The words recorded in the book of Numbers by the Prophet Moses were spoken by Balaam, a figure whose prophetic legacy is marred by his failure to remain steadfast throughout his life. Yet, I have not hesitated to consider the faithfully reported messages of Balaam as worthy of reflection, particularly because they were delivered at a moment when he, undistracted by the allure of wealth and prestige from a pagan ruler, remained true to the spirit of prophecy and the Word of God. In that capacity, he was able to prophesy regarding Christ, His sacrificial death, and His resurrection, as illustrated in the statement: "He lay down like a lion, and like a skimen, who shall stir him up? They that bless thee shall be blessed, and they that curse thee shall be cursed" (Num. 24:9). Thus, it is worthwhile to explore the insights of this seer and hear what he declared.
Balaam stood atop the heights of Phogor, observing the encampment of the Israelites at the conclusion of their forty-year pilgrimage through the desert. He proclaimed, "Thy houses are good, O Jacob, and thy tents, O Israel, are like oak trees, and like gardens by the rivers, and like shrubs the Lord has planted, and like cedars by the waters." It is astonishing that, after such lengthy and arduous travels, the tents and wagons of the Israelites could appear, to the naked eye, in such enchanting splendor as depicted by the seer. What was his vision? I have noted that through the imagery of the sleeping lion, representing the king of beasts or the offspring of the lion, Balaam beheld Christ, the Sovereign of heaven and earth, the Son of God, who rested in the slumber of death, and whom none could awaken but Himself through His divine might. This prompted the seer to exclaim that "They that bless you are blessed," which is true of Christ as the sole source of grace to all who bless Him through faith.
In light of this interpretation, one might imagine that Balaam, seeing the visible encampment, was granted understanding of the Church of God and of Christ in spirit; it is not surprising that he gazed upon its beauty with admiration. What a glorious 'house' it is! And of course, the reason for its beauty is that God resides within it. The Church is also likened to a 'shrub' due to its state of pilgrimage: "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we seek the one to come" (Heb. 13:14). It embodies a 'radiant oak,' always overshadowed by the grace of God. It resembles a 'garden' alongside a river, perpetually nourished by the living water of the Spirit and the teachings of Christ, ever growing spiritually and yielding the fruit of righteousness. It stands like the 'tabernacles the Lord has established,' firm and indestructible, as God's creation, for indeed the Lord Himself proclaimed: "I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). It is akin to 'cedars by the waters,' perpetually green, consistently flourishing; likewise, it never forfeits the life infused within it by the eternal seed of God's Word, continually revitalized by the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, it grows ever upward towards heaven, striving to unite perfectly with its Head, Christ, and to ascend to a heavenly state.
If anyone claims that the awe-inspiring words of the seer pertain to the tabernacle of the vision, which was within the Israelite camp, this would not contradict our explanation, as the tabernacle of the vision serves as an image through which the Church can be viewed. The splendid vision of the Church’s spiritual glory is mirrored for us today by the physical beauty of this temple, now renewed through the efforts of the children of the new Israel, who have cherished this beauty and dedicated themselves to its visible creation and embellishment, realizing grace in a hidden yet higher, spiritual realm, rendering it a sacred dwelling place for God.
Let us invite the ancient seer to witness this transformation; or, should he desire a broader perspective, let him stand upon the revered height of the Kremlin, observing the many temples, both old and new, that are meticulously maintained or restored, all reflecting the same ancient fervor. Truly, I believe he would once again express his euphoric amazement, exclaiming, "Thy houses are good, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!" Blessed be God, who does not abandon His people but remains present with them through His grace! Blessed are the people of God who maintain their faith and yearning for His grace!
“Show Thy mercy to those who lead Thee, O Lord” (Psalm 35:11), and allow not our sins and unfaithfulness to distance us from Thy presence. Instead, may Thy grace, sought within Thy sacred spaces, penetrate our hearts, visit them, and fill them with its power and comfort, casting out all that opposes Thee and establishing within us a dwelling “for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). For the assurance of our faith, it is timely to present a few confirmed testimonies from the Word of God regarding the abiding grace within the Church of Christ until the very end.
The first testimony comes from Jesus Christ Himself, the "faithful and true witness" (Rev. 3:14), who claimed, "I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This declaration indicates that the construction of the Church is still ongoing in its intention before its ultimate realization. The Lord, in many instances, likening His Divine, incomprehensible works to human undertakings for our edification, presents Himself as a builder planning a house or as an architect considering a structure's design. Among other factors, the strength of the building must be accounted for, and provisions must be made to avert potential harm. Thus, the Church's Founder anticipates future challenges.
He foresees that the gates of hell, opened to humanity through Adam's sin, will unleash new forces of wickedness against the new Church of Christ at its establishment and beyond, presenting legions of persecutors, heretics, and a variety of temptations. If the building were to suffer irreparable harm, its purpose would remain unfulfilled, and the glory of the Divine Creator would go uncelebrated. But, praise be to Him forever, He envisages and prepares all things wisely: "I will build," He states, "My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." While adversaries may rise against her, at times appearing strong enough to tear away her members, and while she may face suffering and challenges, they “shall not prevail against her.”
For how long will this hold true? Certainly, until the end of the age. For if they could ever prevail, He who sees all of time could not definitively assert that “they shall not prevail.” The Church’s victory and resilience stem from the power and grace of God. As such, if the forces of hell are unable to conquer her, it follows that the power and grace of God will always reside within her, working salvifically.
A second assurance of this truth can be found in the Revelation of St. John the Theologian, which prophetically outlines the fate of the Church of Christ until the close of the age. In this revelation, we consistently witness the true Church depicted, initially as twenty-four elders surrounding the Divine Throne (Rev. 4), worshiping "the living God" (Rev. 4:9). As the spread of Christianity grows, she appears as one hundred forty-four thousand sealed with the mark of the living God, and later as "a multitude that no man could number, of every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9). She is portrayed as a temple with an altar and worshippers, described as measured by John (Rev. 11), and as a bride "clothed with the sun," representing the truth and virtues of Jesus Christ, "the light of the world" (Jn. 8:12), crowned with the stars, symbolic of apostolic holiness, and treading upon "the moon," emblematic of human wisdom (Rev. 12).
Additionally, prior to the Lamb’s marriage, she is presented as “His wife,” preparing herself while adorned in the fine linen of the righteousness of the saints (Rev. 19). Ultimately, following the vision of the first resurrection, she is identified as "the holy camp, the beloved city" (Rev. 20:8), culminating in the new heaven and earth, ultimately transforming into "the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven" (Rev. 21:2). Notably, during perilous times for the Church, the visionary portrays her as unaffected by danger, miraculously preserved.
For instance, while the serpent "persecuted the woman," he could neither catch her nor bring her down. Instead, "two great eagles were given to the woman; and the earth helped the woman" (Rev. 12:13-14, 16). Divine Providence orchestrates events so that even earthly institutions favor the rest and safety of the Church. The “two eagles,” potentially symbolizing royalty, elevate her above the malice of her foes, carrying her “into the wilderness to her place” (Rev. 12:13-14, 16)—not merely to an external desert, for the Church is an assembly of believers, but rather to an increasingly inner 'desert,' distancing her from the world and drawing her closer to God. For the Church's true dwelling place is in proximity to God and union with Him. Thus, it is evident that the grace of God shall not depart from the Church, remaining inseparable from her even in the most dangerous times, all the way to the end of the age.
A third testimony supporting this truth is found in the words of the Holy Apostle Paul: "And He," that is, Christ, "gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-13). To truly grasp the weight of this statement, imagine posing a question to the Apostle: Until when will there be in the Church “pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ?” His response would be, “Until we all reach the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the fullness of Christ.” Therefore, as long as there are those on earth who have yet to attain this unity of faith or grow into spiritual maturity, Shepherds and Teachers will continue to exist in the Church to fulfill the saints. And since the perfecting of the saints through Shepherds and Teachers cannot occur apart from the sanctifying grace of God, it must remain operational among them, ensuring that it eventually leads to the salvation of those predestined for faith.
Let's also address another testament to the continuous presence of grace within the Church, particularly its secret grace. The Apostle urged the Corinthian believers to approach the sacramental Body and Blood of Christ with profound reverence, stating: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (1 Cor. 11:26). Within this phrase lies a crucial truth in the word "until." To illuminate its significance, I will rephrase the Apostle’s inquiry: Until when will Christians partake of the sacramental bread and drink the cup, proclaiming the Lord's death through their communion? The Apostle answers: “until He comes.” Therefore, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ will be faithfully administered in the true Church until the second coming of Christ, which corresponds to the end of the age.
THEOSIS