For a full discussion of the position of the
Ascended Christ and His relationship with the Church,
see article entitled
THREE
SPHERES.
Here we will deal with the words "far
above all" without reference to the wider
context.
Huperano occurs but three times in the N.T.
Eph. 1:21 Far above all principality and power.
4:10 That ascended up far above all heavens.
Heb. 9:5 And over it the cherubim of glory.
The first reference relates the ascension of the
Saviour above the principalities and powers in
heavenly places. He is said to be "far above
all" such. In Ephesians 4:10, His ascension is
related to the heavens themselves. He is there said to
have ascended up far above all heavens. Here, the
Scripture does not simply say "He ascended into
heaven", which would have been true; it
particularizes, and speaks in terms that can only be
fully appreciated when we have learned from the
Scriptures, that for the period and purpose of the
ages, a temporary heaven, called in Genesis the
firmament, has been spread over the earth, which
"heaven" is to depart as a scroll in the
last day. The Saviour is shown in Hebrews as being
"made higher than the heavens" (Heb. 7:26)
and as having "passed through" (dierchomai)
the heavens (Heb. 4:14 R.V.); which but confirms the
statement of Ephesians four, that He ascended up far
above ALL, heavens.
The question of how "far" huperano indicates
is not answered by the word itself, but by the
context. The cherubim of glory were not
"far" above the mercy seat, the nature of
the case limiting this superior position to a matter
of inches, but the exaltation of the Lord's house to
the top of the mountains, an so far above the hills,
may indicate thousands of feet, while the present
position of the Ascended Lord is so high, that no high
place can be conceived by the mind of man; He is at
the right hand of God in the super-heavens, far
above all principality and power. This is the unique
sphere of blessing of the church the Mystery, and
any and every attempt to belittle the hi exaltation of
the church must of necessity belittle the hi
exaltation of its Head. All other callings find their
sphere either in the New Earth or in the New Jerusalem
which, though "heavenly" in character, is
obliged to descend to the earth the end, because the
heaven in which the City is reserved is destined to
pass away. The only redeemed company that has a place
in the original heavens of Genesis 1:1, which are
never pass away, is the Church which is His Body, the
fullness of Him that filleth all in a11. Their
"citizenship" IS (an abiding fact) IN heaven
(Phil. 3: 20).
