“Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by MANY INFALLIBLE (reliable) PROOFS, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and YOU SHALL BE WITNESSES TO ME…to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:3) While we already are in possession of our full blessings, we are not yet in the ABSOLUTE BLISS of the NEW heavens and earth.
We are now in the last days. Pentecost has brought in the full equipping of the saints for our sanctification. And we already sit in the heavenly places in Christ, “God, who is rich in mercy, made us ALIVE TOGETHER with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and RAISED US UP TOGETHER, and made us SIT TOGETHER in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Eph. 2:4-6) There are so many glorious things to come, “…the glory has not yet fully transformed everything. The Holy Spirit has guaranteed our inheritance, but we have NOT YET ACQUIRED POSSESSION OF IT…” (Eph. 1:14). “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and REJOICE FOREVER IN WHAT I CREATE; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing…” (Isa. 65:17-18)
The first of that glory is overwhelmingly characterized by the presence of the Lord. The Book of Revelation reflects on this in many places. In his vision of the last things, after paraphrasing Isaiah 65, John adds the words of the covenant: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is WITH MEN, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES; there shall be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:3-4)
-Bill Stockham