Three Spheres of Eternal Blessing
Tags: 
Acts 28

By Arthur J Licursi

In study of “the word of truth” we learn that God created and has eternal plans for the two realms of the cosmos which consists of “the heaven and the earth” (Rev. 21:22; 2Pet. 3:12-13; Isa. 65:17; 66:22).

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

Lucifer had corrupted the heaven of the cosmos ages ago (cf. Eze. 28:11-19) long before Adam was even created. Yet even before, the “Mystery (Grk. musterion, secret)” of God’s eternal purpose (cf. Eph. 3:1-11) was to restore God’s righteous government to both “the heaven and the earth” through the righteous restorative Cross-Work of “the Lamb slain from Before the foundation of the earth” (Rev. 13:8)

  • The Earth: In the final eternal Dispensational age, “the elect’ of the Nation Israel will be God’s governing agency on the Restored NEW EARTH (cf. Rev. 20:6).
  • The Heavens: The “faithful” of Gentile “the church, which is His body” will be His governing agency “in the Heavenly places in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3-4, 2Tim. 2:12).

The Pauline verse below will ultimately be fulfilled;

“That in the DISPENSATION of THE FULNESS OF TIMES he [God] 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)

The Three Spheres of Eternal Blessing in the Restored Cosmos (Grk. kosmos);

  1. The New Earth
  2. The New Jerusalem
  3. The Heavenly Places In Christ

The Bible refers to these three differing spheres of future blessing to come with the completion of the dispensational ages. In eternity there will first be the restoration of “the heavenly places” [replacing Lucifer and his hoard of fallen angels], and later the two eternal spheres ‘On Earth.’

The heavenly “New Jerusalem” will appear on earth after the final judgment, during the establishment of a “new heaven and new earth,” as described in (Rev. 21:1-3). It is that “city” Abraham sought, to be occupied by the Lord and elect and overcomers of Israel (Heb. 12:22-24). The nominal kingdom believers (of Jews and Gentile proselytes) will occupy the NEW EARTH upon which the “New Jerusalem” sits, only AFTER The Final Judgements (Rev. 21:23-25).

Neither the elect who occupy the heavenly “New Jerusalem” on earth, nor the inhabitants of the New Earth will have a part in the “far above… heavenly places in Christ” which is to be occupied by the Gentile “Body of Christ.”

Each sphere has its own resurrection with its own inheritance of blessings with “everlasting life.”

  1. The Gentile “Body of Christ” will Resurrect Invisibly and Silently, ‘Appearing with Christ in Heaven’s Glory’ - 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory [heaven]. Col. 3:4
  2. OT Saints and The Martyrs – This ‘Chosen Nation’ is to be Blessed and Resurrect Just Before the Millennial Reign of Christ.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Revelation 20:4 (KJV)

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they [of Israel] shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6 (KJV)

  1. Resurrection of Israel’s Believing ‘Church of God’ (Acts 20:28, 1Cor. 1:2, 10:32, 11:22) with some Grafted-In Gentile Proselytes, including those of today who never heard of or believed Paul’s Post-Acts Added Truth of the “Great Mystery” of Eph 5:32 (cf. 1The 4:13-18; 1Cor 15:23).

Paul’s Words During the Acts Period concerned “The Jew First” and upon Israel’s rejection… then to the Gentiles.

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the [2nd] Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel [Michael], and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air [Grk. aer, atmosphere]: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess. 4:13-18 (KJV) (cf. Jesus’ words in Matt 24, Luke 21)

23 But every man [will resurrect] in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's AT HIS [2nd] COMING. 1 Corinthians 15:23 (KJV)

Let’s Consider the Categories of Believers Who Will Populate “THE NEW EARTH.”

  1. The Physically ALIVE Believers of Israel who physically 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)

  1. Then of course the Nation Israel’s ‘faithful DEAD’ of ‘Time Past through the Acts period.’ They 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 then 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).
  1. 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 before the knowledge of the Cross.
  1. Then also all the minimally intelligized “whosoever believers” of Jesus’ Jn. 3:16 gospel, since that time until today, are NEITHER of Israel NOR are they of “His” heaven-bound “Body of Christ.” 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 others such as the believing ‘thief on the cross’ who the Lord Jeus specifically promised life in “PARADISE” (Luke 23:42-43).

Please realize that from the Old Testament and through the end of Acts, the idea of any man entering God’s realm of ‘the heaven of heavens,’ was unthinkable. The “hope of Israel” was not heaven but a restored Davidic kingdom of heaven On The Earth (cf. Acts 1:6). Recall that Abraham was promised “a land” for his seed forever (cf. Gen 13:15) and he “looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God” (cf. Heb .11:10). That city is the heavenly “New Jerusalem” from above.

But before the recovery and consummation of God blessing in ‘the earthly’ realm, God will have first Fully Rectified The Long-Ago Corruption of “the heavenly places” by Lucifer and his fallen angelic host, whereby the heavens had become “unclean” (cf. Job 15:15).

The Acts period ended, with Israel considered of God to be “Lo-Ammi” (“not my people”, Hos. 1:9, Acts 28:26-28). The “Great Mystery [the God-Planned Secret of the Gentle Body of Christ] Was then Revealed To The Apostle Paul.  3 How that by revelation he [Lord Jesus] made known unto me [Paul] THE MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words, Ephesians 3:3 (KJV)

This “Mystery” pertains to the election and hope of a ‘high above calling’ and Blessing for Some Faithful Gentiles (Eph. 3:1-11), which includes “ALL Spiritual Blessings In Heavenly Places, In Christ” (cf. Eph 1:3). This ‘calling’ is to the Heavenly Holy Of Holies, where “Christ sitteth at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1, 4, Eph. 1:20) “far above all [angelic] principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age-time, but the coming age also” (Eph. 1:19-20).

Related Supporting Text To Consider:

The New Earth … for those of like faith to Abraham’s faith

“For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.  And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.  Arise, walk through The Land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” (Genesis 13: 15-17)

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit The Earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13)

And I saw a new heaven and a New Earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)

The New Jerusalem on the New Earth … for the Elect of Israel

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For He Looked For A City which hath foundations, Whose Builder And Maker Is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, Which Cometh Down Out Of Heaven From My God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12)

“And I John saw The Holy City, New Jerusalem, Coming Down From God Out Of Heaven, prepared as A Bride Adorned For Her Husband.” (Revelation 21:2)

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, The Lamb's Wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and Shewed Me That Great City, The Holy Jerusalem, Descending Out Of Heaven From God” (Revelation 21:9-10)

“The Heavenly Places” … for the faithful Elect of the Gentile “church” which is “the Body of Christ”

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you GENTILES, 2 If ye have heard of the Dispensation Of The Grace Of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:1-2 (KJV)

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand In THE HEAVENLY PLACES, 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:” (Ephesians 1:19-21)

“And hath raised us [grace believers] up together, and made us sit together in HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS:” (Ephesians 2:6)

“When Christ, Who Is Our Life, Shall Appear, Then Shall Ye Also Appear With Him In [Heaven’s] Glory.” (Colossians 3:4)

  • Some portions adapted from a paper by Alan Naas