Beginnings
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Judges
JoshuaJudgesRuth
Kingdoms
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings
Chronicles
1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther
Poetry
JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon
Prophets
IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel
Minor Prophets
HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicah
NahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi
Messiah
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs
Paul's Letters
Romans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrews
General Letters
James1 Peter2 Peter1 John
2 John3 JohnJude
Revelation
Revelation
Kept for this visit
Notes, starred verses and bookmarks kept while signed out last until this visit ends. Create a free account and everything you keep here moves into it, saved for good.
Create an account Sign in

Morning and Evening

February 7, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither." — Revelation 11:12 · KJV

Setting aside their prophetic connection, let us take these words as the invitation of our great Forerunner to His sanctified people. In due time a great voice from heaven will be heard by every believer, saying, "Come up hither." This should be a subject of joyful anticipation for the saints. Instead of dreading the hour when we shall leave this world to go to the Father, we should be panting for the moment of our release. Our song should be, "My heart is with Him on His throne, and ill can brook delay; each moment listening for the voice, Rise up and come away." We are not called down to the grave, but up to the skies; our heaven-born spirits should long for their native air. Yet the heavenly summons should also be the object of patient waiting. Our God knows best when to bid us "Come up hither"; we must not wish to hasten the time of our departure. I know that strong love makes us cry, "O Lord of Hosts, divide the waves and land us all in heaven"; but patience must have her perfect work. God appoints, with perfect wisdom, the fittest time for the redeemed to stay below. Surely, if there could be regrets in heaven, the saints might grieve that they did not live longer here to do more good. Oh, for more sheaves for my Lord's barn, more jewels for His crown! But how, unless there be more work? True, there is the other side — that, living so briefly, our sins are the fewer; yet when we are fully serving God, and He is letting us scatter precious seed and reap a hundredfold, we would even say it is good for us to remain where we are. Whether our Master says "go" or "stay," let us be equally content, so long as He favors us with His presence.