The principle of the chosen rulership has become of even greater importance now that Christ has been raised from the dead and the spiritual Kingdom of God is being structured. Rulers of the worlds to come are being trained by means of the tribulations of the present age.

The supreme example of the chosen rulership is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ came into this world according to the eternal purpose of God. Christ was chosen before the creation of the world to govern all the works of God's hands, in keeping with the mandate given to man.

Before He was born into the world, Christ was the Word of God. He was the Creator of all things, according to the Scripture.

We are not certain that Christ was ruler of the creation before He was born of Mary. All things were made by Him from the beginning, it is true, but now He is ruler over all.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)

The prophecy concerning the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus came through the Hebrew Prophets:

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre [scepter of justice]. (Psalms 45:6)

We learn further that the authority of rulership will be given to man, through the Lord Jesus.

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his [man's] 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)

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: (Revelation 2:26)

Although it is inconceivable to us, the Lord Jesus was changed in this world. He learned obedience to God; He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities; He became qualified to be the Captain of our salvation.

Perhaps Paradise does not contain the elements of pain and pressure required for the formation of God's rulers.

Christ was destined to be Lord of all, but He had to be made perfect in order to be capable of serving as Lord of all.

We are destined to be coheirs with Him, His very brothers. We must be transformed so we too will be capable of serving in the specific destiny prepared for us. We must lay hold on that for which we have been grasped (Philippians 3:12).

The Lord Jesus Christ had to overcome the pains, pressures, doubts, dreads, temptations, confusions, of this world. In so doing His Spirit and soul were formed into that which God deemed necessary—a spiritual Nature capable of governing the entire creation of God.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:8,9)

To be continued.