Tuesday, January 2, 2018

January 3, 2018

"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from all nations and provinces and languages, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God upon the throne, and from the Lamb.” And now all the angels were crowding around the throne and around the Elders and the four Living Beings, and falling face down before the throne and worshiping God. “Amen!” they said. “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and forever. Amen!” Then one of the twenty-four Elders asked me, “Do you know who these are, who are clothed in white, and where they come from?” “No, sir,” I replied. “Please tell me.”“These are the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation,” he said; “they washed their robes and whitened them by the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are here before the throne of God, serving him day and night in his temple. The one sitting on the throne will shelter them; they will never be hungry again, nor thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat. For the Lamb standing in front of the throne will feed them and be their Shepherd and lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. And God will wipe their tears away.” Revelation 7:9-17

The Book of the Revelation was written by the Apostle John to record a supernatural spiritual vision of Heaven and end times given to John while he was exiled to the remote Island of Patmos. 

Can you imagine how difficult it would have been to describe the incredible sights he saw in Heaven with the limited vocabulary of first century languages?

Early in John's vision was a series of seven messages delivered to the pastors of seven churches in the Middle East. These sober and prophetic messages bore wise principles that apply to the 21st Century Church as well!

Only a divinely inspired prophetic message from God could have the wisdom and power to guide the young Church of Jesus Christ for 20 centuries!

In addition to the timely message of God directed to each of the Pastors of each of the seven churches are majestic views of Heaven, our eternity and best of all Jesus!

So, one could say that among the Books of the New Testament, God saved the best for last!

From this portion of the Revelation found in the 7th chapter referenced above I will draw five activities happening in Heaven that need to be practiced on planet Earth.

Jesus taught us to pray, "Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven..." So, what Heavenly activities need to come to Earth?

I will share the first one today. According to verse 9 there will be a diverse population in Heaven, "After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from all nations and provinces and languages, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb..."

Since Heaven will be a very diverse place with races and tribes from all over the Earth, shouldn't we be opposing racism and prejudice in this world?

What are you doing to fight those evils?

What should you do?

  • Follow the wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and judge people by the content of their character not the color of their skin!

Look into peoples hearts don't judge them by looking upon their skin color. Are you doing that?

  • Learn to see individuals not groups!

It's harder to hate an individual person than a group of people. Especially as you take the time to get to know the person rather than prejudge or generalize a group.

Do you see groups or do you see each individual person?

  • Intentionally diversify your own circle of friends!

What are you doing to make friends of people from other races or backgrounds?

  • Let's see how many races and tribes we can reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

As the children's song says, "Red and yellow black and white they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world."

If God loves all people of all races from every tribe and if Jesus died on the cross to save them from their sins, shouldn't His Church and His people be busy trying to reach as many with the Gospel of Salvation to all of them? To each of them?

So, Jesus says we should be doing on Earth what is being done in Heaven! That means you and I must know what is going on in Heaven so we can prepare ourselves and others for Heaven!

And, if you are planning to spend eternity in Heaven shouldn't you be practicing one earth what you will be doing in Heaven?