Excerpts from Unsearchable Riches, Vol 102, No. 3 – May 2011
Many in the church today confuse things that pertain to different people groups. A failure to “rightly divide” the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15) results in a failure to correctly understand what God has revealed. Israel has been promised a future expectation upon the earth. But the body of Christ does not have an expectation upon the earth … it is instead in the heavens. The following excerpts come from two articles within the aforementioned volume of Unsearchable Riches magazine.
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The expression, “the expectation [which is] reserved for you in the heavens” (Colossians 1:5), combined with the opening strain of the Ephesian epistle, “every spiritual blessing among the celestials” (Ephesians 1:3) is the crowning and concluding glory of the secret of the resurrection (cf 1 Corinthians 15:51). We have heard of a tryst with our Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and of the change of our bodies from soilish to celestial (1 Corinthians 15:49-53), but until we come to Paul’s perfection epistles of Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, we have heard nothing of the place for which such a body prepares us, nor of the company for which it fits us.
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The city descends to them (Israel). We ascend to our allotment. But it was not until the present administration was fully revealed, after Israel’s temporary but definite setting aside, that Paul could come out clearly and make known the great truth that our future is not on earth but in the heavens, among the celestials. [Note: The temporary setting aside of Israel is discussed by Paul in Romans 11:25-26).
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The prophets had made it plain that He will be Head over all the earth when Israel is redeemed. But they did not give the slightest hint that He would be Head of the universe when an elected group out of the nations will be glorified. This is the secret made known in the opening of Ephesians (1:9-12).
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“How are the dead being roused, and with what body are they coming?” (1 Corinthians 15:35). The objector probably had no thought of heaven, but it furnished an opening for explaining the secret of 1 Corinthians 15:51, that those who received his ministry would not reappear as they had been in this life, but would enjoy a great and glorious transformation. … For Israel there is no need for much change except immunity from death. For the celestial saints, that is not enough.
Unsearchable Riches is published six times annually by Concordant Publishing Concern, 15570 Knochaven Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91387 (661-252-2112).
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the position of some of the 'Unsearchable Riches' writers. And I think these writers have striven to 'rightly divide'. Though I tend to think they should return to the blackboard on issues of the identity of the 'body of Christ' and include the glorified Jew as a 'celestial' too.
I have to ask, "Why would the Christian Jew of the Acts period be so silent, when those of the nations, still partaking of Israel's spiritual things, are bestowed the heady distinction 'body of Christ'?" Why would the Jewish Christians remain silent and content with their 'bride' designation?
I'd suggest its because the Christian Jew was first of the 'body of Christ' before any of the nations were so designated. And that a Jew that has been glorified, in his special earthly allotment IS a 'celestial' or 'better' also.
As much as I've appreciated some of the UR articles dealing with right division, I've wondered if this form of 'right division', in some of its stands, has not been subtly drifting into a form of Antisemitism.
While I would agree that we of the nations have a 'celestial' allotment. An allotment in that which we see when we look 'UP'; I think the problematic and oft implied corollary that seems to excite so many of this reading, is that juxtaposed to 'we proud celestials'; a Jew is a mere 'Terrestrial'.
If, unlike the earth, the innumerable bodies and inhabitants of the larger part of the universe are 'celestial' that is 'better', as this reading suggests; then the Jew, the earth, and ahem... God on His throne in New CELESTIAL Jerusalem, remain 'Lesser' and 'Terrestrial'. While no one says it. It is not difficult to see what extrapolation of the position implies.
That is according to what seems implied by this reading, the Jew, is what apparently the majority of the proud 'celestial' universe will see when they look -- DOWN.
I think it is no more scripturally definitive to argue that Peter, John etc., eventually serve with Administrative duties at the celestial Capital of the entire universe. And unlike we 'run of the mill', 'dime a dozen' celestials who are untrained to be honored with a station so near to the throne, the Jew has this permanent honor.
I think their is a hint of a backhanded boast in the unsupportable suggestion that "For Israel there is no need for much change..." And there would be some benefit rethinking the issues and perhaps the potential biases of the often thoughtful, but post-nazi German theologian who popularized this thinking.
There are many scriptures and close thoughts to consider, and I appreciate the attempts made by Unsearchable Riches writers to correlate many scriptures. But the arrogant and derogatory 'spirit' of the reading, if I'm getting the gist of it correctly, seems problematic to me.
I'm afraid my comment had periods where there should have been commas, and 'their' instead of 'there'... but maybe I shared a concern or two to those interested in following this reading.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, Dale. From my reading of the Scriptures, it seems that the Body of Christ is not introduced until Paul's mid-to-late ministry. And I see a clear distinction between Christ's return to the earth to reign, with Israel as His instrument ... and Christ calling the Body of Christ upward. While the celestial body received by those within the Body are superior ... the point is that they are fitted for our commission in the heavens. We would not be able to function in that commission with bodies of flesh. And Israel has no need (at least not yet) for celestial bodies as they reign upon the earth. Having said this, at the end of the ages I believe that ALL will have a celestial body. Your comments indicate disappointment that Israel is given an inferior resurrection with bodies of flesh. But when Israel was once given preference (God's chosen) we could say that all others would object ... and yet God's reason for choosing Israel is for the ultimate blessing of all mankind. Likewise He now chooses the Body of Christ (Jew and Gentile with no distinction) for the purpose of ultimately blessing all. The bottom line ... it is not that some are given preferential treatment over others because God prefers them; but it is instead so that God can accomplish His ultimate purpose of blessing ALL.
ReplyDeleteThanks for responding to my comment Bob.
ReplyDeleteIn the May 2011 Unsearchable Riches, the late Mr. Knoch shares his belief that we are “to be God’s representatives to all the orbs of space” (pg 120). I don’t know about you, but statements like make Mr. Knoch’s death rather annoying and inconvenient. Perhaps he commented elsewhere about that.
For instance what if, as such a representative, one read Ephesians 1:10 to the inhabitants of these orbs?
Eph.1: 10 to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ – both that in the heavens and that on the earth …
I’d suggest one of the first questions these be-orbed folk might pose could be, “What’s an “earth””?
To which we would faithfully respond, “Try not to think of it. To do so might make you disposed to the ‘terrestrial’.” “But since you asked, we will leave you with what Mr. Knoch once said”,
“The greatest glory of the earth will be the holy city, new Jerusalem, with its vast extent, and its enduring decorations of gold and precious gems. But this terrestrial glory will not compare with the celestial magnificence. The city, so wide and broad and high, sinks into insignificance before the immeasurable reaches of interstellar space, and the immensity of some of the stars.” (pg 121 same volume)
We might further explain to our new orbish friends, “Don’t worry, there’s only one ‘lesser’ orb in the universe. No need to be dragging our mind down to that. It’s just the place of God’s throne. No. You are on a ‘celestial’ orb. The rulers of that inferior terrestrial place only possess bodies suited to that most reviled of planets. They only need bodies capable of enduring the earth (and I suppose…ah… whatever the God of all possible environments, harsh or mild, wants to introduce to His throne room.) YOUR celestial representatives, however, are more exalted. Because our bodies are suited for ‘outer-space’”
I see no problem in recognizing the idea of differing glories and differing bodies. (1 Cor. 15:38-48) But assigning superiority to ourselves and inferiority to Israel goes too far.
As helpful as Mr. Knoch’s legacy is in pointing out distinctions among those who are Christ’s in His presence” (1 Cor. 15:23); rather than incorrectly, I think, creating a category of the glorified called ‘terrestrials’; I would see Israel in New or Celestial Jerusalem as those particular ‘celestials’ with, like ourselves, a “better” (Heb. 11:16) glorified or exalted status; the heavens above being a fine analogy of the awe and general exaltation of those who are His at His coming and enjoying glorification and a higher calling above. NOT, however, of just a specific assignment to “outer-space”. It makes sense, I think, that those remaining “celestials” NOT specifically dedicated to Celestial Jerusalem and YES, to the earth; that they would be dedicated … to everywhere else to be administrated… or ‘the heavens’.
As the use of the term ‘celestial’ is somewhat a pillar in creating the distinctions of that portion of Mr. Knoch’s reading often called “correctly cutting” or “right division”; re-thinking that term should probably inspire re-visitation to other named groups and designations in that reading for those so inclined to go there.
But I do agree with you Bob, that whatever scripture is actually describing as God’s operations, these do accomplish God’s intent to bless all.