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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\u2014in Him.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Truth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n God has a plan for time and eternity.<\/p>\n \u201cDispensation<\/span>\u201d is translated from oikonomia<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of oikos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca dwelling place, a house\u201d and a form of nem\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto apportion\u201d or \u201cto distribute.\u201d Thus, oikonomia<\/em><\/span> literally refers to the period of the administration of a household. Metaphorically, it refers to a period of time in which certain events happen. The \u201cdispensation of the fullness of times<\/span>\u201d refers to that period when time will come to an end.<\/p>\n The expression \u201cHe might gather together in one<\/span>\u201d is translated from a single Greek word, anakephalaio\u014d<\/em><\/span>. This word is made up of ana<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cagain,\u201d perhaps used here as an emphatic and kephalaio\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which literally means \u201cto strike a blow to the head.\u201d Metaphorically, kephalaio\u014d<\/em><\/span> means \u201cto finish, as with a blow to the head,\u201d that is, to finalize or to sum up. Therefore, anakephalaio\u014d<\/em><\/span> means \u201cto bring things to a final conclusion by bringing all things together again.\u201d<\/p>\n In the opening of this letter to the Ephesians, Paul has declared how God has blessed us with all possible spiritual blessings. He also told us how God chose us before He formed all of creation so that we will one day be holy and blameless in His presence. Paul then informs us how God determined in the past that we whom He chose should be adopted into His family as His rightful children. All these things He did simply because He wanted to and because He knew that all this would showcase His wonderful grace toward undeserving mankind. In doing so, He has made us accepted in Christ, with whose blood our ransom has been paid, and our sins have been cast far, far away. Also, God has made known to us the mystery of His will, that one day Christians and Jews will be joined together as God\u2019s rightful heirs.<\/p>\n Now, Paul tells us one reason why God did all this. Not only does God have a plan for the events of time, but He has a plan for eternity. That plan is to reunite all things in Himself once again. At the conclusion of time (at the end of the Millennial reign of Christ), when heaven and earth have passed away and there is a new heaven and a new earth, all that is good and all who have been declared righteous will be brought back together in God. And, this includes not just earthly things, but all holy things which are in heaven as well.<\/p>\n What will things be like when He does this? Well, we have a couple of glimpses into what it will be like. The first is described in Genesis chapter two. It is a description of the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve lived in perfect fellowship with God. The other glimpse is given to us in Revelation chapters twenty-one and twenty-two where our eternal dwelling place, New Jerusalem, is described.<\/p>\n God has a plan for you and for me, a plan that includes our service to Him while we are on this earth and our presence with Him in heaven. Knowing what He has prepared for us, His children, should cause each one of us to fall to our knees in recognition of our unworthiness and of His Supremacy!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nBehind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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