ARE OUR MYSTERY PROGRAM AND ITS PROMISES BETTER THAN ISRAEL’S PROPHETIC PROGRAM AND ITS PROMISES?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Some within grace circles have stated, “While Israel has been promised just the Earth, we the Body of Christ have been given the much better heavenly places.” When this author entered the Grace Movement over a decade ago, he heard that expression from various teachers. Upon him studying the Bible, however, he discovered it was a highly misleading claim. We are no better than redeemed Israel; their hope is no worse than ours. Both eternal destinies are in God’s design.

In the overall purpose and plan of the God of Scripture, the nation Israel and the Church the Body of Christ are equally righteous before Him. The shed blood of Christ that saves us—that is the redemption price for our sins—is the exact same shed blood that atones for Israel’s sins. (See Romans chapter 3 for our doctrine, and Hebrews chapter 10 for Israel’s doctrine.) It would be thus impossible for one agency to have a “better” inheritance than the other. Both are equally in God’s family, having the same right standing before Him as His Son Jesus Christ does. Just as all lost people are equally lost (there being no people “more lost” than others), all saved people are equally saved (there being no people “more saved” than others). Believers of all ages—yea, of all dispensations—are sons of God.

The Bible speaks of God as having one “eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11). Chapter 1 of Ephesians says to that point: “[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: [11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

Colossians chapter 1: “[16] For by him [the Lord Jesus Christ were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; [20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

When the LORD God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1), He also formed a governmental structure within each realm. Later, Satan and sinful man corrupted these positions of power. Father God set into a motion a plan to restore those governments unto Himself: He formed the nation Israel to be His representatives in the Earth, and He created the Church the Body of Christ to be His representatives in the Heaven. Both agencies are formed by faith in the same shed blood of Christ at Calvary. Israel is one half of God’s restoration plan, and we the Body of Christ are the other half. We are both in Christ, both alive unto God by the same Lord Jesus, to manifest in our particular realms the life of that same Lord Jesus.

It would be wholly inappropriate to say that, in eternity future, we the Church the Body of Christ will glorify Jesus Christ in the heavenly places more than redeemed Israel will glorify Him on Earth. (This would be absurd! Why would God glorify His Son more in one realm than in the other?) Likewise, we would be utterly thoughtless—and conceited and boastful—to advertise our eternity destiny as “superior” to Israel’s eternal destiny. Both agencies serving in their respective roles in the ages to come are equally pleasing to God, for He is the wise Author of both. Jesus Christ’s shed blood redeemed Israel and the Body of Christ. One is no better than the other. Our heavenly hope is not greater than Israel’s earthly hope.

Also see:
» Will living in Heaven forever be boring?
» Can you compare and contrast the ministries of the Apostles Peter and Paul?
» What do you mean—“the prophetic program” and “the mystery program?”