In the beginning all was Divine Light. But then Satan and other distinguished personages decided they had a right to "be themselves" just as people of today decide to nourish their "rights," their self-will, self-love, self-righteousness, self-centeredness, self-importance, self-joy, self-fulfillment, self-ambition—self! self! self! People are lovers of themselves.

Christian people run here and there exclaiming, "I am not having my needs met. I am not being fulfilled!"

One wonders if the Christians who were being burned at the stake ever questioned if they were having their needs met or if they were being fulfilled!

What about God's needs? What about Christ's needs? Do we ever think about anything except ourselves?

This is the image of Satan in the earth.

Therefore God divided the Word, the eternal Life, and the elect angels from the darkness of self-will. The darkness of self-will never again shall be able to comprehend or associate with the Divine Light—no, not for the eternal ages upon ages. The darkness of self-will, self-centeredness, is doomed to remain bound forever in the joyless, loveless, restless realms of spiritual darkness.

God has wrought a new creation. The new creation springs from the obedient One, Christ. There shall come forth from the body and blood of Christ a company of totally obedient sons—sons who have loved not their lives to the point of death while the poison of self-will was being drawn from them.

They have denied their self, taken up their cross, and followed the Lord Jesus wherever He has led them.

"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done," they cry. "As in Heaven, so in earth." This in place of "I am not having my needs met."

The fallen lords occupy the thrones in the air above the earth. At the appearing of the Lord the victorious saints will be caught up to meet Him in the air. There they will be placed on the governing thrones, the thrones previously occupied by the rebels from Heaven. This is the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

Because the spirits who have been seated on the ruling thrones are saints who have been called, chosen, and then proven faithful through countless temptations and tests, they are personages of the utmost integrity and obedience to the Father. Also, the love of Christ for all of God's creatures is in them.

These are God's judges, the new lords of the creation. The spiritual environment of the earth will change from that of rebellion and lust to the righteousness, love, joy, and peace that have been created in the sons of God as they patiently have endured tribulation. God's Presence and Glory will fill the whole earth because of the new rulers in the heavenlies.

The nations of saved peoples of the earth, the nations that assisted the Lord's brothers in their hour of testing, will reflect the new spiritual atmosphere.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)

To be continued.