PAUL’S MYSTERY REVELATION:
WE CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TOLD
TO SEEK THINGS ON EARTH!
PAUL’S MYSTERY REVELATION:
WE CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TOLD
TO SEEK THINGS ON EARTH!
JAN LILLEBY
Just recently I removed my article series on Anti-Christ and the view in parts of Christianity, that it might be an Anti-Christ from out of Islam coming. I still disagree with this view regarding eschatology. But I quit just there. Such topics are endless it seems.
However, I regretted having published that article series (in 3 parts), simply because we cannot find any support or teaching from Paul in his two church epistles, Ephesians and Colossians, on anything pertaining to eschatology. The two epistles are chemically free of any clue pointing to Anti-Christ, the Great Tribulation, the Second Advent, the Great Harlot Babylon, Israel…and so forth.
It is so evident that Paul willfully avoided any such topics, after he had gotten the revelation of the Mystery…the new free Grace dispensation (Greek, oikonomia) or administration. From that point in history, circa 63-67 CE, when Paul was jailed for the second time in Rome, - he turned ALL FOCUSED ON THE HEAVEN UP ABOVE – where now Christ sits at the right hand of God, in mighty power and glory. Thus it comes clear that he wants us to be just as focused on the things that are above, and NOT on the things here on earth.
That means – we shall not waste time and effort in fuzzing around with anything from the prophetic side of the Bible. Such idle fumbling is not for the church dispensation. I now try to be consequent in these things, and as I said: I have now (April 2026) really left those things behind. Eschatology IS NOT BECOMING TO THE CHURCH DISPENSATION. Image: Goodbye Earth!
I don’t care whether Anti-Christ is a Pink Elephant, or Caesar Nero resurrected, or an Islamic leader or warrior, or a Jewish false messiah. We are NOT supposed to spend time and efforts in these things!!
Oh….I almost forgot to tell you: God is in no way going to give anyone any kind of ‘revelation’ in the prophetic word, regarding eschatology, Anti-Christ, the Second Advent, etcetera. If He so wanted, these things would have been given to us via the teachings of Paul in his two church epistles. So I shout - Goodbye Eschatology! Goodbye Earth! Welcome Heaven!
Below I have clipped in Col. 3:1 with Greek original text, just to have a reminder which shows us where to set focus: the heavenly things up above, and not those things we have on earth. Eschatology belongs to the latter. The Second Advent is taking place ON EARTH, same thing as with the appearing of the false messiah, Anti-Christ, same thing with the Great Tribulation…these are earthly matters. But the ‘One new man’ – the Body of Christ, us believers in Jesus according to the revelation of the Mystery – we are set for heaven up above, and not for a future on earth! See Eph. 2:14, 15; 3:1-3, and Col. 2:13-17.
NASB © | Greek | Strong's | Origin |
Therefore | οὖν | 3767: therefore, then, (and) so | a prim. word |
if | Εἰ | 1487: sometimes used with a command or as an indirect question, etc.) | a prim. particle; if, whether (a cond. part. introducing circumstances nec. for a given proposition to be true |
you have been raised | συνηγέρθητε | 4891: to raise together | |
up with Christ, | Χριστῷ | 5547: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ | from chrió |
keep seeking | ζητεῖτε | 2212: to seek | of uncertain origin |
the things above, | ἄνω | 507: up, above | adverb from ana |
where | οὗ | 3757: where (adv. of place) | gen. of hos, |
Christ | Χριστός | 5547: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ | from chrió |
is, seated | καθήμενος | 2521: to be seated | from kata and hémai (to sit) |
at the right hand | δεξιᾷ | 1188: the right hand or side | perhaps a prim. word |
of God. | θεοῦ | 2316: God, a god | of uncertain origin |
COL. 3:1 IN DIVERSE TRANSLATIONS
New American Standard Bible
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
King James Bible
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.
International Standard Version
Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God.
NET Bible
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
If therefore you are risen with The Messiah, seek that which is above, the place where The Messiah sits at the right side of God.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above-where Christ holds the highest position.
King James 2000 Bible
If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
Amplified Bible –Zondervan
If then you have been raised with Christ (to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead), aim at and seek the (rich, eternal treasures) that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Let me also quote Col. 3:2 – in which Paul explicitly say that we are NOT to seek things here on earth,
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
EPHESIANS 4:30 POINTING TO OUR FUTURE TRANSFER
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
There is but one saying made by Paul for the ‘One new man’ which may be held as a prophetic word, however without any comparison to the regular prophecies in the Bible. It is spoken to the Mystery body, we – the Gentiles (believers from all nations) – and not concerning Israel as a nation, or any other nation on earth.
It is for the believers who are having their focus on the heavenly things up above, according to Col. 3:1.
It is telling of a particular day, in near future, which he called ‘the day of redemption’.
It is the ultimate day, the final day on earth, the day we are transferred into the heavens up above to be revealed with Christ in glory (Col. 3:4).
Yes, it is true that we find Paul telling us of the spiritual status we possess in the faith: placed already in heaven with Christ, hidden with Christ in God, we have been granted all spiritual blessings in Christ, - we are a hundred percent bound for heaven, and not for this earth. Our future actual physical home will be in heaven up above!
If we want to be true to Paul’s heavenly message, we better stay away from endless speculations on all those earthly things trying to capture our minds, and stealing our focus away from the fellowship we have been granted with Christ, our Head, our Chief and Pastor!
Stay safe, keep believing on Jesus as well as having full attention to Paul as our Dean and Master Tutor in the faith!
Eph. 3:1-3, NASB,
“1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles -
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you;
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.”
Gracepano.com
