In this study I am pointing out some passages that tell us some things about what happens to Christians when they die. Before Jesus was resurrected the righteous went to a temporary place called Paradise when they died. Those that went to Paradise were said to be asleep there waiting for the last day, that is, Judgment day. On the last day they would be awakened and then they would enter into eternity, that is, heaven, to live with the Lord forever.
After the resurrection of Jesus things changed. Those that would believe in Jesus Christ would be born again, that is, their dead spirits would be recreated and the Holy Spirit would come and live inside of them. These born again believers never see death. They, when their physical body dies, depart the body and go to live with the Lord in heaven.
Philippians 1:21-26
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. (NIV)
It is these, that have been true Christians and have departed their bodies and gone off to be with the Lord, that the Lord brings with him at his return.
We are told in Scripture that the Lord is seated at the right hand of God in heaven and will remain there until God makes Jesus' enemies his footstool. What this means is that Jesus will remain in heaven until Satan and his fallen angels are cast out of heaven to the earth. This event is announced by the blowing of the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15.
When we read Revelation 11:15 through to the end of Revelation 12:17 we see this event unfold. We see Satan cast out of heaven and two sections of Scripture that speak of the Lord coming to reign.
Revelation 11:15-18
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great -- and for destroying those who destroy the earth." (NIV)
Revelation 12:10-11
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (NIV)
We see in these two passages the kingdom of our God has come to the earth. Notice carefully how it was that Satan was overcome. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." This is very important. The church at the very end of the age is more devoted to the Lord than at any previous time, so much so that it gives cause for Satan's expulsion from heaven. The following is another passage that speaks of this.
Hebrews 10:13-14
Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (NIV)
It is a little harder to see here, but it is nonetheless saying the same thing. Satan will be made Jesus' footstool when the church walks in the holiness that Jesus' sacrifice makes possible. When we would rather die than to sin, God will then judge that Satan was wrong about everything and kick him out of heaven, down to the earth, to play out the remainder of God's plan. This is why in Revelation 12:10 it talks of the accuser of our brothers being hurled down. When the accuser has nothing to accuse us of, he will be cast out.
We must not read this and then come to the conclusion that the modern church is in any way pleasing to God, or is headed toward holiness and righteousness. Please read my paper at SeekersTrove.com titled "The Modern Church". What calls itself the "church" today is in grave danger of being spat out the Lord's mouth, (read Revelation 3:14-22--the modern church.)
Things will happen very quickly at the end. Many people will fall away from the truth, but those that remain will grow strong.
Jesus, warning of the time just before his return said this:
Matthew 24:10-14
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (NIV)
Regarding the location from which Jesus ascended up into heaven we can see that it was from the Mount of Olives. This is stated in Acts 1:12. In Zechariah 14:4-8 we see that he returns to the same place, and this to save 144,000 Israelites in Jerusalem.
What is going on is this: First the man of lawlessness is going to begin his persecution of Christians and Jews. Then many will leave the church, but those that remain will be purified. Satan will then be cast out of heaven to the earth, at which point Jesus Comes to the earth and catches up his body. Then he descends to the Mount of Olives and causes the earth to open up to provide an escape route for the faithful in Israel to escape from the beast and his forces. All of this happens very quickly, that is, from the time that Satan is cast out to the "rapture" is only momentary.
