If one is dwelling in Paradise, in complete bliss, the concept of greatest and least is not too significant. However, if we are speaking of a government on the earth, and it is true that to the "greatest" have been given all authority and power over the creation, and the least are individuals of low estate being ruled by the greater, then the concept of greatest and least becomes quite important.

In the darkness, before the beginning of time, God conceived in His mind mankind, sons in His image. God's sons would become an eternal temple for Himself, a Bride and brothers for His Son, a means of bringing Satan's rebellion to an end, and a kingdom that would governs all other kingdoms on the earth.

The Kingdom of God will be a reign of such righteousness, peace, and joy it scarcely can be imagined. All we have loved, all that is worthy, all that is pure, all that is accepted of God will be part of the Kingdom. Nothing of worth will be lost.

God is not making all new things but all things new. This means that everything of the world that is of worth will die and be reborn in Christ, and be eternal—ours to enjoy for eternity. This is true of our physical body, which will be raised from the dead and glorified if we follow Christ to the fullness of victory.

More than this, God has decided to entrust the creation to Christ and the other sons. They will inherit all the works of God's hands. The saints will "take" the Kingdom.

He who overcomes will inherit all things, and God will be his God and he will be God's son.

The remainder of saved mankind will live under the jurisdiction of those who have, through Christ, overcome all that has come against them from the world, from Satan, and from their own lusts and self-will. Saved mankind will not have the liberty to go to God, or even to Jesus, except through the saints, as far as we know; just as today the saints cannot go to God except through the Lord Jesus. All authority, the keys of the Kingdom, the authority to permit or refuse entrance to the Kingdom, will be given to the saints.

This is why suffering is necessary. Only those who suffer, whose characters are transformed by the Divine redemption, will inherit the Kingdom of God. They will inherit everything. All joy, love, peace, authority, power, wealth, will be theirs. They will shine as the stars to the ages of ages. They are God's sons and the heirs of the Kingdom.

The Holy Spirit seems to be saying that our generation has a unique opportunity to possess the Kingdom. Many who are last in time will be first in the Kingdom.

Perhaps the clock has commenced ticking in our day. Daniel speaks of the sixty-nine weeks of years that ended with the crucifixion of Jesus (Daniel 9:24,25). Some scholars believe the Kingdom clock stopped ticking at that time. We would add that the following centuries have been occupied with the building of the Body of Christ.

To be continued.