The Concordant Publishng Concern

[joeteekay]

We are all in Christ and all will be glorified together with Him, whether Jew or Gentile.

As spirit beings we will be glorified. Everyone, ALL. We will be in a state of glory. Can we glean from scripture more insight into what this means?

I Corinthians 15: (35) But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" (36 )Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.  (37) And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain- perhaps wheat or some other grain.  (38) But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. (39) All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. (40) There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  (41) There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.


From these versus we can see a number of things.  First, for a seed that is sown, it must first die for it to grow (or be made alive). Secondly, every living organism is created unique  (i.e. – all flesh is not the same flesh).  Thirdly, there are earthly objects and heavenly objects that are unique.  The celestial or heavenly ones have their own glory and the earthly or terrestrial have their own as well. 

So we see that there are different levels of glory in the celestial domain.   There is a glory of the sun. There is a glory of the moon. The revelation God is giving through the Apostle Paul here is remarkable and awesome. In verse 41 he says: There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. The sun is the brightest and most brilliant celestial body.  We just read in Revelation 1 that the face of Jesus is like the sun at its full strength. The stars are celestial (heavenly) bodies that have their own glory.  Their glory is different than that of the glory of the sun or moon when we observe them.  If you look into the heavens on a clear night you see the individual glory of each heavenly body and star.

And so, even the stars differ in their glory. If you are a student of astronomy, you know that there is a family of stars.  Astronomers have classified stars in a particular way.  This is called stellar classification and is based on spectral characteristics.  Each star has its own spectral signature.  They are classified in 7 categories according to color.  Blue, blue-white, white, yellow-white, yellow, orange and red.  The brightest have a white or bluish-white color. One example is the star Sirius in the constellation Orion. At the lowest end of the spectrum are stars that have an orange and -red color. Our sun is a star and it is classified as a yellow star.

It is reasonable to conclude that we, as spirit beings will have a glory, a spiritual brilliance. Our brilliance will be far less than that of Jesus Christ, our elder brother, and less than the pillars which were led by God such as the prophets and the Apostles. The degree of glory that will be bestowed on us will be based upon how much we overcome and grow in this life.

Is this description in I Corinthians 15 [(41) There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory] the only place that speaks of the glorification of the Children of God? No, there is a scripture in the Old Testament that shows us what God's born again spirit family will be like in appearance. In Daniel we find a scripture about spirit beings having a brilliance of light and glory.

Dan.12: 2-3 2  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting (eonian) life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt (eonian repulsion).
3   Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. (for the eon and further).

Daniel 12:2-3
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
2`And the multitude of those sleeping in the dust of the ground do awake, some to life age-during, and some to reproaches -- to abhorrence age-during. 3And those teaching do shine as the brightness of the expanse, and those justifying the multitude as stars to the age and for ever.

And so:

I Cor 15 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  43 lt is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.  44 lt is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 however, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.  47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord  from heaven.  48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man (Celestial One), so also are those who are heavenly (Celestials). 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man (Celestial).

Our Final Victory

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.  51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

That is real cool. What a wonderful future awaits us. The physical and material that we live with today and seems so real but it will pass away.  Heb 11:3 and 2 Cor 4:18 The physical will continue into the Millennium.  But after the millennium and 100 year period, the universe and everything physical, will melt away with fervent heat. 2 Pet 3: 10 – 13. Everything in existence will be of spirit eventually.  During these eons of the physical creation there exist 3 heavens as Paul tells us.  This changes as we find in Rev 21: 1.  At that time we will be spirit and we will never hurt nor cry.  God has created the physical universe for a limited period; once it has served its purpose, all will revert back to spirit.  We have much to rejoice over. We shall shine like the stars for the eon of the millennium and beyond. We like Paul can say, the present trials are not worth to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.

[fullarmor2]

We are all in Christ and all will be glorified together with Him, whether Jew or Gentile.

As spirit beings we will be glorified. Everyone, ALL. We will be in a state of glory. Can we glean from scripture more insight into what this means?

I believe this to. Its just that its not going to happen until Christ is finished saving the World, literally and experientially for all mankind. Starting with the establishment of the earthly Kingdom promised to Israel(under the Old and New Covenants)  and to gentile proselytes to Israel. Then the salvation of all mankind kicks off, experientially!  But it gets better! The salvation of "all things in heaven" is also going to be accomplished by Christ! This is the purpose of Christ, through Paul's ministry, of calling out a group of believers to do in the heavenly places what Israel will be doing on the Earth. And that's to bring about GOD'S intention to "reconcile all things in heaven"!   We're all believers, but these are two separate and distinct callings. 

From these versus we can see a number of things.  First, for a seed that is sown, it must first die for it to grow (or be made alive). Secondly, every living organism is created unique  (i.e. – all flesh is not the same flesh).  Thirdly, there are earthly objects and heavenly objects that are unique.  The celestial or heavenly ones have their own glory and the earthly or terrestrial have their own as well. 

So we see that there are different levels of glory in the celestial domain.   There is a glory of the sun. There is a glory of the moon. The revelation God is giving through the Apostle Paul here is remarkable and awesome. In verse 41 he says: There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. The sun is the brightest and most brilliant celestial body.  We just read in Revelation 1 that the face of Jesus is like the sun at its full strength. The stars are celestial (heavenly) bodies that have their own glory.  Their glory is different than that of the glory of the sun or moon when we observe them.  If you look into the heavens on a clear night you see the individual glory of each heavenly body and star.

And so, even the stars differ in their glory. If you are a student of astronomy, you know that there is a family of stars.  Astronomers have classified stars in a particular way.  This is called stellar classification and is based on spectral characteristics.  Each star has its own spectral signature.  They are classified in 7 categories according to color.  Blue, blue-white, white, yellow-white, yellow, orange and red.  The brightest have a white or bluish-white color. One example is the star Sirius in the constellation Orion. At the lowest end of the spectrum are stars that have an orange and -red color. Our sun is a star and it is classified as a yellow star.

That's a really good point. It is amazing how that Paul wrote what he did about this! 

It is reasonable to conclude that we, as spirit beings will have a glory, a spiritual brilliance.

Yes but it will be in accord with the different callings. Which are only for the remainder of the eons, while GOD will still be bringing about the salvation of all. Now, at the end of the eons, Christ will have finished his work, and GOD will become "all in all" and THEN many, if not all,  of the eonian  distinctions that we see in scripture between believers with different callings, will be done away with.

Our brilliance will be far less than that of Jesus Christ, our elder brother,

     If any believers have "far less brilliance" than Christ, I think it may only be for the eons. But after GOD becomes all in all, I think many more if not all, will be brilliant similar to Christ. Although Christ may still be more so,  because of who he is.

and less than the pillars which were led by God such as the prophets and the Apostles.

    I believe that, for at least the eons, these believers will be in the terrestrial state of glorification, similar to how Jesus revealed himself to Israelite believers after his resurrection.  For the earthly work that GOD has for them pertaining to the earthly Kingdom. As opposed to believers who are called for the heavenly work of GOD in accord with the Apostle Paul's teaching about this. These believers will need bodies suited for the heavenly work. 
     

The degree of glory that will be bestowed on us will be based upon how much we overcome and grow in this life.

   I agree that this is true to an extent, regarding how that believers will be rewarded for faithfulness.  But I also think that glory will be bestowed on us because of GOD'S grace and that most of our future glory will be because of that. If not all of it. Because even when people are able to excel at "overcoming" its because of GOD.  So I'm thinking that differences in glory is the relative and only eonian. Whereas after the end of the eons when GOD becomes all in all, I'm not sure that there will be all these differences that we have during the eons. 

That is real cool. What a wonderful future awaits us.

Amen!  :iagree:

The physical and material that we live with today and seems so real but it will pass away.  Heb 11:3 and 2 Cor 4:18 The physical will continue into the Millennium.  But after the millennium and 100 year period, the universe and everything physical, will melt away with fervent heat. 2 Pet 3: 10 – 13. Everything in existence will be of spirit eventually.  During these eons of the physical creation there exist 3 heavens as Paul tells us.  This changes as we find in Rev 21: 1.  At that time we will be spirit and we will never hurt nor cry.  God has created the physical universe for a limited period; once it has served its purpose, all will revert back to spirit.  We have much to rejoice over. We shall shine like the stars for the eon of the millennium and beyond.

   Interesting.  :Chinscratch:

We like Paul can say, the present trials are not worth to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.

   I really like that portion of scripture. Amen to that!  :dsunny: