sovereigngrace,
1. Revelation 4:1; John is taken up into Heaven through an actual portal in Heaven when the church age is through.
Revelation 5:9-10; 11:18; 19:7-10 shows the church is in Heaven through the whole tribulation before they come out of Heaven with Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to do battle at Armageddon Revelation 19:11-15. Jerry Kelso
Not so! There is no mention of the Church in Revelation 4:1!
The Church is found throughout Rev 4-19 in heaven and on earth. Please see:
The “
saints” in Revelation 5:8, 8:3, 8:4, 11:18, 13:7, 13:10, 14:12, 15:3, 16:6, 17:6, 19:8 and 20:9.
The “
redeemed” in Revelation 5:9, 14:3 and 14:4.
The “
brethren” Such references are found in Revelation 6:11, 12:10, 19:10, 22:9.
The “
chosen (or elect),
and faithful.”
The “
servants” in Revelation 1:1, 2:20, 7:3, 10:7, 11:18, 19:2, 19:5, 22:3 and 22:6.
Those “
in / with white robes,” who are washed in the blood of the Lamb in Revelation 3:4, 5, 18, 4:4, 6:11, 7:9, 13, 14, and 19:8, 14.
The “
kings and priests” in Revelation 1:6, 5:10 and 20:6.
The “
souls” twice in Revelation, both in a heavenly context, both thus relating to the disembodied saints, in Revelation 6:9 and 20:4.
The “
fellowservants” in Revelation 6:11.
The “
woman” in Revelation 12:1,4, 6,13,15,16 and 17.
Also, “
the temple” in Revelation 3:12, 11:1 and 2. Notwithstanding, there are other passages in Revelation that could link the temple to the Church.
The Church in heaven is described in Revelation 14:13 as “
the dead which die in the Lord.”
The Church is described in Revelation 15:2 as “
them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark.”
The Church is also known in Revelation as “he/him that
overcometh” (speaking in generic terms) – Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21 and 21:7.
The saints are described in Revelation 16:15 as “
he that watcheth, and keepeth their garments.”
The Church is also expressed in Revelation 18:4 as “
my people,” in Revelation 21:3 as “
his people” and Revelation 19:1 as “
much people in heaven.”
Revelation 7:9 describes God’s people in heaven as
“a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.” Revelation 5:9 says:
“out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
The Church is also described as “
the bride” of Christ in Revelation 18:23, 21:9, 22:17, and similarly as “
the Lamb's wife” in Revelation 19:7 and 21:9.
Revelation 12:17, 14:12 and 21:14 describes the Church as “
they that do/keep God’s commandments.”
The Church is also described as “
the armies which were in heaven” in Revelation 19:14.
Revelation 21:24 describes the Church as “
them which are saved.”
Revelation 21:27 describes the Church as “
they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
These saints are described as those that possess
“the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:1), and consequently carry
“the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:2, 9, 12:17, 19:10), and are
“the witness of Jesus” (Revelation 20:4). They exhibit the
“patience of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9), and many become the
“martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6). Frankly, if these aren’t Christians, what are they?
Revelation 14:12-13 reinforces this, saying, “Here is the patience of
the saints: here are
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”