The Church of the Laodiceans, in Revelation Chapter three, is considered by most Bible students to be representative of the Church of the last days before the rapture. In the 21st verse of that chapter we read, To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. As we go into Revelation chapter 4, we read of John being caught up in a vision to the throne room of the universe in Heaven. V2. As we read on in the chapter, we come across elders and living creatures. I believe we can identify the living creatures by comparing their description with the creatures mentioned in Isaiah chapter 6. Both descriptions are very similar, and Isaiah calls them seraphim. The Elders I believe are identified by the descriptions given in Revelation chapters 4 & 5. I list them here: 1. Clothed in white robes. V4
2. Crowns upon their heads. V4 (note: not royal crowns- Gk. diadema- but victors crowns-Gk. stephanos.
3. These crowns are rewards for Victors! They are comparable to the incorruptible crown 1Cor. 9 25-27. The crown of rejoicing 1Thess. 2 19-20. Crown of life. Rev. 2:10. Crown of righteousness. 2 Tim. 4:8. Crown of glory. 1 Pet. 5. 2-4 having received these crowns, the elders must have already been to the judgement seat of Christ! 2 Cor. 5:10.
4. They proclaim their redemption through the Blood of Jesus Christ. Rev. 5:9 There are other clues to their identity, which I shall not go into here. If we weigh up all the Scriptural evidence, I believe there is only one group of people that fit the description, The true Church of Jesus Christ, having been raptured to Heaven! As Revelation 4 follows on from the end of the Church age in chapter 3, the presence of the Church, in Heaven, at the start of the Tribulation in chapter 6, further proves the truth of the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. My friends, time is short, Jesus is coming soon! The only way to be prepared for that great day is to come to Him, repent of our sins and ask Him into our lives as our Saviour and Lord. |
