Almost Time

It took several years for this scripture to really 'click' with me, for whatever reason. Sometimes that happens with the scriptures - you'll read it over and over and then one day, out of the blue, you receive a new revelation or new insight that had never been considered before. 

For me, this happened with Revelation 19. I had read this chapter countless times before having this epiphany, which involves the first half of the chapter (the second half of the chapter describes the second coming). 

The first scene is actually fascinating. The apostle John is seeing heaven just before the second coming of Christ - and what he sees is a scene involving the Church Saints, who are in heaven and celebrating and worshiping in a very significant, unabashed way:

Revelation 19:

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: ² for true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.³ And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. ⁴ And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

⁵ And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. ⁶ And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. ⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ⁸ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. ¹⁰ And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

There is so much information packed into this passage. The first thing that strikes you is the intense worship and celebration:

⁶ And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. ⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Imagine that - the voices sounded as significant as a "great multitude", "many waters" and "mighty thunderings". With the references that John had at his disposal - that is a massive worship experience with the words "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth"! 

Then we see this:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him" - another expression of worship offered by this multitude, but the best part is yet to come:

for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ⁸ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. ¹⁰ And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The Church Saints are gathered and not only engaged in worship and celebration - but is prepared for the wedding supper of the Lamb as shown by being arrayed in "fine linen, clean and white". 

What John is seeing is US - The Bride Of Christ. The Church Saints. John is seeing our very future - we will be there ourselves and when John was seeing the future, in heaven, he saw US. This isn't abstract, this isn't allegory, this is exactly what John saw.  

Just imagine. We will actually be there - in person. That was the epiphany after all those years of reading chapter 19. I will personally be there in that very celebration and so will  you!

Based on the signs that we are watching on a daily basis - realization of this scenario - the one that John witnessed - doesn't appear to be far away. That fact should never leave us and it really should be our ultimate focus, as we watch the rapid approach towards the final days of this generation. 

Why wait however. As the bride we should be preparing now, as the scene that John was shown in Revelation 19 can model our behavior. If we are to be engaged in that level of praise and worship in heaven we may as well get started now. 

As we see the signs increasing around us and the approaching darkness of the Tribulation - some of which are deeply disturbing and frightening, we can celebrate what we know: He is coming for His Bride - therefore, these dark days shouldn't be a time of fear, but a time of worship and celebration. 

This singular focus (Jesus and what awaits us), in the midst of growing darkness and evil around us,  should remind you of the passage in Psalm 23:

Psalm 23: 4-6

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Amen. It's almost time.