The Three Ages
The Three Ages
The Age of the Church
The Firstfruits of the Church Age
The Age of the Kingdom
The Age of Paradise
The Age of the Church
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. (John 17:14)
The purpose of the Church Age is to select and train the elect, the members of the Royal Priesthood, the saints (holy ones).
The term "church" means "called out from." The Church began when Abraham and Sarah were called out from Ur of the Chaldees.
The Church continued with Jacob, named "Israel" because he struggled with God.
Then the Lord Jesus appeared, the true Seed of Abraham. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of God. He died on the cross as an atonement for our sins. God has multiplied Christ's body and blood so that the saints (holy ones) whom God has called out from the world might be born of the Substance of Christ.
These are the members of the Royal Priesthood, the saints, the holy ones who shall govern the works of God's hands for eternity.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (I Peter 2:9)
Those who have been called to be saints must arm themselves with a mind to suffer.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (I Peter 4:1,2)
In the Book of Second Corinthians, the Apostle Paul gives us some idea of his sufferings. If we are to make a success of becoming a member of the Church, we must enter the fellowship of Christ's sufferings.
These sufferings have as their purpose the subduing of our old, adamic nature that Christ might occupy the principal part of our life. We must assign all of our thinking, our speaking, and acting to Christ. As Paul said, it must be Christ who is living in us.
Since the program of making us a member of the Body of the Anointed One is so severe, we may be tempted to draw back. Remember, it will never be so severe that God cannot help us through our trials. We just have to set ourselves to endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ.
"But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back." But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:38,39)
Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud." (II Peter 2:22)
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6:7,8)
If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:6)
God chastens every son He receives.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)
I believe God has appointed some to be filled with Christ to the hundredfold level. These are the saints who will rule with Christ throughout the Kingdom Age. Their chastenings will be proportional to the high level of their role in the Kingdom of God.
These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. (Revelation 14:4,5)
Did you notice that these Christians are a "firstfruits to God and the Lamb"? This reveals to us the extent to which Jesus and God are involved in the Christian salvation. The passage above shows us clearly that there is more to the Christian salvation than just being forgiven!
To be defiled with women is not speaking of marriage, which is holy. Rather, the reference is to "romance," that is, to idolizing one or more members of the opposite sex. The defilement includes being "married" to a talent, an occupation, money, or some other thing or situation. Only Christ is to be adored by God's Firstfruits.
Some members of the Royal Priesthood will be filled with Christ to the sixtyfold level. Their trials will not be as intense as those of the hundredfold calling. They will remain in the heavenly Jerusalem during the Kingdom Age. They will have to be taught and dealt with until they are sufficiently mature to be joined with the hundredfold, and then descend with the hundredfold to be installed on the new earth as the new Jerusalem.
It is possible that the thirtyfold are the people saved from the nations. Notice that they inherit eternal life and the Kingdom of God, should Jesus, when He appears, find that they have ministered to His brothers and sisters, that is, to the members of the Church.
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.' (Matthew 25:34)
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Matthew 25:46)
The "sheep" of the nations, the "thirtyfold," are not of the Church. Rather they are the inheritance of the Church. They are the "spoil" gained by the Victor, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are co-heirs with Him.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
"He will divide the spoils with the strong."
Ever since Christ died on the cross, people have gained forgiveness through their faith in the blood atonement. I think forgiveness through the blood has been accurately, faithfully, and widely preached throughout the Church Age.
It is apparent, however, that the fullness of redemption, the bringing forth of victorious saints who are given over wholly to the Lord Jesus, has not been preached as widely. An observation of any Christian church probably will show that there are only a few who have set aside their own life that Christ may live in them. Yet, this is the calling of the members of the Body of Christ, of the Royal Priesthood.
It reminds us of the Scripture, "Many are called but few chosen."
At one time the Lord preached to a multitude of Jewish people. When He spoke about the role of His body and blood in the program of redemption, they all left except twelve disciples.
Then Jesus declared that He had chosen the twelve, and one of them was a devil.
Now, on what basis did Christ make these statements? He heard them from the Father while He was praying at night. God directs everything that takes place in His Kingdom. That fact does not seem to be as widely known as one could wish.
"Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." We must fully grasp this fact if we are to enter the rest of God.
It is one matter to be forgiven through the blood atonement, and whosoever will choose to do so may have his or her sins forgiven. Christ will not turn anyone away unless that individual persistently and willfully disobeys Christ.
But those whom God calls to receive the forgiveness of their sins must press into Christ after that and gain victory over their sin and self-will, if they hope to pass into the ranks of the chosen. Then they must be proven faithful unto death if they would ride with Christ in the war against evil.
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. (Revelation 17:14)
So we understand that the traditional understanding that God and Christ are not in control of salvation, and it has been left up to us to build the Kingdom of God, is not scriptural. It is not a case of the Gospel being preached, and then whoever chooses to believe will go to our idea of Heaven and live in a mansion for eternity, doing nothing of significance.
Those who never have "accepted Christ," even if they never have heard of Christ, will be assigned to Hell and then to the Lake of Fire. Such is the contemporary thinking.
The truth is, God and Christ are in complete control of the world, of mankind, and of the animals down to the smallest sparrow.
Did you know that Christ said, "I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given me"? What does that tell us?
During the first of the three ages, The Age of the Church, specific people are presented to Jesus Christ by the Father.
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37)
For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. (John 17:2)
The Christian Church is the "Royal Priesthood," the Body of Christ, the saints, the disciples of the Lord Jesus, the new Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb, the brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Israel of God. The Church has been designed and crafted with utmost Divine wisdom. The members have been designated from the beginning of the world.
That the Christian Church is the Israel of God does not mean it is replacing physical Israel. Physical Israel was the original Christian Church. The Israel of God includes those of physical Israel who are called, and those Gentiles who are called.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)
While I was in Bible school I began to wonder if God knew what He was doing. I was gaining the idea that it was up to me to go out and save souls. I felt guilty eating my lunch, because during that time people were being cast into Hell because I did not tell them about Jesus.
Well, either the Apostle Paul and Christ are correct that God calls certain people to Jesus, or else the Bible school was correct.
I know it says that whoever wishes to can come to Christ. That is true. I tell people not to worry about being predestined. If you want to come to Christ, then come with all confidence. He will not drive you away. Who knows what God will do for someone who seeks Christ ardently!
Well, the plan is to call out and bring to maturity a Royal Priesthood. Then there will be a thousand years during which the members of the saved nations will experience on this present earth the iron rule of Christ and the saints.
The third age will commence after the final resurrection of the dead. That is the Age of Paradise, and it will continue throughout the unimagined years of eternity.
For each of us Christians who do not draw back because of our tests there will be a reward of exceedingly great glory.
"But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back." But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:38,39)
A word of what I hope is wisdom: In many instances our tests are as difficult as we make them. If we do not cling to some person, thing, or circumstance, but give him or her or it to Jesus without clinging to it, and let God have His wonderful way, we will pass our tests without undue suffering.
The Firstfruits of the Church Age
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.
They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.)
This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. These are the hundredfold saints. During their lifetime on the earth the iron scepter of righteousness has been formed in them. This means that they do not compromise with any unrighteous behavior.
As they have continued to resist Satan, the body and blood of Christ have written the eternal moral law of God in their mind and heart.
This does not mean they never have made a mistake. When they err from the path, and it comes to their attention, they call upon Christ to help them turn away from this error and learn from it. Then they continue pressing forward in Christ.
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. The overcoming of Antichrist means they have not yielded to the temptation to build their life around the amassing of material wealth.
I wonder if the term "beheaded" signifies that they have refused to follow their carnal mind. Paul commanded us in Romans that we not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. At the return of our Lord, those in whom Christ is ruling will be transformed in body. They will join the newly resurrected who have returned with Jesus from Heaven. These two groups are the hundredfold of the Church. They will govern, during the thousand-year Kingdom Age, the "sheep" who were kind to Christ's brothers and sisters.
When the Christians die who were not qualified to receive at this time the new, incorruptible body, they will continue to be taught and dealt with throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age. Their home, as is the case with all true Christians, always has been the heavenly Zion, unless they have been torn down from their position by the temptations of the flesh and spirit.
Such is my understanding in the present hour.
As for the remainder of the people of the nations, the "goats," those who did not assist the Christians when they were suffering deprivation, will "go away into eternal fire."
(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. I understand that numerous Christian believers are expecting to be caught up in a "rapture." This simply is not a scriptural belief. Those who are transformed when Jesus appears are a firstfruits of His people. The majority of Christian believers will have to suffer through the Great Tribulation. Many of them will call upon Christ and be helped at that time.
I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14)
During the Great Tribulation, as I understand it, numerous Christian believers will call upon Christ to help them turn away from their sins and self-will. Thus they will clothe themselves with the white robe of righteousness.
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. This is referring back to the Firstfruits who were transformed when Jesus appeared. They are distinguished by being blessed and holy.
The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
The "second death" is residence in the Lake of Fire along with Satan, Antichrist, the False Prophet, the "goats" who did not assist the Christians, the fallen angels, and the demons. So great is the power of God resting on the Firstfruits of the Church that they could enter the Lake of Fire without being harmed.
Such are the Firstfruits of the Royal Priesthood.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Revelation 19:7,8)
The above wedding will occur at the beginning of the thousand-year Kingdom Age. There will be another wedding at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age. This time of the entire Church. The entire Church will include the Firstfruits, and also the elect who have been being brought to maturity in the new Jerusalem. "The spirits of the righteous made perfect."
As the Lord Jesus promised the "sheep," they have inherited the Kingdom of God and eternal life.
The Firstfruits, those who have governed the nations throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age, will visit the Zion in Heaven and teach and otherwise help the elect who are coming to maturity there.
The Firstfruits themselves will come to maturity as they work with Christ at the task of governing the nations of people saved from the world. They will assist in preparing the elect in the new Jerusalem for the day they descend with the Firstfruits to bring the Presence of God to saved mankind.
Then the new Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb, the Royal Priesthood, will descend from Heaven and bring the Presence of God to the people on the new earth, the "sheep" taken from the nations.
As I woke up this morning I found myself singing an old hymn, "There's Not a Friend Like the lowly Jesus" (Johnson Oatman Jr. and George Crawford Hugg). This brought back to my mind many good memories of my life as a young Christian. Now I am writing things that most of us may never have heard of.
Well, the vision of the future is glorious. Perhaps we are looking at this good land from the top of Pisgah.
But we do not forget the way we have come; the pit from which we have been dug. It has been a blood-stained way, covered with the blood of God's Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Step by step we have trudged along, bearing our cross after the Master. We remember the testimonies of the saints of old who have encouraged and guided us along the Calvary road.
Now I think the Lord is pointing us to the rest of God, to the Paradise that has been prepared for us as God's saints. The saints, always led by the Lord Jesus, are destined to drive all sin and self-seeking from the creation.
We never thought, I guess, that sin would ever come to an end, so we would have to find our home in Heaven where there is no sin, we imagined. Yet sin began in Heaven, not on the earth, among the self-seeking cherubim and angels of God.
But God has promised:
"Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place."
"To put an end to sin. To bring in everlasting righteousness."
Has there ever been a more wonderful hope? To the fervent Christians, this indeed is a nail in a sure place.
So we remember the unswerving faithfulness of the Lord Jesus during the past six millennia. And now, by the Spirit of God I believe, we are being given a picture of the great plan of God.
First, The Age of the Church. There is a Firstfruits of the Church. I liken God's Firstfruits to the Navy Seals. While the rest of the sailors are doing their job, a few seek to be a part of the Special Forces. They are subjected to severe tests not usually experienced by the other members of the Navy.
Second, The Age of the Kingdom. This is a period of preparation for those whom God has chosen to be members of the Royal Priesthood. They shall govern for eternity the works of God's hands. The rulers as well as those in the heavenly Zion shall be brought to maturity.
Also, the people who are saved from the nations, the "sheep," shall learn obedience to Christ and His saints. Some shall fail this program and shall be burned up at the termination of the thousand years.
Third, The Age of Paradise. This is the "rest of God," the land of promise. Man began in Paradise and shall end in Paradise, the Alpha and Omega of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of His Kingdom there shall be no end. But first, all sin and self-seeking must be removed from the Presence of God and His saints.
The past dealings of the Lord, the old hymns, the testimonies of the saints, have brought us this far. Let us now stand on their shoulders and reach for the unbelievably marvelous future that God has prepared for us in Christ.
The Age of the Kingdom
The Bible is clear that Christ and His saints will govern the nations of the earth for a thousand years.
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)
The rule will be with an iron scepter.
To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one "will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery"—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. (Revelation 2:26-28)
Numerous worldly Christians often speak of ruling with Christ. In my opinion, their hope is not based on the Bible. This privilege is assigned to those who are victorious in overcoming sin and self-will and doing Christ's will to the end of their life.
The iron scepter has been formed in their personality. They have an implacable hatred of evil, and will call upon Christ fiercely until they gain victory over unrighteous behavior.
First in themselves. Then, during the thousand years, over other people; and there is no appeal to a lawyer!
Do you know any Christian people who fit that job description?
I notice today, and you undoubtedly have also, that people are rebelling against authority? It appears that the concept is: If the law interferes with what I want, then the law is to be changed or I will take matters into my own hands.
The politician who would remain in office must give the majority of people what they want.
This glorification of the "rights" of people will increase until the Lord returns. This is the reason for the "iron scepter" and "dashing them to pieces."
We have the picture, then, of self-willed people being faced with the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, for that is the law of the Kingdom of God.
Is the populace being governed going to be loving and kind by nature, or will the people rage and curse God and other people because they are not allowed to do what they want?
If you were ruling with Christ, what would you do when they refused to obey you and Christ? Would you do as is done today, let them have their way so they will "love" you? Or would you give them over to mighty angels so all of their rebellious words and actions would be broken to pieces?
Would you break their will to pieces like smashing a flower pot with a crowbar? Or would you exclaim, as is done today, "Oh the poor dears. We just cannot expect them to love their enemies or to walk the extra mile with their adversaries!"
How many Christians that you know could rule joyfully alongside of One who administers the anger of God when it is called for? Or would you rather not be placed in that position?
Think about this and make your decision prayerfully, because Someone who is planning the future is watching you carefully.
The purpose of the Kingdom Age is twofold.
First, to perfect the elect who still are in the heavenly Zion.
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, (Hebrews 12:22,23).
Second, to accustom the people of the nations to the rule of God, Christ, and the saints, and to identify those who will be permitted to live in the new world of righteousness.
Every effort shall be made by Christ and His saints to encourage those whom they are governing to set aside their own lives and permit Christ to influence their thinking, speaking, and behaving.
We must keep in mind that many of those who were faithfully governed by the saints rebelled when Satan was released, at the end of the thousand years. The self-will of mankind has made the world the valley of the shadow of death, and is a horribly destructive force.
The rebels were destroyed by Divine fire.
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalms 2:10-12)
We can see from the events of the thousand-year Kingdom Age that we are wise if we set aside our own life that Christ may govern our thinking, our speaking, and our acting. He will do this for us if we will ask him continually throughout every day and night to take charge of our life.
We do not lose our individuality as a person by asking Christ to conduct our life. Rather, we are purified by the process and made ready for our eternal destiny as a member of the Royal Priesthood.
Christ remains Christ. We remain ourselves, our unique personality being intact and marvelously transformed.
The Age of Paradise
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7)
The purpose of the Age of Paradise is to continue what God began in Eden, and then to add to the garden stern obedience to Christ, righteousness, love, peace, and joy in the Spirit of God.
Our mental capacity being what it is, we cannot really comprehend an eternal Age of Paradise. It is like attempting to grasp that God has had no beginning and always will be present.
Somehow there has to be a beginning and an end of God—but there isn't! He always was. He always is. He always shall be. He has declared that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will endure forever.
This truly is eternal life, isn't it.
But what will it be like?
Perhaps a partial answer is found in the following passage, speaking of the new heavens and a new earth:
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (Isaiah 65:21)
I understand that God speaks to people in terms they understand, and the above verse may be a case of that.
However, if the Age of Paradise is to be a continuation of that which God instituted in the beginning, perhaps the Age of Paradise will be more agricultural than we realize. It is a fact that many of the large cities of today are not the concept many of us hold concerning Paradise.
Instead of business complexes there will be endless acres of flowers with little boys and girls chasing the animals and laughing and shrieking with joy.
Would you like that kind of world, instead of skyscrapers and people madly seeking to grasp more money?
I know I would!
One factor that may influence the type of civilization that arises in the Age of Paradise would be the lack of use of money as a means of transferring goods and services. From the little bit I have seen of the spirit world, money no longer is employed. People give to others what they produce, and are given what they need by others without charge.
There are no rich or poor.
If this were the case during the Age of Paradise, how would that affect the various cultures? An economy that did not depend on some sort of money in order to operate would have to be overseen by angels, of course, because some people would do nothing but sit around if they did not have to work to gain their desires and necessities.
What would thieves do if they did not have to steal to obtain what they desired?
It is noteworthy that in the original Paradise in the garden in Eden, money was not needed. There were fruit trees and plants that met the need for food, and no one owned the fruit trees and plants.
This type of economy would not work in our world of today because of sin and self-seeking. But in a world governed by Christ and the members of the Royal Priesthood, I believe such a money-free culture would prosper.
I can't see why not. Paul said the love of money was the root of all evil, and in my judgment Paul was correct.
The prevalence of the Spirit of God will insure obedience to Christ, righteous behavior, love, joy, and peace. Such is not possible when people are living apart from Christ, being filled with sinful desires and self-will.
It is obvious, I believe, that the two preceding ages, that of the Church and the Kingdom, are necessary before The Age of Paradise can come into being.
No sinful, self-centered person will be found in The Age of Paradise. This is because one such person, who has chosen to be his or her own god, would quickly bring every sort of undesirable situation into Paradise. This is why God has created the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is an eternal home for those who insist on being their own god.
Each person living in The Age of Paradise will have had the opportunity to obey Christ cheerfully and completely. Those who reject this simple requirement will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, just as today we imprison people who prove by their actions that they cannot refrain from harming other people.
Our only hope for a future filled with love, joy, and peace is that every person will be willing to set aside his or her own life in such a manner that the Lord Jesus is preeminent. He must be installed for eternity on the throne of our life until we can be entrusted to sit there.
Apart from the Lord Jesus Christ there is no hope for righteousness, love, joy, and peace, which are the objectives of every sane person.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
That throne is our own heart.