*Pastor’s Note: We will continue, in no particular order questions posed from the excellent book by Mark Hitchcock entitled, The Complete Book of Bible Prophecy. My hope and prayer is that it will give some insight into much of the end-times prophecy the Bible speaks of and hopefully alleviates some of the fears and confusion people have about studying prophecy. The following is the next in a line of questions I present to you from his book:
Will Believers Who Have Been Raptured to Heaven Be Able to Watch The Events of The Tribulation Unfold on Earth?
This is a question that every believer has probably asked at one time or another. We are curious about what we will know and be able to see when we get to heaven.
The main passage used to support the idea that departed believers in heaven are watching the events on earth is Hebrews 12:1. Following the inspiring list of the faithful from the past, such as Enoch, Abraham, and Moses, the writer of Hebrews concludes, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses . . .” You may have heard this huge crowd of witnesses described as an audience in a huge heavenly stadium, watching us here on earth. But in this passage, the emphasis is on the fact that we become motivated not because they see us but because we see them. As we look back on the patient endurance and faithfulness of their lives, they are witnesses that motivate us to emulate them.
Moreover, once we get to heaven, I doubt that we will be as interested in watching the events on earth as we might think. Revelation 4–5 pictures the church as the twenty-four elders worshiping the Lord. When we get to heaven, we will be consumed with worshiping the Lamb on the throne, not watching the Tribulation on earth.
Mr. Hitchcock’s teachings are informative and enlightening as well as inspirational and any book you can get for yourself from his writings will most definitely be well-worth it. I hope you are blessed AND informed and some of these questions and answers will give you a greater strength to walk in confidence and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible prophecy ALWAYS points to God and His plans for this world that He created through Christ Jesus. Therefore, for true Christians, it is meant to be a comfort that God continues as always to have everything under control despite what it might appear to the average person.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 