Thesis #84 of 95 - The precise function and destiny of God's elect people has yet to be disclosed - but it in view of their designated status it must align with that of their Spouse, whose universal governance and reign of peace shall continue for ever.

BIBLICAL REFERENCES

Is9:6,7 A child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.

Mt19:28-30 At the regeneration [παλινγενεσίᾳ], when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you (the 12) also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

1Cor6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?

Rev5:9-10 You (O Christ) purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them to be kings and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Rev19:7 Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.”

Gen15:5 He took (Abram) outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if indeed you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be. 😲 יִצְחָ֔ק

COMMENTS

Given that God’s elect are designated to be the future corporate-Spouse of Jesus Christ, one would expect they would share in His activities, which must pertain to sovereignty, rule, judgement and the like. As Isaiah foretold concerning the Church’s Bridegroom-to-be: “Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to order and establish it with judgement and justice from that time forward, even for ever”.

The concept that the Jesus people are to judge, rule and enlighten others is not restricted to Old Testament prophecies, it is evident in the gospels, epistles and Revelation, some verses from which have been quoted above. However, the qualities required for those who have already  been reconciled to God as His children are faithfulness, humility and self-discipline. That is why Jesus taught that it is next to impossible for the rich and powerful of this age to enter the Kingdom of God (Mk10:25) – they lack the humility. And ironically in view of what I am disclosing here, they believe they have too much to lose in following Christ.

That in part is because, as considered in my previous thesis, many Christians have an over-spiritualized view of the afterlife: harps, clouds, beatific visions and the like, which naturally is reflected in the churches’ evangelism. For sure, such a scenario may indeed apply to what is currently experienced in heaven, and no doubt it is more blissful than anything that could be experienced whilst in mortal flesh. But the souls of the departed are depicted in Scripture as being  asleep whereas I am referring to the soul’s ultimate destiny – when it shall be re-embodied and very much awake.

What Jesus indicates in that context is a perfected and perpetual version of what we have experienced on earth (e.g., Mt19:28-30). And given the indisputable physicality, the new age of necessity must be at least as hierarchical as the current one (cf. Mk10:40), albeit that the order shall have radically changed. For as Paul affirmed (1Cor1:26), relatively few from the higher ranks of human society have come to gospel salvation. The weak and foolish of this world are to shame the wise and mighty (1Cor1:26-27) so that no one may boast in God’s presence. [As Jesus affirmed, His disciples are necessarily “losers” in the worldly sense Mt16:25].

And there will be no boasting, for personal priorities and aspirations will be so very different. Many who seek power and privilege in the current age do so out of greed or hubris. But having in life been conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29), that will not be the case for the elect of God. The apotheosis of their joy will be to see Jesus Christ and Him glorified; their greatest privilege to be that they of all people will be the most closely associated with Him. And the thrill of their hearts will be that the new earth “WILL be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea(Hab2:14). As to yet more distant aeons, speculators might look to the skies and extrapolate.

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