Come Up Here!
Reading: Revelation 11
My Verse: "But after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them" (11:11,12)
As I continue to read this book of Revelation I am struck by the great Majesty of You, LORD God. You created man with so many abilities, so much potential - we are after all created in Your very own image! And yet we have squandered all the beauty and greatness that You meant for us. Here in this passage the two witnesses do tremendous things in Your name. You allow them to be killed. The tragedy here is what the people do when that happens. For three and a half days they gloat over the dead bodies of these men. They rejoice that they are no longer tormented by them. They do not realize their sin. Then in horror they watch as You bring the two men back to life. They watch as You call them to heaven in Your great voice, "Come up here!" They watch as the men ascend "up to heaven in a cloud." Then You allow a great earthquake to occur in the city and seven thousand die. Only then do the survivors acknowledge You.
I do not pretend to understand all that is happening here. But I can see that You LORD God are a mighty God. You are a holy God. But most of all You are a loving God and You do all that is needed to bring people to You. The day of judgement is coming and so many are lost. I keep coming back to 2 Peter 3:3-10, where Peter reminds us of how You revealed all this to Your prophets. And he speaks of how people in the end times just like before the flood will scoff.
"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends; With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."
Yes, all of scripture points to Your return. It also points to the need for man to repent of their sins, to turn to You for salvation. It will be wonderful to be able to respond to this call, "Come up here!"
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Revelation 11
My Verse: "But after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them" (11:11,12)
As I continue to read this book of Revelation I am struck by the great Majesty of You, LORD God. You created man with so many abilities, so much potential - we are after all created in Your very own image! And yet we have squandered all the beauty and greatness that You meant for us. Here in this passage the two witnesses do tremendous things in Your name. You allow them to be killed. The tragedy here is what the people do when that happens. For three and a half days they gloat over the dead bodies of these men. They rejoice that they are no longer tormented by them. They do not realize their sin. Then in horror they watch as You bring the two men back to life. They watch as You call them to heaven in Your great voice, "Come up here!" They watch as the men ascend "up to heaven in a cloud." Then You allow a great earthquake to occur in the city and seven thousand die. Only then do the survivors acknowledge You.
I do not pretend to understand all that is happening here. But I can see that You LORD God are a mighty God. You are a holy God. But most of all You are a loving God and You do all that is needed to bring people to You. The day of judgement is coming and so many are lost. I keep coming back to 2 Peter 3:3-10, where Peter reminds us of how You revealed all this to Your prophets. And he speaks of how people in the end times just like before the flood will scoff.
"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends; With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."
Yes, all of scripture points to Your return. It also points to the need for man to repent of their sins, to turn to You for salvation. It will be wonderful to be able to respond to this call, "Come up here!"
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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