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The
Glories of the Age to Come
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The
age to come describes the glorious reign of the Lord Jesus Christ over
the whole earth. This pamphlet presents some of the glories of this
wonderful time in store. If you are not already familiar with the Biblical
proofs of this millennial reign, please request our 'Truth About' series
Nos. 23 and 42.
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ALL
THE EARTH FILLED WITH GOD'S GLORY
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God
has promised in Numbers 14:21 that "as truly as I live, all the earth
shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." At present this is not
so, and never has been, for "For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) During this reign of our Lord, "the
earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as
the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14) This includes all people
then living, and ultimately sin will be non-existent, and the earth
at last restored to be paradise it lost in the beginning.
God
says in Revelation 21:5 "Behold, I make all things new." Thus, the earth
will be changed for the better. God will renew it, cleansing it from
all its man-made pollution. We have destroyed its ecosystems and threatened
even our own existence. But this will be permanently changed. The Lord
Jesus will return from Heaven and the destroyers of the earth will themselves
be destroyed. (Revelation 11:18) Following that, the earth enjoy a peaceful
rest. Isaiah 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,
which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles
seek: and his rest shall be glorious."
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A
GLORIOUS KING WILL JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY
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Jesse
was the father of David, the greatest King of Israel. The root of Jesse
is therefore Jesus, the Son or descendant of David. He is the branch
that grew out of Jesse's roots as verse 1 of chapter 11 of Isaiah says.
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch
shall grow out of his roots." Then verses 2 to 4 describe how the spirit
of the LORD would rest upon Jesus, and equip Him with the wisdom and
quick understanding required to judge righteous judgment. Isaiah 11:2-4
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; 3 And shall make him (Jesus Christ) 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." (Isaiah 11:3-4) Every situation will be justly met and
dealt with.
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HARMONY
BETWEEN MANKIND AND THE ANIMALS
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The
effect of His reign also extends to the animal kingdom. A beautiful
picture is painted by Isaiah of the peace and tranquility that will
prevail. Isaiah 11:5-8 "And righteousness shall be the girdle of his
loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6 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. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young
ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the
ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the
weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den."
The
beauty of this situation is that it will ultimately extend to all nations.
Isaiah continues, Isaiah 11:9-10 "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. 10 And in that day there shall
be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to
it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."
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DIVINE
HEALING FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
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Isaiah
35:1-2 "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom
abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon
shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall
see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God."
What
is that glory? No - It is not only the renewed and refreshed landscape.
People once disadvantaged will then rejoice in the glory of God. That
is the blind, the deaf, the dumb and the lame - for he continues, Isaiah
35:5-6 "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of
the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters
break out, and streams in the desert."
Yet
the most important healing process has not yet been mentioned. Let the
Prophet himself explain. Isaiah 35:8-10 "And an highway shall be there,
and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall
not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though
fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous
beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed
shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and
come to Zion with songs (of praise) and everlasting joy upon their heads:
they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee
away."
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THE
KING SPEAKS URGENTLY TO YOU
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The
Lord Jesus prayed to His Father for God's kingdom to come when His will
shall be done upon earth even as it is in Heaven. How often do you recite
the Lord's prayer? Millions do yet few really understand it. Jesus was
praying for righteousness and holiness (rarely seen today), to one day
fill the earth. Heavenly conditions will then be brought to the earth.
But this will only be realised when Jesus returns to reign from Jerusalem,
"the city of the Great King' (Matthew 5:35) In the age to come,"The
meek," Jesus said "will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) ONLY THE MEEK
will do so - no one else. There is need for your personal meekness towards
God, if you are to inherit His Kingdom and share in these glorious conditions.
Complete trust in His Word, and personal obedience to match` is the
only way.
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THE
FUTURE TEMPLE FILLED WITH GOD'S GLORY
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One
of the greatest blessings in the age to come is to "see the king in
his beauty (Isaiah 33:17) The appearance of the glory of the Lord when
the angels appeared to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus will be repeated
over and over again. Then at last there will be "glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Luke 2:9 and 14.
The glory of the Lord will enter the east gate of the new temple to
be built in Jerusalem, fill it with a brilliance that will even dwarf
its prior manifestation in Solomon's temple three thousand ago. A gigantic
structure about a mile square will be built on the site old Jerusalem
once occupied. It will shine as a beacon, illuminating the landscape
and bringing peace to all lands. Ezekiel 43:4,5.
Isaiah
4:5 "And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion,
and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of
a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the
heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from
rain."
If
you desire to witness these wonderful things God has in store, the only
way is to do what the Scriptures require and "Depart from evil, and
do good; and dwell for evermore." Psalm 37:27 That is, repent and be
baptised calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16)
