by Arthur J Licursi 

It is a joy to know the grace believer’s eternal destiny in heaven is much more than harp playing on a cloud. 

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against [fallen angelic] Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of The Darkness of This World, Against Spiritual Wickedness In High Places. (Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

¹² If we suffer [endure], We Shall also Reign With Him…” (2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV)

³  Know ye not that We Shall Judge Angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1Cor. 6:3 (KJV)

“³our conversation [Old English for citizenship] is in heaven” (Phil 3:20} “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath Blessed Us With All Spiritual Blessings In Heavenly Places In Christ:” (Eph. 1:3)

“¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye [Ephesians] may know what is the Hope of His Calling [for you], and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, ²⁰  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 [the angelic] Principality, and Power, and Might, and Dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world [age], 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, ²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Eph. 1:18-23)

“… In Him [In Jesus Christ] Dwelleth All The Fulness of The GODHEAD Bodily. ¹⁰ And ye [all grace believers] Are Complete In [by your union with] him, which is The Head of all [the heavenly Angelic] Principality and Power:” (Colossians 2:9-10 (KJV)

We are members of “the body of Christ,” including “His feet” by our union with Him who is “the Head.”

 For He is “Far Above ALL [the heavenly angelic] principality [levels of rank] and power [and privilege]” (v21).

Therefore, we being in union with Christ are positioned by God ‘above the angels.’ Then it is no wonder Paul says ‘we shall judge or instruct the angels’ (1Cor. 6:3) when we arrive at our heavenly position “in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3 (KJV).

Let’s now consider the steps toward our arriving at our individual ‘heavenly position’ for serving the Lord.

The sequence of events for grace believers of the Gentile “body of Christ” who arrive in heaven begins with our Raptured or being ‘caught away’ to “meet the Lord in the air” (1Thes 4:17, read vs 13-18).

1. The Rapture of all the already saved grace believers of the Gentile “body of Christ” to heaven,
2. The next immediate event is our standing at “the Judgment Seat of Christ” where Christ Himself will weigh the lives lived by of all the saved grace believers of the Gentile “body of Christ,” after they were saved.

“For we [the Gentile grace believers] Must All Appear Before the Judgment Seat of Christ; [so] that every one may receive the things done in his body [while on earth], according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)

“Knowing that OF THE LORD YE SHALL RECEIVE THE REWARD of the inheritance: for YE SERVE The Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:24 (KJV)

3. Having judged our life and doings, Christ will have ‘stablished’ our maturity level. (Rom. 16:25)
4. Christ will then “Present us,” (all the saved grace believers of the Gentile body of Christ) to the Father.

“… Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ [so] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That HE [CHRIST] MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A Glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but That It Should Be Holy and Without Blemish. (Eph. 5:25b-27)

“… to Present You Holy and Unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Colossians 1:22 (KJV)

5. There, the Father will certify us and set us into our specific position of heavenly service for which He has determined we are well suited.

This is a discussion of key aspects of the nature, inheritance, heavenly glory, and infinite blessing of Christ’s beloved Body reigning with Christ “in the heavenly places in Christ”

“For this cause I [Paul] endure all things for the sake of the elect [all believers saved during “the dispensation of the grace of God”], that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with Eternal Glory [which encompasses our joint-heirship/co-rulership with Christ] (2 Tim. 2:10)

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him [via the cross], We Shall Also Live With Him: ¹² If we suffer [faithfully endure], WE SHALL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning]:” (2 Timothy 2:11-12 (KJV)

The Issue at “The Judgment Seat of Christ” Will Be:

Was our way of living on earth according to our independent SELF-effort, or did we learn and arrive at … living by faith in the Lord and His righteous ways according to His Life moving within us? Was Christ’s life, mind, nature, values, and ways “formed in (us)” (Gal. 4:19 (KJV) as proven by our daily living? If Christ judges us ‘approved,’ certified, we are then trusted to ‘reign with Him’ in heaven’s seats of rank and authority “in the heavenly places,” to ‘reign’ as Christ would. Paul tells us we are called to “judge angels,” administrating God’s will over the angels, instructing, directing them.

Qualifying for Co-Reigning with Christ “in the heavenly places”:

Though all genuine grace believers are destined to dwell “eternal in the heavens” (2Cor. 5:1b), many will not immediately be qualified to be certified as capable of co-reigning with Christ in heaven. Upon our Rapture to heaven, we will 1^st come to “the Judgement seat of Christ” where the works of ‘our way of living’ will be weighed as to what “sort” they were while on earth. Did we depend upon ourself or Christ in us as our Lord, directing our daily doings? If we trusted Him as our Lord and life it would be reflected in our way of living.

From the foregoing we should see why it is that Paul’s travailed a second time for the Galatians.

1. First Paul travailed that they would come to faith and receive salvation by grace.
2. Paul then travailed that Christ would “be formed” in the Galatians unto a renewed mind and life.

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU,” (Gal. 4:19 (KJV)

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man [body] perish, yet the inward man [our soul-self] is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV)

“And be not conformed to this world: but BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Though every believer already has “the mind of Christ” in their spirit from the moment they first believe to be saved, that does not mean one has learned to Yield Their Mind and Will to His Mind, renewing their mind and way of living. The Father carries on a constant, watchful, and righteous oversight of His children all through their lives on the earth. He sees and knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Sadly, many Christians still refuse to permit the Lord to instruct them… they would rather live their lives their way. Such independence is a form of self-idolatry and not acceptable. Thus, Paul asks;

“For who hath known the Mind of The Lord, that HE [CHRIST] MAY INSTRUCT HIM? But [yet all the while] We Have The Mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJV)

By learning to study and trust in the Bible truths of Paul’s “mystery” gospel concerning our new blood-bought life arrangement with Christ’s “spirit of life” IN US as the new us… we will begin to see ‘Christ being FORMED IN US.’ Thus, Paul wrote; “… I travail in birth again until Christ Be Formed In You,” (Gal. 4:19 (KJV)

Are You “Stablished”? ^“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 of the mystery [the God-planned secret of Christ alive in His body members], which was kept secret since the world began, Romans 16:25 (KJV)

The word “stablish” (above) is that state of stability that we arrive at… after being “Established” by the hand of the Lord in our lives. We are thereby “approved unto God.” (2Tim. 2:15). His work in our lives is accelerated by our learning to Study… the word of truth” and Co-operate with His Spirit… in faith.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

“For it is God Which Worketh In You both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philip. 2:13 (KJV)
“… he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

What about Israel?

Similarly, the believers of Israel are called to co-reign with Christ On The Earth during the Millennial reign of Christ. Thus, Peter wrote to Israel.

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us [Israel] unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered [endured] a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." {1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

“And hast made us [Israel] unto our God kings and priests: and we shall Reign On The Earth.” (Revelation 5:10)
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but They [Israel] Shall Be Priests of God and of Christ, and Shall Reign With Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6 (KJV)