DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH

Far Above All

Far Above All. For a full discussion of the position of the Ascended Christ and His relationship with the Church, the reader is directed to the article entitled THREE SPHERES. Here we deal with the words "far above all" without reference to the wider context.

Huperano occurs but three times in the N.T.

Eph. 1:21	Far above all principality and power.
4:10	That ascended up far above all heavens.
Heb. 9:5	And over it the cherubim of glory.

The first reference relates the ascension of the Saviour above the principalities and powers in heavenly places. He is said to be "far above all" such. In Ephesians 4:10, His ascension is related to the heavens themselves. He is there said to have ascended up far above all heavens. Here, the Scripture does not simply say "He ascended into heaven", which would have been true; it particularizes, and speaks in terms that can only be fully appreciated when we have learned from the Scriptures, that for the period and purpose of the ages, a temporary heaven, called in Genesis the firmament, has been spread over the earth, which "heaven" is to depart as a scroll in the last day. The Saviour is shown in Hebrews as being "made higher than the heavens" (Heb. 7:26) and as having "passed through" (dierchomai) the heavens (Heb. 4:14 R.V.), which but confirms the statement of Ephesians four, that He ascended up far above ALL heavens.

The question of how "far" huperano indicates is not answered by the word itself, but by the context. The cherubim of glory were not "far" above the mercy seat, the nature of the case limiting this superior position to a matter of inches, but the exaltation of the Lord's house to the top of the mountains, and so far above the hills, may indicate thousands of feet, while the present position of the Ascended Lord is so high, that no higher place can be conceived by the mind of man; He is at the right hand of God in the super-heavens, far above all principality and power. This is the unique sphere of blessing of the church of the Mystery, and any and every attempt to belittle the high exaltation of the church must of necessity belittle the high exaltation of its Head. All other callings find their sphere either in the New Earth or in the New Jerusalem which, though "heavenly" in character, is obliged to descend to the earth at the end, because the heaven in which the City is reserved is destined to pass away. The only redeemed company that has a place in the original heavens of Genesis 1:1, which are never to pass away, is the Church which is His Body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. Their "citizenship" IS (an abiding fact) IN heaven (Phil. 3:20).

An Alphabetical Analysis