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Kingdom of God - of the heavens
Dave in Tenn:
Any time I've let myself 'speculate' on what is to come, it's told me more about myself than illuminated anyy understanding.
There will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Lake of Fire is in the presence of the Lamb. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. The city of God will not shut its gates, and there will be no darkness. All that is hidden will be made manifest. We will see the Glory of God.
Has any of that happened to you? In some small or growing "earnest of the Spirit" way? If it has, it's easier to see how Jesus will save the whole world.
The good works will be refined and the evil and worthless works will be done away with. We'll 'grow in grace and wisdom' just as He did. Go from faith to faith. He is sovereign now...He will be sovereign then. He'll make all things new.
The LAST enemy to be destroyed is death. Satan will be loosed for a period to do his last work the Lord Who formed him has for him to do. When all have 'passed the test', all will receive the crown of righteousness.
But I don't know what "glory" is. And I don't know what "new" completely means. And I don't think there will be any "crowns" to place on our "heads" or "names" written on our "foreheads". All that is symbolic of spirit--and I try my best to always remember that "spirit" is not symbolic or ephemeral...."Spirit" is what's REAL. Everything else is temporary.
We have the tiniest glimpse of what is to come NEXT for the world He has created. This isn't the end of things to me...it's the beginning.
John from Kentucky:
Right on Dave. I like your comments.
Some of the speculation reminded me of old Worldwide Church of God teachings. I cannot ever go back to those teachings. However, God used those teachings to humble me. It's hard to believe I was so stupid as to believe their false teachings.
Kat:
Hi Bob, I do not see why the infrastructure, highways in particular, would not be necessary in the next age and what is going to happen to them anyway?
God created the human mind to have the capability of great and phenomenal things, but what has been done in this age has often been marred by crime and corruption. Remember that God slowed man's progress way down at the tower of Babel.
Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.
When mankind can focused themselves on righteous endeavors, there is no telling where this will carry us in the next age.
John, the next age is for judgment and developing righteousness in a physical world... now of course there will be the need for domestic workers, but who is to say it will be women doing that? As far as women wearing Islam attire or bikinis, you speak as a fool, in the next age there will be no sexism. Christ taught His disciples that lusting after women was wrong... do you think it will be different in the next age? Don't you believe that God is capable of bringing men's testosterone driven sex craze under control (and women too)? Don't you realize the world will be a very different place in the next age? Why no tv, radio, or internet? These all would be very useful, when Christ rules things will be applied towards the betterment of mankind and no immoral application will be allowed... does that bother you?
Anyway even if you're just being facetious, you have a very different way of thinking about things than I do. Legalism used by man can never work, nor has it... you seem to think that I am confusing righteous living with the messed up religions of this age... that is your confusion, not mine.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Mike Gagne:
Thanks Kat for the awesome thread! :)
Rene:
Whenever I try to "visualize" the next Age, my mind just cannot perceive what it will look like. I know for sure it will be vastly different from the current Age because under God's Kingdom righteousness will rule and that alone is a huge difference.
This scripture came to mind:
1Cor. 13:12 - "For we see, as yet, through a dim window, obscurely, but then face to face: as yet, I gain knowledge, in part, but then, shall I fully know, even as I was also fully known." (Rotherham)
One thing for sure, we should be excited and happily anticipating the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth. :)
René
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