Tertullian: Against Marcion, Books I–V

Chapter XXIV.—Christ’s Millennial and Heavenly Glory in Company with His Saints.

Yes, certainly, ^{Edition note 1} you say, I do hope from Him that which amounts in itself to a proof of the diversity (of Christs), God’s kingdom in an everlasting and heavenly possession. Besides, your Christ promises to the Jews their primitive condition, with the recovery of their country; and after this life’s course is over, repose in Hades ^{Edition note 2} in Abraham’s bosom. Oh, most excellent God, when He restores in amnesty ^{Edition note 3} what He took away in wrath!

Oh, what a God is yours, who both wounds and heals, creates evil and makes peace! Oh, what a God, that is merciful even down to Hades! I shall have something to say about Abraham’s bosom in the proper place. ^{Edition note 4} As for the restoration of Judæa, however, which even the Jews themselves, induced by the names of places and countries, hope for just as it is described, ^{Edition note 5} it would be tedious to state at length ^{Edition note 6} how the figurative ^{Edition note 7} interpretation is spiritually applicable to Christ and His church, and to the character and fruits thereof; besides, the subject has been regularly treated ^{Edition note 8} in another work, which we entitle De Spe Fidelium. ^{Edition note 9} At present, too, it would be superfluous ^{Edition note 10} for this reason, that our inquiry relates to what is promised in heaven, not on earth.

But we do confess that a kingdom is promised to us upon the earth, although before heaven, only in another state of existence; inasmuch as it will be after the resurrection for a thousand years in the divinely-built city of Jerusalem, ^{Edition note 11} “let down from heaven,” ^{Edition note 12} which the apostle also calls “our mother from above;” ^{Edition note 13} and, while declaring that our πολίτευμα , or citizenship, is in heaven, ^{Edition note 14} he predicates of it ^{Edition note 15} that it is really a city in heaven.

This both Ezekiel had knowledge of ^{Edition note 16} and the Apostle John beheld. ^{Edition note 17} And the word of the new prophecy which is a part of our belief, ^{Edition note 18} attests how it foretold that there would be for a sign a picture of this very city exhibited to view previous to its manifestation. This prophecy, indeed, has been very lately fulfilled in an expedition to the East. ^{Edition note 19} For it is evident from the testimony of even heathen witnesses, that in Judæa there was suspended in the sky a city early every morning for forty days.

As the day advanced, the entire figure of its walls would wane gradually, ^{Edition note 20} and sometimes it would vanish instantly. ^{Edition note 21} We say that this city has been provided by God for receiving the saints on their resurrection, and refreshing them with the abundance of all really spiritual blessings, as a recompense for those which in the world we have either despised or lost; since it is both just and God-worthy that His servants should have their joy in the place where they have also suffered affliction for His name’s sake.

Of the heavenly kingdom this is the process. ^{Edition note 22} After its thousand years are over, within which period is completed the resurrection of the saints, who rise sooner or later according to their deserts there will ensue the destruction of the world and the conflagration of all things at the judgment: we shall then be changed in a moment into the substance of angels, even by the investiture of an incorruptible nature, and so be removed to that kingdom in heaven of which we have now been treating, just as if it had not been predicted by the Creator, and as if it were proving Christ to belong to the other god and as if he were the first and sole revealer of it.

But now learn that it has been, in fact, predicted by the Creator, and that even without prediction it has a claim upon our faith in respect of ^{Edition note 23} the Creator. What appears to be probable to you, when Abraham’s seed, after the primal promise of being like the sand of the sea for multitude, is destined likewise to an equality with the stars of heaven—are not these the indications both of an earthly and a heavenly dispensation? ^{Edition note 24} When Isaac, in blessing his son Jacob, says, “God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth,” ^{Edition note 25} are there not in his words examples of both kinds of blessing?

Indeed, the very form of the blessing is in this instance worthy of notice. For in relation to Jacob, who is the type of the later and more excellent people, that is to say ourselves, ^{Edition note 26} first comes the promise of the heavenly dew, and afterwards that about the fatness of the earth. So are we first invited to heavenly blessings when we are separated from the world, and afterwards we thus find ourselves in the way of obtaining also earthly blessings. And your own gospel likewise has it in this wise: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and these things shall be added unto you.” ^{Edition note 27} But to Esau the blessing promised is an earthly one, which he supplements with a heavenly, after the fatness of the earth, saying, “Thy dwelling shall be also of the dew of heaven.” ^{Edition note 28} For the dispensation of the Jews (who were in Esau, the prior of the sons in birth, but the later in affection ^{Edition note 29} ) at first was imbued with earthly blessings through the law, and afterwards brought round to heavenly ones through the gospel by faith.

When Jacob sees in his dream the steps of a ladder set upon the earth, and reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending thereon, and the Lord standing above, we shall without hesitation venture to suppose, ^{Edition note 30} that by this ladder the Lord has in judgment appointed that the way to heaven is shown to men, whereby some may attain to it, and others fall therefrom. For why, as soon as he awoke out of his sleep, and shook through a dread of the spot, does he fall to an interpretation of his dream?

He exclaims, “How terrible is this place!” And then adds, “This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” ^{Edition note 31} For he had seen Christ the Lord, the temple of God, and also the gate by whom heaven is entered. Now surely he would not have mentioned the gate of heaven, if heaven is not entered in the dispensation of the ^{Edition note 32} Creator. But there is now a gate provided by Christ, which admits and conducts to glory.

Of this Amos says: “He buildeth His ascensions into heaven;” ^{Edition note 33} certainly not for Himself alone, but for His people also, who will be with Him. “And Thou shalt bind them about Thee,” says he, “like the adornment of a bride.” ^{Edition note 34} Accordingly the Spirit, admiring such as soar up to the celestial realms by these ascensions, says, “They fly, as if they were kites; they fly as clouds, and as young doves, unto me” ^{Edition note 35} —that is, simply like a dove. ^{Edition note 36} For we shall, according to the apostle, be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord (even the Son of man, who shall come in the clouds, according to Daniel ^{Edition note 37} ) and so shall we ever be with the Lord, ^{Edition note 38} so long as He remains both on the earth and in heaven, who, against such as are thankless for both one promise and the other, calls the elements themselves to witness: “Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth.” ^{Edition note 39} Now, for my own part indeed, even though Scripture held out no hand of heavenly hope to me (as, in fact, it so often does), I should still possess a sufficient presumption ^{Edition note 40} of even this promise, in my present enjoyment of the earthly gift; and I should look out for something also of the heavenly, from Him who is the God of heaven as well as of earth.

I should thus believe that the Christ who promises the higher blessings is (the Son) of Him who had also promised the lower ones; who had, moreover, afforded proofs of greater gifts by smaller ones; who had reserved for His Christ alone this revelation ^{Edition note 41} of a (perhaps ^{Edition note 42} ) unheard of kingdom, so that, while the earthly glory was announced by His servants, the heavenly might have God Himself for its messenger. You, however, argue for another Christ, from the very circumstance that He proclaims a new kingdom.

You ought first to bring forward some example of His beneficence, ^{Edition note 43} that I may have no good reason for doubting the credibility of the great promise, which you say ought to be hoped for; nay, it is before all things necessary that you should prove that a heaven belongs to Him, whom you declare to be a promiser of heavenly things. As it is, you invite us to dinner, but do not point out your house; you assert a kingdom, but show us no royal state. ^{Edition note 44} Can it be that your Christ promises a kingdom of heaven, without having a heaven; as He displayed Himself man, without having flesh? O what a phantom from first to last! ^{Edition note 45} O hollow pretence of a mighty promise!