From the archives of Oral Roberts – Fifth of five parts
Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul, was a bitter man. He not only did not believe in Jesus Christ but he also wanted to stamp out even the memory of the Crucifixion. On his way to Damascus to destroy the Christians there, a light shone about him, and he fell to the ground. Saul was the first man to be slain in the Spirit.
Lying there on the ground, he heard a voice saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me (Acts 9:4)? It wasn’t the voice of someone standing near; it was a voice from above.
Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord? Who are You?”
The voice answered, “I am Jesus, whom you persecute. Rise, stand on your feet, and go to Damascus. It will be told you there what to do.”
When Saul arrived in Damascus, he was brought to the house of Ananias, a Christian man who led him to Christ. Then Ananias prayed and Saul was healed. His sight was restored after the shining light had robbed him of his ability to see. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and called to be a great apostle.
Later, recounting the incident, Paul said, “I saw the Lord. I was one of the last to see Him, as one born out of due season. I saw Him.” (See 1 Corinthians 15:8.)
What is going on? The trumpet is at His lips. He may be blowing that trumpet any moment, saying, “Come, My people, rise!” and saying to the dead in Christ, “Rise! Brush the dirt from your hair, and meet Me in the air!”
Those of us who are alive and remain until His coming will feel gravitation losing its force, and we’ll be lifted in the flash of a second to meet Christ in His second coming.
You may see Jesus. He may be by your side as you walk or drive your car. Than as you look around, you may find He has vanished. Great things are about to happen! We are on the way up, because Jesus loves us.