God`s Purpose for the Rapture.

[Marilyn C]

God`s Purpose for the Rapture.

There has been many discussions concerning the rapture (from an earthly perspective) however to clearly understand it we need to see it from God` s perspective: What is God`s purpose for the rapture, the catching away of the Body of Christ.

God`s Eternal Purpose.

We know from God`s word that the Father`s eternal purpose is to bring everything in heaven and earth under the rulership of Christ - one Head.

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

In Colossians we read that the Lord made all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible and all rulership positions - `thrones or dominions or principalities or powers,` (Col. 1: 16) And these rulership positions are for the Lord `that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.` (Col. 1: 18)

 

Rebellion.

Then we read from the Prophets of the Old Testament that there was rebellion in the angelic realm. A mighty angel who had been given the rulership position of kingpriest was found unworthy to rule there.  (Ez. 28: 12 - 17,  Isa. 14: 12 - 14)

After being cast out we see this mighty angel and those angels who went with him usurp unrighteous rulership over man. As Job says, `the heavens are not pure in His sight.` (Job 15: 15)

 

The Worthy Ruler.

Thus there is needed the process of restoring righteous rulership in every realm, - in the heavens and on the earth. God initiates when that will begin and who will be the Worthy one to rule over all. And praise God we know who is the Worthy one to reign supreme -

`(God the Father) seated Him, (Jesus) 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 He put all things under His feet, 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)

[Marilyn C]

Restoration of Righteous Rulership.

God the Father having given His Son all power and authority has given Him the authority to execute judgment, (John 5: 27) and to rule the nations with `a rod of iron` (Ps. 2: 9)

So when does the Father initiate His Son moving from the Father`s throne to His own throne to execute the judgments and to rule with a rod of iron?

(God the Father sends) `Jesus...whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things of which God has spoken by the mouth of all His prophets since the world began.` (Acts 3: 20 & 21)

The prophets spoke about the rebellion of rulership right throughout God`s great kingdom, and then they revealed that God`s Son would be the worthy one to restore righteous rulership in every realm. (Ps. 2: 6 - 9,  Ps. 110: 1 & 2)

 

Starting from the Highest Realm.

Where is the Father sending Jesus? The Lord comes to be united with His body and to take them to the angelic realm to rule and reign with Him. ( 1 Thess. 4: 14 - 17)

The Body of Christ, the overcomers will sit with Christ on His own throne.  (Rev. 3: 21)

They will be King priests, (Rev.1: 6) ruling with Christ over the nations with `a rod of iron,`  judging the world system and fallen angels. (Rev. 2: 26 & 27,  1 Cor. 6: 2 & 3)

 

Summary.

Thus we see that God`s purpose for the rapture is to begin the restoration of righteous rulership under the Lord Jesus Christ, in the highest realm. From there all other rebellion will be dealt with over time. (1 Cor. 15: 25)

 

Quite a lot to discuss there. I look forward to working through God`s word together. May His Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.

[Marilyn C]

[AdHoc]

22 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Starting from the Highest Realm.

Where is the Father sending Jesus? The Lord comes to be united with His body and to take them to the angelic realm to rule and reign with Him. ( 1 Thess. 4: 14 - 17)

The Body of Christ, the overcomers will sit with Christ on His own throne.  (Rev. 3: 21

There is a lot of truth in your presentation. So that the reader who has not yet settled the matter in their mind can choose, I will present another variant.

Well have you said, and supported, your theory of Christ's supremacy. But I would like here to put to the reader that God's stated purpose with MAN is only the earth. Heaven's troubles are taken care of by angels as we see in Job 1 & 2, 1st Kings 22 and Revelation 12. I propose that God has not changed his councils of Genesis 1:26-28 where man is to first subdue, and then rule, the EARTH. It is also true that Heaven is God's throne and thus all government must proceed from heaven. But this is accomplished by a Man from heaven - Christ, and those IN Him who belong to a heavenly calling (Heb.3:1), have experienced a birth "from above" (lit. Gk.), by the God of heaven Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit, and who put on heavenly citizenship by this birth.

From Genesis 1:26-28, through a Covenant made with Abraham for Canaan first, and then the earth (Rom.4:13), through Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2, through Daniel 2 to Revelation 11:15 & 22:4-5, the Kingdom in view is that of heavenly rule ON the earth. Our Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 is "Thy (God's) Kingdom COME (to earth), Thy (God's) will be done on EARTH .... ." The councils of the ALL-mighty are irrevocable. He will gain His goal.

After man submitted to the previous governor - Lucifer, and sank the earth into misery and death, God, Who cannot indefinitely look on chaos, starts a recovery process. While God is ALL-mighty, He is restricted by one thing - His righteousness. God's recovery cannot be like Satan's subtle unrighteousness. And thus, the recovery, to fit God's glory, takes time. God's chosen vessel to start this recovery is Israel. After 1,500 years of further failure by men, our Lord Jesus arrives on earth and offer the "Kingdom of Heaven". For this, Israel must "repent". But "repent" is abhorrent to men who must then admit that they are lost sinners. In the shortest time, the pride of men has caused the rejection of their Savior and accused Him of being an emissary of Beelzebub. Israel are rejected and Jesus Christ turns to a "New Man" to fulfill His purpose (Matt.21:43). This takes additional TIME.

In the following years, while Israel suffers chastisement, God, through Jesus Christ, raises up and trains a Company of men called "the Church". And then the fateful day arrives when God has set the limit of evil rule on earth. God is just, and if men want to abhor Him and shake their fists in rebellion, God will answer. A Great Tribulation is set in motion by the Newly Crowned King - Jesus. "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven" (Rom.1:18) and this wrath encompasses the WHOLE EARTH without exception. There is absolutely no place that this Tribulation does not reach (Lk.21:35, Rev.3:10). But what of Christ's Church? Have they not put their trust in a SAVIOR? And is His SALVATION so threadbare that His chosen ones must suffer with the ungodly? BY NO MEANS!

In the context of this terror which will encompass the whole earth, the salvation wrought by Jesus Christ INCLUDES being saved from God's wrath. Writing about this horrendous time, it says in 1st Thessalonians 5:9–10

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

This verse is very rich. It is part of a discourse that started in Chapter 4 and verse 13. The Christian is NOT "appointed to wrath". He is appointed to obtain "salvation". The context here is not the Lake of Fire, but God's wrath on the whole earth. "Salvation" here means the same thing as Noah was "saved". Noah was saved from UNIVERSAL FATAL JUDGMENT. The bond that is posted for this release is Him "Who died for us". The one Sacrifice that God accepts is the guarantee for this salvation from WRATH. And this "salvation" is not only for the living, but the dead must enjoy it as well - for that is the context of Chapter 4 verse 13 onward - How the dead who are in Hades also come with the Lord (4:13-14). So whether we (NOW) are awake (living) or are (NOW) asleep (dead IN Christ), we will all LIVE. How? By resurrection (4:16).

But the dead RISE to MEET the LIVING - where? On the surface of the earth. But the verse above says we are "TOGETHER" with Him. And where is He??? 4:17 tells us! IN THE CLOUDS - THE AIR. This is the only safe place for the LIVING during the Tribulation - for it encompasses the WHOLE earth. Is this not what Luke 21:36 and Revelation 3:10 PROMISE?

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

In Luke 21:36 those who escape "STAND". Only the LIVING can stand. And in Revelation 3:10 it is NOT, "I will keep the IN ...". It is "I will keep thee FROM .... ". And not only are we kept FROM, but we are kept from the TIME of horror. We are kept from the HOUR of tribulation.

I propose that the Rapture is a mechanism to move people from one place to another by the intervention of (in this case) angels. I propose that the angels will move those worthy to the AIR - THE CLOUDS. I propose that this Rapture is to move us TO SAFETY from an earth covered in God's WRATH.

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by AdHoc
spelling

[Marilyn C]

6 hours ago, AdHoc said:

There is a lot of truth in your presentation. So that the reader who has not yet settled the matter in their mind can choose, I will present another variant.

Well have you said, and supported, your theory of Christ's supremacy. But I would like here to put to the reader that God's stated purpose with MAN is only the earth. Heaven's troubles are taken care of by angels as we see in Job 1 & 2, 1st Kings 22 and Revelation 12. I propose that God has not changed his councils of Genesis 1:26-28 where man is to first subdue, and then rule, the EARTH. It is also true that Heaven is God's throne and thus all government must proceed from heaven. But this is accomplished by a Man from heaven - Christ, and those IN Him who belong to a heavenly calling (Heb.3:1), have experienced a birth "from above" (lit. Gk.), by the God of heaven Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit, and who put on heavenly citizenship by this birth.

....

 

Hi Ad Hoc,

I agree that part of God`s purpose is earthly - `He might gather together in one all things in Christ, BOTH which are in HEAVEN and which are on EARTH - in Him.` (Eph. 1: 10) Rulership in heaven and earth all under Christ.

We know that there are nations on the new earth, (Rev. 21: 24). So people will populate on the earth as God had ordained. Then we also see that God made a city for those who looked in faith for that, (Heb. 11: 16) and they shall populate that city in the new heavens. Finally we know that God made a whole new race of people, the new man, the Body of Christ and they have been promised to rule on Christ`s own throne in the highest heavens. (Rev. 3: 21)

Thus is every realm of God`s great kingdom there will be rulership under Christ.

 

[AdHoc]

7 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi Ad Hoc,

I agree that part of God`s purpose is earthly - `He might gather together in one all things in Christ, BOTH which are in HEAVEN and which are on EARTH - in Him.` (Eph. 1: 10) Rulership in heaven and earth all under Christ.

We know that there are nations on the new earth, (Rev. 21: 24). So people will populate on the earth as God had ordained. Then we also see that God made a city for those who looked in faith for that, (Heb. 11: 16) and they shall populate that city in the new heavens. Finally we know that God made a whole new race of people, the new man, the Body of Christ and they have been promised to rule on Christ`s own throne in the highest heavens. (Rev. 3: 21)

Thus is every realm of God`s great kingdom there will be rulership under Christ.

 

We are very close. Your view is held by many. It is a giant step forward from what the Reformers thought.

The Lord Jesus, in Matthew 13, gives seven parables on the Kingdom. The first four parables are before a mixed audience but are intended only for His disciples, as parables are to hide the meaning for all except the disciples. One of the parables is about a Woman who leavened three lumps but the whole was leavened in the end. "Leaven" is never positive in the whole Bible. It makes ot of dough something that it is not, and it makes bread more palatable. In 313 AD the Roman Caesar, Constantine, seeing that killing Christians only multiplied them, declared Christianity as a State religion. But 95+% of the population was still heathen, so to make things more "palatable", he kept the heathen beliefs and feasts but gave them Christian names. That, plus locking the Bible away for nearly 1,000 years, fulfilled the parable of the leaven. Christian doctrine was thoroughly leavened.

The Reformers were surely a move by God to recover some doctrine, but for one reason or another they did not call everything into question, and they continued with the Roman catholic doctrine of going to a "Celestial Lodge" if one's works were found to outweigh the evil. The Plymouth Brethren in the 1800s wiped the slate of traditional thinking clean, and started from scratch with the study of scripture. Many truths were uncovered and your understanding of the rule of heaven came from this move. Heaven is God's Throne and all government proceeds from there. This is correct. The point where we diverge is;

"Do the kings of the earth dwell in heaven and rule at a distance, or are the kings of the earth rulers who dwell in their cities on earth?"

You know your Bible well and are astute, so eventually you will have the truth, or, I am wrong and you have the truth already. So I will not argue my points. Rather I would like to define certain things that lead us to the truth. Let us start with Ephesians, as you did.

 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. (Eph 1:9–10)

I'm sure you will agree that the small word "IN" is decisive. Taken literally, God's economy is to gather all things and shovel them into Christ - which immediately causes an absurdity. Imagine trying to fit all those billions of stars, and their energy, and their distances apart and their laws, into a man. But if we treat Christ as the Creator, then we can say that all those things were once IN Him because He is is the Origin and they came OUT of Him. So Ephesians does not explain was is about to be put INTO Christ, but what everything is IN relation to its ORIGIN. An example is John 12:24. In John 12:24 our ORIGIN is shown. There was one grain of Wheat, and when it fell into the ground and died and had its shell broken, it brought forth man grains of the same nature and kind. Thus, we are able to say we were IN Christ. Ephesians gives our standing in Christ before God based on our POSITION.

Now, when we come to Chapter 2:4–13, we again are shown our POSITION before God, NOT BECAUSE WERE ARE THERE, BUT BECAUSE OF BEING "IN" CHRIST. Verse 4-5 says; "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;)" Now we know that the "death" is physical death because Romans Chapter 5 says that death has passed onto all men because all have sinned. So if the death here is physical death, then "quickened" must be resurrection. But you and I know that we have neither died physically NOR have we been resurrected in fact. Rather, it is our POSITION "IN" Christ (v.10). 

If this be true then the same applies to verse 6. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." You are in Oz, and I am in Europe, NOT heaven. You and I are only in heaven "IN" Christ because God reckons us to have had or origin and to have proceeded OUT OF Christ. So when we approach the matter of heaven, we have to see, whether it defines our POSITION in regard to ORIGIN, or it is our ACTUAL POSITION. In Hebrews 11, is the city IN HEAVEN, or is it OF HEAVENLY ORIGIN? In Hebrews 3:1 the recipients of a "heavenly calling", did the call sound in heaven, or was is "heavenly IN NATURE "?

And so the question that must be asked is, Is it the Kingdom IN Heaven, or is it a Kingdom OUT OF heaven but being applied on earth? India was called "The Jewel of the British Empire". Was India in Westminster? No! India was far away, but the rule that was decided in Westminster was applied to India, and British rule was enforced by a Commissioner" IN INDIA.

I think that once this is sorted out in one's own mind, then we can correctly tell whether Christ's throne is set on earth, or in heaven. When He judges the LIVING of "ALL Nations" in Matthew 25:31-46, or the "rest of the dead" in Revelation 20, is His throne on earth, but heavenly in nature and origin, OR is it in heaven and the Heathen have all gone to heaven to be judged?

God bless.

 

 

 

[Marilyn C]

7 hours ago, AdHoc said:

We are very close. Your view is held by many. It is a giant step forward from what the Reformers thought.

The Lord Jesus, in Matthew 13, gives seven parables on the Kingdom. The first four parables are before a mixed audience but are intended only for His disciples, as parables are to hide the meaning for all except the disciples. One of the parables is about a Woman who leavened three lumps but the whole was leavened in the end. "Leaven" is never positive in the whole Bible. It makes ot of dough something that it is not, and it makes bread more palatable. In 313 AD the Roman Caesar, Constantine, seeing that killing Christians only multiplied them, declared Christianity as a State religion. But 95+% of the population was still heathen, so to make things more "palatable", he kept the heathen beliefs and feasts but gave them Christian names. That, plus locking the Bible away for nearly 1,000 years, fulfilled the parable of the leaven. Christian doctrine was thoroughly leavened.

The Reformers were surely a move by God to recover some doctrine, but for one reason or another they did not call everything into question, and they continued with the Roman catholic doctrine of going to a "Celestial Lodge" if one's works were found to outweigh the evil. The Plymouth Brethren in the 1800s wiped the slate of traditional thinking clean, and started from scratch with the study of scripture. Many truths were uncovered and your understanding of the rule of heaven came from this move. Heaven is God's Throne and all government proceeds from there. This is correct. The point where we diverge is;

"Do the kings of the earth dwell in heaven and rule at a distance, or are the kings of the earth rulers who dwell in their cities on earth?"

You know your Bible well and are astute, so eventually you will have the truth, or, I am wrong and you have the truth already. So I will not argue my points. Rather I would like to define certain things that lead us to the truth. Let us start with Ephesians, as you did.

 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. (Eph 1:9–10)

I'm sure you will agree that the small word "IN" is decisive. Taken literally, God's economy is to gather all things and shovel them into Christ - which immediately causes an absurdity. Imagine trying to fit all those billions of stars, and their energy, and their distances apart and their laws, into a man. But if we treat Christ as the Creator, then we can say that all those things were once IN Him because He is is the Origin and they came OUT of Him. So Ephesians does not explain was is about to be put INTO Christ, but what everything is IN relation to its ORIGIN. An example is John 12:24. In John 12:24 our ORIGIN is shown. There was one grain of Wheat, and when it fell into the ground and died and had its shell broken, it brought forth man grains of the same nature and kind. Thus, we are able to say we were IN Christ. Ephesians gives our standing in Christ before God based on our POSITION.

Now, when we come to Chapter 2:4–13, we again are shown our POSITION before God, NOT BECAUSE WERE ARE THERE, BUT BECAUSE OF BEING "IN" CHRIST. Verse 4-5 says; "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;)" Now we know that the "death" is physical death because Romans Chapter 5 says that death has passed onto all men because all have sinned. So if the death here is physical death, then "quickened" must be resurrection. But you and I know that we have neither died physically NOR have we been resurrected in fact. Rather, it is our POSITION "IN" Christ (v.10). 

If this be true then the same applies to verse 6. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." You are in Oz, and I am in Europe, NOT heaven. You and I are only in heaven "IN" Christ because God reckons us to have had or origin and to have proceeded OUT OF Christ. So when we approach the matter of heaven, we have to see, whether it defines our POSITION in regard to ORIGIN, or it is our ACTUAL POSITION. In Hebrews 11, is the city IN HEAVEN, or is it OF HEAVENLY ORIGIN? In Hebrews 3:1 the recipients of a "heavenly calling", did the call sound in heaven, or was is "heavenly IN NATURE "?

And so the question that must be asked is, Is it the Kingdom IN Heaven, or is it a Kingdom OUT OF heaven but being applied on earth? India was called "The Jewel of the British Empire". Was India in Westminster? No! India was far away, but the rule that was decided in Westminster was applied to India, and British rule was enforced by a Commissioner" IN INDIA.

I think that once this is sorted out in one's own mind, then we can correctly tell whether Christ's throne is set on earth, or in heaven. When He judges the LIVING of "ALL Nations" in Matthew 25:31-46, or the "rest of the dead" in Revelation 20, is His throne on earth, but heavenly in nature and origin, OR is it in heaven and the Heathen have all gone to heaven to be judged?

God bless.

 

 

 

Hi Ad Hoc,

Good discussing with you. You raise some valid questions. Hope I can explain my thoughts carefully. Glad to see you explain the `in` Christ,` and not all squeezed together. 

1. The city. It is in the General Assembly, in the third heaven. (Heb. 12: 220 It has been made by God. (Heb. 11: 10) It will come down out of heaven from God to near the earth and be the light over all the earth. (Rev. 21: 2 & 24)

2. The Kingdom of heaven. That is the rulership that was promised to Israel. (Dan. 2: 44) It is the rulership FROM/OF heaven. It is Christ ruling through Israel over the nations. (Dan. 7: 27) 

When Jesus was manifest on earth He came to confirm the promises to Israel by the fathers. Thus the parables are the promises given by God to Israel. (Rom. 15: 8)

3. The word `throne` means rulership, authority. Christ has a `throne` rulership in every realm, however His seat of authority and power is in the highest. The `throne,` authority the Lord has when judging the nations is given by the Father, and executed on earth over the nations. But the origin and continual power is in the third heaven.

 

[Marilyn C]

KINGPRIESTS.

We know from scripture that the Lord is the King (High) Priest of glory.

`I (Father) have set my King on my holy hill of Mount Zion.` (Ps. 2: 6)

`The LORD (Father) has sworn and will not relent, “You are a Priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps. 110: 4)

And this order is explained in the book of Hebrews as a kingpriest.

`For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God.....king of righteousness,...king of peace..` (Heb. 7: 1 & 2)

These two offices - king and priest, are held by the Lord. And these offices are also given to those in other realms of God`s great kingdom, but have their authority from the Lord. In the new heavens and new earth we see the Lord`s righteous rule through these two offices.

1.     Earth - Kings - `the kings of the earth...` (Rev. 21: 24)

Priests - `And you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.` ( Ex. 19: 6)

 

2.Universal heavens - Kings - the 12 Apostles. (Matt. 19: 28,  Rev. 21: 14)

    Priests - 144,000 from Israel. (Rev. 7: 4 - 8,   14: 1 - 5,   21: 17)

 

3.Third heaven - Kingpriests - The Body of Christ. (Rev. 1: 6,  3: 21,  4: 4)

 

 

Note that only in the third heaven are the two offices combined. Also, that the Lord is the King HIGH priest. And where there is a HIGH priest there are other Priests of that order - kingpriests.

 

Thus the Body of Christ has been prepared for this high and holy position of authority with the Lord - all of Him and nothing of ourselves.

 

 

[AdHoc]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi Ad Hoc,

Good discussing with you. You raise some valid questions. Hope I can explain my thoughts carefully. Glad to see you explain the `in` Christ,` and not all squeezed together. 

1. The city. It is in the General Assembly, in the third heaven. (Heb. 12: 220 It has been made by God. (Heb. 11: 10) It will come down out of heaven from God to near the earth and be the light over all the earth. (Rev. 21: 2 & 24)

2. The Kingdom of heaven. That is the rulership that was promised to Israel. (Dan. 2: 44) It is the rulership FROM/OF heaven. It is Christ ruling through Israel over the nations. (Dan. 7: 27) 

When Jesus was manifest on earth He came to confirm the promises to Israel by the fathers. Thus the parables are the promises given by God to Israel. (Rom. 15: 8)

3. The word `throne` means rulership, authority. Christ has a `throne` rulership in every realm, however His seat of authority and power is in the highest. The `throne,` authority the Lord has when judging the nations is given by the Father, and executed on earth over the nations. But the origin and continual power is in the third heaven.

 

Hi Sister. Good arguments. Here is my understanding.

1. The New Jerusalem must be on the New Earth for the Nations can visit it. A bit more obscure, but valid, is that the "Tabernacle will be WITH men"

2. The Kingdom is written to Nebuchadnezzar in Aramaic in Daniel Chapter 2 - not Israel. Israel are offered this Kingdom when our Lord came, but they refused the King. It is take from them (Matt.21:43).

The Parables are directed at the disciples of Christ. They HIDE from Israel what is meant (Matt.13:13-15)

3. I understand Christ's throne to be on earth. And His RANK in the Kingdom is like Joseph of Egypt. He exercises all authority from His throne but the Throne of God remains overall authority (Gen.41:40). That throne is "above the highest heaven" (Eph.4:10)

[Marilyn C]

37 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

Hi Sister. Good arguments. Here is my understanding.

1. The New Jerusalem must be on the New Earth for the Nations can visit it. A bit more obscure, but valid, is that the "Tabernacle will be WITH men"

2. The Kingdom is written to Nebuchadnezzar in Aramaic in Daniel Chapter 2 - not Israel. Israel are offered this Kingdom when our Lord came, but they refused the King. It is take from them (Matt.21:43).

The Parables are directed at the disciples of Christ. They HIDE from Israel what is meant (Matt.13:13-15)

3. I understand Christ's throne to be on earth. And His RANK in the Kingdom is like Joseph of Egypt. He exercises all authority from His throne but the Throne of God remains overall authority (Gen.41:40). That throne is "above the highest heaven" (Eph.4:10)

Hi Ad Hoc,

1. The city actually has to be in the universal heavens for God`s righteous rulership to be there. The Lord created that authority, principalities and powers, (Col. 1: 16) and while Satan usurped it that position is still God`s and for whom he has prepared. Also for the people of the earth to walk in its light it has to be above them as the earth turns.

2. Yes Israel at that time refused the king and his offer, however when the Lord returns in great power and glory to deliver Israel and judge the rebellious, then Israel will be given the rulership over the nations of the world as promised. (Zech. 14: 16 in the millennium and later in NHNE).

The parables are still concerning God`s promises to Israel. (Rom. 15: 8)

3. I agree that the Godhead are above the highest heaven. However the Father has planned that His Son in His glorified body will be visibly ruling with His Body from the highest realm in God`s great kingdom. 

The Lord Jesus Christ will not be below where Lucifer ruled,

Christ will not rule below the angels,

Christ will not rule below where Satan is ruling now.

The Lord Jesus Christ will visibly rule and reign far above all in this age and the one to come. (Eph. 1: 21)