In China, Korea, Indonesia, India, England, and Canada there were reports of supernatural visitations of God to assembled groups of Christians. There were dramatic healings, creative miracles, and many manifestations of God’s power.

“I know personally,” he continued, “of a banker in India who reported that Jesus Christ personally appeared to him and called him to an extraordinary ministry. The visitation was accompanied by supernatural signs. In 1995, Jesus told him that there were only five years left to finish bringing millions of people to faith.”

“Jack,” Carl asked, “do you honestly believe that Jesus Christ appears to people?”

“Jesus appeared to people like the apostle Paul,” Jack replied. “The apostle John says Jesus appeared to him. He has never appeared to me, but He speaks to me all the time. I have no reason to doubt the word of the many people all over the world who report seeing Him, talking to Him, hearing His voice. We are told in the Bible that one day ‘every eye shall behold Him.’”

“I would love to see Him,” Lori said reverently. “Is it possible?”

“Lori,” John Edwards responded, “with God, everything is possible.” Then he chuckled, “Much as I would like it, the Lord hasn’t given me the authority to grant visions. But, I promise you, today you and Carl will meet Jesus Christ.

“Now, let’s look at Revelation. Please turn in the Bible to the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. Carl, would you read verses fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen?”

Carl carefully turned the pages and then read these words, “‘Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.’”

“Who did the apostle say that he saw?” John Edwards asked.

“He says it was someone like a son of man with a gold crown on his head, sitting on a cloud,” Carl answered.

“Who do you suppose it may have been?” John asked.

“Could it be Jesus?” Lori questioned.

“He called Himself the ‘Son of Man,’” John replied, “and a crown is the sign of a king. He also told those at His trial that they would see Him coming on the clouds. What did John see Him doing?”

“He took a sickle to reap the ripe harvest of the earth, and He harvested it,” Carl answered. Then he followed with a question of his own. “Jack, what is this all about?”

“Before I tell you,” John answered, “how about reading the next three verses?”