Eternity is Just A Breath Away!

Who hasn't dreamed of an eternity in heaven? I can't believe anyone would ever give up the notion that heaven exists! It is a very real place, not just something you can hope for, but something you can know with absolute certainty awaits the believer of Jesus Christ, when they either breathe their final breath here on earth or they find themselves caught up in the rapture with Jesus Christ in the air!

We have been studying all about what is coming for the earth in what will be known as the Tribulation Period and I believe we are seeing the players being readied and the stage being set as we look at the events that happening in the Middle East. This is one prophecy we know is coming but as a believer we won't be a part of.

God has been so gracious to lay out the timeline within the Book of Revelation and it can be found in a simple outline found in Revelation 1:17-19.

Revelation 1:17-19 ~ "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this."

The verse "things which you have seen, " relates to the entire Chapter 1 of the Book of Revelation. "The things which are," relates to Chapters 2 and 3, and "those that are to take place after this," is Chapters 4-22.

The concept of Heaven for anyone is beyond what we can think or speak of and eternity for us all is but a breath away! As a Christian, you will not be involved in any of the judgments of God that are coming during the 7-year Tribulation Period. We are citizens of heaven with passports we are just waiting to get to use one day in our future!

As we open Chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation, this was the inspiration for Handel's Hallelujah chorus! We need to know the words of the songs in the Bible, because as believers, we will one day experience what we are reading here. As a believer in Christ, this is our future! We need to know the words to the songs we will be singing. Did you know that the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic are from the book of Joel?

The Tribulation Period at this point in our study, is about to come to a close, but it isn't over just yet. Satan knows that his time is running out so soon he will turn all of his attention and venom to Jesus Christ. Chapter 19 of Revelation is the gateway to the Second Coming of Christ. This will be sung by the believers of Christ.

Revelation 19:1-6 ~ " After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God for his judgments are true and just; for he had judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke for her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like a sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns."

Notice that four times, the word "Hallelujah" is cried out in just six verses in this chapter! It is an international word like the word "Amen" that every single person and culture understands no matter the language. The word "Amen" means let it be true or this is so. The word Hallelujah, is pronounced with an A not the H, but is means to Praise the Lord or Praise be to the Lord. "Alle or Halle is to praise, praise to be, a declaration of praise. Jah or Yah, it the name of God like Yah-weh!

The one thing we know is that we will be worshiping the Lord in heaven because He is faithful! Notice in verse 1, the words "After these things or after this, " that is the Greek word, 'meta tauta.' This is a most significant key to understanding the chronology of Revelation. The "meta tauta' or the "after this or after these things," now links us to the time table and sequence of events. That is very important to us, the church. This is where we are going to see and experience our future in heaven. Now everyone put on your memory caps and go back with me to Revelation 4.

Revelation 4:1 ~ " After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this."

Here we find "meta tauta" again or "after this or after these things." After what? What has happened since the letters to the seven churches? Something significant indeed. We know John was told to write the letters to each of these seven churches which were real churches during John's day, but they are also the characteristics of the churches we will find in our later days. Now John looks up and sees a door standing open in heaven. Why is the door open? He then heard a voice like a trumpet, isn't that the same thing believers in Christ were promised that when Jesus came for His church He would come a the blast of a trumpet? John represents the church in this verse if we take it literally. The voice tells John to come up here and I will show you what must take place after this." John is taken up into heaven like the believers will who believe in Christ and then the time clock for the 7- year Tribulation Period begins and so does the judgment of God. Why?

This is the pre-tribulation rapture view between Jesus Christ and the bride of Christ. God must do this to focus His attention on Israel, so He removes the church. Revelation 4:1 is the apostle John's "caught up" vision of the future. Since Revelation 4:1, the church is never again seen on earth. The church is no where to be found because since Revelation 4:1, the churches location has been in heaven with Jesus Christ, during the Tribulation Period.

Still, Revelation 19:1, the church is not only, not on earth, but is in heaven. How did that happen?

We will study that in further detail tomorrow! Stay tuned!