[506]Of Jesus it is written that he is the ‘express image of the Father’ (Hebrews 1:3); and that he is the beloved Bridegroom and Friend of the body members of the church. (Canticles 5:16) Now it does not appear what the church shall be, but, says St. John, “we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”. (1 John 3:2) God “hath appointed [him] heir of all things”. (Hebrews 1:2) These children of God, members of the body of Christ, are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” in all the glory and honor of his position.—­Romans 8:17.

[507]When Jehovah took away from Israel the right to rule, he promised to give it to him whose right it is, the great Messiah, when he should come. (Ezekiel 21:27) Of him the Prophet of God wrote:  “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him:  his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed....  And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Daniel 7:14,27) To his disciples Jesus promised that they should share his kingdom, saying, “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel".—­Luke 22:29,30.

[508]As Jesus the bridegroom will be the great King of glory to rule over the nations, so the members of the body, the bride, the overcomers, are promised that they with him shall have “power over the nations”.  —­Revelation 2:26.

[509]Throughout the Millennial age not only will the position of the bride be that of associate with Christ Jesus in the kingdom, but her position in all the ages to come will be one of honor.  St. Paul writes that God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus".—­Ephesians 2:6,7.

[510]When Jesus was in the earth he was despised and rejected of men.  He was dishonored of men, and has since been dishonored of all except those who have come to a knowledge of the truth.  The time will come, however, as the Apostle declares, when ’every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’.  (Philippians 2:7-11) The members of his body, the truly consecrated children of God, following in the footsteps of their Master have been despised of men, have been counted as the offscourings of the earth, have been persecuted and imprisoned, and many of them killed; and the world has known them not, even as it knew him not.  But in due time all those born in the glorious kingdom