It’s important to consider and ‘compare scripture with scripture’ if we are to “rightly divide the word of truth” noting what applies to the Nation Israel as opposed to the Gentile church of “the body of Christ.”

God has His two God ordained believing groups expected to ultimately serve as His representatives. Each is to reign with Christ in their assigned sphere of the cosmos, one in the government of “the heavens” the other on “the earth.”

1. The Gentile church that Paul calls “body of Christ” will ultimately ‘reign with Him IN HEAVEN’ (2Tim. 2:12)
2. Then later, Israel will receive Christ at His 2^nd coming, to ‘reign with Him in the kingdom ON EARTH’ (Rev. 5:10, 20:6).

Paul’s Acts-Period epistles look to His coming from Heaven To Earth… while Paul’s POST-Acts epistles speak of the Gentile “church, which is His body” going to “appear with Him in [heaven’s] glory” (Col. 3:4)

Ultimately, in “the fulness of times” both “the heaven and the earth” will be under God’s overarching reign through His “whole family” with its two reigning representative groups; Israel “on earth” and “His body” in “the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 1:10 (KJV) ¹⁰ That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he [God] might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephesians 3:15 (KJV) ¹⁵ [Christ] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Now note the Pauline verses having the word ‘Heaven’ as found in Paul’s ACTS-PERIOD Epistles, comparing them with the word ‘Heaven’ as seen in Paul’s POST-ACTS Epistles written after Acts.

1. Paul’s ‘ACTS PERIOD’ Message was for “the Jew First” looking to Christ’s 2^nd COMING “FROM HEAVEN” to save Israel on earth.

1 Corinthians 15:47 (KJV) ⁴⁷ The first man [Jesus of Nazareth] is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord From Heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:2 (KJV) ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is From Heaven:

1 Thessalonians 1:10 (KJV) ¹⁰ And to wait for His Son From Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself Shall Descend From Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

2 Thessalonians 1:7 (KJV) ⁷ And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed From Heaven with his mighty angels,

2. Paul’s Post-Acts Message mentions ‘heaven’ and ‘glory’ as the ultimate destination and abode for the grace believers of “the church, which is His body,” being called to “reign with Him” in heaven.

Ephesians 6:9 (KJV) ⁹ …  knowing that your Master also is IN HEAVEN; ....

Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV) ²⁰ For our conversation [< Old English for ‘citizenship’] is IN HEAVEN; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious [resurrection] body, …

Colossians 1:5, 26-27 (KJV) ⁵ For The Hope Which Is Laid Up For You IN HEAVEN, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; ²⁶ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: ²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of This Mystery [Secret] Among The Gentiles; Which Is CHRIST IN YOU, The Hope Of [HEAVEN’S] GLORY:

Colossians 3:4 (KJV ⁴ When Christ, Who Is Our Life, SHALL APPEAR, Then Shall YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN [HEAVEN’S] GLORY.)

Ephesians 1:3, 20-21 (KJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings IN HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his [the Father’s] 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:

2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV) ¹² If we suffer [endure trusting His life], we shall also Reign With Him: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning]:

By Arthur J Licursi