“A correct understanding of the reign of the church is difficult to grasp unless one appreciates also the concept of the two phases of the kingdom of God. The church, together with Christ, will constitute the spiritual ruling class. They will direct the affairs of the kingdom in a manner similar to that of a president and his cabinet. But ruler-ship implies a subject class which, in this case, will be the world of mankind. (Rev. 5:10) Unlike the case of so many of earth's despots, Christ and the church will reign with equity and justice for all the people. (Psa. 72:1-19) Indeed, what other ruler actually gave his life for his subjects, to cancel the debt of condemnation against them, that they might enjoy the perfect and abundant life of the kingdom age?
The church, as the ruling class in the kingdom, will be given spiritual life on the very highest plane of existence, that of the divine nature. (Rom. 2:7; 2 Pet. 1:4) These spiritual powers will be necessary to properly carry out her function in the executive branch of the kingdom government.
The world of mankind, when brought back in the resurrection, will be given the opportunity to attain to the perfection of human life upon the earth, by obedience to the just laws of the kingdom then in force. (Rev. 22:17) This will amount to a restoration of that edenic bliss which was enjoyed by our first parents, a condition of absolute perfection of the mental, moral, and physical powers of human life. Pain, sorrow, fear, and even death itself will then pass away and will no longer be permitted to blight man's life upon the earth. -- Rev. 21:4, 5; Isa. 35:10
As we study the reign of the church, we see before us a picture of the method that God will use to accomplish the world's blessings. It represents the final fulfillment of an early prophetic promise made to father Abraham: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." (Gen. 22:18) Christ, indeed, was the natural seed of Abraham and, as the Apostle Paul tells us, the church will become a joint-heir with Christ as his spiritual seed: "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." -- Gal. 3:29
Thus the church's reward for faithfulness does not become the exclusive enjoyment of heavenly bliss, but takes on a much grander purpose. The Scriptures present us with the concept of the church's being used as an instrument of blessing in the hands of Almighty God. The exaltation of a few, specially selected and developed from among earth's billions, will be for the purpose of assisting the remainder, non-elect humanity, to achieve the measure of human life and perfection which God originally intended that they enjoy.
During the church's reign, by the process of instruction and correction in righteousness, all selfish and sinful tendencies will be removed from the hearts of men. (Isa. 26:9; 35:8; Ezek. 11:19-20) The true knowledge of God shall abound and none will lack understanding. (Jer. 31:33-34; Isa. 11:9) Then also will be accomplished that great undertaking which has eluded all man's efforts through the centuries -- the full conversion of the world to Christianity.
The final results of the church's reign will far surpass man's most cherished hopes and dreams of utopia. The earth and all of its inhabitants will have been restored to the peace and harmony of the original creation. Words of praise and joy and thanksgiving will issue forth continuously from the lips of the redeemed ones of every kindred, race, and tongue, in God's Word, let us also rejoice and offer our prayer of gratitude to the divine Author of such a magnificent plan as this!” (The Faith of our Fathers, Page 48, 49)
The church, as the ruling class in the kingdom, will be given spiritual life on the very highest plane of existence, that of the divine nature. (Rom. 2:7; 2 Pet. 1:4) These spiritual powers will be necessary to properly carry out her function in the executive branch of the kingdom government.
The world of mankind, when brought back in the resurrection, will be given the opportunity to attain to the perfection of human life upon the earth, by obedience to the just laws of the kingdom then in force. (Rev. 22:17) This will amount to a restoration of that edenic bliss which was enjoyed by our first parents, a condition of absolute perfection of the mental, moral, and physical powers of human life. Pain, sorrow, fear, and even death itself will then pass away and will no longer be permitted to blight man's life upon the earth. -- Rev. 21:4, 5; Isa. 35:10
As we study the reign of the church, we see before us a picture of the method that God will use to accomplish the world's blessings. It represents the final fulfillment of an early prophetic promise made to father Abraham: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." (Gen. 22:18) Christ, indeed, was the natural seed of Abraham and, as the Apostle Paul tells us, the church will become a joint-heir with Christ as his spiritual seed: "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." -- Gal. 3:29
Thus the church's reward for faithfulness does not become the exclusive enjoyment of heavenly bliss, but takes on a much grander purpose. The Scriptures present us with the concept of the church's being used as an instrument of blessing in the hands of Almighty God. The exaltation of a few, specially selected and developed from among earth's billions, will be for the purpose of assisting the remainder, non-elect humanity, to achieve the measure of human life and perfection which God originally intended that they enjoy.
During the church's reign, by the process of instruction and correction in righteousness, all selfish and sinful tendencies will be removed from the hearts of men. (Isa. 26:9; 35:8; Ezek. 11:19-20) The true knowledge of God shall abound and none will lack understanding. (Jer. 31:33-34; Isa. 11:9) Then also will be accomplished that great undertaking which has eluded all man's efforts through the centuries -- the full conversion of the world to Christianity.
The final results of the church's reign will far surpass man's most cherished hopes and dreams of utopia. The earth and all of its inhabitants will have been restored to the peace and harmony of the original creation. Words of praise and joy and thanksgiving will issue forth continuously from the lips of the redeemed ones of every kindred, race, and tongue, in God's Word, let us also rejoice and offer our prayer of gratitude to the divine Author of such a magnificent plan as this!” (The Faith of our Fathers, Page 48, 49)
