“Next, the end, when he [Christ] hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power.

1 Cor. 15:24-28.

Up to this point Jesus Christ has been judging mankind. His Messianic kingdom has been operating as a subsidiary kingdom to God’s kingdom, for God’s sovereignty is always supreme. But now there remains no subsidiary kingdom intervening between Jehovah and mankind. How will mankind react to God’s direct Kingship? They stand wholly before God, with no priest between. Will they have their names permanently written in the “scroll of life”? It is only God who can determine that. Only God can say who has the right to live in his universe forever. Such faithful ones will be revealed by a test of heart integrity and allegiance. This test will enable God and also all intelligent creation, including the angelic hosts, to know them thoroughly, in every aspect. He will be sure of their unbreakable loyalty.