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2008

Abstract

ever, it is at this moment that you will be met with joy unspeakable and full of glory. You have walked through this pilgrimage with weariness, holding on to faith in Christ and faith that He is coming back for you. Now the moment is here!It has been speculated that right before you die, your entire life flashes before your eyes. I wonder if that will be true on that day. In one moment, all the pains, sorrows, smiles, tears, joys, gains, and losses that have made up your life.None of that matters now. You can clearly see into heaven. Now is when eternity begins.And what do you see? The ark of the covenant, which is the symbol of God’s presence and relationship with His people — with you. The war is over. It is time to go into the eternal presence of God. That feeling you have always had in your earthly life — the feeling that things are just not right — is gone. You are whole.You also see the great signs of lightning, thunder, the earthquake, and the hailstorm. These are signs of judgment upon sinners. The destruction of the wicked. Throughout your life you wondered why the wicked prosper. You saw them commit unbelievable evil and go home to their comfortable and happy lives. Now, you see justice in all of its perfection by the God of justice Himself.All has been made right.<h2 id="b4c1">When the lost see heaven revealed</h2>The second vantage point we see is of the lost. If you are an unbeliever when this day comes, it will be the most dreadful moment in human history. You have lived in this world to gain as much happiness and pleasure as possible. You have gone your own way and proudly denied God. When your life flashes before your eyes you see the sorrows, joys, pains, comforts, tears, gains, and losses of your earthly life. None of that matters now. You can clearly see into heaven. Now is when eternity begins.And what do you see? The a

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rk of the covenant, which is the symbol of God’s presence and relationship with His people — but not with you.Your time is up.You see all that you could have had if you had only believed. You wish with all your might to have one more minute so that you might repent and gain that wonderful life before your eyes, but your time is up. You must now be thrown from it.In the view of heaven’s joys, you remember the happiest moment you had on earth. But this time it brings no happiness. It is all ashes; nothing but a smooth step on the path to hell. There is no way to describe the depth of regret and sorrow you will feel on that day.You also see the great signs of lightning, thunder, the earthquake, and the hailstorm. These are signs of judgment upon sinners — upon you. You were prosperous in your life. Perhaps your life was filled with happiness and comfort. You committed evil, whether great or small, but you always seemed to get away with it.Now, you feel the weight of justice, in all of its perfection, from the God of justice Himself.You must go away into eternal condemnation, never to feel the brightness of a smile or even the simplest pleasure again.<h2 id="03c0">It’s not too late to change your vantage point</h2>If you are reading this, that means you are still breathing. Your next breath is not guaranteed. As long as you are living, it is not too late to ensure that you view heaven on that day with joy and not sorrow. Have you repented of your sins and given your life to Christ?It is the only way.Run to Him in prayer, professing belief in Him and asking His forgiveness, and He will be faithful to forgive you and restore you. Do not worry about the comfort of your life on earth! Think of the revealing of heaven! Where will you find yourself on that day? That is all that matters.</article></body>

The Reckoning

The best and worst moment of all human history

And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (Revelation 11:19, NASB)

Take a moment and meditate on what that verse is describing. There is coming a day when heaven will be opened. To open something is to reveal what is inside. It is to make visible that which has been, at least in some part, hidden. This means the day is coming that God will reveal heaven. And the day is sure to come. That is why the past tense is used to describe a future event. There is no escaping it. But to whom will heaven be revealed?

There is a little clue in the next line. The NASB says, “… the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple.” The ESV is more clear when it says, “… the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple.” It does not just appear. It is seen. John does not say, “I saw.” He says it “was seen.” I gather from this that the moment heaven is opened, everyone in the world will see it. Not only that, but everyone in the world will see it from one of only two vantage points.

For some it will be the best moment of human history. For others, it will be the worst.

It is those two vantage points I want to reflect on here.

When the saints see heaven revealed

The first vantage point we see is of the saints. If you are a believer, it is at this moment that you will be met with joy unspeakable and full of glory. You have walked through this pilgrimage with weariness, holding on to faith in Christ and faith that He is coming back for you. Now the moment is here!

It has been speculated that right before you die, your entire life flashes before your eyes. I wonder if that will be true on that day. In one moment, all the pains, sorrows, smiles, tears, joys, gains, and losses that have made up your life.

None of that matters now. You can clearly see into heaven. Now is when eternity begins.

And what do you see? The ark of the covenant, which is the symbol of God’s presence and relationship with His people — with you. The war is over. It is time to go into the eternal presence of God. That feeling you have always had in your earthly life — the feeling that things are just not right — is gone. You are whole.

You also see the great signs of lightning, thunder, the earthquake, and the hailstorm. These are signs of judgment upon sinners. The destruction of the wicked. Throughout your life you wondered why the wicked prosper. You saw them commit unbelievable evil and go home to their comfortable and happy lives. Now, you see justice in all of its perfection by the God of justice Himself.

All has been made right.

When the lost see heaven revealed

The second vantage point we see is of the lost. If you are an unbeliever when this day comes, it will be the most dreadful moment in human history. You have lived in this world to gain as much happiness and pleasure as possible. You have gone your own way and proudly denied God. When your life flashes before your eyes you see the sorrows, joys, pains, comforts, tears, gains, and losses of your earthly life. None of that matters now. You can clearly see into heaven. Now is when eternity begins.

And what do you see? The ark of the covenant, which is the symbol of God’s presence and relationship with His people — but not with you.

Your time is up.

You see all that you could have had if you had only believed. You wish with all your might to have one more minute so that you might repent and gain that wonderful life before your eyes, but your time is up. You must now be thrown from it.

In the view of heaven’s joys, you remember the happiest moment you had on earth. But this time it brings no happiness. It is all ashes; nothing but a smooth step on the path to hell. There is no way to describe the depth of regret and sorrow you will feel on that day.

You also see the great signs of lightning, thunder, the earthquake, and the hailstorm. These are signs of judgment upon sinners — upon you. You were prosperous in your life. Perhaps your life was filled with happiness and comfort. You committed evil, whether great or small, but you always seemed to get away with it.

Now, you feel the weight of justice, in all of its perfection, from the God of justice Himself.

You must go away into eternal condemnation, never to feel the brightness of a smile or even the simplest pleasure again.

It’s not too late to change your vantage point

If you are reading this, that means you are still breathing. Your next breath is not guaranteed. As long as you are living, it is not too late to ensure that you view heaven on that day with joy and not sorrow. Have you repented of your sins and given your life to Christ?

It is the only way.

Run to Him in prayer, professing belief in Him and asking His forgiveness, and He will be faithful to forgive you and restore you. Do not worry about the comfort of your life on earth! Think of the revealing of heaven! Where will you find yourself on that day? That is all that matters.