The Employment of Mankind Through the Ceaseless Ages of the Eternal State
It is
unfortunate that much of what has been taught on this subject is extra-Biblical
and therefore is largely the fancies of the imagination. It has left some with
the impression that the only thing we have to look forward to is an eternal
withdrawal into holy inactivity. If this be the case, there are few who
envision this prospect with any degree of enthusiasm. Life is essentially
activity, and the kind of activity that makes a contribution to society. Surely
eternal life in its fullness will mean something like that.
At this
point the Scripture is scanty. But it does provide enough material so that we
can construct a picture that will be generally accurate and exciting. On
details there is bound to be differences of opinion. But in the area of
details, the Scripture is silent. Three general areas are treated: the
permeating atmosphere, the particular areas of activity, and the perennial
acclamation of the sovereign.
1. The permeating
atmosphere of the eternal state will be that of worship (Rev. 22:3 "And there shall no longer be any
curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants
shall serve him."). One of the things most prominent in the former
economy was the energies of men devoted to offsetting the effects of the curse.
Procreation was marked by sorrow, infant mortality, and deformity. The whole
medical profession has been devoted to alleviating or removing these effects.
The ground refused to release its treasure for the preservation and
perpetuation of mankind. Men have employed almost every conceivable device to
raise crops and offset the ravages of famine and death. All this effort has
required the sweat of the face, and the toil with its hardships and
misunderstandings. But in the eternal state at last the curse has been completely lifted.
Now the
throne of God is in its proper place. It is established in the Holy City and is
accessible to mankind. This requires that men make a proper response, and that
response which is ordered and directed from the throne. In place of the
deterrents of the former economy, there will be the clear directions for an
ordered and progressive society in all of its ramifications. His servants,
those who have been purchased with the blood of Christ, and who will have
voluntarily and eagerly offered themselves as bond-slaves at His disposal, they
will now render their service as an act of worship. The verb in this case is
the word used of priests engaged in the performance of worship (Heb. 9:1).
This is not
to suggest that everyone will serve in the capacity of a priest. But it does
mean that in whatever activity they are engaged, it will be performed in
devotion to the sovereign. This ought to be true today. Worship should not be
confined to a few religious duties performed at stated intervals. It ought to
be the response of a regenerated soul characterizing all his activity (Rom. 12:1-2). However
deficient the response of the saved today, in that eternal day it will
characterize all the actions of the saints.
2. The particular
activities of the saints may be classified under three heads: administration,
exploration, production. The spiritual nobility will be specially charged with
the responsibility of administration (Rev. 22:5). They are the inhabitants of
the Holy City, consisting of the Church, the Old Testament saints, and the
tribulation martyrs. They comprised the administrative team at the highest
level, during the Mediatorial Kingdom, and their services have been retained
for the eternal state. Their mansions are a display of their nobility that the Father's Son went to build for her.
It is not
to be thought that a perfect society does not necessitate organization. Not
even the triune God operates on that level. Therein is a perfect model of
organization. Each has His position in the Godhead and His particular area of
responsibility, and they work in perfect harmony with one another. The details
and aspects of evaluation and direction of the redeemed are infinite. Billions
of people will comprise the population of the earth, so that there will be need
for the services of the spiritual nobility to preserve the well-being of
mankind, and to produce an ordered society which displays the excellencies of
the triune God.
Outside the
city, in the broad reaches of a restored earth, dwell billions of people. A
vast portion of these will be engaged in exploration (Gen. 1:28). The original
directive to Adam was the command to subdue the earth. This undoubtedly carries
with it the significance of investigation. All scientific research falls into
this category. It may be expected then, that a new era of scientific research
will be launched, without any lack of resources, nor any restraints from sin.
The infinite and the infinitesimal will be explored. The microscope and the
telescope will be employed. The outer reaches of space will be visited. It may
well be that men will reach other planets beside the moon. The composition of matter
will be explored beyond the elements, the molecule, the atom, and the electron.
Even now men are speculating that divisions of matter may be even smaller than what
science has discovered at this point. All this investigation somehow fits in
with the statement of verse 24 and 26 of Revelation 21, "the glory and honor of the nations." These words must
refer to the sum total of the qualities divinely imparted to men and now in
activity. These will now be functioning for the good of mankind and the glory of
God. And like Adam they shall receive daily instruction and input from their Maker.
The vast
number of earth's population, however, will be engaged in production, just as
they are today. This means that they will take the knowledge that has been made
available through scientific research and put it into operation to produce
benefits for society. Surely the words, "the
glory and honor of the nations" involves something that is objective.
Something is invented, manufactured, articulated in such a way that it takes on
objective existence. This is what the nations will bring into the capital city
to present to the King. This will mean that there will be no end to what men
can do, and will do, without any of the hindrances of sin. Think of the fairs
of earth: city, county, state, national, international, and world fairs, where
men come together to display their achievements. What will it be like when from
all over the earth the redeemed make ceaseless pilgrimages to the Eternal City
to bring the glory and honor of the nations into it?
3. Note in the
third place, that perennial acclamation of worship and devotion will
characterize the redeemed and result in unending pilgrimages to the Holy City.
In contrast to the stubborn refusal on the part of governments and people to
give any recognition to God, in the eternal state "the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it . .
and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it" (Rev.
21:24-26). Potentates and people alike are moved by such devotion to the
Sovereign of the empire that they make regular and unending pilgrimages to the
great city to present their achievements to the King. Day in and day out, year
in and year out, the multitudes of saved people will be traveling to the
central city. They come for thousands of miles, arriving at every time of day
and night. Since there is no night there, the gates are always open to receive
them. And it is their chief delight to present to the King that which is the
result of their God-given potential, and tender expressions of gratitude for
His grace. You may be sure that the King will delight in this activity, and
rejoice as He reflects on the successful fulfillment of his manifold wisdom and
design for mankind.
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