When Jesus was transfigured his face and clothes shone like the sun in brilliance. This was the unveiling of his Shekinah Glory. This is what will happen at his appearing (epiphaneia) in glorious light. (1 Tim 6:14-16)
The psalmist wrote that God is clothed in splendour and majesty and covered with light as a garment. (Ps.104:1,2) The prophet Malachi wrote that to those who fear his name the Lord will rise as the "sun of righteousness, with healing in his wings". (Mal 4:2) Peter described Christ's "majesty" as "megaleiotes" meaning "splendour, superb magnificence, mighty power, glory". He foretold that a new day, or "age", will dawn when the “morning star” will arise in the hearts of God's people. (2 Pet 1:17-19)
Morning Star comes from the Greek word "phosphorus", meaning "light bearer". It comes from "phos" meaning to shine or make "luminous", and "phero", "to bear or carry" and refers to the appearing of Jesus in splendour as personal fulfilment in hearts of believers at his coming in glory to establish his Kingdom on earth. The reference to Jesus as Morning Star, (pertaining to the dawn) endorses this theme. (Rev 22:16, 2:26-28) To those who follow him he gives a promise that they will rule the nations and receive the Morning Star. Jesus is the Morning Star who one day will appear as the “Sun of Righteousness” to govern the world in peace. He is the light who shines in darkness and brings God's government into the world. (Isa 9:1-7, John 1: 4-9, Rev 21:23,24)
HIS LIGHT IN BELIEVERS
A new day will dawn when Christ's light will arise and shine within believers. True believers already experience the indwelling of Christ by his Spirit. One day he will reveal himself to those who trust in his name and then the righteous will shine forth (and be resplendent) as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. (Matt 13:43) The Morning Star will arise and shine within believers. We read something similar in Daniel 12:3; the righteous will shine like stars. Believers will appear with him in glory. "Christ is our real life. When he comes back, you will shine with him in all his glory". (Col 3:4 Simplified Living Bible) "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in (the splendour of His) glory”. (Col 3:4 Amplified Bible) The word ‘appear’ is "phaino" which is derived from phos, to shine. People who saw Christ’s glory described it as brilliant light. When Moses saw God's glory he radiated that glory and his face shone so brilliantly he had to cover it. He had experienced such concentrated exposure to the Lord's presence that he wore a veil. This glory faded outwardly but one day it will remain and believers will share His Shekinah Glory.
Martyrs and faithful followers of Jesus will be given robes of pure white. (Rev 3:4,5,18, 6:11) The word "white" is derived from the word for light and is used to describe the brightness of Jesus in glory. (Matt 17:2, Rev 1:14) Those who are faithful to him will walk in the same whiteness, as pure light, and not be found naked. (Rev 3:4,5,18) God’s children will put on garments of pure white just as He is arrayed in garments of splendour and light. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, reflected this glory and his face looked like the face of an angel.
When Adam and Eve sinned they lost their spiritual covering and became naked. Prior to their fall they were clothed in the glory of God which departed when they chose death rather than life and immortality. However, one day Jesus will restore believers to be like him. Then he will present to himself his church, glorious and without spot or wrinkle. (Phil 3:21, Eph 5:27)
God's people will shine with His Glory. "The Lord shall be their everlasting light" and they will be planted by the Lord for "the display of his splendour". (Isa 60:19,20 and 61:3 NIV Bible)
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
REVEALING THE SONS OF GOD
Romans 8:1-30
The apostle Paul wrote that the whole creation groans as it waits for the unveiling or "revealing of the sons of God" when God's Sons will be revealed to the whole world. Paul taught that through the indwelling Spirit of God believers are victorious over the sinful carnal nature and one day their mortal bodies will be quickened by God's Spirit to receive full redemption. He described it as the "glorious freedom" of the "sons of God" for which the whole of creation awaits. Believers will be set free from the bondage of the mortal body; carnality, sickness, pain, weakness and death. When this happens believers will conform to the image of Christ and be the "Sons of God". Nothing will be able to harm them. It will be a public display of God's Power and Glory in believers. At that time the Glory of God will be unveiled in His "Sons" and evident for all to see.
John the apostle confirmed this. 1 John 3:1,2 - "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is."
The statements Paul made in Romans chapter eight cannot be fully appreciated unless they are placed in the context of chapter seven in which he described the conflict within each believer between the carnal sinful nature and the spiritual nature that desires to serve God. The carnal nature fights against the Spirit. (Gal 5:17) Paul said that he was "carnal sold under sin" and described the law of sin and death which he was powerless to overcome. This war was within the members of his body and worked in him to produce death. There is tension within every believer between the carnal nature and the Spirit. In a very real sense believers are caught between two dimensions or ages. As children of Adam they are subject to the law that in Adam all die. Spiritually however, they have passed from death to life. The day will come in the new age of glory when the tension between the two realms will cease. Paul cried out "Who can set me free from the body of this death?" He longed to be free of the power that worked death in him and it is this very question that he answered in chapter eight. It is through Jesus that it is possible to be victorious and to be controlled by the law of the Spirit of life. Believers receive the “first fruits” or pledge of this when they receive the Spirit of God by which they know that one day they will receive the completed work. (Romans 8:23, 2 Cor 5:5) The infilling of the Holy Spirit is not the final work but only a foretaste of it. Paul declared that one day there is coming total release from the law of death and corruption when the body itself will be set free into glorious liberty. The complete revealing will come when "He shall appear and we shall see him as he is".
How then will this work? When Jesus appears, all those who are walking in His Spirit will be “quickened” by His Spirit. (Rom 8:11) There is an order to follow; first we “walk” in the Spirit and overcome the carnal nature. (Rom 7:23,24) By living in the Spirit we have entry into a new dimension of life in the Spirit. (Rom 8:9,10) By living in His Spirit we are victorious over the carnal nature and then at His Coming His Spirit will fully redeem and quicken (2227 make alive) our mortal bodies. Jesus “shall quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit in you”. Then full resurrection life will be unveiled within our bodies as the “Sons of God”. (Rom 8:19-23).
When this happens believers will become like Jesus. When Jesus walked on earth he was as immortal as when he arose after death. In the earthly body he had no sickness and was not subject to the restrictions of his body for he could walk on water, go from one place to another instantaneously, could be invisible and so on. He was only limited to earthly boundaries because he chose to be. If he had chosen he could have stepped into glory without experiencing death but he chose to go to the cross. When the sons of God are revealed they too will have bodies like he had and be able to do amazing things. For them death will lose its power, they will not see corruption and will be able to step through the veil into his Presence.
There is coming a "day" when the world will enter a new age of blessing. This is a transitional period during which there is an ever increasing growth of His power and glory through the whole world as nations submit to him and even nature itself will share and benefit from the glorious liberty of God's Sons and be brought into harmony and freedom. The entire creation will begin to enter into a new freedom from the suffering which came about by sin and which brought decay and death. When will this happen? When the “Sons of God" are set free. “The universe itself is to be freed from the shackles of mortality and enter upon the liberty and splendour of the children of God”. (Isa 11:4-10, Romans 8:21 NEB) Christ's initial reign will last a thousand years and that is only a foretaste of more!
The apostle Paul wrote that the whole creation groans as it waits for the unveiling or "revealing of the sons of God" when God's Sons will be revealed to the whole world. Paul taught that through the indwelling Spirit of God believers are victorious over the sinful carnal nature and one day their mortal bodies will be quickened by God's Spirit to receive full redemption. He described it as the "glorious freedom" of the "sons of God" for which the whole of creation awaits. Believers will be set free from the bondage of the mortal body; carnality, sickness, pain, weakness and death. When this happens believers will conform to the image of Christ and be the "Sons of God". Nothing will be able to harm them. It will be a public display of God's Power and Glory in believers. At that time the Glory of God will be unveiled in His "Sons" and evident for all to see.
John the apostle confirmed this. 1 John 3:1,2 - "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is."
The statements Paul made in Romans chapter eight cannot be fully appreciated unless they are placed in the context of chapter seven in which he described the conflict within each believer between the carnal sinful nature and the spiritual nature that desires to serve God. The carnal nature fights against the Spirit. (Gal 5:17) Paul said that he was "carnal sold under sin" and described the law of sin and death which he was powerless to overcome. This war was within the members of his body and worked in him to produce death. There is tension within every believer between the carnal nature and the Spirit. In a very real sense believers are caught between two dimensions or ages. As children of Adam they are subject to the law that in Adam all die. Spiritually however, they have passed from death to life. The day will come in the new age of glory when the tension between the two realms will cease. Paul cried out "Who can set me free from the body of this death?" He longed to be free of the power that worked death in him and it is this very question that he answered in chapter eight. It is through Jesus that it is possible to be victorious and to be controlled by the law of the Spirit of life. Believers receive the “first fruits” or pledge of this when they receive the Spirit of God by which they know that one day they will receive the completed work. (Romans 8:23, 2 Cor 5:5) The infilling of the Holy Spirit is not the final work but only a foretaste of it. Paul declared that one day there is coming total release from the law of death and corruption when the body itself will be set free into glorious liberty. The complete revealing will come when "He shall appear and we shall see him as he is".
How then will this work? When Jesus appears, all those who are walking in His Spirit will be “quickened” by His Spirit. (Rom 8:11) There is an order to follow; first we “walk” in the Spirit and overcome the carnal nature. (Rom 7:23,24) By living in the Spirit we have entry into a new dimension of life in the Spirit. (Rom 8:9,10) By living in His Spirit we are victorious over the carnal nature and then at His Coming His Spirit will fully redeem and quicken (2227 make alive) our mortal bodies. Jesus “shall quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit in you”. Then full resurrection life will be unveiled within our bodies as the “Sons of God”. (Rom 8:19-23).
When this happens believers will become like Jesus. When Jesus walked on earth he was as immortal as when he arose after death. In the earthly body he had no sickness and was not subject to the restrictions of his body for he could walk on water, go from one place to another instantaneously, could be invisible and so on. He was only limited to earthly boundaries because he chose to be. If he had chosen he could have stepped into glory without experiencing death but he chose to go to the cross. When the sons of God are revealed they too will have bodies like he had and be able to do amazing things. For them death will lose its power, they will not see corruption and will be able to step through the veil into his Presence.
There is coming a "day" when the world will enter a new age of blessing. This is a transitional period during which there is an ever increasing growth of His power and glory through the whole world as nations submit to him and even nature itself will share and benefit from the glorious liberty of God's Sons and be brought into harmony and freedom. The entire creation will begin to enter into a new freedom from the suffering which came about by sin and which brought decay and death. When will this happen? When the “Sons of God" are set free. “The universe itself is to be freed from the shackles of mortality and enter upon the liberty and splendour of the children of God”. (Isa 11:4-10, Romans 8:21 NEB) Christ's initial reign will last a thousand years and that is only a foretaste of more!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Immortality..
Paul taught that believers will be caught out of their present condition which is subject to mortality and into a condition subject to immortality. They will be clothed with immortality. (1 Cor 15:53,54,) What did Paul mean by immortality? Immortality is not being subject to death; deathlessness. However, according to Vines Expository Dictionary immortality (athanasia) is more; it suggests the quality of life enjoyed by the believer when mortality is "swallowed up by life". The immortality Jesus offers is to be joined in him, the source of life and joy. It is to be fully released from the carnal principle that works in us producing death and to be joined in union with Him who is immortal. (2 Cor 5:1-8) Every believer already has that kind of life but the day will come when it will be experienced in its complete fullness. (Jn 8:51, 10:10)
After his resurrection Jesus displayed his immortality to his people. At his return he will release it into those who are his, who will then be able to live and function in a way no longer subject to the physical dimension just as Jesus was able to do in his earthly body. May I ask “Did the Lord have immortality in his earthly body when he lived on earth? Yes, he was free of sin and no curse of death operated in his life so he must have. He is the author of life and light; its very source. In him was the life of the Father so he must have been immortal. (John 1:4, 5:26, Acts 3:15, Col 1:16) In his earthly life he was not subject to the restrictions of his body. He was able to walk on water and could pass right through hostile crowds either by being invincible or invisible. (Luke 4:30, Jn 7:30, 8:59, 10:39) If Jesus had not died surely he could have just walked into heaven; otherwise he would still be alive on earth. The pre-flood Patriarchs lived for hundreds of years and they were sinful, Jesus was sinless. No one took his life from him for he voluntarily submitted to death. (John 10:15-18) At his transfiguration I believe that he could have stepped back into his glory but chose not to but to go to the cross and die for us. And when he died it was not possible for death to hold him. (Acts 2:24) So too believers will function in bodies that are powerful, glorious and spiritual, made like the man from heaven. It will be a worldwide replication of Christ’s life in his people. (1 Cor 15:35-48) At his "parousia" or "Presence" his people will experience a change that will release them from the present physical restrictions of this dimension and give them access to his power. Believers who have died will rise in resurrection and be able to function like angels (Luke 20:35) and believers who are alive will be changed so as to also enter and share in the life of Jesus. They will have newly empowered and changed bodies not subject to carnality or restrictions of this present dimension. They will be like Christ was on earth, not subject to death or disease and like Enoch will be able to walk through the veil into God's presence. We will consider Enoch later.
There are three groups of people on earth when Jesus returns. 1/ there are believers in Jesus who will be changed to become like him and then live and function with him. Through “harpazo” they will possess the power, life and glory of Jesus and enter the Kingdom of God which will grow and increase. 2/ There are the desperately wicked who will be destroyed at his coming. 3/ There is the remainder of mankind who will come under the authority of the Kingdom of God. The “Day of the Lord” is the time of Christ's reign on earth. It commences at his parousia and continues until "New Jerusalem" comes down to earth. This period is designated as a thousand years. We will consider this more fully later.
The emphasis through the Bible is that the Kingdom of God will come to earth and subdue the whole world. God will empower his people and will rule and reign through them. How will this happen if there are no people left on earth? Will they rule over one another? Who has ever heard of a Kingdom without a structure, without rulers and people who come under it? In his church the Lord has established a world wide net that will take control of the nations and gather in a vast harvest. The Lord Jesus will have complete dominion over all nations. It will be the righteous reign of God through the one and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords and those who rule with him. (1 Tim 6:15) When will this happen? – At his coming PRESENCE - “parousia”.
Monday, April 1, 2013
"CAUGHT UP"...
"CAUGHT UP" - HARPAZO - 1 Thes 4:17
The term "caught up" depicts a powerful event. The Greek word "harpazo" (Strongs 726) conveys the idea of force suddenly exercised (Vines) and is used to describe a powerful release of God's energy. It means to be taken hold of, to be seized by a power beyond our own. For those who would say “caught up” means to be removed from the earth let us consider the following. Paul was “caught up” to the third heaven and whether in or out of his body but he did not leave the earth; he had access to spiritual realms and heard words which could not be expressed in human language. Philip was “caught away” by the Lord from one place to another but neither did he leave the earth. It seems Ezekiel also had a similar experience. Each received a powerful intervention of God's power which released them from the restrictions of this physical dimension but they were not taken away. (2 Cor 12:2-4, Acts 8:39, Ezk 8:3, 11:24)
The use of this word by the Lord himself reveals its meaning. Jesus used the same word but never said that people are taken out of the world. He said that "harpazo" empowers “men of force” to enter the Kingdom of God. (Matt 11:12) The NIV says, "the Kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it". Men enter into it by the “harpazo” power of God. It conveys the idea of pressing into and possessing the Kingdom. (Luke 16:16) Every time Christ did a miracle he reached into a “future age”, the Kingdom age, took hold of it and released its power into the present situation. Through "harpazo" believers were able to take hold of and enter into the Kingdom. Jesus did not use the word to mean being taken to heaven but to mean entering the Kingdom of God here on earth. They were not taken out of the world but experienced the power of God coming in to them to change them in the world. “Harpazo” is the forceful dynamics of God to catch someone into His power. It is God seizing control.
Paul experienced “harpazo” and used the same word to describe what will happen to living believers at the parousia. It is the release of God's power into believers, not to take them away but to enter His Presence when He comes. It is not a removal from a place but a transformation from a state. The "harpazo" is the dynamic power of God to catch believers out of their fallen condition of corruption and transform them into the incorruptible life of Christ. It means first and foremost a catching out of a state, that of carnality and death, into that of spiritual power. (See page 28, Romans 8) The “harpazo” releases one from the restrictions of this present mortal life to fully transform one into the freedom of Christ's life right here and now. The “harpazo” will happen as it did with Jesus. The “man child” was “caught up” to God. (Rev. 12:5) In the same way he had come and gone during the 40 days he just stepped through the veil into the cloud. When He returns the “harpazo” will happen in the same way. He will step out and they will meet him not up in the stratosphere but right here in the Cloud of his Presence. But some may say “The Lord must first descend”. To descend (Strongs 2597) means to “step down”. (Jn5:7) He will just step down from the cloud.
"A MEETING IN THE AIR"
If the clouds at Christ's return are not weather clouds but clouds of God's Glory and Presence, then the term "in the air" must also convey a spiritual reality. Once again, if I said “I am walking on air” would you take that to mean I am floating around in clouds? Paul did not mean that believers will go up to the atmospheric clouds but that they will enter the Presence or realm of Christ's Power and Glory in the mighty Clouds of His Holy Spirit. The place God met His people in the OT was in the Cloud of His Presence in the “Tabernacle of Meeting”. (Num 12:4) This is where He will return, to his Living Tabernacle, in the Cloud of His Mighty Spirit.
The “air” is a word Paul used to describe a dimension in our immediate vicinity. This is not a frequently used word and the apostle Paul used it to mean the air in the sense of it being nearby, surrounding us, not far away. (Strong’s Dictionary, no.109 - circumambient.) This is how he described the reality of the invisible spiritual dimension very near to us, all around us, right here “in the air”.
The word "air" is used in the New Testament for both natural air and the realm of spiritual powers working in the earth. In the book of Revelation it is used in the context of angelic activity on earth and in Ephesians 2:2 it describes the realm and work of "the prince of the power of the air" working in this present earth. It is a spiritual dimension right here within the natural air. To understand this one must understand the realities of different dimensions so close to each other that they superimpose upon each other. Paul linked the air with the realm where spiritual battle takes place and the Lord rules. The realm of the air is the realm over which Jesus has ultimate rule. This dimension will open for believers.
When Jesus returns he descends from heaven. (1 Thes 4:16) He will then “catch his people into the air”, a different word from heaven. He does not ascend back into heaven with them but he takes them into His immediate Presence in the Holy Spirit, the Cloud of Shekinah Glory, His Holy Presence, “in the air”.
The word "air" is used in a similar way as the word “wind” which also denotes both natural and spiritual realities. (Eph 2:2) In the New Testament the word "wind" almost always conveys the meaning of "spirit". In the same way, when the apostle Paul spoke of "air" he certainly did NOT mean what we breathe, made of nitrogen and oxygen but was referring to an invisible spirit dimension. Air is the nearest Paul could get to describe this invisible realm. Just as air is real but invisible so Paul used it to describe the very real but invisible realm which is very close to us. It is a spirit dimension which is not far off, just invisible, nearby "in the air" all around us. Paul did not mean that believers will be caught up to the cloudy sky but that believers will have access to spirit dimensions. The "air" is the Spirit realm that Jesus rules over and which will open for believers. At his "parousia" believers are not going up into the weather clouds but are going into the "Presence" of Christ in the Clouds of the Holy Spirit and Shekina Glory.
As believers we are “seated with him” and have access to the realm of His Presence even though we may not see Him. When he returns we will be able to fully enter and see him “Face to Face” in Glory.
The term "caught up" depicts a powerful event. The Greek word "harpazo" (Strongs 726) conveys the idea of force suddenly exercised (Vines) and is used to describe a powerful release of God's energy. It means to be taken hold of, to be seized by a power beyond our own. For those who would say “caught up” means to be removed from the earth let us consider the following. Paul was “caught up” to the third heaven and whether in or out of his body but he did not leave the earth; he had access to spiritual realms and heard words which could not be expressed in human language. Philip was “caught away” by the Lord from one place to another but neither did he leave the earth. It seems Ezekiel also had a similar experience. Each received a powerful intervention of God's power which released them from the restrictions of this physical dimension but they were not taken away. (2 Cor 12:2-4, Acts 8:39, Ezk 8:3, 11:24)
The use of this word by the Lord himself reveals its meaning. Jesus used the same word but never said that people are taken out of the world. He said that "harpazo" empowers “men of force” to enter the Kingdom of God. (Matt 11:12) The NIV says, "the Kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it". Men enter into it by the “harpazo” power of God. It conveys the idea of pressing into and possessing the Kingdom. (Luke 16:16) Every time Christ did a miracle he reached into a “future age”, the Kingdom age, took hold of it and released its power into the present situation. Through "harpazo" believers were able to take hold of and enter into the Kingdom. Jesus did not use the word to mean being taken to heaven but to mean entering the Kingdom of God here on earth. They were not taken out of the world but experienced the power of God coming in to them to change them in the world. “Harpazo” is the forceful dynamics of God to catch someone into His power. It is God seizing control.
Paul experienced “harpazo” and used the same word to describe what will happen to living believers at the parousia. It is the release of God's power into believers, not to take them away but to enter His Presence when He comes. It is not a removal from a place but a transformation from a state. The "harpazo" is the dynamic power of God to catch believers out of their fallen condition of corruption and transform them into the incorruptible life of Christ. It means first and foremost a catching out of a state, that of carnality and death, into that of spiritual power. (See page 28, Romans 8) The “harpazo” releases one from the restrictions of this present mortal life to fully transform one into the freedom of Christ's life right here and now. The “harpazo” will happen as it did with Jesus. The “man child” was “caught up” to God. (Rev. 12:5) In the same way he had come and gone during the 40 days he just stepped through the veil into the cloud. When He returns the “harpazo” will happen in the same way. He will step out and they will meet him not up in the stratosphere but right here in the Cloud of his Presence. But some may say “The Lord must first descend”. To descend (Strongs 2597) means to “step down”. (Jn5:7) He will just step down from the cloud.
"A MEETING IN THE AIR"
If the clouds at Christ's return are not weather clouds but clouds of God's Glory and Presence, then the term "in the air" must also convey a spiritual reality. Once again, if I said “I am walking on air” would you take that to mean I am floating around in clouds? Paul did not mean that believers will go up to the atmospheric clouds but that they will enter the Presence or realm of Christ's Power and Glory in the mighty Clouds of His Holy Spirit. The place God met His people in the OT was in the Cloud of His Presence in the “Tabernacle of Meeting”. (Num 12:4) This is where He will return, to his Living Tabernacle, in the Cloud of His Mighty Spirit.
The “air” is a word Paul used to describe a dimension in our immediate vicinity. This is not a frequently used word and the apostle Paul used it to mean the air in the sense of it being nearby, surrounding us, not far away. (Strong’s Dictionary, no.109 - circumambient.) This is how he described the reality of the invisible spiritual dimension very near to us, all around us, right here “in the air”.
The word "air" is used in the New Testament for both natural air and the realm of spiritual powers working in the earth. In the book of Revelation it is used in the context of angelic activity on earth and in Ephesians 2:2 it describes the realm and work of "the prince of the power of the air" working in this present earth. It is a spiritual dimension right here within the natural air. To understand this one must understand the realities of different dimensions so close to each other that they superimpose upon each other. Paul linked the air with the realm where spiritual battle takes place and the Lord rules. The realm of the air is the realm over which Jesus has ultimate rule. This dimension will open for believers.
When Jesus returns he descends from heaven. (1 Thes 4:16) He will then “catch his people into the air”, a different word from heaven. He does not ascend back into heaven with them but he takes them into His immediate Presence in the Holy Spirit, the Cloud of Shekinah Glory, His Holy Presence, “in the air”.
The word "air" is used in a similar way as the word “wind” which also denotes both natural and spiritual realities. (Eph 2:2) In the New Testament the word "wind" almost always conveys the meaning of "spirit". In the same way, when the apostle Paul spoke of "air" he certainly did NOT mean what we breathe, made of nitrogen and oxygen but was referring to an invisible spirit dimension. Air is the nearest Paul could get to describe this invisible realm. Just as air is real but invisible so Paul used it to describe the very real but invisible realm which is very close to us. It is a spirit dimension which is not far off, just invisible, nearby "in the air" all around us. Paul did not mean that believers will be caught up to the cloudy sky but that believers will have access to spirit dimensions. The "air" is the Spirit realm that Jesus rules over and which will open for believers. At his "parousia" believers are not going up into the weather clouds but are going into the "Presence" of Christ in the Clouds of the Holy Spirit and Shekina Glory.
As believers we are “seated with him” and have access to the realm of His Presence even though we may not see Him. When he returns we will be able to fully enter and see him “Face to Face” in Glory.
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