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#6.
Heavenly Places.
pp. 147 - 153
We have established by positive proof that the Scriptures speak of three distinct
companies of believers, and that these three companies, constituting the Kingdom, the
Bride and the Body, have three distinct spheres in which the blessings appropriate to each
are to be enjoyed. We have given some attention to the information contained in the
Scriptures concerning two of these spheres, and we conclude this series by an
examination of the statements made in Ephesians concerning the peculiar sphere in which
the Church of the Mystery is to enjoy its blessings. It is not the unique character of
Paul's ministry as the prisoner of Christ Jesus that we are to examine, but the unique
sphere of blessing to which that ministry points.
The distinctive place, "where", and the time, "when", the Church of the Mystery shall
enjoy its blessings, and was chosen in Christ by the Father, are given in Eph. 1: 3, 4. We
are not now concerned with the true translation of the words, "before the foundation of
the world" in verse 4, but with the latter clause of verse 3:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1: 3).
As the phrase en tois epouraniois is exclusive to Ephesians, and as every other
occurrence of epouranios has reference to the character of the "heavenly" thing
concerned, but not the place "where" it will be enjoyed, a mere list of the occurrences of
epouranios would have only the appearance of argument while lacking validity.
"In heavenly places" is the translation of the Greek words en tois epouraniois. We
have seen that the word epouranios occurs six times in the Epistle to the Hebrews, but
there it speaks of a heavenly calling, a heavenly gift, heavenly realities, and a heavenly
country or city. There can be no comparison between a "heavenly gift" that was enjoyed
on earth with "the heavenly places" of Eph. 1: 3: the one refers to character, the other to
a sphere. The occurrences of epouranios in Ephesians must be segregated, for they form
a group by themselves. The phrase en tois epouraniois occurs only in Ephesians and
nowhere else in the N.T.
The second occurrence of the phrase is found in Eph. 1: 20, 21, where we learn that
this sphere is "where Christ sitteth" at the right hand of God. Whether we continue the
use of the phrase "far above all heavens", or whether we exchange it for a more limited
rendering, nothing is more certain than that there can be no conceivably higher position
in the whole universe than the right hand of God. Such is the height of this exaltation of
Christ that the passage continues:--
"Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Eph. 1: 21).