"That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him."
God started time, and God implemented His good pleasure, or His will in what we call time here on earth.
God has been working towards the accomplishment of His plan's and purposes, and is doing that this very day, and will continue to do that up until the end of this world's existence as we know it according to the Book of Revelation. See the last 3 chapters in particular.
But, here in Ephesians 1:10, Paul tells us that in the management of the fullness of times, or the completion of time as we know it, that God intends to bring about a gathering.
The gathering together as it's called here, will gather "all things in Christ" and, Paul goes on to say, "which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him."
I'm not sure what the all things refers to, but, whatever they are, they are "in Christ"
But it is clear that there will be a gathering together of the things that are in heaven, and the things that are on earth.
God is going to bring all of this together.
I certainly means of course, that all the people who have come to faith, will be gathered together.
The Lord is going to bring all of His redeemed ones together in one.
What a large group that will be.
Each and every person who has been saved from the start of time, till the end of time will finally be together.
Jesus Christ is the center of this gathering if you will.
Being in Christ means a person will be in this gathering.
So, the future includes God's plan to bring everything in Christ together in one.
The Bible takes us right to the end of this world, and the creation of a new one. That's where the Bible ends in terms of telling us what will happen. See Revelation 22.
We are living in this world today, but we are headed for the accomplishment of God's great plan, and plans for us, and for eternity.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
