En Tois Epouranios #2

By Michael S. Mecikalski

In our last article we discussed the significant Greek phrase En tois epouranios, "IN THE HEAVEN ABOVE ALL HEAVENS;" used by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, found only five times in all of New Testament Scriptures and found only in the epistle of Ephesians (1:3,1:20,2:6, 3:10, 6:12).

A common statement of many is "when I die I hope to go to heaven." A serious mature "son of God" SHOULD ask, "Oh, really, WHERE is that?" The WORD has much to say on this subject of heaven.

Where then is "THE HEAVEN FAR ABOVE ALL HEAVENS?" What is the significance of this place in the mind and will of God The Father? What does the Scripture teach concerning this realm?

As mentioned previously, the "context" in which any subject of Scripture is found is of extreme importance as a foundation from which to "work" in the understanding of each subject. We are therefore going to look at the Scriptures which form the "context" around the phrase "IN THE HEAVEN FAR ABOVE ALL HEAVENS," and allow the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures to unfold the beautiful tremendous "gems" of knowledge found therein!

Let's look at Ephesians chapter one:

Eph. 1:3: "...We are blessed with every (all) spiritual blessings in this "seat" of "THE HEAVEN FAR ABOVE ALL HEAVENS" in Christ (the Creator of all things in Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2); every spiritual blessing the Father has to give, enjoyed for eternity in the realm of glory where time, space and matter does not and never did exist since God "always was" (Jn. 1:1, Gen. 1:1). Think about it!!!

Eph. 1:4 "...According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." We have then associated with the place "IN THE HEAVEN FAR ABOVE ALL HEAVENS," a CHOOSING OUT of faithful believers by our Heavenly Father Himself. This was in fact accomplished before the foundation of the world (Gr. kosmos=the world created in an ORDERED ARRANGEMENT, like an ORNAMENT). This choosing out was for sure before Gen. 1:2; I personally believe that the Church which is Christ's Body was chosen before the "creation" of Gen. 1:1! The creation of Gen. 1:1 was perfect because God does not create "without form" (see Isa. 45:18, the word used there is "in vain"- the Hebrew word "tohu" used in Gen. 1:2 "without form"). Satan's destruction was unleashed on the perfect creation of Gen. 1:1. God knows all things, the beginning and the end and chose the One Body for a specific purpose ... Take heed and "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:2).