Page 19 - November 2025 - Truth & Tidings

The Church and Its Call Up ever be “in heaven” but “with the Lord.”

To answer the question regarding the Following the Rapture, we shall be in
heaven, but, as we will see, after a few
location of the Church through millen- short years, we will “with Christ” “come
nial days we must first enquire where down” “out of heaven” “from God” to
Christ will be. For His promise to us is “reign on the earth!”
sure, “Where I am, there ye may be also”
(Joh 14:3). The Church and Its Coming
1
Consider for a moment how the words Down
“come up hither” (Rev 4:1) must have been
for the exiled apostle as that lonely Lord’s Few and distinct are the occasions
Day was forever transformed by the voice when Scripture records the heavens be-
from heaven. While John might not have ing “opened,” and we do well to trace
immediately understood the implication, the theme. The final mention (Rev 19:11)
most who read this article will likely agree reveals the breathtaking moment when at
that it’s a preview of a greater future call- the culmination of the Great Tribulation,
up, the Rapture of the Church. the Mighty Warrior King on His white
As previously noted, just as with His horse is revealed from heaven with His
first advent, the second coming of Christ mighty angels, in flaming fire taking
will involve both a private and public ap- vengeance upon the great impostor (Rev
pearance. First, the Church is summoned 6:2) and all those who know not God and
to the air where Christ will personally obey not the gospel (2Th 1:8). But who are
“receive” us unto Himself (Joh 14:3; 1Th the armies coming with Him, described as
4:17). Then shall be His public manifesta- clothed in “fine linen, clean and white”
tion to the world, when “every eye shall (Rev 19:14)?
see Him” (Rev 1:7). In Scriptures referring Although angels are often observed
to the believer’s departure from this scene, as dressed in “white” or “white linen”
the Holy Spirit did not so much place the (Joh 20:12; Rev 15:6) and do accompany
emphasis on our being “in heaven” but Christ’s return with a specific ministry
being “with Christ.” Paul, writing to the (Mat 24:31; Mar 13:41; 2Th 1:8), this com-
Corinthians concerning the death of a be- pany is noted as clothed in “fine linen [bus-
liever, didn’t speak of being absent from sinos], white and clean.” The distinction is
the body and at home “in heaven,” but important, as this “fine linen” is identified
rather “present [at home] with the Lord.” as being the “righteousness [acts] of the
Again, to the Philippians, His desire was saints” (Rev 19:8) and is linked directly
not to depart and be “in heaven” but to “be to “the bride hath made herself ready.”
with Christ, which is far better.” Likewise, Surely this is the Church having been
the apostle, addressing the Thessalonians at the Bema, something in which angels
concerning the great future beyond the are not included. Fascinatingly, the only
Rapture, didn’t state that so shall we other people group described as dressed
in “fine linen” (bussinos) is “the great city”
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV. Babylon (18:16). This final administration
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