GOD'S KINGDOM--OUR HOPE
It was the theme of Jesus' ministry--what he spoke about the most. But what is the Kingdom, and how can we benefit from understanding it more fully?
God's Kingdom--Our Hope
1. What perfect start was given our first parents on Earth?
1. PERFECT START. According to God’s reliable word in Genesis, the first parents of the human family on Earth were given a wonderful start in a peaceful paradisaic Garden of Eden, or “Pleasure Park.” By “planting” this garden, Jehovoe God gave Adam and Eve an example of what He wanted the entire earth to be like, by the work of Adam, Eve, and their descendants with God’s blessing. Thus the purpose of our Father, Jehovoe God, for this earth has become clear—a Paradise Earth of people loving and serving our Great God, Jehovoe in true peace and happiness. God’s word the Bible makes it clear that God has not left his purpose, in spite of setbacks, including the disobedience of our first parents. As Isaiah 45 states, “18 For this is what Jehovoe has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the [true] God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: “I am Jehovoe, and there is no one else.”” Thus, in God's word, two hopes emerge--heavenly and earthly. We will consider both in this article, but for more detail on this, see the article "Finding Truth" (2018).
2. Why must we now learn rightdoing (integrity) to live forever in God’s new world?
2. NOW MUST LEARN RIGHTDOING. Before their disobedience, our first parents were perfect before God, and naturally were inclined to speak, act, and live in a right way. They were simply required not to seriously consider thoughts of disobedience to God or act upon them. Doing so caused them to lose their perfect inclinations, and now humans must learn to practice rightdoing (integrity) before God, rejecting bad and loving what is good. Certainly, God blesses our efforts to do so. Only such ones will be permitted to live in God’s new world, as Psalm 37:9-11,29 clearly states: “9 For evildoers themselves will be cut off, But those hoping in Jehovoe are the ones that will possess the earth.10 And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be.11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. 29 The upright themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it.” Can you see clearly God’s will for the earth? Certainly in time, no one will any longer “grow old,” get sick or die. It will be, as stated at Job 33: “25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.” God’s word also promises a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous, our loved ones back from the grave! (Acts 24:15; John 5:28,29) But what about the hope that Jehoshua (Joshua) (Jesus' more correct given name and original English counterpart) held out for some to go to heaven? After all, 2Peter 3:13 informs us of two domains: “13 But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these rightdoing (integrity) is to dwell.”
3. (a) What will rulers in God’s Kingdom accomplish as regards this earth? (b) How are these rulers trained by God?
3. SOME CHOSEN TO BE KINGS. In the Scriptures, “heavens” can simply refer to government, or rulership, over the “earth” of humanity (Matthew 5:3). Notice that Jehoshua (Joshua) did acknowledge God’s purpose for the earth in his Sermon on the Mount. He said, as stated at Matthew 5:5: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” However, some humans have been selected from among mankind to be rulers in God’s Kingdom, the government God has chosen to use to restore paradise conditions to this earth. Such ones will function both as kings and priests, as such representing the people before God, helping them in their worship to become genuine disciples of Christ. These king-priests are adopted by God as sons of Him, making up a composite bride of Christ. As sons of God, these receive more strongly His discipline, to become exceptional disciples. Notice this at Hebrews 12: “6 for whom Jehovoe loves he disciplines; in fact, he scourges every one whom he receives as a son.” Such ones strongly desire to be lovingly obedient to God in harmony with Christ's teachings. They thus become qualified to rule as kings in the future as God’s Kingdom takes control of earth’s rulership. Notice what God’s word through the prophet Daniel says regarding this Kingdom, at Daniel 2: “44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will break apart and put an end to all these kingdoms (ineffective forms of rulership), and it itself will stand to times indefinite.” It is as Christ told his faithful apostles, at Luke 22: “28 “However, YOU are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; 29 and I make a covenant with YOU, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, 30 that YOU may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.””
4. How does Revelation describe these rulers in God’s Kingdom?
4. TRAINED, WITHOUT BLEMISH. These specially chosen ones come to know for sure that they are among this group, as God gives them an indication by His powerful holy spirit so they may realize this. So if you are not sure, then you are likely not of this number. And it is a number—Revelation 14:1-5 identifies this group as numbering 144,000, saying in part that these “are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, and no falsehood was found in their mouths, they are without blemish.” Revelation 20:6 says regarding such ones: "Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years."
5. What is the “Israel of God” that Paul refers to in Galatians?
5. ISRAEL OF GOD. Notice it states that these are to rule as kings over “the earth,” while Jehoshua (Joshua) mentioned at Luke 22:30 that they would judge “the twelve tribes of Israel.” How do we understand this? Simply, the identity of Israel changed upon their rejection of God’s Son. In Galatians 6:16, Paul refers to genuine Christians in saying: “16 And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.” So the Israel of God would encompass all those seeking to walk orderly according to Christian standards. Note Paul’s words referring to those in the Christian congregation, in 1Corinthians 5: “12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the crook from among yourselves.”” Evidently, then, while ruling over the entire earth, anointed followers of Christ will sit on thrones to judge those inside general Christianity, while God will judge all others. In time, all those on earth will be taught to recognize the value of the ransom sacrifice of Christ, and seek to become true Christians, as Acts 4:12 explains: “12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”
6. How is true worship foretold to be restored in the last days?
6. TO IT NATIONS MUST STREAM. Thus, all the earth is to eventually respond to Christian teachings, and put on “the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true rightdoing and loyalty.” (Ephesians 4:24). Notice how true worship was foretold to be restored during the “last days” of this system of things—the time we’ve lived in according to Bible prophecy. Zion, or Jerusalem, is mentioned with reference to being the ruling power of God’s people, now God’s Kingdom. We read in Isaiah chapter 2: “2 And it must occur in the final part of the days [that] the mountain of the house of Jehovoe will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it all the nations must stream. 3 And many peoples will certainly go and say: “Come, YOU people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovoe, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For out of Zion law will go forth, and the word of Jehovoe out of Jerusalem. 4 And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.” People from all the nations are responding to the true worship of Jehovoe, siding with God and His kingdom, choosing to “walk in His paths,” to live in harmony with true peace, to learn war no more.
7. How does the fulfillment of Isaiah 11:6-9 provide a foregleam of God’s new world?
7. A FOREGLEAM OF PEACE. Notice the prophecy of Isaiah 11, which will be fulfilled both literally upon animals and spiritually, upon humans with animalistic traits: “6 And the wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. 7 And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. 8 And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. 9 They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovoe as the waters are covering the very sea.” Literally, the covenant of peace will be restored between man and the animals. But spiritually, by the “knowledge of Jehovoe,” people with such traits are learning to dwell peaceably with others and rid themselves of wrong ways. This is taking place worldwide, as a foregleam of the peace that will exist in God’s new world.
8. What healings will take place in God’s new world?
8. HEALING. Healings by Christ also provide a foregleam of good health to be experienced by those in God’s new world. Matthew 9 reports: “35 And Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity.” Notice the emphasis was placed first upon Jehoshua's (Joshua's) teaching work, then on the curing of diseases. While people will be cured physically, they will still need to give attention to spiritual instruction consistently, to grow to the perfection of mind, body, and spirit that Jehovoe will make possible. Yes, there will be genuine spiritual healing. For instance, all persons will need to learn to apply the Golden Rule in their dealings with others, as expressed in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, at Matthew 7: “12 All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean.” Luke chapter 6 words it this way: “31 Also, just as YOU want men to do to YOU, do the same way to them.” How refreshing life will be when all persons learn to be understanding and compassionate in their dealings with one another!
9. (a) What will Christ’s anointed co-rulers be doing during the 1000-year rule? (b) What happens to God’s Kingdom after the Millennial Reign of Christ?
9. RULE OF 1000 YEARS. Revelation adds some important details regarding the rulership of God’s Kingdom. The Scriptures are clear that Christ is to be king. And this one's helpmate is to be comprised of the 144,000 co-rulers with him, cooperating with still others. These will aid Christ in administering the blessings of the new world, assisting humans in making sure they can be properly educated for an everlasting life before God. How long before fellow humans, including resurrected ones, can be declared completely approved for everlasting life? God’s Kingdom is to rule for 1000 years, according to Revelation 20:1-6. According to these verses, a serpentlike rebel is to be abyssed (effectively, whether literal or figurative) for a thousand years, so “that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years have ended.” Yet, it is possible for causes of rebellion to be uncovered, allowing for many to fully and truly repent, leaving behind ungodly traits. Anointed followers of Christ, resurrected if need be to their assigned station, “will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.” After the thousand years there is to be a final test to determine who is faithful to God for everlasting life. Then, this Christ is to hand the Kingdom to God, as explained at 1Corinthians 15: “24 Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. 25 For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. 26 And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing.”
10. What blessings of God’s new world do you await?
10. BLESSINGS. What marvelous blessings we are to experience in God’s new world of peace and rightdoing (integrity). Our hope is in God’s Kingdom, Jehovoe’s arrangement for restoring the peaceful, paradise condition that was once present in the garden of Eden, albeit modernized, to become earth-wide. Among the blessings will be abundant food for all—no more starvation—“There will be an abundance of grain on the earth; On the top of the mountains it will overflow.” (Psalm 72:16). Regarding more than just food, God’s word says of Jehovoe at Psalm 145: “16 You open your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.” What delight will be ours to contribute to the cleanup of the earth and the spiritual healing of humankind, including our loved ones back from the grave! To mingle with loved ones as we all learn Jehovoe’s way of true love, joy, and peace, serving God together—enjoying peaceful gatherings of friends and family—what marvelous times await us! May we continue to ponder the blessings of God’s new world that we might strengthen our hope in Jehovoe, His kingdom, and promised new world. As Psalm 37 further states: “34 Hope in Jehovoe and keep his way, And he will exalt you to take possession of the earth.” May we not isolate ourselves from other humans pleasing God, Jehovoe. As Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts: “24 And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near.” This would be among those respecting Christ's ransom for mankind's forgiveness. May our hope remain clear and bright for the blessings of God’s dominion, moving us to be obedient and faithful servants of God, as we draw ever closer to His promises about the new world.