After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.'' Revelation 4:1
The Church Conspicuously Missing After Revelation Chapter 3
The church is mentioned repeatedly in the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation, where Christ is seen walking among the churches, and sending messages to seven churches.
But from chapter 4:2 on, "after those things," the church is not named once throughout the entire account of the Tribulation period.
From the moment John is told to "Come up here," for the remainder of the vision he is in the presence of the Lord, looking down on the dreadful events of the Tribulation on the earth. He is seeing it from heaven.
It is significant in the fact that John is told to "Come up here."
The very same words are spoken to the two witnesses before they too are raptured:
And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here.'' And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. " (Revelation 11:12).
The Church age began suddenly and unexpectedly on Pentecost.
It will also end suddenly and unexpectedly.
The is the "mystery" Paul was speaking of, the church age, something not revealed in the Old Testament and something not present when Daniel's "70th week" begins again.
There are two peoples of God, Israel and the church.
Two covenants.
Two programs.
Two "times."
In the 70th week, God is dealing with Israel and judging the world.
