The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Tail of the Dragon, #10

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [made us alive] us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 2:5,6)

Is it true and scriptural that the living saints are part of the heavenly army, part of the stars of the heaven? What do the Scriptures teach?

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)

Unless we are to regard these two passages as figurative or symbolic expressions, the saints already are sitting together in heavenly places in Christ. The living saints are part of the host and stars of the heaven.

How can this be? Remember that the spiritual heavens coexist with the physical heavens but cannot be seen by the physical eye. In like manner, the soul and spirit of the saints coexist with his body but cannot be seen by the physical eye.

It is literally true. When we actually receive Christ (not merely making a theological statement about Him) our spiritual nature is reborn by the Spirit of God. The Seed of God is planted in us.

Our reborn spiritual nature ascends to the spiritual heaven. This does not mean our reborn nature has gone beyond the stars but that it is placed in the spirit realm in Christ far above all other authorities, powers, and names. Our new position continues to be invisible to the physical eye but it is just as "real" as the presence of our physical body on the planet Earth.

We see, then, that the living saints are part of the army and stars of the heaven, and therefore are addressed in Daniel 8:10.

Ways in which the saints are torn down from their position in Christ at the right hand of God. Antichrist will possess tremendous power to deceive. He will drag down many members of God's army by surrounding them with ease and prosperity.

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace [ease; security] shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:23-25)

"By peace (ease) shall destroy many." This destruction will take place in the last days. The expression "the mighty and the holy people" does not describe physical Israel. The mighty and holy people of today are the Christian saints both Jewish and Gentile who are living victoriously in Christ. They are preaching and working miracles by the wisdom and power of the Spirit of God.

To be continued.