JOYFUL ASSEMBLY - PART 5

SATURDAY 24 DECEMBER 2022

Today's focus is on the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory], according to Amplified Bible. They are not just spirits that have been made perfect in heaven, they are also joyfully generating sounds of celebration in heaven as they dwell in the light of God's countenance. In heaven, they partake of the joy of fellowship and communion with Christ Jesus, in the full presence of God.

Reference: Hebrews 12:22-24 Amplified (AMP) "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering], and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory], and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance]."

Note the expression, "The spirits of the righteous men made perfect in heaven." Not the "body" of righteous men made perfect in heaven. In other words, they don't have a glorified body yet, and they are no longer in their physical, earthly bodies. They have the form of angels, but they are not angels, because they are of the family of the redeemed. So they are different from holy angelic beings because they were born again before they died on earth. Remember angels don't get born again, only humans do, as long as they are still alive on earth. But the saints already in heaven also partake of the same privileges as angels in this family named of God, because their spirits have been made perfect, which bring them to their final glory. There will be more privileges for the saints in eternity and I will come to that later.

In King David's inspired Domine Dominus noster, he penned his contemplation which says: "I cannot understand how you [God] can bother with mere puny man, to pay any attention to him! And yet you have made him only a little lower than the angels and placed a crown of glory and honor upon his head" (Psalm 8:4-5 Living Bible). Here he referred to mere humanity; the living beings on earth. They are made to function a little lower than the angels. But this is not the same with the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and I know this, according to frequent mention, which was made in the Scriptures regarding the distinctions between the redeemed family above, (the saints who have gone to be with the Lord) and us, the family of God on earth.

The spirits of just men made perfect are superior to the family of the holy angels. To confirm this truth, remember that Paul asked an interesting question saying, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?" (1 Corinthians 6:3 NKJV). Got it?

Now watch this: Although the spirits of the righteous, who have gone to be with the Lord in heaven, have been made perfect, they are still subject to resurrection when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. In other words, they'll wake up from death when the trumpet sounds and then, wear their resurrection body, which is a glorified body. This truth is instantiated in 1st Corinthians 15:35-58 (NLT) which reads, 'But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?" There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever..."

So although the just men were buried in their natural human bodies, they will be raised in spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. Upon Christ's return, their dying bodies will be transformed into bodies that will never die, which are immortal bodies. Once the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. This will be the same for us, the saints alive; we shall wear a glorified body. (Please carefully study 1st Corinthians 15:33-58) and stay tuned for part 6. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Hebrews 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 11:5.

Exuberant Declaration: I'm supremely blessed because I am of the household of God. For this reason, all glory be unto God, the Father of all the saints, and blessed be the whole family of God both in heaven and on earth. Hallelujah!