I seriously doubt the author meant the Bride was in the first heaven. He says they "died" and went "up into heaven", not that they became believers who were living in the first heaven even before they died.
What does Doubt have to do with Faith?
Ought not one die first, before they are born again? When Paul said he dies daily, is he not referring to becoming anew person, and leaving behind the old person?
Likewise when Israel was brought up out of Egypt, it was then that Israel (as a nation) was born, and called the firstborn by Elôhâyîm. On that day the Israeli slave died, and was born Sovereign.
When touching upon biblical terms, I tend to look at them in the context which heaven uses them, and give little thought (if any) to the dim light in which an unlearned person may perceive the terms and their meanings.
Neither in the Exodus account, nor in the rapture discribed is there any mention of what part of Heaven they were caught up in to, so why go there?
IWho is the "Rejected One" and why is he such?
When the children of Israel heard the Voice proceed from the Rock and Consuming Fire they were terrified, and said, et us not hear the Voice...., it was then that they rejected the Covenant, and by default instead of a Nation of Priests, the Levitcal priesthood was born.
Elôhâyîm told Môsʰé, they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting me.
II agree, but then when we die, we do not go up to the first heaven or any other heaven. We await our resurrection unto eternal life first.
Yeah! Umm I like to establish my faith on two or three, because I Love both the Father and Son, and those who Love them, do as they say.
IWhat makes you believe John was born on Shavuot?
We read in Malachi, Commemorate the Torah of Môsʰé....Behold, I will sent you the Prophet Aliyəʰûʷ, and so it is Commemorated every year in Israel on Shavout, thereby fulfilling that verse, and (Î)yésʰûʷəʰ said that John was not only the Aliyəʰûʷ of Malachi, but that he was Malachi, the Angel of Yah, and as such, was Sent from the womb.
IAre you thinking John 5:25 refers to figuratively dead people being spiritually resurrected unto life? I can see that, but I doubt that is what the author of the OP article meant. Do you believe John 5:28-29 refers to the same thing or to a literal resurrection of literally dead people?
Both! As scripture indicates 'Your dead shall raise my dead body", first those who are the first fruits shall resurrect (literally reborn), but it will be just As It Was Then according to (Î)yésʰûʷəʰ, for he says, the Hour shall Come, As It Is Now, when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son and shall rise from their graves.
If John was Aliyəʰûʷ, then that was the Great and Dreadful day, and as John said unto the Pharisee, Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
If that was Judgement day, then that entire generation was raised from the dead, for the dead rise first, then comes the Judgement.
Of course the, Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do...., is what bought us a ticket to round two.