THE word “celestial” appears only
twice in the Bible. (I Cor. 15:40)
It is a translation of the Greek
wordepouranios.
The literal meaning of this word is
“above the sky.” (See Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance.)
This same Greek word is also
translated “heaven” by the Apostle
Paul in a statement in which he
contrasts things in heaven with
things on earth. (Phil. 2:10) This
indicates that there are intelligent
creations of God in the realms of
the universe above, or beyond, the
sky, or more scientifically
speaking, beyond the atmosphere of
the earth.
Epouranios is
also translated “heavenly” in
various associations. It is this
word that is associated with Father
in the name, “Heavenly
Father.”—Matt. 18:35
The Apostle Paul was assured that
the Lord would deliver him from evil
so that he might participate with
Jesus in the “heavenly” kingdom. (II
Tim. 4:18) Here also the Greek word epouranios is
used.
It is also this word that is used by
the Apostle Paul when, in presenting
the hope set before the dedicated
followers of Jesus, he uses the
expression, “heavenly calling.”—Heb.
3:1
When Nicodemus, a ruler in Israel,
expressed surprise to Jesus over the
idea of being “born again,” Jesus
referred to it as among the
“heavenly things” which the human
mind could not appreciate. (John
3:12) Here again it is the Greek
word epouranios that
is used.
The Apostle Paul uses this word in
another context in which he
emphasizes that celestial, or
“heavenly,” beings are separate and
distinct from earthly, or human,
beings. (I Cor. 15:48) Paul does
explain, however, that some members
of the human race will, in the
resurrection, be exalted to a
“heavenly,” or celestial, state.—I
Cor. 15:49
It is important to keep the import
of these various texts of Scripture
in mind, for they emphasize that
there is a great distinction between
the heavenly nature and the earthly
nature, that the two are in no way
blended into one, as erroneously
supposed by so many. Man was in no
sense whatever a heavenly, or
spiritual, being when created, nor
will the nature of man ever change.
The Scriptures do teach that those
who sacrifice their earthly lives,
following in the footsteps of Jesus,
will be exalted to the heavenly
nature in the resurrection. Indeed,
in a future lesson we shall see that
there are different planes of life,
or natures, “above the sky” and that
the followers of Jesus will be
exalted to the very highest of
these, even to the Divine nature.—II
Pet. 1:4
It is this glorious hope that the
promises of the Bible hold out to
the faithful followers of the
Master. It is worth far more than
giving up all that we have and are
in order to attain that glorious
“prize” of the Divine nature.
The “glory of the celestial” is
indeed a wonderful prize. The
Apostle Paul describes it as “the
prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) Jesus
explained that this “treasure in
heaven” was attainable only by
giving up all earthly treasures and
becoming his followers into
sacrificial death, which he
illustrated by the idea of taking up
our cross as his disciples. (Matt.
16:24) May all who have thus set
their affections on things above be
diligent as they press on in the
narrow way which leads to glory,
honor, and immortality.
STUDENTS’ HELPS
Questions
How many times does the word
“celestial” appear in the Bible, and
what is the Greek word and its
meaning from which it is translated?
What other words are used in the New
Testament to translate the Greek
word epouranios?
What is implied by Paul’s contrast
between the things in heaven and the
things in earth?
What did the Apostle Paul mean by a
“heavenly” kingdom and a “heavenly”
calling?
What did Jesus say to Nicodemus
about “heavenly” things?
Are the heavenly and earthly natures
ever blended in one being? If not,
why do followers of Jesus hope to be
heavenly beings in the resurrection?
Are there different planes of being
“above the sky”?
Reference Material
“The Divine
Plan of the Ages,” pages 181-184
Summary of Important Thoughts
The Bible teaches that God has
created beings on higher planes of
life than the human and that the
faithful followers of Jesus are
promised exaltation to the highest
of these, which is the Divine.