Hi Tim,
So where does it say that the Church comes down in the New Jerusalem?
And where does it say we go up at the 6th seal?
Marilyn.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Is the church not the tabernacle of God? The tabernacle was the church in the wilderness.
Acts 7:37-38
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
The same church mentioned in Revelation 7:9
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
The temple in heaven is Paradise. On the Cross God made this promise:
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Paradise was created as the Garden given to Adam and all his offspring. When Adam disobeyed, he and his fallen offspring were banned from Paradise. God opened up Paradise with the Cross. Abraham's bosom left sheol and the church entered Paradise, the temple, tabernacle, church of the Lord God. Hebrews 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
God is not saying they still wait for the promise. They had to wait in Abraham's bosom, that was not Paradise. The Cross was that perfect way that opened Paradise for all.
Paradise was the Garden that became a city. The firstfruits happened at the Cross. Many enter Paradise daily since the Cross. These are under the alter. Still the same symbolism as the church, tabernacle, temple. The ascension of Christ completed the process of the blood sprinkled on the Alter in Paradise.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
The church is the redeemed of Adam's descendants. The church belongs in Paradise. The majority of the church is currently in Paradise. Revelation 21:2-3 completes God's plan.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
The voice (word of God) once walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve. The next reality brings God down, in the New Jerusalem, with all of Adam's family who of their own free will chose to be with God.