As one star differs from another star in glory, so also will the resurrection bodies of the saints differ from one another. Direct your attention toward the coming resurrection. What you receive in that day will determine your eternal status in the Kingdom of God. The Lord is coming shortly and will give to every person precisely in terms of his or her behavior on the earth.

"And I saw thrones."

Because the Judaic-Christian salvation is directed toward solving the problem of disobedience, the first resurrection has to do with "thrones," with government. It is the thrones of the universe that are at issue. Satan and his angels have been occupying the spiritual thrones that govern the earth. Therefore the spirit of disobedience has prevailed among men. Until those thrones are occupied by obedient spirits, disobedience and the resulting corruption and death will prevail on the earth.

The conventional teaching is that the purpose of the Lord's coming is to carry off the believers to Heaven. How would this solve the problem of disobedience on the earth? The Scriptures, Old and New Testament, do not teach us that the purpose of Christ's coming is to carry the saints of the Lord to Heaven. Rather, the purpose of the coming of Christ is to bring justice to the nations.

The purpose of the Lord's return. The purpose of the Lord's coming is to compel obedience on the earth; to establish on the thrones of the universe those saints in whom the Kingdom of God, the rule of God, has been created. To be "born again" means that Christ has been formed in us. The forming of Christ in us creates in us a love for the will of God. We know we have been born again when our chief delight is to do God's will.

The same vision of the saints governing the world is presented in the Old Testament.

Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (Daniel 7:22)

This is why we state that the Judaic-Christian salvation is one Divine revelation.

The true saints are returning to the original concept of Israel, in these days, and sometimes to the very land and people of Israel. The love of God is compelling them to do this. Christ is preparing to reveal Himself to His own people. The elect among the Jews will respond. The elect among the Christian Gentiles will become one with the elect of the Jews. Then God will destroy what is not of Himself.

God will bless the land of Israel and the people of Israel for they are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the called of the Lord. But the Gentiles, including those who claim to be Christians but are unrighteous, will experience the coming Gentile holocaust.

"And they sat upon them."

"They" are the overcomers, for only God's conquerors will be seated on the thrones of glory. These are the spiritual thrones, and those who are destined to occupy them are the Lord's firstfruits, the royal priesthood.

"And judgment was given unto them."

To be continued.