There's a wonderful story. When the King Solomon was at his height in his glory, all kinds of things came to him. People came from all over the world; they came to him, because of what God had given him. We see there in history, an example of one man that God was able to lift, raise up, and cause all the kings of the earth to come and seek his wisdom. If He did it once, He could do it again. By far, the greatest honour though, are eternal. Solomon's honour and majesty lasted temporarily, because it was of an earthly nature; but the greatest honours are eternal. They're reserved for the millennium, and for the ages that go beyond.
When God is talking about Eternal, the word means literally ‘age-lasting’. There is age, upon age, upon age; and there is reserved for the coming millennial kingdom, and the ages beyond, God has reserved honour for people who quietly serve Him, that no one knows. In the kingdom, or the coming kingdom, there's small and there's great; and there's least and there's greatest - that's all talking about ranks of honour. There are massively different levels of honour, in the coming kingdom. In Matthew 5:19, two things come out, in each of these scriptures: 1) the level of ranking in the kingdom; 2) a behaviour that characterised, or led, to that person having that rank.
Matthew 5:19 – “Whoever breaks one of the least commandments and teaches men to do so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever does and teaches them, will be called great in the kingdom”.
If you keep the word of God; or if you take His teachings, especially from the Sermon on the Mount, and you do them, and teach them – you will be called great in the Kingdom. Least and great, and he's talking about the coming kingdom.
Matthew 23:11 – “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant”.
If you want to be great, become a servant. If you want to be greatest, then you learn to serve more people.
Revelation 19:5 – “A voice came from the throne, saying: praise our God, all you His servants, and those who fear Him… both small and great”.
Even in around the throne, the angels are saying, and they're identifying, that there are both small and great. You choose: will you be small; or great? It's dependent on how you walk with God in this life.
Revelation 3:21 – “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”.
Notice there, a tremendous honour - to sit with Jesus, ‘upon’ His throne. The Bible also talks of people ‘around’ the throne; which do you want to be? A person ‘around’ the throne worshipping; or a person ‘upon’ the throne with Jesus, consulting with Him, about the advancement of His kingdom? Big difference!
These are just some scriptures, and they all point to, in the coming kingdom, that there are levels of honour, status, and recognition by God, of the character and service you've given while you're on the earth. Jesus Himself received great honour. He was honoured on earth by His Father.
Luke 3:22-24 – “The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said: You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased”.
Heaven has opened, and God Himself has spoken, and declared His pleasure, His honour, His value of His Son. Jesus received honour from His Father in front of everyone.
Jesus was honoured in front of the crowd, and Jesus was honoured in front of His disciples.
Luke 9:34-35 – “While Jesus was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them and they were fearful as they entered the cloud, and a voice came out of the cloud saying: this is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Jesus is on the Mount of Transfiguration, and as He's prayed, He was transformed and changed. The Father gives Him immense glory and immense honour. He radiates the glory of God. He radiates the life of God, and only the 3 disciples saw that.
Peter 1:16&18 – “We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty”.