GOD LOVES diversity as we can see by all the various creatures in the lower creation. There is also diversity among God’s spiritual creation, for in addition to mentioning Michael the archangel, the Scriptures give spirit beings various other names: cherubim, seraphim, principalities, thrones, dominions, powers [mights] and angels. This seems to imply many different natures, or at least ranks, among these beings. It should not be surprising then to find that not all who will be ultimately saved will be given the same reward.

Our study of the seven saved classes will be based mainly on our text above, which mentions six of them: (1) “your sons,” (2) “your daughters,” (3) “your old men,” (4) “your young men,” (5) “the servants” and (6) “the handmaids.”

“The Servants”

“The servants” are developed during the Gospel Age, for verse 29 says that it is “in those days” that God would pour out His spirit upon His servants. These, like the rest of mankind, were born under the curse, but they craved fellowship with God. Consequently, they were drawn to the Lord, repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior, thus becoming justified by faith. As they continued to respond to His drawings, they grew in truth and righteousness, and the Lord led them to the next step – consecration.

He then begot them of His Holy Spirit (John 3: 3) (James 1: 18) (Acts 5: 32). They grew in grace and knowledge, He helped them to overcome self, sin, error and the world, and to work out their own salvation by self-denial and world-denial, by watchfulness and prayer, by the study, practice and spread of His Word and by suffering for loyalty to His Word. Proving faithful unto death, they were raised in the First Resurrection. They are variously called the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the Little Flock, the Church, etc. With and under the Lord Jesus they are the Kings and Priests who will administer the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom for the world.

“The Handmaids”

“The handmaids,” closely related to “the servants,” are elsewhere referred to as “a great multitude” (Revelation 7: 9) (Revelation 19: 6). We usually speak of them as the Great Company. They have also been developed during the Gospel Age. These were originally invited through the High Calling to the Divine nature and joint-heirship with Christ (2 Peter 1: 4); but they failed to carry out their consecration vows faithfully, and had to be remanded to a secondary class.

Learning that they had lost out in the High Calling, and knowing that they would be lost forever unless they repented, many of them cleansed themselves (Revelation 7: 14). The faithful of this class are rewarded with the spiritual nature, but lower than the Divine nature (Psalm 45: 14, 15). They will be Levites in God’s Temple and Noblemen in God’s Kingdom (Revelation 7: 15).

“Your Old Men”

Let us now consider the four classes of verse 28, which describes the Millennial blessings and works of these four classes. “Your old men,” are also called “ancients” (Isaiah 24: 23) and “elders” (Psalm 107: 32). We refer to them as Ancient Worthies. They are the faithful of the Old Testament, the heroes of faith before Christ came. A long list of them is given in Hebrews 11: 4-32, and others are referred to, though not by name, in verses 33-40. God used them as His representatives, servants and witnesses in their times, and through some of them gave us the Old Testament Scriptures. He also, unknown to them, used them in the events of their lives to enact many typical pictures of certain future persons, classes and events in His Plan.

As a reward for their past faithfulness, they will share in a “better resurrection” than that of the world, by being raised perfect human beings (Hebrews 11: 35). They will be made princes throughout the earth (Psalm 45: 16) (Isaiah 32: 1), and will rule as judges and teachers (Isaiah 1: 26, 27). Our text shows us that they will be given new Divine revelations, “shall dream dreams,” for the service of mankind during the time of the Kingdom. After the Millennium, God will reward them for their Millennial faithfulness with a spiritual nature in heaven.

“Your Young Men”

The “young men” are contrasted in standing and work with the “old men,” so we call the former the Youthful Worthies. These names are appropriate, because, as the Ancient Worthies proved themselves loyal unto God and faithful unto death prior to the opening of the High Calling; so the Youthful Worthies, the fourth and final class of God’s elect through whom He will bless the non-elect, are selected in the end of the Gospel Age – after the High Calling closed, but before Christ’s Millennial Kingdom begins. The faithful of this class will be rewarded similarly to the Ancient Worthies, and will be associated with the Ancient Worthies in Millennial and Post-Millennial rewards and service.

“Your Sons”

We understand the class referred to as “your sons” to be the Millennial Age sons of Christ and the Church (also spoken of in Isaiah 60: 4). These will be the measurably faithful believers of the periods prior to the Millennial Reign of Christ. One group of these “sons” will be those believing Jews who in Old Testament times were not faithful enough to become Ancient Worthies, nor in the Gospel Age faithful enough to be of the Little Flock. They will become greatly favored during the Millennium as the chief nation on earth. As the missionaries of the next Age they will, under the supervision of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, by preaching (“your sons shall . . . prophesy”) convert the world to the Kingdom of God (Psalm 107: 22) (Joel 2: 28) (Romans 11: 12-15).

Another group of these “sons” will be the faith-justified of the Gospel Age. These are the Gentiles (and some Jews) who during the Gospel Age have repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior, but have not gone on to consecrate their lives to God. Nevertheless, they have maintained their faith in Christ, and continued to practice righteousness to the end. They will also be given the privilege, under the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, of blessing all the families of the earth, converting them to the Kingdom of God.

“Your Daughters”    

The sixth and last of the saved classes of our text are called “your daughters” – the Millennial Age daughters of Christ and the Church. This, by far the largest of the six saved classes, are the Gentiles. These are the unbelievers, including those Jews who apostatized by giving up faith in the Abrahamic promises and in the Law Covenant. However, the glorious work of Christ’s Kingdom in destroying every element of the curse, and in introducing restitution to human perfection will more than satisfy their hearts (Revelation 21: 3-5) (Revelation 22: 1-3) (Acts 3: 19-24). This will prompt them to praise God by spreading His Word, “your daughters shall . . . prophesy” – teach others the truths of God’s Kingdom (Isaiah 25: 6-9) (Joel 2: 28).

As the “sons” and the “daughters” obey the Kingdom’s laws, they will gradually be raised up to human perfection, and those of them who prove faithful in the final trial at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20: 7-9) will gain everlasting life on earth, while the incorrigible will be eternally cut off in the Second Death (Matthew 25: 34, 41, 46).

The Repentant Fallen Angels        

The six saved classes we have discussed are from the human family, but there is a seventh saved class mentioned in the Scriptures – the repentant fallen angels, whom God will also grant the opportunity of eternal life. These are the ones who were induced by Satan to marry the daughters of men, while seeking to reform the race (Genesis 6: 2-4), thus causing them to sin. As a punishment God has bound them in chains of darkness (2 Peter 2: 4), but the Bible indicates that He will give them an opportunity for reconciliation through Jesus (Colossians 1: 20).

The fallen angels who do not repent will be sentenced to destruction with Satan, imprisoned with him and finally executed at the end of the “little season” (Revelation 20: 3, 9); but the repentant ones will be placed under Christ and the Church during the Millennium, and given the opportunity to become fitted for eternal life. Those of them who prove faithful will be reinstated, and return to fellowship with God.

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