HEAVEN STANDING OPEN

      The wrath of the Antichrist (42 months), the thrones of God and of Christ with their judgments while the heavens are standing open, and the wrath of God (44 1/2 months) in this sequence are the three major and all inclusive events surrounding the return of Christ.
      The throne of God with the court of heaven and the judgment seat of Christ are the predominate scenes. These scenes in the open heaven will be viewed from earth and by all creation for hours, even days and longer. God will perform many miracles far greater than He did on Pentecost when the church was baptized with the Holy Spirit and each of the apostles spoke to people from nearly a dozen and a half nations who heard them speak in their own language. Acts 2:8.
      Christ will sit on His judgment seat "in the air," in mid-heaven, rewarding the saints and denying the unfaithful saved in full view of all creation: those in heaven, those on the earth, and those in hell, Rev 1:7; Mt 26:63-64; Mk 14:61-62. The heavens will be standing open with the actions of the heavenly court being observed by the whole universe. The judging and rewarding of the saints is the single big time consuming factor. How long this will take is not revealed.
      Initially, the heavens will be rolled back and the throne of God will appear, presenting to a defiant humanity and the demon world a most terrifying picture of an angry God whose wrath is about to burst forth upon them with indescribable fury, Dan 7:9-10; Rev 6:12-17. Though not discussed in this book, the marriage festivities of Christ and the saints will be in process during the entire period of both the wrath of the Antichrist and the wrath of God, Lk 12:36.
      When the heavens are rolled back (Rev 6:12-17), thrones are put in place in mid-heaven for the heavenly court, Dan 7:9-10. The court is then seated and the official court activities begin. After the covenant books of God's precreation counsel and purpose for the ages are opened, Christ is ushered in before the Father to be crowned and receive the millennial kingdom in a glorious and festive, inaugural ceremony, Dan 7:13-14. This ceremony will include an inaugural address by God who will have the nations in excruciating derision as He chides them for their unbelief and rebellion, Ps 2:1-6; 37:13; 59:8; Prov 1:24-33; Rev 6:12-17.
      It is after this that Christ descends with His angels, having the disembodied spirits of the saints with Him. While myriads of angels escort the disembodied spirits of the saints on down to reunite them with their bodies, Christ will set up the throne of His glory in mid-heaven with both thrones and court attendants in full view. Here in mid-heaven is where Christ will judge and reward the saints as all creation looks on, Mt 25:31-32; I Thess 2:19-20; 3:13; 5:23; I John 2:28; Lk 12:2-10; Mt 10:32-33; Mk 8:38 (Mt 16:27; Lk 9:26).
      After Christ judges and rewards the saints, He will present them before the Father unblamable and unrerpoveable in holiness for the Father's approval and pleasure, I Thess 3:13; Rev 7:9-17; 14:1-5; 15:1-4; Mt 10:32-33; Rev 3:5; Mt 26:64; Mk 14:62. As the marriage of the Lamb festivities are continuing in heaven, the seven angels will prepare to pour out the seven vials of God's wrath, Rev 15 & 16. At the same time Christ will prepare to descent with His glorified saints and His angels also to execute God's wrath from Jerusalem, Jude 14-15; II Thess 1:7-9.
      Christ will descend with His glorified saints and angels and set up His throne in Jerusalem with the heavens still standing open. The angels and the saints will then be observed ascending and descending between the throne of Christ in Jerusalem and the throne of God in the opening heavens, John 1:51; Rev 7:15.
      Though this is a rushed printing of this book with a chapter and a half unfinished and still needing considerable proofing and revision, it is hoped each reader will find the book helpful in his or her search for a better understanding of the many prophecies surrounding Christ's return.

First printing: May 1994.