The Scene in Heaven

Rev. Sudha Mehta©

From Youtube.com

Revelation 4: 1 After this I looked and saw a door having been opened in the heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here and I shall show you what has to take place after this.”

2 And immediately I came to be in the Spirit and saw a throne set in the heaven, and One sat on the throne.(ISR)

Massive earthquakes! War! Food shortages already and much more is forecast!

Wars and rumors of War . . . Just as Jesus said,  Earthquakes and famines in various places . . . Just as Jesus said!

And this is all before the Rapture! I wonder what the World will look like moments after all that I have described from the Bible has taken place. The best and the worst of human nature will come to the fore then as it does now, with one major difference . . . there will be no Christian among them to help. The first thought you may have is “Who cares?” Answer . . . you will care when you find yourself without the entire global Christian community!

Any major incident has a worldwide impact. The volcanic eruptions in Iceland did that, as did the tsunami in Japan followed by the Nuclear Plant disaster. The Tsunami in Thailand did as well. 

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria will have a profound effect as well. The World changes as a result of such catastrophes. The Earth will suffer greatly when the Rapture takes place as I have described in my Aftermath series. I hope you will read and pay attention!

Now I must turn my attention to the Book of Revelation. I have already dealt with the first three Chapters of this Book in my series on The Prophetic, so I will pick up at Revelation Chapters 4 and 5.

From hereon the study will be divided into two locations, you will understand as we go. Location 1 is in Heaven and Location 2 is on Earth. It will make it easier for all to understand.

Chapter 4 and 5 take place in heaven

Location 1: (Heaven) John saw the Lord standing in the open door of Heaven calling him up, to show him things from Heaven’s vantage point. Jesus intended to show John what was to happen “After these things.”

“After what?” you ask.

John had just been told of the contemporary situation of the churches, and in this was also foretold the “yet future” of the Church age. The Church “future” then, is now called the Church “history” of the last two thousand years.

John was raptured up to be shown what he was to write for us. John was sent back, but his rapture became a perfect picture of the Rapture of the church. 

From the end of Chapter 3 there is no mention of the Church on Earth at all until the end of the Book when the Church shows up as His Bride comprised of the saints/holy ones. The Church is only seen in Heaven. God deals on Earth with Israel in particular, but also the World at large.

My effort will be to make it as clear as I can. You won’t like the scene on Earth, but it will be plain truth. My purpose is to give an easy to understand overview so that it becomes thought provoking  for anyone, no matter the level of understanding you may have of the God of the Bible. If I make you think about it, I have done what I am called to do. The rest is between you and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said:

John 12: 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”(BSB)

and:

John 3: 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(BSB)

From fulfillingpromises.com

In Revelation 1 Jesus explained to John what was being shown to him as He (Jesus) stood among the seven lampstands that represented the seven churches. Jesus told John: 

Revelation 1: 19 Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this.(BSB)

In other words; things past, present and future can be found in the Book of Revelation. 

Revelation 4:1 is where we believe the Church is raptured up to Heaven.

Chapter 4 opens in the Throne Room of God Almighty. I want you to take in the scene meditatively! Dwell on it, think about it, let it soak in! I dare say it is good for you to do so!! A good meditative reading of Chapters 4 and 5 will leave you awestruck as a believer and I dare say, a terrified one if you are not!

Revelation 4: 5 And out of the throne came lightnings, and thunders, and voices. And seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim.(ISR)

 The Seven Spirits symbolize the Holy Spirit. Seven is the number of perfection and completion. The Holy Spirit Himself is God and at this point His mission has been accomplished, He has removed the true Church from the Earth, leaving the door open for the judgments of God to fall upon the Earth. 

Seated around the Throne also are 24 elders. The identity of these elders is something that scholars still puzzle over. 

throne room from slideshare.net

I am of the camp that these are representatives of the Redeemed. We do not know their names but we know they are part of the Redeemed. They are not angelic creatures. They are men, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. The Apostles could most certainly be among their number. Could the other twelve be tribal heads of the twelve tribes of Israel? In my opinion they could.

Throne room 24 elders from pinterest

These verses provide the evidence:

Revelation 4: 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and bow before Him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11“You are worthy, O Lord God, to receive esteem and respect and power, for You have created all, and because of Your desire they are, and were created.”(ISR)

and then in:

Revelation 5: 8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals,

because You were slain,

and by Your blood You purchased for God

those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom

and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign upon the earth.”

Throne Room of God from gcoconline.com

At this point they are joined by what looks like a countless number to John the apostle:

Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To Him who sits on the throne

and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power

forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. 

The location is Heaven’s Throne Room, this worship takes place on the Crystal Sea. The Lamb is the Lord Jesus who by His sacrifice is the Only One fit to open the scroll which calls forward the judgments of God. The song they sing is the song of the Redeemed, those that have been bought by the Blood of the Lamb. This is the Church’s song. The Church can only sing on the Crystal Sea if it is no longer on the Earth. The 24 elders are shown as being representatives of the Redeemed. 

The angels join in the celebration as well. There is more! At this point there are creatures from Earth that are part of His Creation joining in the celebration! Creatures from the animal kingdom. Someday Lord willing I will write about animals in Heaven. There are many that do not believe that there are animals in Heaven. I am not one of them. Too much in Scripture would have to be discarded in order to make such a case. For now just see that the  creatures are heavenly and earthly! It is not only my Bible that says so, yours does as well!

The important thing to remember is that it is this God who sits on the Throne that we will give account to. This God in whose presence Sin cannot stand. How will you get in to Heaven if you do not believe?

In a place where the cry of adoration from all acknowledges His Holiness every moment, what will you bring to defend your unbelief??? 

Throne of judgment from pinterest

You might argue:

“Well, I have been a good person! I am not perfect, but I tried my best!!”

“No one is perfect, so I am like the rest, or actually better than most!”

“I didn’t kill anyone, or do some really bad things,  so the little failures such as telling little white lies sometimes should be okay!”

His response:

Romans 3: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands,

no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good, not even one.” (BSB)

You:  “I did these good works and these philanthropic acts and gave much to charity . . .”

He: 

Romans 3:  There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (BSB)

You: “You are a loving God, so you should forgive!
“You are not being fair! Your standard is too high!!”

“No one told me! I never heard of Jesus.”

“I was told there are many ways to God, I took another route. I thought God was in everything, so I like the way I chose. Why does Jesus have to be the Only Way?”

He:

Romans 1:  20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.(ESV)

And:

John 14: 6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (BSB)

You: “My parents said I could live the way I wanted.”

Or the reverse: “My parents were too strict and abusive, they didn’t love me so I chose what I chose.”

Still you: “The preacher spoke of how You loved all and forgave all so everyone should come to heaven regardless of what they have done.”

Some of you might think these would be a good defense: “I went to church, I did receive the Lord and yes, I lived the life style I wanted. Preacher said, the Bible was mainly symbolic, and much of it changed over time. What was not okay then is okay now.”

“Preacher said, the Bible just is not culturally up to date but God is so loving He moves with the culture, therefore it is okay to do things that the Bible specifically said a big NO to . . . after all God understands . . . after all times change and this is 2023” 

He:

Numbers 23:  God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?(BSB)

And:

Romans 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (BSB)

Listen! Your Preacher is lying to you and he will face God for watering down and changing the Word of God!! 

And the wounded of heart may say:  “My mom, or my dad abandoned me, and I grew up angry, abandoned, lost, depressed, without hope, without discipline, rebellious”

His response:

Jeremiah 31:25 for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”(BSB)

and: 

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (BSB)

Try telling Him why the Sacrifice He made sending His only begotten Son to the Cross to die a torturous death just because He loved you wasn’t enough!

I would venture that there isn’t any reason at all that will be good enough for a perfect God to allow an imperfect being into Heaven. His perfect Heaven would no longer then be perfect . . . would it?

I am told frequently that I say it like it is! To a drowning man love is best expressed not in soft words but a lifeline! So, forgive me if I sound sarcastic and harsh, but I have heard all of these reasonings! At this point I care not about your defense, I care only about The Open Door before you that will save you from being left behind!!

from hymnillustrated.com

How much easier is it to accept humbly the Sacrifice made for you and to receive Jesus as your Savior so that you don’t end up in Location 2, left behind, quite possibly killed and then tossed into hell and finally land in the lake of fire.

Matthew 10: 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.(BSB)

The One to truly fear is God! He loves you enough to also say:

Matthew 10: 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (BSB)

Come, make the right choice for you . . .  Ask His forgiveness, and ask Him to accept you as His child! It is all you need to do!!

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