The Millennium is over. The Great White Throne Judgment has ended. Multiple billions of humans have been made spirit beings—the children of God. What does our future hold now? After all, eternity is a long time.

Many years ago Herbert W. Armstrong said, "God is reproducing Himself!" What will it be like to be a member of God's family? In 1 John 3:2 we are told that we will see God and be like Him.

Being Like God

Genesis 1:26 says we were created in the image and likeness of God. As humans, we look like God and have mind powers like God. Right now we are on a much more limited scale than God. But as spirit beings, our talents and abilities will be greatly multiplied. As humans we have the ability to create like God. That ability will be increased when we become spirit.

God does not get weary nor sleep, and neither will we when our change comes (Psalm 121:4; Isaiah 40:28). All the aches, pains and physical limitations will be gone when we are spirit. We will be full of energy. In spirit form, both the Father and Christ shine as the sun in full strength. We, too, will shine like the sun (Matthew 13:43).

Christ said that He and the Father work (John 5:17). We will work too. God's past work includes the creation of the universe for His purpose (Revelation 4:11). Part of that purpose includes bringing many sons and daughters to glory (Hebrews 2:10). God enjoys the fruit of His labor (Isaiah 55:11). God wants us to enjoy the fruit of our labor now (Ecclesiastes 3:13). As spirit beings, we will continue to work and enjoy the results of our work, just like the Father and Christ.

Part of our work as spirit beings will start during the Millennium as kings and priests. As firstfruits, we have the first opportunity to reign in God's Kingdom. But that rulership is not limited to us. All of mankind is destined for greatness.

Destined to Rule

From the time man was created, God intended for us to rule. In Genesis 1:28 God told Adam and Eve to "fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (emphasis added throughout).

Continuing in Genesis 2:15, "Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." God also brought all the animals to Adam, and had him name them (Genesis 2:19).

As humans, our dominion is limited to the earth. Psalm 115:16 says, "The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's; but the earth He has given to the children of men."

The earth is a training ground for man. We are to learn to rule what God has given us now before we can rule more. Christ said in Luke 16:11, "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?"

God ultimately intends for man to rule the universe! Notice Psalm 8:3-6; "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet . . ."

The New Testament quotes this passage, and adds, ". . . But now we do not yet see all things put under him" (Hebrews 2:5-8).

Restoring and Ruling the Universe

The universe seems limitless, and scientists believe that it is still growing! In Isaiah 51:16 God says, ". . . That I may plant the heavens . . ." Indeed, the word plant implies a growing universe. God has been busy creating a universe that He is going to give us!

Today scientists believe the universe is at least 13 billion years old. In 2003, scientists estimated that 70 sextillion stars could be seen with modern telescopes. This number (7 followed by 22 zeros) is, according to some estimates, more than all the grains of sand on all the world's beaches and deserts.

With that thought in mind, we read in Jeremiah 33:22, "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured . . ." The size and contents of the universe are beyond our human comprehension. But as spirit beings, we will not only comprehend it, we will rule it!

There are an estimated 125 billion galaxies in the universe. We have seen people's reactions when a new home has been built for them on the show Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. Imagine the expression on our faces when God gives us our part of the universe!

In the parable of the talents, Christ rewarded those who developed their talents and grew. Notice Matthew 25:21, "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"

What is God's joy? Seeing His children become spirit beings and inherit the universe (Luke 12:32)!

What will we do with the universe? For starters we will restore it from the state of decay it has been in. We are told in Romans 8:19-22 that the entire creation is waiting for us to renew it. In Acts 3:21 this is referred to as the "restoration of all things." We read in Psalm 102:25-26 that the universe will be "changed" or renewed. The ultimate manifestation of renewal is found in Revelation 21:1: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . ."

We will also be adding to God's creation. As Herbert W. Armstrong said many years ago, the creation is like a cake. We are to put the icing on the cake. We will use our creative talents and abilities to make the entire universe like a beautiful Garden of Eden.

Saints to Be Leaders in God's Kingdom

As firstfruits, we will have different positions from the rest of God's children. Throughout the Bible, firstfruits were set apart. And, remember, firstfruits did not choose to be firstfruits. God chose His firstfruits.

In Malachi 3:16-17 the saints are referred to as God's "jewels." This Hebrew word is also translated "special treasure." This word was used several times in reference to ancient Israel. A jewel or special treasure is set apart.

In 1 Peter 2:9, the saints are referred to as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people." The saints had to overcome Satan and the world. Specific positions are given to the saints in the book of Revelation.

In Revelation 3:12 the saints (overcomers) shall be pillars in the temple of God in the New Jerusalem, and will have on them the name of "My God" and the name of the "city of My God." Christ also says that He will write on these saints His new name.

It appears that the earth will be the home base of the saints. We will work directly with the Father and Christ. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that the saints will always be with Christ.

In Revelation 20:6 the saints are given the title "priests of God and of Christ." Also note that in Revelation 21:14 New Jerusalem is said to have 12 foundations. The names on the foundations are the apostles.

Yes, the firstfruits will have special positions of service in God's Kingdom. As leaders in God's Kingdom, we will continue to serve others (Matthew 20:26-28).

Grasping Eternity

Eternity is a difficult concept to understand. God says He inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15). We want to live forever, as God has put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Yet our minds cannot understand a world not limited by time. Neither can we understand living as spirit beings. These secrets belong to God (Deuteronomy 29:29).

But God has revealed many mysteries to us that the world does not know. God's Word says in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit."

Yes, God's Holy Spirit has given us some understanding. The world doesn't have a clue that they will one day be with us ruling the universe. God has revealed that secret to us through His Spirit.

Yet there are still many secrets that God has not revealed to us about our future. John said in 1 John 3:2 that "it has not yet been revealed what we shall be . . ." And Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass darkly" (KJV). Most of the details of our future we must take on faith.

David tells us in Psalm 16:11 that there will be pleasures and joy forevermore with God in His Kingdom.

We are told in Isaiah 9:7, "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end." We can speculate whether we will create life as God made us, but we just don't know. God hasn't revealed it to us. And He hasn't revealed many other things because we cannot grasp them. God says in Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

We will not be limited by time. God has spent perhaps 13 billion years working with the universe as we know it. How long will it take us to restore the universe? We won't be in a hurry, and can take as long as necessary. Time won't matter.

We will never get bored doing the things we enjoy. God created the physical world as a model of the spirit world (Romans 1:20) Many things we enjoy in this life we will enjoy as spirit beings. We will have forever to get to know all of God's family. We will enjoy life—life without end.

Yes, eternity is hard to grasp. But what we can grasp and hold onto is that God wants us to be like Him, to share eternity with Him and be one with Him (John 17:20-26). Let's do our part in being faithful and obeying Him, and trust in Him to work out the details.

Take time to look at the night sky and ponder your future. As you look at the heavens, remember you are looking into your eternity. An eternity full of work and pleasure. An eternity of enjoying the fruit of your labor. An eternity of close relationships with billions of sons of God. And an eternity of an intimate relationship with God, who wants to reproduce Himself.

Let's remember the words of Paul in Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

God wants us to live forever, and has prepared a future we cannot fully comprehend. As Christ said, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). Yes, the day is coming when Christ will say, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthews 25:34). UN