“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”” (Revelation 4:1, ESV)
The above scripture from the beginning chapters of the book of Revelation explains how the apostle, John of Patmos, received the information found in the book of Revelation. John was a prisoner for Christ, exiled to an island (Patmos). There, he was condemned by the authorities to live a destitute existence all because he believed in Jesus as the risen Christ.
While on that island, John prayed constantly. Then, he began to see visions. He saw visions of how God viewed seven churches in Asia Minor. He saw visions of God’s unfolding plan for the churches. Then, Jesus said to John, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1b). The rest of the book of Revelation is what God through Christ explained of the end times and Judgment Day and the future of life on earth and heaven.
It is clear that before John wrote Revelation, Jesus wanted John to see the future and share his vision. God desired the faithful to know what was happening. God wanted John (and you!) to know that in the end, Satan and his followers are cast into hell. Followers of Jesus, lovers of God, are given a place in heaven. The revelation given to John is clear: in the end, God and heaven win. Satan and hell lose. John’s suffering and faith are not in vain. John is watched over by Christ.
There are times that God will give people a view to the future for specific, important reasons. God will reveal this future in order to affect the hearts and souls of the faithful. Like Scrooge in the story, “A Christmas Carol”, angels or visions are shared with people to save their souls. Information is imparted from God to bring the good news of salvation to all souls who will accept it.
Dozens of people have shared with me instances where God opened up their eyes to the future. They were given this revelation from God to help them on their journey, to prepare their souls for eternal life, or for a special task. Here are some of their stories…..
A woman from my church called the office to ask that I come visit. I stopped by the next morning. She hadn’t been to the hospital, so I figured her health was fine. Her family had been doing well financially. I thought things were going well for her. She informed me that everything was fine. Then, she asked an unusual question, “Pastor Dave, does God really send angels?” I responded that God does indeed send angels. I told her that angels were “messengers” of God. That’s what the word, angel, means. Then, she informed me that she was sure an angel visited her two days prior. She knew it was an angel because just after she viewed it, it disappeared. While she watched the angel through the window, he explained to her heart that she needed to be strong. Death was nearby.
We prayed together. We talked for a good while. I told her to prepare her heart and soul. I asked her not to fear, because it was obvious that God was protecting her for future events. Little did I know that a few months later, her granddaughter would almost die in an accident not fifty yards from where she saw that angel.
A relative of mine had a premonition that he was going to die soon. In that premonition, he felt that he needed not only to prepare his heart and soul for Judgment Day, but he also needed to help his family get ready for his death. He did not tell his family about the premonition. But, knowing I was going into the ministry, he shared with me what happened.
In a dream, he was told by an angel that he only had a short time to live. The angel told him to “make things right”. As soon as the angel said this, the relative knew that there were changes that needed to happen immediately. He began to pray every day with his wife. He prayed before bed. He went back to church. He fixed up the house. He visited some friends. He renovated areas of the property. Not three months after the work was done, he was found to have a form of highly aggressive cancer. He died a month after his diagnosis while undergoing chemotherapy.
Among many others who God shared the future are:
The young woman who was told she had to get her life in order, because she was going to die before her mother. But she wasn’t even sick! She died 18 months later. In those 18 months, I witnessed her share the gospel, give an amazing amount of love, and shower the students at her school with affection.
The man who was told by God in a prayer to admit his affair to his wife and never cheat again. Amazingly, he owned up to everything, changed his life, and resolved to treat his wife in the best of ways to make up for his terrible choices.
The man who drove home after drinking heavily. On the way home, he saw a man with a sword standing in the road. He slammed on the brakes to try and miss the man, only to see the man with the sword disappear. He then realized it must have been an angel. In the instant all that happened, he felt the angel telling him to get sober, change his ways, or else die. This event changed his life.
I could go on and on. From the beginning of time, God has been showing many people important revelations to prepare their hearts and souls for Judgment Day. Has Jesus ever revealed Himself to you in a special way? Has God ever sent a message about the future your way? Have you ever felt God’s hand pushing you in a certain direction? Have you ever had a vision from God?
Many people of the Bible experienced visions, revelations, and special messages from God. Among them were Jesus, Abraham, Daniel, Isaiah and the prophets, John of Patmos, Paul, Peter, James (the first martyr), and more. The Bible is full of hundreds and hundreds of events where God gave someone a needed glimpse of the future. Maybe, someday, you’ll experience this special revelation. One way or another, God wants you in His Kingdom forever. He will go out of His way to help get you there.
While on that island, John prayed constantly. Then, he began to see visions. He saw visions of how God viewed seven churches in Asia Minor. He saw visions of God’s unfolding plan for the churches. Then, Jesus said to John, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1b). The rest of the book of Revelation is what God through Christ explained of the end times and Judgment Day and the future of life on earth and heaven.
It is clear that before John wrote Revelation, Jesus wanted John to see the future and share his vision. God desired the faithful to know what was happening. God wanted John (and you!) to know that in the end, Satan and his followers are cast into hell. Followers of Jesus, lovers of God, are given a place in heaven. The revelation given to John is clear: in the end, God and heaven win. Satan and hell lose. John’s suffering and faith are not in vain. John is watched over by Christ.
There are times that God will give people a view to the future for specific, important reasons. God will reveal this future in order to affect the hearts and souls of the faithful. Like Scrooge in the story, “A Christmas Carol”, angels or visions are shared with people to save their souls. Information is imparted from God to bring the good news of salvation to all souls who will accept it.
Dozens of people have shared with me instances where God opened up their eyes to the future. They were given this revelation from God to help them on their journey, to prepare their souls for eternal life, or for a special task. Here are some of their stories…..
A woman from my church called the office to ask that I come visit. I stopped by the next morning. She hadn’t been to the hospital, so I figured her health was fine. Her family had been doing well financially. I thought things were going well for her. She informed me that everything was fine. Then, she asked an unusual question, “Pastor Dave, does God really send angels?” I responded that God does indeed send angels. I told her that angels were “messengers” of God. That’s what the word, angel, means. Then, she informed me that she was sure an angel visited her two days prior. She knew it was an angel because just after she viewed it, it disappeared. While she watched the angel through the window, he explained to her heart that she needed to be strong. Death was nearby.
We prayed together. We talked for a good while. I told her to prepare her heart and soul. I asked her not to fear, because it was obvious that God was protecting her for future events. Little did I know that a few months later, her granddaughter would almost die in an accident not fifty yards from where she saw that angel.
A relative of mine had a premonition that he was going to die soon. In that premonition, he felt that he needed not only to prepare his heart and soul for Judgment Day, but he also needed to help his family get ready for his death. He did not tell his family about the premonition. But, knowing I was going into the ministry, he shared with me what happened.
In a dream, he was told by an angel that he only had a short time to live. The angel told him to “make things right”. As soon as the angel said this, the relative knew that there were changes that needed to happen immediately. He began to pray every day with his wife. He prayed before bed. He went back to church. He fixed up the house. He visited some friends. He renovated areas of the property. Not three months after the work was done, he was found to have a form of highly aggressive cancer. He died a month after his diagnosis while undergoing chemotherapy.
Among many others who God shared the future are:
The young woman who was told she had to get her life in order, because she was going to die before her mother. But she wasn’t even sick! She died 18 months later. In those 18 months, I witnessed her share the gospel, give an amazing amount of love, and shower the students at her school with affection.
The man who was told by God in a prayer to admit his affair to his wife and never cheat again. Amazingly, he owned up to everything, changed his life, and resolved to treat his wife in the best of ways to make up for his terrible choices.
The man who drove home after drinking heavily. On the way home, he saw a man with a sword standing in the road. He slammed on the brakes to try and miss the man, only to see the man with the sword disappear. He then realized it must have been an angel. In the instant all that happened, he felt the angel telling him to get sober, change his ways, or else die. This event changed his life.
I could go on and on. From the beginning of time, God has been showing many people important revelations to prepare their hearts and souls for Judgment Day. Has Jesus ever revealed Himself to you in a special way? Has God ever sent a message about the future your way? Have you ever felt God’s hand pushing you in a certain direction? Have you ever had a vision from God?
Many people of the Bible experienced visions, revelations, and special messages from God. Among them were Jesus, Abraham, Daniel, Isaiah and the prophets, John of Patmos, Paul, Peter, James (the first martyr), and more. The Bible is full of hundreds and hundreds of events where God gave someone a needed glimpse of the future. Maybe, someday, you’ll experience this special revelation. One way or another, God wants you in His Kingdom forever. He will go out of His way to help get you there.