Pre And Post Rapture Believers

Q

Re: Your commentary on Revelation 7: 9 – 17. What is the scriptural substantiation for: (1) your separation of believers into two classes, pre-rapture and post rapture, and (2) the notion that the Church will enjoy greater blessings and rewards in Heaven than the post rapture believers? We know that faith alone is the only requirement for entry into Heaven and He makes no distinction based on when one came to the Lord.

A

My Scriptural substantiation comes partly from Rev. 7:9-17 itself. These believers are not called either Kings or Priests, but serve God day and night in His Temple. They won’t live in the New Jerusalem with the Church because there is no Temple in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:22).

In addition, only the Church is the Bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2). Only the Church is seated on His Throne with Him (Ephes 2:6). Only the Church is the joint heir with Christ in His inheritance (Romans 8:16-17). Only the Church will be seen as the example of the incomparable riches of God’s grace (Ephes. 2:7).

The Age of the Church will end at the Rapture, prior to the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week. Rev. 7:9-17 takes place during the 70th Week. Your comment that the Lord makes no distinction as to when one comes to Him is only correct during the Church Age. Just as there were believers before the Church was born, so there will be believers after the Church is gone. But neither of these groups is part of the Church, and neither will enjoy the blessings set aside for the Church.