Heaven Misplaced
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More on a “temporary” New Jerusalem…
We are establishing the colonies of heaven here, now. When we die, we get the privilege of visiting the heavenly motherland, which is quite different from moving there permanently. After this brief visit, the Lord will bring us back here for the final and great transformation of the colonists (and the colonies). In short, our time in heaven is the intermediate state. It is not the case that our time here is the intermediate state. There is an old folk song that says, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through.” This captures the mistake almost perfectly. But as the saints gather in heaven—which is the real intermediate state—the growing question is, “When do we get to go back home?” And so this means that heaven is the place that we are just passing through.
— Doug Wilson, Heaven Misplaced, p. 24.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:46 am
I suppose that sounds good to say until one considers that what makes this life temporary is sin and death. There is no death in heaven because nothing that defiles can enter in. Also the glory of God emanates from heaven but is kept ‘under cover’ here in this realm. Hence John’s vision of the risen and ascended Christ is far more glorious than how He appeared in the earth. And it is that same glory we expect to have in heaven when we are in His presence forever. Jesus clearly claimed to have not come from this world and said that we believers were not of this world anymore either. The permanence of the fruits born here from our works of faith are found in heaven alive and well, because the fires of death cannot harm them. Thus Jesus humbled Himself to come here to show us the way – to that eternal life seen only in heaven but here by faith; and then He returned to the glory He had with His Father before the world was made. All of which sounds to me like Mr. Wilson doesn’t really know why his hope ought to be there rather than here. So how can he consider what is only found above, since he knows it not? That is what makes his hope misplaced on the things of this world when it is not about this life only at all. And it is why it is this life that passes away in the end, while our spiritual and heavenly life never does.
Robin
June 7th, 2011 at 9:20 am
MoGrace2u
I can understand where you’re coming from, but do you not believe that the gospel will spread throughout the world like leaven, and make every nation good bread? Do you not believe that the church is slowly becoming a great tree that will shelter every nation (and in most respects already does)? And do you not believe that at the end of history, this physical realm will be entirely renovated? If so, who’s going to live in it? The Creation, like the Tabernacle, has three levels. The first and second were transformed in the first century. It’s our job to transform the third, by the power of the Spirit. As Wilson says, this world is not God’s Vietnam. His hope is not divided between heaven and earth. It is the final, complete union of heaven and earth.
Thanks for your comment!