Now the awesome truth is revealed. We are speaking no longer of the Heir alone but of the heirs of salvation. The tremendous Divine inheritance is to be given, not to the Son alone but also to those who have been designated as heirs along with Him. In Hebrews 1:14 we perceive the hidden purpose of the Father—that there be a company of sons authorized and competent to govern all the works of God's hands.

The company of righteous sons, in the image of Christ and in perfect union with Christ, is God's solution to the rebellion that occurred in the heavens in eons past.

The role of the angels is to serve as messengers of God that are sent on various occasions to assist the heirs as they strive to enter their inheritance.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)

The thesis of the Book of Hebrews is that believers, in the light of their inconceivably great calling as sons and heirs of God, must not stop after having made initial progress in the process of redemption but must press forward to the fullness of the inheritance, to the "rest" of God. The rest of God has been attained when God's perfect will is performed in us continually and He has settled down to rest in Christ in us.

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. (Hebrews 2:5)

The question is one of the "subjection of the world to come." Because of the past rebellion there is a need for judgment, punishment, and protection against future rebellion. God has need of rulers, of kings, of a royal priesthood. The purpose of the Church is to serve God by ruling over the works of His hands.

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

We are saved by believing in the Lord Jesus. We become rulers by following the Lord in patient, cross-carrying obedience. Those who accept and profit from the suffering the Lord sends upon us will wear the crown of authority throughout the ages to come.

Never again shall there be an unwalled paradise, a paradise that is not guarded continually by sons of God who have learned to resist every form of sin.

Much is said in the New Testament about running the race, about warfare, about becoming a soldier, about overcoming. This is because we are being fought against as we seek to obtain the promised rulership. We have to fight in the Lord for every square inch we gain. We must always be diligent that someone does not take our crown, not our salvation but our crown of rulership. God's sons are called to the throne of glory.

To be continued.