The Theocratic Kingdom by Tommy Comer - HTML preview

XII. Eternal Rule and Reign with Christ

            When do the saints that remain asleep through the 1000-year reign of Christ become unified with those other saints that have already been resurrected? And what about Israel? Do they ever have a resurrection? These things happen after the judgment seat. Those that are found in the book of Life are resurrected unto glory, and those that don’t have their names written there are cast into the lake of fire. The one is a resurrection unto life; the other is called the second death.

            There is never a place in the Bible where it mentions a “second resurrection.” As mentioned in the last chapter, the term “first resurrection” seems to imply that there is a second. Upon the gaining of our glorified bodies, we are able to endure the face of God. We are able to stand in His presence. There is no darkness, no stars, no moon, and no sun. God is the light of the world. In Genesis 2:24, we find the infamous Scripture that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.

            I think that this happens with Israel and the Church. The two cleave together and become “one.” We find in Revelation 21 a description of the city of God. In verse 12, we find that there are twelve gates to the city. On the twelve gates are written the twelve tribes of Israel. We find in verse 14 that there are twelve foundations to the city. The foundations are the twelve apostles. The city itself is called the Bride of Christ (verse 9) and the Holy City Jerusalem (verse 10).

            The Church and Israel are now together as one. Somehow it is neither called the Church nor Israel, but is something else entirely. It is called a Holy City. The two have become one, and therefore they are beyond what either ever could have been alone. They complete each other in a way that causes for glory beyond comprehension. The City itself radiates light. Though God is the light of it, it appears as though the City also has a light (verse 11). The light is the glory of God. This Bride is a perfect reflection of the Divine, in that she is no longer a depiction of separation or enmity, but of unity.

Spirit and Flesh

            Paul made the statement that we are like seeds. We do not know what we will blossom into in the life to come. You cannot tell what a flower will look like by its seed. We cannot tell what we will be like when we have come into those new glorified bodies. We see in Revelation 21:2 this Holy City coming down out of heaven onto the earth. Spirit and flesh have been made one. Somehow they are no longer fighting each other, but as Job has said, “In my flesh, I shall see God.”

            Just like Israel and the Church becoming one somehow causes for a glory beyond comprehension, so too is it when Spirit and flesh are able to find unity together. In being united, they are able to display something fuller than either were able to display before. It is in the completion of Spirit and flesh becoming united – one together – that we can better understand the last verse in Ephesians 1: we are the fullness of Him who fills all things. We are a full representation of God, even in a body that has been resurrected.

            The crazy thing about it is that in Revelation 21 and 22, we seem to find the Church as God’s equal. Paul mentions in Ephesians 2:6 that we currently are seated with Christ in heavenly places. He mentions elsewhere that we are co-heirs with Christ. Somehow, when we are no longer individuals all separated, but are instead one, we are depicting something of glory. Further, when we are no longer Israel and the Church, but are now the New Jerusalem – the Holy City – the Bride of Christ – we are now displaying a further degree of God. When we reach Revelation 21 and 22, we are no longer flesh and spirit warring against one another, but are now a unified Body – corporately – that is neither ruled by flesh, nor by spirit. The result is something altogether other, and God so identifies with that corporate entity that He actually seems to indicate that it has Divinity.

            Notice what I’m saying here. There is something about that Bride – not of us individually – that so represents God, that He has actually exalted it to a place of stature, and a name above other names, that He calls it part of Himself. Just as Jesus was resurrected and thus given a name above every name – including the name of the Father – we are resurrected and brought into unity in such a way with God and man, flesh and Spirit, Israel and Church, man and woman, black and white, cross-national, and any other distinction or separation that God then exults us as He exulted Christ.

            This is something that I believe we have not attained unto yet. I do not preach or teach that we are Divine – especially in an individual manner. There will be a time, after the end of the world, where we will somehow see a resurrection of the entire cosmos. During that time, God promotes His Body to a place of stature that we are now considered Divine. To the rest of the creation, there is no separation between God and we. To see us is to see God. God and we have become one – literally.

            This ought to cause us to put aside vainglories. Anything that would hinder us from that kind of relationship and communion with God in this life should be cast aside. If there is coming a day where we will be so like Jesus that we are considered heirs with Him, then anything that would keep us from that reality here and now is to be violently opposed. If our churches are not united, then we need to repent and desperately seek the God who has torn down the dividing wall of hostility. If we are somehow racist or elitist, then we need to repent and cast ourselves upon the mercy of God.

            If the ultimate reality and our eternal reward is to be one with God in a way that we are no longer “only human,” then this changes everything. Our character and conduct need to be governed from that reality, even though we have not yet attained unto it. How will we be fitted for such a seat if we are not willing to be changed in this life? God has given us everything we need in order to achieve this here and now. Jesus was tempted in every area that we were tempted. What does that mean? I have heard that some would say that Jesus didn’t have sin nature. They argue that He might have possibly sinned if He had sin nature. But that is the marvelous thing: He did have sin nature, and didn’t sin.

            God’s nature is pure. Jesus, from eternity past, has had fellowship with God the Father in purity, love, obedience, and righteousness. He is holy. When Jesus became man, He continued in that same nature. It was against His nature to do anything else. He had such communion with God the Father as to not be led away to the right or to the left over “sin nature.” He was perfect from eternity past, but was made perfect even in His flesh in that He learned obedience and overcame even sin nature.

            We, who have not this nature from eternity past, have been given such hope. We have been offered that same freedom and perfection that Jesus knew as a man on this earth. Because He did it, and because He has given us that same Spirit that helped Him to obtain unto perfection, we also have the ability to know that perfection. Yet, it seems like not only do many of us lack the faith to believe that, we also lack the desire to be that. I can’t help but wonder if there will somehow be those that are technically saved, and they technically are not cast into the lake of fire, but they also have not come into this reality.

Ruling and Reigning

            Revelation 22 speaks of a river of life. It flows from the throne of God. On each side there is a tree of life, bearing twelve types of fruit – a different one each month. It says in verse 2 that the leaves on the tree are for the healing of the nations. Why are there nations in Heaven? Haven’t all people now come under the Head? Aren’t all people a part of this Holy City? Where do the nations come from?

            Even in Heaven there are nations to rule over. We find in Revelation 22:4 that those who make up the New Jerusalem shall rule and reign with Christ forever. This is the eternal reward. We are given a place of government to rule alongside of Christ. The best that I can figure is that there are people that have escaped the flames of Hell, but have not come to a place of maturity in order to rule and reign with Christ in the same manner that the Bride is ruling.

            So the nations that are represented must go up to the City of God to take of the leaves from the tree of life. Parallel this with Genesis 3. Adam and Eve sinned. They then took fig leaves and sowed them together to make coverings. But this wasn’t sufficient. They made their own religion on how to cover themselves before God. At the end, the nations that are technically righteous enough to be in Heaven, but have not gained the character necessary to bear the light and face of God, must go up to the City in order to take of the leaves of the tree of life in order to find healing.

            Those who have been found worthy and do have the character necessary to discern and judge and teach the ways of God go out to the world to subdue it and teach people of the ways of righteousness. This is very possibly the most controversial and profound teaching that has ever bubbled up into my consciousness. It is still a fresh idea in my mind, and so I’m not entirely sure how to present it. When we see in Genesis 2 that Adam was told to tend the Garden, we see quite clearly that the language is starkly different in Revelation 21 and 22. We aren’t “tending the Earth.” We aren’t just making sure all is well. There is a government in place. There is somehow a rule and a subduing.

            Everything that I have been classically taught about Heaven goes against this. I have always pictured Heaven as some sort of worship service in the clouds. But what I see Scripture indicating is some sort of government. The final defeat of the powers of darkness in Revelation 20 leads right into the judgment seat, which then leads right into the New Heaven and New Earth. There is no more curse. So we aren’t talking about teaching people to not sin. What, then are we teaching?

            I think that what we’re teaching and what we’re governing is something closer to God’s character. We teach those nations and those people that have not attained to such glory to make it into the City how to live. The character necessary for that City is absolute perfection. We need to be completely purged of anything and everything that is not of God. This isn’t about sin. It is about the wisdom of the age versus the wisdom of God. God’s character and value system is what predicates to what proximity from the Throne that we will be.

             Anyone who does not attain to that absolute emptying of self in order to take the absolute filling of the Spirit will not be able to handle the intensity of being within that City. The grace and character that we achieve in Christ now will actually affect who we are then. There is no going back. Who we are when we die is who we will be standing before Christ at the judgment seat. If we have allowed our souls to be somehow bitter or untrue, we will show that bitterness and untruth before Christ. When we stand before Him, we will be seen as we truly are. I don’t think there will be some sort of a screen that we will watch all of the events of history. I think that the very essence of who we are will be before all. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit. So those who are technically saved will have good fruit to endure.

            The question is whether those who are technically saved, but were still shaped by the world, are of the caliber to withstand the light and glory of God. Is there somehow some sort of “purging flame” that we all walk through? Maybe the truth is more that we will then know as we are known. If we are not able to know ourselves even now, because the pain is too much to bear, and the truth of our condition is too grievous to look at, then we will see ourselves at that time for what we really are. The truth of our condition will be laid bare before all others. They will see us as we are, and not as we want to be seen.

            In that day, the Day of Judgment, God will ask for an answer. Why is it that we have not been willing to be cleansed more thoroughly? Why did we allow ourselves to be consumed with “blind spots” and things of the past that shaped us? This day won’t only be to judge those that have not attained unto the first resurrection. Even those who have attained shall stand before God. They won’t be judged, but they will give an account. Did I not see the truth of my brother’s condition? Was I so pusillanimous that I would not confront? Was I so spineless that I cherished their feelings over their eternal condition?

            Jesus said to the Pharisees that He would not judge them. Moses would judge them. Because they had so held to the words of Moses, Moses will in that day stand up and give an account against them. If we want to hold so highly the words of Paul, then Paul will judge us. Similarly, if we think that we are somehow accountable only to those that are pastors or of the same spiritual quality as we, then those who were babes in the faith will stand up and condemn us. Those who have spoken, but we wouldn’t listen will stand up and tell Jesus, “Well, they did know, because I told them…”

            There will be no excuse for why we do not make it into that Holy City. God has given us every need and resource to make it. The only reason we won’t be a part of that City is because we have rejected God. If that is true for us, even if we are technically saved, then how true will it be for those that are not saved? Who will the Bride rule over? She will rule with her Husband, Jesus, over anyone and everyone that was unable to handle the light of God, and was therefore placed into outer darkness.

            What does the rule of God look like? It is humble. It is meek. It is gentle. If the image in your mind is somehow an angry savior that will now exercise authority and judgment over you like the heathen exercise, then you only show your ignorance. If you have that kind of ignorance, then how great is your lack of the knowledge of God? We will rule in the character of God. Jesus set aside His deity. When He said, “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve,” this was not a statement of His “first” advent. This was a statement of His character.

            Jesus’ character doesn’t change. He still comes to serve. We aren’t going to rule over the nations with an iron rod in the sense that we will beat and punish all who are disobedient. We will exert the nature that we are. In our exerting God’s character through and through, we will teach and rule. Because of our humility and our character, we will have authority. There will be no question of that authority because our characters and our lives display the glory to which we have attained. That glory is what changes others. To paraphrase what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “beholding each other’s faces we are changed from glory to glory.”

            So I don’t have all the answers. I interpret the Scriptures in part and prophesy in part. Down in the deeps of my gut I can sense that what it means to be a part of that City is complete translucence. What that even means I can only begin to unpack. The streets are of pure gold, so pure that they are like glass. How do we achieve such a state of character and being? It takes an absolute refinement from the Ultimate Refiner.

            Are we willing to allow God to throw at us whatever necessary to purify us? He knows how to cause us to move from glory to glory. It is a difficult path to take, and by even saying, “Yes,” to that question, you mark yourself for every power of darkness to attack. We need to be purified from all false reality. After being torn down, we then must be built up. God must empty us of everything – even that which might be of God. It is upon being emptied that we can then be filled. On the other side of that emptying we might find ourselves picking up the things of God that we had set down. The difference is that it will never lead us to idolatry over some understanding that we think we know.

            I was recently talking with my wife. We were returning home from out of state after looking at a property to possibly purchase. This wasn’t the correct property. We were devastated because we thought that God would provide, and here we are going home without enough money to pay rent, and yet spending it on gas to view properties we cannot afford. It was while we were coming back that God began to work in our hearts. He revealed to my wife that some of what happened during her childhood has led her to speak sharply, “guns a blazing,” when she feels insecure.

            I admitted that from my childhood I was bullied. I did not have the capacity to trust that even my wife would tell me the truth in love. Any time that she would speak to me the truth straightforwardly, I assumed that she was bullying me. This happened subconsciously. Both her reaction and my reaction to one another would cause for an argument because we both immaturely understood the situation. The world and its wisdom goes deep into the very core of who we are. If we are not willing to take risks that will possibly result in such moments as that – to learn our shortcomings and repent of them – then what possibility is there for us attaining to that glorious City?

            I’m reminded of a story that I heard C.S. Lewis had written. I’ve never read the book; I’ve only heard the story reiterated to me. The story is about a people that are in grey-town. Everything is grey. There is light, but it isn’t much light. They can see off in the distance a light that is emitted, but they are not able to reach such a light. Every now and then, a train comes by. Everyone gets on the train. The train takes them to this city that is the source of light. People hate it. They can’t stand the light. It is too bright, and they can’t see, and it hurts them. After a while, they all get back on the train and go back to grey-town.

            What if this story is actually a lot closer to truth? What if truth is stranger than fiction? Is it possible that heaven will have light for all to see, but not everyone can bear that light? Those who can bear it will remain in the city. Those who cannot bear the light will be in an “outer darkness,” that might not be pitch black, but it is “grey.” The nations need to come up to collect from the tree of life. They need to gather the leaves and the fruit for healing.

            Maybe this is a lot closer to what heaven will be. I don’t think that the story is 100% accurate. It seems like those that are in heaven will endure the pain of the light knowing that it brings health and closeness to God. Those same nations that do not fight against Jerusalem at the end of Revelation 20 are now in heaven. Any person who was in Christ, but has not attained holiness to live in the City is somehow outside of the City with the nations to come up and receive light, as they are able to grow to bear it.

            I don’t know if there would come a time that people would grow to bear the light and then be brought into the City permanently. I also don’t know what the fate of those in the City is. I don’t know if you can be exalted after being placed. I don’t know if there is somehow a way to grow and mature. I only know what I have expressed. It is controversial, but it just seems to fit with the biblical narrative. Maybe this is why when Isaiah speaks of a New Heaven and New Earth at the end of his book that he speaks of life continuing as it has on this present earth. Maybe life does continue, though completely different and distinct, in a very similar fashion as to what we see now. The mundane is made holy, and the common is made precious.

            This is an ultimate calling. We are called to absolute purity. May God give us the grace to comprehend His Kingdom reality, and in striving toward that, may God grant us the grace to be transfigured and remade into His likeness. In all sobriety of knowing what agony it will mean, we cry out with our deeps, “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”