"But after the 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."
(Revelation 11:11-12)
Here is something of the pattern of Christ in His death and resurrection and ascension now belonging to the church.
John’s use of the past tense envisions the certainty of this future work taking place. Here is the true “rapture” of the church, to use a much misused term. Here we find the church called into the presence of Christ forever. The church will be gathered to Christ but only after its mission is finished and the opposition of the world has run its full course. But Satan will not have the last word! Just as Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to the Father, so also will all believers in the world at this time.
The forebodings of the world’s hatred that we see at present will be multiplied one day until the voice of the gospel is silenced in the world. But it is only silenced when the work is finished. That means, while God gives us opportunity, we must be about the mission of the gospel. The day will come when we can no longer speak the gospel; and the world can no longer hear the gospel to be saved. So, let us not grow weary in gospel work. Let us tell the good news broadly!
(Phil A Newton)
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