Light Series

After these things I saw, and Look, a door opened in heaven, and the voice like a trumpet that first heard speaking with me, saying, “Come up here!, and I will show you what will happen after these things.”

Immediately I was in Spirit; and Look

A throne was placed in heaven, and on the throne one sitting, and the one sitting looked like a jasper and sardius stone; and a rainbow encircled the throne, looking like an emerald. Revelation 4:1-3

v 1 After these things. . . after these things two Greek words: meta tauta, “after these things”. See 1:19.

The Timing of the Rapture of the Church

Because the phrase “meta tauta” occurs here, and is used by John as a structural phrase, and because the Church is not mentioned in Revelation again until 22:16, many believe that the Church will not go through the Tribulation, and, therefore, that this verse means “after the things of the Church”, and, at this point, the Rapture takes place.

Position I The Post-Tribulational View

Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27 (14:62); Revelation 7:9, 13-14.

This position holds that although meta tauta is a phrase which has structural significance with John, there are many Scriptures which indicate that the gathering together of believers occurs after the Tribulation. Therefore, the suggestion that the Church is no longer seen in Revelation is pushing the significance of the phrase too far.

Position II The Pre-Tribulational View

Isaiah 26:19-21; I Thessalonians 4:17; 5:9; Luke 17: 26-30.

The word “Church” has occurred seven times so far in Revelation. It does not appear again (except in plural form. The plural form (Churches) occurs 12 times in Revelation, all between chapters 1 and 4, and again in 22:16). Based on this and 1:19, we conclude that the section we are entering is the period after the things of the Church. There is a “Mid-Tribulational” view, however, this is really a variation on the pre-Tribulational view, and, therefore, is not being treated separately. The key to the mid and pre-Trib. views is the concept that the people of God are not called to endure the judgment of God’s wrath upon the earth.

An Additional Perspective: The Paradox Of Prophetic Timing Of The Rapture And The Return Of Christ

I Thessalonians 4:13-5:10; I Corinthians 15:49-53; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; Matthew 24:15, 21, 29, 42.

There appear to be two gatherings together--one at the beginning of the Tribulation, and one at the end. I suggest that there is a massive repentance and acceptance of Christ during the Tribulation, resulting in a mass of “Tribulation Saints”. If there are any left at the end of the Tribulation, who have not died for their faithful witness of Christ, they will be gathered together to Christ to return with Him (and us) for the last battle in human history.

v 1 door see 3:8, 20. Trumpet 1:10

v 2 In (the) Spirit 1:10 Throne seen about 45 times in Revelation, 15 in Chapter 4 alone. See Daniel 7:9-14.

v 3 Jasper is described later as being clear as crystal (21:11). The Jasper is usually red, or brownish. The Sardius is also red. So the idea that Jesus has a nice tan is reinforced again.

Each of these stones is in the breastplate of the High Priest. Each one is associated with a particular tribe, or son of Israel, and each son’s name has a meaning. Jasper is Benjamin, which means “Son of my right hand” (See Exodus 28:20). Sardius Exodus 28:17--(a ruby), was Reuben, which means, “Behold, a Son”. Emerald Exodus 28:18 was the stone for Judah, which means “praise”. Jesus is presented as the Son of God, and He was of the tribe of Praise. And each of these stones in the High Priest’s breastplate represented the people of God coming into the presence of God. Rainbow See Genesis 9:8-17 and Daniel 7:9-14, as well as Revelation 10:1.

Light

If you think about yourself do you feel like you’re on the light side or the dark side? I’m not making any reference here to Star Wars and the force. Let me explain

Moses wanted to see God’s glory. But God said “no one can see my face and live” (Exodus 33). Once Moses began to enter God’s presence on a regular basis, however, Moses’ face changed. There was a transformation as he was exposed to the light of God’s glory. Moses began to glow. Jesus appearance seems to radiate light from His eyes and even His feet (Revelation 1:14, 15). Now that John sees Jesus on the throne of heaven, even his surroundings are incandescent. There is a green-tinted rainbow all around His throne. Some might think of this as a property of the throne or the environment, but I think it is simply an outpouring of Jesus’ nature. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness whatsoever (1 John 1:5). It seems to me that people that look to Him, and look at Him for any duration are likely to begin to reflect that glory just a bit. For this reason, Paul said “Ye are the children of the light and the children of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5). Jesus said “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5).