The promise made to the saints is that in the kingdom they will be kings (Revelation 5:10) and reign with Christ (Revelation 20:6). Now there is a great difference between a king and a servant. One rules and the other serves. One commands and the other obeys. Instead of being referred to as kings, the saints are referred to as servants (1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:24; 1 Peter 2:16; Revelation 1:1). Paul refers to himself as a servant (Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:1). The following are also referred to as servants: Peter (2 Peter 1:1), Timothy (Philippians 1:1), Epaphras (Colossians 4:12), James (James 1:1), Jude (Jude 1:1) and John (Revelation 1:1).
There is only one place where the saints are said to be reigning in this age, and it is mentioned in a chastising manner. Paul tells the Corinthians “ye have reigned as kings WITHOUT US” (1 Corinthians 4:8). Apparently some in Corinth had the false idea that they were kings in this age and were acting accordingly. Paul, here, is correcting them by letting them know the real position of saints and to prove it he tells them of his state. To make sure the reader gets Paul’s point we’ll quote verses 8-14, “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.” There is quite a difference between what Paul actually was and what some in Corinth thought they were.
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Author: The Herald Press
Keywords: Kingdom of God, Kingdom of heaven, heavenly kingdom, reign with Christ, servants and kings, reign as kings, kings and priests, kingdom of priests, awarded a crown, crown, crowns
Bible reference(s): 1 Cor. 4:8, 1 Cor. 9:25, 1 Th. 2:19, Jas. 1:12, 1 Pet. 5:4, Rev. 2:10, Rev. 5:10, Rev. 20:6, 1 Cor. 7:22, Eph. 6:6, 2 Tim. 2:24, 1 Pet. 2:16, Rev. 1:1
Source: Scriptural Studies: The Kingdom of God (Houston, 1975).
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.