Chapter 13 - The Return of Christ

 

In another vision, I saw the coming of the Lord! I heard His call like the sound of a trumpet and the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The whole earth shook, and out of the graves came the righteous dead to meet their Lord in the air.

For what seemed like hours, I heard the trumpets blaring. The earth and the sea gave up their dead (Revelation 20:13). The Lord Jesus Christ stood atop the clouds in vestments of fire and beheld the glorious scene. I heard the sound of trumpets again. As I watched, those who were alive and remained on the earth ascended to meet them:

If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and re main until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

 (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)

I saw the redeemed, as millions of points of light, converging on a gathering place in the sky. There the angels gave them robes of purest white. There was great rejoicing. It was the angels’ responsibility to serve, and they were everywhere, giving special attention to the risen ones. New glorified bodies were given to the redeemed, and they were transformed as they passed through the air. Great joy and happiness filled the heavens and the angels sang, "Glory to the King of Kings!" 

THE BODY OF CHRIST

In this vision, I beheld a large spiritual body high in the heavens. It was the body of Christ, which was lying on its back while blood dripped to the earth. I knew this represented our Lord’s slain body. The body grew larger and larger until it encompassed the heavens. Going into it were millions of redeemed saints.

I watched in astonishment as millions climbed up a staircase to the body and filled it, beginning with the feet and continuing through the legs, the arms, the stomach, the heart, and the head.

When it was full, I saw that it was filled with people from all corners of the earth. With a mighty voice they praised the Lord:

And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, "and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."  (Revelation 5:9-10)

Millions were gathered before the throne, and I saw angels as they brought the books from which judgment was read. There was the mercy seat, and rewards were given to many.

Then, as I watched in astonishment, darkness covered the face of the earth, and demon forces went everywhere. Countless evil spirits had been loosed from their prison and spilled forth onto the earth. I heard another loud voice saying,

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, be cause he knows that he has a short time.
(Revelation 12:12)

THE WRATH OF GOD

I saw an angry beast, and he poured out his venom upon all the earth. Hell shook in his fury, and from a bottomless pit came swarming hordes of evil creatures to blacken the earth with their vast numbers. Men and women ran crying into the hills, the caves, and the mountains. And there were wars upon the earth, and famine and death. At last I saw horses and chariots of fire in the heavens. The earth trembled, while "the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood" (Revelation 6:12). 

An angel announced, "Hear, 0 earth, the King is coming!" Then the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords appeared in the sky. With Him in glorious splendor were the saints of all ages, clad in purest white. I remembered that "every eye will see Him" (Revelation 1:7) and that "every knee shall bow.. .and every tongue shall confess" (Romans 14:11) that He is Lord.

Then the angels put in their sickles and harvested the ripened grain (see Revelation 14:14-19), which is the end of the world. I thought, "We must love one another. We must be firm in the truth and correct our children in the light of the soon coming of Christ. For surely, the King is coming!"