|
God’s plan for the future is a practical one. Based upon the personal return of Christ to the earth to reign from Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3v17) described as “the city of the great king” (Matthew 5v35), it provides for vast but necessary changes in the political, religious and social structure of society.
One king (Jesus Christ) by divine right reigning over all nations:
“The Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14v9)
A new administration directed by Christ’s followers then made immortal:
“They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20v4) “on the earth” (Revelation 5v9-10)
One unifying religion of truth :
“My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense (a symbol of prayer) shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering” (Malachi 1v11)
“Every one that is left of the nations which came up against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts…” (Zechariah 14v16)
A united world :
“All kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him” (Psalm 72v11)
Total disarmament and abolition of war :
“He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2v4)
A new economic system :
“Merchandise…shall be holiness to the Lord; it shall not be treasured or laid up…but shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing” (Isaiah 23v18)
International peace and goodwill :
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, and upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever” (Isaiah 9v7)
Domestic security :
“None shall make them afraid” (Micah 4v4)
Equitable distribution of wealth and resources :
“They shall build houses, and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat” (Isaiah 65v21-22)
Firm governmental control to the benefit of all :
“He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor” (Psalm 72v4)
Vast increase of the earth’s productivity :
“The days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed” (Amos 9v13)
No unemployment :
“They shall build the old wastes, and shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities” (Isaiah 61v4)
A sound educational system :
“Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem ”; “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of the times” (Isaiah 2v3; 33v6)
New social order standards enforced :
“The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord”; “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever” (Isaiah 11v9; 32v17)
God’s will established in the earth :
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6v10)
|
