A Seven-Part Study of “the Fellowship of the Mystery”

Concerning “the Body of Christ,”

Those Who are Its Members and Those Who Are Not

Part 1 – “The Fellowship of the Mystery”

Today our mission as members of “the church” that Paul called “the body of Christ” is as follows;

“… To Make All Men See [Gk. photizo, Give Light Of] What Is The Fellowship Of The Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 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, ¹¹ According to the Eternal Purpose Which He Purposed In Christ Jesus Our Lord: Ephesians 3:9-11 (KJV)

Today’s unique dispensational age of the “fellowship of the mystery [Gk. mustrion, the secret]” (Eph. 3:9) is like none other. It has no religious laws, rituals, dietary laws, or rites to perform, and no Sabbaths or holy days to keep. Thus Paul wrote: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat [foods], or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Col. 2:16 (KJV)

It has no religious fathers but God alone. It has no laws as to external dos and don’ts. It has no prescribed place of worship. Being “heavenly” and not being an earthly people, there are no divisions or religious denominations in this invisible “church, which is His body.” There is no human set above or over another, all members of “His body” are equal. Rather, “His body” is a living organism of “the Spirit” having its life “in Christ,” thus it’s not an earthly religious organization of man’s creation headed by men.

This is the invisible “Church, Which Is His Body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) not distinguished by anything external. It has only Christ Himself as “the Head” of His “body” via “His Spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2) indwelling each member (cf. Rom. 8:9). “His body” has no authority delegated to its members since All authority rests in Him alone as “the Head” of “the body of Christ.”

Its members were ‘foreknown to God before creation’ (Eph. 1:4). They were adopted by God, and placed into “His body” as “sons.” Nobody one can ‘join’ “His body” as one might join a manmade religious church organization. You must have to have been chosen by God and ‘joined to’ Christ’s body by the work of God who “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph. 1:11) according to “His good pleasure” (Phili. 2:13). Therefore no one can boast of membership in “His body” for we did nothing to earn our way into “His body.” We are of “His workmanship created in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:10).

“For it is God Which Worketh IN You both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phili. 2:13 (KJV)

There were No trumpets and No shouts, to mark the beginning of “the Fellowship of The Mystery.” It was ushered in with the Acts period ‘fall of Israel’ (cf. Rom. 11:10-11) with the conclusive subsequent simple statement, “Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear [Gk. akouo, hearken to] it.” Acts 28:28 (KJV)

Because none can point back to some great and amazing historical landmark, many are inclined to doubt “the Word of truth.” They can’t believe that such an important event could just happen without some outburst in nature or a great battle of world forces to point out a great change. And there is no Biblical evidence that the end of this dispensational age of “the fellowship of the mystery” will be any more spectacular than its beginning. It is likely that “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory.” Colossians 3:4 (KJV) it will not make the headlines of the newspapers.

“His body” has been gathering secretly and silently at the hand of God during all these centuries since Paul first spoke those words of Rom. 28:23-28 to the Jewish leaders in Rome, while as its prisoner. The great bulk of believers today know absolutely nothing about this. It is still a “mystery” (Grk. musterion, secret), made known only to such as are the initiated “faithful” among “the saints” (Eph. 1:1). It does not become known by a study of the Bible alone as the book among other books. No amount of worldly learning or theological degrees can discover “the Mystery [secret]” that was planned and “from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Eph. 3:9). One must have received “the gift of the spirit of wisdom and knowledge,” to thereby have their understanding “enlightened” (Eph. 1:15-18) as seen here by Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.

“Wherefore I [Paul] also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, ¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: ¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,” (Eph. 1:15-18)

There are those who might talk about ‘the mystery,’ but that is no guarantee that they really are its members or know it. Most then fail to recognize the dispensational boundary with the end of Acts, or know nothing of what lies beyond. This is true also of some sects which have agreed that there is a change of dispensation, but they remain unable to define “the Mystery.” You get no light on the subject from their writings.

The term “mystery,” at the time Paul was writing his epistles, was a word used among the heathen. It was the degrees or steps by which some were gradually led into the secrets of the idol worship. Paul’s mystery is “Great mystery” (Eph. 5:32) ordained of God. In any case, a mystery was something ‘revealed to an initiate.’

“Whereof I [Paul] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me [Paul] for you, to fulfil [Gk. pleroo, complete] the word of God;

²⁶ Even [that is] 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 Among The Gentiles; which is Christ IN YOU [plural], The Hope Of Glory:” (Col. 1:26-27)

So “the mystery” is something to be revealed to the initiate in ‘the things of God,’ but very few seek to know these ‘things.’ Few go on unto any perfection at all. One cannot be expected to know the Pauline Post-Acts “mystery” by merely professing to be a saved, regenerated Christian… it takes further revelation.

Essentially, there is little likelihood of anyone having part in or reaping benefits of something he does Not Know About And Believe. He cannot receive anything by faith till he has ‘heard about it.’ That is where many are deceived. They erroneously try to make “the mystery” a part of Israel’s kingdom program and Christ’s 2^nd coming to earth. They seem to think they can be ‘meek and inherit the earth’ and yet somehow get to Heaven also. They comingle the things pertaining to Two Different dispensations of God… saying ‘the dispensation of the mystery” will end ‘with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and a trumpeting.’ But these things refer to Christ’s 2^nd coming at the end of the terrible Tribulation period…. not “the Mystery” concerning “the body of Christ,” and “the faithful” whose destiny is to “Appear With Him In [Heaven’s] Glory” (Col. 3:4). This proves they don’t know and believe the basics of “the Mystery.”

Our mission today is “to make all men see [perceive] what is the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph. 3:9). Yet, we are very limited in that mission. Many Christians simply do not care to see “the Mystery” and like Demas who forsook Paul, they ‘love the world’ and its religious traditions more than “the word of truth.” Many are entangled in religion so deeply that they cannot escape. But we press on sharing the truth for today concerning this age of “the church” of “the Mystery.”

Until the great dispensational divide of Acts 28:25-28, both spiritual and material blessings had only to do with Israel, the earth, the land that was promised to Abraham and to his faith descendants. The New Jerusalem will come down to the earth to be inhabited by that chosen people. This includes Abraham and those who are children of the ‘promise’ made to Abraham who “sought that city whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb 11:10).

By contrast, we note how abruptly in Eph. 1:3 there is the announcement that a special chosen people will enjoy God’s non-material, non-physical, “spiritual blessings In The Heavenly Places.” This is a part of the “Great Mystery [secret]” (Eph. 5:32) that “was hid in God from ages and generations.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)

All this surely must have been a great surprise to the believers of Paul’s time, Post-Acts. Not even a hint of such a thing had ever before been uttered until Paul received divine “revelation of the mystery” (Rom. 16:25) from the ascended Lord Jesus in heaven (cf. Gal. 1:12), from which Paul wrote his 2^nd set of epistles beginning with Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.

Part 2 – The Gentiles of The Mystery (Secret) Church

We wonder what the believing Galatians must have thought at Paul’s announcement of the great dispensational divide of Acts 28:25-28! Until then, the Gentile believers of Galatia, before Acts 28:28, had been told that by faith they had become “children of Abraham” and so could partake of the promises, … apart from keeping Israel’s law. For, they as Gentiles were “not under the Law under grace” (cf. Rom. 6:14)

¹ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage [to the curse of the Law]. ² Behold, I Paul says unto you [Galatians], that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. ³ For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ⁴ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5:1-6 (KJV)

The prominently Gentile church at Rome was told that they had partaken of the spiritual blessings of Abraham and Israel (Rom. 4:5-8). So all these Gentile Proselyte believers before Acts 28:28 would go to the synagogues or assemblies every Sabbath to hear Moses and the prophets read, and about the blessings that were theirs by virtue of being a ‘wild olive branch grafted into the true olive tree of Israel.’

But then suddenly, when Paul quoted Isaiah’s 6:9-10 prophetic words of the Lord, as seen here (below), Israel became fully “fallen” and “cast away” as of Acts 28:26-28 (cf. Rom. 11:10-12, 15, 25).

“[God] Saying, Go unto this people [Israel], and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: ²⁷ For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

²⁸ Be it known THEREFORE unto you [Israel], that the Salvation Of God Is Sent Unto The Gentiles, and that They Will Hear It.” Acts 28:26-28 (KJV)

So with Acts 28:26-28 there then was no more source for such blessings upon the Gentiles that had believed on Israel’s “Gospel of the Kingdom” to come on earth. But soon after the Pauline pronouncement upon Israel as of Acts 28:28, there came the Good News of important ‘NEWLY ADDED GOSPEL INFORMATION for ‘All Men ALIKE.’ It also came from to the APOSTLE PAUL while he was a ‘prisoner’ of Rome.

There was Special ADDED “Revelation” from the ascended Lord Jesus to Paul … for ALL Believers EQUALLY who since that day they ALL [Jew and Gentile] are referred to as “Gentiles.”

Ephesians 2:11 (KJV) ¹¹ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Ephesians 3:1 (KJV) ¹ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you GENTILES,

Ephesians 3:6 (KJV) ⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body [of Christ], and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 3:8 (KJV) ⁸ Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the GENTILES the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Ephesians 2:5-6 (KJV) ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [made alive] 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:

Colossians 1:27 (KJV) ²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the GENTILES; which is CHRIST IN YOU, The Hope Of Glory:

God’s focus was clearly shifted, from Israel on “THE EARTH” to a GENTILE people destined to “THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST” (Eph. 1:3)

This was a revelation that introduced the FURTHER PURPOSE of the “GREAT MYSTERY” (Eph. 5:32) Gentile in the realm of “the Heavenly Places,” as witnessed by the “Principalities and Powers.”  This takes place “Far Above,” in the Heaven “above all heavens” (Eph. 4:10) where believers in Christ are “seated at the right hand of God.”  No man had ever imagined such a thing.

This means “the faithful” to “the revelation of Mystery” have not only been “quickened” with the “everlasting life” in Christ; they are now positionally seated “with Him” and “IN Him” where He is seated “in the SUPER-HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ Jesus,”

Part 3 – Two Callings to Two Different Spheres – “The Heaven” and “The Earth”

Most of us believers of Paul’s “the Mystery” gospel likely know other individual believers who have ‘believed unto salvation’ and “everlasting life.” We know that most of them point to Jesus’ John 3:16 words - “whosoever believeth in him shall… have everlasting life” and we thank God for that.

Sadly however most of these folks go onto be mistaught to look forward to a ‘resurrection’ that they call ‘the rapture’ to “meet the Lord in the air [Gk. aer, the atmosphere, 1Thes 4:17].” The fact is that unless these saved saint goes on to “study” and believe “the word of truth” in context they will be surprised to find that their resurrection is to occur with the believing Israel’s resurrection to occur in the course of Jesus Christ’s 2^nd Coming TO EARTH. Yes, they will be resurrected to “meet the Lord in the air (Grk. aer, atmosphere)” and go to the Kingdom paradise on “the new earth” – Not Heaven.

Sadly, they will miss out on the “blessed hope” of “heaven’s glory” only because they have perhaps either not heard of or have not been “enlightened” to “the revelation of the mystery” (cf. Eph. 1:15-18) They have not understood Paul’s Post-Acts revelation of the Gentile “body of Christ” which in fact is “His body” which is destined to be resurrected, years before His 2^nd coming, to dwell eternally “In The Heavenly Places In Christ.” (Eph. 1:3).

You see, the resurrection seen in 1Thes. 4:17, 1Cor. 15:51-55 actually pertains to Christ’s 2^nd coming to save Israel’s believing remnant, and her Kingdom proselytes, resurrecting the ‘faithful’ of Israel into their place in “The Kingdom On Earth” – Not Heaven. Note that these verses never mention ‘Heaven’ though most assume them to. These commonly referred to verses in 1Thes and 1 Cor. were written during the 35-year ‘Judeo-Christian' Acts Period when Paul was going to “the Jew first” (Romans 1:16-17). These verses were written Before the great dispensational divide of Acts 28:28 that brought in the “Heavenly” hope of “the Mystery” of the collective Gentile “Body of Christ.” “His body” consists of men of all races (Gentile and Jew alike); all men then being seen of God as lost Gentiles to be saved “by grace through faith” (cf. Eph. 2:8-9)

Few realize that the often-quoted verses of 1Thes. 4:17 and 1Cor. 15:51-55 that actually refer to the Rev. 20:6 ‘resurrection’ of Israel’s faithful unto the Millennial Kingdom to come ON EARTH. Again. you don’t find any mention of “heaven” in these verses, only of those being “caught up” to “meet [Gk. apentesis, encounter] the Lord the air (Grk. aer, the atmosphere)” as He returns in His 2^nd coming to earth.

Many Christian believers today are not clear as to their eternal destiny. Some will tell you they will ultimately go to the “Kingdom come on earth” and some say “heaven.” Not recognizing Paul’s 2^nd ministry that begins with Ephesians as the first of his seven Post-Acts epistles concerning “the Mystery [secret]” of “His body” they are not enlightened to see and ‘believe’ Paul’s Post-Acts ministry to the Gentile “body of Christ” that is destined for “the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Thus, they are not yet qualified to “Appear With Him In [Heaven’s] Glory” (Col. 3:4). We should realize that all blessing comes to us only by ‘faith’ in truth that we know and believe (trust in). Not having heard of it, they cannot believe Paul’s “revelation of the Mystery [secret].”

Some may have read enough Post-Acts Pauline verses to realize they would prefer “Heaven” as opposed to “thy kingdom come on earth” as their eternal destiny. Yet, they need to “see [perceive]” “the fellowship of the Mystery [secret]” concerning the Gentile “body of Christ.”

Being uncertain, some may want to know how they can obtain membership in the Lord’s little band called “the body of Christ” which is “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the HEAVENLY places” (Eph. 1:3). But this is something that is beyond the will of man. None of us can of ourselves join the invisible “church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a). The fact that a man may desire membership in “His body” indicates that he may be saved unto “everlasting life” but he may be ill-informed of “His body.” All the “whosoever” believers of John 3:16 are chosen to “everlasting life” having believed to receive Christ as Savior. Most don’t recognize that God then does the Further Choosing and Adopting of those who will belong to the heaven-bound “Church, which is His body.”

I can imagine some now saying “How can God do this, that’s unfair?” Recall how Paul wrote that the Potter is the one who asserts His will over the clay, creating vessels for His various purposes (cf. Rom. 9:21). We also can see God’s choosing in the case of the Lord choosing and calling, Abraham and the people Nation Israel over the Gentiles, and choosing Jacob over Esau.

Parts 4 – The Eternal Destinies of The Three Kinds of Believers

Today and since Acts 28:28 Israel Is Fallen And Set-Aside.

A foundational understanding for Parts 4 & 5 is that Israel currently IS and Has Been “LO-AMMI” [i.e., “not My people,” Hosea 1:9] for more than 1,900 years to this present time. Consequently, as a nation, Israel has not been in service concerning the will and purposes of God since “the fall of them”’ and being ‘set aside’ (cf. Rom. 11:10-12, 15, Acts 28:28), as they will be until today’s Gentile age is completed (see Rom. 11:25).

Recall that in Matt. 15:24 Jesus said “I am come ONLY to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Jesus had told His twelve Apsotles “Go NOT into the way of the GENTILES,” but Israel ONLY.

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go NOT into the way of the GENTILES, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶ But Go Rather To The Lost Sheep Of The House Of Israel.” Matt. 10:5-6

Then some 20 years after Pentecost the Apostle Paul declared the “the fall of them [Israel]” (Rom. 11:12); this was sealed with the words of Acts 28:26-28, about 35 years after Pentecost.

²⁸ Be it known therefore unto you, [the nation of Israel], that the salvation of God, [meaning the Deliverer Himself, the One Who mediates salvation, the Lord Christ Jesus], is [taken from National Israel and] sent unto the Gentiles, and They Will Hear It.” [they will receive salvation and the One Who brings it]. Acts 28:28

Preliminarily we should note the status of the two God-ordained people groups noted in Scripture.

1. The Nation Israel is currently “fallen” due to unbelief, being and out of favor with God as it has been since Acts 28:28 and it will be “until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled (cf. Rom. 11:25).

²⁵ For I [Paul] would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery [secret], lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:25 (KJV)

2) The Gentile church of “the mystery [secret],” which Paul called “the body of Christ” is now growing to its “fulness” or completion, to then be secretly and silently resurrected to “appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4b) “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3). This ‘co-appearing’ of Christ as “the head” with “His body” in heaven’s glory is next of God’s agenda;

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

We recognize that the faithful of Israel’s Dead believers will be ‘resurrected’ at Christ’s 2^nd coming (cf. Rev. 20:6). Many of Israel’s believing remnant will be saved Alive out of the Tribulation at Christ’s 2^nd coming when they “look upon [Him] whom they have pierced” (Zech 12:10) and “In that day there shall be a fountain [of His blood] opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” Zechariah 13:1

Then after the 1,000-year Reign of Christ the Nation Israel will reign forever on “the New Earth.” (Rev. 5:10, 20:6). This was promised to the Nation Israel ONLY. This reigning will not include Israel’s Gentile proselytes who were not promised “the Kingdom,” but rather they were promised “everlasting life.”

So, Israel today is ‘fallen’ and Israel’s promised Kingdom program is currently SET ASIDE. So there are none TODAY of any race, neither Jew or Gentile, who have any way of qualifying to participate in Israel’s long-promised Kingdom program to come on earth. Membership in Israel as a Jew was closed over 1,900 years ago. Later I will explain exactly when that door closed. Suffice to say that door will remain closed until sometime after the Gentile church of “the body of Christ” is suddenly and quietly resurrected from planet earth in their spirit-bodies to “appear with Him [Christ] in [heaven’s] glory” (cf. Col. 3:4).

We should also recognize that in general (as seen below and in Part 5) there are three classes or kinds of ‘Christ believers’ in the world today. Yet the three wind up in either of these Two Possible Eternal Destinies.

• The first group is destined for the “paradise” of “the new earth” under Israel’s eternal Kingdom reign with Christ.
• Today God’s favor is upon the Gentile “church, which is His [Christ’s] body” which is destined to “appear with Him [Christ] in [heaven’s] glory” (Col. 3:4), “in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3).

Now I will address the 1^st of the three kinds of ‘Christ believers’ in the world today. Most perceptive Christians may recognize these.

1. The First kind of believers are those today who have “believed” in Jesus Christ unto “everlasting life” per John 3:16, wherein Jesus refers to these believers as “whosoever believeth.” They are saved from perdition (eternal judgment).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish [Grk. apollymi, not be destroyed], but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)

This category of “whosoever” (Gentile and non-Jewish believers) existed from Jesus’ day and many others do unto to this very day. Today they are among the traditional believers that go under any of the many broadly named groups such as fundamentalist, evangelicals, Pentecostals, and others. They are saved, believing in the Cross-work of Jesus Christ for their salvation (cf. 1Cor 15:3-4). But most have not become intelligized members of Gentile “body of Christ” that is destined to dwell eternally “in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3) They never grew in the faith and knowledge of Paul’s 2^nd ministry.

Paul’s 2^nd ministry is his POST-Acts ministry and epistles which began with the fall of the Nation of Israel in unbelief.’ Israels calling and fall was over a 2,000-year process after the Nation of Israel had been born with Exodus 19:5-6:

⁵ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: ⁶ And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an Holy Nation. These are the words which thou [Moses] shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:5-6 (KJV)

Israel had such a special calling and hope, yet;

1) Israel consistently rejected the Lord God by killing all the prophets He sent them.

2)  He then sent “the Son” whom they crucified.

3) Then they rejected the witness of the Holy Spirit expressed in Stephen’s words of Acts 7:51-59 before they “stoned Stephen” [v59) to death.

The book of Acts then is the fulcrum transitioning from of ‘the fall of Israel under the Law,’ shifting to Paul’s “gospel of the GRACE of God” (Acts 20:24) and salvation “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8-9) … totally apart from One’s Performance Under Israel’s Law’s, rituals, and rites.

The fall of Isarel was completed and declared with the words of Paul as seen in Acts 28:26-28. Then we get Paul’s last 7 epistles (as chronologically written). In them we learn of Paul’s added “revelation of the mystery [secret plan of God]” that Paul received directly from the ascended Lord Jesus as explained in his Post-Acts epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

There are many such ‘believers’ today who are Saved From Perdition … but they should to have gone on in “the faith” to gain the Knowledge Of and Belief In Paul’s Post-Acts Grace Gospel of “the revelation of the Mystery” concerning the Gentile church of “the body of Christ” … But THEY NEVER DID. Thus they will not “appear with Him [Christ]” (Col 3:4) “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3). Sadly, being trapped under the false ‘religious dogmas’ of organized manmade man-controlled Christendom, most Christian believers today have NEVER CLEARLY HEARD, and Consequently, THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED PAUL’S POST-ACTS GOSPEL.

They are what I call ‘minimalist believers’ who have been saved to have “everlasting life” but they have not grown to attain the “adoption” (Rom. 9:4) or sonship (Eph. 1:5) as would have been necessary for service in Israel’s Kingdom on earth (Rev. 5:10) nor to “reign with Him” (2Tim. 2:12) in heaven.

So far as we know, these folks will ultimately be among those who will eternally dwell “in paradise” on “The New Earth” along with Adam, Noah, and many others who believed and obeyed God’s words of ‘life’ to them in their time… but they never became intelligized or qualified for Israel’s Kingdom Reign on earth, nor what Paul called “the prize of the high calling” (Phili. 3:14) of heaven. It would help to recall Jesus’ words to the then believing ‘thief on the cross.’ Jesus promised he would one day be with Jesus “in paradise” (cf. Luke 23:43).

All such folks have been ‘saved’ unto “everlasting life” per John 3:16’s “whosoever believeth.” … but they are not ‘of’ or ‘blessed with’ the ‘Nation Israel,’… nor are they of the Post-Acts Gentile “church” of the one “body of Christ.” As seen below these believers are disqualified from; Israel’s promised Kingdom Reign program, and they are disqualified from the Gentile “church” of “the body of Christ” that is destined to “the heavenly places” of which they have no knowledge or belief.

1. There are many saved minimalist simple believers’ today who have Not Heard, and so do ‘Not Know Of,’ and therefore Cannot Believe Paul’s Post-Acts “Mystery” gospel that reveals the calling, and hope of the Gentile church of “the body of Christ” … unto “the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3). So, they will miss out on ‘heaven.’ This is likely because… they then adhere to the false religious dogmas of man’s religion which has robbed them of the knowledge of the Pauline truth of the heaven-bound Gentile “church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a). They have no part in His body’s ‘heavenly’ calling or hope.
2. Then also these ‘minimalist believers’ of today most likely believed Jesus’ Gospel of John 3:16, which was chronologically written AFTER Israel ‘fell’ and was ‘set aside,’ then being NON-OPERATIONAL (cf. Rom. 11:10-11, 15, 25). Note that John’s gospel was written in AD85, long after Israel had fallen in Acts 28:28.

Thus these ‘minimalist believers’ not only have No Part In The Gentile “Body Of Christ” that is destined for heaven. They also Have NO Part In Israel’s ultimate Kingdom Reign on earth. But they will have a place in “the Paradise” of God on the “New Earth” under Israel’s reign and tutelage.

NOTE: Membership in Jesus’ “little flock” (Luke 12:32) of water baptized Messianic believers has been CLOSED to ALL men, both Jews and Gentiles, for over 1,900 years, per the outcome of Acts 15 Jerusalem Council meeting. Recall that with that meeting Israel’s Apostles of standing ‘bound’ or limited their ministry to Only the Existing Believing Jews of That Day. Per Gal. 2:9, they ceased adding to their number when they recognized and commissioned Paul and Barnabas to bring Paul’s new ‘Pure Grace Gospel’ to ‘ALL Men’ alike since ‘All unbelievers,’ both unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Gentiles were then seen as lost Gentiles regardless of their race. That is why Paul wrote “there is none righteous no not one” (Rom. 3:1). 

Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) then, after the setting aside of Israel in Acts 28:28, led to Christ revealing to Paul the added “revelation of the mystery [secret]” and “the fellowship of the mystery [secret]” of the Gentile “church, which is His body” as note in Paul’s latter, Post-Acts 28, seven epistles.

(For more detail regarding the significance of the Acts 15 Jerusalem Council meeting see: https://artlicursi.com/articles/key-points-drawn-acts-15-jerusalem-council-meeting )

Part 5 – The Eternal Destinies of The Three Kinds of Believers

(Topic Continued from Part 4 – “The Fellowship of the Mystery”)

2. A Second kind of believer today consists of “THEM WHICH SAY THEY ARE JEWS,” and Are NOT,” (Rev 3:9). These are Gentiles and some Jews who today imagine that Israel’s National Kingdom program is still open, supposing that they are to carry out Jesus’ commission that was to be given to Israel regarding the world and ‘the nations.’

They often adhere to various versions of the delusion of ‘replacement theology’ as explained here; https://artlicursi.com/articles/great-error-%E2%80%9Creplacement-theology%E2%80%9D. In summary, they believe in Jesus as ‘Messiah’ rather than Christ as today’s “head” of the Gentile “body of Christ.” So they work at trying to practice some of Israel’s religious rituals and ordinances [i.e., water baptism, communion, women’s head coverings, etc), as if they were Jews (Rev 2:9; Rev. 3:9 below). But to this the Lord would say;

⁹ I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich [with His life]) and I Know The Blasphemy Of THEM WHICH SAY THEY ARE JEWS, And Are NOT, but are the synagogue [assembly] of Satan. Rev. 2:9
⁹ Behold, I will make them of the synagogue [assembly] of Satan, which SAY THEY ARE JEWS, and Are Not, but do Lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet [of Israel], and to know that I have loved thee [Israel]. Revelation 3:9 (KJV)

• The sad part is that they have imagined that their destiny is to have a part in Israel’s Kingdom Reign on earth. These folks are mostly ‘Jesus believers’ unto “everlasting life” as Jesus promised to “whosoever believeth” per John 3:16. But their “dead works” and faith are built on Jesus’ “Gospel of the Kingdom” that Jesus and later ‘the Twelve’ proclaimed ONLY to the Nation ISRAEL (cf. Matt 15:24, Matt. 10:5-6), only before Acts 28:28.
• Then also they know not, and do not fulfill the will of God for today’s Post-Acts Gentile church of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2). Thus they do not qualify for ‘heaven’s glory.’

Since Israel is currently “Lo-ammi” and thereby National Israel’s Kingdom is currently closed (not open to anyone today) … these so-called ‘Messianic Jews’ must have their destiny with the ‘first kind of believers’ in Part 4, that is in the Paradise of “the new earth” under Israel’s reign and tutelage (see Part 4, 1.).

3. The Third kind of believer today is of the Gentile “body of Christ’ … destined to dwell eternally in “the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3). They are those who have heard and believed Paul’s Post-Acts ‘complete’ Gospel and they endeavor to “walk” accordingly (cf. Eph. 2:10), during today’s age of the dispensation of “The Fellowship of the Mystery” (Eph. 3:9).

“The Saints, and the Faithful”:

It would also help us to understand the significance of the words of Paul concerning “the saints,” and “the faithful” in Ephesians 1:1. (See https://artlicursi.com/articles/%E2%80%9C-saints%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9C-faithful%E2%80%9D)

¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and [also] to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 1:1 (KJV)

Here in Ephesians 1:1 there are two categories of grace-age believers. They all are “the saints” but “the faithful” are the matured and faithful grace believers among the “saints” as referred to in Paul’s first Post-Acts epistle of Ephesians. Both “the saints,” and “the faithful” are saved and have ‘sonship responsibility but only “the faithful” are faithful to their calling as seen by their “walk” of faith. They both were “created unto Good Works which were before ordained that They Should Walk In Them” (cf. Eph. 2:10). So yes, both “the saints” and “the faithful” are among the already saved of this today’s Post-Acts grace-age of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 6:2). Yet, as seen below, there is this important distinction between those who are “the saints” and those who would be “the faithful.”

A. The ‘saints’ are those today who have heard and believe Paul’s Post-Acts gospel … BUT They Still “Walk” according to THEIR OWN WILL. Thus, while they are counted as among the grace believing “saints,” but they are not “the faithful” who commit themselves to “walk worthy” of their calling (Eph. 4:1). It is not that these “saints” have rejected the truth, but … they have Neglected The Whole Truth. They, just like “the faithful” were “created unto Good Works which were before ordained that They Should Walk In Them” (Eph. 2:10)

Sadly, this is the prevailing condition of many Post-Acts 28 grace-believing Christians today. Many people who believe unto salvation and the “blessed hope” of heaven’ (Titus 2:5) but they are too satisfied to walk as ‘self-governing independent souls’ never growing ‘the faith’ that Paul shares in his seven Post-Acts Epistles for the members of the invisible Gentile “the church” that he calls “the body of Christ.” Therefore they never come to soul-rest by entrusting their whole existence (life, death, and eternal life) to Christ.

It appears from 2Tim. 2:12 (below) that these who neglect trusting in Christ’s life within them, choosing rather to live by their own self-will, will “appear with Him in glory,” but … they will not “REIGN with Him” in “the heavenly places.”

¹² If We Suffer [endure in faith], we shall also REIGN WITH HIM: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from that reigning]: 2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV)

B. Alternatively, there are “the faithful” (Eph. 1:1) who have heard and received “the revelation of the mystery,” believing Paul’s complete Post-Acts gospel concerning “the mystery [secret]” of the Gentile church of the “One body” of Christ. They endeavor to “walk worthy” of their calling (Eph. 4:1). Thus, they are counted as among “the faithful” who do enjoy;

“… the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: ¹⁸ the eyes of [their] understanding [have been] ENLIGHTENED; that ye [they] may KNOW what is THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, and what THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, ¹⁹ And what is The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power To Us-Ward Who Believe, according to the working of his mighty power” Ephesians 1:18-19 (KJV)

Paul’s words of 2 Timothy 2:12 (above) tell us some (not all) of Paul’s Post-Acts gospel believers willingly ‘suffer’ and endure in their walk in faith. Only those being trained in the faith while here on earth, will “reign with Him [Christ]” (2Tim. 2:12) in “the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3).

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

CAUTION: Even Paul was for a time uncertain (cf. Phil. 3:13) whether he would be of those who obtain “the prize of the high calling” (Phil. 3:14) until he neared his end on earth. We also ought to live day to day trusting the Lord to have His way in our lives, so as not to live as self-seeking selves, thinking ‘we have arrived.’ For He is ever The Potter and we are ‘the clay.’ Our eternal destiny is in His Grace-filled loving hands even as He uses “all things” including the negative, for our being “conformed to His image of His Son.”

Some might ask, “Well then, what of the other various categories the believers of all ages as to their eternal destiny? I answer that in the ADDENDUM below.

ADDENDUM: Considering the Categories of Believers Who Will Populate “THE NEW EARTH.”

1. The Physically ALIVE Believers of Israel who Survive the Tribulation and Millennium will live on into the “eternal Kingdom” on “the new earth” in their human bodies. There will be no more sorrow, pain, or death (cf. Rev. 21:4). There human bodies will eat and drink, partaking of the water of “the River of Life” and eat of “the Tree of Life” on either side of “the River of Life” which is for “the healing of the Nations [the living human, non-Jew believers]” as it that flows out from “the Throne of God and the Lamb” on “the new earth.”

¹ And he shewed me [John] a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations [the non-Israelites believers]. Revelation 22:1-2 (KJV)

2. Then of course the Nation Israel’s ‘faithful DEAD’ of ‘Time Past through the Acts period,’ as well as Israel’s Tribulation ‘martyrs,’ will be resurrected in their spirit-bodies [like Jesus’ resurrection body] to go on into Millennium Kingdom and on into the “eternal kingdom” of “the new earth” to reign and serve as “the Priests of God” on earth (Priests of God: cf. Rev. 1:6, 5:10, 20:4-6, 1Peter 2:9).
3. It is only after the 1,000-year Millennial Reign of Christ that the NON-ISRAELITE O.T. believers who lived BEFORE the Nation Israel was brought into being with Exo, 19:5, are to be ‘awakened to life’ on “the new earth.” This would include Adam, Noah, and many others who eventually believed and obeyed God’s words to them in their time… before Abraham and the knowledge of the Cross.
4. Then also all the minimalist “whosoever believers” of Jesus’ Jn. 3:16 gospel, since that time until today, being Neither of Israel Nor of “His Body.” They are destined to dwell in the “PARADISE’ of “The New Earth” under the Kingdom reign and the tutelage of Israel (cf. Isa. 49:6), along with the believing ‘thief on the cross’ who was specifically promised “PARADISE” (Luke 23:42-43).

NOTE: I realize I’ve said a lot here and I may not have every detail noted in Parts 4 & 5 stated exactly correctly, so please feel free to contact me with your comments. Also, realize that only the Lord’s Spirit can bring any of us “the revelation of the mystery [secret].” This is why even the mighty Paul prayed for revelation for the Ephesian saints.

Part 6 – “The HIGH Calling of God in Christ Jesus”

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high [above] calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

Paul wrote; “I press toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH [Grk. ano, “upward”] calling of God in Christ Jesus.” in Philippians 3:14.

Those called and chosen to the high ‘heavenly’ calling “far above” (Eph. 1:21) “in Christ” and now positionally “with Him,” being “seated at the right hand of God.” They may be recognized in this way.

• As soon as any person takes an interest in these spiritual blessings of “the heavenly places” and wants to know how to obtain them, we feel assured that they have been “chosen” from “before the foundation of the world,” (Eph. 1:3), being predestinated to the “adoption” (Eph. 1:5). Heaven is then assured.

“… the Hope [Grk. elpis, confident expectation] which is laid up for you IN HEAVEN, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;” Colossians 1:5 (KJV)

• If however, a believer then takes no interest in or rejects the idea of the “high [heavenly, above] calling” then God must have “foreknown” this, and they are NOT among Chosen and predestinated unto “The Heavenly Places In Christ.”

In Ephesians 1:13-14 Paul talks about one’s initial salvation and being “sealed [saved securely] with that holy Spirit” as the “earnest of the spirit” after first hearing the “gospel of the grace of God.” (Rom. 20:24) as the down payment toward that which is to come,. Then in verse 14 we have the further pledge given, guaranteeing “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? Romans 13:11 we have another reference to our ‘resurrection,’ where the Apostle Paul says, “Now is our salvation NEARER than when we believed.” Each day is a step nearer to our resurrection to “appear with Him in [heaven’s] glory” (Col. 3:4).

Ephesians 1:19 is a little understood verse speaking of “The power that RAISED Christ from the dead is to usward who BELIEVE.” In the first place, this makes it clear that the same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise us grace-believers from the dead. That power will not be squandered on any who do not believe. Furthermore, the Post-Acts Ephesian epistle of “the mystery” speaks of resurrection as the “blessed hope” (Titus, 2:5) of the members of “His body.”

Where in all the Word can it be found that man has any hope whatsoever except in ‘resurrection’? So how could any be saved apart from their ultimate resurrection since Only the Saved Will Be RESURRECTED as seen here?

In Colossians 3:3 we learn that the life of the believer is “HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.” In v4 we note that Christ as “the Head” of “His body” will “APPEAR [Gk. phaneroo, becomes visible]” and the members of “His body” will, logically, simultaneously “APPEAR WITH HIM,” since we are to be “with Him in [heaven’s] glory.”

Thus Paul writes, “If by any means I [Paul] might attain unto the RESURRECTION of the dead” (Phil. 3:11). Thus we read again about Paul’s hoped for his resurrection.

(A question then arises for the unbiblical religionist of today’s Christendom as to how there could be the possibility of resurrection … if, as many claim ‘the dead” are supposedly resurrected ‘immediately’ upon death - which they are NOT?)

Rather, the Bible tells us ALL the dead go to their “grave” [from the Greek, ‘hades,’ or the Hebrew, ‘Sheol’] and are raised in their order from the “grave.”

Then the question comes up as to the time of resurrections for each group of believers. None will be resurrected before the place they are to occupy is made ready. In Philippians 3:20 we note that those of “His body” Already Have A Homestead In The Heavenlies.

“²⁰For 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, 2Tim. 2:18, he warns against the lie that says “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 resurrected 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 “departure,” that is his time to return to dust in the grave is “at hand.” From these verses we can see why Paul in Phil. 1:23 (below) spoke of his ‘departure’ to “be with Christ” … what Paul had in mind was his ‘sleep in the grave is to come FIRST,’ and his resurrection being LATER… being followed by ‘his appearing’ “with Him in [heaven’s] glory” (Col. 3:4).

“… I am in a strait [torn] betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to BE WITH CHRIST; which is far better:” (Philippians 1:23)

In 2Tim. 4:8 Paul writes of “a crown of righteousness” being given to ALL who “love His appearing” in glory.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at That Day [of resurrection]: and not to me only, but Unto ALL Them Also That LOVE HIS APPEARING.” (2 Tim. 4:8)

Recall: “WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFE, SHALL APPEAR, then shall ye also APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.” (Colossians 3:4)

We also come to a question to be pondered as we note the term “that day” of 2 Tim. 4:8. Is it “that day” of ‘His appearing’ and our appearing “with Him” simultaneously “in Glory”? I think it is since WE ARE “IN HIM” and HE IS “IN US.”

²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery Among The Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: Colossians 1:27 (KJV)

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

Part 7 – The Heaven-Bound Church of the “Great Mystery”

Today’s heaven-bound “church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) and “fellowship of the Mystery,” (Eph. 3:9) which is called “the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:16) is different from all other callings in these eight respects.

1. We of “His body” are a people Chosen-Out of humanity without regard to any fleshly, racial, or national distinctions (Eph. 1:4). The believers of “His body” are chosen out of the great mass of believers for the special purpose of service in heaven. Remember that Israel also was a Chosen nation, but they were not the only ones who were believers throughout the ages.

2. We as members of His Gentile “body” are the only people whose ‘sphere of blessing’ is NOT on this earth, but in heaven (cf. Eph. 1:3).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)

We are those blessed “in Christ” (not blessed ‘in Abraham’) to ultimately dwell “in heavenly places” (not the earth). Thus we have no prescribed part in Christ’s millennial kingdom or in the New Jerusalem to come on the ‘new earth.’

God’s eternal plan was for His two people groups, much as The US President is Commander and Chief of both the Airforce serving in the ‘high above’ sphere while he has the army serving ‘on the earth.’ Recall that it was the Ascended celestial Christ who called Saul Paul and with this ‘heavenly’ message for His heaven-bound ‘elect’ who will serve Him “Far above” … even while also having His earthly people of the Nation Israel’s called remnant are to serve Him as His agents in “the Kingdom come on earth.”

3. The time of His choosing and the purpose for this Heavenly “body of Christ” is unique. We were chosen from BEFORE The Overthrow (‘foundation’ is the Heb. the ‘katabole,’ ‘the Overthrow’ of Eph. 1:4, Gen. 1:2). No other family of God is of this “before the world began” origination. This put the church of the “great mystery” (Eph. 5:32) in line to have partaken of the promise of “eternal life in Christ” from Before The Ages Began.

“That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same [one] 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 [Grk. zoe, Christ’s “spirit of life”] 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. We as the grace-believers of “His body” are people who as members are placed as “sons” (by adoption) according to God’s ‘predestination’ (Eph. 1:5 below). Not all the children of God are placed as “sons.” This position is “by Jesus Christ” “according to the good pleasure of his will.” Again, there are no fleshly racial, or national distinctions in this matter as it was with Israel’s calling.

“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 word for ‘a branch of a family’), which is used of none other assembly of God. This is “The Body” of which Christ is “the Head” (cf. Eph. 1:23). No other body has this distinction. Note that His own “body” is of a closer relationship with the risen Lord than is revealed anywhere else. Consider that your body is closer to you than your spouse – Christ’s own “body” is closer than His “bride [the remnant Nation of Israel].”

6. This people has an identification which transcends that of any other. We have been ‘quickened, raised, and “seated” with and “in Christ’ (cf. Eph. 2:6). And our outlook is to be manifested to “[appear] with Him (cf. Col. 3:4). Otherwise, all dead believers are dead and buried, awaiting their ‘resurrection’ to newness of life’ (cf. Rom. 6:3-4). But now as members of His Gentile “body,” He;

“… hath [already] raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Eph. 2:6) But;
“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory.” (Col. 3:4)

7. This is a fellowship, dispensation, a household of God which was not revealed to the prophets; “kept secret since the foundation of the world” (Rom. 16:25). It “was hid in God from ages and generations” (Col. 1:26).

Thus, we have this unique commission to proclaim to ALL men of the ‘dispensation [fellowship] of the mystery’ (Eph. 3:9).

“… to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Ephesians 3:9 (KJV)

8. In all other families of God there is only delegated authority, with a difference in position among the various believers. But in this “church. which is the body of Christ” there is a joint relationship among His 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 have.

Today’s “church, which is His body” is a foretaste of “the dispensation of the fulness of times” when the Nation Israel will serve the Lord God in their sphere upon “the earth,” … while the Gentile “church [assembly]” of “the body of Christ” serves with “the HEAD” of the body “in the heavenly places.”         

¹⁰ … In The Dispensation Of The Fulness Of Times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10 (KJV)  

- Portions and concepts have been broadly adapted from E.W. Bullinger, Charles H. Welch, and other sources such as  www.believer.com and https://levendwater.org/index.cfm, by Arthur J. Licursi