The Apostle declares, "As is the earthy so are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly so are they also that are heavenly." (`1 Cor. 15:48`) We understand these words to signify that the world in general, who will experience restitution to human perfection, will be like the earthly one-- like the first Adam, before he sinned, and like the perfect "Man Christ Jesus" was before his begetting to newness of nature. We rejoice with the world in this grand prospect of again becoming full and complete earthly images of the divine Creator. But we rejoice still more in the precious promises made to the Gospel Church, "the called ones" according to the divine purpose, who are to have the image of the heavenly One--the image of the Creator, in a still higher and more particular sense--to be not fleshly images, but spirit images. "We shall be like him [the glorified "changed" Jesus], for we shall see him as he is." He is a spirit being, "the express image of the Father's person," "far above angels, principalities and powers, and every name that is named," and hence, far above perfect manhood. If we shall be like him and share his glory and his nature, it means that we too shall be images of the Father's person, "whom no man hath seen nor can see, dwelling in light which no man can approach unto"; but to whom we can approach and whom we can see as he is, because we have been "changed." `1 John 3:2`; `1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16`; `Exod. 33:20`

Lest any should misunderstand him, the Apostle guards the above language by adding, "As we [the Church] have borne the image of the earthly [one], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [One]." It is not the Apostle's thought that all shall bear the image of the heavenly One, in this sense, ever. Such was not the design of our Creator. When he made man he designed to have a fleshly, human, earthly being, in his own likeness [mentally, morally], to be the lord and ruler of the earth, as the representative of his heavenly Creator. (`Gen. 1:26-28`; `Psalm 8:4-7`) The selection of the New Creation, as we have seen is wholly separate and apart from the earthly creation. They are chosen out of the world, and constitute but a "little flock" in all, called to be the Lord's Kingdom class, to bless the world during the thousand years of the Millennial age--subsequently, we may be sure, occupying some very high and responsible position, and doing some very important work, in the carrying out of further divine purposes--perhaps in connection with other worlds and other creations.