Revelations 22:16 - "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
Jesus Himself! In other words, He's saying that He Himself is your reward. What does it mean - He is your reward? It means: a greater level of intimacy, and relationship, and knowing. He will reveal more of Himself. You can see then, if one of the significant rewards in eternity is a much deeper closeness, intimacy, knowledge, and revelation of Jesus, that brings fulfilment and honour into our life - now's the time to develop intimacy. If intimacy with the Lord is not your passion now, it's hardly ever going to be a reward, because you won't seek it. I put this one first, because rather than just wanting this and that from God, He wants us to want Him.
He said to Abraham: I am your Shield. I am your Exceeding Great Reward. Abraham had just given up everything, and He said: it's okay, I'm your reward. When you've got Me, you've got access to everything; don't seek the everything, seek Me! I've put a few questions in the study to get you think about your relationship with the Lord and intimacy; and that brings us to the second one.
The second one that we mentioned is the area of Eternal Authority. So eternal again - what does eternal mean? Eternal means: there's no time limit on it. It never expires. It goes on and on and on and on, once you're on that journey. Right now, we're in time; but when you go into the millennial kingdom, you're in eternity - then it never stops. It just goes on. So right now, we're ruled by time; then we're not ruled by time.
The Bible makes it clear that believers will rule with Christ for 1000 years. I saw thrones and the saints; they sat on them, and judgement was given to them, and they lived and reigned with Jesus Christ for 1000 years. Revelations 20:4-6 - "...they shall reign with Him 1000 years". In the Book of Revelation, it says there is a 1000 year period, a millennium; it means a 1000-year period, and Jesus will come to the earth and rule over the earth - but it's not just on His own. It will be in partnership! When we understand more about the millennium, and what will happen, and what will precede it, and then our part in the millennium, it inspires us then to actually overcome the trials of life.
The first thing to see about the millennium is that: it’s a 1000 period. The second thing to see is that Jesus, in that period when He returns, will be King over all Kings. He will be King over all Kings. That means He will exercise rulership over all the kings of the earth. Right now, we don't see that. Right now, He has the title to it, but when He returns He will exercise it. In Ephesians 1:21 it says, after His resurrection... "He's been raised far above all principality and power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, the one that is to come." In other words, He's being made King over everything.
Revelations 19:16 - "He's King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."
Psalm 72:11 - "All kings will fall down before Him, all nations will serve Him."
Now you look at the news, you look at all the things that are happening in the world, you think: wow, something dramatic has got to change for that to happen - and it is! We'll touch on it tonight; and it says: Jesus, right now, is at the right hand of God; and rules, but His leadership in the earth is not fully manifest yet. It’s like when we cast demons out, then there's a little of His leadership is seen. When we see miracles, a little bit of His leadership's seen. When people's lives are transformed, saved and healed and delivered, you see His kingdom advancing, and so on - but we haven't seen what it will look like when it manifests fully!
When He comes, His authority - He will manifest authority with consequences. We're not used to seeing that, but when you look in the Bible, you will see it. What I mean is this: authority with consequences means He has the power to enforce His will on the earth. Now right He's demonstrating that His kingdom is a kingdom of love, and He draws people into a love relationship - to honour Him, and serve Him, and become like Him; but when He returns, it will be with power, and it will be with majesty. He came to earth the first time as the lamb; but He will return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. There is a change! He's still the same person, but there's a change in the aspect we will see of Him; and that means all will yield to His authority, and His right to rule, or they will face the consequences.