A theocracy is a government under God. The ancient kingdom of Israel was a theocracy, for the various kings who ruled the nation were said to “sit on the throne of the Lord.” When David relinquished his rulership to Solomon, he prayed to God, saying, “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.”—1Ch 29:11 Israel’s government under God was typical of the kingdom of Christ, which also will be a theocracy. But that theocracy is not yet functioning. When the attempt was made back in the Middle Ages to establish Christ’s kingdom, someone added the words of David’s prayer to our Lord’s prayer, “Thine is the kingdom.” But it was not true then, and it is not true today. When Israel’s typical theocracy was overthrown In 606 B. C., the Lord said, “It shall be no more until he comes whose right it is, and I will give it him.”—Eze 21:27 We believe that the rightful King has come and that he has taken unto himself his great power to reign but that his power is not being exercised through human representatives. The work of the King now is merely the dashing of the nations to pieces like a potter’s vessel.
We can see evidences of this on every hand, and from this standpoint we can truly say that “our King Is marching on.” But the earthly phase of his kingdom has not yet been established, and no one Is authorized to exercise kingdom authority In his name.
The work of God in the earth throughout the ages has been to select and train, in advance, those who will serve as the personnel of the kingdom of Christ when it actually begins to function for the blessing of all the families of the earth. These will have been tried and tested under the most crucial circumstances, and their loyalty to Jehovah and to the principles of righteousness which are the foundations of his throne will have been fully demonstrated.
Their training complete, these fall asleep in death to await the glorious inauguration of the kingdom in which they will, by means of the resurrection of the dead, have a part. “Be thou faithful unto death,” said Jesus to his faithful followers of the Gospel Age, “and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) No one can possibly have a “crown” in that glorious kingdom with Christ until he has been proved worthy by suffering and dying with him. Those who thus qualify are exalted to the divine nature with Christ. They will have proved their loyalty and, in their new, divine bodies, will be able to govern perfectly, in harmony with Jehovah’s will.
Those who will be the human representatives of that future theocratic government were also pretrained. These are the ancient worthies, the faithful servants of God from righteous Abel to John the Baptist. Jesus told the religious rulers of his day that these would be seen and recognized in the kingdom, while they themselves would be cast out.
(Luke 13:28) He said that the people would “sit down” with these. (Luke 13:29) This expression is a translation of a Greek term which describes the attitude of a pupil before its master, or teacher. In other words, these ancient worthies are to be the recognized teachers of the people in the real theocratic government now near.
A careful and prayerful reading of the 11th chapter of Hebrews (Hebrews 11) shows clearly that the ancient worthies also proved their fidelity to God and righteousness. And Paul explains that they hoped for a “better resurrection.” (Hebrews 11:35) Yes, when these are raised from the dead, they will no longer have the former handicaps of imperfect human bodies through which to express their devotion to God. And what marvelous representatives these will be of the spiritual rulers of that kingdom, the divine Christ! The Scriptures also tell us of another class who will “serve God in his temple.” It is the “great multitude” of Revelation 7:9,13- 17.
These are shown to have come up through “great tribulation” and to have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are not in the throne but stand before the throne. They will not be rulers but servants of the rulers. The Scriptures do not furnish the details of their service, but evidently it will, in some manner, correspond to the service now being rendered to the “heirs of salvation” by the angels, the “ministering spirits” who “always behold the face” of our “Father which is in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:14; Matthew 18:10) The “great multitude” then, will be the liaison servants in the kingdom, maintaining communications between the spiritual and human phases of that theocratic government.
What a wonderful government that will be, with all who serve in it under Christ thoroughly tested and trained in advance. To these the authority of the kingdom can be safely entrusted, for they will delight to use it to theglory of God and to shower his promised blessings upon all the families of the earth.