In Galatians 4, Paul said that Hagar (the bondwoman) and Sarah (the freewoman) represented the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, respectively. The Old Covenant was glorious. In fact, Moses' face was shining so brightly after his time on Mt. Sinai that he had to wear a veil over his face when he came down to speak with the children of Israel. However, the New Covenant was even more glorious because it brought freedom from sin to those who were subject to it.

In the book of Hebrews, Paul wrote to the believing Jews of the tribulation period to give them confirmation of the promises given to Abraham. He reminded them that Christ was called to be their High Priest.

Heb 5:4-6
4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You."
6 As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek"; (NKJ)

But in Hebrews 8, Paul said:

Heb 8:1, 4, 6-8
1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;
6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah– (NKJ)

Certainly, there would have to be a new covenant for the Lord Jesus to serve as the High Priest. According to the Old Covenant, only those from the house of Levi could serve as a priest, but the Lord Jesus was from the house of Judah. Paul goes on to say that Jesus serves as the High Priest in the heavenlies where there is a heavenly tabernacle, and the sacrifice that he offered once and for all was that of His own shed blood. Even Abraham was looking for this heavenly city to come down to the earth.

Heb 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (NKJ)

We clearly see the hope of the New Covenant Kingdom held out in Galatians and again in Hebrews. But do we today wait for God’s heavenly city to come down to the earth. Not at all. In Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, Paul revealed the parenthetical age in which we live today. Believers of our present age are members of the Church which is the Body of Christ. God revealed this truth as a special dispensation to the Apostle Paul. In these epistles, Paul implied that the members of the Church are not waiting for heaven to come to earth when he said that we are to be waiting for Christ to take us up to heaven.

Col 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (KJV)

Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com

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