As we have shown, the period of “the latter days” (that is, the final days of man’s dominion, prior to the establishment of the Millennium proper), will be a time of great activity, as all peoples are brought under the authority of the Lord’s Christ. But contemporary with this work, a period of reconstruction will be underway in Jerusalem (Is 60:10), transforming the city to become both the capital of the kingdom, and a suitable habitation for “the great king”. It is at this time that the Temple shall be constructed (Zech 6:13,15), to which the subdued nations shall be required to attend periodically: “it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem” (Is 2:2,3).
“Yahweh’s House” will be “an house of prayer for all people” (Is 56:7), a temple to which all nations shall attend to worship, offer sacrifice, and be instructed in the ways, laws and statutes which their King will require them to follow. And in contrast to the Israelitish Kingdom of past ages, where the Priesthood and Kingship were kept separate, “Yahweh’s house”, will be dual purpose, being the abode of the High Priest according to the Order of Melchisedec, the site of the reconstructed Throne of David.
The Lord Jesus, in his dual capacity as both King and Priest (Heb 7), shall be enthroned in the temple. He shall “bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne” (Zech 6:13). No longer shall the system of rule be separate and distinct from the system of worship – worship will be part of the law, for in keeping the laws of Christ, the nations will demonstrate submission to him, and therefore subjection and obedience to the Lord God. Isaiah and Ezekiel both saw the exalted priestly throne of the Lord in vision, “In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple” (Is 6:1), “And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever …” (Ezek 43:7).
Being enthroned in “Yahweh’s house”, the Lord Jesus Christ shall reign on God’s behalf, as Isaiah spake: “behold, the Lord Yahweh will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him …” (Is 40:10), and of this “arm”, or extension of power vested in the Christ, he further wrote: “he shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgement in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law” (Is 42:4). “Justice and judgement” shall be the “habitation” of his throne (Ps 89:14), which will therefore become the centre from which judgement shall be set in the earth, ensuring that Divine Justice will be executed throughout the globe.
But although the centre of administration is established in Jerusalem, arrangements will be made for this “justice and judgement” to be dispensed locally, within the various subject-nations. And to this end, the King shall not reign alone; his brethren shall exercise dominion with him, as he promised: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev 3:21). The Saints then, that great innumerable multitude of Redeemed (Rev 7:9) are to reign with their Lord as kingly priests, singing his praises: “Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign upon the earth” (Rev 5:9-10). Comprising “the meek”, during the days of their mortal weakness, this multitude shall “inherit the earth” (Mat 5:5, Rom 4:13) with their Lord, and exercise dominion thereupon with him, as it is written; “a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgement” (Is 32:1 – see also 1:25-26).
THE 12 THRONES OVER ISRAEL
As an innumerable number of “kings and priests” requires a similarly innumerable number of nations over which they might rule, if one “king” reigns over one nation, it is evident that this will not be the Divine order. Rather, there will be a hierarchical organisation of their dominion. The 12 apostles (with the exception of Judas, being replaced by Matthias, (Acts 1:26)), it is revealed, shall have a most exalted position, each reigning over a tribe of Israel’s sons: “Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mat 19:28). These twelve then, shall execute the office of Divine Judges over each tribal canton, acting immediately under the authority of the Lord Jesus. The Psalmist likewise spoke of their thrones, “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of Yahweh, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of Yahweh. For there are set thrones of judgement, the thrones of the house of David” (Ps 122:3-5). Thus it will be, that arrangements will be made within Jerusalem itself for Israelites to appear before their respective judge, according to the tribe of their origin, and receive justice at the hands of one of the Lord’s apostles.
But under these 12, there will also be other judges, entrusted with the role of instructing the people the ways of God. Speaking of the priests in Jerusalem, the Lord informed Ezekiel: “they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in controversy they shall stand in judgement; and they shall judge it according to my judgements …” (Ezek 44:23,24). That these priestly judges are the immortal saints seems to be indicated in the words of Paul to the Corinthian ecclesia, in his rebuke for their failings to judge righteously in their mortal days: “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (1 Cor 6:1,2). Thus, the saints generally shall also be involved with the dispensing of justice in the Millennial Age, something which we must prepare for now, in our relations to each other.
JUSTICE DISPENSED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
But notice, the apostle declared that the saints will be involved with the dispensing of justice for “the world”, not just in Israel. Thus, we may suppose that just as in Israel there will be thrones placed for judgement and teaching, this same pattern will be replicated in centres throughout the earth, with immortal saints (subject to the Lord and his apostles), judging other nations.
A possible indication of how these judges might be appointed; both in the nations and Israel, under the exalted 12, is in the Lord’s parable of the pounds. When considering the responses of those to whom he had given varying amounts, he speaks of the blessing conferred on the fruitful: “Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, be thou also over five cities” (Luke 19:16-19). Immortal saints then, will be appointed to dispense justice over varying numbers of cities, comparable to their degree of fruitfulness in the days of their probation, quite probably with the saints over 5 cities, being subject to those over 10 cities, and so on. Indeed, after the pattern of previous ages, there does appear to be grounds for the suggestion that above these city judges, there will be other saints appointed over each nation, to oversee national affairs, (see for example Ex 18:13-26, Num 11:16,17 and compare Deut. 32:8, Gen 11).
The quality of judgement thus dispensed shall be of the highest standard – infallible, for the Great King “shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked” (Is 11:3,4), and those who reign with him, “shall be like him” (1Jno 3:2). In contrast to previous times, when the poor and needy, the widows and fatherless (those who lacked both the resources, and the guidance of father or husband to instruct them), were dealt with hardly, suffering oppression and injustice at the hands of wicked rulers who favoured the wealthy, their cause shall be determined righteously. Indeed, their King is himself One who “became poor” (2 Cor 8:9), that through his poverty, and execution at the hands of the wicked, we might be made rich. “He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight” (Ps 72:12-14). And again, the Psalmist speaks of those future days, when Yahweh will be king in the earth; “Yahweh is king for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. Yahweh, thou has heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their hearts, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress” (Ps 10:16-18).
WILL THERE BE PERSONAL TUTORS?
But in order to keep the statutes and ways of the Israel’s God, peoples will need to be taught those ways, and that task could either be another role of the divine judges, or there may be others appointed to do this. Most probably, it will be the work of others, or even both, as this appears to be suggested by Isaiah. In speaking of the teachers of Israel, the Lord promised: “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind (Heb. “after”) thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Is 30:20,21). And although this passage specifically speaks of Israel, we might reasonably suppose that these arrangements will be replicated throughout the Empire, that all nations might be so taught. The picture presented here, is suggestive that each mortal will have an immortal tutor to watch over his/her affairs, in a way not totally dissimilar to the role of the Angels in the life of a believer today. But of course, the difference is this, the mortals in the Age to Come shall see their tutors, and hear their words of instruction. And if, despite having been instructed of the right Way, due to the inherent propensity of human nature to seek out other ways, (cp. Ecc 7:29) they begin to turn aside, their teachers shall be watching over their affairs, and will be at hand to give further guidance along the way. Possibly not by a voice suddenly booming at them out of nowhere, at the moment in which a mortal is about to commit a sin, as some suppose – this would surely bring about a life of terror for them, being afraid to do anything, lest they hear “the voice” of rebuke! Rather, when a mortal’s walk in life is beginning to take a new direction, beginning to move away from the Divine Will, and back to their old ways, their tutors will call “after” them, to come back, and receive further counsel and instruction, that they might be corrected, and that their walk might be guided back onto the right path once more. The Psalmist spoke of such guidance: “Good and upright is Yahweh: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way” (Ps 25:8,9).
A CENTRE OF WORLD EDUCATION
The Scriptures reveal that each year there will be a national vacation, so to speak, when peoples will be required to make their way to the Capital city, to offer their sacrifices, and to receive further instruction, away from the humdrum of everyday life. As we have already seen from Isaiah, speaking of the Lord’s house, “all nations shall flow unto it, and many peoples shall go, and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways” (Is 2:2-3). In this place, there will be a feast of spiritual delights, for the benefit of the partakers, and for the Glory of God: “in this mountain shall Yahweh of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined”, the end result being, as the prophet continues: “and he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations” (Is 25:6,7). Thus it will be, that by Divine instruction to the people throughout the year, and by an annual period of instruction at Jerusalem, away from the distractions of daily living, all nations shall be taught of the Greatness of Israel’s God, learning of His Ways, and being guided that they might walk in them.
BLESSINGS OF THE KINGDOM
The benefits of walking according to the commands of Christ will be readily manifest. Having been instructed His way, and the natural rebelliousness of man being under firm suppression, there will be no scope for man to lift himself up in conflict with another. So Isaiah prophesied that as a consequence of the subjection of nations under the Great King, by his rebuke and instruction: “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Is 2:4). This is the ultimate United Nations – all peoples being united in their worship of Israel’s God, being instructed out of His Law, and taking up the more peaceful occupation of constructing agricultural implements out of the remains of war machinery. Rather than Jerusalem being a constant stumbling block, and arena of world conflict, it shall be come the centre of blessing, and longevity of life: “Thus saith Yahweh of Hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” (Zech 8:4-5 cp. Is 65:20). What a glorious picture of tranquillity this is – a picture which so many long for, where children can safely play in the streets, without fear of abduction or abuse. Where the elderly can live without fear of assault, or ridicule for their infirmities. This is the vision many people desire in these days of degeneracy, violence and wickedness – yet it is a picture which can only become reality when all peoples are subject to the Laws of God, and walk in His Ways of Righteousness. This is the age that we yearn for, and earnestly seek “first”, above all other things (Mat 6:33).
Righteousness and harmony having been established among men, the conflicts amongst even creation itself shall cease. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea” (Is 11:6-9). Notice this point – all the glorious blessings promised are things to come after, and because of righteousness being established in the earth. Firstly, “the knowledge of Yahweh” fills the earth, through judgements, and teaching, secondly the blessings are given. This is the pattern taught by the Lord – righteousness first, then blessing: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat 6:33). Let us then, resolve to apply these principles to our lives today, that having learned of, and enacted God’s righteousness “first”, as we seek entry into His Kingdom, we might be granted, not simply the temporal necessities of this life, but also the Glories of the Age to Come.
Christopher Maddocks
