The Eternal Purpose of God

Have you ever considered carefully the opening words of the Bible? “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Why doesn’t it simply say that God created the Universe? Why the heaven and the earth?

As we go on reading we find the answer to this question. The Bible clearly teaches that God has a two-fold purpose; one having to do with the earth and the other with heaven.

The former (the earth) is the subject of prophecy, while the latter (the heaven) is the subject of the “mystery” or God’s secret, that Christ from heaven revealed to and through Paul.

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 of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

The former (the earth) concerns the eternal destiny of Israel and the nations; while the latter (the heaven) is the eternal destiny of “the Body of Christ,” the Church of the heavenly calling.

Some people are surprised to learn that there is not one promise in the whole Old Testament about going to heaven. In the OT, the whole outlook is earthly, with Messiah reigning as King on the literal physical earth (Jer.23:5; et al). When our Lord appeared in the flesh the angels cried: “Peace on earth (Luke 2:14). He Himself said that “the meek” shall “inherit the earth” (Matt.5:5). He taught His disciples to pray: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt.6:10).

Even at Pentecost Peter declared that after “the restitution of all things” God would send Jesus back to earth and the times of refreshing would come from the presence of the Lord” on earth (Acts 3:19-21).

Not until the raising up of Paul do we learn that now all believers in Christ are “baptized (placed) into one body” (1Cor.12:13). Colossians 1:5 and many other Pauline passages, speak of “the hope which is laid up for you IN HEAVEN. Indeed, before God, believers are already given a position “in heavenly places” and are “blessed with all spiritual blessings IN [THE] HEAVENLIES in Christ” (Eph.1:3; 2:4-7).

Then Paul writes: Philippians 3:20 (NASB) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Paul goes onto tell us we are Christ “ambassadors” while we are on earth, until we are raptured to heaven. The earth is not our home. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Earlier in 2Corinthians 5, Paul wrote of how long we will be in heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The prophecies regarding “the Kingdom of heaven” to come to earth, which Jesus preached to Israel only (Matt 15:24), will still be fulfilled and Christ will reign on earth. He bring the promised “times of refreshing” that Peter spoke of at Pentecost when Peter was preaching to “ye men of Israel” and “Ye men of Judea.”

Thank God, this world will not forever be a place of war and bloodshed, sickness and death, misery and woe. Indeed, at that time, heaven and earth will be opened to each other, and thus will be fulfilled God’s two-fold purpose.

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times (the end of all ages of time) he might gather together in one all things “in Christ,” both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” (Eph.1:10).

In the endIsrael will co-reign by Christ dwelling in them… on earth; while “the body of Christ” will co-reign with Christ dwelling in themin heaven. Then God will have recovered and restored the heaven and the earth through Christ’s cross and His indwelling of believing man.