As knowledgeable and confident heaven-bound people we should have a different view of things than most Christians.

¹ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col 3:1-2

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious [heavenly] appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13 (KJV)

This message is unknown in the bulk of Christendom. Few have any idea of where Christ sits today, or better, is where He is enthroned. There needs to be more study of “the Word of truth” and total abandonment of religious tradition. Didn’t Jesus say; ¹³Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:13 (KJV)

About all that is generally known of the future eternal state is that someday there will be a great general judgment, maybe before the great white throne, and it is thought that good folks will go to heaven, and the bad folks go to hell. Then of course, there is little idea of what heaven and eternal loss are. So, we have a problem.

Where is Christ sitting today? Is it in the New Jerusalem? On the clouds? On some planet in our universe? The fact is that the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand “in heavenly places.” This is “Far Above” every rule and power that one can mention.

Note the words of Eph 1:19-23.

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 [angelic and human] 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: ²²  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the Head Over All Things To The Church, ²³ Which Is His Body, [which is] the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:19-23 (KJV)

The members of today’s “church, which is His body” are today quickened [enlivened] with Christ’s own resurrected “Spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2), raised up with Him, and seated (enthroned with Him) “in heavenly places.” Note the words of Eph 2:4-6.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:4-6 (KJV)

There is not one word about the earth as being the residence or the hope of today’s grace-age believer, who has become adopted as a member of “His body,” “the church which, is the body of Christ.” Paul says “our citizenship is in heaven,” not on the earth (cf. Philippians 3:20).

There is a “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) today that has no part in the things on the earth. That is why they are to set their “affection on things far above,” where Christ sits.

What about the earth? All children of Abraham by faith do have an inheritance with him on the earth, the promised land. But this was suspended when Israel was cut off at Acts 28, when the children of Israel were cut off from their hope, divorced, their city burned. about 5 years later Post-Acts, when millions of them killed and their children taken to the slave markets of the world which were so glutted that no buyers could be found for them.

In connection with ‘the dispensation of promise’ given to the children of Israel, there were the washings (baptisms), feasts (Passover, of unleavened bread, tabernacles) and the like. Also, they were circumcised, and even a few Gentiles were “grafted in” during the last 18 years of Acts to provoke Isarel to jealousy. All related aspects were earthly.

Now why would one who is in “the church, the body of Christ,” want to take part in John’s baptism in water for Israel, keep Israel’s feasts (or even the heathen feast, the Lord’s supper”? Read Col. 2:16. Why would we of “His body” today look for the coming of Christ to the earth when our “citizenship is in the heavenly places”? Why should we even look for the tribulation, which wrath is to come upon Israel and the world?

In other words, one today who is heaven-bound cannot set his affection on the earthly millennium or on “the New Jerusalem,” for they are things pertaining to the remnant of Israel on the earth.

We know to “Seek those things which are above… Set your affections on things above.” Col 3:1-2. There are things above that we are to seek, upon which we are to set our affection.

What things? At the very start of the revelation of the dispensation of the mystery, we are told that in heavenly places we have every blessing that is spiritual (Eph 1:3).

These are found in union with “in Christ” Who currently is in the heavenly places. And these things we are to look after, strive to find, and think upon continually. There is an inheritance in “the holy of holies” that we should seek to know about (Eph 1:18). There is a throne for each of us which is “in Christ” (Eph 2:6).

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS: Ephesians 2:6 (KJV)

There is a ‘citizenship’ to cherish (Philip. 3:20) and above all, there is a “crown of righteousness,” a prize as a reward which, we are to seek. ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high [above] calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 (KJV)

Where? We have already answered that. Those things are “in the heavenly places,” “far above all,” IN CHRIST JESUS where “Christ sitteth, the right hand of God,” in glory (Col 3:4). This is “the holiest of all.” This is “Far Above” the whole creation, that is “the heaven and the earth,” known by the Greek word the ‘kosmos.’ This is beyond the stars, and out Far Above the open space and “the sides of the north.” (Psa. 48:2) which is first mentioned in Deut. 10:14 where it is called “the heaven of heavens.”

Who? Who is above, upon Whom we should set our affection and Whom we should diligently seek?

Who is the only Man that has entered the heavenly places? (See John 3:13). Who in that position is “The Head” of “the church, which is His body”? And Who is in that place ready to be manifested (to shine forth in all His glory), and His church with Him? Who is now sitting with His Father in His throne awaiting the day when He will have a throne of His own? You should be able to guess.

Why? What was the promise made before the ages began? See Titus 1:2. Who were chosen in Him before the overthrow of the Kosmos? Eph 1:4.

² In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 1:2,

⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation [Gk. katabole, overthrow] of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in [His] love: Eph. 1:4 (KJV)

We can see that even before Satan initiated his rebellion, a plan was in the mind of God. Something would be done that would heal this breech in the perfect creation. Some will take the place of Satan and the angels that followed him in revolt. Those who failed to be numbered among the principalities and powers in the heavenlies will be replaced by this great “body,” “the church” of which Christ is “the Head.”

This great eternal purpose of God in time predates any plans for the nations and Israel. So that is why Israel and the kingdom are spoken of as being in mind and planned for after or SINCE the overthrow of the kosmos.

Do you personally have a place in all this grand purpose of the ages?

When? This is the question that many ask. We have prophetic dating for Israel’s activities and hope. We find a period of 490 years mentioned in Dan 9:24 which will end with the 2^nd coming of Christ to earth to rule over Israel and the nations on earth.

But the manifestation of the Gentile church. which is “the body Christ” in glory is still largely a secret to most. We who have been studying and become intelligized by Paul’s Post-Acts epistles know that we will appear in heaven when He is manifested to “appear.”

⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. Colossians 3:4 (KJV)

<> Portions adapted from Oscar M. Baker