On December 7, 1941, the U. S. Naval base Pearl Harbor located near Honolulu, Hawaii, was the scene of a surprise attack just before 8 A. M. by Japanese forces. Hundreds of fighter planes managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The next day President Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.
“Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that one day in the future a surprise event will occur called the Rapture of the Church, when Jesus, the Head of the Church, will return to the earth. He will gather up all faithful believers, and rather than attack and destroy them, He will gather them out of the earth and take them to their eternal home in heaven. Jesus told His disciples on the day He ascended to heaven that only His Father knew the day when He would return, so it was extremely important for them to be prepared for that great day.
Once believers are taken out of this world to join Him in heaven, they will have one more surprise after another when they get there. The apostle John had a vision about what heaven would be like, and he wrote about it in Revelation 21. In his vision John heard a voice saying that God will be their God and they will be His people, and that God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. He was told that there will be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. He was told that God will make all things new, that former things will pass away, and God will give them the fountain of the water of life freely.
In Revelation John wrote about seeing a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. He said that in the middle of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the tree of life, which bare twelve types of fruit. He said that the tree yielded fruit every month, and the leaves of it were for the healing of the nations. He said that they will see the face of God, and His name will be in their foreheads. He said that there will no night there, and no need for a candle, neither the light of the sun, for God Himself will give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever. It will all be a very pleasant surprise.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
