Bible Poetry Reading Plan: Job 15-16
Our Picture of God affects our Picture of Heaven
Revelation 4:1-2 After this [Jesus’ messages to the seven churches of Asia] 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 [End Time events].” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in Heaven, with one seated on the throne. (ESV)
Isn’t it amazing that before Jesus showed the Apostle John the vision of the End Times, He showed
Him a vision Heaven! This was God’s gift to John. God knows that a proper view of God/Heaven
is vital for endurance in the tribulation. God has not left us alone! Many Christian’s fear the end
times but you don’t have to live with this sort of fear. When we study Heaven our view of God
begins to automatically change. We see God in a clearer light and we begin to trust Him more. John
first received a revelation of Jesus beauty and of Heaven before Jesus shows him what is going
to happen in the End Times. This is significant; End Time events can’t be properly understood or
prepared for without a solid foundation of revelation about Heaven. This has to do with hope but also
with God’s Sovereignty. It’s only when we see the city where God lives and the throne where He sits,
that we can properly study the End Times, knowing that He is in control. If we don’t get a picture of
how big God is, then the traumatic events of the End Times will loom too large for us, and they will
defeat us. We must remember that:
• God is bigger than the End Times.
• God is not afraid of the End Times.
• God is in control of the End Times.
• God is the One who instigates the End Times.
• God is the One who ends the End Times.
• God has good purposes for the End Times.
Studying Heaven will grow our trust in God’s sovereignty as we see His authority and power!
Amazing!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you sometimes fear the End Times? How would a greater revelation of God and Heaven
help these fears subside?
2. Look at the bulleted list of things about God listed above. Ask the Lord to solidify in your heart
each of these truths about God. Pray about each one of them, asking the Lord to deepen your
trust and faith in Him.
3. God is good, He is giving us ample time to prepare for the End Times and learning about
Heaven is part of that preparation. Thank Him for His goodness, for His mercy and for His love
in helping us prepare.
