“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.” Revelation 1:3
Have you ever thought about what a blessing it is to be able to read the Word of God? Think about it for just a moment. We are reading the actual words of the Creator of all things! The One who we identify as GOD! The words in the Bible are more of a blessing than I sometimes realize, and when I do actually stop to think that the words of the Almighty God are in my hand, it is overwhelming! When I read verses like John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” and Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee,” I understand that God wants a relationship with me, and that is an amazing blessing!!
Revelation 1:3 speaks to the last book of the New Testament and the prophecies within it. We are told that the time is “at hand.” This means that the things in this prophetic book of the Bible will happen soon. John penned these words as he was inspired by God’s Holy Spirit more than 2,000 years ago. He said the “time was at hand” then. Just think how much closer we are to that time today!
Bible scholars say that there is nothing written in the Scriptures that need to be completed before the Rapture of the Church. Current conditions in the world also indicate that post-Rapture events are on the horizon, which speaks to how close we are to the moment when those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour will be caught up to meet Him in the air and taken to heaven. Soon our faith will become sight!
We are told to keep the Word of God in our hearts and act upon its instruction. It’s clear that our days to share Christ are coming to an end. We must “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16), that is take every opportunity to share the gospel because we are Jesus’ chosen ambassadors appointed to do His work in this sin-cursed world (2 Corinthians 5:20). Before we know it, “…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: 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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Oh, what a glorious moment that will be!
The Biblical clock is ticking, and very soon our work on earth will be finished. The only thing that is holding God back is His tremendous love for us. He wants everyone to have the opportunity to accept His Son, Jesus, as their Saviour. 2 Peter 3:9 states “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” But soon, that last soul will be won to Christ, and at that moment, the time will be “at hand.”
It doesn’t seem like it will be too long before I take my heavenly flight. I hope you’ll be with me!
Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away
To that home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away in the morning
When I die, Hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
(from “I’ll Fly Away” by Albert Brumley)
“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.” 1 Corinthians 15:52
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If you haven’t trusted Christ as your Saviour and you would like to know about how to do so, please let me know. I’d be happy to share with you from God’s Word how you can be saved and on your way to heaven!