| Christian Life and Doctrine | June 1969 |
The Glory to Follow
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” —II Corinthians 4:17,18
IN COLOSSIANS 1:24 the Apostle Paul says that he was rejoicing in the privilege of filling up “that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” While every faithful follower of the Master experiences joys far deeper and more satisfying than anything known to the unbelieving world, it is also true that basically the Christian life is one of suffering and sacrifice. Jesus told his disciples that this would be their experience. He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33
The Apostle Peter wrote concerning the afflictions of the Lord’s people, saying that the Spirit of God moved the prophets of old to testify concerning “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory, that should follow.” (I Pet. 1:11) Jesus had this basic truth of the divine plan well in mind, for when, after his resurrection, he preached that wonderful sermon to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, he began with Moses, and from all the prophets pointed out to them that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer before entering into his glory.—Luke 24:13-27
At the time Jesus was crucified the disciples did not understand this aspect of the divine plan of salvation. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, and they expected him to shortly manifest the power and glory of that office as it had been foretold by their prophets. Therefore, when he was crucified they were bewildered; but their hearts burned within them when they realized that the death of their Master was not a defeat of God’s plan by their enemies, but something which had been foreknown and foretold as an integral part of the divine plan.
One of the definite forecasts of the suffering and death of Jesus is recorded in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” wrote Isaiah. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
However, as noted by Peter, Isaiah also foretold the glory to follow: “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong.” (vs. 12) The “great” referred to here is evidently the great Creator of the universe, the Jehovah of Israel, our Heavenly Father. Jesus was given a portion with his Heavenly Father. In Revelation 3:21 we find him saying, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Complete Trust
Jesus knew of his Father’s arrangement for him to suffer and die as the world’s Redeemer. The many promises of God concerning the glory to follow the suffering helped to sustain him. Paul refers to the joy that was set before Jesus by these promises, a joy that enabled him to endure the cross and to despise the shame. And because he endured faithfully he is now “set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Heb. 12:2
In a prophecy setting forth Jesus’ confidence in his Heavenly Father recorded in the 16th psalm, we find him saying, “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”—vss. 8-11
Jesus knew that he was to die, but he also knew that he would not be left in death; that he would be restored to life. He had confidence that the Lord would show him the path of life, and in his case that path of life led through suffering to death. He knew this when he explained to his disciples that those who lose their lives in sacrifice, in the divine cause, as he expected to do, would save them.
Suffering with Christ
It is clear that the prophetic testimony concerning the suffering of Christ and the glory that should follow applies also to the suffering and sacrificial death of his true followers. The Apostle Peter makes this plain. He wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”—I Pet. 4:12,13
Our text refers to Christian suffering as “light afflictions,” comparing these with the “eternal weight of glory.” The sufferings or afflictions of Christ are “light” in comparison with the “weight” of glory to follow; although from the human standpoint these afflictions are often severe and crushing. Think of what they involved in the case of Jesus! He was harassed by his enemies, most of whom were the religious leaders of his day, and finally put to death upon the cross. But think of the glory into which he entered as a result of his faithfulness! He received the divine nature, and was given a position with the Heavenly Father on the throne of the universe.
The followers of Jesus from then until now have also suffered. In the days of the Early Church, and throughout the Dark Ages particularly, they were almost continuously persecuted. Some were crucified, others thrown to the lions, while still others were burned at the stake or subjected to the cruelties of the Inquisition. And all of the Lord’s faithful people throughout the age have suffered trials and persecutions of one sort or another—either their own, or as the companions of those who were so used.—Heb. 10:33,34
But regardless of the severity of the afflictions, they have been “light” and temporary compared with the “eternal weight of glory” to follow. With the followers of Jesus, even as with Jesus himself, this glory that follows the suffering consists of exaltation to the divine nature, and sharing the throne with Jesus. (Rev. 3:21) Paul speaks of our “hope of the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:2) This goes beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend. And this “glory to follow” will not be “but for a moment,” but instead it will be “eternal.”
Illustrations
While we cannot comprehend the glory for which we are encouraged to hope, the Bible helps us to grasp some of the official aspects of it at least partially by the various titles it ascribes to Jesus and to his body members. Jesus, for example, is a king, indeed the “King of kings.” A king is one who reigns over subjects, and the promise to the true church is that she shall reign with him a thousand years.—Rev. 20:6
We might refer to this as the kingly glory to follow the afflictions. Paul set forth this thought clearly when, in writing to Timothy, he said that if we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with him. (II Tim. 2:11,12) This means that if we do not suffer with Christ we will not reign with him. It means that if, after entering into a covenant with the Lord to lay down our lives as Jesus did, we then hold back, sidestepping our privileges of service and sacrifice, we will not be found worthy to share the throne of his glory. These are sobering thoughts, and should stimulate us to greater zeal and increasing diligence in devoting our lives to the service of the Lord by a daily laying down and giving up of our all in doing the divine will.
Servants of the Covenant
The Bible informs us that Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant; and the Apostle Paul explains that we have also been made “able ministers” of that covenant. (Heb. 12:24; II Cor. 3:6) The New Covenant is foretold in Jeremiah 31:31-34. When that covenant is fully made with all the people, the law of God will be written in their hearts, and they will be restored to perfection—that perfection which they lost through the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden.
The Prophet Isaiah refers to this glorious work of restoration, and pictures the church as helping to bring it about. In a prophecy from which Paul quoted, and applied to the disciples of Christ, the Lord said, “In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners [of death], Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.”—Isa. 49:8, 9; II Cor. 6:2
Priests of God
Another title which the Bible ascribes both to Jesus and his church is that of priests. This title applies to Jesus and to his church in the flesh, for it pertains in the first place to the work of sacrifice, which in the typical Jewish Age was the chief function of the priesthood; also, on the basis of the sacrifices offered by the priests, they served as blessers of the people, in a sort of mediatorial service. Peter wrote to the followers of Jesus, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up … sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”—I Pet. 2:5
In verse 9 of this chapter Peter speaks of the church as being a “royal priesthood.” It is to becoming royal priests that the present sacrificial work of the priesthood is leading for all those who are faithful unto death. The “royal priesthood” is a kingly priesthood, typified by Melchisedec, who was a priest upon his throne. Melchisedec was a type of Jesus exalted to kingship and ruling to bless the people during the thousand years of his kingdom.
And the faithful followers of Jesus will share this priestly glory with him. Revelation 20:6 reads, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” In this promise we do not have priests offering sacrifice, but priests who are reigning, priests upon the throne, even as was Melchisedec. What a prospect this is, and how it enhances our “hope of glory,” the “glory to follow” the “light afflictions” of the present time!
The Glory of Judgeship
In his sermon on Mars’ hill the Apostle Paul said that God “hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31) Yes, Jesus will be the great judge of the people during the thousand-year judgment day promised in the Bible. But he will have associate judges working with him, and again, these will be his faithful followers of the present age.
In I Corinthians 6:2 we read, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” This is a well-known text to many students of the Word, but it is by no means the only assurance the Bible gives us that the saints of the Gospel Age will, in the kingdom, share the glory of judgship with Jesus. The Master himself, speaking of the time when he comes as Judge, says, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”—Matt. 25:31,32
It will be recognized that this is Jesus’ parable of the Judgment Day. He speaks of himself as then being seated upon the throne of his glory with all his holy angels, or messengers, with him. These holy messengers are his faithful followers who, having been brought forth in the first resurrection, are represented as sharing with Jesus in his glory, the glory of judging all nations.
This is quite in harmony with Jesus’ promise to his disciples as recorded in Matthew 19:28. In the context, Jesus said to the rich young ruler that if he would give up all he had and take up his cross and follow him he would have treasures in heaven. The disciples did not understand this, so Peter reminded Jesus that they had given up all they had, and had become his followers, and asked what they would receive in return. It was to this question that Jesus replied, “Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Here again Jesus speaks of sitting on the throne of his glory, and he promises his disciples that they also shall sit upon thrones. In this promise Jesus mentions that his disciples would judge the twelve tribes of Israel. In his Judgment Day parable all nations are judged, which includes the twelve tribes of Israel. And in both cases the saints are shown to share the judgeship glory of the kingdom with Jesus. Here again is a part of the glory that follows our “light afflictions.”
Thrones
In his teachings, Jesus drew heavily upon the prophecies of the Old Testament, and in his promise to his disciples concerning their sitting upon thrones (plural), he could have been basing his lesson on the prophecy of Daniel 7:9,10,18,22. Here we have foretold the kingdom and judgment work. The King James translation of Daniel 7:9 reads, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit.” Rotherham’s translation seems more accurate. It reads, “I continued looking until that thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat.”
Thus this is a picture of the setting in order of the kingdom arrangement, not the casting down of worldly thrones. Verse 10, speaking of the Ancient of days, says, “Thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” This compares well with Revelation 20:11,12: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened.”
Verse 18 of Daniel, chapter 7, reads, “The saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” And then verse 22 adds, “And judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” Thus in this prophecy of Daniel we have mention of “thrones” which are placed in the kingdom, and also that judgment is given to the saints of the most High, and that these possess the kingdom. What a firm foundation this helps to give for our hope of judgeship glory with Jesus!
Revelation Also
As all Bible students know, many of the important prophecies and promises of the Old Testament are reiterated in the New Testament, and oft times in the Book of Revelation. This seems to be the case with Daniel’s prophecy concerning “thrones” and the fact that judgment is given to the saints of the most High at the time when the saints possess the kingdom. Revelation 20:4 reads, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
The Revised Standard Version reads, “I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed.” Phillips’ translation reads, “I saw thrones, with appointed judges seated upon them.” The New English Bible reads, “I saw thrones, and upon them sat those to whom judgment was committed.” Rotherham reads, “I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and sentence of judgment was given unto them.”
It is clear from these various translations that those John saw on thrones had been given a commission to judge. Rotherham’s statement, “sentence of judgment” suggests that to those who sat on the thrones was given the authority to pass sentence on others, growing out of their judgment process. Thus we find a beautiful harmony between Daniel 7:9,18 and 22; and Revelation 20:4, substantiating further the promise that the saints of this Gospel Age, following their suffering and death—their “light afflictions”—will become co-judges with Jesus, and thus share in the judgeship aspect of “the glory to follow.”
Faithfulness Required
It is well to remind ourselves that if we expect to share with Jesus in the glory that follows the “light affliction” we must be faithful to the terms of our covenant by sacrifice. Paul explains that while we are enduring the momentary “light afflictions” of the present, we are looking for inspiration to “the things which are not seen,” and reminds us that “the things which are not seen are eternal.”—II Cor. 4:18
Are we able by the eye of faith to see the things which cannot be seen with the natural eye? If our vision of faith is keen we will be able to see, to some extent at least, the glory that will follow the present time of trial. We are not able to “see” clearly all it will mean to be joint-rulers with Jesus in his kingdom. It is impossible to grasp the full thought of what is involved in being “able ministers of the new covenant,” or members of the Melchisedec priesthood, or to be seated on thrones as judges. But the assurances of the Word that a participation with Jesus in all these official positions in his millennial kingdom help us to realize how great that glory will be.
And then there is, of course, the great glory of the divine nature. Paul speaks of this in his lesson on the resurrection, as recorded in the 15th chapter of I Corinthians. Speaking of our sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection, Paul writes, “It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”—I Cor. 15:43,44
How true it is that we are sown in “weakness”! Every faithful follower of the Master should realize his own weakness, his own inability to do the Lord’s will as completely as he would like. There is frequently the tendency to become discouraged. This is good to a degree, for it should cause us to turn to the Lord for strength and for guidance. And how often do we all experience the fulfillment of God’s promises to give us strength!
In the last verse of Isaiah 53 in which the suffering and death of Jesus are foretold, we are informed, as we have seen, that he would be given a portion with the great; and to this is added that he would divide the reward with the “strong.” These are his faithful followers who are “strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” While being “sown in weakness” according to the flesh, through the power of the Holy Spirit they are indeed “strong in the Lord,” and it is this strength that helps them to endure and to struggle as they fight “the good fight of faith.”
In no small way the hope of glory is itself a source of strength and courage. May this hope remain ever bright, as day by day we face up to the “light afflictions” which are “but for a moment,” knowing that shortly, if faithful, we will enter into the promised “eternal weight of glory.”