Hi Mike,

 

I also used to use NLT version but changed back to NKJV because of all the generalizations and omissions in NLT and the other translations.

 

Now we know the Bible is always the best interpreter of the Bible when in doubt. And it was precisely this part that intrigued me the past 18 months and the wonderful Spirit of God helped me to clear up the questions I had.

 

If you look at Revelation 5:

Rev 5:8  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Rev 5:9  And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Rev 5:10  And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

Rev 5:11  Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

Rev 5:12  saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

 

See the reference to every tribe, tongue, people and nation – We the Christians are the only people who can say that and it infers that we are in heaven at this point.

Some translations do not put the us in and replace it with peoples, but the Elders are speaking here and the inference to US comes from the previous chapter as shown below.

 

Rev 4:10  the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

Rev 4:11  "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

 

NOTE: The elders cast their crowns before GOD – We awake Christians are the only ones that will receive crowns(and there are 5 different ones – Watching, Soul Winning etc – and the Crowns infers that they are the raptured Christians around the throne before the Tribulation – We will rule and reign with CHRIST as per Rev 5:10  And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

 

The multitude coming out of the Tribulation in Rev7 will serve Christ in all eternity

 

The Choice is currently yours to make – Kingship(reigning) or servanthood(serving) depending on if you accept Christ this side of the rapture in the time of Grace or wait for death after the rapture(not cool)

 

This answer from the Holy Spirit out of the Bible to my honest question to JESUS this past week while studying this piece of Scripture was very promptly answered by the Holy Spirit while studying and praying – all Glory to JESUS, with whom we shall rule and reign in all eternity! We are Raptured and the others in Rev7 (oh-oh we missed what the watchmen were telling us) come out of the great tribulation.

 

I have no other authority than that of Jesus and as Teacher the Holy Spirit, daily in my endeavors to understand the time and the imminent arrival and to warn the lukewarm all around me! – Glory to GOD.

 

Blessings my brother – I am also 67 years old and the Lord chose to use me after I turned 60 – a fossil glorifying JESUS.

Jimmy