Rabbinical writers actually adopted this Greek word and turned it into Hebrew,

using it sometimes of Satan, sometimes of the angel of death, and sometimes of

earthly kings.  Wetzstein says that the title was used of Sisnachosis, king of

Egypt as `emperor of the world', and the interrelation of earthly monarchies

with heavenly, though fallen, princes is indicated in Daniel 10.  It is

therefore of the utmost importance that we do not allow the references to the

present `world', which is to pass away, and which at the present time is largely

under the power of Satan, to blind our eyes to that greater kosmos, that `host'

of which the Lord is leader, which will ultimately triumph over evil and

establish righteousness and peace.  Every redeemed child of God is called to be

a good soldier in this glorious army.  He is provided with complete armour in

Christ, and a trusty weapon, the Word of God.  May every reader realize the

gravity of our calling and the utmost call there is for single-eyed loyalty.

`Quit you like men, be strong'.

`Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ'.

`God Himself is with us for our Captain'.

We have spent considerable time in the endeavour to present something of

the importance that the phrase `before the foundation of the world' holds in the

dispensation of the mystery, and have seen that there are three unique features

revealed in Ephesians 1:3,4 that for ever set the mystery apart as a revelation

and a calling.

The blessings are `all spiritual' or `every blessing that is spiritual'.

They are `in heavenly places' en tois epouraniois.

In the superheavens.

They were planned `before the overthrow of the world', i.e. before Genesis

We now move to a contemplation of the purpose with which these unique

things are associated.  They are:

That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children.

Having made us accepted in the Beloved.

`That we should be holy'.  How easy to write, how easy to read, but what

worlds of thought these few words contain!  The very conception of holiness is

of a thing apart.  We meet men in the ordinary walk of life who would not

hesitate to claim that they are as good as the next man.  The very apostle who

wrote Ephesians could write concerning himself `touching the righteousness which

is in the law, blameless', but the claim to `holiness' is never heard in the

ordinary walks of life.  Every day in the conduct of daily business, the words

`just', `good', `true' will be used by thousands in the course of business

correspondence, but one could search the files of a year's mail, and be fairly

sure that the word `holy' would never be found therein.

In connection with the unfallen anointed cherub of Ezekiel 28 we read: