HEAVEN

A Study of the Book by Randy Alcorn

SESSION SIXRULING ON NEW EARTH

WHAT’S IN A NAME?• What is a kingdom, anyway?– Territories– Government– Culture

• God’s kingdom is completely different, right?– He runs the whole show, doesn’t He?

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a

scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or

on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look

inside it.

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to

me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven

seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the

elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the

throne.

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down

before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense,

which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new

song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased for God

persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the

earth.”

Revelation 5:1-10

REIGN OVER WHAT?• Land– The Hebrew word for “land” (erets) appears

more than 2,500 in the Old Testament, the 4th most frequently used noun.

– God gave the task of management of the earth to Adam and Eve.

–What was the first thing God promised Abraham in His covenant with him?

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs

according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29

CHRIST’S BRIDE• Adam and Eve were purposed to rule over

the earth as king and queen.

• Christ is the Second Adam. We, His bride, are the second Eve.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.

And they will reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 22:4-5“Eden Restored”

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near

Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went

to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his

servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’

he said, ‘until I come back.’

“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man

to be our king.’

“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten

more.’

“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten

cities.’

“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five

more.’

“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

Luke 19:11-19

Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the

world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of

this life!

1 Corinthians 6:2-3

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

2 Timothy 2:11-12(a)

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the

devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as

your victor’s crown.

Revelation 2:10

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—

Revelation 2:26

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one

will take your crown.

Revelation 3:11

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me

on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my

Father on his throne.

Revelation 3:21

RULE OVER WHAT?• Revelation 21:24, 26 and 22:2 suggest

the preservation of nations and cultural distinctiveness.

• Earth will not be a democracy, however.–What, pray tell, is a democracy?

• So, we’re unified in purpose, but who’s on the bottom?

RULE OVER WHAT?• “If God wishes, He may create new

beings for us to rule.”

HIERARCHY• In God’s system of government, what did

He tell us (plainly) about the qualifications for great positions of leadership?– Luke 14:11– Luke 16:10

• What did Adam and Eve originally govern?– (There is no meaningless bottom rung!)

THE USURPER• Satan’s bid to rule this world usurps the

God-given role bestowed upon us.– Genesis 1:26-28

• In the meantime, we are not to be perverted by the tainted kingdom:– James 4:4– Romans 12:2– 1 Corinthians 3:19

DON’T LOSE SIGHT• Our hearts should be as those who loved

Germany but hated Nazi rule in WWII.– It’s a hard balancing act, but we are not to be

all-accepting NOR all-despising.

• What are we to love in this world?– Christ’s instruction to live as servants makes

all the more sense!

“‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all

rulers will worship and obey him.’

Daniel 7:26-27