The Two-Fold Purpose

Adapted by Arthur J Licursi from a writing by Cornelius R. Stam

Have you ever considered carefully the opening words of the Bible?

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”  

Why doesn't it simply say that God created the Universe? Why “the heaven and the earth”?

As we go on reading we find the answer to this question, for the Bible clearly teaches that God has a two-fold purpose; one having to do with the earth and the other with heaven. The former, the earth, is the subject of prophecy, while the latter is the subject of the Pauline “mystery,” a secret eternal plan of God that was revealed to and through the Apostle Paul for “the body of Christ.” (Compare Acts 3:21 with Romans 16:25 and Eph 3:1-3). The former, the plan for the earth concerns Israel and the nations …while the latter is God’s plan for “the Body of Christ,” which is “the Church” (Eph 1:22b-23a), which having a heavenly calling (Philippians 3:20).

Some people are surprised to learn that there is not a single promise to be found in the entire Old Testament about going to heaven. In the Old Testament the whole outlook is aimed earthly, with the Messiah reigning as King (Jer.23:5; et al) on earth. When our Lord appeared in the flesh the angels cried: “Peace on earth” (Luke 2:14). He Himself said that “the meek” shall “inherit the earth” (Matt.5:5). He taught His disciples to pray: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt.6:10).

Then at Pentecost Peter declared to “ye men of Israel ” and “ye men of Judea ” that after “the restitution of all things” God would send Jesus back to earth and the times of refreshing would “come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19-21).

Not until God raised up of the Apostle Paul do we learn that now all believers in Christ are “baptized into one body” (ICor.12:13). Colossians 1:5 and many other Pauline passages, speak of “the hope which is laid up for you IN HEAVEN.” Before God, believers today are already given a position “in heavenly places” and they are “blessed with all spiritual blessings IN [THE] HEAVENLIES in Christ” (Eph.1:3; 2:4-7).

The prophecies regarding the Kingdom to come to earth, however, will still be fulfilled and Christ will reign on earth and bring the promised “times of refreshing.” Thank God, this world will not forever be a place of war and bloodshed, sickness and death, misery and woe.

In that time, heaven and earth will be opened to each other, and thus will fulfill God's two-fold purpose:

“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.1:10).

In that time, the “Spirit of Christ” will indwell the believer’s who dwell in the earthly kingdom on earth as God promised Israel in Ezekiel 36:27 … and at that same time, the ‘Spirit of Christ” will indwell the members of “the body of Christ” who were raptured to heaven (1Thes 4:17).