Question: What does “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” mean? (Jude 21). N.
Answer: “Eternal life” is seen here at the end of our journey. “Mercy” is needed in such dark days as Jude pictures, to keep us true and faithful to the Lord, when so many who once seemed bright and happy, have turned aside. When we are with the Lord, there will be no danger then of going astray. We shall eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God, and shall be perpetually in the enjoyment of the eternal life.
Question: What is it to eat and drink unworthily (1 Cor. 11:27)? B.
Answer: Those Corinthian saints were treating the symbols of a dead Christ in an unworthy manner. So may we, if we lose the reality of thinking of Him in death for us, and it becomes to us only a form or religious ceremony. It may bring us as His children under the discipline of the Father’s hand. (See verses following.)
Question: Will Christ actually reign on the earth during the thousand years? Will He sit on the throne of David personally? P. R. J.
Answer: Zechariah 14:4 is the only scripture we know of that affirms positively that His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives. In Revelation 5:10, where it reads,
“They shall reign on the earth”, we learn that the more exact translation is “over” the earth.
Christ as Son of Man with His heavenly company of redeemed ones, will reign over the earth. There are many scriptures that tell that the church and the heavenly saints will reign with Him, both in the Old Testament types, and in the New. Genesis 1:26, is the first, “Let them have dominion.” In Matthew 25:21, 23, “I will make thee ruler over many things”; Luke 19:17,19, “Be thou over five cities” (see Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21).
It is a great thing that God has purposed for us in making us companions for His Son (Rom. 8:29; 1 John 3:1, 3). In Ephesians 1:18, God wants us to understand, “what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” is. The saints are not His inheritance, but their inheritance is to hold the inheritance for Him (verse 11), and in Revelation 21:9 we see “the bride the Lamb’s wife” as a governing city. In verse 2 we see her as the object of His affections, but from 21:9 to 22:5, we see her as the display of His glory in government, “coming down from God out of heaven,” yet not on the earth. Christ is the center; the church is with Him in glory, yet recognized by those on earth (verses 24, 26). The Son of Man is Lord of heaven and earth (Psa. 8; John 1:51; Matt. 26:64).
We see a picture or sample of it in the transfiguration scene (Matt. 17, and Luke 9). Moses and Elijah, – the dead raised and the living changed – are with Him, the Lord in glory. Peter, James and John on earth, picture for us the earthly part of the kingdom. It is the kingdom in mystery now; it will be the kingdom in power then.