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Adoption in the three spheres.
In each sphere of blessing there is one special company who receive the adoption. On
the earth among the nations the adoption belongs exclusively to Israel:--
"To whom pertaineth the adoption" (Rom. 9: 4), and Israel shall be "head and not
tail" (Deut. 28: 13) in that day.
"For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish" (Isa. 9: 12).
"But ye shall be named the priests of the Lord, men shall call you ministers of our
God" (Isa. 61: 6).
The second sphere is variously described as the New Jerusalem, Jerusalem which is
above, the heavenly country and the heavenly city, and forms part of the teaching of
Galatians, Hebrews and Revelation. The heavenly Jerusalem is the abode of angels:--
"But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and unto an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and
church of the firstborn (the adoption) which are written in heaven" (Heb. 12: 22, 23).
Instead of being head among nations, as Israel will be upon the earth, those who
receive the adoption (as taught in Gal. 4: 5) will inherit this high dignity in the New
Jerusalem--sinner saved being raised "higher than the angels", and forming the blessed
adoption in that second sphere.
The full blaze of glory, however, is reserved for the third and highest sphere. Here
angels are not mentioned. Around the throne in ever widening circles are the
principalities, the powers, the dominions and the thrones, but not one of these high beings
have the adoption--that is reserved for the church chosen before the foundation of the
world, and predestinated unto this adoption by God Himself. Higher than the highest
principality or throne in the super-heavens is reserved the place of honour for that church
which has been raised from the very lowest and degraded of mankind. Here is grace
beyond dreams, and the great reconciliation between that chosen church and all the
blessed occupants of that higher glory has been accomplished. Let us not pass this matter
by too hurriedly, but let us re-state in diagram form what we have seen, so that its bearing
upon our subject shall be fully realized.
FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITIES
THE CHURCH of the ONE BODY.
The adoption belongs to the BODY only.
THE NEW JERUSALEM.
The innumerable company of ANGELS.
The adoption belongs to the CHURCH only.
THE EARTH AND KINGDOM.
The NATIONS of the EARTH.
The adoption belongs to ISRAEL only.