Who will constitute the administrating or governing body of the two phases of the kingdom?
In respects to the heavenly phase of the kingdom not everyone (spirit begotten) who goes to heaven will sit on thrones governing with Christ, but only the faithful over-comers of the Gospel age, God’s very elect, the 144,000, the Church glorified. The remainder of those who reach spirit birth and receive a heavenly inheritance will consist of the Great Company class. This class is NOT a ruling class, but rather a ministering or servant class one who though failing to gain the prize for which they were originally called (to sit with Christ on His throne), will nevertheless, coming up through great tribulation having washed their robes in the blood of the lamb will serve God in his Temple (the Church) in heaven. (Rev 7:14, 15; Compare with Ezek 44:10-14)
Now when it comes to the earthly phase… well.
Some like our JW friends believe that all believers (specifically those who survive Armageddon) will constitute the Royal Priesthood, the Holy Nation. This however we know is not so. As evidenced by the various texts mentioned in our first post it is evident that the Church alone will constitute this Royal Priesthood, and Holy Nation, no one else, the rest of mankind both the survivors of Armageddon and those of Jacobs Trouble as well as those subsequently resurrected will become subjects of the kingdom.
In the beginning following the Great Earthquake (Armageddon) there will be few survivors left in the world, most of mankind will have perished during the trouble, and were it not for or on account of the elect (the Church) no flesh would have survived (Matt 24:22). It is only because they will shorten those days that some will survive, this being a direct indication of just how bad things will get.
At the same time in Jerusalem following the attack of Gog and his allies on the holy land (the “Time of Jacobs Trouble”) there will remain only a “remnant” of survivors there likewise. (Rom 9:27) In Israel only those of the faith of Abraham, Israelite’s indeed, those who will recognize Jesus as the Messiah will survive. This Holy Remnant will make up the nucleus of the earthly phase of the kingdom. But even here they themselves will not constitute the governing body of the earthly phase of the kingdom, no that honor has been appointed to God’s faithful of the past, the Ancient Worthies.
Early in the new order of things the Lord will resurrect these faithful ones of the past these will be the FIRST FRUITS of the Earthly Phase of the kingdom, “princes in all the earth” (Psa 45:16). Having already been approved of God their resurrection (a resurrection to LIFE) styled a “better resurrection” (Heb 11:35), will be unlike that of the rest of mankind. These having been previously approved, "having obtained a good report"--their trial having already taken place, it will be unnecessary that their restitution out of death and into life should be a gradual work (as it will be with the rest of mankind). Their shortcomings went before to judgment (1 Tim 5:24). Therefore, their resurrection will be an instantaneous one, yet of a different type from that of the Church who were resurrected spirit beings.
These faithful of the past will be the Lords VISIBLE earthly representatives, judges and teachers of the new order.
“And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shall be called, The City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment and her converts with righteousness.” (Isa 1:26, 27)
A judge, in ancient times, was one who executed justice and relieved the oppressed. The object of rising up judges was a gracious and beneficent one: it was to deliver and bless the people, not to condemn and punish them as some might imagine.
These Ancients although appointed as administrators and judges (a holy nation in themselves) are not to be misconstrued as THE Royal Priesthood, THE Holy Nation (the Church of Christ) that honor is theirs alone. The Ancients will stand as intermediaries between the spiritual phase of the kingdom, the saints, and their earthly subjects, mankind.
Generally (at least in theory) Congress is supposed to write or establish the laws of the land, while our judges are supposed to interpret them (sometimes modifying them overtime, this being necessary due to the fact that the ones making the laws are not perfect in wisdom and insight). So it is likewise with regards to the two phases of the kingdom, for out of Zion (the Spiritual Phase of the Kingdom) shall go forth the law (the New Covenant along with its requirements), and the word of the LORD (the administration of the law) from Jerusalem (the Earthly Phase of the Kingdom).” Isa 2:3.
Just as the New Jerusalem consist not of an actual place or structure, but rather of a people, the glorified Christ, Head and Body constituting the heavenly Zion, so too the Ancient Worthies will constitute the earthly Jerusalem.
Continued with next post.
In respects to the heavenly phase of the kingdom not everyone (spirit begotten) who goes to heaven will sit on thrones governing with Christ, but only the faithful over-comers of the Gospel age, God’s very elect, the 144,000, the Church glorified. The remainder of those who reach spirit birth and receive a heavenly inheritance will consist of the Great Company class. This class is NOT a ruling class, but rather a ministering or servant class one who though failing to gain the prize for which they were originally called (to sit with Christ on His throne), will nevertheless, coming up through great tribulation having washed their robes in the blood of the lamb will serve God in his Temple (the Church) in heaven. (Rev 7:14, 15; Compare with Ezek 44:10-14)
Now when it comes to the earthly phase… well.
Some like our JW friends believe that all believers (specifically those who survive Armageddon) will constitute the Royal Priesthood, the Holy Nation. This however we know is not so. As evidenced by the various texts mentioned in our first post it is evident that the Church alone will constitute this Royal Priesthood, and Holy Nation, no one else, the rest of mankind both the survivors of Armageddon and those of Jacobs Trouble as well as those subsequently resurrected will become subjects of the kingdom.
In the beginning following the Great Earthquake (Armageddon) there will be few survivors left in the world, most of mankind will have perished during the trouble, and were it not for or on account of the elect (the Church) no flesh would have survived (Matt 24:22). It is only because they will shorten those days that some will survive, this being a direct indication of just how bad things will get.
At the same time in Jerusalem following the attack of Gog and his allies on the holy land (the “Time of Jacobs Trouble”) there will remain only a “remnant” of survivors there likewise. (Rom 9:27) In Israel only those of the faith of Abraham, Israelite’s indeed, those who will recognize Jesus as the Messiah will survive. This Holy Remnant will make up the nucleus of the earthly phase of the kingdom. But even here they themselves will not constitute the governing body of the earthly phase of the kingdom, no that honor has been appointed to God’s faithful of the past, the Ancient Worthies.
Early in the new order of things the Lord will resurrect these faithful ones of the past these will be the FIRST FRUITS of the Earthly Phase of the kingdom, “princes in all the earth” (Psa 45:16). Having already been approved of God their resurrection (a resurrection to LIFE) styled a “better resurrection” (Heb 11:35), will be unlike that of the rest of mankind. These having been previously approved, "having obtained a good report"--their trial having already taken place, it will be unnecessary that their restitution out of death and into life should be a gradual work (as it will be with the rest of mankind). Their shortcomings went before to judgment (1 Tim 5:24). Therefore, their resurrection will be an instantaneous one, yet of a different type from that of the Church who were resurrected spirit beings.
These faithful of the past will be the Lords VISIBLE earthly representatives, judges and teachers of the new order.
“And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shall be called, The City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment and her converts with righteousness.” (Isa 1:26, 27)
A judge, in ancient times, was one who executed justice and relieved the oppressed. The object of rising up judges was a gracious and beneficent one: it was to deliver and bless the people, not to condemn and punish them as some might imagine.
These Ancients although appointed as administrators and judges (a holy nation in themselves) are not to be misconstrued as THE Royal Priesthood, THE Holy Nation (the Church of Christ) that honor is theirs alone. The Ancients will stand as intermediaries between the spiritual phase of the kingdom, the saints, and their earthly subjects, mankind.
Generally (at least in theory) Congress is supposed to write or establish the laws of the land, while our judges are supposed to interpret them (sometimes modifying them overtime, this being necessary due to the fact that the ones making the laws are not perfect in wisdom and insight). So it is likewise with regards to the two phases of the kingdom, for out of Zion (the Spiritual Phase of the Kingdom) shall go forth the law (the New Covenant along with its requirements), and the word of the LORD (the administration of the law) from Jerusalem (the Earthly Phase of the Kingdom).” Isa 2:3.
Just as the New Jerusalem consist not of an actual place or structure, but rather of a people, the glorified Christ, Head and Body constituting the heavenly Zion, so too the Ancient Worthies will constitute the earthly Jerusalem.
Continued with next post.
