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A Grand New Beginning
The
Kingdom of God “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Douglas Rawson Bible students the world over have a wonderful vision of the kingdom. This vision is embedded as a key element of the Lord’s prayer, but unfortunately it goes unnoticed by most of the world. Our Lord Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, New King James Version). This will truly be a New Beginning for mankind. It will fulfill the numerous and plainly stated promises that are recorded in both the Old and New Testament. Peter said this about the coming kingdom: “We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). This promise of a future kingdom of righteousness has been forgotten by much of the religious world, along with the important teaching of the resurrection. What happened? In the early centuries of the Christian era, the concept of a thousand-year kingdom, or millennium, was understood correctly as a literal thousand years during which Christ would reign with his saints over the earth. Some of the details of this kingdom were obscured over time as the writings of the apostles became less influential. But the basic concept was there. The noted historian Edward Gibbon, in his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, states: “The ancient and popular doctrine of the Millennium was intimately connected with the second coming of Christ. As the works of creation had been finished in six days, their duration in their present state ... was fixed to six thousand years. By the same analogy it was inferred that this long period of labor and contention ... would be succeeded by a joyful Sabbath of a thousand years, and that Christ, with the triumphant band of the saints ... would reign ... The assurance of such a Millennium was carefully inculcated by a succession of fathers from Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, who conversed with the immediate disciples of the apostles, down to Lactantius, who was preceptor to the son of Constantine. ... But when the edifice of the church was almost completed, the temporary support was laid aside. The doctrine of Christ’s reign upon earth, was at first treated as a profound allegory, was considered by degrees as a doubtful and useless opinion, and was at length rejected as the absurd invention of heresy and fanaticism” (Chapter 15, pages 142-144). This hope is often referred to as a pre-millennial hope by the Christian world, because Christ must return prior to the Millennium. In time, this understanding was replaced by another opinion, called a-millennialism. A-millennialism teaches that the Millennium is symbolic and spiritual, applying only to believers or Christians. According to this view, the Millennium of the Bible is taking place now during the church or Gospel age. Satan is bound in the sense that he is unable to prevent the spread of the Gospel. There are various permutations of both of these views, and even a third one, termed post-millennialism, making the subject rather confusing. We are grateful that Pastor Russell pointed us back to the original teachings of the early church as supported by the Old and New Testament. A New Beginning The Bible has much to say about Christ’s kingdom that is truly wonderful. Mankind will have a New Beginning. Who doesn’t like a New Beginning? It represents a time when a person can have a fresh start. This is what the Bible teaches. Mankind will have a New Beginning wherein they can learn righteousness. In the past, they learned sin and its consequences. This time they will learn righteousness. The Bible calls this New Beginning a new heavens and new earth. Isaiah, Peter, and John all use this phrase. Isaiah says this: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17, NKJV). Earth Not Destroyed This does not mean the literal destruction of the earth or universe. There will not be some awful cataclysmic event that destroys the physical heavens and earth to be replaced by a new heavens and earth. It is hard to imagine that God would want to destroy the whole universe. When the Bible talks about a new heaven and earth compared to old ones, these are symbolic terms referring to spiritual ruling powers and human society. Jesus tells us not to love the world. This certainly means the current selfish arrangement of society. It does not refer to the literal earth. The literal earth abides forever. “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4, NKJV). Isaiah 45:18 tells us that Jehovah did not create the earth in vain but to be inhabited. The old heavens and earth are to be replaced by a new heavens and earth. Peter describes the process using symbolic terms and phrases. “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10, NKJV). Out of the symbolic ashes of this destruction will come a new day with a New Beginning for mankind. Certainly, before this new day starts, there will be much unrest, turbulence, and hardship. Our Lord indicated that there will be a great time of trouble and tribulation: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). The prophets use such terms as Armageddon, Day of Darkness, Valley of Jehoshaphat, and Day of Wrath. All of this is necessary before there can be a new heavens and new earth. The current heavens and earth must pass away. This is logical. The current heavens and earth only bring heartache, pain, suffering, and death. History does not paint a very good picture concerning man’s endeavor to rule and govern himself without divine guidance. A new arrangement and new leadership based on righteousness is needed. Without this, no amount of effort by politicians, religious people, financial leaders, and social workers will work. Fundamental Truths Concerning New Heavens and Earth A comforting and fundamental truth regarding this destruction is that all nations and peoples will not be destroyed in Armageddon. There will be survivors: “Wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy” (Zephaniah 3:8). Then Zephaniah tells us what will happen after this period of trouble: “Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent” (Zephaniah 3:9). New Leaders If there is going to be a new heavens and earth, then there must be new leaders for this arrangement. There will be new spiritual rulers over man. They will constitute a powerful, righteous, but unseen heavenly guidance directing the affairs of man. Our Lord Jesus will be in charge as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Isaiah 9:6 calls him a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, everlasting Father and a prince of peace. The text goes on to emphatically state: “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (NKJV). This will be a government such as the world has never seen. The world will not be able to actually see Jesus, but they will know that he is in charge. His judgments and counseling will be manifested in many ways. “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). “When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). Associated with our Lord will be those who have proven themselves faithful in being conformed to the character of Jesus during the Gospel age through the process of sacrifice, endurance and suffering. This group is the church or bride of Christ. Only a few submit themselves to this process at the present time, under difficult circumstances, when the prince of this world is Satan. However, God has a plan of salvation for all. The remainder of mankind will receive their opportunity in a new age. For most of them, that will be their first full opportunity to attain everlasting life. How is this spiritual rulership described in the Bible? One way is with the phrase, “kings and priests.” Jesus and his church will be invisible kings and priests for mankind. As kings the church will set the agenda for the world; as priests, they will lead the world back to God. John in Revelation wrote: “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5,6, NKJV). Ancient Worthies Although Jesus and the church will be invisible to mankind, there will be visible representatives of this kingdom. There will be two phases of this government, one heavenly and one earthly. These two phases come into being during Armageddon which closes the world’s great time of trouble. Micah 5:5 speaks about this transition time from Armageddon into the new age. The prophet talks about seven shepherds and eight princely men. “And this One shall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, And when he treads in our palaces, Then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princely men” (Micah 5:5, NKJV). In ancient middle eastern writings, a king is sometimes referred to as a shepherd of the people, and this is the use here. The seven shepherds refer to those who will reign with Christ over the world during the Millennium. The “princely men” are often understood by Bible students to refer to the Ancient Worthies, whom Psalm 45:16 says will be made “princes in all the earth.” The Ancient Worthies are those who were faithful to God in the time before Christ, such as Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets, and others. Hebrews chapter eleven says that the world was not worthy of these when they lived (Hebrews 11:38), and that they will receive a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35). Bible students call these faithful ones Ancient Worthies because they were ancient, having lived in the distant past, and worthy, because of their faith. Role of Israel A key feature of the kingdom is the role that Israel plays. Israel is already coming back to the land and will be center stage. All nations will initially be against her out of envy and jealousy. Zechariah describes what will happen: “I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle” (Zechariah 14:2,3, NKJV). This victory by God on behalf of Israel produces many positive results. Through this trying process, Israel will be made ready to be a channel of blessing for the whole world. Blessings will not come from Washington, DC, but from Jerusalem. People will want to go to Israel to learn, most importantly to learn about life and their heavenly Father: “Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23, NKJV). “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2). This is a unique situation. Israel will show humbleness. As a victor, you might think they would harbor much resentment and animosity towards the nations and peoples of this world. But this nation will be full of love wanting to help mankind. They will see that they too have sinned and are no better than anyone else. In fact, they will weep, as pointed out in Zechariah 12:10-14. This contrition, humility, and willingness to turn to God will enable them to be a channel of blessing and a light to the world: “And it shall come to pass That just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong” (Zechariah 8:13, NKJV). A Process and the Goal A key distinction between the truth that Bible students appreciate and the teaching of most denominations is that the goal of the millennial kingdom is to bring the world back to human perfection and harmony with God. This will be the privilege of every person in the kingdom who then becomes willing and obedient. Peter, speaking of Christ, said: “Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21, NKJV). From this we see that God’s purpose is to restore something that was lost. What could that be? Since man was originally created perfect, and lost that perfection through Adam’s disobedience, the goal is to restore man back to perfection living in a paradise condition as an earthly son of God. Isaiah paints a beautiful picture for us: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them ... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6,9, NKJV). This will be achieved through a process covering a thousand years. In the beginning, even after the great time of trouble, not all will be in harmony with this new arrangement. What will happen? Zechariah tells us there will be penalties to induce the nations to come to Israel for their blessing. In other words, blessings will be withheld. He wrote: “And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain” (Zechariah 14:17, NKJV). Rain is a symbol of blessings. God will provide many blessings to encourage the world in the right way (Isaiah 25:6-9; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Joel 2:28). Obedience and righteousness will be wonderfully rewarded. However, Jesus and the church will chastise disobedience and stubbornness. If they fail to learn righteousness, and remain stubborn and incorrigible, as Satan is, then such people will not gain everlasting life. They will go into second death. Revelation speaks of this in symbolic terms: “The ... unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). Second death is not torment and torture. The “fire” of this verse is symbolic of the complete destruction of the ungodly that refuse to be reformed. Resurrection and Swallowing Up Death
Yet the resurrection is truly one of the great Bible doctrines. In just two verses in the book of John, our Lord instructs us on what will take place: “An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come forth; those who did the good to a resurrection of life [immortal life, the faithful], those who committed the evil to a resurrection of judgment [during the Millennium when they will learn godliness]” (John 5:28,29, New American Standard Bible). Not only will there be a resurrection, but mankind also will have the opportunity to live forever, eternally, on this earth, if they become obedient. “He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of his people from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 25:8, NASB). There are many other details and Scriptures which teach the millennial kingdom. We know this kingdom will be a wonderful time, a time of opportunity, blessing and judgment. Let us continue to pray, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth. God’s will is to have everyone living in love and peace, a New Beginning for mankind. |