Here it is abcde,
After the letters to the seven churches, which is the "what is now" part of what John was told to write in Rev.1:19 and which we are currently still in, we read the following:
The now was 96 ad. The now of John's time. The 7 congregations yes. But the time of now doesn't necessarily reach into our time, in the context of this statement.
"After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.” - Rev.4:1
The above is a prophetic allusion to the gathering of the church.
Oh wait, this is literal, ha ha. There is nothing there to support a symbolic view. John was the only one taken through the door. There is nothing to indicate that John is symbolic of the kingdom.
In support of this, throughout chapters 1 thru 3 we have the word "ekklesia" translated as "church" used 18 times. In those same chapters you will not find the word "Hagios" translated as "Saints." Like wise from chapter 4 onward we only see the word Saints, but the word church is never used again.
That only proves that those seen in heaven with Jesus are NOT part of the Pentecost kingdom/church, they are OT saints that resurrected with Jesus.
The reason for this is that the church is gathered in Rev.4:1 and the word "Saints" is in reference to those great tribulation saints introduced in Rev.7:9-17. These are those in the white robes which no man can count from every tribe, nation, people and language who come to Christ after the church has been gathered and during the time of God's wrath.
The trib saints mentioned there came from the time before the resurrection of Jesus in 33 ad. They are from the time of the Roman invasion of Israel, until the resur.
All the scriptures that you use to support the claim about avoiding God's wrath, pertain exclusively to the wrath of the 2nd death and not the time of Jacob's trouble, the trib.
So, there is a definite distinction being made between the use of the word "church" and the word "saints." For all the naysayers, you would think that the word church would appear just once from Rev.4 thru 18, but it is never used again.
No, because they are OT saints.
The next time we see the church alluded to is in Rev.19:6--8 referred to as the bride. The next time we se e the word church is not until Rev.22:16 which is outside the narrative of God's wrath and at the closing of the book.
The bride is also Israel of the OT, Not necessarily, exclusively, the Pentecost kingdom/church.
Furthermore, the "voice that sounds like a trumpet" is synonymous with the "trumpet call of God" found in 1 Thes.4:16 where Paul is giving a detailed account of the gathering of the church.
The voice is not a trumpet, it sounds like a trumpet, but is not a trumpet. Paul indicates that there is a trumpet and the voice. But here there is no trumpet.
And besides, how can that be the last trumpet, when there are 7 more to sound?
The "what must take place later" is synonymous with when the voice like a trumpet says "come up here and I will show you
what must take place after this."
What you have seen = Everything written from Rev.1:1 to Rev.1:19
What is now = Represented by the letters to the churches and representing the entire church period
What will take place later = All of the events that take place after the "what is now" i.e. after the church period
This statement about now, etc, does not exclude changes in the narrative from future to past, to present, or any other time line variation.
So there is the scripture proof regarding the gathering of the church in Revelation.
Jesus coming for the kingdom is demonstrated in Rev.19:11-21,
That is not Jesus returning to planet earth. It says that heaven is opened, not that Jesus returns to planet earth.
The passage shows the fall of the Roman Empire, the sea beast.
The beast is defeated by the gospel sword, which shows the symbolism of the passage.
which is when He returns to the earth to end the age and establish His millennial kingdom.
No one can see His face and live. Ex 33.
When Jesus comes in His glory, this planet ends.
So, when do we see His face, His glory?
At the rapt/resur? Then what? If we return to this planet, will Jesus then hide His face from us? His glory?
What about everyone else? Can they see His face? During the mill?