Spurgeon Morning and Evening February 7 PM

Biblical Context

The book of Revelation, penned by the Apostle John while exiled on the island of Patmos, is the final book of the New Testament. It is a work of apocalyptic literature, rich in symbolism, prophecy, and visions, intended to reveal the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ over evil and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Chapter 11, where our scripture for today is found, presents a particularly dramatic sequence of events.

In this chapter, John describes two unnamed witnesses who prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These witnesses perform miraculous signs, including shutting up heaven so that it does not rain and turning water into blood. After completing their testimony, the beast from the bottomless pit wages war against them, overcomes them, and kills them. Their bodies lie in the street of the great city (spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified) for three and a half days, and people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation rejoice over their death, refusing to allow their bodies to be buried.

However, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God enters them, and they stand on their feet, striking terror into those who saw them. It is at this point that our verse, Revelation 11:12, occurs: “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither.” Immediately, they ascend to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watch. This event signifies a divine vindication and a powerful display of God’s sovereignty over death and opposition.

It is crucial to note that Charles Spurgeon, in his devotional, deliberately chooses to detach these words from their direct prophetical connection to the two witnesses. Instead, he extracts a profound spiritual principle, applying the divine invitation, “Come up hither,” as a universal call from Jesus Christ, our “great Forerunner,” to all His sanctified people. This approach allows believers to find personal relevance and hope in a verse that, in its immediate context, describes a specific, historical-prophetic event.

Key Word Study

Let us focus on the crucial phrase, “Come up hither.” The Greek word for “come up” or “ascend” is ἀναβαίνω (anabainō).

• Transliteration: anabainō
• Pronunciation: an-ab-ah-ee’-no
• Greek Definition: To go up, ascend, mount, rise, come up, appear. It implies a movement from a lower place to a higher one.

The term anabainō is used frequently in the New Testament with various shades of meaning. For example, Jesus “went up” (anabainō) into a mountain to preach (Matthew 5:1). He also “went up” (anabainō) to Jerusalem for the feasts (John 5:1). In a spiritual sense, it can refer to thoughts or prayers “ascending” to God (Acts 10:4).

In the context of Revelation 11:12, and Spurgeon’s application, anabainō carries a powerful significance:

1. Divine Summons: The “great voice from heaven” indicates that this is not a self-initiated ascent but a divinely commanded one. It signifies God’s authoritative call to His chosen.
2. Exaltation and Vindication: For the two witnesses, it was an ascent to glory, vindicating them before their enemies. For believers, it symbolizes our ultimate exaltation to be with Christ in heavenly places.
3. Movement Towards God: “Hither” points to heaven, to the very presence of God. It’s an invitation to intimacy, glory, and perfected fellowship.
4. Transformation: This ascent is a transition from an earthly, mortal state to a heavenly, immortal one, freed from the constraints and suffering of this world.

Thus, when Spurgeon interprets “Come up hither” as an invitation to believers, he is emphasizing a spiritual and eventual physical ascent towards God’s glorious presence, a summons that is both certain and profoundly transformative.

The Invitation of Our Great Forerunner

Charles Spurgeon begins by drawing a vital distinction, choosing to view Revelation 11:12 not through its specific prophetic lens concerning the two witnesses, but as a broader, timeless spiritual invitation. He states, “Without considering these words in their prophetical connection, let us regard them D as the invitation of our great Forerunner to His sanctified people.” This reinterpretation personalizes the scripture, transforming a unique historical event into a universal promise for every believer. Our “great Forerunner,” Jesus Christ, has gone before us, preparing a place, and His voice will ultimately call us home. Spurgeon assures us of this certainty: “In due time there shall be heard ‘a great voice from heaven’ to every believer, saying, ‘Come up hither.'” This is not merely a hope but a divine guarantee, a personal summons awaiting each of God’s children.

From Dread to Joyful Anticipation

Given this glorious promise, our response should be one of profound joy, not fear. Spurgeon challenges our often-natural human apprehension towards death and the unknown. He asserts, “This should be to the saints the subject of joyful anticipation. Instead of dreading the time when we shall leave this world to go unto the Father, we should be panting for the hour of our emancipation.” The concept of “emancipation” is powerful here—it signifies freedom, release from bondage, not an end to existence. We are to view our departure from this world as a liberation, a glorious release into the very presence of God the Father, a longed-for homecoming that should elicit eager yearning rather than fearful reluctance. Our earthly struggles, sins, and sorrows will give way to perfect peace and joy.

A Heart Fixed on His Throne

Spurgeon beautifully captures this longing with poetic fervor:

“My heart is with Him on His throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
‘Rise up and come away.'”

This verse speaks of a profound spiritual union and affection. Our hearts, in true devotion, are already seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). This spiritual reality fuels a holy impatience, a desire for the physical manifestation of that union. We are not bound by gravity or the grave; our destiny is upward. As Spurgeon emphatically declares, “We are not called down to the grave, but up to the skies. Our heaven-born spirits should long for their native air.” This imagery reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, and our spirits naturally yearn for their original, pure, and eternal home, freed from the confines of this temporal existence.

The Grace of Patient Waiting

Despite this fervent longing, Spurgeon introduces a critical balance: “Yet should the celestial summons be the object of patient waiting. Our God knows best when to bid us ‘Come up thither.’ We must not wish to antedate the period of our departure.” While our spirits may ache for heaven, wisdom and faith dictate patience. God’s timing is perfect and sovereign. We are not to impatiently rush or presumptuously desire to hasten our departure from this world. Such a desire, while stemming from a pure longing for Christ, can betray a lack of trust in God’s divine plan and purpose for our lives on earth.

Love’s Cry, Tempered by Patience’s Perfect Work

The intensity of our love for God can indeed make us yearn for immediate reunion. Spurgeon acknowledges this deep affection with another evocative plea:

“I know that strong love will make us cry,
‘O Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,
And land us all in heaven;'”

This powerful prayer expresses a desire for immediate intervention, a dramatic deliverance into paradise. However, he swiftly counters this with a profound spiritual truth: “but patience must have her perfect work.” This echoes the biblical principle found in James 1:4, where patience is a virtue essential for developing spiritual maturity and completeness. God’s wisdom, not our longing, dictates the timeline. He “ordains with accurate wisdom the most fitting time for the redeemed to abide below.” There is a divine purpose, perfectly calibrated, for every moment we spend here on earth.

The Purpose of Our Earthly Stay: More Sheaves, More Jewels

Why, then, does God delay our homecoming? Spurgeon provides a compelling reason related to service and eternal reward. He muses, “Surely, if there could be regrets in heaven, the saints might mourn that they did not live longer here to do more good.” This is a rhetorical device, highlighting the immense value and eternal significance of our earthly labor for Christ. Our time here is an opportunity to contribute to His kingdom and glory. The cry of the devoted heart becomes, “Oh, for more sheaves for my Lord’s garner! more jewels for His crown! But how, unless there be more work?” “Sheaves” represent souls won and good deeds accomplished, while “jewels” symbolize those precious souls brought into the kingdom, adding to Christ’s eternal glory and reward. Our extended stay on earth, then, is a privileged opportunity to gather more for Him.

Fewer Sins vs. Fruitful Service

Spurgeon then addresses a common, albeit lesser, argument for a shorter life: “True, there is the other side of it, that, living so briefly, our sins are the fewer.” While this is a valid observation—a shorter life means fewer opportunities to fall into sin—Spurgeon quickly dismisses it as secondary to the profound joy and purpose found in active, fruitful service. He concludes, “but oh! when we are fully serving God, and He is giving us to scatter precious seed, and reap a hundredfold, we would even say it is well for us to abide where we are.” The parable of the sower (Matthew 13) comes to mind, where scattering precious seed and reaping a hundredfold represents the abundant fruitfulness of a life dedicated to God’s work. The joy and satisfaction of being used by God to impact lives for eternity far outweigh the desire for fewer sins through a truncated existence.

Contentment in His Presence: Go or Stay

Ultimately, the core of Spurgeon’s message culminates in a profound state of contentment, irrespective of our earthly duration. The final sentiment provides the perfect balance to the earlier longing: “Whether our Master shall say ‘go,’ or ‘stay,’ let us be equally well pleased so long as He indulges us with His presence.” This is the pinnacle of Christian maturity—a complete surrender to God’s will, finding our deepest satisfaction not in the circumstance (life on earth or glory in heaven) but in the unchanging, comforting, and empowering presence of our Master. Our joy is in Him, now and forever, in whatever state He ordains. His presence transforms every moment, making our earthly pilgrimage purposeful and our heavenly destination glorious.