The Victory of the Church

MEMORY TEXT: “The kingdom of the world has become our Lord’s and his Christ’s, and he shall reign for the ages of the ages.” —Revelation 11:15, Diaglott

I CORINTHIANS 15:20-26; REVELATION 7:9,10,13-17

THE victory of the church brings exaltation in the first resurrection to live and reign with Christ a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4,6) To reign with Christ means to be associated with him in that world-wide government of promise—a government which will take actual control of the affairs of the whole world. It is this that is described in our memory verse. We have used the Emphatic Diaglott translation because of its greater clarity.

It is important to realize that the kingdom of Christ is to be a literal government and not merely a righteous influence in the hearts of believers. Many today have lost sight of this, and suppose that the increase of Christ’s kingdom is accomplished by the spread of the Gospel, converting the whole world to Christ, and that thus his kingdom will have fully come. But this is not the case. When Christ’s kingdom takes control over the affairs of men, the world will be far from converted. Indeed, it takes place amidst a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.—Dan. 2:44; 12:1; Rev. 11:17,18

In our lesson Paul reveals that the establishment of Christ’s kingdom depends upon the resurrection of the dead. Paul affirms the resurrection of Jesus, and tells us that he became the firstfruits of them that slept. Incidentally, it is interesting to note that Paul refers to those who are dead as being “asleep.”

“Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Cor. 15:22,23) Thus does Paul set forth the great hope of the resurrection which is centered in Christ. But he explains that not all would be awakened from death at once; rather, that there is a certain order in the resurrection, which is, “Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming,” (I Cor. 15:23) or as the Greek text indicates, those who become Christ’s during his second presence.

The “firstfruits” mentioned here are the faithful footstep followers of the Lord, who will come forth in “the first resurrection.” (Rev. 20:6; James 1:18; Rev. 14:4) The “afterward” class is the remainder of the world of mankind. During the thousand-year reign of Christ these will be awakened from the sleep of death and given an opportunity to believe and obey, and those who do so will live forever.

This will be the period of Christ’s kingdom, and Paul assures us that he will reign until even death is destroyed. That is the reason that “there shall be no more death,” (Rev. 21:4) It is thus that the Lord will “swallow up death in victory.”—Isa. 25:6-9

The “firstfruits” class which will be brought forth in “the first resurrection” will consist of 144,000. See Revelation 14:1,4. On the other hand, the group mentioned in the Revelation portion of our lesson (Rev. 7:9,10,13-17) is described as one which no man can number. Besides, the “firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” are shown in the Scriptures to be seated with Jesus in his throne, living and reigning with him, while the great multitude which no man could number are said to be “before the throne,” and instead of reigning they “serve him day and night in his temple.”

These differences warrant us in concluding that this is not the same class as that which lives and reigns with Christ, not the ones referred to by Jesus when he said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) The Apostle John also indicates that this is a different class, for he says that one of the elders asked, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?”—vs. 13

The answer to this question was, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (vs. 14) Of the “firstfruits” class it is stated, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” (Rev. 14:4) Who, then, are those composing this great multitude who in the kingdom will stand before the throne, and serve God in his temple?

There are a number of Scripture passages to indicate that this is a class who do not prove as faithful as the “little flock,” and while they do not lose salvation, their reward is something less than the crown of life received by the true overcomers.—Rev. 2:10; 3:21

QUESTIONS

What does victory mean for the church?

Who is the great multitude that stands before the throne?

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