With the creation of man, Adam initially had fellowship with God; “they (Adam and Eve) heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” (Genesis 3:8a) But after Adam’s sin in rebellion against God’s words… he was driven from the garden and the whole creation was cursed, man, beast, and the fruit of the earth. Consequently, the whole creation yearns to be reconciled to God.

Romans 8:18-22 … the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (the body of Christ). ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of ‘the sons of God.’ ²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity (frailty), not willingly, but by reason of him (God) who hath subjected the same (yet) in hope, ²¹ Because the creature itself (man himself) also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that ‘the whole creation (the whole creation)’ groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

‘Reconciliation’ means ‘a change that restores.’ God implemented a 4-stage “reconciliation” according to His plan of the ages. The “whole world,” including mankind, was reconciled at once by the Cross … giving every individual man opportunity to believe and receive God’s reconciliation.

Paul’s epistles reveal four (4) aspects of God’s ‘reconciliation,’ as numbered below. They lead to full reconciliation of the entire creation “on earth,” “the whole family of God,” (Eph 3:15) also reconciling “the heavenly places” of the lower heavens that reign from above. The full reconciliation “on earth” aspect is plainly seen in Bible prophecy to occur in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom (cf. Isa 65:17-25). But, the restored “heavenly places” requires greater explanation; we find this addressed in point #4, below.

Let’s begin with the beginning of the great conflict that has existed from before Adam was created, then we will move toward God’s full “reconciliation” of the “all things… in heaven and on earth.”

1. The Reconciling of “the world” – refers to the ‘whole created arrangement,’ both ‘in heaven and on earth.’ Mankind today is born into this world in sin and alienated from God. This has been the case due to the fall of Lucifer, long before Adam’s fall, Adam being the progenitor of sinful mankind.

“Reconciling the World (cosmos, creation)” by the Cross included mankind, BEFORE we believed.

Romans 5:10 … when (while) we were enemies, we were ‘Reconciled to God’ by the death of his Son, Much More, being reconciled, we shall be saved (Gk. sozo, completed) by his life.

1 John 2:2 he (Jesus) is the propitiation (payment) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for *the sins of the whole ‘world’ (Gk. cosmos, the whole creation). (*Note: “the sins of” was added by translators)

2 Cor. 5:19 God was in Christ, reconciling the world (the whole created arrangement) unto himself, not imputing (counting) their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Romans 5:8 “… God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

2. With the ‘World Reconciled,’ THEN lost individuals may receive “Reconciliation with God” by faith.

All humans are born into the World lost, unrighteous, and alienated from God.

Rom. 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

The Cross Restores Believers to “peace with God” to also receive Christ’s Life as the believer’s new life.

Rom. 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye (Gentiles) who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Col. 1:21 And you, that were sometime (in time past) alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. Rom. 8:19 … the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

3. All believers today are “Reconciled unto God” and each other simultaneously “… In the “One Body” of Christ.

Eph. 2:14-16  For he is our peace (Jew and Gentile), who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain One New Man, so making peace; ¹⁶ And that he might ‘reconcile both unto God in One body’ by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized (set wholly) Into One Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

4. “His Body” is ultimately Reconciled at the Rapture… to Reign in “the heavenly places”

The Gentile “Body of Christ” - Reconciled to ‘Reign’ in “the heavenly places” of rank and authority.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ⁷ (so) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:19-22 For it pleased the Father that in him (Jesus) should all fulness dwell; ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to ‘Reconcile all things’ unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things (the offices of rank and authority) in earth, or things in heaven.

²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he ‘reconciled ²² In the body’ of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his (the Father’s) sight:

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also Reign With Him: if we deny him, he also will deny us (reigning):

2 Corinthians 5:1 ¹ For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (our physical body) were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens

Israel will be Reconciled to God at Christ’s 2^nd Coming, to then “co-reign” with Him on the earth.

Rev. 5:10 hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.  Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection (of the O.T. believers): 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.

Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

‘The Heavenly Powers’: Originally created by Christ and for Christ’s Angels

Col. 1:16 by him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven (Gk. ouranos, space, the 2^nd heaven), and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Amos 9:6 It is he (the LORD) that buildeth (set up) his stories (levels of angelic ‘rank and authority’) in the heaven, and hath founded (established) his troop (faithful band) in the earth…”

With the Fall of Lucifer, he usurped these ‘offices of rank and authority’ in Heaven and on earth.

Isaiah 14:12 ¹² How art thou fallen from (the highest 3^rd) heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground (Gk. eres, the earth), which didst weaken the nations!

Lucifer became Satan as “the god of this world” took 1/3 of the angelic host with him (Rev. 2:3-4).

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Ephesians 2:2 ² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the (demon) prince of the power of the air (earth’s atmosphere), the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

The “Serpent,” by deceit, usurped the man God created to “have dominion” over every creeping thing.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat (of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil) thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and Ye Shall Be As Gods, Knowing Good And Evil.
Gen. 3:22-23 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: ²³ Therefore the LORD God sent him forth FROM the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Adam Eating of ‘the tree of independence,’ made every man born think that he is a self-able god!

Satan’s Angelic hierarchy in “the heavenly places” plans and executes his evil schemes for ‘the earth.’

Ephesians 6:12 we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (Gk. arche, highest angels), against powers (Gk. exousia, authorities), against the rulers (Gk. kosmokrator, world rulers) of the darkness of this world (Gk. aion, this age), against spiritual wickedness in ‘high places’ (in “the heavenly places” of angelic rank and authority in the 2^nd heaven). (See the author’s Study Series at: http://www.artlicursi.com/series/dynaspheres )

The far reach of the Satan’s evil angelic heavenly host in “The Heavenly Places” … affects the human governance we see even today “on planet) earth.” Note from the example below, in Daniel, that there are angels contesting for governance on earth. Yet our God and Father is wise and Supreme!

Daniel 10:12-14 Then said he (Gabriel) unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes (of God), came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.  

Daniel 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

Satan’s “band” of “Princes” in Heaven and on Earth worked to Crucify the Lord Jesus. Satan was Ignorant of God’s “Mystery,” His Plan for Reconciliation and Redemption by the Cross-work of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the ‘princes of this world,’ that come to nought: ⁷ But we speak the Wisdom of God in a ‘Mystery,’ even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: ⁸ Which None Of The Princes Of This World Knew: for had they known it, they would NOT have crucified the Lord of glory.

Note above how Satan’s cadre of “princes” in heaven (principalities and powers), and on earth (e.g., Israel’s and Rome’s human leaders) unknowingly cooperated with the “wisdom” of God’s “hidden” Mystery (secret) plan of ‘reconciliation’ of “all things” through the Cross.

GOD’S INTENT: The Church, Saved and Heaven-bound, will be the trophy of His Grace & Wisdom.

Colossians 2:15 ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he Made A Shew of Them Openly, Triumphing Over Them In It (in and by The Cross of Jesus Christ).  

Ephesians 3:10 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,

GOD’S DOMINION “in both the Heaven and on Earth” is Restored “in Christ,” to be reigned over by His willingly Saved Ones through the vested power and authority of Christ Cross-work.

Ephesians 1:10 (so), That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ (under His rule), both which are In Heaven, And Which Are On Earth; even in him (Christ):

Christ will reign in and by His “Whole Family”; “the body of Christ” in “the heavenly places” … and Israel on then earth. Ephesians 3:15 Of whom ‘the Whole Family’ In Heaven and Earth is named,

OOUR COMMISSION TODAY: Is “the ministry of Reconciliation”:

Paul tells us that we are called are to bring to lost mankind “the truth” of the worlds reconciliation toward God. God has made the way of the whole reconciliation of the world by Christs cross. By Jesus dying “for the sins of the world” (1Jn 2:2), He freed mankind to be able to choose to freely receive union with God “in Christ.” The “reconciliation of the world” is as money in every human’s checking account… needing only to be drawn upon, this is “redemption” received and actualized.

Our Cry To The Lost: “we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation; ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, Reconciling The World unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us The Word of Reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, Be Ye Reconciled To God.