Move Over Doomsday Preachers; Something Good is on its Way!
It seems prophecy teachers get the rap for always bringing bad news, gloom and doom, and all sorts of predictions of agony. Well, I'm here to tell you today that there are some great things in store for us! In fact, the good outshines the bad and the end result makes the journey there seem but a walk in the park. I've got more clichés but I'll save them for later.
Jesus told us that just before the tribulation, there would be a time of sorrows. We're probably in some of that now. Sometimes things get tough economically, sometimes things seem unbearable politically, but through all this, God provides us some great promises to carry us through.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 1 Peter 4:14
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
We can make it! He set the example in suffering, He endured the cross. Why? The Bible says for the joy that was set before Him.
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
This is joy not only of entering back to heaven, but the greatest joy of accomplishing the great and noble task of redeeming man back to God. That is a big deal. That supernatural joy is available to us as inheritors of these many blessings.
With those promises, how can we not sustain ourselves through this time of sorrow?
Then there is the promise of the pre-tribulation rapture. I believe the Bible is clear that before the tribulation strikes the earth His church will be translated out.
Take a look at the Book of Revelation. Chapters 1-3, the church in mentioned 19 times. But then in chapter 4, a voice calls out to John to "come up hither." In this incident, John is a symbol of the church being raptured into heaven. OK, caught up into heaven for those of you who prefer we not use the word rapture.
After being caught up, the church is not mentioned again until chapters 20-22 when the church is definitely in heaven, past the church age, and progressing through the things in heaven ordered for the church.
The sad thing for us is the fact that we worry about our friends and loved ones. These are the ones who for whatever reason, excuse, or turn down, have chosen not to follow the gospel message and accept Christ as first Savior and then Lord. Our hearts go out to them in prayer. We mention them during intercessory prayer services, their names are on numerous prayer lists, we see God working in their lives, but we also see them turning their backs. That is the sadist part of this whole thing, and really, that's a big suffering point for us.
We want everyone to go to heaven. Jesus is the way, but some won't accept that.
From our limited experience here on earth, we can't imagine a happy heaven without them. We can't imagine joy knowing the suffering they will face in the tribulation. We are doubly sad when they perish and at funerals and memorials we just aren't sure of where their souls went.
But, for those of us who enter into heaven, there is the promise that He will wipe away all our tears.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
These are tears of sadness and heartbreak we have endured through life. They are also tears and sadness for those who fail to join us in heaven. He takes it all away.
Heaven is an amazing place. We try to describe it, we sing about it, and yet we fall short of really getting the glory of it. Although the Bible does have many things to say about heaven, our minds are limited to this realm in which we live so our attempts to describe it are with words that we use here on earth to describe earth. We just can't describe it.
For people who have experienced the bedside passing of saints from this life into heaven, often there are clues they leave with us. My mother-in-law seemed to be passing between heaven and earth. She would come back several times with descriptions of flowers and colors that can’t be articulated in our words. She said she saw birds, and tall houses and she saw Jesus and He hugged her. She saw family members who had passed before her running and leaping for joy. She was ready to go on and be with her savior. The tug towards heaven overrode the desire to stay in this incomplete realm we call home. Home is really heaven for us. We’re just passing through here.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20
Don’t let President Obama, FOX News, economic chaos, and Muslim extremists scare you. You have a great reward ahead of you that is beyond your wildest dream. Sometimes prophecy dudes like me focus on the immediate bad stuff coming—but beyond that there is heaven. Heaven is indescribable, beyond our belief, a place of no pain, worry, or sadness because all that will be wiped away. Heaven is coming! ¡Vale la pena!
PD
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