The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 4:1-4, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.”

The Key to unlocking the Revelation is in chapter one, verse nineteen: “Write, thererfore, the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.”

1.With the sound of the Voice in 4:1, we enter the third and final phase of the Revelation. The Apostle John is lifted up into Heaven; and just as the seven churches were real churches, they also symbolize periods of Christian history; so, John is real, yet he symbolizes the Rapture of the Church! The troubles of the Church are now left behind, and the Church is allowed to glimpse the LORD Himself, who has been her Refuge and Strength throughout the ages.

2.The LORD’s Church is then raptured (caught up) and carried through the “open door.” The LORD will then have delivered His Church“from the wrath to come” (1 Thes. 1:10). The earthly church is not any, particular religious denomination; rather, it is the entire group of “born again” believers, who are there with Christ. The earthly Church is not seen after Revelation 3!

3.The Apostle John then beholds the glories of Heaven (4:1-11). There are three heavens in existence: the atmosphere is the first; the planets and stars are the second; and the Heaven that John beheld is the third. He visualized Heaven and heard the LORD’s voice. Ellicott says, “The Voice of Christ has many tones; but none give an ‘uncertain sound.” The LORD’s Voice is always preeminent!

4.Most importantly, however, is it that John saw the LORD (1:2b-3: “…and behold, a throne was standing in Heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.”)

(1)The LORD is our Righteousness: the Pure and Holy One.
(2)The LORD is our Redemption: He is their Judgment.
(3)The LORD is our Rest and Security.

Is the LORD your righteousness? Or are you relying on your own goodness?
Is the LORD your redemption? Either He is, or you are facing His judgment!
Is the LORD your Rest, your Security? If He is neither, you have neither.
Give your life to Him! Trust Him to be your Salvation. There is no other.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom