The Book of Revelation is Messiah’s testimony to the churches. The One who gave His life for us on the cross reveals to us the things that shall shortly come to pass.
Revelation 4:1: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
After John receives the Lord’s messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3, he sees a door standing open in heaven. The first voice that he hears coming from the open door sounds like a trumpet. The voice says to him, “Come up here.”
John’s experience symbolizes what shall come to pass for those who are raptured to be with the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ opens the door of heaven, calls, and they are forever with Him.
In Exodus 9:4, 11:7, 12:12–13, 14:26–28, God protected His people from incurring the wrath that He gave to the Egyptians.
In Ezekiel 9:4, God ordered His angel to “put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Afterwards in Ezekiel 9:6, He told others, “Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.”
The Lord will make a distinction between those who believe in Him in the last days of this world, and those who don’t. We may incur wrath from people who hate the Lord, but He will protect us, thanks to the redeeming blood of His Son over us, from His wrath on sin.
In 2 Peter 2:9, Peter wrote, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” In 2 Peter 2:5, Peter wrote, “[God] saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.” Noah and his family were taken out of harm’s way. Those who rejected the Word of the Lord, died in the flood.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the Apostle Paul wrote, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 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 thus, we shall always be with the Lord.”
Paul says this is a mystery. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
The door of heaven will be opened, the trumpet will sound, believers shall be with the Lord!
The Heavenly Father will say to His Son, “Go get your bride.”
In John 14:3, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”
In Matthew 25, while speaking about the signs of His second coming, Jesus told three parables. In each parable, some people are taken and some are not. He takes 5 wise virgins and leaves behind 5 foolish virgins. He rewards two servants and casts one out. He takes those who did kind deeds for the least of His brethren. He casts the others out.
In Luke 17:34-37, Jesus foretold, “I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” The disciples asked Jesus, “Where, Lord?” He replied, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” The rapture will happen wherever there are believers.
Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
After Jesus comes with the clouds, and people see Him, they mourn. Why? Some people were taken and others left behind. The Lord winnowed the wheat from the chaff. Like a giant metal detector in the sky, those who believed in Him were caught up to be with Him. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “We wait for God’s Son from heaven, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
In Psalm 78:23, David wrote: “He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven. Psalm 11:4 says, “The Lord is in His holy temple. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”
In Isaiah 57:1-2, Isaiah wrote, “The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace...” This prophecy speaks of righteous and merciful people being spared from evil and entering into peace and rest with the Lord.
In Revelation 14:13, John heard a voice from heaven say, “Write blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
In Revelation 14:14-20, there are two harvests.
In Revelation 14:14-16, during the first harvest, John sees the Son of Man sitting on a white cloud. He has on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. He thrusts in His sickle and the harvest of the earth is reaped. This is the people of God being gathered to the Lord.
In Revelation 14:17-20, he sees an angel with a sickle. The angel thrusts his sickle at the earth and threw the remainder of people into the great winepress of the wrath of God. “And blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles.” This is the people who rejected Christ.
Revelation 4:2-3: “Immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.”
What will the redeemed of the Lord see when He opens the door of heaven for them, and says to them, “Come up here.” They will see the Lord and hear His voice.
In Revelation 4:4-11, the Lord revealed to John a scene of worship to the Lord in heaven. The Lord is beautiful. His throne room is colorful and bright. There are angels, elders and living creatures worshipping Him. It will be a great joy to be there and to know that we never have to return to a world where pain, crying and death exists.
Are you ready for the Lord’s return?
In Luke 21:36, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
“Dear Heavenly Father, please keep us ever mindful of our destiny to come before You, and please let us stand before the Son of Man. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.”
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