The prodigal, John, and Isaiah

It began as a gradual dawning. A glimpse, really.

An overlay, superimposed on reality.

Like looking through sheer curtains, or the early morning dawn.

I saw it first at the Ann Graham Lotz Just Give Me Jesus revival, when the lights were low and Fernando Ortega's voice lifted our eyes to the heavens, leading us to praise "Our Great God."



 And then I read it, in God's Word:

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,  the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
 
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

And I glimpsed it again, in Isaiah's account:

I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

Have you ever seen a glimpse of heaven, with the believers from all time gathered around the throne?

Have you ever imagined being there in the midst of them, praising God with all that is in you?

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the thought of thousands upon thousands gathering to worship the almighty God of the universe?

And the most poignant scene of all -- across the multitudes of people praising him, he sees you--standing at the edge of the throng, overwhelmed with gratitude to simply be in the number. His eyes meet yours -- barely lifted, hesitant, awash with an overwhelming sense of unworthiness.

And he begins to run.

 "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. '

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' 

So they began to celebrate."

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

http://www.jrbell.com/index.html

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