Most of us know that today there are multitudes that have ‘believed’ unto salvation and “everlasting life” according to John 3:16 with the hope of a ‘resurrection’ to “meet Him in the air.” This will occur in the course of Christ’s 2^nd Coming to EARTH. Obviously that resurrection pertains to “the last day” leading to “The Earth” as their intended realm. The supporting references of 1Thes 4 and 1Cor 15 were written during the Acts period when Paul was going to “the Jew first.” Thus, they refer to Israel’s resurrection (with their proselytes) is unto the Millennial Kingdom to come ON EARTH. This is why so many Christians today are not clear as to whether they will ultimately go to “the Kingdom on earth” or heaven. Not knowing or being enlightened to believe Paul’s Post-Acts 2^nd ministry concerning “the heavenly places” of Ephesians, they are not qualified.

Many of these same folks may hear of and want to know how one can obtain membership in the little band that is “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly place” (Eph. 1;3). But this is something that is beyond the will of man. None can of themselves join this invisible “church, which is His body.” The fact that a man may desire membership shows that he may be in relationship with God in some way. But God does the further choosing and the adopting of those that belong to the heaven-bound people of today’s “dispensation of the grace of God.” This is like the case of His chosen people, Israel, of yesterday. The chosen are recognized;

• As soon as any person takes an interest in these spiritual blessings of “the heavenly places” and wants to know how to obtain them, thus we feel assured that they have been “chosen” from “before the foundation of the world,” (Eph. 1:3), being predestinated to the adoption.
• If they take no interest, then God must have foreknown this, and they have not been Chosen unto “The Heavenly Places In Christ.”

Ephesians 1:13 talks about one’s initial salvation after hearing “the word of truth.” But in Eph. 1:14 we have a further pledge given which guarantees “the redemption [i.e., resurrection] of the purchased possession.”

“(Christ) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed [saved securely] with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴WHICH IS THE EARNEST [i.e., the down payment] of our inheritance until the REDEMPTION of the purchased possession [by resurrection], unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:14 (KJV)

What else but resurrection could this redemption refer to? In Romans 13:11, in refers to another resurrection, where the Apostle Paul says, “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Each day is a step nearer our resurrection to “appear with Him in glory.”

Eph. 1:19 is a little understood verse. “The power that RAISED Christ from the dead is to usward who BELIEVE.” In the first place, this makes it clear that the power that raised Christ from the dead will be used to raise the believers from the dead. That power will not be wasted on any who do not believe. Furthermore, the Post-Acts Ephesian epistle of “the mystery” speaks of resurrection as the hope of the members of “His body.” And just where in all the Word can it be found that man has any hope whatsoever except in resurrection? So how could any be saved after resurrection, seeing that Only The Saved Will Be Resurrected?

In Colossians 3:4 we learn that the life of the believer is “hid with Christ in God” and that when Christ the Head Appears (Gk. phaneroo, becomes visible), the members of “His body” will logically “appear with Him” where His is, “in [heaven’s] glory.” If there were to be another resurrection some time before ‘His and our appearing with Him,’ then where and for what purpose would it be?

Phil. 3:11 “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Thus we read again about the Pauline resurrection. The question comes up as to how there could be the possibility of this earlier resurrection if all are resurrected immediately upon death, which they aren’t? Then the question comes up as to the time of resurrections for each group of believers. Will any be resurrected before the place they are to occupy is made ready? But, in Philippians 3:20 we read how that Some Already Have A Homestead In The Heavenlies.

“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, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)

In Paul's last epistle, 2 Tim. 2:18, he warns against those who say that “the resurrection is past already, overthrowing the faith of some.” And he adds in 2Tim. 4:1 that the judging of the dead and living believers is to be AT HIS APPEARING, not some time earlier; and just 5 verses later in 2Tim. 4:6 Paul speaks of the time of his return to dust in the grave as being “at hand.” From this we can see that when Paul spoke of departing and being with the Lord in Phil. 1:23, he had in mind his sleep in the grave first, and resurrection being later between the grave and “His appearing.”

2 Tim. 4:8 speaks of a ‘crown of righteousness’ being given at His appearing.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at That Day: and not to me only, but Unto All Them Also That Love His Appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:8

• Does this verse mean that the resurrection and the appearing are at about the same time, or is there a long wait and suspense between resurrection and the judgment of the believers?
• How about other groups of believers; do they have to wait a period after resurrection till they are judged? Now, can there be a resurrection without salvation first, or vice versa?

Today’s church of the dispensation of “the Mystery” is different from all other callings in several respects. Thus, we of His body are;

1. A Chosen-Out people without regard to any fleshly, racial, or national distinctions (Eph. 1:4). And they are Chosen to be “in Christ.” They are believers chosen out of the great mass of believers for a special purpose. Remember that although Israel was a Chosen nation, they were not the only ones who were believers.

2. The only people whose sphere of blessing is NOT on this earth (Eph. 1:3). They are blest “in Christ” (not in Abraham) in heavenly places (not the earth). Therefore they do not have part in the millennial kingdom or the New Jerusalem.

3. The time of the choosing and the purpose of this group is unique. It is from before the overthrow (Heb. the ‘katabole,’ Eph. 1:4, Gen. 1:2). No other family of God has this time factor. This puts the church of “the mystery” in line to partake of the promise of eternal life made in Christ before the ages began (Eph. 3:6; 2Tim. 1:1; Titus 1:2).

“That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” Ephesians 3:6 (KJV)  “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of LIFE [zoe] which is in Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 1:1 (KJV)  ^“ In hope [expectation] of eternal life [zoe], which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2

4. It is a people that are placed as sons (by adoption) according to predestination (Eph. 1:5). Not all the children of God are placed as sons. And this position is by Jesus Christ. Again there are no fleshly or national distinctions in this matter as was with Israel.

⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephesians 1:5 (KJV)

5. The church of the dispensation of “the Mystery” is a cognomen [i.e., a branch of a family] that is used of none other. This is the “body” of which Christ is the Head (Eph. 1:23). No other body has this distinction. This is a closer relationship with the risen Lord than is revealed elsewhere. Consider that your body is closer to you than your spouse – Christ’s “body” is closer than His “bride [Israel].”

6. This people has an identification which transcends that of any other. We have been “quickened, raised, and seated with Christ” (Eph. 2:6). And the prospect is to be manifested [appearing] with Him (Col. 3:4). Up to this time believers had been only dead, buried and “raised with Him to newness of life” (cf. Rom. 6:3-4).

7. It is a fellowship, a dispensation, or household of God which had not been revealed to the prophets (cf. Acts 3:21), but “was hid in God from ages and generations.” And it has a unique commission in that it is to proclaim to ALL men the ‘dispensation [fellowship] of the mystery’ (Eph. 3:9 R.V.).

8. In all other families of God there was delegated authority, with a difference in station among the various believers. But in this “church. which is the body of Christ” there is a joint relationship among members in all aspects (Eph. 3:6). No member is above another. There is no priesthood. There are no judges, no king, or authorities. All are equal. Even the ‘teachers, pastors and evangelists’ have no more authority than you and I. This today is a foretaste of the time when “God will be all and in all.”              

-Adapted from: www.believer.com