God`s Grand Purpose.

[Marilyn C]

I have started this thread in answer to a question by Spock. It concerns where the Body of Christ is in God`s Grand Purpose. I`ll do it in separate posts with diagrams, as those commenting, may desire to focus on a particular point. Now I believe -

God the Father`s Grand Purpose is that He would dwell with His people, visibly. This He will do through His Son who will be the visible Ruler in the highest realm of Creation, bringing all things together in harmony under Him.

`God.... purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him,...` (Eph. 1: 9 & 10)

 

The Body of Christ is part of the `all things,` and I would like to show where I believe they will be, under Christ.

 

(There are quite a few `pages` so you may just want to read a bit at a time.)

 

Looking forward to your comments. Marilyn.

[Marilyn C]

1. THE GODHEAD

 

 

To understand God`s grand Purpose, I believe we need to have a right understanding of what God says concerning Himself.

 

We know that the Godhead is - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

We are told that before creation they existed. They are from eternity to eternity. Their power and authority, (symbolized by the word, `throne`) is beyond all that they created for it is of themselves. This is the eternal Throne. The Godhead`s authority and power from before time and above all.

 

[Marilyn C]

2. THE REALMS

 

 

We know from God`s word that the Godhead is equal, in unity and of one mind, however in function there is a hierarchy. Not that one is lesser than the other just that they do different parts of the purpose they planned.

Thus, I believe, that when God created the heavens and the earth, each part of the Godhead had a part. At the Godhead is the source of power, authority and planning, then God the Father initiates, the Son administers and the Holy Spirit is the direct agency.

So when the Godhead planned creation we read it was Christ who established it and created different realms. These realms He made with positions of authority for Himself – in the third heaven, the Universe and earth.

`For by Him, (Christ) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.` (Col. 1: 16)

Thus when the Godhead planned creation and rulership in the different realms, God the Father desired that His Son would rule visibly in the highest place over all.

 

`…in all things He (Christ) may have the pre-eminence.`(Col. 1: 18)

 

 

[Marilyn C]

3. LUCIFER

 

The highest realm (under the Godhead, the 3^rd heaven) was the first to be populated. God created the angelic beings and they resided there and did His bidding. The most beautiful and powerful angel was Lucifer. He was given authority as a king & a Priest over a whole order of angels.  He had a very special position near God. He was the anointed cherub, the shining one that led the worship in heaven.

The Old Testament prophets spoke of this time,  (Isaiah 14 & Ezekiel 28)These descriptions far transcend any earthly king and by the law of double reference reveal the original power and beauty of this greatest angel ever created by God. However Lucifer aspired to ascend to God`s Throne, `the sides of the north,` (hidden quarters), the abode of the eternal God.

So by divine decree, because of his pride, Lucifer was cast out of the highest heaven, being found unworthy to rule there. 

 

`By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God;....` (Ez. 28: 16)

 

Lucifer then usurped the area of Principalities and Powers in the universal realm and operates and rules there as the Prince of the Power of the air.

 

When man was created God gave him dominion of the earth. However man acted independently of God when Satan, (formally Lucifer) deceived him. Satan now holds sway over him and the affairs of the world, fashioning them according to his evil desires.

Rulership in the heavens and on earth became rebellious against God.

 

`…the heavens are not pure in His sight,..`(Job 15: 15)

 

[Marilyn C]

4. FATHER`S RIGHT HAND

When rulership in God`s great kingdom became rebellious, God could rightly destroy them all, for He owns the earth and the people.

 

`The earth is the Lord`s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein,..`(Ps.24: 1)

 

But God`s ways are not dictatorial, His character is of mercy, grace, forgiveness, longsuffering, loving-kindness, faithfulness…..and His desire is for righteous rulership in all His created realms. And He also desires that mankind to be restored to right relationship, interdependent, with Himself.

 

To bring about man`s full restoration to God, there needs to be a restoring of righteous rulership throughout God`s great kingdom starting from the highest realm.

 

Thus the Son entered into humanity to be born of the appointed ruling nation, Israel, of the ruling house, David, of the ruling tribe, Judah. However His own received Him not and He was crucified, according to Roman law, at the request of the Jews, for saying He was equal to God. In dying, Christ destroyed the works of the devil.

 

`..through death He (Christ) might destroy him who him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through fear of death were in their lifetime subject to bondage.`(Heb. 2: 14 & 15)

 

Death could not hold Him down and Christ arose, and then ascended to His Father, returning again to the Godhead, far above all. He came from the Godhead and returned to the Godhead.

 

`(God the Father)….raised Him (Christ) from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come, and put all things under His feet,…`(Eph. 1: 20 – 22)

 

 

[Marilyn C]

5. BODY OF CHRIST - RAPTURE

 

Thus we see that Christ goes to the right hand of the Father, and is appointed by the Father as Head of the Body.

 

And gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.`(Eph. 1: 20 – 23)

 

In the holy sanctuary Christ intercedes for those that come to Him. Then over the centuries and across the world the Head of the Body is building up and maturing His Body to completeness in Him.

 

`…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.`(Eph. 4: 13)

 

When the Body is complete, come to maturity of Christ,  receiving of His character and knowing His purposes, then the Father will send Jesus to bring the Body together, (those asleep in Him and those awaiting on earth).  (1 Thess. 4: 13 - 17)

 

The Body will be caught up, (raptured) and go with their Head, to their long awaited inheritance in the third heaven. There they will rule and reign with Christ as His kingpriests.

 

`…and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father…`(Rev. 1: 6)

`To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on MY THRONE, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on HIS THRONE.` (Rev. 3: 21)

 

Thus Christ and His Body will be the first righteous rulership to be restored in the highest realm of God`s great kingdom. From there all other things begin to be restored.

 

`(God the Father will send Jesus at) the times of restoration of all things,….`(Acts 3: 20 & 21)

 

 

[Marilyn C]

6. Rulership -JUDGMENT

 

When the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, the Head, is seated on His own throne in the third heaven, with His Body, then the judgments will begin. He will bring all rule, authority and power under His feet.

 

`He (Christ) puts an end to all rule and authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.` (1 Cor. 15: 24 & 25)

 

First of all are the nations, who have been herded together into great Federations, by the Father. `Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.` (Ps. 110: 1)

 

Then Judgments of fire and blood on the earth, brings famine and thirst. Yet the rebellious do not repent of their evil deeds. Then we see Judgment upon Satan and his fallen angels cast to the earth. Their authority is thus limited and their time is short.

 

`…the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.` (Rev. 12: 12)

 

Next the cities of the worldcollapse when God shakes the heavens and the earth with a mighty earthquake, the likes of which has never been nor will be again. Babylon falls and part of Jerusalem, and all the cities of the world collapse. Civilization is in chaos.

 

`…there was a great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.` (Tev. 16: 18 - 20)

 

The world armies are destroyed at the Lord`s coming with His angelic army and finally everyone living is judged on how they treated Israel. (Armageddon)

 

Thus the Lord brings judgment upon the rebellious and delivers Israel. During the millennium the Lord will continue to bring judgments upon the nations if they do not go up to Jerusalem to worship and learn of God`s righteous ways.

 

For a thousand years, the Lord will rule through Israel, over the nations as purposed. Then there will be a final judgment at the great White Throne. Death is dealt with and all rebellious rulership is destroyed.

 

 

[Marilyn C]

7. RESTORATION

 

 

The restoration of righteous rulership through Christ has been progressive till finally all rulership is under His rule. It is then time for others to receive their inheritance.

 

• Israel will rule over the nations on earth.

• The Old Testament Saints will go to the city which they looked for.

• The Body of Christ is on the Lord`s own Throne in the 3^rd heaven.

 

Each in their own order and only through Christ. He alone is the preeminent one, the worthy one to rule visibly with His people, in all of God`s great kingdom.

 

 

 

[Spock]

Thanks for this Marilyn. 

However, the issue I had asked you about is why you believe the scriptures show the rapture HAS TO precede Daniels 70th week? 

The most common answer I get is the church doesn’t belong in a Jewish thing...Daniels 70th week.....

Do you have any better reason to exclude the Church in this week using the scriptures? Thanks 

[Marilyn C]

2 hours ago, Spock said:

Thanks for this Marilyn. 

However, the issue I had asked you about is why you believe the scriptures show the rapture HAS TO precede Daniels 70th week? 

The most common answer I get is the church doesn’t belong in a Jewish thing...Daniels 70th week.....

Do you have any better reason to exclude the Church in this week using the scriptures? Thanks 

Hi Spock,

Thank you for reading all that. Now the answer is there and I`m happy to enlarge upon this very important point. So...we know that Jesus is part of the Godhead. He came from the Father and returned there, to the Godhead on His ascension - to the right hand of the Father. We know that He was given all power and authority in this age and the next etc. and that He is interceding and building up and maturing His body over the centuries and across the world for the past 2000 years.

We also know from Job 15; 15 that the heavens are not pure in God`s sight. There has been and still is rebellion that needs to be put down. We know that Jesus will put down all rule and authority a step at a time, in the tribulation and millennium. 

So the question arises, WHEN will Jesus move from the Father`s throne to His own throne. `Throne,` meaning to operate in the authority and power given of the Father. We know that God the Father desires for His Son to visibly rule righteously in the highest place of the created order. Thus when the Father sends Jesus, for His Body it is to bring them to Jesus` very own throne, to rule visibly with Him. Visible rulership in the third heaven will then begin to rule righteously putting down all rule and authority and for the rebellious being brought under the Lordship of Christ.

Any restoration, whether in heaven or earth must needs START with the Lord Jesus Christ when He is given His own authority and power, (His own throne) to VISIBLY rule righteously over all God`s great kingdom.

God the Father will `...send Jesus....whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things,...` (Acts 3: 20 & 21)