As we stated previously, the curse will be lifted as the sons of God go through the earth, bringing eternal life, harmony, and joy in place of the desolation caused by the unclean energies of demons. Every unclean authority and power, every fallen angel, every sinful and rebellious spirit, will be driven from the face of the earth by the Divine judgment exercised through Christ—Head and Body.

God's servants will serve Him.

If God were to issue the power of eternal life to the churches of our day the result would be unimaginable chaos. The reason is that the believers, even though they have received God's Spirit in a measure, are still guided and motivated by self-will, self-rule, self-centeredness, and every other form of self-love.

It is the throne of the human personality that is at issue. Are we willing to permit God to cast down self from the throne of our personality and take possession of the throne for His own use?

Earlier we mentioned the two gospels. The first gospel serves to keep our adamic nature intact and king self on the throne.

The second gospel, the Gospel of God's royal priesthood, crucifies the adamic nature so God's will alone is done by the individual.

According to the writer's understanding, only those who have submitted to crucifixion will be raised when the Lord appears. God will not give a body of eternal life, a body of power and glory, to any person who still is motivated by self-will. This is why in the New Testament writings, rulership is associated with suffering. The cross and the crown go together.

God's servants will serve Him for eternity. They have learned in this present world to wait upon His will and to obey Him instantly. Today, obedience to God often requires a setting aside of our fervent desires. During the Kingdom Age and throughout the eternity that follows, obedience to God will mean total joy for the sons of God, the victorious saints.

Life in the ages to come. What will be taking place in the ages to come? People will be engaging in every conceivable form of activity, depending on their personality and calling. Scientists, teachers, musicians, warriors, artists, builders, rulers—individuals at all levels of authority and responsibility—will be filled with eternal life and serving God in the fullness of love, peace, and joy.

Think what it would be like for a musician, for example, to study music for eternity in a body as strong and quick as needed for the particular instrument, and that never grew tired! Can you imagine what kind of music he or she would be producing after a few thousand years?

How many inventions would Thomas Edison have produced if he still were alive? What kind of spiritual understanding will the Apostle Paul have at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age?

It is death, the absence of the Life of God, that prevents the development of the human personality. The Lord Jesus, who Himself is the Resurrection and the Life, came that we might have eternal life and have it in ever greater abundance.

To be continued.