Why would the Lord come to take His Bride to Heaven? The members of the Bride go to Heaven when they die. The truth is, the Lord is coming to raise the firstfruits of the Bride from the dead—the true saints of all ages. Once God's eternal witnesses have been raised from the dead they will have supernatural bodies like the Lord's body.

We do not need to be resurrected in order to go to Heaven nor do we need a glorified body. We go to Heaven when we die not when we are raised from the dead. But we do need to be resurrected in order to rule with the Lord on the earth. Isn't that so?

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)

Life on earth is short. After we die we pass into the spirit realm, there to await the day of resurrection. What it will be like in the spirit realm we do not know. It probably will be a place of rest for us.

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:13)

Believers who have died and then have been revived tell about grass, trees, beautiful homes, children, animals. They really are describing a glorified earth. Whether life in the spirit realm will be a dreamlike state or more real than that remains to be seen.

It is likely that time will pass quickly once we have died, and the day of resurrection will come in what will seem to be a short while. It is the day of resurrection, not dying and going to the spirit realm, that should concern us; for in the day of resurrection our destiny for eternity will be decided.

Let us think seriously and constantly about the day of resurrection. The hour will come when we are raised, and then what? Perhaps the most important fact for us to consider is that the resurrection will occur in two parts. The first part of the resurrection will take place at the return of the Lord Jesus from Heaven, signaling the beginning of the thousand-year Kingdom Age. The second part of the resurrection will occur at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age.

Here is what is important to understand. The first resurrection is for the royal priesthood. Only those who have overcome sin and Satan will appear here. The second death has no authority over them because they have sought the Lord until they have been delivered from all worldliness, lust and self-seeking. They are blessed and holy.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such The second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)

To be continued.