We assume, but have not yet proved, that `the earth' and `heavenly

places' are two distinct spheres.  Common sense says that they are distinct,

but we leave the proof until later.

Here then are two spheres of blessing concerning which there is no

controversy.  But in addition to these two, we discover what appears to be an

intermediate sphere of blessing, a sphere above `the earth', yet not `in

heavenly places'.  For this we turn to Galatians 3:14: `that the blessing of

Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ'.  The question which

now arises is, does this passage refer to a distinct sphere of blessing, or

is the blessing of Abraham to be enjoyed in one or other of the two spheres

already considered?  A complete answer can only be given after careful

examination, but for the sake of conciseness, we note that in this calling,

`there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is

neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus' (Gal. 3:28).

This unity does not sound like the constitution of a kingdom, which is

what is in view in Matthew 5.  Rather it so resembles the later revelation of

Ephesians that some have adopted the expression `all one in Christ Jesus'

with the idea that it declares the Unity of the spirit of Ephesians 4.

Before seeing the proofs, most, if not all, will agree that Galatians 3:14

does not refer to an inheritance on the `earth'.  Yet when we read on to

Galatians 3:29, we are prevented from asserting that it belongs to the sphere

of the Mystery made known in Ephesians, for we find it stated: `and if ye be

Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise'.

So entirely contrary is it to the Scriptural teaching concerning the

Mystery to make it a fulfilment of any promise to Abraham that we must

hesitate to place this company, which is Abraham's seed, `in heavenly

places'.  We therefore search further in this epistle, and in the fourth

chapter we find the following statement: `But Jerusalem which is above is

free, which is the mother of us all ... now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are

the children of promise' (Gal. 4:26,28).  `Jerusalem which is above', is

neither `on the earth' nor `in heavenly places far above all principality',

and as this city forms the theme of Hebrews 11:9 -16 and 12:18 -23, where the

`heavenly country' is contrasted with the `earth', we are obliged to record a

third sphere of blessing.

A third sphere of blessing, differing from that of Ephesians 1:3

and that of Matthew 5:5 is recorded in the epistles to the Galatians and the

Hebrews, and is associated with the heavenly Jerusalem, a sphere distinct on

the one hand from the earth and its kingdom, and on the other hand from the

heavenly places which are the sphere of the church of the Mystery.

We therefore set out our first conclusion.

`The earth'

(Matt. 5:5) The Kingdom

`Jerusalem which is above'

(Gal. 4:26) The Bride

`In heavenly places'

(Eph. 1:3)

The Body

In the near context of Matthew 5:5, which speaks of the meek who shall

inherit the earth, we learn of a kingdom which is yet to be set up on the

earth: `Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven'

(Matt. 6:10).  In that prophecy of His Second Coming, The Revelation, one of

the titles of the Lord is: `The Prince of the Kings of the earth' (Rev. 1:5).