Revelation 4:1-2

REVELATION 4 Last week we heard about the most important part of Revelation…What God had to say to the Churches and were told if we had an ear to listen, then do it. Today’s Episode will cover the beginning of Chapter 4, the Rapture! Reminder of the outline that God gave for this book chapter 1:4 It was John speaking to the seven churches sending grace and peace from Him Which is. (A paraphrase of the great I AM) Which was (the past) And which is to come. (The Future) In the ESV Version 4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit and behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. Did you catch that? According to the scripture we just read, the Rapture was put into God’s timeline of History for mankind. If you missed it, lemma essplain When my brother and sister and I were visiting our Grandfather in Germany, way too many years to mention, we were standing around waiting for a bus, while we overheard a conversation in English. In English I asked the couple if there was anything we could do to help. He replied in English telling me he was trying to confirm the correct bus headed in his direction, but he was Polish and only knew how to speak Polish and English. After getting his info and question, I asked around in German for the info we needed and had them on their bus just in the Nic of time. It only took three languages before things became clear. Yes, that was an important rabbit trail. Most of us read our Bible in English. I read the first verse in the English Standard Version, a simpler version to understand than the KJV. I love the beauty of the KJV, but I understand that we don’t all go around speaking like Shakespeare anymore. Whatever American translation you are reading from, was translated from the original languages…Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. No I don’t speak those languages, and don’t even begin to be an expert in translating. However since I speak German as well as English, I do understand that sometimes the translation of words or phrases are not clear cut and need a little understanding. For example, I grew up asking for an “untersetzt” at very important moments. At home with the family they understood, however if I was at someone else place, they didn’t always help quickly enough. So my mind would have to do the translation out loud. I need and untersetzt! The thing that sits under. The thing that sits under this hot pot of spaghetti that will burn me very soon. I need a TRIVET! That’s it, I NEED a TRIVET! In my mind I had to translate from German to English to a borrowed word from French! After these things, the things I just shared with you from my past, I am moving to the present to share more with you of what I have read and studied in the Bible. What I share on the subject of the Rapture is not meant to be taken to the point of using as ammunition in an arguement. These things that God has taught me through His word are made to comfort us with the thought of His return, not ne used as a weapon in warfare between other believers or a hammer when speaking with unbelievers. In fact this is a great place to pivot for some support for this caution. If we look into I Thessalonians. This book was written around AD 51 so it was written to a fairly young church of about 20 years, rather young in the eyes of many a believer. And yet, Paul takes the time to speak to them of what was an important matter. Some of those in the early church had died, and they had questions. Will my loved one be in heaven or not since they have missed the Coming...