EB 11:5-7{Wherever ruin comes into that which God has entrusted to man, God never restores things just as they were. The illustration used in Heb. 11:5 sets this forth. We, the Church, see now the mystery of godliness as described in 1 Tim. 3:16. The complete circuit taken by the Lord Jesus coming from heaven and returning into the heavens, a Man, is set forth at least in part by Enoch. Enoch typifies a heavenly Man on earth who pleased God. There was the Man Jesus who fully pleased God, who entered the Father's house in the uncreated heavens. He went there because the earth cast Him out, and also because He glorified God on the earth, the place of sin, laying the foundation whereby sin might be taken away forever from the eye of God.
The subject of the heavens opens to us something entirely new. What a vista is before us! Be sure of this, that heaven will be no repetition of Eden (Gen. 3:24). There will be no possibility that we lose heaven. The Head of the new creation is not subject to failure or death. He not only has been tested for us, but He has gone into death and come forth as the Victor (John 10:17,18). It is because He lives that we live. Then, again, the joys found in Eden were of a character that depended on the senses of a natural man. The heavenly joys are not even found in the natural senses, but only in the spirit (1 Cor. 2:9,10). The natural man in Adam could not long keep his eyes upon God because they naturally were drawn to visible things (Eccl. 3:11). It is only in spirit and in truth that we worship the Father (John 4:24).
This sphere, "the heavens," has aroused considerable research of late; and no wonder. Religious man knows that there are people who intend going there. The scoffer still is trying to do the same thing only in a different way. This will never be accomplished as hoped; and, although he has even set his foot on another planet, still that, or any other planet, has never been prepared for him, only the earth. To leave this earth with the intention of settling in the heavens is a blatant form of apostasy which will be judged. Christian, beware! It is sin (Psa. 115:16).
Christ has entered the heavens as Man, going there to prepare that place for men. If the preparation for a natural man must be physical, the preparation for a spiritual man must be spiritual (Luke 24:39). As the heavenly One, such the heavenly ones. Friend! Do you qualify for this? If not, your portion shall be in the place prepared for the devil and his angels. Man will never dwell in the heavens except with Christ (John 14:3). We who are believers should carry the atmosphere of heaven with us continually, as the children of Israel wore a riband of blue on the border of their garment (Num. 15:38,39). Samson had a secret with God—his long hair. Keeping this secret gave him continual power in the midst of his enemies. In a careless moment he gave away his secret to the world and lost his power and sight (Judg. 16:17). "Buy the truth, and sell it not." Prov. 23:23.
Little does man realize that behind the scenes there is a mighty battle raging between good and evil. Ever since Adam in faith named his wife Eve (Gen. 3:20), there has been a conflict with the evil one. Although mostly hidden (Rev. 10:7), sometimes the conflict comes out into the open. God has told us of the conflicts of the past and also the way in which the enemy attacks. He has succeeded many times against God's people, but soon there shall be a series of major changes in which Satan shall be overthrown completely and cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:10).
The first change that we as Christians are to expect is the rapture, which is a part of the first resurrection inasmuch as there will be a great many raised at that time (1 Thess. 4:13-17). Only believers will be raised out from among the dead. The rest of the dead will not be raised until the close of the millennium, and then to be sentenced to the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:5). Before the thousand-year reign of Christ, then, all believers who have died shall be raised out from among the dead and shall be changed in body like unto the glorious body of our Lord Jesus Christ. There will be different families in heaven, such as the Old Testament saints, those as John the Baptist and the thief on the cross (who were here to see the Lord but who died before the day of Pentecost when believers were baptized into one body forming the Church), and the Church (Eph. 3:15; Heb. 12:22-24). All the living saints will join with those who have died in faith to be caught up together to I meet the Lord in the air. Later the martyrs who will be slain by Jezebel during the tribulation, will be raised to be in the company who come out of an opened heaven with the Lamb to execute judgment upon the earth (Rev. 14:13). All these shall reign with Christ for a thousand years (Rev. 20:
Everything for us will be new in that heavenly creation.
Fresh as the morning's glistening dew,
The Lord of life makes all things new.
The heavens He'll change, the earth make right,
With everything pleasant for thought or sight.
The sun in the heaven? 'Twill not be so!
The Lamb is the Light wherever we go.
Who raises a new song of the Savior's worth?
Only the redeemed who come from earth.
My name here is worn and covered with shame;
He'll make it new with glory and fame.
He has given me here a new white stone;
I'll sit with Him there on a glorious new throne.
Do you think that this world with its gifts and renown Could compare for a moment with my wonderful crown?
Why tarry you longer? The night cometh fast.
Embrace now my Savior and reach home at last.
Wherever I look, I am sure it is true, All that I'll see will be better and new.
The turtle dove's mourning, the heart's longing cry Will soon have its answer when we meet in the sky.
We should try to become acquainted here with our future surroundings. By reading the gospels and epistles prayerfully we are brought into God's presence and acquire more of heavenly things. The more knowledge we acquire of material things, such as music, art, and industry, the more danger there is that we might be hindered from the things which make for the enjoyment of eternal life (1 Tim. 6:19). The pursuit of these things makes for leanness of soul; they contribute nothing to the new man (1 Tim. 6:6).
If we are waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ, our Deliverer from the coming wrath, should we not now be enjoying His company? The Spirit, the other Comforter, is here for that very purpose and also to lead us into all the truth (John 16:13).
The coming of the Lord will be the fullness of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:25).
Soon after the snatching away of the heavenly saints, Satan shall be cast out of heaven. This will precipitate the great tribulation for Israel (Rev. 12:9). At the same time there will be a time of trial for the western nations as well. This will be the time of the trumpets and vials.
The heavens are to be cleansed and changed before the earth will be changed in the restitution of all things (Luke 19:38).
Satan's being cast out of heaven will be the first step, or the cleansing of the heavens. Heaven will then rejoice; no longer will the accuser roar there (Rev. 12:9). Toward the close of the time of tribulation and trial for earth, the entire heavens or the universe of created things shall be changed as to administration, power being transferred from angels to men. It will then be said of the angels that they are "His angels" (2 Thess. 1:7), servants to the Son of man. The general assembly of angels, "myriads," will be called in to have the administration transferred to Christ and the Church enregistered in heaven (Heb. 12:22,23). This begins the DAY OF THE LORD. As He comes out of heaven, riding on "a white horse," He is accompanied by the Church (Rev. 19). The Old Testament saints and martyrs who have already been raised will reign with Him as well. All who die shall have a heavenly portion if they have their names written in the Lamb's book of life. With "peace in heaven," blessing follows for earth. From that moment on, through the millennial day, Christ as Man shall command the angels as servants, sending them to cleanse the earth of all things that offend and removing those that do iniquity (Matt. 13:41). The setting up of the earthly kingdom will follow immediately, as the Spirit is poured out on Judah (Joel 2:28).
The throne set in heaven has twenty-four elders, composed of the Church and Old Testament saints, immediately around it, the angels having taken a place in the outer circle (Rev. 5:11). Angels are seen as willing doorkeepers of the heavenly city, the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12).
After the earth is cleansed by judgment, the saints will reign with Christ over it as He sets up the throne of His glory on the earth for government. The final sentence of the creatures, men, or angels will not be determined by men. Christ and He alone is the Judge (John 5:22,27). In maintaining righteousness and advancing blessing in the earth, the Church with the heavenly saints will surely have their part (1 Cor. 6:2,3), though generally unseen, working much as the angels at this present time. Israel, of course, will be the direct visible agents on earth (Mic. 5:7,8).
"The wife hath made herself ready" may include the preparation at the judgment seat of Christ, in which all of the principles of righteousness shall be brought to light (Rev. 19:7).
The Lord Jesus will be Melchisedec Priest and King in that day (Heb. 7:1-3).
The heavenly saints will have a very happy work to do then besides government. There will be souls who need to hear about the King in Zion. We know that during the one thousand years' reign of Christ the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. This most pleasant task the saints will have when it will be said, "His servants shall serve Him" (Rev. 22:3). The bride, the helpmeet, will simply continue the same joyous work which we have been privileged to carry on down here, only in a richer and fuller way (Matt. 25:21). Of course, Israel again will be the direct agents as they will be in government, the Church being hidden (Mic. 5:7). The varied colors in the stones of Rev. 21 suggest to us the way that the glory of Christ as King shall be spread.
Since Enoch was translated by faith, he must have known that he would be translated before it took place. This suggests to us what is clearly taught in the New Testament—that those who are the heavenly ones on earth have already the mind of heaven (Eph. 1:8,9). Enoch walked with God down here and was taken up to walk with God there. The heavenly man seeks to maintain a heavenly character down here because it is the permanent character up there. Intelligence in the mind of heaven gives us to know about coming events (John 15:15).
We have spoken of outward things. What about the private life of the heavenly man when he finally reaches his home? As Christ has gone to the Father, so we also will go to the Father (John 14:2,3). There are many abodes. In Luke 11 The Lord Jesus invites us to Him as a Friend, suggesting personal communion. Worship will be the part of those whom Jesus has befriended. In the Father's house there will be servants to wait upon the children (Luke 15:22). Jesus Himself has promised to wait upon His own as He always has loved to do (Luke 12:37). We shall be clothed, to leave not the slightest room for embarrassment on our part, even to the eye of God Himself. We shall be thoroughly clean, refreshed, comfortable, and deeply happy. We shall feed daily with the Father on the fatted calf, (no joy like this). We shall drink abundantly as well. Joy and gladness will be our part then, the "harp" tuned forever.
"To set before the Father's ears No other name but Thine."
heart as He and we are satisfied forever in His love (Eph. 1:4-6).
Being aware that all things are ours, we shall look down upon the inheritance and look up to behold the glory of God. We shall see Christ face to face (Rev. 22:4). He will remain a Man with His bride forever, as God is All in All (1 Cor. 15:24-28). The changed incorruptible bodies will be "as it hath pleased Him" (1 Cor. 15:38). What glad surprises as the old order passes away to be replaced with all things new. What eternal weights of glory to replace the present sufferings which are only for a moment (2 Cor. 4:17).
Paul heard words impossible for man to utter, as he was carried into the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:4). In the new heavens where dwelleth righteousness we shall share that long eternal day with the Lord Jesus our Savior, as members of His body, His flesh, His bones (Eph. 5:30). We shall be like Him when we see Him as He is. As we eat of the tree of life, sitting with Him on His throne, He as the Bridegroom will have written upon us His new name (Rev. 22:4).
What will it be to eat of the tree of life? The first man was driven out of the paradise on earth so that he could not eat of the tree of life and live forever (Gen. 3:24). In Christ, the last Adam, we "shall eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God" (Rev. 2:7). If the new Jerusalem sets forth the eternal dwelling place of heavenly saints in general, the Father's house is the special home of the Church. We shall live in heaven always; we, as Christ, are heavenly ones.
From heaven the Church will have contact with the new earth to share mutual joys. What a vast change from a world of sin! As the new heaven and earth merge into eternal blessedness, the tabernacle of God will be with men on earth, all pain and sorrow gone forever (Rev. 21:1-8).
Friend! Do you have a new nature and life which delights in this prospect? Perhaps you wish it were so, but you know it is not true. There is time now to drink of the water of life (Rev. 22:17). Receive Christ as Savior now. Put your whole trust in His precious blood and you shall be saved.
"These things have I written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1 John 5:13.