Welcome to part 3 of this series. In part 2 we covered Scripture comparison of 2 scriptures and discovered they are tow separate event and are different in nature. This part we will try to discover who John actually sees in heaven and how to know if they are who they we think they are.
First, the bible tells us of the crowns being given to Christians, a crown of righteousness, rejoicing, life, glory and an incorruptible crown. However, these crowns can only be given when we have made it to heaven and not before. Revelation 4:4 shows 24 elders clothed in white raiment with crowns of gold on their heads. The 24 elders are representatives of the Church, and they are promised along with the rest of the Church crowns for their deeds here on earth. The Church consists of only those accepting the blood, the promises, the word of God, and the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Church receives Jesus as their personal savior. Therefore, if the elders who represents the Church is seen in heaven wearing crowns only given to those who are of the Church, then the whole Church has to be there at this point in Revelation chapter 4. Another promise given by Jesus is to make the Church Kings and priests on the earth, so in Chapter 5 verse 10 the elders praise Jesus for the promises he kept.
Furthermore, in Chapter 5 verse 9 these same elders sing a new song saying “thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast “redeemed” us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue and people, and nation.” This verse is telling us that out of the population of the world from the church age has this group of people and the Church they speak for been redeemed. All of this is seen by John before Jesus opens the seals that starts God’s wrath on the entire earth.
Second, the elders 24 elders are also seen wearing white raiment and the Bride of Christ is arrayed in clean, fine white linen in revelation chapter 19. Here the Church is mentioned a second time after being seen in the beginning of John’s vision in chapter 4. They are seen at the marriage supper of the Lamb of God and afterwards seen following him on white horses to smite the earth. The church, is also seen a third time coming down from God out of heaven and is depicted as being the New Jerusalem, the Holy City and bride adorned for her husband. This is far from any group of people destroyed by the wrath of God or Satan.
However, there is another group of people mentioned in the 7 th chapter of the book of revelation which is much different all together from the first. This group is described by one of the 24 elders as a multitude in white robes with palms in their hands coming out of great tribulation. He explains to John that “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.” Why is this group so different from the first group, the Church? Because, first off, the elder speaking to John is asking John if he knew this group of people and obviously he didn't know because he responds saying the elder already knews. Second, the elder proceeds to reveal to John that these are the great tribulation over comers. This means if John didn't know who they were, and he’s part of the church and Bride of Christ, then they were different. Furthermore, in verse 15 of revelation chapter 7, these over comers are seen serving God “before” the throne, whilst the redeemed is actually “ seated upon” the throne of God. This doesn’t necessarily mean that a great multitude of redeemed people are sitting up on the throne all together, but as far as we know the 24 redeemed elders are.
One question we should be asking ourselves is if the rapture ought to take place in the end or middle of the tribulation, then why does revelation chapter 6: 11 state there are more to be killed? Moreover, if we see saints already in heaven before the seals are even opened by Jesus, then later during the opening of the seals we see souls under the alter and more yet to come, then where exactly are the post-tribbers placing the rapture? The 2nd question is, in the same verse, the souls under the altar are given only white robes, could this be the same group of saints in Rev. 19 which are arrayed in clean, fine white linen? How many garments are they supposed to have?
In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, Paul mentions that we shall all be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye. How is it that if the souls in heaven under the altar are to be the raptured church, they don’t already have glorified bodies? Furthermore, this same chapter speaks of the dead in Christ rising first then the living. Nowhere in the bible does it tell us that the dead that is resurrected and meets Jesus in the air, cry out for vengeance just before the living is caught up. I believe there will be a rejoicing at the return of our Lord and savior.
Stay tuned for part 4
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