Bible Student’s Resource Index

God’s creation is being restored in stages throughout the ages, and will find its complete culmination at the “ Consummation ” of the ages (“ the Day of God” ). At that time all death will be abolished, as well as all illusory human “sovereignty,” “authority,” and “free will.” In the “ Consummation ” (I Corinthains 15:24, CV ) we find the Ultimate Sphere of Glory, a place where God Himself is “All in all.” God created the entire universe out of Himself. There once was nothing but God, and everything came forth out of Him. Of a surety, “out of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are ALL things” (Romans 11:36). God is the beginning of “all,” and He will be the consummation of “all.” This is the divine goal : “that God will be All in all” (I Corinthians 15:28, DT ). In other words, God will be “Everything in everything” and “Everything to everyone.” Hi s entire creation – without exception – will be gloriously complete and in perfect harmony with Himself; all that there is, ever w

The heaven ly sphere is that of the “New Jerusalem” “descending out of Heaven from God” (Revelation 3:12; 21:2, 10), and is for all of those who are “of the faith of Abraham” (Romans 4:16) – those who are “Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). These are those who among Israel and the Nations who have their “calling” of hope prior to Acts 28.   This election makes them “partakers of a heaven ly calling” (Hebrews 3:1). Like their spiritual father, Abraham, they “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10; cf. 12:22-23).   The New Jerusalem will be the administrative capital of Israel’s worldwide Kingdom on Earth (Zechariah 14:16-17). This is the sphere of Abraham’s spiritual seed, which included believing Gentiles during the Acts Period (Galatians 3:29). Unlike the “meek” and “good” among Israel and the Nations who will “inherit the Earth” (Matthew 5:5), these have been granted the faith of

Jesus Christ is the “ Icon ” of God. “ Who is the Image of the invisible God ” (Colossians 1:15). The Greek word here for “ Image ” is Eikon ( Icon ). Eikon is defined as, “representation, resemblance” ( SEC ). Thus, the exeGeses Bible (EB) has, “ who is the icon of the invisible Elohim .” For more on this theme, see, -           “The Image of God,” Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr, Bible Student’s Notebook 362 ; “God’s Icon,” André Piet, Bible Student’s Notebook 343 .