“So Jesus said to them, Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).
“The creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Revelation 21:1).
“All the kingdoms of this world shall soon become the kingdoms of our Lord and King. He will hurl all the present potentates from their thrones. He will grind to powder the despotisms, civil and ecclesiastic, and with the blast of His mouth give them to the four winds of heaven. All antichristian power, whether called Papal, Muslim, Pagan, or Atheistic, will as certainly be destroyed as that Jesus reigns in heaven. No trace of them shall remain. The best government on earth, call it English or American has within it the seeds of its own destruction, carries in it a millstone which will sink it to the bottom of the sea. They acknowledge not that God has set His Christ upon His throne! They will not kiss the Son! Thus society under their rule is not blessed. The land mourns through the wickedness of those who sit in high places. Ignorance, poverty, and crime abound because of the injustice and iniquities of those who guide the destinies of nations, men who fear not God, love not His Son, and regard not His laws, yet wear the sword and bear the scepter!
“This is wholly adverse to the peace and happiness of the world. Therefore God will break them to pieces like a potter’s vessel and set up an order of society in which justice will prevail. Jesus will be universally acknowledged by all the race of living men, and all nations shall do Him homage. “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father!” This state of society will be the consummation of the Christian religion in all its moral influences and tendencies upon mankind.
“How far this change is to be effected by moral and how far by physical means, is not the subject of our present inquiry. But the preparation of a people for the coming of the Lord must be the result of the restoration of the ancient Gospel and order of things. And come when it may, the day of the regeneration of the world will be a day as wonderful and terrible as was the day of the flood, of Sodom’s judgment, or of Jerusalem’s catastrophe!”
(Alexander Campbell – Adapted)
When Jesus returns all things will become new. The wicked and unbelieving angels and men will be judged and damned. The saints, raised and justified, will be transformed and glorified. The old heaven and earth perishes in flames, the new heaven and earth appears in resplendent beauty. Jesus, reigning on His throne, delivers up the Kingdom to the Father. Men of all nations worship the Lord, reign with Him, dwell with God, angels, and one another in peace, love, and joy.
Exactly how, exactly where, and exactly when this all transpires is not detailed in Scripture. Nor if it were would we all be able to comprehend it! It is enough to know that it is coming, and coming quickly!
But one thing is certain – all is contingent upon and accomplished through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our living out that Gospel and sharing that Gospel with all men in this present world!
So our duty is clearly set before us. We have a great hope, but it can only be realized by our faithful obedience (by the grace and help of God) to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our participation in His Kingdom and Church! Let us be about it, for in so doing, we hasten the day!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
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