COME UP HITHER
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
There is no doubt that the church shall one day be “caught up” into the presence of the Lord. That is clearly taught in the scriptures. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. But this Revelation 4:1 verse does not reveal that event. Just look at verse two of our text. It clearly states that the result of this sovereign command was that John was raised up into becoming a spiritual man. And immediately I was in the spirit: For this is in reference to Pentecost, and not to some ‘secret Rapture’!
If you want to see the words, “Come up hither,” that cause the removal of the church from the earth into the eternal and glorious presence of the Lord you have to look to Revelation 11:12. 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. For here it states, “And they ascended up to heaven.”
The popular C.I.Scofield “Bible” has falsely led the vast religious community into believing that the so-called “Rapture” of the church takes place at the Revelation 4:1 verse. But the serious bible student will see that Revelation 4:1 is the Lord calling the church up into that which he intended for them at Pentecost.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, (‘other languages’), as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Consider this passage: John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. The Hebrew word, “breathed” is the same word “wind.” And the phrase “the Spirit of God” in Genesis 1:2 is translated, “the breath of” in Genesis 6:17. That breath of God is the Wind of the holy Spirit!
The Lord identified the Holy Spirit with the wind. John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. And as previously stated, the appearance of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is described as “a rushing mighty wind.”
The Person of the Word breathed on these disciples to raise them up into the realm of spiritual life, who had previously done so in raising up that form of the dust of the ground into which he had breathed physical life! Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Here are some verses which relate to us the position of the spiritual man raised up in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The Prophet Ezekiel was taken to witness a valley full of disconnected, dry bones. His first command was to prophesy to these bones to come together into a human form and live again. (See Ezekiel 37:1-14) But then, after that happened, he was turned upward to a more difficult challenge. He was commanded to Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Dear Reader it is one thing to preach morality to church attenders (dry bones) in order to get them to clean up their manner of life. But it is a far different thing for one to have power with God and entreat the Wind of the Spirit to instill spiritual life into religious morality! Therefore it is a glorious thing for our Sovereign Lord to sound forth his effectual command to “Come Up Hither.”
Again, it was one thing for the two disciples on the Emmaus Road to have burning hearts while the accompanying traveller was opening the scriptures to them. But they didn’t have a true revelation of him until he revealed himself in the breaking of bread! Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
We fear for those like the thorny ground hearers who have excitement concerning the preaching of the word, but are “sensual, having not the Spirit.” (Jude 19) The Apostle Paul said that they have “a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.” And God revealed them to Hosea as “a cake not turned.” Like a pancake not fully cooked, but left as raw batter on one side!
James informs us “the body without the spirit is dead.” (James 2:26) So the religionists without the Holy Spirit are still dead in trespasses and sins. They have just imagined themselves to have eternal life by their acquaintance with the Scriptures. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Yet all they have done is to set themselves up for greater punishment. Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For after one willfully rejects the gospel, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
One must call upon the name of the Lord in order to be saved. But one cannot call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Let us close with Jude’s admonition: Jude 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
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