Jesus changed heaven forever

I’ve never been one for thinking about angels much. Nor have I thought much about how Jesus changed life in heaven. I mean, I’m sure it’s all very interesting; it’s just not very practical really.

Wrong!

I found myself reading John Owen this week because I wanted to read something serious on Christ’s high priestly work in heaven—a topic that occurs quite sparsely in modern theological commentary, but surprisingly often in the Scriptures.

As I read, I found this amazing reflection on the work of Christ. It takes a little bit to get what he’s saying, but it’s incredible when you do:

Heaven itself was not what it is, before the entrance of Christ into the sanctuary for the administration of his office. Neither the saints departed nor the angels themselves were participant of that glory which now they are. Neither yet does this argue any defect in heaven, or the state thereof in its primitive constitution; for the perfection of any state has respect unto that order of things which it is originally suited unto. Take all things in the order of the first creation, and with respect thereunto heaven was perfect in glory from the beginning. Howbeit there was still a relation and regard in it unto the church of mankind on the earth, which was to be translated thither. But by the entrance of sin all this order was disturbed, and all this relation was broken. And there followed thereon an imperfection in the state of heaven itself; for it had no longer a relation unto, or communion with, them on earth, nor was a receptacle meet for men who were sinners to be received into.

Wherefore, by the “blood of the cross,” God “reconciled all things unto himself, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven,” Colossians 1:20
,—or gathered all things into one in him, “both which are in heaven, and which are on earth,” Ephesians 1:10. Even the things in heaven so far stood in need of a reconciliation, as that they might be gathered together in one with the things on earth; the glory whereof is manifested in this heavenly ministration. And the apostle affirms that the “heavenly things themselves” were purified by the sacrifice of Christ, Hebrews 9:23. Not that they were actually defiled in themselves, but without this purification they were not meet for the fellowship of this mystery in the joint worship of the whole society in heaven and earth, by Jesus Christ.

Hence, therefore, there is a continual manifestation of the glory of God unto the angels themselves. They behold his manifold wisdom and grace in the blessed effects of it, which were treasured up in the holy counsels of his will from eternity. Hereby is their own light and blessedness advanced, and they are filled with admiration of God, ascribing praise, honor, and glory unto him for evermore; for the beholding of the mystery of the wisdom of God in Christ, which is here so despised in the dispensation of the gospel, is the principal part of the blessedness of the angels in heaven, which fills them with eternal delight, and is the ground of their ascribing praise and glory unto him for evermore.

(John Owen, “The exercise of the mediatory office of Christ”.)

Here’s a very rough translation: heaven itself was changed by the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The scene in Revelation 5 couldn’t happen before Jesus came. And now God’s work in Christ is the centrepiece that demands all of the praise of the entire created order. By the way, that is Christ’s work in redeeming us and making us his. To put it differently (cf. Eph 3), we are God’s trophy, displaying his glory to everything in creation. If you’re feeling tempted to neglect the value of your salvation, think again. There’s nothing more important in the known universe. It’s certainly important to the angels, even if they don’t seem all that important to us!