Armies in Heaven
(Rev. 19:14 KJV) 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
The armies in Heaven is all of God’s people in Heaven including the Bride of Christ – the Church, who is already in Heaven and just completed the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
(Rev. 17:14 KJV) 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
(Rev. 19:8 KJV) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
They are now ready for the Battle of Armageddon.
Some believe that the Church is raptured at the Second Coming. They look at Matthew 24.
(Matt. 24:29-31 KJV) 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Post Tribulationists say this is the last trumpet that Paul was talking about.
(1 Cor. 15:51-53 KJV) 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The last trump refers to the last trumpet for the Church age. Paul didn’t see the events that John saw.
In Matthew 24 the gathering includes those in Heaven. The Church is already in Heaven.
(Rev. 5:9-10 KJV) 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
(Rev. 19:9 KJV) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Their white clothing shows they are the “wife” of the Lamb–the “bride of Christ”.
(Rev. 19:8 KJV) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Gathering from the four winds in Matthew 24 refers to any Tribulation Saints that are left on the earth.
Jesus leads His armies to defeat Satan and his armies.