God is laughing at this rebellion because the rebels succeed only in making fools of themselves. God knows what He is doing and has everything under control.

Soon the world will be a frightful environment in which to live. Satan and his demons will become visible so people can behold the spirits ruling this age, the grotesque goblin-like demons they are serving. The earth is being occupied by monsters from the bottomless pit and the moral horrors at hand scarcely can be imagined at this time.

The reason for the approaching nightmare is there are no righteous rulers—no true, righteous rulers to whom God has given the power necessary for the enforcement of their rule. Such rulers indeed shall come when the Kingdom of God comes to the earth, when the Lord Jesus appears from Heaven. Meanwhile God is permitting evil spirits to bring sin and self-will to maturity in the earth. This is the "abomination of desolation" (Matthew 24:15).

When the Kingdom of God is installed on the earth there will be an abundance of righteous rulers. "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment" (Isaiah 32:1). These princes are being formed today. They are being tested in all areas of thought, speech, and conduct. They must learn absolute obedience to the Father. They, through Christ's grace, are gaining dominion over all things, beginning with their own personality.

How wonderful it will be when the earth is ruled by the saints!

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. (Daniel 7:18)

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. (Revelation 20:4)

All authority in Heaven and on the earth has been assigned to Christ. It is His desire to share His throne with His brothers. If we do not succeed in ruling over God's enemies in the small area given us now there is no reason to expect to be raised to the throne of Christ after we die physically.

If we are not faithful in the lesser we assuredly will not be entrusted with the greater. If we cannot rule now we will be ruled in the world to come, for there can be no disorder in the Kingdom of God. Also, if we are not faithful in this life we will receive lashes because of our laziness and our disinterest in the establishing of the Kingdom of God on the earth.

We cannot choose to be weak. We are required to choose to be strong in the Lord. We have no option. We are man, and God has decreed that man shall rule the works of God's hands.

Man has been placed below the angels temporarily in order that he may experience suffering, humiliation, and the denial of his desires. Through these he learns stern obedience to the Father in Heaven.

To be continued.