Page 28 - January 2026 - Truth & Tidings

the LORD,” Zechariah 6:15 makes it clear too, there will be delegation of administra-
that this building will be accomplished by tion. Christ will have ultimate responsibil-
human agency, just as the divinely decreed ity, for “the government shall be upon his
rebuilding of the temple under Cyrus and shoulder” (Isa 9:6), but Luke 19 makes
Zerubbabel was. it clear that those who have “occupied”
That activity will be needed at the begin- faithfully in Christ’s absence will have
ning of the Millennium, but dressing and responsibility for the administration of the
keeping will continue through the reign millennial earth, entrusted with “author-
of Christ. Agriculture will be important to ity” over cities. Perhaps more remarkably,
meet the food needs of the citizens of the Paul asks the Corinthians, “Know ye not
Millennial Kingdom, but it will be a very that we shall judge angels?” (1Co 6:3),
different enterprise in a creation that is no language that anticipates administrative,
longer groaning and travailing. Isaiah 65 rather than juridical, responsibility. Like
speaks of the building of houses and the
planting of vineyards and includes the the Corinthians, we should be more con-
precious assurance that “they shall not scious that we are presently “training for
labor in vain” (v23). Ezekiel 36:35 predicts reigning”; that those who have proven
such fruitfulness that those who observe it their faithfulness in the “very little” of this
will exclaim, “This land that was desolate world will be rewarded with responsibil-
is become like the garden of Eden.” Even ity in the coming kingdom (Luk 19:17).
the least productive parts of the planet will Adam and Eve were busy in Eden, but
be transformed into fruitfulness: “the des- it would be difficult to imagine that their
ert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose” tending of the garden or their adminis-
(Isa 35:1), and “there shall be an handful trative responsibilities would ever have
of corn in the earth upon the top of the interfered with those occasions when, in the
mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake cool of the day, they walked with God. Simi-
like Lebanon” (Psa 72:16). The fecundity larly, the Millennium will involve a range
of creation will be almost unmanage- of spiritual activity: from the nations who
able: “Behold, the days come, saith the will come to Jerusalem for the feasts, from
LORD, that the plowman shall overtake Israel who will, at last, fulfil her purpose
the reaper, and the treader of grapes him to be “a kingdom of priests,” and from the
that soweth seed; and the mountains shall
drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall priests who will be engaged in service and
melt” (Amo 9:13). Fertilizers, pesticides sacrifice in Ezekiel’s temple. We will not be
and genetic modification will have no role excluded from this service, for, says Revela-
in the agriculture of a restored creation. tion 22, “his servants shall serve him: And
For Adam and Eve, dressing and keep- they shall see his face; and his name shall
ing involved not just cultivation but also be in their foreheads” (vv3-4). Whether we
administration. This is seen in God’s del- locate this verse in the Millennium or the
egation of the naming of animals to Adam Eternal State makes little difference in this
(Gen 2:19). Up to this point, it has been context; it will be our portion to be occupied
God who has named things, imposing or- with Him and engaged in priestly service
der and identity on creation. Now Adam through the long Millennial day and out
carries on God’s work. In the Millennium, into eternity.

28 TRUTH kTidings January 2026