Jesus Appearance (3) - Seated in Heaven

Our view of reality will change dramatically. When we were born again of the spirit we came alive in the spiritual dimension of reality. When we were baptised into Jesus, we died with him and rose to sit with him at the right hand of the father in heaven.

God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).

All Christians are seated with Jesus and surrounded by his angels, but we do not see it.

If we could see ourselves as the angels see, we would see ourselves sitting in the presence of the Father and surrounded by millions of angels. We are not just sitting there passively, but doing the stuff that God wants done to bring in the Kingdom. In Revelation 19:11-18, John describes an army of people dressed in white robes riding to victory on white horses.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:11-16).

This was not a description of the second coming as is usually claimed.

John was trying to describe a spiritual reality, outside the scope of human seeing. He was explaining to the suffering church appears how it appears to those who can see into the spiritual world, during the great Gospel Advance that brings in the Kingdom.

The golden crown and the white horses remind us that Jesus is a king above all other kings. He does not fight with physical weapons, but bring justice through the proclamation of the gospel. His robe is dipped in blood to remind us of his suffering. The armies following are also dressed in white robes, representing their suffering for the sake of righteousness.

John was attempting to give us a true perspective on reality. A church that is being severely persecuted and is being decimated by political powers looks very different in the spiritual dimension. To Christians involved in the struggle, the suffering feels intolerable and the gospel seems to be going backwards. In the spiritual realm, these Christians are a mighty army following Jesus to build his Kingdom. Pushing this marvellous passage to the end of the age robs those who suffer for Jesus and the kingdom of a great promise of hope.

John received a special gift at the end of his life and was a given a glimpse into the spiritual dimension of life. (Adam and Eve could probably see like this before the fall, as they were aware of God walking in the garden.) When the last trumpet sounds, we will all be able to see as John could see during his vision.

When our eyes are opened to full reality, we will actually see where we have been since we were born again. We will see ourselves sitting at the right hand of Jesus and surround by millions of angels. This is where we have always been, but apart from a few like John, most of us have been unable to see it. It will feel like we have been caught up into a different world, but we will just be seeing for the first time, where we have always been.