor any scorching heat. (17) For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Now that is how I have pictured Heaven but note, there was great suffering prior to this point. When it says He will “wipe away their tears” does that mean they are still crying?
Chapter 8 talks about 4 of the trumpets sounding. When I think of the trumpet sounding I think of the Lord returning but chapter 8, is not like that at all. Trumpet 1: Hail and fire mixed with blood was hurled to the earth and 1/3 of the earth was burned up. Trumpet 2: Something like a huge mountain was burning and fell into the sea and 1/3 of the sea creatures died and 1/3 of ships destroyed. Trumpet 3 A great star blazing like a torch fell to the earth and destroyed 1/3 of the rivers and springs. One-third of the waters turned bitter and people died from drinking bitter water. Trumpet 4: One-third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck and turned dark leaving 1/3 of the day and night dark. We aren’t talking about cloud cover here, it will be completely dark. I get depressed when there is cloud cover!
There are three more trumpets to be sounded and we will look at them another day. I write these words today, not to scare you, even though the future does seem a little scary, but to remind you that we need to put all things into perspective. We need to trust our Lord and obey His commands. We need to know what we are asking for when we ask Him to come quickly. We need to know the urgency of sharing Him with others.
Many times when I need comfort I look at the Psalms and there is a chapter in the Psalms that relates to what we have read today. It would be good for you to read all of Psalm 46 in your Bible but I will give you the first 3 verses. (1) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (2) Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
As you seek Him with all your heart may you find peace, joy, happiness and may you have the desire to share His love with those around you and remember to pray for your enemies.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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