"And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them" – This is a specific call to God's elect, his church, represented by the two witness. The call is "Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud." It seems clear to me that this text speaks of the glorious resurrection of the dead, at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular opinion, there will be no secret rapture. In our text we are told that, as the saints of God go up to meet the Lord in the air, "their enemies beheld them." There will be nothing secret about it. When Christ comes in power and great glory to gather his elect from the four corners of the earth, the whole world will see God's saints arise out of their graves. Then the living believers shall be called up to glory, while their enemies gaze upon them with astonishment! Then they shall be destroyed with the brightness of our Lord's coming. And all the wicked shall be raised up to stand before the august majesty of the Son of God in judgment. All of this will be done in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
That is the meaning of our text. And I will come back to it at the conclusion of my message. But tonight I want to use these words of our Lord, "Come Up Hither", in a much wider sense. Taking these words as coming from the lips of Christ, I want to show you how that our gracious Lord calls us up to himself.
Proposition:The Lord Jesus Christ, from his lofty throne in heaven, constantly calls his people away from this world, with all it's cares and temptations, up to himself, saying, "Come Up Hither!"
Divisions:Our Savior says, "Come Up Hither!" And when he does, those to whom he speaks arise to him. I will show you how these words apply to us in four ways.
Let me first reason with you who are yet without Christ. You are lost, perishing, without God, without Christ, without hope. Soon you must die. Soon you must meet God in judgment. Soon you will be cast into outer darkness to perish forever in hell. Your sin, your unbelief will bring God's just, eternal wrath upon you.
The Lord Jesus Christ, by the gospel that I preach to you, is calling you up to heaven and eternal life. He is calling you up to his throne of grace. He is calling you up to the heavenly Jerusalem. He is calling you up to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. He is calling you up to himself. May God enable you to hear and obey his gracious call.
A. Christ Is Able And Willing To Save All Who Come To God By Him (Heb. 7:25).
Look up now with the eye of faith. Look up yonder to the throne of glory. There sets the Son of God, the Man who was crucified upon the cursed tree. He has the right and the power to give eternal life to whom he will (John 17:2; 5:21-24). And he wills to give eternal life to all who trust him (Matt. 8:2-3).
1. His blood is an atonement sufficient to wash away all your sins (Zech. 13:1; I John 1:9).
2. His righteousness is sufficient to give you acceptance with God and everlasting approval in his sight – (Rev. 7:9).
3. His power is sufficient to give you life, save you and bring you safely to his throne in heaven (John 10:27-30; Jude 24:25).
As I speak to you now, in the name of Christ, do you hear his voice echoing in your heart, saying, "Come up hither"? I am sure that some of you do.
1. The Lord Jesus has made a way and opened the door by which he beckons sinners to himself, saying, "Come Up Hither!" (Rev. 4:1).
2. God, in his providence, has constantly shown you the vanity of all things here, the brevity of life, the certainty of death, the sureness of judgment, and the eternity of the world to come, saying, "Come up hither!"
3. God the Holy Spirit now strives with you, through many means, and urges your heart to repentance, saying, "Come up hither!"
"Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not you heart." "Come up hither!" The eternal, triune God, waits to be gracious to you who come to him by faith in Christ, the sinner's Substitute.
Illustration: The Prodigal – There waits in heaven for you – The fatted calf of God's provision – The ring of everlasting love and royal authority – The shoes of gospel truth – The robe of perfect righteousness – And the joy of faith!
How often we are troubled and cast down by the temptations and trials of this world. Sometimes, as we run the race, our hands hang limp by our sides, our feet get so heavy that we can hardly pick them up. And our hearts grow weary and faint. The enchanting cares of this world seem to charm our hearts until, it seems, nothing matters to us but the perishing things of clay. But our Lord, bring full of compassion, forgives our iniquity, and destroys us not. Many times he has turned his anger away, and would not stir up his wrath against us; for he remembers that we are but flesh, a wind that passes away, and comes not again (Ps. 78:38-39).
Just when it looks like we will surely fall away, or be overcome, or turn aside in utter despair, our weak eyes of faith get a fresh glimpse of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and that great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, who seem to cheer us on, saying, "Come up hither!" (Heb. 12:1-4) - (Rev. 4:1).
How often we are inspired along the way by these fresh tokens of grace which cheer our hearts. How blessed it is to the weary heart, like refreshing water to a thirsty, withering plant to hear the Savior, by one means or another say, "Come up hither!"
III. "Come Up Hither!" This Is The Dying Saint's Consolation.There is an hour fixed, by God's irreversible decree, an hour appointed by God when every believer will be called out of this world, called up to his home in heaven. Child of God, very soon, you will hear the voice from heaven with this summons for you, "Come Up Hither!"
A. This Should Be The Subject Of Joyful Anticipation.
If we are in Christ, truly united to him by faith, there is no reason for us to fear, or dread our departure from this world. Believers ought to salute death with intense delight, and welcome its approach as we would welcome the arrival of our best friend – (II Cor. 5:1-9).
I have no doubt that there is absolutely no reason for a believer to seek to avoid or delay, or in any way fear the approach of death. It should be looked upon by us as a matter of confidence and certainty that when our Lord calls "Come Up Hither," we will be received into his presence as the objects of his everlasting love and perfect delight.
1. I know that we are hoping to face a holy God; but I know that God in his holiness cannot refuse us a home in heaven if we are in Christ.
2. I know that our sins must be punished to the full satisfaction of Divine Justice; but I know that the blood of Christ has satisfied the offended justice of God for all who believe.
3. I know that without holiness no man shall see the Lord; but I know that all who trust Christ have been made the righteousness of God in him.
4. I know that every man will be judged according to strict justice, according to the record of his works in the book of God; but I know that Christ's obedience is my obedience, his works are my works, and his acceptance is my acceptance.
If I am in Christ, if I trust the Son of God, death itself holds no terror for me! I anticipate that day when the voice from heaven says to me, "Come up hither," for in that day, that same voice will say to me, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." I say that our departure from this world should be the subject of joyful anticipation.
B. Yet, It Must Also Be The Object Of Patient Waiting (Phil. 2:23-24).The Lord knows best when it is time for us to be bidden to "Come up hither." We must patiently await his bidding. We must not cling to this life, as though there were nothing more precious than life. But we must not neglect our responsibilities in this life, as though there were no purpose for our existence upon this earth. We are servants. It is ours to deligently serve the cause of Christ until he says, "Come up hither."
Illus: When Whitfield was very sick, and at the point of death, his black nurse said to him, "No, massa Whitfield, There'll be no dyin' for you yet. There's many a poor Negro yet to be brought to Christ. You must live." And live he did!
Illus: There was an old believer who was once asked by a friend, "Would you rather die, or live?" She said, "I would rather it be as God wills it." "But if you might have your choice, I would ask God to choose for me, for I would be afraid to choose for myself."
This is my prayer, "Lord, let me live as long as it pleases You." And as long as I live make me useful, as You see fit, for the souls of men and the glory of Christ. And when the time comes for me to 'come up hither', make me willing and anxious to go." "Let me die the death of the righteous."
1. I am anxious to be with the church above; but I would not leave the church below until I am no longer needed.
2. I am anxious to enter the courts of my King; but I would not leave his vineyard until my work is finished.
3. I am anxious to enter into my rest above; but I would not enter into rest until I have completed my appointed day of labor.
4. I am anxious to wear the victor's crown; but I would not wear that crown until I have finished my course and run my race to the end.
C. When The Hour Comes And The Savior Says, "Come Up Hither," God's Saints Will Be Ready To Go (II Tim. 1:12; 4:6-8).
IV. Take one more look at these words: "Come Up Hither!" This Is The Church's Blessed Hope.
Throughout the ages God's saints have lived in hope of that glorious day when Christ comes again and says to all his elect – "Come up hither!" We are "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Tit. 2:13). When King Jesus comes in power and great glory, and cries with the voice of the archangel, "Come Up Hither", all the saints of God will rise to meet him in the air.
A. This Hope Sustained God's Tried Saints In Days Of Old ( Job 19:25-27). B. This Hope Sustains God's Saints Today – (I Thess. 4:13-18). C. This Hope Inspires Our Hearts With Deligence (II Pet. 3:11-14). Application: I Cor. 15:51-58Blessed Savior, from whom all mercy and grace comes to sinful men and women, send your Spirit upon us now. Enable me; if it can please you, for the honor of your name, to preach the gospel tonight in effectual power to the hearts of your redeemed ones.
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