I recently read the book of Revelation, as far as I could. In the end it's written that saved souls are going to rule. But what are they going to rule? 2 Peter 3 said the world will have been destroyed, and I doubt whether there will be any need for anyone to rule inside the New Jerusalem. -- Schüler

The Bible says repeatedly that the saints will reign. (2 Timothy 2:12 and Revelation 5:10 come to mind, with further intimations in 1 Corinthians 4 and 6.) You are right, the present world will have been destroyed. Some, like Randy Alcorn, believe the earth will be created anew and there will be nations etc. on a new earth.

So how will we share God's rule with him? To begin with, there is much more to rule than political territory. God rules in heaven, even though there are no politics in heaven these days (we assume). Our God is a god of order (1 Corinthians 14:33). Yet maintaining order is important, even when people are well-mannered. Good governance makes obeying the law easier, if for no other reason than that it makes the law easier to understand. And yet I'm not so sure the "rule" mentioned has to do with the afterlife alone.

Even in this life, God's kingdom is spreading. More and more people are submitting their will to the Lord's will. To the extent that Christians take part in spreading the good news, and in increasing the knowledge of the Lord, we share in that rule. Revelation 1:6, like 1 Peter 2:9, says we are made into a kingdom of priests. (Revelation 5:10 mentions a reign on earth.) Like good governors, Christians are meant to follow and uphold the law (God's laws). Christians speak with authority. They lead others. They submit to a higher authority, and they expect others to do the same. So, in a sense, it could be argued that we already are ruling. (Even if it doesn't feel like it!)

We are all being prepared for responsibility in the future. Faithfulness begets greater responsibility. Whatever "ruling" means, it all depends on faithful stewardship in this life.

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