"the power of an endless life"
(Heb. 7: 16)
"the powers of the world to come"
(Heb. 6: 5)
“Who has called us unto his eternal glory”
(1 Peter 5: 10)
In this chapter we continue our look at "power and authority" as attributes of elect or elite status. There is a contrast between those who are "mighty" in this age and those who are mighty in "the coming new age" in all Paul's epistles, especially in Corinthians.
Christians, though generally weak and powerless in this "present evil age," are nevertheless superior in their earthly lives, in spiritual and moral strength, being the truly "strong" ones that Paul speaks about. Further, they shall be as Samson, yea, as strong as angels in "the age to come," as we have previously mentioned.
This chapter will therefore focus more particularly on how the believer will, "in the age to come," become mighty, yea, even "equal unto the angels" (Luke 20: 36) in "power and might" (as we have previously mentioned). The angels will not then "excel" glorified and immortal believers "in strength" (Psa. 103: 20) as they do now, nor will they be "greater in power and might" (II Peter 2: 11) when saints have been exalted in glory.
Angels have both kinds of power, namely strength or might (power to will and do), and authority, both constituting their elite status as angels. Those who will ever be known as the sons and daughters of God, those known in scripture as "God's elect" (those whom he has "chosen" from among men, particularly of the poor, to be the eternal special recipients of his grace and glory, a truly elect or elite class), will have their own unique status in the kingdom of heaven. Believers are destined, along with Christ their leader, to rule the world in the ages to come. Notice these two promises made to two of the seven churches of Asia in the Apocalypse by direct communication from the risen Lord.
Sovereign Rights
"And he that overcomes, and keeps 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." (Rev 2: 26-27)
"To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Rev. 3: 21)
"I will give power (exousia)." That will of course be in addition to the power the believer has previously received in his conversion and union with Christ. The power given to believers at the return of Christ, at their resurrection and glorification, will not only include a mighty, powerful, immortal body, and a vast increase in mental powers and supernatural gifts, but great authority, immense rights and privileges as the "elect of God." They will then be the true elite even though they had not generally been so "in this age." What a glorious destiny belongs to God's elect! If power be an attribute of elite status, then believers, God's elect, are the truly elite, or if you will, "elect and precious" as is their Lord (See I Peter 2: 6). Believers are elect and precious as they are "in Christ," that is, as they are united to him in the core of their being. This is Paul's message to the elite thinking of the Greeks in Corinth, and against the unbelieving, Christ hating, philosophers and Sophists.
What greater power, authority, rights and privileges, can be afforded to a human being than to rule the nations with Christ? To sit on his throne, crowned as sovereigns? There can be no higher status for a creature than that! The coming rule of the saints with Christ is described elsewhere in the Apocalypse. Wrote John:
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Rev. 5: 9-10)
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years...Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Rev. 20: 4,6)
It is also what Jesus taught. In speaking of the judgment occurring at his return, he gave us the parable of the pounds. Three servants were called to account. Two were rewarded. One was banished. Said Jesus:
"Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities." (Luke 19: 16-19)
And, what Paul taught, for he said:
"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." (II Tim. 2: 12)
In the old testament David spoke of this destined authority, saying:
"Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another." (Psa. 75: 5-7)
To lift the horn on high means to exalt oneself in pride and arrogance in ruthless assumption of ruling power, the horn being a symbol of power. The Psalmist warns against self promotion as respects wielding power seized illegitimately. If a horn of power is to be exalted to ruling position, it is Jehovah who should do the uplifting. So the summation or conclusion is emphatically given - "God decides who rules," and in his providence he "puts down one" and "sets up another."
This is not only true in providence respecting times past and present, but is imminently more so when it comes to the great reversal that comes when this age ends and the "age to come" begins. Then the Lord will put down the present wicked ruling elite and "exalt" the believer "of low degree" and give him his crown, his seat of authority, his privileges. It is as Mary said, a time when the Lord Jesus "brings down the mighty from their seats" and "exalts them of low degree." (See Luke 1: 52; James 1: 9) We see the dethroning of the infidel elite of this evil age in the Apocalypse.
"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6: 15-17)
By the titles highlighted in the above passage we have described the world's elite, its "movers and shakers," its rulers and governors, its "mighty men," its "men of renown," its best specimens. They too are the ones who almost universally have rejected Christ and the Gospel, the bible's revelation, and have spoken against each in the most degrading terms, yea, even persecuting Christians unto death. These wicked rulers Paul identified as the enemies of God, Christ, and the people of God, against whom believers wage battle. Said the apostle:
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6: 12)
Who are "the powers" (plural - dunameis) of "this present evil age"? (Gal. 1: 4) Likewise, who are "the powers (dunameis) of the age to come"? (Heb. 6: 5) The former are described in the above passages. They are the "kings of the earth (Greek land)," the "rich men," the "great men," the "mighty men," the "chief captains," the "powers," the "rulers of the darkness of this age" (NKJV), i.e. the wicked world's elite. The latter are believers, they who become regents and plenipotentiaries in the "the age to come," who in that "new world order" are the true "mighty men," the real rich and powerful, supra men. Of this destiny for both believers and unbelievers Solomon wrote:
"The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools." (Prov. 3: 35)
Notice again the word "promotion" as in the Psalm we just noticed. Who are the real "fools"? Is it the wise men of the world who reject God's revelation? Who reject his Son and refuse his salvation? Is it not the believer who is the truly wise, as we have previously seen? Who are the ones who get "promoted" and "advanced" in the day of judgment when Christ returns, ends this evil age, and inaugurates the age to come? The believer or the unbeliever? The only promotion the foolish infidel will know is a position of shame and disgrace. On the other hand, the wise believer in Jesus "shall inherit glory." What was said of Moses and Aaron, by the prophet Samuel, may be said of all who are promoted by the Lord to inherit glory - "It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron" (I Sam. 12: 6).
Inheriting "glory" includes the idea of being promoted and advanced in state, condition, and status. But it also includes receiving qualities excellent, radiance and brilliance, splendor, honor and dignity, etc., as we will next demonstrate. It certainly includes the idea of being "exalted" also, but more on that in the next chapter.
"As the righteous grow powerful, people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, people groan."
(Prov. 29: 2)
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