the Millennium) will begin on earth (Revelation 20:1-6). During that time (and beyond), “the government will be upon His shoulder. … Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). But the message of the Kingdom of God isn’t about Christ ruling alone. He is calling people now to prepare to rule with Him! The prophet Daniel was inspired to describe this time: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44). Who will it be left to? Daniel later identifies them: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27, see also verses 18 and 22). T h e s a i n t s — t h o s e i n G o d ’s family—will be given dominion and rulership, under Christ, of that Kingdom. God is not calling people to simply live blissfully in heaven, but to be a part of a family that will
44 GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOU: DISCOVERING WHY YOU WERE BORN