The New World Of God's Kingdom

Earlier in this booklet, we set out Bible teaching on the second coming of Christ.

Returning to that speech of Peter, we now quote:

"... that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus Christ ... whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets"

Acts 3:19-21

Planet Earth

What will happen then?

The Scriptures have plenty to tell us about the events that will take place when Jesus Christ returns. There is more to be done than just to clean up a polluted planet (though that is a task he will certainly undertake). More important, initially, will be the raising of the dead, and the judgement, for only after those processes are complete can the new King implement his plan for earth's restoration - employing his followers to help him in that work.

Hillside cemetery

There is ample Bible proof that many of the dead will be raised. And this teaching of resurrection isn't just to be found in the New Testament. For example, in the prophecy of Daniel:

"There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt"

Daniel 12:1,2

And in Jesus' own words:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats"

Matthew 25:31,32

The last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, has much to say which will please the environmentalist. According to the opening words of this remarkable prophecy, it reveals "things which must shortly take place" (Revelation 1: l ). It contains encouraging and reassuring promises.

But notice that the Bible doesn't stop at giving an answer to the environmental issue: it deals with the much more basic problem of man's mortality:

"Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should reward your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name ... and should destroy those who destroy the earth"

Revelation 11:18

''The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying: and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away"

Revelation 21:3,4

"And he (the angel) showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal ... on either side of the river was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits ... And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse"

Revelation 22:1-3

An end to Earth's Woes

Instead of polluted streams, a river as clear as crystal; instead of withered forests, a tree of life; instead of disease, healing. The words of Revelation may sound a bit poetic, for so they are: but they are meant to be taken literally so far as the cleansing of the planet is concerned. Degradation, destruction, aggression, greed, pain and pollution - and whatever you would want to add yourself to a list of the Earth's woes - all these will vanish. The "curse" of Eden will be removed. Children will play in safety; old people will venture out without fear or threat:

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets' "

Zechariah 8:4,5

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE IN GOD'S KINGDOM?

  • "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks."
  • "They shall not learn war any more."
  • "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
  • There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying."

WHAT SORT OF KING WILL JESUS CHRIST BE?

  • "He will bring justice to the poor.''
  • "He shall have dominion from sea to sea."
  • "He must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet."
  • "The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."

A dream? Wishful thinking? Fairy tales? Escapism from the harsh reality and awesome responsibility which we must bear? All we can say in answer to those challenges is: See for yourself, if the Bible hasn't many times spoken poetically, yet been proved true. You may regard it as wishful thinking on the part of God's prophets who foretold the first coming of Christ; but it came true. During the last 100 years, it was certainly the dream of many that the Jews might find a homeland after the centuries of persecution and scattering. The Holocaust seemed to spell the end of those dreams, yet it turned out to be the grim prelude to their fulfilment as foretold in the Bible. And this further and final dream will also come true: Christ will come, and God will set up His kingdom.

''He has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all, by raising him from the dead"

Acts 17:31

A Personal Challenge

Bibles

If, when you have pondered these things, you feel you would like to do something about it, then we believe we can help you.

Get in touch with Christadelphians near you; call in at one of our meetings, read one or two of our other publications - but, more important still, read your Bible. Talk it over with your family: ask the children what they think is the answer to the world's problems. We started by referring to the wonderful questions children ask: is it not time we put one or two questions to them, for young people often show sound sense on current issues? Ask them if they know of a human plan to help this planet. Ask them what they think of God's plan!

But don't walk away from what you have read.

The Bible is not threatening you, but offering you untold blessings, eternal joys and relief from all your sorrows - for ever. Don't turn away. God's promises are coming to a long-awaited climax: the end of the world, as we know it, could be very near:

Redeeming the Time

"There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near"

Luke 21:25-28

"Do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise ... but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance"

2 Peter 3:8-10

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