2.How did we "walk" or behave before we received Christ?

We behaved according to the ways of the world. We behaved according to the desires of Satan, the "ruler of the authority of the air."

The peoples of the earth are dominated by wicked spirits, by fallen angels. These evil princes sit on thrones located in the air above the surface of the earth. We cannot see these princes or their thrones because they are of the spirit realm.

The wicked spirits are real and "substantial." We can see the effects of the evil spiritual authority enthroned in the air over our heads. The behavior of people on the earth reflects the foul natures of the ruling personalities. God is training each of His saints very carefully because we are to be established on these thrones in place of the present occupants. If we will obey the Holy Spirit as He teaches us to overcome through the Virtue of Christ, we will inherit the thrones that govern the peoples of the earth.

The reason I Thessalonians 4:17 specifies that we will meet the Lord Jesus in the air rather than in Heaven or some other place, is that the purpose of the resurrection from the dead is to change the occupants of the thrones that govern the earth from wicked persons to righteous, holy governors.

As soon as the Lord returns and we are placed on the spiritual thrones (such placement being dependent on our deeds as a Christian, for rulership is a reward for serving Christ), the spiritual atmosphere of the earth will change. Because the saints will be exerting their Christ-filled influence on the peoples of the earth, it will be much easier for the nations to keep the laws of the Kingdom of God. The laws of the Kingdom of God are taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, Chapters Five through Seven).

The reason the principles and commandments of Matthew, Chapters Five through Seven are so difficult to receive and obey at this time is that the governing wicked spirits are in rebellion against the Lord and His righteous ways. Therefore people on earth are continually being provoked to lust, to the worship of money, to sorcery, to violence, to drunken merrymaking. Such is the nature of the evil princes and they keep pressing for such behavior, continually deceiving the peoples of the earth.

Because of the sin and death in our mortal body it is difficult to withstand the desires of the wicked principalities in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

When the Lord Jesus comes, His victorious saints will be assigned to the spiritual thrones in the heavenlies, the "authority of the air." The peoples of the earth will respond immediately to the change in the spiritual atmosphere.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 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 [the Body of Christ] shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3).

The placing of the saints on the thrones in the air is the coming of the thousand-year Kingdom Age to the world. The thousand-year period that will be dominated by the Kingdom of God is being created now in our heart if we are following the Lord.

If we are faithful during the inner transformation of our character, working with the Holy Spirit as Christ is being formed in us, then, when the Lord appears, what has been wrought in us will pour into the spiritual atmosphere of the earth. The flowing of the new creation from the saints will bring the Kingdom of God, the rule of God in Christ, into the earth. The result will be righteousness, peace, and joy throughout the world.

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him (Daniel 7:27).