Consider the ultimate destiny of the universe as seen in God’s eternal plan for “the heavens” and “the earth.” Together they ultimately become one Grand Temple, indwelled of the Lord.

¹⁰ That 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)

¹⁸ For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:18-22 (KJV)

This temple perfectly visualizes for us how we as member of “the church, which is His body” today fits into the big picture of God’s eternal purpose. Picture in your mind a breathtaking, glorious, “holy temple” in the Lord, one filled with the entire household of God, that is every saint who ever lived from the beginning.

Now imagine the temple’s first floor is for Israel because they have an earthly hope (cf. Psa. 2:8), and the 2^nd floor for “the church, which is His body” because we have the “far above” heavenly hope (cf. Eph. 2:6).

1. God the Father promised His Son; ⁷ I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. ⁸ Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Psalm 2:7-8 (KJV)
2. God through Paul says to today’s Post-Acts grace-age believers:  ⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:6 (KJV)

Yet, every person who ever got saved is within this Grand Temple. They are all part of the same universal household. Why? Because the chief cornerstone of everything is Christ.

This is why Paul can write of those who were “in Christ before me.” Everyone in that temple is in Christ. Every person who ever got saved since the dawn of creation is part of this temple. Why? They are in Christ because the chief cornerstone of that temple, the heart of God’s eternal purpose, is Christ Himself.

Everyone in that temple, both Israel on the first floor and the Body of Christ on the second floor, are all part of the seed of Abraham’s faith. What? How? Why? Because, as Paul tells us, Abraham is the father of us all (Rom. 4:11, 16). Why is he the father of us all? Because of faith.

Plus, everyone in that temple will be ministers for Christ in His kingdom, except Israel on the first floor will be ministers on the Earth and “the Body of Christ” on the second floor will be ministers from our heavenly seats.

The point that Paul makes is that we, as members of today’s Gentile church that is called “the Body of Christ,” was designed to fitly perfectly into God’s temple, even though we are distinct from Israel. The prophesied destinies of Israel, and the formerly secreted “mystery” of “the body of Christ” will be fulfilled.

• The believers Israel, in their resurrected bodies, will glorify the Lord here on Earth (Zech. 8:23),
• And God will put the Gentile “Body of Christ” on display “in the heavenly places” to showcase the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through His Son (cf. Eph. 2:7).

Both the “Body of Christ” and Israel, were designed for this grand holy temple in the Lord to fulfill God’s eternal purpose to glorify His Son. Israel is going to glorify Him on Earth and we of “His body” are going to glorify Him from our seats of rank and authority “in the heavenly places,” having replaced Lucifier’s hoard of fallen angels.

I like to picture that the second floor that separates from the first floor with glass. Thus we will be able to  see them on earth and they can see us. We all know we’re all part of the same family of God. I also like to picture that there are all these support columns between the two floors that tie the common aspects between Israel and the Gentile “Body of Christ.”

• One column is labeled “Abraham”. He is the father of all who believe (Rom. 4:11,16). All the saints had God’s righteousness imputed to them because of faith just like father Abraham.
• Another column is labeled “The Blood of Christ.” Israel’s Messiah is also our Savior, and the blood that lays the foundation for the new covenant with Israel (Heb. 9:13-18) is the same blood that washed away all our sins (Eph. 1:7) and made us heirs of God to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed (Rom. 4:16).
• Another column is labeled “Grace.” Just as God showed grace to Abraham by blessing him because he believed God, so too, God has shown grace to us, blessing us because of our faith (Rom. 4:22-25). As J.C. O’Hair once taught, the Lord’s acts of grace in time past brought about His reign of grace today (Rom. 5:21).
• And another column is labeled “Kingdom.” Israel will be ministers of His kingdom on earth (Zech. 8:23), so too we of “His body” shall be ministers of His Grand kingdom from our heavenly seats (1Cor. 6:2-3).

Then the day will come when every believer “in Christ,” everyone on Earth and in Heaven, will be “gathered together as one” in Christ (Eph. 1:10).

¹⁰ That 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 as adapted from a paper by Rod Jones.