The soon coming Kingdom of God is nearly beyond description in terms that we can grasp. The millennial reign of Christ will have an Edenic character that this age has never nor can ever experience. Only two humans have ever experienced this type of existence in all of history. They, of course, are Adam and Eve before the fall that led to a curse that corrupted all of creation. In the coming kingdom redeemed mankind will once again have a full relationship with his Creator such as Jesus walking and talking with Adam in the garden. The Kingdom will be characterized by one main element-the dominance and control by its King- our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be on His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9: 6-7).
Jesus will use those that are His to administer the kingdom as He sees fit. That’s us, His bride, His church, His adopted kin. We will rule with Him as kings and priests. “… Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and makes us kings and priests to His God and Father…” (Revelation 1: 5-6). “For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5: 9-10). As kings and priests God will have restored to us dominion of the earth just as was assigned to Adam and Eve. “Then God said, ‘let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and every living thing that lives on the earth.’ ” (Genesis 1:26). Their other duties included care of their environment. “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Genesis 2: 15). This same type of dominion will be manifest in our delegated tasks as kings and priests. The term “kings” refers to regional authority and leadership via sovereign power. “Priests” implies our utter devotion to Christ as we are tasked with being intermediaries between God and mortal humanity.
Yes, even though we will be living in a truly glorious environment, we will have responsibilities in the earthly government of the Son. This current brief period of temporal existence is merely a training ground preparing us for the wonders to come. How is your training going? I hope well. Just make sure you’re following the lead of the greatest trainer man could ever have-Jesus Himself. He’s our example. If you are, you’ll have no problem navigating a truly amazing future.
Maranatha, Jim