Here we have two separate sets of people. The first set consists of the nations and kingdoms that choose to serve thee. The second set consists of thee.

It is obvious from Chapter Sixty of Isaiah that "thee" is Israel. It is God's will that the nations and kingdoms of the earth serve Israel. The nations that do so are saved. The nations that do not serve Israel will perish.

Isaiah 60:12 corresponds to the passage in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Book of Matthew concerning the division of the nations of the earth into those that nourish Christ's brothers and those that do not nourish Christ's brothers.

Again:

And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles [nations], and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. (Isaiah 61:9)

In the above passage, the "Gentiles" are the nations of saved peoples of the earth, and "the seed which the Lord hath blessed" is Christ and those who have become part of Him: that is, the members of the Body of Christ, the true Israel.

We can observe in Matthew 25:31-46 the distinction between the nations of the earth and the "brethren" of Christ. The nations that treat the Lord's brothers kindly will inherit the Kingdom and enter eternal life.

The holy city, the new Jerusalem, is the Wife of the Lamb, the Body of Christ, the glorified Church. The "nations of them which are saved" walk in the light of the Wife of the Lamb (Revelation 21:24). At this point the saints have become the light of the world.

Those who suffer with Christ will rule with Christ. The need for suffering on the part of Christ's princes is based on what suffering accomplishes in them. Suffering, if it is borne correctly in the Lord, diminishes our self-centeredness and self-will. Suffering crucifies our personality. The result is, Christ is formed in us and we are sternly obedient to God.

The substitution of Christ's will for our will is one of the most important of the dimensions of the Christian discipleship. Such substitution is necessary for each of the royal priests. During the ages to come the Father will not permit a self-centered person to rule any group of people. It always must be God in Christ who is ruling.

Today among many Christian churches, self-centeredness is strengthened by the teaching that is given. The believers are encouraged to use their faith to get what they want out of God. They can become successful and rich if they will only believe. Through Christ they can be happy and healthy and live a prosperous life on the earth. Such teaching is the opposite of the true teaching of the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.