A -- Will you explain Hebrews 9:23,24?

Why is first ouranoi, then

epourania, then ouranos used?

B -- `Things in the heavens', Ta ... en tois ouranois, is but another

way of expressing `heavenly things', ta epourania.  Heaven, ouranos, must be

viewed as comprehending the whole.  It is used of the over -arching expanse

above the earth, even the atmosphere in which the `birds of heaven' fly, and

the `heaven of heavens' which is the dwelling place of God.  Think of these

expressions as you do the word `church'.  There are many different called -

out companies that are composed under the generic word `church'.

Or again, think of the word kingdom.  There are many kingdoms.  You

will think of other examples.  Ouranos embraces the whole, from the

atmosphere in which birds can fly to the position where principalities and

angels cannot enter.  Within this all -inclusive sphere are the epourania,

and they too comprise spheres and positions that range from the highest

pinnacle of exaltation to the gifts of the Spirit abused by men on earth.

Did we but know all that there is to know about these things, we should

doubtless realize the more the fitness of the expressions in Hebrews 9:23,24.

As it is, however, the interchange of words does not alter in the slightest

the teaching already given concerning the glorious calling of the church of

the One Body.

A -- I believe you make a distinction between `the day of the Lord' and

`the day of God'?

B -- Yes, I believe such a distinction is found in the Word of truth

which I am called upon to divide aright.

A -- But don't you think you can carry the idea to excess, for surely,

after all, the `Lord is God', and you are probably straining the meaning of

the Scriptures, as I fear you do in many other of your fine distinctions.

B -- Well, one thing at a time.

What particular passage have you in

A -- 2 Peter 3:10-12.

B -- Perhaps you will read it.

A -- (Reads).

`But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the

which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements

shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are

therein shall be burned up ... the day of God, wherein the heavens

being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with

fervent heat?'

Now surely you do not maintain that there will be two separate

occasions when the heavens shall be dissolved in fire and the elements shall

melt with a fervent heat?

B -- No, I have never taught such a thing.

I certainly believe these

two references deal with one and the same event.