The Church in the Book of Revelation

…Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. ... This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:25-27,32

One of the questions that always arises when reading about the end times is “where is the church (Christians), the “bride of Christ,” in the book of Revelation?” That’s a great question, so let’s briefly look at some of the mentions of the church in Revelation. First however, let me point out that when I use the term “church”, this is a very specific group of people. Those who are generally described in the Bible as “the righteous”, “the chosen”, “saints”, or “the servants of God” are all who call Jesus Lord. The overall description of those who inhabit the holy city of New Jerusalem within the new heavens and the new earth is simply “those whose names are found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life,” and includes all those who call Jesus “Lord.”

The “church” then, in my opinion, is a more specific group of believers within that larger group. They are those Christ followers who were indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to the church, until the “restrainer” is removed from the earth when the bride of Christ (the church) is raptured away by the Bridegroom (Jesus). This timing of this removal of the restrainer is referenced by Paul in his letter to the church at Rome. “I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25. The “fullness of the Gentiles” is a reference to the complete number of those believers who will be part of the “church” having “come in” to it.

The church is first seen in chapters one through three of Revelation. John is on the island of Patmos in exile and the Lord Jesus appears to him and dictates seven letters to be sent to seven churches. These seven churches are actual churches, and the letters were addressed and written specifically to these seven churches. But, they are also meant for all Christians, as each letter includes the phrase “Let anyone who has ears to hear, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” This includes all who have “ears to hear”. Jesus had told His disciples that not everyone would be given the secrets of the Kingdom, that is why He was teaching in parables. However, they would receive the secrets of the Kingdom of God. “When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables. He answered them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables.’” Mark 4:10-11. These seven churches are also symbolic of all Christian churches throughout the two-thousand year church age period. Each church is representative of the different eras or stages of the christian church from Pentecost until the rapture. So the things written in these seven letters to the seven different churches can apply to all Christ Followers.

Chapter four of Revelation describes John being told to “come up here!” This is in my opinion symbolic of the rapture of the Church. John is transported to heaven, to the throne room of God, and he is given the vision of the apocalypse, which simply means the “revealing”. And this revelation, or revealing, is of the Lord Jesus Christ, specifically to show us, His servants, what “must soon take place.” This turns out to be the seven year tribulation period. Everything John is shown occurs after the rapture of the church. The word rapture refers to the church being “caught up” (harpazo) in “a moment”, in the “twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). It is at the rapture when all of the Bride of the Christ (the church), those who have died prior to the rapture and those still alive at the time of the rapture, are escorted by Jesus the Bridegroom back to His Father’s house (heaven) for the seven day marriage feast.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads. ... the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say, “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:4,10-11

In verse four of chapter four, we are introduced to a group called “the twenty-four elders.” They are described by John as wearing white clothes, and having gold crowns on their heads. They are seated on thrones around the throne of God and they cast their crowns before the throne of God, fall down, and worship the Lord. In chapter 5:9-10, the twenty-four elders sing a new song: “And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.” This song is very similar to John's words in chapter 1:4-6: “John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father -- to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” These twenty-four elders are representative of the church. We are told that we as the Bride of Christ will be given fine white linen to wear, we will be given crowns which we will toss at the foot of the Throne of God, and we will worship the Lord singing a new song to Him. More specifically in my opinion, the twenty-four elders are representative of the twenty-four courses of the priesthood of believers, similar to the twenty-four courses of the Jewish Priesthood which served in the Tabernacle/Temple as described in 1 Chronicles chapter 24.

Revelation also describes another group of individuals dressed in white robes. It should be clarified that these are the “martyrs” from the tribulation period, and not the elders (members of the church). Both are described as being clothed in white, however there is an important difference in the Greek words used. The word for “robe” (stolay) is used five times in Revelation, and all five reference the tribulation saint’s or martyrs’ garments. The word for “garments/clothes” (himateeon) is used four times in Revelation to specifically refer to the garments worn by the elders when in heaven.

Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:11-16

The next time we see the church in the book of Revelation is in chapter nineteen. The Lord Jesus is returning to the earth in an event known as the “second coming.” The first time Jesus came to earth, He came as a sacrificial lamb. The second time He returns it will be as a conquering King. Jesus is on a white horse, wearing a white robe (himateeon - the same word used to describe the garments the elder’s wear) dipped in blood. He has fiery eyes and wears multiple crowns on His head. Jesus comes to earth from heaven, and with Him are “the armies that were in heaven” and they are following Him on white horses. This army is described as “wearing pure white linen.” Again, this is the description given of the Bride of Christ which is the church. “Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:7-8 (see also Revelation 3:4-5; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9; and 7:13-17).

Additional references are made to this heavenly army which returns at the second coming with the Lord Jesus. In the book of Jude, he says “These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn -- fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever. It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: ‘Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.’" Jude 1:12-15. Also, John in Revelation chapter 17 references this army: "These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful." Revelation 17:14.

Some people say that the armies from heaven are the angels, or perhaps the Old Testament saints. I disagree with this army being the angels as there are no other scriptural references to the angels being present. Additionally, John as mentioned refers to the army as “chosen and faithful” and angels are never referred to as either. The army cannot be Old Testament Saints either as their souls are still in Hades/Sheol until their resurrection at the end of tribulation period when they receive their glorified bodies.

Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ... Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4,6

In chapter twenty of Revelation, John describes the one-thousand year period on earth known as the “Millennial Reign” when Jesus reigns and rules physically from Jerusalem over the whole Earth. Satan is bound during this time, and King Jesus rules the earth with a rod of iron. The church is described as “priests of God and of Christ” who sit on thrones of judgment (perhaps judicial administration is a better translation of the word) and are given authority from Christ. We the church reign with Christ for a thousand years, and help Him in the administration and function of His earthly kingdom by utilizing the gifts and skills He has given each of us the authority to exercise in His kingdom.

Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… Revelation 21:9-10

Lastly, in chapter twenty-one of Revelation, John describes being shown the New Jerusalem city coming down from heaven. It is described as “arrayed with God’s glory” with a radiance like “a precious jewel.” Typically the city is confused as being “the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” It is what John is shown when the angel tells him he will show him the bride of the Lamb. But, the city is not the church, the bride of christ. My understanding instead is that John is being shown the city and it is a reference to the location of where the bride is. The bride of Christ, now the “wife of the Lamb” since the marriage ceremony and feast is now complete, resides with her Husband in the city of New Jerusalem. And this is where the book of Revelation leaves us, with the church, the bride (now wife) of the Lamb in the city New Jerusalem, along with all the other “holy ones”. The term “holy ones” refers to all the Old Testament saints, all of the tribulation saints, and all those who follow Christ during the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth (basically, everyone whose name is found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life).

Recap on who the twenty-four elders are:

-Elders represent God’s people. In the OT there were 24 courses of the priesthood representing all the Children of Israel (1 Chronicles 24) and in the New Testament they are leaders of the church body.

- In Revelation 5:9-10, the twenty-four elders sang a song of praise to Jesus: “.. You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation”

-The 24 elders are shown to be sitting on thrones. “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, (Rev 4:4). This was promised to the church by Jesus in Revelation 3:21, “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

-The 24 elders are described in Rev 4:4 as having crowns of gold. These are stephanos crowns which are often used in the context of overcoming and gaining victory. we never see angels crowned but believers will be (1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4).

-In Jesus’s letter to the seven churches, He promises those in the church who overcome will receive “white garments” (Revelation 6:11, 7:9, 13-14, 3:4, 5, 18). The 24 elders are said to be clothed in “white garments” which clearly is using the same language as Jesus’s promise to the churches (Rev 4:4). There are other groups in Revelation that are given “white robes,” but this a different designation (Rev 6:11; 7:9, 13) and different Greek words.

-in Rev. 5:6, Jesus is described as standing in the midst of the elders. He is with His Bride.

-Lastly, just as in interesting note, Isaiah (chap 6), Ezekiel (chap 1), and Daniel (chap 7) all describe visions of Heaven. The 3 accounts mention God, four living creatures, thrones, and Jesus as being present. But, not one of them mentions the twenty-four elders. This is because the Church age is a mystery in the Old Testament, and prophets of the Old Testament did not see the church age believers in their prophecies.

Time keeps on slipping into the future

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26


We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God's Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. I Corinthians 2:13-14

As Christ Followers, we sometimes are at a disadvantage when trying to read and fully understand the Bible. It is important of course to pray for discernment and understanding. If we do, the Holy Spirit will enable us to comprehend scripture and apply it to our lives successfully. It is also of course important to have a good translation of the Bible, one that is accurate to the original inspired version, yet easy to read and understand. I plan on discussing this further in an upcoming article.

Additionally, the Old Testament was written over a one thousand year period, with the earliest sections being nearly three thousand five hundred years old. The New Testament, while more recently written than the Old, is still nearly two thousand years old itself. So a big impediment to fully understanding the Bible is that we many times do not understand the context, customs, manners, and everyday activities of that time period. This is where commentaries and books which discuss the manners and customs of Biblical time periods can really be a huge help in understanding what scriptures are actually trying to relate to us, the twenty-first century reader of God’s Word.


He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

But, the issue I want to discuss in this article, and in my opinion the biggest impediment to our fully understanding the Bible is simply the fact that we do not, and cannot, correctly understand the concept of time, or more correctly, the absence of time. What we might call “eternity”. We by default comprehend and understand everything in this world we encounter through the lens of our created universe and its limitations. When we do, we place limitations and restrictions on God and things pertaining to the heavenly realm that should not be, including the limitation of time.

Mankind was created to exist within this limited universe. This universe is finite, unlike the heavenly eternal realms which are infinite. This universe, and our planet, was created to include set dimensions. There are four observable dimensions: length, width, and height (or depth); and the fourth dimension is time. For us, time is fixed. It has a start point (Genesis 1:1), and end point (Revelation 21:1), and it moves steadily in only one direction (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11). However, time is not a limitation on God or the things in the heavenly realm. Time there does not exist.

Revelation chapters 21 and 22, the last 2 chapters in the New Testament, paint a picture of life after time. The new heaven and the new earth will be present, and all will be made new. There is no mention of the sun, moon, or stars...only God. He will provide light, and there will be no more night. Time will cease and be no longer. The things which create time (rotation of the earth and revolution around the sun) will be no more. The mechanism by which we measure time (periods of light and dark/day and night) will cease and there will be no more night. Time began as we experience it when God created the heavens and the earth. Time will cease to exist when the new heavens and the new earth are in place.


The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity. Psalms 93:1-2

The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament most often to convey the idea of eternity is ôlâm. It often gets translated as “eternal” or “everlasting”, but can also mean “time out of mind (past or future), “ancient (time)”, or even the “(beginning of the) world”. This word is being used to convey several meanings, such as something being eternal, something occurring in the future, or something that is very old from the beginning of time. Here are a couple of examples: “The LORD will reign forever and ever!” Exodus 15:18. “I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.” Psalms 77:5

In the New Testament, the Greek word used most often to convey the idea of eternity is aiōnios. It is many times translated as “eternal” or “everlasting” as well, but can also mean “without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be”, “perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)”, “without beginning”, “without end.” So again, the word means more than just “eternity”, but also includes the idea of something perpetual in either the past or the future, and something permanent or endless (without beginning or ending). Here are a few examples: "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:46. “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles.” Romans 16:25-26. “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Time can be a tough concept to understand correctly, but it affects so much of what we try to understand about the Bible and theology, especially eschatology. Time was created for our existence here on earth. Time does not apply to God or things pertaining to the heavenly realm. Time as a dimension, a limitation if you will, does not apply to anything outside of the realm of our universe. This understanding that time does not exist outside of our universe affects questions like: "How long is eternity?", "What happens when someone dies?", and "Does God choose who gets saved, or does free will factor into salvation?” Words in the Bible like "eternal," "everlasting," or "forever and ever" can now be understood in a more correct sense of their original meaning as intended. Not as "time unending, stretching on without end" but rather, a word or phrase that indicates something pertaining to God or His kingdom.

Mary - Queen of Heaven?

While at a local hospital named in honor of one of the Catholic Saints, I noticed at the entrance a large statue of the “Virgin Mary”. On her head was a crown, and circling her head was a ring of twelve stars. At the base of the statue was a title which read “Mary - Queen of Heaven”. Behind the statue was an inscription on a wall which read “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,” When I read the title of the statue, I was immediately hit with the implications of that inscription, and wondered if there was an actual reference in the Bible to Mary being the “Queen of Heaven.”


“Don't you see how they behave in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven, and they pour out drink offerings to other gods so that they provoke me to anger. But are they really provoking me?" This is the LORD's declaration. "Isn't it they themselves being provoked to disgrace?” Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: "Look, my anger -- my burning wrath -- is about to be poured out on this place, on people and animals, on the tree of the field, and on the produce of the land. My wrath will burn and not be quenched." Jeremiah 7:17-20


Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: 'As for you and your wives, you women have spoken with your mouths, and you men fulfilled it by your deeds, saying, "We will keep our vows that we have made to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings for her." Go ahead, confirm your vows! Keep your vows! ' Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, all you Judeans who live in the land of Egypt: 'I have sworn by my great name, says the LORD, that my name will never again be invoked by anyone of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "As the Lord GOD lives." I am watching over them for disaster and not for good, and everyone from Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine until they are finished off.’” Jeremiah 44:24-27


The Bible does reference a “queen of heaven”, but surprisingly it's not in the New Testament but rather in the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah. The prophet Jeremiah warned those in Judah to prepare for captivity by Babylon if they did not repent. The people of course refused, and instead planned to seek protection in Egypt from the coming Babylonian invasion, against Jeremiah’s advice. Jeremiah relayed God’s warning to them not to flee to Egypt, yet they fled to Egypt anyway. God in chapter forty-four pronounces judgment on them for this, and for their continued idol worship, calling out the worship of the “queen of heaven” specifically. This “queen of heaven” was most likely Ishtar. The Babylonians worshiped Ishtar as “The Virgin,” “The Holy Virgin,” “The Virgin Mother,” “Goddess of Goddesses,” and “Queen of Heaven and Earth.”


A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth. ... She gave birth to a Son, a male who is going to rule all nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. Revelation 12:1-2,5


I began wondering about the crown of twelve stars circling Mary’s head…what exactly did the crown and twelve stars represent? The Catholics portray the “Virgin Mary” many times with a crown of twelve stars. It is taken from Revelation chapter twelve. One source states “Catholic scholars have understood that this referred to both the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. These, in turn, represent the people of both the Old and the New Covenant, of whom Mary is their Queen. She is Queen of Israel as Mother of Israel’s King, and Queen of the Church, as Mother of the King who is Savior, and thereby of all the redeemed.”


However, the woman in chapter twelve of Revelation with the crown and twelve stars does not refer to the “Virgin Mary”, mother of Jesus, but instead to Israel itself. The book of Genesis chapter thirty-nine relates the story of Joseph and his dreams revealing that one day he would be ruler over his whole family. “Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. "Look," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. "What kind of dream is this that you have had? " he said. "Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you? " Gen. 37:9-10. Jacob asks Joseph “Am I and your mother and your brothers” going to bow down to you? He recognized that the sun, moon, and stars were symbolic of himself, Rachel, and his eleven other sons. Jacob, also called “Israel”, his wife, and his twelve sons are symbolic of all of Israel. Jesus the Messiah is born out of Israel, the nation, the people.


When reading in Luke about Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah, there is no glorification of Mary other than to say she is “favored” by God. Mary even refers to herself as “the Lord’s servant.” When Elizabeth greets Mary, she states that she is “Blessed among women”. When Mary responds to Elizabeth, she does so with a poem of praise for God known as the “Magnificat”, the Latin word for “magnify”. “And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed” Luke 1:46-48. In this one verse from the Magnificat, Mary uses all three of the words used to describe herself once again: “favored,” “a servant,” and “blessed.”


When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! "How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:41-43


The Bible never once refers to Mary as “Queen of Heaven” or “Mother of God”. These are names ascribed to her by the Holy Roman Catholic Church. There are four main Catholic Church beliefs regarding Mary, known as “Marian dogmas”. These include: Mary is the Mother of God, Mary was conceived through Immaculate Conception, Mary is a perpetual virgin, and lastly Mary underwent Assumption into Heaven of her body and soul at death.


Mary is referred to as “mother of my Lord” by Elizabeth, but to ascribe the title “Mother of God” to Mary, as the Catholic Church does, is to assign a title of honor to Mary that is nowhere in the Bible stated. The title also greatly contradicts Mary’s own title she ascribes to herself as “the Lord’s servant.” And of course, the mere assertion that God has a “mother”, as humans understand and use the term, goes against sound biblical theology.


It is also believed by the Catholic Church that although scripture never states this, Mary was conceived without sin (immaculate conception) and born free of the curse of original sin. They reason that since she also gave birth to Jesus through immaculate conception, Mary must have been conceived in the same manner. We know of course that this is unbiblical because the Bible itself clearly states that all have sinned, and that only one person, Jesus the Lord, remained sinless and without fault.


The references to Mary as “the Virgin Mary” are meant to convey the fact that she is considered to be a perpetual virgin. This implies of course that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. Now, we as protestants agree that Mary was a virgin prior to and at the time of Jesus’ birth, the Bible seems to state in several places that Mary and Joseph had normal marital relations after Jesus was born. This resulted, as it typically does, in Jesus having “half” brothers and sisters. The Bible mentions these brothers (possibly up to four) and sisters (possibly two) in the following places: Matthew 12:46-50, 13:55-56; Mark 3:31, 6:3; Luke 8:19; John 2:12, 7:3; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; and Galatians 1:19.


Mary’s Assumption (taking up) into Heaven, both body and soul, at her death is again not found anywhere in scripture. The Catholic Church gives the example of Enoch and Elijah as precedents for others who were taken up bodily, thereby avoiding death. The Bible does state that Enoch and Elijah were taken up into heaven, and of course there will be many more examples of those at the rapture who will be raptured to heaven without seeing death. But again, the Bible never states or even implies that Mary was taken up without seeing death. It is therefore prudent to assume that she did die, and will as Paul describes to the Church at Thessalonica, be present with Christ in the air at the time of the rapture and will be the first to be resurrected.


Mary is a humble servant, blessed among women, and she did find favor with God. She is certainly someone to admire and esteem among followers of Christ. But to ascribe to Mary such attributes as “Queen of Heaven”, “Mother of God”, “perpetual virgin”, “born in Immaculate Conception”, or her “Assumption to Heaven” is to go beyond what the Bible says of Mary, and in my opinion is to place her in a position that Mary herself would not feel comfortable being placed in. It is probably beneficial to simply end by quoting Mary herself, her last recorded statement in the Bible. She was speaking of her son Jesus, and giving directions to the servants at the wedding…

"Do whatever he tells you…" John 2:5