Ephesians 1:22-23
"...the church which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Remember, after the Book of Acts, the word church is never used in the plural. Now there are many churches before the end of Acts while the Kingdom was in view; there were many churches in Rome, Ephesus, Laodecia, Thessalonica, Corinth, and other places. But such assemblies are never mentioned again after Acts 28:28; it is The Church the Scripture speaks about. It has no headquarters here on Earth. But it is seated with Christ in The Heavenlies, He is The Head; it is His Body. And That Is The Great Difference. It has nothing to do with the Kingdom because, in the Kingdom, He is to be King of kings and Lord of lords. But in Heaven, He has a special title, Head of The Church which is His Body. We must be careful that we maintain this title.
The Church, which is His Body, is spoken of as "...the fulness of Him that filleth all in all." Now in one way, this Dispensation of the Secret Church is parenthetical, that is, if you look at it from the earthly program that God has been working out through His people, Israel. At the time of Acts 28:28, the earthly program was suspended, held in abeyance, and the administration of the Secret Church began, and when this Dispensation soon ends, the earthly program will continue right from the point it was suspended to complete the promises made by God. Now if you look at the plan and purpose of the ages, and from God's standpoint in The Heavenlies, we might say that this Dispensation of The Mystery is the central point. So you see, it is a matter of viewpoint.
The Church of this Dispensation is really the mystery. It had been hidden from people, from any knowledge of sentient beings. This church of the Dispensation of the Mystery is not only said to be called out of the world but it is even called out or chosen from those who believe! All who believe are children, but some who believe have also been placed as saints, and that, of course, involves inheritance, special blessings, and the predestined calling of God.
And this Church is not only "The Church which is His body," but it has also a further, wondrous title, which is "the Fullness of Him that Filleth All in All." The word fullness has the idea of the state of abounding or being in great plenty, abundance, completeness; the state of a thing in which nothing is left wanted or needed; perfection.
But Who is it that fills all in all? Going on to Ephesians 4:10, we read this: "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things."
The risen Christ is seated in the Super-Heavenlies, far above all, "that He might fill all things" with the Glory of God. You may not really grasp what is to be filled and what it is to be filled with. Well, all of God's creation someday is to be filled with His Glory, the power that raised Christ from the dead and set him far above all principality, power, might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come.
