There are no celebrations that could match the homecoming of Christ to God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Daniel 7:13-14 Only They, who are of the same nature, could plan for the joy and fulfillment His arrival brought. Human thought on this would miss what only to Deity can fulfill this expectation. Nothing within our realm can anticipate, guess, or know what reward from over 6,000 years of effort feels like when the end of that journey has been reached, but God.
Christ went home!! He will never return to the planet Earth, again!! What would He do or accomplish IF He came back here?? He has fulfilled all the Father had for Him to do, He has fulfilled every prophecy made, saved every soul that could be saved, interceded/advocated for every half brother or sister, fought every foe in every arena, and for every cause that would have stopped His tri-umphant return home, shed every ounce of blood that needed shed, and loved His Church enough to return to this planet and take Her home with Him. Why or what need would He have of ever coming back to this place? Especially when it will not even exist!! There are those who claim He is coming back to reign a 1,000 years in Jerusalem. Why? He went home and “sat down to reign”!! Hebrews 1:3 The only thing left on this planet that was worth coming back for are the bodies of His redeemed. Those bodies will be raised to meet Him at His coming!! 1 Corinthians 15:44-50 He will want nothing else!!
In the times of the Roman emperors when a victorious general returned to Rome there was always a great parade planned and executed. The whole city would turn out to welcome the great hero. As the parade began, the shouts of joy could be heard miles away. The vanquished who had fallen began the march with the citizens of Rome throwing stones, sharp pieces of metal at them jeering them as they paraded in their view. Following these were the soldiers of distinction who had fought the battle successfully, being given honor and shouts of glee from the crowd. Then, the captains and officers, with all the honor Rome could bestow, came into sight. Then, the children of the commanders could be seen. Finally, the commander himself would come into view and at his side was his wife and children. The noise level was thunderous at this point when the reigning Caesar would step out and place on this general’s head a wreath of victory. The procession length was determined by the greatness of the battle fought. This is how some think the Judgment Day will begin when Christ returns with His Bride, the Church of Christ “when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed in that day).” 2 Thessalonians 1:10
This is what the last week made possible. This is why the great commanding “captain of our salvation,” Hebrews 2:10, spent His last grueling hours on that old rugged cross and never retreated!! This is “the hope that is within us and why each purified himself,” 1 John 3:3. “Then, shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matthew 13:43 He, who “spoke all things in parables,” Psalms 78:2, having kept things secret from the foundations of the world, will reward the Sons of the Most High “because we are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. He will render to them dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” Romans 13:7 This in and will be Heaven!!
Heaven? A place, a sphere of influence, a condition, then, a reality. Where it is and where it will be is kept secret. It be where God is, it is not where He is not-that describes, Hell. As a place, it is said to be the abode of God. The first heaven has passed away. In this “heaven” sin reigned over man and separated him from God. This earth is no more, 2 Peter 3:8-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. This “new heaven and new earth,” a new circumstance and condition where salvation is no longer anticipated but enjoyed – Isaiah 65:17;66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Hebrews 2:5-8; Hebrews 11:14 was prophesied as that which “eye had not seen, ear had not heard; neither had it entered into the heart of man what God had in store for them that love Him. But God has now revealed unto us by His Spirit: (for the Spirit searches all things, yea the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 In this “heaven” we are physically here on this earth but at home with God. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 when we are “in Christ” having been added to His bride, the Church of Christ. Then, there is the “eternal” kingdom, 2 Peter 1:11!! This heaven is what Christ came from to make available to us. Friend, are you headed, home?
