The Blessed Portion of the Elect
Upon completion of the judgment and the casting of the ungodly into hell, the Lord Jesus will usher the elect into eternal glory Ps 73:24, the Father’s house in which there are many mansions John 14:2, the house not made with hands which is eternal in the heavens 2 Cor 5:1, the third heaven, paradise 2 Cor 12:2,4, the city which has foundations and whose builder and maker is God Heb 11:10, the joy of the Lord Matt 25:21, and the heavenly kingdom (2 Tim 4:18). He will give them eternal life John 10:28, place the crown of righteousness upon their head 2 Tim 4:8, grant them the crown of life James 1:12, and make them partakers of “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven” (1 Pet 1:4). Furthermore, they will enjoy that which the Lord Jesus has merited and petitioned for them: “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me” (John 17:24).
God Himself who alone is omnipotent, wise, and merciful, has built the third heaven Heb 11:10, and has prepared this kingdom from the foundation of the world for His blessed ones (Matt 25:34). He has chosen them from the beginning unto salvation 2 Thess 2:13, He has sent His Son into the world to save His people Matt 1:21, and it is His pleasure to give them the kingdom (Luke 12:32). “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever” (Rom 11:36). The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has earned and merited salvation for the elect. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23), who is “… the captain of their salvation” Heb 2:10, who “is able also to save them to the uttermost” Heb 7:25, and has said, “I lay down My life for the sheep … and I give unto them eternal life” John 10:15,28. Therefore, He bears the title Savior, for man contributes nothing to salvation; he is led to and subsequently ushered into it. “It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” (Ps 100:3). “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim 1:9). Therefore, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake” (Ps 115:1).
The elect, they who are foreordained, are those who will become partakers of salvation: “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also … glorified” (Rom 8:30); they are the blessed of the Father: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom” (Matt 25:34); they are those who have been given to Christ by the Father: “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am” (John 17:24); and they are believers: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). They alone, and they all, are the persons who will enjoy felicity.
The Godly Will Differ in Glory in Heaven
Question: In heaven, will one person have a greater measure of glory than another?
Answer: Some think this will not be the case, whereas others believe that there are various degrees. We maintain that all they who are glorified will be filled with felicity to overflowing; that is, as much as they can endure. Thus, there neither will be a desire for more, nor will this be possible. It will be impossible to be deprived of anything there. “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness” (Ps 17:15). As one vessel can, however, contain more than another vessel, while yet all being full, we believe that also the one will excel the other in glory. This is, however, not due to merit. The papists maintain this when they say that virgins, monks, ministers, and martyrs who excel in merit here, will also stand out there. Rather, on the basis of His free grace, God will elevate in glory those who have done or suffered much as a witness for His Name. This is evident in the following passages:
First, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan 12:3). In verse 2 the prophet relates what all believers will be equal partakers of: eternal life. Subsequently, in verse 3, a distinction is made between ministers and those who have been instrumental in the conversion of many. They especially will shine forth as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars.