"A Son of The King"

Having a chance to dwell on what it feels like to have such a loving Father, it took me to a place of understanding what it means to not only dwell in His house, but to be given a position of the highest honour. "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4) Jesus is speaking here about His kingdom, the one which He will establish in heaven, and which shall be filled with those that He has purchased with His blood. Last night while reading "Calvary Chapel Distinctives", I was on the chapter about "The Rapture Of The Church", which Pastor Chuck makes several points to not only that there will be a Rapture, but that this Rapture will take place before the Great Tribulation is to begin; not mid way through, or after those days, but prior to God pouring out His judgement upon the earth. Some of those that believe that the church will be brought through any part of the Tribulation period, base that belief in part on the tribulation that Jesus said that we would face as Believers. However, the tribulation which Jesus spoke about which would happen to His Own, would not be brought on by God, but by the devil and those that serve him. Pastor Chuck used as an example the story of Lot in Sodom, and how that before God would destroy that city, they would first remove Lot from it, as to not destroy the righteous with the wicked. Besides this example of Lot being removed prior to the destruction of that wicked place, I was reminded of the fact that we are His children; do you think that God would let His children be destroyed by His own hand? I do not think that He would, nor would Jesus, who died on the cross to purchase us with His blood. As a matter of fact, looking at the scene in heaven that is given account of in Revelation 5, we see what is taking place before that Great Tribulation is to begin. This account that John is witnessing involves Jesus, first declared as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, by one of the elders around the throne of God; and then presented as a Lamb which stood in the midst of the throne; His description is given in Revelation 5:6, "And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the Seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth". After He that was worthy had taken the book, a song broke out in heaven, all around the throne; this song that was sung, was sung by the Church and all those that had been redeemed by His blood, and is taking place prior to God's wrath being poured out upon the earth. These that are in heaven at this time are those that will rule and reign with Christ; those that are to come out of the Great Tribulation, are those that will serve Him, day and night... "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." (Revelation 7:13-15)