Part 12 of 15 -

“The Whole Family in Heaven and Earth”

You may have noted by now that I’ve repeatedly use the phrase “the believers of the nation Israel .” This is to differentiate them from Abraham’s natural born human “seed,” the children of Israel who do not believe the Messiah or His kingdom. The nation Israel today is predominantly secular, perhaps enjoying the traditions of religious Judaism, but non-believers. This is much the same as so many so-called Christians who are not real Christian believers. Paul here clarifies and defines a genuine believer of Israel as “he (who) is a Jew,” one who has been “circumcised of the heart.” Romans 2:29 But HE IS A JEW, WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY; AND CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Christ will return at the end of the present age of “the gospel of the grace of God” and the Tribulation period. He will then dwell within “the believers of the nation Israel ”; they will then be born of His “Spirit of life” (Rom 8:2a).

These two groups below sum up the “THE WHOLE FAMILY in HEAVEN and EARTH.” Ephesians 3:14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ Of whom THE WHOLE FAMILY in HEAVEN and EARTH is named,

1)      The Body of Christ is the heavenly people. We know that Christ as the “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” already dwells within each member of “the body of Christ,” Colossians 1:27 … the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory: These are those who have been “saved by grace through faith… not of works” (Eph 2:8-9) during “dispensation of the grace of God”, they will be raptured before the 7-year Tribulation period.

2)      Israel is God’s people on earth. Israel will endure the 7-year Tribulation on earth. The surviving “elect” of the Great Tribulation will live on into Christ’s Millennial kingdom. When Jesus appears at the end of the Tribulation, He will be seen and His “Spirit of life” will be received by the believing members of the nation Israel alive at that time. Those surviving among the nation of Israel will look upon Him who “they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10) and Paul writes; “ALL (believing) Israel shall be saved” (Rom 11:26a). They will then dwell in their “own land” (Eze 37:14) of Israel . The dead Messianic believers, including “the twelve,” the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth called “the little flock” (Luke 12:32), those of the early Acts period, plus the Tribulation martyrs (Eze 36:25-29), will participate in “the first resurrection” (Rev 20:5). These will receive their new spirit-bodies and then return to the earth with the Lord at His 2^nd coming.

Being “in Christ” these two groups will occupy and reign over their respective spheres of “heaven” and “earth” by Christ’s life within them. All the believers of Israel and the “body of Christ” will be in union with Christ in the final dispensation, called “THE FULNESS OF TIMES.” Together, they “sum up all those who are in Christ… both in heaven and on earth.”

Ephesians 1:10 That in THE DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIMES he might GATHER TOGETHER  IN ONE (Gk. anakephalaioo, sum up) ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, BOTH which are IN HEAVEN, and WHICH ARE ON EARTH; even (that is) IN HIM:

No Old Testament prophecy ever spoke of these things that Paul reveals to us. This is because Paul’s “gospel” and “revelation (unveiling) of the mystery” had been “kept secret since the world began.”

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my (Paul’s) gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION (unveiling) OF THE MYSTERY, which WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.

It’s notable that in Paul’s thirteen church epistles he uses the word “heaven” in its variations 28 times. Yet, Paul never once refers to the phrase “kingdom of heaven,” which will come to earth as promised to Abraham’s faith-seed, the believers of Israel . This stark omission is only because Paul is “the Apostle” specifically sent “to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13). Paul’s unique Christ-given gospel concerns “heaven” ultimately being occupied by the Gentile “body of Christ” (Rpm 11:13, Eph 3:1).

By contrast, the promised “kingdom of heaven” coming to earth belongs to Israel . It is made up of all the believers of Israel of all time. These are Israelites who believe God and His promise of the Messiah and His kingdom. The Messiah will confer upon the believers of Israel power and authority over Satan’s realm on the EARTH in the Millennium, as was demonstrated in the early Acts period.

Matthew 28:18 … All power is given unto me (Jesus) in heaven and in earth.

Luke 10:17-19 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. ¹⁸ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I GIVE UNTO YOU POWER TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: and nothing shall by any means hurt you

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their (Jewish) synagogues, and preaching THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people (of Israel).

Jesus and his Apostles and disciples preached the “gospel of the kingdom.” In the midst of the Tribulation, the 144,000 “elect of the (12) Tribes of Israel ” and the “two witnesses” will preach, witness to, and declare the “gospel of the kingdom” (Rev 11:7) before the end of the Great Tribulation. With the “dispensation of the grace of God” concluded earlier, by the catching away of “the body of Christ,” the only way for Jews and Gentiles to be saved in the Tribulation and Millennium will be under “the Law” of Moses and the “gospel of the kingdom.” Matthew 24:14 And this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. The believers of Israel shall receive their Messiah and reign over that “kingdom” sphere of God on earth in the Millennium and on the “renewed earth.”

Where did Jesus indicate this coming kingdom was to be located? It is to be on earth – not in heaven. The promised kingdom Jesus and His disciples preached to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt 15:24, 10:5-6) is to be “on earth,” in accord with the “will” of God, just as God promised Abraham and as Jesus instructed His disciples to pray. Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done IN EARTH, as it is in heaven.

At the end of the Tribulation the Messiah Lord will return and save the remnant of Israel from its enemies. He will physically return to earth at the Mount of Olives . This time Jesus will return not as the dependent babe, but as “The King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev 19:16).

Matthew 24:30 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.

By now, it should be abundantly clear to the reader what Israel will be doing in the kingdom on earth – they shall eternally rule and bless the nations in the “kingdom of (from) heaven” on earth.

Now, many ask; “What will the raptured members of “the body of Christ” do in the highest heavenly sphere?”

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I (Paul) endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus “WITH” ETERNAL GLORY.

The above verse promises the elect body of Christ “salvation”; but not only “salvation,” it is to be “salvation WITH…” or PLUS “…ETERNAL GLORY.” This is the destiny of the members of “the body of Christ.” The “body of Christ” is destined to co-rule and have dominion in the heavens, in “eternal glory,” under the authority vested in us by the indwelling “Spirit of Christ.” This authority will be manifested through our new state of being in our “spirit-bodies” at that time.

Whether we are “caught up” out of the grave or by rapture, we shall be “changed” (Gk, allasso, meaning “made different”; 1Cor 15:52-54). We shall then have put on the immortality of our new “spirit-bodies.” Our “spirit-body” dwells deep within us right now. One day we shall step out of these corruptible physical bodies to be manifested as to who we really are “in Christ,” as spirit beings.

Though we are not yet fully manifested, we know the Lord is in fact “the head over all things” as seen here below. He has “made us SIT TOGETHER in HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS.” Being seated “in Him,” all things are under His and… our feet.

Hebrews 2:8 Thou (The Father) hast put all things in subjection under his (The Son’s) feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see NOT YET all things put under him.

Ephesians 1:20-23 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ FAR ABOVE all PRINCIPALITY, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, AND DOMINION, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: ²² And hath PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET, AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH, ²³ WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULNESS OF HIM THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And HATH RAISED US (the members of the body of Christ) UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS: ⁷ (To the intent) That IN THE AGES TO COME he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

In v7 above we clearly see God’s intent in raising the believing members of “the body of Christ” to the heavenly dynasphere is that that “IN THE AGES TO COME HE might shew the exceeding riches of HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US.” The believing members of “the body of Christ” are “raised” expressly to “sit in the HEAVENLY PLACES.” It is “IN THE AGES TO COME” that we will fill the soon to be vacated levels of heaven currently held and occupied by the fallen angels. This is to the intent of God as seen here below.

Ephesians 3:10 TO THE INTENT THAT NOW UNTO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN HEAVENLY PLACES MIGHT BE KNOWN BY THE CHURCH THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD,

Thus, the current “PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN (the) HEAVENLY PLACES” will see the wisdom and purposes of God in Christ by His manifested expression in and through “the church, which is His body.” The church in heaven will be the ultimate glorification or expression of Christ’s life within us; then flowing through us as “the manifestation of the sons of God.”

 Romans 8:17b-19 …if so be that we suffer with him, that WE MAY BE ALSO GLORIFIED TOGETHER (with Him). ¹⁸ For I reckon (count) that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with THE GLORY which shall be REVEALED IN US. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD.