Special Prophecy Update Number 252B

December 4, 2005

Revelation Beatitudes of the Everlasting Gospel – Part 3

Revelation 14:6,7 – And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, [7] Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

There are seven beatitude blessings in Revelation.  The third blessing is obtained by a vigilant effort on the part of church members to live a Bible directed life that will cause them to be rewarded with glorious outer apparel in heaven.

The Hebrew culture was such that you could tell the social status of a person by the clothes he or she wore.  The men worn an undergarment that had sleeves and come down to just above the knees or one that looked something like a breechcloth wrapped around his loins and his waist.  When a man only had this attire on he was considered to be “naked.”  The garment that people saw him wear in public was like a loose one piece dress well below the knees with a large leather belt or sash to gird it at his waist.  There were variations of this type of visible outer garment.  Those who were of higher social status worn a sleeved coat, cape, or robe over the outer garment.  These garments were often used in the Bible to parallel heavenly garments that would be worn by the future residents depending on their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God.  Hence, throughout the writings of the New Testament, there is much emphasis placed on heavenly attire being a blessing for those whose faith endured to the end.

Revelation 16:15 – Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Believers now live in a temporary house, tabernacle, or temple.  The house, tabernacle, or temple body they will occupy in heaven will manifest the degree to which they glorified God in this life, and the attire they are given to wear will eternally manifest their degree of faithfulness for all eternity.

I Corinthians 6:19,20 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

The Greek word translated “accepted” in the following verses means “well pleasing.”

II Corinthians 5:1-10 – For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. [5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. [6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. [9] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

I Corinthians 3:9-15 – For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. [10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by (dia – through) fire.

Such an individual will remain in heaven eternally, but I hardly expect him to be attired in the outer garment of works he lost in the fire.  The time of judgment for gain or loss for the saved is found in Revelation 11:18, which follows the sounding of the last trump in a series of 7 in Revelation 11:15.  The mystery of God in I Corinthians 15:51 at the last trump is the same mystery of God in Revelation 10:7 that will be finished when the seventh angel sounds the last trump in Revelation 11:15.  The mystery is finished when there is time no longer in the age of the Gentiles – when all the saved of all the ages are finally found together in heaven with souls covered by glorified bodies, and the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord.

Revelation 10:6 – And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: [7] But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

I Corinthians 15:51,52 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Revelation 11:15 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 11:18 – And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

I Thessalonians 5:9 – For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Revelation 16:1 – And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Galatians 6:7-9 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Revelation 3:3,4 – Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. [4] Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Revelation 16:15 – Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.