11/23/08: 2 Corinthians 5
"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Corinthians 1-4). Our present bodies are like simple, perishable, destructible "tents"; however, our "heavenly dwellings" correspond to what Jesus previously said: "In my Father's house are many rooms [or mansions]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2,3).
Many people envision these "rooms" or "mansions" or "places" that Jesus is preparing for us as elaborate buildings in heaven, just as we live in houses here on earth. I disagree. I believe that Paul and Jesus were referring to our glorified bodies, which we will receive at the Rapture, when Jesus appears again in the clouds and takes us to be with Him. "For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:53). We will dwell in that "clothing" forever.
Even the ancient prophet Isaiah associated the entering of our "rooms" with the resurrection. While in those "rooms," we will avoid the wrath of God which will come upon the rest of the world: "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer" (Isaiah 26:19-21).
Many people envision these "rooms" or "mansions" or "places" that Jesus is preparing for us as elaborate buildings in heaven, just as we live in houses here on earth. I disagree. I believe that Paul and Jesus were referring to our glorified bodies, which we will receive at the Rapture, when Jesus appears again in the clouds and takes us to be with Him. "For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:53). We will dwell in that "clothing" forever.
Even the ancient prophet Isaiah associated the entering of our "rooms" with the resurrection. While in those "rooms," we will avoid the wrath of God which will come upon the rest of the world: "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer" (Isaiah 26:19-21).
11/23/08: 2 Corinthians 3
"For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!" (2 Corinthians 3:10,11). Previous to this, Paul had been talking about the law, written on stone, given by God to Moses (3:7). At the time, it was glorious, because without the law, people would not have been aware of all of their sins. And without an awareness that one is sinning, there would be no awareness of the need to be saved from sin, and all would be lost.
Once Jesus came and sacrificed Himself for sinners, He surpassed or supplanted the glory of the law. The law initially was kept by the Israelites, and any transgressions of the law were atoned for by the blood sacrifices of animals. It was glorious not only that God gave the Israelites the law, but also that He provided a means by which atonement could be made for breaking the law. With time, though, that glory faded, because Israel continued to sink deeper into sin. Eventually, even the atonement rituals for sin were ceased, so all of that glory faded away.
But once Jesus came,--the perfect "Lamb" who was the ultimate sacrifice for sin (1 Corinthians 5:7)--then the original glory and intent of the law was restored. He also brought the promise to all who believe in Him that they will be glorified (changed into a perfect form) at the resurrection. Furthermore, not one bit of the law will change, throughout Jesus' glorious reign during the Millennium, until heaven and earth disappear (Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; Revelation 20:), and a new heaven and earth appear (Revelation 21:1,5).
Once Jesus came and sacrificed Himself for sinners, He surpassed or supplanted the glory of the law. The law initially was kept by the Israelites, and any transgressions of the law were atoned for by the blood sacrifices of animals. It was glorious not only that God gave the Israelites the law, but also that He provided a means by which atonement could be made for breaking the law. With time, though, that glory faded, because Israel continued to sink deeper into sin. Eventually, even the atonement rituals for sin were ceased, so all of that glory faded away.
But once Jesus came,--the perfect "Lamb" who was the ultimate sacrifice for sin (1 Corinthians 5:7)--then the original glory and intent of the law was restored. He also brought the promise to all who believe in Him that they will be glorified (changed into a perfect form) at the resurrection. Furthermore, not one bit of the law will change, throughout Jesus' glorious reign during the Millennium, until heaven and earth disappear (Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; Revelation 20:), and a new heaven and earth appear (Revelation 21:1,5).
