1.13. GOD OPENED THE BOOK
GOD OPENED THE BOOK
Immediately, we were transported to a huge place with thousands and thousands of people and heavenly beings. Oh, it was beautiful! In a little while the people seemed to fade away, and an even greater display of God’s glory began to appear everywhere. The high praises of God became thunderous. The angelic messenger took me to the throne of God. I saw a huge cloud, a mist, and I saw an image of the Being in the cloud. I could not see God’s face, but I saw the glory of God and a rainbow over the throne. I heard the voice of God, and it sounded to me just as John de scribed it: "I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder" (Revelation 14:2). In this mighty arena, I saw many horses with riders beside the throne. Suddenly, I saw a book lying on the huge altar in front of God’s throne. I saw angels bowing before Him. Standing in awe, I watched this scene, and I saw what looked like a man’s hand come out of the cloud and open up the book. Somehow I knew it was the hand of God that opened the book. Amazed, I saw what looked like smoke ascending from the book. Suddenly, the most beautiful perfume I ever smelled filled the whole area where I stood. The angel told me that this book contains the prayers of the saints and that God was sending His angels to earth to answer the prayers from the cries of their hearts. Every body was praising and magnifying God. As God opened up the book, pages began to come out of the volume and fly into the hands of the angels on the horses. I could hear His voice, "like the voice of loud thunder," shouting and saying, "Go, answer her prayers! Go, answer his prayers!"
You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
When I cry out to You,
Then my enemies will turn back;
This I know, because God is for me.
In God (I will praise His word),
In the LORD (I will praise His word), ‘ In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
(Psalms 56:8-11)
The living Word of God explains to us what He does with our tears. How beautiful it is to understand the glory and the wonder of our God! How marvelous it is to be recipients of His compassion! He cares even about our tears. Many Scriptures speak to us about our tears, about our sorrows, and about God’s com fort for us. Read these and rejoice:
Thus says the LORD, the God of David
your father: "I have heard your prayer,
I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you."
(2 Kings 20:5)
I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.
My eye wastes away because of grief, it grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer.
(Psalms 6:6-9) For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
(Psalms 116:8)
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
(Psalms 126:5-6) He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces.
(Isaiah 25:8)
Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
(Jeremiah 31:16) The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
(Revelation 7:17) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
(Revelation 21:4) And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
(Isaiah 35:10)
Glory to God, heaven is a real place! We will really be going there. And, we will not be vapors of smoke floating on a cloud when we go to heaven. One of the wonderful things about heaven is that our tears and sorrows will be replaced with eternal joy, as promised in the Word of God. Yet, there is much more!
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