Questions about Heaven and the Return of Jesus - Joining Him to Reign on Earth

youtube link = https://youtu.be/RIRbAz3vPPo

Questions about Heaven and the Return of Jesus 

from a viewer,

Who wrote:

I believe Jesus will come after the tribulation. 

I'm trying to understand something.

 When the dead are raised and we are caught up, 

when do we go to heaven?

*** The short answer would be - 

We don't go to heaven 

when Jesus returns for us.

Just because God is "in heaven", 

does not require that we "go to heaven"

in order to be with Him.

We are promised eternal life when we put our faith 

and trust in Jesus Christ to be our Savior.

It is possible that if / when we die, 

that we will be asleep

( and unconscious of the passage of time )

until He returns to resurrect the dead believers 

in the First Resurrection,

Transforming those believers alive at the time

so that we all have the promised 

new incorruptible bodies.

( See 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 for more ).

Possibly to be absent from our natural body one moment, 

and the next moment to be with the Lord 

in our new body.

This would be an instantaneous passage of time 

for those who have died.

One minute you are in this reality, 

and the next moment you are at the future resurrection,

in your new body, and with the Lord 

( most likely here on Earth ).

If you've been taught differently all your life, 

I expect this might be hard to believe.

Let me just say it is one possible explanation 

for the many passages in the bible 

that talk about life after death.

* From online Search =

The belief in "soul sleep," 

where individuals are unconscious or cease to exist after death 

until the resurrection, 

is not considered a heresy within mainstream Christianity, 

but rather a doctrinal deviation. 

While some groups like Jehovah's Witnesses 

and Seventh-day Adventists hold this belief, 

it's not universally accepted and differs from the traditional view of the soul's immediate existence in the presence of God. 

If we look at John chapter 14 verses 1-3,

We see Jesus mentions 

preparing a place for us in His Father's House.

He continues by stating that He "will come again" 

( and we know this is to be on Earth ),

He further states that 

it is at that point in time that He will 

"receive us to Himself". 

Nothing about going to heaven when you die 

or upon His return in this passage, 

even though you will hear it taught 

and quoted as though it was saying that.

And some might quote Philippians 3:20 

about our citizenship as being in heaven. 

They miss the main point of Paul's statement,

which is 

"from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, 

the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the Rapture is referenced in Verse 21, 

"who will transform our lowly body 

that it may be conformed to His glorious body, 

according to the working by which 

He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." 

The same principle of our being transformed 

and united with Jesus when He returns to Earth,

as you will find in 1 Corinthians 15 

and 1 Thessalonians 4.

Not anything about us going to heaven.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 14 

we read

For here we have no lasting city, 

but we seek the city that is to come.

Jesus is to return from heaven 

to set up His kingdom on Earth 

- centered in Jerusalem.

Jesus descends on the Mount of Olivet 

which is on the eastern side of Jerusalem, 

from whence He ascended 

( see Acts chapter 1 verse 11 ).

There is also a SHORT Video = 

Jesus Returns to Mount of Olives 

=  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XEaqUU5QlQw

 

Next viewer question:

God must plague the ungodly.  

So are we in the air, 

but not in heaven?

*** The plagues that occur after the opening of the 7th Seal 

( which one could say includes 

the 7 trumpets and the 7 bowls of wrath ) 

all seem to occur 

before the return of Christ.

Referencing Revelation chapter 16 verses 12-16 

which is after the 6th bowl of wrath, 

when the river Euphrates dries up 

and the demons who perform signs 

gather the Kings of the whole world.

And just before the 7th and final bowl 

( which is poured upon the air - 

being significant because 

we are told that Satan is 

the "prince of the power of the air" 

in Ephesians 2:2 ),

Please note in verse 15 of Revelation chapter 16, 

it says 

"Behold, I am coming like a thief. 

Blessed is the one who stays awake", 

This is similar to what we are told in Luke chapter 21 

about watching and being ready,

And in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 1-11 

Referencing verse 4 

which says,

you are not in darkness 

that this day should overtake you like a thief.

Reading in Revelation 19:11-21 we see that 

the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS returns 

to destroy those armies 

that have gathered to fight against Jesus.

This is at the very end of the Tribulation period.

Please note the Wrath of God 

is directed to the unbelievers 

( who receive the mark of the beast 

and worship his image ).

Those with the seal of God on their forehead 

( Revelation 9:4 ) are spared.

The subject of who is Sealed 

is highly debated.

The two main theories are:

One being that the 144,000 

in Revelation chapters 7 and 14 

"could be" referencing all believers ( symbolically ),

OR Second theory is

That it is speaking Literally, 

which would mean they are only Virgin, Males, from the literal 12 tribes of Israel

as stated in chapter 14.

God has shown us in the Bible 

that He can and will 

protect those that are believing in Him 

from the His plagues when they fall upon the rest of the people.

I have discussed this in previous Blog posts 

( see: https://cloudsonthehorizon.blogspot.com/2025/02/will-god-protect-believers-in-time-of.html ) 

And videos such as 

Will God Protect You in the time of the Great Tribulation? Maybe. 

= https://youtu.be/mr6wDELOAIM

Also, another Blog post = 

https://cloudsonthehorizon.blogspot.com/2023/05/is-pre-trib-rature-of-church-required.html

and Video = 

Is a Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church required to save believers from Wrath?

= https://youtu.be/lt9BM1R9ad4

Since we meet the Lord in the air 

upon His return to Earth, 

and we are to be with Him,

We will be on Earth and not in Heaven. 

There is no scripture that says you "Go To Heaven" when you die, 

or when the First Resurrection occurs 

( See Revelation 20:1-4 )

Further discussion can be found in this Blog 

https://cloudsonthehorizon.blogspot.com/2024/01/post-tribulation-rapture-first.html

and Video = 

Post Tribulation Rapture - First Resurrection Timing 

= https://youtu.be/ahhrS9SjBdo

Some would point out that we see Thrones in Revelation 20:4, 

but there is nothing in this passage of scripture 

that implies these are in Heaven. 

On the contrary, 

since Jesus Christ is to reign on earth for 1,000 years, 

it would make perfect sense 

that the thrones and those sitting on them,

would be on earth in the "Holy City" 

( ie Jerusalem ). 

And this "holy city" is the one to be surrounded 

by the multitudes that Satan deceives 

at the end of the 1,000 years millennial kingdom.

see all about it in Revelation chapter 20 verses 7-10  

Additional viewer comments and question:

I used to believe in the pre tribulation

so I always believed we would go to heaven

avoiding the tribulation and then return. 

Now, I know we will ever be with the Lord,

but I don't know what happens after the tribulation

 and we are in the air.

Does God plague them 

and then we are on earth with Jesus for a thousand years?

 If so, they must be tormented 

but cannot die 

because death will flee from them.

In Revelation chapter 9 verses 1 - 11, 

which is the 5th Trumpet of the 7th Seal 

we see 5 months of torment by something 

symbolically referred to as Locust / like Scorpions,

with verse 6 specifically stating,

 In those days men will seek death

and will not find it; 

they will desire to die, 

and death will flee from them.

This could mean that it's impossible for them to die 

or kill themselves, 

but it could just be 

they are longing for 

( desire ) to die,

since they are in so much pain. 

Final Viewer comment:

 * Can you do a video on this, please. Thank you.

I hope my responses help answer some of your questions.

Many of the specific details of the Future 

will not become clear until they occur, 

if God chooses to reveal them,

or might have to wait until Jesus returns. 

Thank you for making it to the end of this video.

I hope you will check out some 

of the other videos on the channel

that explore the Rapture 

and End Times teachings.

Until next time,

Maranatha.

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

End Times Words Made Easy - Eschatology, Pre Millennial, Post-millennial, A-millennial, Dispensationalism, Rapture.

Youtube Video version = https://youtu.be/diVdY-p-KL0  

When I first started studying End Times and Prophecy,

I kept running into Big Words that are not in the Bible.

Confusing at first.

Today I will try to provide simple definitions 

to some of these commonly used terms.

Including:

Eschatology

Pre Millennial

Post-millennial

A-millennial

Dispensationalism

and another word you won't find in the Bible,

Rapture.

The word "eschatology" originates from Greek. 

And it literally translates to 

"study of last things" 

or "the doctrine of last things".

Or simply the Study of End Times.

And while there are many "theories" on the End Times,

I will provide simple definitions for the three 

that are most commonly taught:

the premillennial system

the post-millennial system, 

the a-millennial system 

Defined in basic terms

Premillennial simply means 

that Jesus Christ will return to earth 

before a literal 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity, 

known as the Millennium. 

And we are told by Jesus in

Matthew chapter 24 verses 29-31 

that this occurs immediately after the Great Tribulation.

We read

Immediately after the tribulation of those days 

the sun will be darkened, 

and the moon will not give its light; 

the stars will fall from heaven, 

and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 

and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 

and they will see the Son of Man 

coming on the clouds of heaven 

with power and great glory. 

And He will send His angels 

with a great sound of a trumpet, 

and they will gather together His elect 

from the four winds, 

from one end of heaven to the other.

 

And by looking at the contrast with this view,

We can define the next two terms simply:

postmillennial,  

which means you believe 

Christ's return occurs after the millennium 

( 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth ). 

And we have another viewpoint called:

amillennial 

which doesn't believe in a literal millennium 

( 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth )

* Instead, it interprets Revelation chapter 20 verses 1-4 symbolically, 

viewing the millennium as representing the period 

between Christ's first and second comings, 

during which He reigns spiritually,

( from heaven and not physically on earth )

While Revelation does use a lot of symbolic language,

it is also very clear and literal on many things.

Let's read this passage in Revelation chapter 20,

and you can decide what you think it is saying.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, 

having the key to the bottomless pit 

and a great chain in his hand. 

He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, 

who is the Devil and Satan, 

and bound him for a thousand years; 

and he cast him into the bottomless pit, 

and shut him up, and set a seal on him, 

so that he should deceive the nations no more 

till the thousand years were finished. 

But after these things 

he must be released for a little while.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, 

and judgment was committed to them. 

Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded 

for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, 

who had not worshiped the beast or his image, 

and had not received his mark on their foreheads 

or on their hands. 

And they lived and 

reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

* Sounds like a 1,000 year period after the Great Tribulation to me.

Another term you'll hear is 

Dispensationalism.

This is a theological system ( or Theory )

that interprets history and God's dealings with humanity 

through a series of distinct time periods, 

called dispensations. 

It emphasizes a distinction between Israel and the church. 

Most Dispensationalist also believe

in Christ's return before a literal 1,000-year reign on earth. 

HOWEVER,

The way they divide up certain parts of the Bible as being directed 

to Israel only or the Church believers only,

comes from man made theories 

that have been around for less than 200 years.

Dispensational interpretation and the concept of Two returns of Jesus,

that include a secret rapture before the Tribulation period,

were developed at the same time and by the same preachers

in the 1800s.

And these theories have been taught by several large Bible colleges over the last 100 years.

The origins, spread and errors of this teaching are discussed in more detail in other posts and videos.

I will say here that this "system" is the reason 

for much confusion on the Rapture.

Such as,

When we are to expect the Return of Christ, 

and our gathering together with Him.

As those with a strong dispensational view teach 

there are two returns of Christ. 

One before the Great Tribulation and another at the end of it.

I've taken a closer look at what the Bible says on this matter 

in many other posts and videos on this channel.

Finally, the last term we will look at today is

The Rapture:

The words "caught up" are translated from the actual Greek word "harpazô" 

which means "to snatch, seize, or take suddenly".

Later we find the original Greek translated

in the Latin Vulgate Bible, 

with the Latin word "raptura". 

And that is where we get the English word "rapture". 

And while the actual word Rapture is not a term you can find in the Bible,

the event is referenced in several different passages.

The first reference is in Matthew 24:31 

which we read earlier.

And I'd like to share two other clear passages,

and the ones most commonly quoted.

First in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 51 and 52

we read

Behold, I tell you a mystery: 

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 

at the last trumpet.

For the trumpet will sound, 

and the dead will be raised incorruptible, 

and we shall be changed.

and the second one 

found in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 16 and 17

we read

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 

with the voice of an archangel,

and with the trumpet of God. 

And the dead in Christ will rise first. 

Then we who are alive and remain 

shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 

to meet the Lord in the air. 

And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Many will say the 3 passages are not talking about the same event.

I would simply say the all 3 mention that 

a trumpet will sound

And that there is no scripture that would divide 

the coming of Jesus to two separate events.

To learn more about the timing of the Rapture,

and how to be ready for the coming Great Tribulation,

please check out some of the other videos on this channel.

Until next time,

Maranatha

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

Hope is the Power to Persevere No Matter What

But let us who are of the day be sober, 

putting on the breastplate of faith and love, 

and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

I Thessalonians 5:8

 Hope is a motivator to protect us from losing sight of the glorious end of God's purpose. 

Why? 

The only thing that can really defeat and destroy us is for us to give up. 

Jesus says in His Olivet prophecy, 

"But he who endures to the end shall be saved" 

Matthew 24:13 

The KEY to "enduring" is to have HOPE.

"For we are saved in this hope, 

but hope that is seen is not hope; 

for why does one still hope for what he sees? 

But if we hope for what we do not see, 

we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."

Romans 8:24-25

Hope's fruit is not just an optimistic and positive outlook 

but also the drive to persevere, 

to endure come what may, 

to propel one forward. 

Only the hopeful will do this. 

The hopeless will give up.

Therefore let us always be =

rejoicing in hope, 

persevering in tribulation, 

devoted to prayer, 

Romans 12:12

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

The difference between "hoping" and "trusting."

A wide gulf separates "hoping" and "trusting." 

While hoping may consist of just a desire for something, 

trusting requires a person to believe confidently, 

make choices, 

and 

patiently endure.

* Abraham is a good example:

Romans 4:20 - 25

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,
but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 

and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 

And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 

but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 

who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

* Work on increasing your "hope"
until it becomes "faith" ( TRUST ).
It will start to change the way you think, and behave.

Reference: Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope.

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day