Christ's Loyal Subjects
In 6,000 years of recorded history, there have been few times of real justice, happiness and peace between people. And there have been even fewer times when people truly respected and obeyed their Creator God. Living the way of "get" described in the last lesson has led humanity to this downward spiral, threatening our very existence.
As we have seen in the last two lessons, things will change! Jesus Christ will take over as King. His laws will become the constitution of that coming Kingdom of God. But these two elements are not enough. The citizens themselves must change. The transformation of rebellious humanity into the peaceful subjects of the Kingdom of God is a fascinating story. It's a story that can begin today—with you!
What will people's predominant attitudes and actions be in the last days before Jesus Christ's second coming?
2 Timothy 3:1-5
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Romans 3:10-18
As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one." "Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "the poison of asps is under their lips"; "whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Because the selfish way of "get" will so thoroughly fill the world, people will not even realize that thinking and doing what "seems right" to them is actually producing the problems of the world. They will want peace but will live in ways that make peace impossible.
What will the state of the world's people be when Christ returns?
Matthew 24:21
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Revelation 9:20-21
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 19:19
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
Human rebellion will bring the worst time of trouble the world has ever seen. It will be worse than the Inquisition, the pogroms, the genocides or the Holocaust. Yet even through the plagues and troubles, people will refuse to repent, and nations will even try to fight Christ at His return! But at the end of it all, the remnant of humanity still alive will be ready to surrender, and they will be in great need of healing in body, mind and spirit.
Who will Christ rule?
Daniel 7:14
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.
Jeremiah 16:19
O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, worthlessness and unprofitable things."
Jeremiah 31:34
No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
All people will finally come to know that all human ways and traditions are worthless. Eventually each person will be able to learn God's way and have a personal relationship with God.
Who will help Christ teach and rule the people?
Daniel 7:18
"But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever."
Jesus Christ will have His people assist Him in ruling, teaching and caring for all people. All the faithful people called by God and set apart by the gift of God's Spirit are known as saints (Romans 1:7; 5:5).
What specific jobs in the Kingdom of God are mentioned in the Bible?
Jeremiah 30:9
But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
Ezekiel 37:24-25
"David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever."
Matthew 19:28
So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
David and the 12 apostles' responsibilities in the Kingdom of God are specifically stated.
What other jobs should we be preparing to help with in the Kingdom of God?
Isaiah 30:20-21
And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
Luke 19:15-19
"And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'"
The Bible lists future responsibilities such as teaching people God's ways and serving them as rulers over cities. God's people have the challenge to train now for those future responsibilities.
How do we prepare to serve in God's Kingdom?
2 Peter 3:18
...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Revelation 3:21
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Mark 10:42-45
But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
To be able to teach and help others to live God's way in the future, we must learn and practice His ways now. To help others overcome sin and transform their lives, we must overcome sin and transform our lives. To serve Jesus and others effectively in the future, we must learn to serve them now. Our booklet Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion has much more on this subject.
Jesus Christ will bring a way of peace and real joy that will spread to all people around the world. He wants us now to be training to help Him in that most wonderful work. Now is the time to accept that challenge!
Apply what you've learned
Today, take the time to write down the last six of the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:12-17. These six commandments deal with our relationships with other people and help explain how to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39).
After writing down these six commandments, take time to reread them and to think about how to apply them every day this week. You will find a chapter about each of these commandments in the booklet The Ten Commandments, which you will find very helpful in your further study of this subject.
Reprinted with permission. Published by United Church of God, an International Association, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027. © 2014 United Church of God.
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