The Games of the XXX Olympiad begins today! Tonight is the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The ceremony includes the honoring of the host nation’s head of state. Her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, will be greeted by Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee.
After the honoring of the head of state, the parade of athletes enters the stadium. By tradition, the Greek team enters the stadium first and the host team, Great Britain enters last. In between those two teams is a procession of the teams nation by nation entering in alphabetical order according to the language of the host nation. Once all of the teams are in the stadium, the Queen will declare the games officially open. The Olympic flag is raised while the Olympic national anthem is played. An athlete, judge, and coach hold a corner of the Olympic flag in their left hand and with their right hand raised, they vow to compete and judge according to the rules of the games.
The Olympic flame will now enter the stadium passing through the athletes to the final Torchbearer who will ceremoniously light the cauldron indicating the beginning of the games. The flame will burn for the remainder of the games. A total cast of 15,000 performers will take part in the opening and closing ceremonies watched by an estimated 4 billion people around the world. (More information can be found on the official Olympic website http://www.london2012.com)
I will be one of the 4 billion watching. The world population as of today is 7,028,946,064 people. If Jesus Christ returned today, I would be one of the more than 7.029 billion viewers watching from my knees. I would not only be watching, but participating. The Bible says that those who have Jesus as their highest treasure will join Him.
Romans 14:11-12 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before Me;
every tongue will confess to God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
There will be an amazing celebration as Christians meet the Lord in the air and heaven comes to earth. The eternal flame of life will mark the forever life with Jesus. Nations will gather from the farthest corners of the globe. Hands will be raised in praise and worship to the One we have vowed allegiance to during our lives on the old earth. A cast of thousands upon thousands will take part in the opening of a ceremony that will never close or end!
When you watch the Olympic opening ceremonies, what images of heaven do you have?
After the honoring of the head of state, the parade of athletes enters the stadium. By tradition, the Greek team enters the stadium first and the host team, Great Britain enters last. In between those two teams is a procession of the teams nation by nation entering in alphabetical order according to the language of the host nation. Once all of the teams are in the stadium, the Queen will declare the games officially open. The Olympic flag is raised while the Olympic national anthem is played. An athlete, judge, and coach hold a corner of the Olympic flag in their left hand and with their right hand raised, they vow to compete and judge according to the rules of the games.
The Olympic flame will now enter the stadium passing through the athletes to the final Torchbearer who will ceremoniously light the cauldron indicating the beginning of the games. The flame will burn for the remainder of the games. A total cast of 15,000 performers will take part in the opening and closing ceremonies watched by an estimated 4 billion people around the world. (More information can be found on the official Olympic website http://www.london2012.com)
I will be one of the 4 billion watching. The world population as of today is 7,028,946,064 people. If Jesus Christ returned today, I would be one of the more than 7.029 billion viewers watching from my knees. I would not only be watching, but participating. The Bible says that those who have Jesus as their highest treasure will join Him.
Romans 14:11-12 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before Me;
every tongue will confess to God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
There will be an amazing celebration as Christians meet the Lord in the air and heaven comes to earth. The eternal flame of life will mark the forever life with Jesus. Nations will gather from the farthest corners of the globe. Hands will be raised in praise and worship to the One we have vowed allegiance to during our lives on the old earth. A cast of thousands upon thousands will take part in the opening of a ceremony that will never close or end!
When you watch the Olympic opening ceremonies, what images of heaven do you have?
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