Particular aspects of the nature, reign, inheritance, heavenly glory, and infinite blessing of Christ’s beloved Body & Bride (comprised exclusively of all believers saved from Pentecost to Pre-Trib Rapture) in and with her Head, Life & Bridegroom:

Section 2: The Future Reign of the Heavenly Body & Bride of Christ, His Consort-Queen.

Reigning With Christ--A Privilege Reserved for Only Some Saints?

(1) “Do ye [carnal Corinthians] not then know that the saints [as such, no exceptions or distinctions] shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy of the smallest judgments? Do ye not know that we shall judge angels?” (1 Cor. 6:2,3)

Note that the Church “saints” as such, all of “you” in particular, and “we” together, are distinctly specified as the ones who will judge (govern, rule, reign over; cp. Matt. 19:28; Rev. 20:4a) the world to come, including angels! No exceptions made, no exceptions possible. No class of spiritually elite, specially faithful, worthy, persevering saints reigning with Christ on the one hand, and destitute, unfaithful, unworthy, non-persevering saints weeping & gnashing their teeth in outer darkness on the other.

The Apostle Paul thus clearly reveals here that, by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, all Church saints – which explicitly includes everyone of the carnal Corinthians – will judge the world and angels (as the glorified heavenly Bride-Queen of Christ over the promised, covenanted, glorious, earthly Kingdom to be set up on this earth at His Second Advent).

Where is there thus any room for some members of the beloved, glorified Body & Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ to be in “outer darkness,” “not inheriting the Kingdom of God,” “weeping and gnashing their teeth”? Where is there thus any room for “the Body of Christ [to be] divided into those who rule and those who do not rule with Christ”?! There are absolutely no exceptions here as to the reign of all heavenly saints with Christ.

Where can one find a distinction here between persevering (or rather, deserving) Christians and non-persevering (or rather, undeserving) Christians, with the former alone reigning with Christ? On what grounds can one wrest this passage, and the myriad of other passages, of Scripture so as to be able to take a group of unworthy, non-persevering saints (dare I even call them saints?) – as opposed to the worthy, persevering ones – and cast them into “outer darkness” (with all that that entails)? On what grounds, I say, other than a departure from the plain, normal, literal interpretation of Scripture – via a distinctionless-dispensationalism, an Arminian-infected theology, a works-based/legalistic view of (present & future tense) salvation?

(2) “To Him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in His blood, and made us [the very same ones washed by His blood—no exceptions—no strings attached] a kingdom, priests to His God and Father: to Him be the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen” (Rev 1:5,6)

“As redeemed ones believers constitute a kingdom and are priests before God. Since Christ is both king and priest, His own partake of His nature and offices. Notice the emphasis on kingdom and dominion, a dual objective of the entire book (cf. Rev. 20:6; also II Tim. 2:12). – Charles L. Feinberg (A Commentary on Revelation: The Grand Finale, p. 26,27)

“The reference to us as a kingdom is entirely consistent with the whole book of Revelation. We must connect this passage with Revelation 5:9, 10…. Both these passages, of course, look forward to the millennial reign of Chapter 20…. Notice that we have been made priest’s unto Christ’s God and Father, for Christ is the heir, and we inherit through and in Him…. The Revelation looks forward to the exercise of royal priesthood! When our Lord Jesus shall return to earth to reign, the full Melchizedek priesthood will come in: ‘He shall be a priest upon his throne’ – and we with Him!” – William R. Newell (Revelation: A Complete Commentary, p. 12,13)

(3) “But ye are [not, ‘will become’ by personal merit or worthiness] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood [king-priests], a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness [never to be cast back into “outer darkness”!] to His wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9)

All by His pure, sovereign, infinite grace!

“[We are]…’a royal priesthood’ (which the Aaronic was not), but rather after the pattern of Melchizedek [king-priest] in its display of the blessing. In the day that is coming He will exercise that priesthood, sitting as Priest upon His throne, instead of bearing us up as He now does within the veil. Meanwhile those who are His are even now said to be a royal priesthood to manifest His praises [virtues or excellencies] before the day of His power.” – William Kelly (The First Epistle of Peter, p. 140,141)

“The word ‘royal’ is the translation of the Greek word for ‘king.’ The Levitical priesthood were only priests. Believers of this dispensation are king-priests, associated with the Lord Jesus who is priest after the order of Melchizedec, a king-priest.” – Kenneth S. Wuest (Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, Vol. II, First Peter in the Greek New Testament, p. 56)

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