PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

Jack Davis

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” Col. 1:18.

A most precious truth is before us in this text. Jesus Christ has always been the Father’s thought and theme. The Bible is all about Him. The eternal preeminence of our dear Lord over all except One, the Father Himself, flows through the Scripture. “He must reign” - I Cor. 15:24-28. When all things have been subdued unto the Son, then will Jesus Himself be subject unto the Father. The word translated preeminence has the thought of superior rank. Jesus stands first, occupies the foremost or chief place, for He alone of all humanity is supreme in everything and every respect.

Three words in this verse give special emphasis, expression or meaning to the thought of his preeminence.

“Head” is used metaphorically of Christ in relation to His authority and direction of redeemed humanity, the Church, and of the husband in relation to the wife. I Cor. 11:3. God has set Him far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Eph. 1:21; 4:15 & 5:23.

“Beginning” speaks of Him that is denoted to be first as ruler, and origin. Not only the start of a new creation, but also in God’s purpose and provision, it’s ultimate consummation.

“Firstborn” seems to indicate our Lord’s superiority of position even more than His priority. 

It is evident that many that are attracted to the “Bridal” message, get focused on different aspects of this special company. It is good and important that the Bridal characteristics be recognized, and better yet realized. We do well to rejoice in those traits being developed by Him, of Him, in us. Praise God!

Let us not be unaware that the lofty place, the highest possible for redeemed glorified humanity is to be gained by laying low at our Redeemer’s feet. If any are going to reign with Him, we must be reigning now in life. Such reigning is only possible by allowing Him to reign in our life. Let us now honor Him as King on the throne of our heart.

Shall we get focused on bridehood, that may lead to pridehood, or rather on the bridegroom who will bring us into the throne room? Jesus Christ as bridegroom is offered as the Prize of the high calling. It is possible to miss winning Him, by getting more occupied with a prestigious place, a gloriously exalted position, than being centered on God’s preeminent Person, our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

As we view that most attractive couple correctly, He will always be Chief to her, and she is His choice. Song of Sol. 5:10 & 6:9. True Bridal saints would not have it any other way. 

Let no man beguile you of your reward (rob you of the Prize)…by “not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and not together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Col. 2:18-19. There are those forgetting to retain, failing to maintain the proper scripture relation with Him, not clinging to or practically apprehending Him. Does such as these continue to honor Christ as their personal Head?

Paul speaks of those there in verse eighteen as being “vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” We read that love vaunteth not itself. “For this I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” Rom. 12:3,16.

Paul admonishes us to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…II Cor. 10:5. He also admonished “Let this same mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” Phil. 2:5. He encourages us to think as Jesus thought, as our example of true humility. It is our privilege to have His attitude or disposition. Jesus didn’t cling to His prerogatives as God’s equal. No one else could leave such a lofty, glorious, exalted position, or give up such wealth, nor come to such poverty, as did our glorious Lord. Who else could descend to such depths to reach and deliver such depraved filthy vulgar polluted worms?

Our adversary did just the opposite. Ezekiel tells us that He set his heart as the heart of God, that his heart was lifted up. Read Eze. 28:1-17. He said in his heart, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” He also said “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” Isa. 14:14.

When the serpent beguiled Eve, did he not appeal to her intellectual pride? He said, “Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as god’s, knowing good and evil” Gen. 3:4. Do we believe that she would have been wise to have referred Satan to her head, Adam? Should she not have taken direction from him? Well, Thank God! We may now eat of the tree of life, because our Head Jesus Christ has tasted death for every man.

I am often thrilled with the truth that comes to our hearts from scripture as Rom. 8:16-18; II Tim. 2:11-13; Rom. 12:1-5; Col. 3:10; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 4:13-15 and I Jn. 3:1-3. For being made like Jesus is a marvelous work. A special blessing may be enjoyed from Rom. 8:29 but does this tell us that the full overcomer will be Jesus’ equal in authority, honor, power and glory? Does this mean that Christ’s bride will be His equal, identical with no degree of difference? Individually, or corporately?

God has ordained that many sons be brought to glory. Jesus will have many brethren like Himself, yet distinct and distinguishable. These sons molded into his image will share inwardly His likeness, and radiate outwardly His glory, but the eternal purpose is also that He be the first-born among many brethren. Who but Jesus could fulfill better the eternal purpose in full measure, the true meaning of the firstborn, first begotten, firstfruits?

Who will cease to bow before God’s triumphant Son in that eternal state? Oh, there is going to be a wedding to top all weddings! But will submission to His entire preeminence cease after the wedding? What will those seated on thrones be doing as well as reigning? Will His bride ever cease to fall down and rejoice in His presence? I think not. What will the full overcomers do with their crowns? What will the “Bridegroom” do with His?

However high He may raise us, He will never stop being “Head” above His body or His bride. His uplifted body, all of it exalts the Head, even the neck. He shall never cease to be King of all those being kings and Lord of all those being lords.

 He’s All I Need

Gordon Crook – Pastor 

Wichita, Kansas

He’s all I need, when I just need someone to talk to. He’s always there to hear my prayer each time I call Him. All my needs He supplies, my thirsty soul He satisfies. He’s the Lord of lords. He’s all I need. (First stanza of a song by Genelle Tennant.

Sometimes we sing our hymns without really paying attention to the words and what they really mean. Singing the words is much easier than living them. Paul lived the words that he wrote in his epistles.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. Paul reminds us that everything he needed, he would find in Jesus. Even though he found himself in situations of real need, he was always content, whatever his state, because he found his true supply in Jesus.

We are often encouraged to lean on ourselves, or maybe even on others, and that might make us feel better. While sometimes there are others that God will use to help us, we must always first look to our Lord for everything in our lives. “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” Psalm 62:5. God is the only one that has proven Himself to always be faithful, and to always be there for us. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.

Satan will convince us that the world can offer us everything we need, and that we need all that it has to offer. However, we will never be able to be content as long as we search for contentment in this world and all that it offers. No amount of money, fame, titles, or anything else will ever be enough. The longing that exists in us is for God, and only He can fill it. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” Psalms 63:1 “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:19

There is an imminent danger for all of God’s people that Satan is desperately attempting to attack our minds to convince us that what God has told us in His Word is not true. To convince us that we can be in control of our own destiny and have no need of our Lord. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 11 Peter 5:8. Paul says this about unbelieving humanity: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21. Satan is not looking to literally “devour” us, but rather to destroy our fellowship with our Lord; to get us to believe that we do not need God.

The solution to this problem is found in James 4:7-8, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” Drawing near to God. He really is all we need. 

This problem is not only about needing God to supply our material needs, but recognizing that we need our Lord in every aspect of our lives. He supplies our needs in every way. We also are not attempting to create some kind of lazy attitude about our lives. I go to work every day to provide for my life, but I recognize that God provides me the job, and enables me to accomplish my work, and supplies my needs through that. As soon as I begin to believe what the world is telling me about my ability and what I deserve because of my effort, I am shutting God out and it is a lie, because I cannot do anything without my Lord.

This is true about every aspect of my life. I need Jesus for everything that comes my way. And in fact, Jesus is all I need. If Jesus is first in my life, then all other things will fall in their place and be sufficient, because Jesus is sufficient.

Don’t let the world convince you that you are sufficient unto yourself, as you will miss out on the very best that God has for you. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5.

 GOD’S PLAN FOR US

Anita Clark – Pastor 

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, KS

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD...” Jeremiah 29:11-14.

These beautiful verses were given to Israel with God’s promise to help them and work His will in them, and for them.  However, these beautiful assuring words are also very encouraging to us.  The word “thoughts” found  here has a beautiful meaning referring to God’s plan for each of His people.  Further explanation of the meaning is: “a scheme, strategy, blueprint or map, a cunning plan.” Our God is not helter-skelter, but working according to the Plan, “His thoughts toward us.”

Before the foundation of the world, His thoughts were upon us.  Ephesians 1:3-6 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings...in Christ. He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame, ... predestined us to adoption (son placing) by Jesus Christ... To the praise and glory of His grace and made us accepted in the Beloved (Christ).” His divine thoughts were upon us before time.

I Corinthians 2:14, states, “The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned...” Paul goes ahead to say in verse 15, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him?  But we have the mind of Christ.” The word “mind” speaking here of Christ’s mind, means in the Greek, ‘the intellect of Christ, divine thought, feeling or will.’ When we are saved and are yielded to the Holy Spirit, we have the mind of Christ. His thoughts are toward us.  What kind of thoughts?  ”Thoughts of peace, thoughts of love.” Our God is love.

The whole Psalms 33 is a great blessing if read all the way through, however one verse stands out (V. 11) which says, “The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.”  The Scripture says. “God is good.” Everything God allows into our lives will work good for us.  Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” God allows everything for our Spiritual growth, everything for our blessing,” even the corrections in our lives is for our good.

 

No one thinks more often about us than God does.  Psalms 40:5 tells us, “Many, O LORD, my God are...thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee… They are more than can be numbered.” Psalms 139:17 says, “How precious...are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them.”  Psalms 33:11 says, The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever; the thoughts of His heart to all generations.”  Everything God thinks about us is for our good, and for our growth, for our blessing, and even for our correction, and even that is good.

The first verses we have considered in Jeremiah 29, we have the phrase concerning the Lord “giving us an expected end.”  The words, “to give” mean “to bestow, bring forth, restore, to pay.”  This is what God does for the person who has a willing heart.  The Lord Jesus said, in Matthew 7:11, “If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him.”

The essence of this message is: He is watching over you - You are constantly in His thoughts. His plan is being worked in each of your lives.  You will be blessed if you commit your way to the Lord and trust also in Him, and He will direct your path. “ The path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto a perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18.

 Prophecy

Earlene Davis

Personal Lessons in Christ’s letters

to the seven Churches – Rev. 2 & 3.

The promised reward to Thyatira overcomers is in Rev. 2:26-28 - “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”

Dispensationally they speak of those who endure tribulation and will reign over the earth. We could say, they are the foot portion of the mystical body of Christ. Zec. 14:4, “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem…” All believers will reign with Christ in some measure, but some in a lesser way. 

V. 28, “And I will give him the morning star.” Coming out of the darkest hour they will behold His light. Christ is to them as the morning star, the promise of a brighter day – the millennium. Mal. 4:1, “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven…But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…” 

The 5 foolish virgins of Mt. 25 correspond with these overcomers. They were not able to go into the marriage supper of the Lamb (the door of translation was shut) and they dwell on the earth.

Let us move on to the Sardis overcomers. Rev. 3:4-5, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” 

They are saved, clothed with Christ’s righteousness. The overcomers out of that condition, hold to His name in spite of where they are. Do you have loved ones who are saved, but not yielded to the Lord. Be comforted, “The Lord knoweth them that are his” II  Tim. 2:19. They belong to Him, He purchased them with His own blood. In spite of all the social preaching and error in Christendom, they accepted Christ. He will say, these are my people. 

Next issue: The reward promised Philadelphia and Laodicean overcomers.

 JONAH

Debra Isenbletter, Pastor

Christian Assembly

Springfield, Missouri

Jonah 3:8 “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 

Here we see how fear can unite a people. They have a common fear, their destruction.  They have a common goal, to try to stop their destruction.  The king and nobles make three additional decrees that the people can do to try to avert the danger.

National Sorrow: “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth.”  Following the fasting, the king adds something else, he asks them to do what he is doing. He asks every man, every woman, every child, everyone to show their sorrow visibly. Not so he can see it but so that Jonah’s God can see it. Not only is this visible expression of sorrow, and not only is this sackcloth to be worn by the people but also by all the animals. This is such a visible picture of man’s control over creation, how these animals are subject to man and suffer because of man.  Whether they were cattle or sheep or goats or horses or any other domestic animals, man used them and often abused them. It must have been a sight to walk around the city and see not only people but animals covered with sackcloth, but also to hear the animals crying out because they were hungry and thirsty.  

National Prayer: “and cry mightily unto God.” The word “mightily” means “with force, with vehemence.” This was not a weak cry, it was a strong cry, it was a loud cry, it was a desperate cry.  It is an urgent cry.  It was a cry that was heard throughout the city. They cried unto Jonah’s God, they did not cry unto their own gods.  “God” (Elohim) is the “strong one,” the “supreme Deity.”  They cried unto the True God not to false gods. The word “God” (Elohim) is plural and that shows that there is an abundance of power and strength available to draw from, and the source of God’s strength is inexhaustible. It is plural is a hint of the Trinity which will be revealed in the New Testament.   But what is striking is that they cried out unto God just as Jonah had done when he was in desperate circumstances. Jonah had said: “I cried by reason of mind affliction unto the Lord.” (Jonah 2:2) If Jonah could cry out unto God, why could they not cry out also? They took a leap of faith when they did this.

National Repentance: “yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.”  Let “them” do this. Let “everyone” do this.  The king must do this. The nobles must do this. The people must do this. All must examine their lives. All are guilty of evil and all must acknowledge that guilt and turn away from that evil. In their turning they are both turning away from something and turning toward Someone. This is not about returning to God because they never knew God but they can turn to God. What grace!  Each individual must do this, each must examine their own life, not the lives of others. The king cannot do it for the people and the people cannot do it for the king. Each must see their own sin, acknowledge it, repent of it and turn away from it.  

True repentance brings a changed behavior and a transformed life.  True repentance brings forth fruit.  The Lord Jesus says, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” (Mat.3:8). Another translation is: “So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin.] (Amplified Bible). True repentance will produce works.  Paul writes concerning the Gentiles, that after they hear the gospel, that they should “do works meet for repentance” (Act.26:20).

They needed to turn from their “evil way”, once they see that evil. That behavior was a way of life, until Jonah’s message, they may never have realized how evil their lives were. This is the testimony of the old creation.  Paul tells us in Romans that they were already evil by nature because they had rejected God and that evil just grew.  They had “changed the glory of the incorruptible God” (Rom.1:23).  They had “changed the truth of God” (Rom.1:25).  Because of that rejection of God who had revealed Himself to them through creation, God judged them in ways they did not even realize.  He “gave them up” (Rom.1:24) and He “gave them over” (Rom.1:28) to those evil ways.  They were already filled with all that was evil and it was revealed in all their actions (Rom.1:28-32).  

The definition for evil can be very specific, as in specific acts or actions but that evil is also something else, it has consequences.  The word evil can also mean “giving pain” or “causing misery.” That is something the Assyrians certainly did in their treatment of other nations.  Jonah forces them to confront this evil behavior, he calls it “the violence of their hands.” This is the violence that they practiced and it can also mean that violence was their chief sin.  Paul describes this behavior in his photograph of the old creation when he says “Their feet are swift to shed blood” and “Destruction and misery are in their ways” (Rom.3:15-16).  When I researched the Assyrian culture and practices one of the statements that stood out was that “Cruelty was the instrument of Assyrian control.”  It is how they controlled the nations they conquered.  The details are horrific and the cruelty unbelievable and Jonah’s message must have reminded them of this and their conscience was convicted by the deeds done that hurt others.

This is such a powerful lesson on the response to the Word of God.  It is a picture of the conviction of a sinner’s heart.

 God’s Timing and Purposes – Ecc. 3:1-8

Part 9

Pastor Vicky Moots

Kingman, Kansas

Ecc. 3:5a: “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together…”  In the natural sense, if you have a piece of rocky ground and you want to plant a garden in it, you would need to discard the stones that are in your way, for you would consider them to have no value.  And yet, at other times, stones are gathered together to make rock gardens or to construct stone fences or buildings.  It is all a matter of your perspective and what you perceive as being important at that time.

An important spiritual correlation to this is the fact that Jesus is called the Cornerstone by Paul in Eph. 2:20: “…Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”  In addition, we, as Christians, are called living stones by Peter in I Pet. 2:5: “Ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house…”

So let us explore this a little further.  That would mean that there would be a time when spiritual stones would also be cast away and a time when they would be gathered together.  To cast away something means “to discard or abandon” it because it is deemed as having no value.

Isaiah prophesied in Isa. 53:3 that the Messiah would be rejected: “He is despised and rejected of men…and we esteemed him not [as nothing].”  But Isaiah also refers to Him as a precious corner stone in Isa. 28:16: “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.”  Peter refers to this same Scripture in speaking of Jesus and explains to us how that He is both precious and yet rejected, in I Pet. 2:7-8: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed [rejected], the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient.”

To better understand the rejection of Jesus as a spiritual corner stone, I need to discuss the purpose and importance of an earthly corner stone in those days and how a corner stone was selected for use.  A corner stone is also called a foundation stone because it is the first stone that was set in the construction of a building.  It was usually a very large stone, the larger the better, that was cut out of a mountain for that specific purpose.  It needed to have a 90-degree corner angle, because all the other stones were placed in reference to the cornerstone.  Its purpose was to determine the position of the entire structure and to stabilize it.  Before a corner stone was selected for use, it was carefully measured and tested (or tried) to be sure it was square, to ensure proper alignment for the rest of the building.

So why was Jesus rejected? We know that He was perfect in every way, just as the Passover lamb had to be perfect.  I believe it was because He did not measure up to the religious expectations of a Messiah.  Although Jesus lined up with God’s measurements, He did not line with their religious views.  He was considered to be too small and insignificant, just like the small size of the manna in the wilderness.

He was poor and had a lowly birth that was deemed questionable.  He was esteemed as “nothing,” as far as the religious world was concerned, and unworthy to be a King or Messiah.  He came unto them “lowly, and riding upon an ass” as was foretold in Zech. 9:9, rather than a horse drawn chariot.  They not only rejected Him, they hated Him and cast Him away as a small stone would be cast away.

Because the world hated and rejected Jesus, the Corner stone, it will also hate and reject us and cast us away, since we are His living stones, connected to Him.  Jesus warned us of this in John 15:18-19: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world…therefore the world hateth you.”

Now, what about the gathering of stones? Stones were gathered together for the purpose of building something.  Spiritually, it can refer to Christians gathering together in Jesus’ name to worship and fellowship with each other as a body.  Jesus said in Matt. 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  This is important to us spiritually, and we are warned in Heb. 10:25 to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

We are joined to each other, as well as to the Lord, for a purpose, which Peter explains to us in I Pet. 2:4: “To whom [Jesus] coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house…”  Paul enlarges further regarding this spiritual house in Eph. 2:20-22 when he says that we are of the household of God, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye are also builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Now is the time for gathering stones together.  The Holy Spirit is currently gathering us, as living stones, together during this church age and placing us appropriately (fitly framed together) to form a spiritual temple for the Lord.  Each one of us, no matter how small, is also chosen of God and precious in His sight, as was Jesus.

Even if we have been cast away by the world, the Lord will never cast us away.  Jesus assures us of this in John 6:37: “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  Each one of us is important in God’s eyes.

God has chosen us and placed us alongside Jesus, the Corner stone, lining us up with Him (not with each other).  This is done in the same manner in which a stone building is constructed, for all stones must be lined up with the corner stone itself.  Paul tells us in I Cor. 3:10 that we are God’s building, and He is the one doing the work.

One day soon there will be another important time of gathering together of stones, God’s precious living stones, when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the trump of God, and we will be caught up together with Him in the air (I Thess. 4:16-17)!

 Who are the Beasts and Elders of Revelation?

W. J. Franklin

The beasts (R.V. living creatures) and elders are often mentioned together, but are also mentioned separately. See Rev. 11:16-18; 15:7. They are mentioned at times as individuals – Rev. 5:5; 6:1. Together, they worship God for creation, Rev. 4:9-11; for redemption, 5:8-10; and for judgment, 19:1-4. 

They are redeemed human beings – 5:8-10. They are seen in heaven before any judgments of the seals, trumpets, woes, or vials are poured out. The evidence of their sainthood is that they are elders, wear crowns, and on thrones or are in the great throne. Angels are never promised crowns, are not offered the place of reigning with Christ neither are they offered a place in the throne. They sing of their redemption– Rev. 5:9. Angels never join in the redemption song, neither is it ever said in the Bible that angels sing, for that matter, but since they are not redeemed, they do not sing redemption’s story.

It is promised to the saints that they shall judge the world and angels. These are seen uniting with Christ in judgment. Note that the beasts (living creatures) call out the horsemen of Revelation 6. Those are judgment scenes. One of the beasts will give the seven angels of Rev. 15 the seven vials full of the wrath of God – Rev. 15:7. In fact, the angels that pour out the vials of wrath are identified as saints – Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9. They are fulfilling I Cor. 6:2-3. Angels are never promised this office of judging the world. These saints are joined with Christ, acting under Him, and carrying out His will in the judgments. Note the statement of Rev. 18:20, where the better reading is “God hath judged your judgment on her.”

We believe that all will agree that these represent the highest development of sainthood. People are here that claimed all that Christ purchased for them. They learned to appropriate His work for victory in its fulness here, and will reign with Him there fully.

They seem to represent one company, reigning as kings, serving as priests. In their song, they are made kings and priests. After the marriage of the Lamb, they are never mentioned again, implying that they will constitute the bride or wife of the Lamb. They are mentioned first in Rev. 4:4-6 and last in 19:4, Where they join with all heaven in praising God for the destruction of the vile woman, Babylon of Rev. 17-18.

 THE ENCOURAGING WORD

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.”  Psalm 113: 3

“Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God who is our salvation! Selah.”  Psalm. 68:19

“What time I am afraid, I will have confidence and put my trust and reliance on you.”  Psalm 56:3

 

“Let me hear your loving kindness in the morning; for I trust in you; teach me the way in which I should walk; For to you I lift up my soul.”  Psalm 143:8

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  Colossians 4:2

“Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.”  Psalm 124:8

“Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify – strengthen and build up – one another, just as you are doing.”  I Thessalonians 5:11 (Amp)  

Martha Wainright