The Bride of Yeshua Is Seen In Heaven
Revelation gives a clear picture of events to come, their sequence, and whether or not the Bride of Yeshua, commonly referred to as The Church, is in heaven during this period of time.
The Sequence of Events
Revelation 1:19 – “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter . . .”
What John has seen: Chapter 1:1-19
John sees Yeshua glorified in heaven. He is the alpha-omega, the aleph-tav, the Almighty, the one who stands in the midst of the seven lampstands and who holds the seven stars.
What John sees that are currently present: Chapter 1:20-3:ff
Johns also sees the current situation which spans the time between Pentecost and the rapture. There are nineteen mentions of the church in the first three chapters, and numerous mentions of what the spirit has to say to the churches, so the church is clearly present during this time period. Chapter three ends with the church on earth.
What John sees that are the things that shall take place after this: Chapters 4 thru 22
Revelation 4:1 – “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
Chapter four begins with the church in heaven, and John now sees what happens after the door in heaven is opened. From this point on, until chapter nineteen, there is not one single mention of the church on earth.
The Spirit Transferred
Revelation 3:22 – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 4:5 – “Out of the throne proceed flashes of lightning, sounds, and peals of thunder. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”
2 Thessalonians 2:7 – “For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.”
Neither is there any mention of the spirit being on earth – only in heaven. In Revelation chapters two and three the spirit is said to be in the midst of the churches. In chapter four the spirit is seen in front of the throne in heaven. The dwelling place of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh has changed from earth to heaven. Since the spirit indwells the believer, then the believer must also be in heaven!
The Parallels
The Sounds
Revelation 4:1 – “I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, ‘Come up here’.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – “For Yeshua Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of Yahweh, and the dead in Yeshua will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them . . .”
Both Thessalonians and Revelation mention a voice, and a trumpet. Both the voice and the trumpet are calling the church to come up to heaven!
The Changes
Revelation 4:1 – “Immediately I was in the Spirit . . .”
1 Corinthians 15:52 – “In a moment . . . the dead will be raised imperishable, and will be changed.”
In both Corinthians and Revelation an immediate change takes place. John says he is no longer in the body, but in the spirit. Paul says we change from perishable to imperishable.
The Bride of Yeshua in Heaven
The Open Door
Revelation 4:1 – “I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.”
Revelation 19:11-14 – “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, Yeshua, and his bride following.”
The door into heaven is open so that we can see, through John’s eyes, what is going to happen there. Only once more will this door open, and that is to allow Yeshua and his bride to return to the earth at the final day of the tribulation. In chapter four, the door opens and the bride goes up. In chapter nineteen, the door opens and the bridegroom and bride come back down! The Believer, Bride, or Church, therefore, is in heaven at this point in time.
The Crowns
2 Timothy 4:8 – “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which Yeshua will award to me on that day.”
James 1:12 – “The blessed man will receive the crown of life which Yeshua has promised to those who love him.”
1 Peter 5:4 – “And when Yeshua appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
Revelation 4:4 – “Around the throne I saw twenty-four elders with crowns on their heads.
Revelation 4:10-11 – “The twenty-four elders will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, Yeshua, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created’.”
Crowns are given as rewards for faithful service by Yeshua. Once the door has been opened, we see twenty-four elders around the throne wearing these crowns, and later casting them at Yeshua’s feet. Only those who belong to the Bride of Christ are given these crowns. The twenty-four elders, therefore, represent the whole Bride, the church. The Believer, Bride, or Church, therefore, is in heaven at this point in time.
The Clothing
Revelation 3:5 – “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments.”
Revelation 4:4 – “The twenty-four elders were clothed in white.”
Revelation 19:14 – “And the armies, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Yeshua.”
The overcomer is clothed in white. The twenty-four elders are clothed in white. The armies following Yeshua are clothed in white. The overcomers and the elders and the armies are the same people. And who is the overcomer? The overcomer is the one who is a child of Yahweh, the one who has accepted Yeshua as their Lord and Savior: those who have become the Bride of Christ – the church! The Believer, Bride, or Church, therefore, is in heaven at this point in time.
The Praises
Revelation 5:8-10 – “The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb and sang a new song.”
Revelation 5:8-10 – “You have redeemed for God with your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
The elders sing a new song, and verifying that the redeemed whom Yeshua has purchased are present and accounted for and are the kingdom of priests and kings of scripture. Angels aren’t redeemed. Unbelievers aren’t redeemed. Only those who accept Yeshua as their Lord and Savior. The redeemed are the Bride of Christ – the church! The Believer, Bride, or Church, therefore, is in heaven at this point in time.
Conclusions
Revelation 1:19 – “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter . . .”
The Bride of Christ, the Church, the Overcomer is clearly in heaven during the period of time described as that which will happen hereafter. The door has opened, the Bride has been raptured, and the tribulation begins. The Bride has been raptured so that she does not have to suffer when Yahweh’s wrath is poured out. Only those who have rejected Yeshua as their Lord and Savior will suffer Yahweh’s wrath. The Believer, Bride, or Church, therefore, is in heaven at this point in time.
Final Thought
We are always to be ready for Yeshua to return. Are you ready? If not, then get ready. Exercise whatever time you have to repent and trust Yeshua for your eternal salvation. Do not test Yahweh’s patience and wait too long – the dress rehearsals will not continue much longer. May Yom Teruah this year be fulfilled in the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of Yeshua’s Bride.
Rapture Party 