Chapter 4 has long been a source of contention and strife to so many because everyone wants to know whether or not the church will have to go through the GREAT TRIBULATION. If it were not for this point alone there would be no contention as to "when" he was coming; and every one would be satisfied merely that He "IS" coming.

One of the basic truths in regard to the Rapture or "catching away" of the church is that she is mentioned 19 times before this particular passage, and she is not mentioned again until the end of the book of Revelation when the invitation is given. In fact, John was not himself seeing, nor did he see the rapture. He was not part of the rapture but saw the door opened through which the Church passed. He then was "invited" to "come up hither" to witness the FACT that he church was already in heaven.

Now, one other very important piece of information following in Revelation Chapter 5 is that from the scene in Chapter 4 to the scene in Chapter 5 we see Our Lord leaving the inner sanctum where He was interceding on behalf of the Christians to come and sit on the right hand of God and take the place now of Judgments. When the Seals are opened and judgment begins to be poured out upon the Earth, it is the Lord that is found to be the only one who is worthy to open the book and begin to release judgment. He cannot be releasing Judgment on a people for which he has promised Mercy and pardon  can He? So we know that the Church is there "with Him" from that stand point as well, but there are other indications of the church having been Raptured and removed from the Great Tribulation found in Chapter 5 & 6 and we will look at this now by returning to the Word.

First of all, let me return to the Outline for this book of Revelation that was not set by John nor by any other man, but by the Lord Himself when He tells John to "Write ...

1. the things which thou hast seen,

2. the things which are,

3. the things which shall be hereafter; (ref., Revelation 1:19)

Through our studies thus far we have systematically followed the writings of John as given Him by the Lord Jesus himself, and we have looked at those things which

1. John saw, Revelation Chapter 1;

2. "...those things which are", found in chapters 2 and 3;

3. and finally we are looking at "...those things that shall be hereafter", speaking of what comes "after the church" age or the church has been Raptured.

That phrase or word "hereafter" in the Greek is "Meta-tauta" and it means something that comes after something else. It is not a figure of speech, but is descriptive of a succession of events. It is saying literally that there was something to come after those things which he is instructing John to write about, and we see here that Our Lord doesn't miss a queue nor forget His place but starts chapter 4 with "and after this I looked..."

Now just about every other translation has translated this to say: "After these things".... however, I am sticking to the King James Translation because there is no need to change the wording in any way in that it means exactly the same thing as "And after this I looked".

This passage denotes that he had written the events of "what he saw", and the events of "what was", and was now entering into that third and foremost portion of the outline being "...those things that shall be hereafter."

I want to say here, that this is also a continuation of the Apostate church of Revelation Chapter 3 verses 14-21.

It is actually my belief that the Rapture of the church takes place at that moment - in the twinkling of an eye, and at the sound of the Trumpet of God.

Now, some will not agree with that because they do not believe that there is a Rapture "and" a second coming. In fact, they do not believe in a Rapture or "catching away" of the Saints of God at all - apart from the second coming of Christ in Revelation 19:11. But we will see by the Word, that the church is gone as of Revelation Chapter 4 and is not spoken about again until Revelation Chapter 20.

Then, in the 3rd Chapter of Revelation we read of the Church of Philadelphia and the Church of Laodicea which is the two end-times churches of today. We have seen here in our studies that while these churches had actual geological locations, they were judged and condemned on their spiritual position and lifestyle. This is the condition of the world today. we can find those of the Philadelphian church which was considered to be the church of brotherly love, and what more fitting banner could the church of evangelism carry for their motto than to be a church of "brotherly love" such as Christ proclaimed, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (KJV). He also warned us however, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matthew 24:12 (KJV)

Yes, there is a remnant that is "in" Christ today and is working diligently for Him. Yet everyday, there are more and more believers who are being deceived and hardened by the apathy and reasoning of an "apostate" church (Loadicean Church), that is bent on the worship of man and are even replacing God with words such as "mythical" and "unbelievable". The church of Laodicea today, is saying that their God is one of love alone, and have replaced his Holy and Divine nature with the total acceptance of homosexuality and living lifestyles that include living together, and all kinds of sensual pleasures that have before now been condemned.

In other words, what I am saying here is that John did not see the Church be Raptured and was not given a time for this to take place in that only the Father knows the day and the Hour in which this will occur. But one thing we do know is that by the time of Verse 1 of Revelation chapter 4, the church is gone. She is not mentioned again from Chapter 4 all the way to the end of the book. In His letter to the churches, John is continually told to write, "He that hath and ear, let Him hear what the Spirit sayeth unto the Churches;" and I think that is significant.

It is my belief that as the church of The Lord being referred to as the church of Philadelphia which was the church of Reformation bringing about the doctrines of grace by faith in the Lord, and there is nothing you and I can do to receive Salvation but that the Gift of God was faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. I believe that it was here that the great prophecies of Joel 2 began to unfold, for we have seen a great revival sweep the nations in these past couple of decades. Yet, if we look in the 2 chapter of 2 Thessalonians verse 3 Paul tells us to

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

Now I believe that is a two-fold word to the church of today. When you see this "great falling away from the church" then you can know and be certain that what will follow will be that the man of sin will be revealed, which is the son of perdition, who will oppose God and will exalt himself to be God, and will see to it that he is worshipped....as we will see physically take place in the 13th Chapter of Revelation. However, Satan has not waited until that day but has begun to reveal himself in the church, through the News Media, through the World Council of Churches, through individual denominations who are saying that tolerance of not just Gay and Lesbian communities are essential to show froth the Love of Christ, but the allowance of Practicing Gays and Lebians to become priests and pastors of individual parishes is evidence that we have already entered that period which the Lord Himself called, "...the beginning of sorrows". Mat 24:8 (KJV)

Because of the importance of this particular event in the history of the church and the time allotted here, I am going to come back and finish this up Monday but I want to leave you today with those words there given to the Church of Laodicea as well as the church of Philadelphia,

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Rev 3:10,11 (KJV)

And then to the church at Laodicea ...

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Rev 3:19,20 (KJV)

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."