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This will be a glorious kingdom, and yes, the saints of God will play a big part in it. The Bible speaks many times about the reign of Christ and those who will rule with Him. In I Corinthians 6:1-3, it says that the church will judge the world and angels. I’m not sure what our individual duties will be but we will have a place in the Lord’s kingdom, some greater than others. This is apparent in many scriptures throughout the Bible, but never more clearer then in Luke 19:12-27.
In this passage, Jesus was sharing a parable with the multitude about the importance of faithfulness to God and how it would reflect their stature in His future kingdom. In the parable, He explains that there were three different servants who were given equal amounts of money by their master. They were instructed to go out and invest or do business with the money. After a certain amount of time had past, the master came and asked the three servants to give an account. The first servant presented his earnings, and had done well, for he had doubled his money. The second servant also presented his earnings, and he managed to increase his money by fifty percent. The last servant did nothing with his money and was found to be unfaithful. The first two servants, because of their faithfulness, were given ten and five cities respectively to rule over. The last servant, who did nothing with his money was reprimanded and his money taken from him. So shall it be in that great and marvelous day when Jesus comes to rule and reign. Those who have been faithful with the talents and gifts God has given them will be rewarded accordingly.
In that day, I believe many Christians will make it to heaven by the skin of their teeth, having spent their whole life placing themselves first instead the Lord. They will suffer loss and make it in “so as by fire” (I Corinthians 3:13-15).
If you think for one moment that heaven is a place of equal opportunity you have another thing coming. Even though you may feel that you just want to make it in, and that’s all that matters, your thinking will change dramatically the minute you see Jesus. For in a moment, you will learn what your full potential as a Christian could have been and the reality of what it truly was. Many will be shocked to tears when they realize the lives that could have been changed and the impact they could have been on those around them if they only would have obeyed. This will be a tragic time for many Christians.
But for those who were faithful throughout their lives, they will be exalted before the Lord and rewarded with cities to reign over. Of course, they may not reach their potential either, but they will be rewarded for what they did do with the talents God gave them.
Yes, faithfulness and obedience will be key indicators as to how high you will rank in the Kingdom of God. For it is the Lord’s will that we all achieve the standard set before us with the talents He has granted us. May you be found faithful in that glorious day of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Tribulation Saints Will Also Rule
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment (or authority to rule) was given unto them: And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)
This passage of scripture identifies a multitude of people who have resurrected bodies just like our Lord Jesus Christ. These real people were alive at the rapture when Christ took His Bride. They are identified in Revelation 7:9-17, as those who refused to take the mark of the beast and were slain for their witness of Christ. These are the martyred saints who were killed during the tribulation period and their number is said to be so great that no man could number them.
When Christ comes in the clouds of glory to rule and reign on earth they will be resurrected. As mentioned above, they are promised a place in the millennial reign of Christ, but what their duties will be is uncertain, but they will take part. Some hold to the view that they will act as servants in the millennium temple due to their description in Revelation 7:15 which states, “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: And he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”
Whatever their position, it is certain that they will have a special place in His kingdom, for He will dwell among them.
As stated earlier, the Lord will rule with a rod of iron, but believe it or not, there will still be those who will oppose Him. They will find out quickly that all offenders will be swiftly dealt with and they will not prosper. Some will be put to death and others will have their life shortened.
Everyone will make the trip to the holy city once a year and take part in worshipping the Lord. Those who refuse will not receive rain for their crops (Zechariah 14: 17, 18) and God will curse the ground that they sow. Many will give the Lord lip service for the sake of prosperity, but in their heart, they will be far from Him.
You may ask, “With all the prosperity and peaceful surroundings, why would anyone rebel against God? Besides, Satan is bound for a thousand years and won’t be able to tempt man to sin!” It’s true that this world will be free of the tempting power of Satan for one thousand years. Why then would the Lord have to rule the world with a rod of iron? After all, isn’t Satan the reason why we sin? Not at all! Every person that is born into this world is born with a sin nature (Psalm 51:5). Even though everyone who is granted to enter into the millennium will be saved and filled with the Spirit, as time goes on, that will change. During this time there will be a population explosion, and as each generation passes, men will begin to resist the grace of the Lord and choose their own way. They will not want to retain the Lord in their hearts. This rebellion will not be an outward uprising, for the Lord will not allow that, but a rebellion of the heart. Though they will obey, it will only be for the purpose of receiving blessings from the Lord.
You may ask, “How could this be possible?” Because Satan is not the reason we rebel against God. Rebellion is born within every man and resides within the sin nature. He only uses this nature to manipulate us to sin against God. But remember, Satan is not on the earth at this time, he has been bound for one thousand years, yet the Lord must still rule with a rod of iron. Why would rebellion be a problem? Although the Lord will greatly bless man both physically and spiritually, some will still choose to follow their sin nature as opposed to allowing the Spirit nature to rule their life. Through all the prosperity, peace and even the absence of Satan, man will still choose in their heart to live in rebellion against God. This just proves what God has known from the beginning of time, that man is a sinner in need of a Savior.
At the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ, Satan will be released on the earth again. He will find many eager to follow him.