Hello all,
I have really been researching and praying about a deeper understanding of the 3 glories. I don't think I have reached a "perfect" understanding but here is what I have so far.
The Celestial glory is the glory of the first resurrection and they are members of the Church of the First Born. Those who receive this glory will be equal with the Father and the Son and will become divine sons themselves. I think in this glory those who are made partakers of the divine nature will truly inherit the Rule of the Universe after the 1st Resurrection. I think we experience this now in truly being united to Christ and God the Father in the Spirit by "becoming the light." Just as the sun is the source of light. The model for this we have now are God, Jesus and the Angels.
The Terrestrial Glory is the glory of those who know about Jesus but have not taken the next step of fulfilling their potential fully. I looked up the word terrestrial and it means basically Earth bound. So I believe that those who are made partakers of the Terrestrial glory will inherit the rule of the Earthly or physical realm but not the universal realm. As the moon is only reflected light of the Sun. So those who are partakers of this glory reflect the Glory of God but are not the Light themselves. They will be the intermediaries between the Heavenly and Earthly in the glorified universe of the second resurrection. The Model for this right now is the priesthood. Those who are not "gods" yet but act as the go betweens and work for a perfect world. Teachers and Instructors. With the Celestial guiding them from heaven to perfect whatever planet they are on.
The Telestial Glory was a little harder. I believe those who inherit this glory will be the "regular Joes" of the whole glorified universe. Citizens of a perfect universe who hold no rule but do reap the benefits of the Glory of God. They will have the light but only from a "distance" with the Terrestial being the "leaders" of this people. the example we have of this now is the Laity. Those who don't hold priesthood but do reap the benefits of those who "bear the rule over them". I think in the Scriptures this is evidenced by the presence of "the nations" even after the Kingdom of God is setup after the 1st resurrection. I think the thing that struck me most about this glory is how JS described the dis-unity of this glory. Some being of one name and some of another, and each will inherit a glory that is different from others in this glory. Like today we have different classes of people. Some will receive more and others will receive less. Based upon their works. What I get from the reference of the stars also is that we observe stars from a distance so they will have God's light but will observe it "from afar".
The Outer Darkness I don't think needs much of an explanation. To me the outer darkness is being totally thrust out of the physical universe and out of Gods presence. I believe this is the bottomless pit and the lake of fire and so on. I wonder if those who are part of the OD still can "see" what is going on and that is part of their Torment. That Gods light of love becomes the source of the fire that burns them and their hate? Because our God IS a consuming fire. Outer Darkness being a code for not part of the light?
These are just my thoughts on the subject. If anyone has anything else to add or expand on I would love to hear it and discuss it.
In Christ,
Tom
I have really been researching and praying about a deeper understanding of the 3 glories. I don't think I have reached a "perfect" understanding but here is what I have so far.
The Celestial glory is the glory of the first resurrection and they are members of the Church of the First Born. Those who receive this glory will be equal with the Father and the Son and will become divine sons themselves. I think in this glory those who are made partakers of the divine nature will truly inherit the Rule of the Universe after the 1st Resurrection. I think we experience this now in truly being united to Christ and God the Father in the Spirit by "becoming the light." Just as the sun is the source of light. The model for this we have now are God, Jesus and the Angels.
The Terrestrial Glory is the glory of those who know about Jesus but have not taken the next step of fulfilling their potential fully. I looked up the word terrestrial and it means basically Earth bound. So I believe that those who are made partakers of the Terrestrial glory will inherit the rule of the Earthly or physical realm but not the universal realm. As the moon is only reflected light of the Sun. So those who are partakers of this glory reflect the Glory of God but are not the Light themselves. They will be the intermediaries between the Heavenly and Earthly in the glorified universe of the second resurrection. The Model for this right now is the priesthood. Those who are not "gods" yet but act as the go betweens and work for a perfect world. Teachers and Instructors. With the Celestial guiding them from heaven to perfect whatever planet they are on.
The Telestial Glory was a little harder. I believe those who inherit this glory will be the "regular Joes" of the whole glorified universe. Citizens of a perfect universe who hold no rule but do reap the benefits of the Glory of God. They will have the light but only from a "distance" with the Terrestial being the "leaders" of this people. the example we have of this now is the Laity. Those who don't hold priesthood but do reap the benefits of those who "bear the rule over them". I think in the Scriptures this is evidenced by the presence of "the nations" even after the Kingdom of God is setup after the 1st resurrection. I think the thing that struck me most about this glory is how JS described the dis-unity of this glory. Some being of one name and some of another, and each will inherit a glory that is different from others in this glory. Like today we have different classes of people. Some will receive more and others will receive less. Based upon their works. What I get from the reference of the stars also is that we observe stars from a distance so they will have God's light but will observe it "from afar".
The Outer Darkness I don't think needs much of an explanation. To me the outer darkness is being totally thrust out of the physical universe and out of Gods presence. I believe this is the bottomless pit and the lake of fire and so on. I wonder if those who are part of the OD still can "see" what is going on and that is part of their Torment. That Gods light of love becomes the source of the fire that burns them and their hate? Because our God IS a consuming fire. Outer Darkness being a code for not part of the light?
These are just my thoughts on the subject. If anyone has anything else to add or expand on I would love to hear it and discuss it.
In Christ,
Tom
