God's Plan - The World to Come

From the scriptures we learn that we will never know everything. This is also confirmed in the book of Ecclesiastes. “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 1:11) But, in the writings of Paul, we learn that it is possible for us to see faint glimpses of his plan. He describes it as looking through a dark glass. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

The Bible does teach that someday we will understand with more clarity. It is not easy for us to visualize, but the Bible teaches that one day on this earth a just, peaceful and permanent government will be put in place. Isn’t that what we all dream of? It is important to add that what is being described here is the final outcome, beyond the one world government spoken of in the book of Revelation, Daniel and elsewhere that is to arise prior to the return of Christ. This is after the thousand years described earlier.

It is revealed throughout the scriptures that all nations will one day see and know God. It states that God plans to create a new heaven and earth, and to someday live here on this earth among man, and to eliminate all that is sad, negative and painful. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come unto mind.” (Isaiah 65:17) This is confirmed also in the book of Habakkuk. “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14) There will be no need for evangelists. Jeremiah wrote these words describing that time: “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) Again, we read in the book of Isaiah where God says there will be a day when he will reveal himself to all people: “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:5)

There are many different interpretations and thoughts as to how that is going to come about, and, many disagreements, but it is this writer’s guess that every one of us is going to be wrong in one area or another. When Jesus was here on this earth many people, including the disciples, did not understand all the truth of what was happening. In this writing we are only looking at the end result and not the acts of getting there.

As we previously read, God is going to dwell with man as well as “clean up” their minds. “For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.” (Isaiah 66:18) He reveals that, after a chastening, he is going to gather the nations and govern from Jerusalem, being called the city of truth, as brought forth in these scriptures: Jeremiah wrote: “At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.” (Jeremiah 3:17) Ezekiel also wrote: “And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places.” (Ezekiel 43:7)

In the book of Zechariah, we find these words: “And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.” (Zechariah 2:11)

Also in the book of Zechariah we read: “Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.” (Zechariah 8:3)

This is God’s declaration found in the book of Psalms: “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.” (Psalm 132:13-14)

Jerusalem will one day, according to these scriptures, be the core of the entire world, but in a positive status, not war torn and troubled as it is today.

Speaking once more of the chastening, this scripture is found in the book of Zephaniah. “Therefore 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)

Jesus spoke of a time when people of the earth would travel to meet with the Old Testament people. “And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8:11)He made this promise to his disciples concerning a time of restoration. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19.28)

In the Old Testament, speaking of Jesus and the future of mankind, Isaiah prophesied: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

Repeating the words we read in the previous post on this site concerning the animals and the entire creation, Isaiah speaks in depth of the edification of Jesus, the future, and that the earth is someday going to be full of the knowledge of God: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 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 11:1-9)

The ultimate Jerusalem, as described in the book of Revelation, is to be a magnificent sight to behold. Paul was speaking about this when he said: “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” (I Corinthians 15:24)

This is the conclusion, the world to come which includes all souls left, after the final judgment, second death or “blotting out” as we read about in another post "Second Death and the Books", has occurred. Here we are presented with the New Jerusalem. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4) Continuing the description of the New Jerusalem: “And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs,” (Revelation 21:16) (This is approximately 1500 miles in width and in depth)

In the beginning, before the sun and the moon were created, God said, “Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:3-4) What is that light? The light may be easier understood if we were to use the word “enlighten.” That light is again referred to in the final chapter of the Bible; describing times when mankind shall see God’s face and understand truth. Also, the tree of life spoken of in the second chapter of Genesis is again brought forth in the final chapter of the bible. It reads: “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (In their minds) And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5)

Thus, we have found that grief, death, sorrow, and pain will someday no longer exist in our vocabulary. As we have learned from the scriptures, they will be blotted out. Our seventy or so years here are but a dot compared to the eternity that awaits us, but the choices we make during this dot of time will be of enormous value to us in the future.

May these words that we read be locked in our minds as we live out our days here on this earth. “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” (Psalms 39:4-5)