Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3—NIV)

Please think long and hard about the above two passages. If you are not persuaded of your position in Christ it will be hard to follow what I will say further.

First of all, my understanding is that it is your new born-again nature, the Substance of Christ in you, that is part of Christ in God. It is the Life of Christ that has been begotten in you that is at the right hand of the Father.

This means, then, that your own spirit, soul, and body are in another place.

You can see, therefore, that some explanation is needed concerning your status while you are alive on the earth; your status when you die physically; and your status when you descend with Jesus Christ and regain your body from its place of interment. How are these three states of being related to your born-again nature that is hidden with Christ in God?

I would suggest that regardless of whether your spirit, soul, and body are alive now, or your spirit and soul are alive in Heaven after you die, or whether you have just returned with the Lord, your born-again nature, the Life of Christ in you, remains unchanged.

You are in Christ; but there are different states of your being, such as in Heaven or after you are raised from the dead, when your body, soul, and spirit will be with Christ. But your position in Christ in God will never change. Can you see that? It is just as Christ is always in God even though He may be working with God in many different areas and situations.

Remember, that Heaven is not millions of miles up in outer space. Heaven is all around us. It is invisible because it is in another dimension. You could travel forever into outer space and never come to Heaven because Heaven is in another dimension. You actually are surrounded by a great cloud of heavenly witnesses, perhaps including some deceased friends and relatives. They are not far off in outer space.

Think carefully about the above. It may be new to you.

Now, let's look again at Daniel and see if the passage gains in clarity.

It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. (Daniel 8:10-12—NIV)

The above is telling us that the Antichrist spirit will increase until it touches God's host including His saints, who today are in Christ in God at God's right hand.

What God is searching for, the reason He is shaking us, has to do with the extent of the Antichrist spirit in us, the spirit of lawlessness and rebellion.

To be continued.