Even the angels will be able to rebel in the future, but the sons of God will judge and govern them.

What we are, we are. Death is not our redeemer.

When the Lord returns we will be transformed instantly from sinful creatures into lords of righteousness who will govern the nations. We will rule with Jesus. This idea is based on at least two passages:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (I John 3:2)

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians 15:52 NASB)

Both of these passages are referring to the change in our outward form, not in our inner nature. In fact, the verse that follows I John 3:2 (above) is as follows:

And every man that hath this hope in him [of being like Jesus and seeing Him as He is] purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (I John 3:3)

This is the same exhortation as that given by the Apostle James. We must wash our hands. We must purify our hearts. We must purify ourselves with the grace God has provided, not the grace of forgiveness alone but the grace of purging and purifying through the Word of God, through the blood of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.

We must save ourselves by keeping the commandments of God, as Paul advised Timothy. We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

It is true that God has the power to remove the lusts of the flesh from us instantly. But that would leave us like Adam and Eve, without a sinful nature but helpless against the suggestions of the enemy and the enticements of our own self-will.

God has no intention of putting innocent, defenseless humans back into the Garden of Eden. This would result only in another disaster. God's salvation is transforming us so we will always choose not to sin, as a result of the formation of Christ in us. But modern teaching has wrecked God's plan by telling us that God does not see how we behave and keeps on forgiving us so we will go to Heaven when we die (thus accomplishing nothing whatever as far as the development of the Kingdom of God is concerned).

As to governing the nations, such a role is limited, by the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, to the victorious saints. This is God's Word and it cannot be altered by any means whatever.

Also it is obvious that if a believer is not able to gain victory over sin today through the Lord Jesus, he or she would not be able to govern nations of rebellious people. The thought of the silly believers of today governing the nations is ridiculous. Talk about star wars! We would have galactic confrontations as self-seeking, lukewarm believers exercised the unlimited cosmic authority and power of Jesus Christ. All of this while they were reclining at ease in their mansions and wearing their golden slippers.

So let us not be fanciful but realistic, and above all scriptural.

To be continued.