“COME UP HITHER”
REVELATION 11:3-13
REVELATION 11:3-13
Key verse: v. 12, “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”
Introduction:
There is a great day coming when we shall hear our Lord call us home. We shall hear His Command. We shall hear the Archangel of God call and we shall hear the trumpet of God sound the call to come home.
The New Testament has recorded the words of our Lord during His ministry on this earth and has given us to signs and symbols of that coming. We are to be watchful and anticipate His coming while we do His bidding on this earth among the lost souls heading for eternity without hope and without God.
I. THE INVITATION OF OUR GREAT REDEEMER
A. In due time we shall hear a great voice from heaven, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
1. Our hearts will thrill at His “shout,” His military command as He comes as Conqueror, Revelation 6:2, “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”
2. We will hear the voice of the archangel, Michael who will fight against the dragon (the devil), Revelation 12:7, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,”
3. We will hear the trumpet of God sound, 1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
B. In the mean time, watch and pray, Mark 13:32-33, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”
1. As to the time of His Coming the Father has reserved to Himself, Acts 1:7, “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”
a. The Lord had spoken of His earthly kingdom, Matthew 19:28, “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
b. He spoke of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, Acts 1:3, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”
c. He said that the TIME or season was not for you to know, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, 6, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
2. John says the it will come to pass shortly, Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”
a. These things must shortly come to pass, that is, “SPEEDILY,” Revelation 22:7, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
b. John says, the TIME IS AT HAND, Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
II. THE INVITATION OF OUR GREAT SAVIOR
A. Each moment we listen for the Command, “Come up hither,” v. 12.
1. Perhaps we will “COME UP” as Our Savior did, Acts 1:9, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”
2. Perhaps like ELIJAH did, 2 Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
B. The voice of the Archangel of God will be heard, who is mentioned only one other time in NT, Jude 9, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
C. The trumpet call of God will be heard and we will be raised or raptured up to heaven…
1. To see Him FACE TO FACE, 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
2. To stand before Him in all of His GLORY, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
3. To PRAISE His name throughout all of eternity, Revelation 5:12, “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”
CONCLUSION:
Our future is certainly bright while our present seems difficult. Our hope in our Savior shall not diminish because we have His promise of a glorious future.
The Lord of lords and King of kings comes and we will be with Him on His return to earth to establish His Kingdom, Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”