Untitled Sermon
Revelation 4
The Rapture
Revelation 4:1–2
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)
What a wonderful subject—the rapture of God’s people. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11–2:14) The Devil hates the doctrine of the imminent pre-tribulation rapture. The return of Christ in the rapture is one of the Christian’s great incentives to live a holy life. The rapture is also the great blessed hope of the Christian. However, many scoff at the idea of an any moment rapture. Their unbelief is to be expected in these last days. Peter warned us that in the last days there would be those who would reject and ridicule the idea of the Lord’s coming. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water (2 Peter 3:3–5) Peter explains that such people are willingly ignorant. They have made a conscious choice to reject the truth of Christ’s return. Let’s consider several facts about the rapture.
The Positions on the Rapture
There are many who make a great deal of fuss about the fact that the word rapture does not appear in the Bible. While they are correct, they must also conclude that the event of the rapture is certainly taught. The Scriptures have a great deal to say about the removal of Christ’s bride and the awful time of tribulation to follow. Like many other precious doctrines of God’s Word, man has done a good job of confusing the teaching of the rapture.
There are several opposing theories concerning the rapture and the tribulation period. New books are flowing from the presses daily. There are those who teach that the Church will go into part of the tribulation. Others hold the view that God’s people must endure all of God’s wrath. Yet another group teaches that only part of the Church will be raptured, and that carnal and disobedient Christians will be punished in the tribulation. Some think that the issue is far too confusing and that there is no solution to it. You can ask ten different people about the rapture and get eleven different opinions. While many may be confused, praise God, He has not left His people in the dark concerning this great event. We will briefly look at the varying positions and then examine what the Bible says about the rapture.
First, the Pre-tribulation Rapture. All Pre-tribulationists hold that the Church will be raptured before the tribulation period begins. This is the only view that is consistent with the doctrine of immanency. (meaning that Christ can come at any moment) as taught in the Word of God. The imminent rapture has been the hope of the Church down through the ages. The Word of God declares that Christians in Rome, Corinth, Thessalonica, Philippi, Ephesus, and Galatia were hopeful and waiting for the any moment return of Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear that there is a distinction between the imminent return of Christ for His people and His coming in wrath. (1 Corinthians 15:50–58; 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10; 2:19; 5:23; 4:13–18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:2–3)
Second, the Mid-tribulation Rapture. Mid-tribulationists ignore the doctrine of immanency and teach that the Rapture will take place at the midpoint of the Tribulation period. They teach that none of the events of the first three and one half years of the tribulation are connected with God’s wrath. However, a careful reading of Revelation chapter six shows the opposite to be true. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand. (Revelation 6:15–17) This passage is clear—it is the wrath of the Lamb and He is the One who opened the seals that brought the judgments here.
Third, the Post-tribulation Rapture. Post-tribulationists believe that the Church will have to endure the entire tribulation period and that then the rapture takes place right before the second coming of Christ. Post-tribulationists totally ignore the fact that God has promised to deliver His people from His wrath. Post-tribulationists ignore all dispensational distinctions between Israel and the Church. This is a common problem among those who attempt to put the Church in the tribulation.
Fourth, the Partial Rapture. There is also a partial rapture view which teaches that only the faithful Christians will be raptured before the Tribulation, and those who have not been so faithful will be punished by going through the tribulation. This view is promoted by Robert Govett, G. H. Lang, and others. This view is really nothing more than a protestant purgatory.
Fifth, the Pre-wrath Rapture. The pre-wrath is a new view position within the past 15 years or so by Marvin Rosenthal, a former pre-tribulationist and director of Friends of Israel, who, at the urging of a friend, reexamined his pre-tribulation views. As a result he came up with the pre-wrath theory. This view is also pushed and promoted by Robert Van Kampen who has authored several books on the subject. The pre-wrath position is nothing more than a rehashed and warmed up mid-tribulation position. The pre-wrath people contend that the Rapture will take place five and a half years into the tribulation period. There are several problems with the Pre-wrath position, here are a few observations:
1. It is doubtful that God waited until 1990 to reveal His plan of prophecy. Rosenthal’s pre-wrath plan is a new doctrine, never before taught in the history of the Church. It is indeed a dangerous thing to start coming up with new doctrine after two thousand years of Church history. Learned men and Holy Spirit-filled preachers down through the years have held to the imminent return of Christ. Such men as M. R. DeHaan, Oliver B. Greene, Clarence Larkin, William L. Pettingill, C. I. Scofield, Arno C. Gaebelein, Charles Ryrie, John Walvoord and numerous others have faithfully preached and served the Lord and have had a great impact concerning the work of Christ, without the need for a new doctrine concerning the rapture.
2. Brother Rosenthal makes much of looking for signs. Let us remember that the Lord’s coming is compared to a thief in the night. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2) A thief does not call ahead and announce his coming to break into your house. He does not give you signs. He comes suddenly, does his work, and he is gone. The Church is not to be looking for red heifers, temples, or wars. Jesus said, A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:4) We are not looking for signs, we are looking for our Saviour. We are to be looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13), who will come as a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2), to catch His bride away.
3. Brother Rosenthal attempts to redefine the Bible doctrine of immanency. He immanency and makes a big fuss about “expectancy.” Only the Pre-tribulation interpretation views the coming of Christ as imminent. All other views reject the imminent return of Christ. Those who deny the imminent return of Christ rob God’s people of the incentive to watch for their Lord. The immanence of His coming is what gives the message of the rapture its strength. It is the certainty of His return and the uncertainty of the time that gives His people the incentive to stay pure, do His work, watch, and occupy until He comes.
4. Brother Rosenthal constantly takes passages out of context in an attempt to prove his theory. In failing to recognize the difference between Israel and the Church, Rosenthal consistently misapplies Scripture. This is a common problem with those who fail in rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
The bottom line is that the Bible teaches the rapture of the Church and not the rupture. While men have their theories, the Bible states its facts. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come … For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:10 & 5:9) Any teaching that puts the Church into tribulation and under the penal wrath of God misses the whole purpose of the rapture and the tribulation.
The Picture of the Rapture
While many reject the precious doctrine of His imminent return the Bible clearly teaches over and over the precious truth of the rapture—the believer’s blessed hope. In addition, the Bible teaching is that this great event could occur at any moment. Here in Revelation chapter four we enter a new division. The dispensation of the Church is over, His bride has been caught up to heaven, and the day of the Lord has been ushered in. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1) Notice John said, After this. John is commanded to write about the things which are to take place after the things which are, that is, after the church age. The phrase after this is not hard to understand. It is clear from these words that something has ended and John obviously begins a new division here, The things that are to be hereafter. Chapter 4:1 is a transition verse from the things which are to the things which must be hereafter. This is the same terminology John used for future things in verse nineteen of chapter one. The first division, Chapter One, lasted a short time; the second division has lasted two thousand years so far. Here John is transported into the throne room and from where he stands the Church age has past. John does not mention the Church between chapter six and eighteen. The Church is not seen again until we return with Christ in chapter nineteen. The phrase after this is positive proof that what takes place from this point on must take place after the events of chapters two and three has come to an end.
John looked and a door was opened in Heaven. The open door speaks of Christ who is the door to Heaven. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9) John saw a door was opened in Heaven, and a voice said come up hither. What John experienced here is representative of what will happen to all living Christians someday. This is the clear teaching of the word of God and the view held by the greatest of Bible Scholars and teachers. Consider the writings of just a few of them.
Lehman Strauss, in his book on Revelation says this:
I see in these words one of the briefest, yet one of the clearest statements on the Rapture of the Church. It is symbolic of the fulfillment of the believer’s ‘blessed hope.’ Our Lord promised that He would keep His own from the hour of trial that is to come upon the whole world. (3:10) Thus we see in the Apostle John a representative figure of those who will be ‘caught up’ to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him forever.
Oliver B. Greene wrote:
After this. (after the Church has run its course and all things concerning the Church have been fulfilled) I looked … and behold, a door was opened in heaven. John 10:9 tells us that Jesus is that door. After His resurrection He ascended to Heaven, and called John. (in the spirit) up to where He is. He opened the door and John stepped into Heaven to witness the events that were to follow. This is a true picture of the Rapture. John experienced in the spirit what we will literally experience when the Rapture takes place. (1 Thessalonians 4:14–18) … When the Rapture occurs, the trumpet will sound, and the voice of the archangel will call the saints up. Jesus will not come to this earth when He comes in the Rapture … the saints will be caught up to meet Him in the air; but when He comes in judgment, He will come to the earth, and will stand on the Mount of Olives. (Zechariah 14:4)
M. R. DeHaan wrote:
We have in this passage the Rapture of the Church, the catching away in that dark Laodicean Age of those who had not been carried away by the world’s false hopes of a man-made millennium and Utopia. The time is at hand, and although we would not attempt to set any dates for the coming of the Lord, for we know that no man knows the day nor the hour of His appearing, we are confident that the day is near at hand. Of one fact we are absolutely confident: today, this moment, we are nearer the coming of the Lord than we have ever been before. One of these days, He will come … John, having beheld the last phase of professing Christendom, typified by Laodica, says, ‘after this I looked.’ The next event on God’s program we confidently believe to be the Rapture of the church.
H. A. Ironside wrote:
I believe that we must understand the rapture of 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 as transpiring between Revelation 3 and 4. The apostle is the symbol of this rapture. He sees the door opened in Heaven. His attention is turned from earth to glory. He is caught up in spirit, and far above all the mists of this world he sees a throne set in Heaven and someone sitting on it.
I. M. Haldeman, wrote:
Without previous warning John is caught up to Heaven at the sound of a trumpet-like voice. John is a representative of the true Church, those who have Christ in them the hope of glory. Like John the Church without previous warning and at any time will be caught up at the sound of a trumpet and a voice into Heaven. The Twenty-four elders symbolize the Church in Heaven as a body of enthroned priests waiting for the hour of the kingdom and the exercise of their priestly function.
J. A. Seiss, wrote:
I have said that this open door in heaven, and this calling up of the Apocalyptic seer through that door into heaven, indicate to us the manner in which Christ intends to fulfill His promise to keep certain of His saints ‘out of the hour of temptation,’ and by what means it is that those who ‘watch and pray always’ shall ‘escape’ the dreadful sorrows with which the present world, in its last years, will be visited. Those of them that sleep in their graves, shall be recalled from among the dead; and those of them who shall be found living at the time, ‘shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye;’ and both classes ‘shall be caught up together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.’ The same voice which John heard, even ‘the voice as of a trumpet,’ whether dead or living, they shall hear, saying to them, ‘Come up Hither.’ And there shall attend it a change and transfer as sudden and miraculous as in his case.
The list could go on and on. Great Bible teachers like Clarence Larkin, C. I. Scofield, John R. Rice, John Walvoord, J. Dwight Pentecost, John Phillips and countless others recognize the rapture of the Church here in Revelation 4:1. When we compare John’s experience to the rapture, the fact that the rapture does occur here is hardly deniable.
1. Heaven’s door is opened to receive the Church at the time of the rapture. (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18)
2. There is a voice like a trumpet. (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52)
3. It happens imminently and suddenly. (1 Corinthians 15:52)
4. It transpires at the end of the church age. (Revelation 2–3)
5. John, the raptured saint, is immediately in Heaven’s throne room. (Revelation 4:2)
6. Next thing concerning earth is God’s judgment. (Revelation 6–18)
Revelation 4:1–2 is without a doubt the rapture of the Church. The Scripture establishes beyond any doubt that those who are saved will someday be raptured away to spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know when this will be, but we do know that it will happen.
The Person Of The Rapture
There are those who teach that the second coming of Christ is fulfilled in a person’s life when he is saved. They teach that every time a soul is born again into the Kingdom of God, their salvation is the fulfillment of the second coming for that individual. However, if we study and rightly divide the word of God we learn that such an interpretation will not do. The Bible teaches beyond any shadow of a doubt that the second coming of Christ will be a literal, visible, and personal return. Jesus said, In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2–3) In this reference to the rapture Jesus unmistakably stated that He would return personally for His people.
This truth is also taught in the book of Acts, where Luke gives us the account of Jesus’ ascension back to Heaven. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:2–3) We learn here that after His resurrection, Jesus spent some forty days with His disciples, teaching them things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Then, He assures them of the promised power of God for the ministry. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Now, notice what happens next! And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9) Jesus literally, bodily, and visibly ascended into Heaven. Next the Bible says, And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:10–11) There is only one way to interpret this passage. Just as surely as Jesus was literally taken up into Heaven, He will literally return to this earth. Just as there was a literal and visible ascension, there will be a literal and visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us in unmistakable language that Jesus will return personally. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which 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 ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17) This great event known as the rapture is the next great event in the redemptive plan and purpose of God. Our Lord will return literally and visibly, and summon His people with a shout like a trumpet blast. The graves of every dead saint will give up their dead, and those still living at that time will be caught up with Christ to ever be with Him. These and many other Bible verses teach that Jesus is personally coming again.
The Promise of the Rapture
Revelation 4:1–2 perfectly parallels the rapture passage given by Paul in First Thessalonians.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which 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 ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)
What a comforting passage to every child of God. It means that if Christ should come in our day, we, like John on the Isle of Patmos, would also see the door open in Heaven, and we too would hear His voice like a trumpet say, “Come up hither.” Again Paul describes the resurrection and the rapture of the saints. The rapture of the Christian is indeed our wonderful and blessed hope. In other words, every true child of God is waiting for this event to happen today, and it can take place at any moment. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13) The doctrine of the rapture is clearly taught in the Bible. Behold, I show 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51–53) Every Spirit filled child of God longs and looks for this great event.
The Perversion of the Rapture
The Word of God is absolute truth and therefore, it is the principal source of all truth and our final authority concerning doctrine and practice. There are too many people who are letting men’s books determine their positions and doctrine, rather than the Bible. The Word of God stands like a tower above the latest best sellers on eschatology. It must be remembered that the most important factor in understanding the Scriptures is the Holy Spirit’s leading. Jesus said, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13) Isn’t it interesting that Jesus said, He will show you things to come. To understand Bible truth one must be willing to accept the Spirit’s leading and the Word of God as the final authority—even when one’s favorite author is wrong. Our Lord has promised that the believer will have the ability to study and understand the Bible, including the doctrine of things to come, because of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in his life.
Failing to distinguish between the nation and the Church is one of the saddest mistakes most often made by those who teach that the Christian is going into the tribulation period. This is a major perversion of truth. In failing to see the separation of God’s dealing with the Church and Israel, they miss the purpose of the rapture. Paul wrote, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) The term rightly dividing speaks of the dispensations of the Bible. Here we see that a workman must divide the word and not only divide, but rightly divide. The command to rightly divide the Word of God comes directly from Almighty God, and it is the Christian’s responsibility to carry it out. The term “rightly divide” means to cut straight. The workman is to cut a straight line through the Word of God, making a distinction between various subjects, such as salvation and stewardship, Israel and the Church, law and grace, rapture and revelation, and other great truths of the Bible. Many false doctrines have been the result of failing to rightly divide the Word of God.
In Matthew chapters 24 and 25 our Lord was answering the disciples’ questions and discussing events that will take place on earth during the time of Tribulation. In verse 8 of chapter 24, the phrase beginning of sorrows is clearly a symbol of the tribulation period. One thing is for certain, the Church is not the focus of Matthew 24 and 25. We must keep in mind that the implications and environment of the Olivet discourse are strictly Jewish. Jesus talked about, Judea. (Matthew 24:16), the Sabbath. (Matthew 24:20), and the prophecies of Daniel concerning the Jewish people. (Matthew 24:15) To apply this passage to Israel is simply to follow the basic rules of hermeneutics and to apply this to the Church is to fail in rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) If we compare the events of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians, to the events of the Olivet discourse in Matthew 24 and 25, they do not match.
THE OLIVET DISCOURSE THE NATION ISRAEL
THE RAPTURE THE CHURCH
False Christ’s and prophets
Christ Himself
Focus is on the Nations
Focus is on Heaven
Famines and hunger
The marriage supper
Pestilences and disease
no more sickness
Earthquakes and turmoil
eternal peace
Sorrow and mourning
Comfort and joy
These facts speak clearly. The events of the Olivet discourse and those of the rapture in no way line up with one another. However, if we compare the Olivet discourse with the beginning of the tribulation period the two match perfectly. We know from honest, contextual Bible study that the tribulation begins in Revelation, chapter six, when the Lamb of God begins to open the seals. Surely this is the wrath of God as it is clearly stated. Speaking of the Lamb Of God the text says, For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand. (Revelation 6:17) This is Jesus, the Lamb, beginning to pour out His wrath upon an unbelieving world. If we simply read and believe the bible we can clearly see the truth of the pre-tribulation rapture. Notice how the seal judgments correspond perfectly with the events of the Olivet discourse.
Matthew 24
Revelation 6
False Christ. (5)
First Seal. (1–2)
Wars. (6–7)
Second Seal. (3–4)
Famine. (7)
Third Seal. (5–6)
Pestilence. (7)
Fourth Seal. (7–8)
Kingdom preaching. (14)
Fifth Seal. (9)
Martyrdom. (9)
Fifth Seal. (9–10)
Earthquakes. (7)
Sixth Seal. (12)
No amount of theological slight of hand can stuff the Church into the tribulation. It is obvious that the rapture and the Olivet discourse are two different events that are designed to deal with two different people at two different times.
The Priority Of The Rapture
Concerning this matter of the rapture, we will study and rightly divide, letting the Word of God be our final authority. The rapture involves a two-fold priority. The first priority of the rapture is to deliver God’s people from the wrath to come. When we study this subject in the Bible, we learn that the purpose of the Rapture is designed by God to deliver His (Church age) people from the wrath that He is going to pour out on the lost world and Israel. My friend, you mark it down, God will deliver His blood-bought, redeemed people from the wrath to come. God has promised that He would deliver His Church and we can take Him at His word. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10) Over and over, again and again, the Bible teaches that the Christian is not appointed unto wrath. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) God has promised to deliver His people from the tribulation, as we are not appointed to His wrath. The seven year Tribulation period will certainly be the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the world. The fact that God raptured Enoch (a type of the Church) before the flood, and then rescued Lot before raining fire down and destroying Sodom, sets a Biblical precedent for the truth that God delivers his children before He pours out His wrath. The rapture is the New Testament believer’s means of deliverance from God’s wrath. Those who are born again are exempt from ever suffering God’s wrath. This is our blessed hope. The tribulation begins with the breaking of the first seal when the first horseman of the Apocalypse rides. This first horseman is easily identified as the antichrist. In that same chapter it is clear that the tribulation has begun. Speaking of Jesus Christ as the Lamb is clearly stated, For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:17) Many try to put the Church into the tribulation, and end up chopping the book of Revelation up like hash. However, if we follow the Word of God the way He gave it to us, it is clear that the tribulation period begins in chapter six, and runs through chapter eighteen, while the Church is seen in Heaven during this time. The tribulation period is described in Scripture by such terms as the day of the LORD. (Amos 5:18), the time of Jacob’s trouble. (Jeremiah 30:7), hour of temptation. (Revelation 3:10), a great day of his wrath. (Revelation 6:17), and the wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15) Praise God! As His children, we do not look for wrath, but for the rapture.
The second priority of the rapture is to deal with the nation of Israel. According to the Bible, the Church age must come to an end before God will once again deal with Israel. The Church will not be involved in Jacob’s trouble, as the Scriptures are clear that God will not deal with Israel again until He is finished with the Church. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25) The close of the Church age is necessary for God to deal with Israel as a nation.
The tribulation period is the time of Jacob’s trouble, not the Church’s trouble. Jeremiah describes the tribulation and then writes, Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7) Dr. H. A. Ironside identified this time of Jacob’s trouble as being for Israel, He wrote:
After the church has been caught away to Heaven at the close of this dispensation, the Jews will be deceived into accepting the claims of a blasphemous impostor claiming to be the Messiah. It is he who is going to place the abomination that causes desolation. He will demand that all men worship the image that he sets up; thus the scene of the plain of Dura will be reenacted. In that day, as in the past, a remnant among the Jews will refuse to believe his claims or to obey his voice. This will be the signal for the breaking out of the great tribulation, ‘the time of Jacob’s trouble’. (Jeremiah 30:7)
My friend, God says what He means and means what He says. The tribulation is Jacob, the children of Israel’s trouble. The Church is having her persecution now, but will be delivered from the wrath to come. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
The Seventy Weeks Of Daniel show that the Church cannot and will not be involved in the tribulation.
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:24–27)
Make special note here that the 70 weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city. (Daniel 9:24) Just who is “thy people” referring to? The Bible has the answer. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God. (Daniel 9:20) We see here that the time set apart is for the purpose of dealing with Israel and not the Church. The laws of Bible interpretation prohibit trying to put the Church into a passage that the Holy Spirit has clearly stated refers to Israel. Of course, the holy city spoken of here is Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 11:1; Isaiah 52:1)
This is the meaning of the seventy weeks. The weeks here is a generic term that literally means seven. The word “weeks” could apply to days, weeks, months, or years. Literally, Daniel was saying that seventy sevens were determined upon Israel. We can easily see from the context that Daniel is dealing with years. (Daniel 9:2) God has determined that He will take 70 weeks of years or 490 years to bring this prophecy to pass with Israel. This entire period of 490 years is related only to Israel’ (the Jews)’ and to the holy city of Jerusalem. We note also that the 70 weeks, or sevens of years, are divided into three main periods. The first division involves 7 weeks of years, for a total of 49 years. The second division contains 62 weeks of years for a total of 434 years. The first 7 weeks and 62 weeks totaling 69 weeks have been fulfilled. We learn that at the end of the first 69 weeks the Messiah would be cut off. This happened when Jesus Christ died on the cross. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. When Israel rejected their Messiah and crucified Him, God set Israel aside temporarily for the purpose of calling out a bride—the Church. The third division is 1 week for a total of 7 years. This is the concluding week of God’s dealings with Israel, and is the tribulation period. This seven years of tribulation is divided into two 3½ year periods. The first 3½ years are called the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:8) The last 3½ years are called the great tribulation. (Matthew 24:21), and the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) Again we must note that the entire 70 th week of Daniel, the whole year is connected to Israel—not the Church.
The 69 th week of Daniel ended with the death of Jesus Christ upon Calvary’s cross. It was at this time that the Messiah was cut-off. (Daniel 9:26) We are now living in that undetermined space of time between the 69 th and the 70 th week known as the Church Age. But when the Rapture takes place, the remaining 70 th week of Daniel will start.
During this time of the Church age, God is not dealing with Israel as a nation. However, He is not finished with them. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (Romans 11:25–11:26) Once the fullness of the Gentiles. (the Church) is completed, Christ will rapture His bride out of this world and the last week, (7 years), of Daniel’s 70 weeks, (490 years), will begin. Anyone who studies and rightly divides the Word of God, (2 Timothy 2:15), will come to the conclusion that the tribulation is for Israel. The whole seven year tribulation period has nothing to do with the Church! This entire seven year period known as the seventieth week of Daniel, (Daniel 9:24–27), is designed by God Almighty to deal with the nation of Israel.
The Program of the Rapture
The pre-tribulation rapture is based upon the Bible’s clear doctrine of the imminent return of Christ. The word imminent means impending, or looming. Concerning the rapture, it means that the Church could be caught out immediately, or at any moment. The Scriptures continually admonish believers to watch, be ready, and to expect His return at a time when ye think not. This imminent return was the hope of the early Church. Their popular greeting, Maranatha (1 Corinthians 16:22), expressed their belief in the imminent return of Christ for the church.
Paul wrote, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20) Notice that Paul was looking for Christ’s return and that his looking was present tense. He wasn’t looking for signs and wonders, red heifers, the rebuilding of the Temple, or some other sign. Jesus said, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign. (Matthew 12:39) The Christian’s watch is to be for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not looking for the antichrist, but for the Christ. The Bible teaching of Immanency rules out anything except a pre-tribulational Rapture. All other tribulation views, (mid-tribulation, post-tribulation, and pre-wrath), are out of line with the clear Bible teaching of the imminent return.
As we said before, those who deny the imminent return of Christ rob God’s people of the incentive to work and watch for their Saviour. The immanence of His coming is what gives the message of the rapture its strength. It is the certainty of His return and the uncertainty of the time that gives His people the incentive to stay pure, do His work, watch and occupy until He comes.
The Proof of the Rapture
The Bible offers plenty of support for the pre-tribulation position. There are many evident proofs that the believer will escape the coming tribulation. We have already argued several of them. Here we reiterate a few of them along with some we have not mentioned.
1) God’s Own Outline Of Revelation
The God-given divisions of the book of Revelation are proof that the Church will not enter into the tribulation. In chapter 1:19 John is given the Divine outline to this book. First, he was told to write, The things which thou hast seen. This is not a hard phrase to understand. John was told to write what he had seen. You will notice the past tense. This was the Patmos vision, a description of the risen Lord in His glory (Chapter 1). Second, he was to write, The things which are the messages to the churches, the Church Age (Chapters 2–3). These seven churches represent the succession of seven different periods of church history from the beginning of the church to the second coming of Christ, with one being dominant. The entire view of church history is laid out here in the description of these seven churches, in a most wonderful way. We can look upon them as a prophetic chart of the entire history of the Church. Third, John was instructed to write, The things which shall be hereafter, The things that will take place after the Christians are taken out of the world, the outpouring of God’s wrath during the seven year tribulation, the re-gathering of the nation of Israel, the Millennial Kingdom, and the eternal state. (Chapters 4–22)
2) According To The Clear Teaching Of Scripture The Rapture Must Take Place Before The Tribulation
That the Bible teaches the imminent return of Christ cannot be disputed. According to the Bible, the next great event on God’s prophetic calendar is the rapture of the Church. To teach that the antichrist must come and that the Church enters into the tribulation before Christ comes, is contrary to, and destroys the doctrine of, the imminent return. If the Church has to go into the tribulation period, this means the Lord cannot come at any moment. It also forces the Christian to be looking for the antichrist instead of the Christ. Those whose believe such a thing are actually teaching the rupture of the Church rather than the rapture. Their teaching makes the coming of the antichrist imminent but not the coming of our Christ—the Bridegroom. If the antichrist is coming first, it is futile to be looking for the coming of our Lord. To teach that the Church must enter the tribulation is to destroy the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ, and the blessed hope of the Church.
3) No Wrath For The Believer
Although we have already covered this point, we will mention it again. The Bible teaches that the tribulation is an awful and terrible time of God’s wrath and judgment. We know that the tribulation period will be 7 years. (Daniel 9:27) The Bible expressly states that the Christian is not appointed unto wrath. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) God has promised to deliver His people from the tribulation as we are not appointed to His wrath. The Tribulation will certainly be the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the world. (Revelation 6:16–17)
4) Biblical Typology Argues In Favor Of The Pretribulation Rapture
God has established a pattern of removing His people before judgment. John himself is a good picture of the rapture. John is representative of the Church, and he is invited to come up hither just before the tribulation begins. (Revelation 4:1–2)
We do not build doctrine on type alone. However, when the type clearly teaches truth that is revealed in Scripture we must look at it. We see the truth of deliverance from the wrath to come in the lives of those who stand out as types of the Church. Enoch was providently removed from the outpouring of God’s judgment. (Genesis 5:24) Enoch is a type of the believer who walks with God and is delivered before the storm. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24) Enoch never saw death because God raptured him before the flood. Noah, on the other hand, is a type of Israel, who will be dealt with and preserved through the storm.
God delivered Lot before He sent Judgment upon Sodom. (Genesis 18:23–25; 19:22) God said to Lot, Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. (Genesis 19:22) The judgment upon wicked Sodom was delayed until Lot was safely removed. God does not destroy the righteous with the wicked. God’s very purpose in the rapture is to deliver His people from His wrath. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come … For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:10 & 5:9) It is impossible for the believer to fall under the penal judgment of God.
5) The Spirit and Church Missing From Earth
The Church is not mentioned even once during the detailed description of the events of the seven year tribulation period between chapters six and eighteen. The Church leaves in Revelation 4:1 and is not seen on earth again until she returns as the bride of Christ at the end of the tribulation period. It is interesting that there are sixteen references to the church in the first three chapters of Revelation. However, chapters six through eighteen, which cover the Tribulation period, do not mention the church even once. The next time we see the church is in chapter nineteen after the seven year tribulation period has ended. The Church is then seen as the Bride of Christ, coming back to earth with Jesus Christ.
Seven times the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to the local Churches of Asia Minor, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29; 3:6, 3:13, 3:22) However, during the tribulation period, when this admonition is given, He says, If any man have an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:9) Notice the two things that are missing here—the Spirit and the Church. The Spirit will not work the same way in the tribulation as He does during the Church age. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7) The words letteth and let simply mean to hold down or restrain. They speak of a restraining power. In the context of 2 Thessalonians they are referring to that which is holding back the appearance of the anti-christ. Although we live in days of apostasy and the mystery of iniquity doth already work, it is being restrained and held down. It will not become full blown during the Church age. There are a variety of ideas about who or what this restrainer is. Many have speculated that this restrainer is Michael, (Rosenthal’s invention), or the Roman government. However, when we compare Scripture with Scripture and rightly divide the Word of truth the answer becomes obvious. Without a doubt it is that the One who letteth or restrains full-blown apostasy and the antichrist is the Holy Spirit, whose ministry it is to restrain sin. (Genesis 6:3) God is the only one with the power to control Satan. We see Satan restrained by God from doing as he desired with Job. The Spirit of God came at Pentecost to indwell and empower the believer to live in victory and perform the work of Christ during the Church age. When the rapture takes place, the Church and the Holy Spirit will be removed and there will be no restraints left. The lights of the world and the salt of the earth will have been removed. The bottom line is that the Spirit-indwelled Church must be removed before the antichrist can take over.
Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse in his commentary, Thessalonians: An Expositional Commentary commented on the Holy Spirit’s removal:
Well, what is keeping the Antichrist from putting in his appearance on the world stage? You are! You and every other member of the body of Christ on earth. The presence of the church of Jesus Christ is the restraining force that refuses to allow the man of lawlessness to be revealed. True, it is the Holy Spirit who is the real restrainer. But as both 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19 teach, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. The believer’s body is the temple of the Spirit of God. Put all believers together then, with the Holy Spirit indwelling each of us, and you have a formidable restraining force.
For when the church is removed at the rapture, the Holy Spirit goes with the church insofar as His restraining power is concerned. His work in this age of grace will be ended. Henceforth, during the Great Tribulation, the Holy Spirit will still be here on earth, of course-for how can you get rid of God?—but He will not be indwelling believers as He does now. Rather, he will revert to His Old Testament ministry of coming upon special people.
As far as the ministry of the Holy Spirit is concerned, He will leave with the Church at the rapture. Once the Church is raptured and the Spirit is no longer here to restrain the forces of evil, the antichrist will gain control and this world will be overrun with wickedness.
During the tribulation period He will be dealing with the nation of Israel, and we learn from the Old Testament that He dealt differently with them than He does the Church. They were not indwelt with the Spirit in the Old Testament. He came upon God’s people to anoint and empower them for a specific calling, but they were not indwelt. In the Old Testament economy the Spirit would come and go from a person. Of Saul the Bible says, But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul. (1 Samuel 16:14) The same is true of Samson, (Judges 16:20), as well as others. However, in the New Testament the Holy Spirit works in a new way with God’s people. Pay careful attention to the words of Christ. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16–17) You will notice two ways here in which the Holy Spirit works differently during the Church age. One, Jesus said, that he may abide with you for ever. Two, He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The Prospect of the Rapture
John heard the trump of God and said, immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven. (Revelation 4:2a) Notice the terminology John uses here. He said, immediately. The rapture will be instantaneous. What John experienced here in the Book of Revelation, every child of God will literally experience when the Rapture takes place. What a day that will be! The rapture, according to Scripture, is the believer’s blessed hope. Paul wrote, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13) In the book of Revelation, John spoke about the city of God, the eternal dwelling place of His children. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away … And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof … And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:1–4, 22–23, 27) John describes Heaven by focusing on several things that will be missing from the Heavenly city. Heaven is a place that words can never adequately express. It is a wonderful place prepared for the redeemed of the Lord. It is a place where there will be no more separation, no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more sin. Hallelujah! What a hope! What a joy to be headed for that wonderful place called Heaven. Believers have a glorious prospect!
The Purity of the Rapture
The imminent return of Jesus Christ motivates the believer to live a holy life and promotes the purity and separation of the Church from the world. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3) Speaking of this passage, John Linton wrote:
That is a natural result of belief in Christ’s at-any-moment coming. If to love the Lord’s appearing led to careless living, to coldness of heart toward God and the saving of men, one could understand why some Christians would not love it. But when this truth helps us live a separated life, gives earnestness to our prayers, urgency to our preaching, and keeps our passion for souls warm and alive, then I love this truth for its salutary effect and marvel that any other Christian would not as fervently love it.
Every man that hath this hope! What hope? The return of Christ—the rapture! The Christian who is expecting the any moment return of Christ will be a committed Christian. The Christian’s duty is to live at all times the way he would want his Saviour to find him living at the rapture. Jesus Christ asked the question, … when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?. (Luke 18:8) The faithful Christian is living and watching for the return of his Saviour.
The Bible unquestionably teaches the imminent return of Jesus Christ. He may return any moment—that is the blessed hope that Paul spoke of! For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11–13) We are not looking for the antichrist—we are looking for Christ! There is no greater incentive to living a sanctified life than the imminent return of Christ. Dr. R. A. Torrey said, “The imminent return of our Lord is the greatest Bible argument for a pure, unselfish, devoted, unworldly, active life of service.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ believed in and taught an imminent return. In the book of Luke He gave a parable that taught the importance of being ready for an any moment return. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (Luke 12:45–46) Jesus is talking to a mixture of people here, including unbelievers, faithless believers, and believers who were not well informed about the Lord’s coming and His will. However, they all had one thing in common. They were not expecting the Master’s return and, as a result, were not living right. They were living as if they had plenty of time. Maybe they were looking for some signs or maybe they just didn’t believe in an imminent return. But Jesus said, The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware. Many are saying today, just as the wicked and unfaithful steward, My Lord delayeth his coming. (Luke 12:45) No wonder there are so many defeated and discouraged Christians today. They are not looking forward to the rapture. They have no blessed hope. They are anticipating the revelation of the antichrist instead of the rapture of Christ. The great Bible expositor, Dr. Campbell Morgan said:
“I never lay my head upon the pillow without thinking that maybe before the morning breaks, the final morning may have dawned. I never begin my work in the morning without thinking that perhaps He may interrupt my work and begin His own.”
We are not looking for death. We are looking for Him. The pre-tribulation is the promise of our Lord to His people. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
Heaven’s Throne Room
Revelation 4:2–11
At this point the Church age has run it course, the rapture has taken place, and now the child of God finds himself in Heaven’s Throne Room—the very dwelling place of God.
The Sovereignty on the Throne
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (Revelation 4:2–3) Heaven in this passage speaks of the very dwelling place of God. You will remember that Paul speaks of having been caught up into the third heaven, where he heard words which were unlawful for man to speak. (2 Corinthians 12:1–4) The atmospheric heavens immediately above the earth, are also spoken of as heaven, but the heaven referred to here is without a doubt the highest heaven, above all principality and power, where God’s throne is located. John’s attention was drawn especially to the One who occupied the throne.
It is Almighty God who occupies this throne. He is the One whom Isaiah saw upon the throne, when the seraphims cried, Holy, holy, holy. (Isaiah 6:1–8) He who sat upon the throne was to look upon like a Jasper and a Sardine Stone. This is very suggestive because a Jasper is a clear stone like a diamond, while a Sardine Stone is blood red like a ruby. A Jasper, therefore, suggests the clear majestic, shining and matchless glory of God. And since the Sardine Stone is blood red, it reminds us of the cross and the redemptive character of Christ in shedding His blood to make atonement for the sins of the world. It was God the Father Who sent His Son to pay the price of sin.
The Scene around the Throne
… And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (Revelation 4:2–3) The rainbow reminds us of the unchanging grace and mercy of God. In judgment He will remember mercy as He promised. (Genesis 9:13–17) The rainbow is symbolic of God’s desire and purpose to bestow His grace upon man. Usually a rainbow appears after a storm; here it appears before the storm. The rainbow is the evidence of God’s grace during the pouring out of judgment upon the earth. David said, Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. (Psalm 89:14) This earth is about to see the most devastating judgment ever poured out by God, but even during times of justice and judgment, He offers mercy and forgiveness for those who will repent. The rainbow speaks of calm and sunshine after the storm. Notice that the rainbow is … .in sight like unto an emerald. The green here speaks of new life and new beginning. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. (Revelation 21:5)
The Saints about the Throne
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4) The number twenty-four suggests the twenty-four orders or courses into which David divided the Priesthood. (1 Chronicles 24 and 25) The twenty-four elders represent the redeemed saints of the Church age in the same way that the twenty-four elders of the Old Testament represented the complete body of Priests. Here we see the children of God sharing God’s throne, clothed in the white garments, and crowns of gold. Here the saints are enthroned in glory with their Lord and Saviour. No wonder they are saying Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. (5:10)
The Sounds from the Throne
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Revelation 4:5) What a scene we have here! The lightnings and thunderings speak of the awesome majesty, power, and presence God. We see this thunder at Sinai when He gave Moses the law. (Exodus 19:16–18)
The lightnings and thunderings are also associated with God’s judgment. We see this in the account of God sending judgment upon unbelieving Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. (Exodus 9:23–24) Also when our Lord smote the Philistines in Samuel’s day there was the sound of mighty thundering. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. (1 Samuel 7:10) Thunder and lightning are warnings that the storm of God’s wrath is coming!
The Sea before the Throne
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal. (Revelation 4:6a) This is an analogy to the laver in the Tabernacle. (Exodus 30:18–21), where the priests cleansed themselves before entering the place of worship. Sometimes water is used symbolically in the Bible. Jesus said, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 15:3) Speaking of the Church, Jesus said that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. (Ephesians 5:26) The water in the brass laver of the Tabernacle therefore portrays the Word of God, as the priest used it to wash himself before entering into the presence of God.
When we are saved, we are forgiven and justified by the blood. Our standing with God is just as if we have never sinned. However, because we have the old nature and live in a wicked world we often succumb to sin. It is then that the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to show us that we need cleansing. We must then go before God for forgiveness and when we do we have the promise that, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
In Heaven the sea of glass is not of water as in the tabernacle of old. It is a sea of glass like unto crystal—it is solid. That being the case, the sea of glass before the throne takes on a wonderful meaning. The cleansing of the saint is not needed after he is home with the Lord. Pure at last from the filth of sin, the redeemed will stand on the sea of glass before the throne. Never again will we have to go before Him and ask forgiveness. Never again will we fail Him. This sea of glass, solid as crystal, symbolizes the fixed state of holiness and purity that every child of God awaits.
The Sight in the Midst of the Throne
In the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night. (Revelation 4:6–8) These beasts are angelic beings. They are the same ones Isaiah saw and described. (Isaiah 6:1–3) Their duty is first and foremost to worship and praise God. It seems they have other duties also. They are full of eyes before and behind implying that they have full knowledge and understanding. They are described as a lion, a calf, a man, and a flying eagle. These are their various functions for the Judge.
The first beast was had a face as a lion. The lion denotes majesty and power among the animal kingdom. The lion is the king of all the beasts, whose great strength and majesty carry out the plan and purpose of God with majestic dignity. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy. (Amos 3:8) The second beast John saw was like a calf or an ox. The cow, whether a calf or an ox, being a beast of burden and labor, denotes humility and patience. This symbol speaks of these angelic beings who are servants of God. The third beast John saw had the face of a man. Man being the highest of God’s creation, connotes reason and intelligence. These angelic beings have the wisdom and intelligence to perform their task. The fourth beast was a flying eagle. The eagle is the wisest and fastest of all birds. He flies the highest, is keenest of sight and is swift of action. So these beings also have the swiftness of a flying eagle. Above all, their main purpose is to praise God. They have perfect wisdom, and render unceasing worship and service for the Heavenly Father.
The Singing around the Throne
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:8–11) What singing! They cry, Holy, holy, holy. What a picture! Think about it! My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation … (Psalm 22:25) What a day that will be when all His redeemed fall down before Him and cast their crowns at His feet, singing Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
