Then the perfect One, the obedient Son, was raised from the dead. Now the Virtue in Him, that He is, is being conceived and formed in disobedient human beings. The Divine Virtue from the obedient One, Christ, is converting the personalities of those who have received Him until they show forth in their behavior His obedience. This is the Kingdom of God. This is the rule of God. This is an inner rule, an inner kingdom, as revealed in Christ's parables. The Kingdom of God will overcome every other Kingdom and will endure forever, ages without end.

What is man that God is mindful of him and visits him continually?

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:8)

This is what man is. Man is the creature that God has created to govern all of the works of God's hands, including all other kinds of creatures. Man is the ruler. Man is created to be the throne of God Almighty.

The Lord Jesus, although very God of very God, governs the creation because He is the Son of Man. The Scriptures have assigned the rulership of all things to man.

Danger concerning the throne. Here is a great danger. Because man has been destined to sit on the highest throne he also is in danger of grasping to himself his God-given powers in an attempt to make himself a little god.

This precisely is what is taking place in our own day. Christian teachers have discovered the verses that reveal God's plan to give great glory and authority to His sons. These teachers and preachers are attempting to grasp the promises for their own use, demanding that God honor His Word now. It reminds one of the prodigal son. They are attempting to gain material wealth by the use of the Scriptures that point out the authority and power to be given to man.

Such teachers and preachers are in danger of becoming the False Prophet. The False Prophet is man seeking the power of Christ apart from union with Christ, apart from bearing his cross behind Christ, apart from stern obedience to the Father. Antichrist is man striving to make himself God. The False Prophet arises from the earth, from the soul of man. Antichrist arises from the sea of mankind as it attempts to remove the restrictions and curse imposed on sinful man by the Lord. In the last days the False Prophet will support Antichrist—the world leader who will personify the desire of man to be his own God.

In order for man to govern the creation properly, to fulfill his place in God's plan, he must be sternly obedient to God. Also, he must be changed into the moral image of Christ and come into union, into perfect oneness with Christ in God.

To be continued.