The confusion of the states of glory has impoverished the people of God. The serious outcome of this confusion is that the same people do not even perceive that they are in such a state. They have been established on the doctrines of the churches, which have done to all of the Scriptures of God what the Jews have done to the The Torah, the Prophets, and the Old Covenant Writings of God. Both groups believe, often with ardent conviction, that they are hearing God and are standing upon His will. The Jews are still waiting for the Messiah and the churches are still waiting for the Messiah’s return in glory to establish Jahveh’s Kingdom. Both groups are ready to point our the error of the other group. Both groups are undone!
Paul wrote to the Colossians telling them about the mystery of God which had been hidden throughout the ages, but was at that time revealed to His people. Concerning that mystery he said, “the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His holy ones, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
The churches still remain in hope of the glory of God. The Colossians, and we by inheritance, have received the outcome of that hope, which is Christ in us, the manifested glory of God. Paul’s stated purpose did not fail. The Colossians and all believers since that time have been presented complete in Christ, which is the glory of God.
The churches, like the Jews, maintain their belief systems on the sands of confusion, generated by the tossing winds of the doctrines of men because of flesh-made interpretive predispositions and expectations.
The churches have confused our present glory today in God’s Presence upon this Eternal Earth with the future incomparable glory that awaits us in God’s Presence in the Third Heaven, also termed The Paradise of God. That is the state of glory that Jesus told one criminal executed with Him that he would know that day. It is the same state of Paradise that Paul experienced when he stated he was transported to the Third Heaven, to such a glorious state that he heard inexpressible words that were not lawful to speak. It is the same state of the ultimate and final resurrection in Jesus that He told the challenging Sadducees they knew nothing about, He said, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage. For they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”
When people put off confusion and submit to the teaching of Jesus they will understand the strength of the One and the states of glory as taught by Jesus and His teachers.
In true worship from pure hearts they will give God the glory that is due His holy Name and abide together in the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace – the state of glory on earth that is far from being realized among those who actually possess it!