We saw in our last issue that when Christ returns, he will begin to set up his kingdom here on the earth. This will be the beginning of his millennial reign here on the earth.
NIV Revelation 20:1-6 1And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 2He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
So, at some time in the future, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets and Old Testament saints will be in the kingdom of God here on the earth and reign with Christ and his saints. Look at I Corinthians.
I Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
The word judge does mean 'to judge.' However, Thayer's gives another meaning for it. In the Hebrew, the word judge here is equivalent to: "to rule, govern; to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions," because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment.
The Amplified Bible reads," Do you not know that the saints [the believers] will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice?"
Moffet's translation is similar.
Hebrews 2:1-5 1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, let at any time we should let them slip.2For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began, to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof, we speak.
Why? Because in the world to come, Jesus Christ will rule, govern, and administrate with his saints.
Some theologians believe that there is a possibility that the first heaven and earth was subject to angels.
Guess what Greek word subject comes from in Hebrews 2:5? Hupotasso! According to Strong's, hupotasso means: 1. To arrange under, to subordinate. 2. To subject, put in subjection. 3. To subject one's self, obey. 4. To submit to one's control. 5. To yield to one's admonition or advice. 6. To obey, be subject.Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
When will God show us these things? …in the AGES TO COME!! How many administrations are there for these promises to fit into?
Just two: part of the sixth and, for sure, the seventh. I don't know for sure, but it says ages…
Galatians 3:12-14 2And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
What is the blessing of Abraham?
Genesis 28:3-4 2And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
The text reads with the article the. Young's Literal Translation translates the verse this way:
YLT Romans 15:4 For, as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before, that through the endurance and the exhortation of the Writings, we might have the hope.
It's just not hope in general, it is THE HOPE. The hope has always included living here on the earth in peace and tranquility. Somewhere along the way, this great truth had been muddied over by religion and replaced with a heavenly existence in the clouds or something.
Romans 15:8-12 8Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause, I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
This word Gentiles in verse 12 is also translated nations by the New Jerusalem and the 1884/1890 Darby versions. Young's translates it nations also.
NJB Romans 15:12 And is Isaiah, it says: The root of Jesse will appear, he who rises up to rule the nations, and in him the nations will put their hope.DBY Romans 15:12 And again, Esaias says, There shall be the root of Jesse, and one that arises, to rule over the nations: in him shall the nations hope.
The one called the root of Jesse will arise to rule over the nations. Who is this root of Jesse?
Isaiah 11:1-12 1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:4But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth [oppressor] with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 10And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 11And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12And he shall set up an ensign [a banner, a flag, a standard] for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.Romans 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself: but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
It's all part of our hope.
Beginning with the return of Christ, he will begin to establish his kingdom here on the earth. At this point in time, he will reign as king of kings (plural) indicating that there will be other kings both past, present , and future: the hope of all humanity will then be realized.
Christ has the right to rule this planet because he is the anointed of God. He has the right to rule, to sit on the throne of David, to rule over Israel, because he is the son of David. We have the right to rule with him because we are the sons of the most high God!!!
To be continued…ÿ