“Come Up Hither”
One of the most beautiful phrases and commandments in God’s Word is “come up hither”. It, also, is one of the most misunderstood.
In Proverbs 25:7, we are told that it is better if it is said unto us to “come up hither” than to be put lower (by lack of knowledge of the Truth) in front of the people of whom we stand for God. This is cross-referenced in Luke 14:10 where Christ teaches us a parable about being bidden to a wedding and “seating ourselves” in the highest places instead of waiting for the bridegroom to say, “Friend, go up higher”. Jesus Christ will do the calling for us to come up “higher” or “hither” and we will obey by studying to show ourselves approved, II Timothy 2:15, by seeking knowledge and wisdom, Proverbs 2:2-5, James 1:5, II Peter 1:5 and by standing up for Him, Ephesians 6:11-14.
In Ezekiel 37:10, the Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy or teach the truth and knowledge to the dry bones and then the Holy Spirit (breath of eternal spiritual life through understanding of the Truth) came into them and they stood up “an exceeding great army”! In Revelation 11:12, the witnesses did not literally go to heaven in a cloud, but ascended (stood up) in a cloud (covering a wide area) of believers that now have the Spirit of Life in them, as in Ezekiel 38:9 and Hebrews 12:1.
Ezekiel 38:9
Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
In Revelation 4:1, John is told to “come up hither” in his understanding and comprehension of what he was about to be shown.
May we all desire with all our hearts, minds and souls to “COME UP HITHER”!