Earth, A Paradise Of Plenty
"Pouring rains of blessing there will prove to be. And the tree of the field must give its fruitage, and the land itself will give its yield, and they will actually prove to be on their soil in security." -Ezekiel 34:26, 27.
"The earth itself will certainly give its produce; God, our God will bless us." - Psalm 67:6.
"The wilderness and the waterless region will exult, and the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron." - Isaiah 35:1.
"The mountains and the hills themselves will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands. Instead of the thicket of thorns the juniper tree will come up. Instead of the stinging nettle the myrtle tree will come up." - Isaiah 55:12, 13.
You will be with me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43.
Good Housing For All
"They will certainly build houses and have occupancy.......They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating...The work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing. Nor will they bring to birth for disturbance." - Isaiah 65:21-23.
"They will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble." - Micah 4:4.
Continued-Next time: You Can Live Forever In Paradise
3.30.2005
3.25.2005
Perfect Health, Everlasting Life
"At that time the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. At that time the lame one will climb up just as the stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness." - Isaiah 35:5,6.
"[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore." - Revelation 21:4.
"No resident will say: 'I am sick.' " - Isaiah 33:24.
"Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor." - Job 33:25.
"The gift of God gives everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23.
"Everyone exercising faith in him [will] have everlasting life." - John 3:16.
The Dead Restored To Life
"There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." - Acts 24:15.
"The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs [God's memory]will hear his voice and come out." - John 5:28, 29.
" The sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades [the grave] gave up those dead in them." - Revelation 20:13.
Continued-Next time: Earth, A Paradise Of Plenty
"At that time the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. At that time the lame one will climb up just as the stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness." - Isaiah 35:5,6.
"[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore." - Revelation 21:4.
"No resident will say: 'I am sick.' " - Isaiah 33:24.
"Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor." - Job 33:25.
"The gift of God gives everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23.
"Everyone exercising faith in him [will] have everlasting life." - John 3:16.
The Dead Restored To Life
"There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." - Acts 24:15.
"The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs [God's memory]will hear his voice and come out." - John 5:28, 29.
" The sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades [the grave] gave up those dead in them." - Revelation 20:13.
Continued-Next time: Earth, A Paradise Of Plenty
3.20.2005
Mankind At Perfect Peace
" [God] is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces; the [war] wagons he burns in the fire. " - Psalm 46:9
"They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore."- Isaiah meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." - Psalm 37:11.
"The whole earth has come to rest,has become free of disturbance. People have become cheerful with joyful cries." - Isaiah 14:7.
Man And Animals At Peace
"The wolf will actually reside for awhile with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together: and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. and even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the suckling child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin."- Isaiah 11:6-9
" For them I shall certainly conclude a convenant in that day in connection with the wild beast of the field and with the flying creature of the heavens and the creeping thing of the ground...I will make them lie down in security." -Hosea 2:18.
Continued- Next time: Perfect Health, Everlasting Life
" [God] is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces; the [war] wagons he burns in the fire. " - Psalm 46:9
"They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore."- Isaiah meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." - Psalm 37:11.
"The whole earth has come to rest,has become free of disturbance. People have become cheerful with joyful cries." - Isaiah 14:7.
Man And Animals At Peace
"The wolf will actually reside for awhile with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together: and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. and even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the suckling child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin."- Isaiah 11:6-9
" For them I shall certainly conclude a convenant in that day in connection with the wild beast of the field and with the flying creature of the heavens and the creeping thing of the ground...I will make them lie down in security." -Hosea 2:18.
Continued- Next time: Perfect Health, Everlasting Life
3.16.2005
Preaching Good News
Another prophecy that shows we have been in the last days since 1914 is one that Jesus gave: "In all the nations the good news has to be preached first." (Mark 13:10) Or as Matthew 24:14 renders it: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come."
Today as never before in history, the good news of this world's end and of the incoming Paradise is being preached all over the earth.
Live Forever On A Paradise Earth
What will life be like when God removes wickedness and suffering from the earth and ushers in his new world under the loving control of his heavenly kingdom? God promises to 'open his hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.' - Psalm 145:16.
Continued-Next time: Mankind At Perfect Peace
Another prophecy that shows we have been in the last days since 1914 is one that Jesus gave: "In all the nations the good news has to be preached first." (Mark 13:10) Or as Matthew 24:14 renders it: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come."
Today as never before in history, the good news of this world's end and of the incoming Paradise is being preached all over the earth.
Live Forever On A Paradise Earth
What will life be like when God removes wickedness and suffering from the earth and ushers in his new world under the loving control of his heavenly kingdom? God promises to 'open his hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.' - Psalm 145:16.
Continued-Next time: Mankind At Perfect Peace
3.14.2005
How Close Are We?
How close are we to the end of this unsatisfactory system of things and the beginning of God's new world? Bible prophecy clearly gives us the answer. For instance, Jesus himself foretold what to look for so that we could determine our position in relation to, as the Bible puts it, "the conclusion of the system of things." This is recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Also, as recorded in 2 Timothy chapter 3, the apostle Paul foretold that there would be a period of time called "the last days" when various events would further verify where we are in the stream of time.
Jesus said that this period of time would begin wih these events: "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earth quakes in one place after another." (Matthew 24:7) Luke 21:11 shows that he also mentioned "in one place after another pestilences." And he warned too, of "the increasing of lawlessness." - Matthew 24:12.
The apostle Paul foretold: "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power.... Wicked men and imposters will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled." -2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13.
Have those things that Jesus and Paul foretold taken place in our time? Yes, they certainly have. World War I was by far the worse war up to that time. It was the first world war and was the turning point in modern history. Along with that war went food shortages, disease epidemics, and other calamities. Those events from 1914 onward were, as Jesus put it, "a beginning of pangs of distress." (Matthew 24:8) They began the foretold period of time called "the last days," the beginning of the last generation when God would permit wickedness and suffering.
Likely you are familiar with the events of the 20th century. You know the chaos that has arisen. Some 100 million people have ben killed in wars. Hundreds of millions of others have died from hunger and from sickness. Earthquakes haven taken countless lives. disregard for life and property grows. Fear of crime has become part of everyday life. Moral standards have been shoved aside. The population explosion poses problems that are not being solved. Pollution is spoiling the quality of life and is even endangering it. Truly, we have been in the last days since 1914 and are nearing the culmination of Bible prophecies involving our time.
How long a time period would these last days prove to be? Jesus said regarding the era that would experience the "beginning of pangs of distress" from 1914 onward: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:, 34-36) Thus, all the features of the last days must take place within the lifetime of one generation, the generation of 1914. So some people who were alive in 1914 will still be alive when this system comes to its end. that generation of people is now very advanced in years, indicating that there is not much time left before God brings this present system to an end.
Another prophecy showing that the end of this system is very near was given by the apostle Paul, who foretold: "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: "Peace and security!" Then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them........, and they will by no means escape." - 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3; see also Luke 21:34, 35.
Today the Cold War is over, and international war my no longer be a major threat. So the nations may feel that they are well on the way toward a new world order. But when they feel that their efforts are succeeding, it will mean the opposite of what they think, for that will be the final signal that this system's destruction by God is imminent. Remember, political negotiations and treaties are not making any real changes in people. They are not making people love one another. And world leaders are not putting a stop to crime, nor are they eliminating disease and death. So do not put your trust in any development of human peace and security and think that this world is on its way to solving problems. (Psalm 146:3) What such a cry will really mean is that this world is very near to being on its way out.
Continued-Next time: Preaching Good News
How close are we to the end of this unsatisfactory system of things and the beginning of God's new world? Bible prophecy clearly gives us the answer. For instance, Jesus himself foretold what to look for so that we could determine our position in relation to, as the Bible puts it, "the conclusion of the system of things." This is recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Also, as recorded in 2 Timothy chapter 3, the apostle Paul foretold that there would be a period of time called "the last days" when various events would further verify where we are in the stream of time.
Jesus said that this period of time would begin wih these events: "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earth quakes in one place after another." (Matthew 24:7) Luke 21:11 shows that he also mentioned "in one place after another pestilences." And he warned too, of "the increasing of lawlessness." - Matthew 24:12.
The apostle Paul foretold: "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power.... Wicked men and imposters will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled." -2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13.
Have those things that Jesus and Paul foretold taken place in our time? Yes, they certainly have. World War I was by far the worse war up to that time. It was the first world war and was the turning point in modern history. Along with that war went food shortages, disease epidemics, and other calamities. Those events from 1914 onward were, as Jesus put it, "a beginning of pangs of distress." (Matthew 24:8) They began the foretold period of time called "the last days," the beginning of the last generation when God would permit wickedness and suffering.
Likely you are familiar with the events of the 20th century. You know the chaos that has arisen. Some 100 million people have ben killed in wars. Hundreds of millions of others have died from hunger and from sickness. Earthquakes haven taken countless lives. disregard for life and property grows. Fear of crime has become part of everyday life. Moral standards have been shoved aside. The population explosion poses problems that are not being solved. Pollution is spoiling the quality of life and is even endangering it. Truly, we have been in the last days since 1914 and are nearing the culmination of Bible prophecies involving our time.
How long a time period would these last days prove to be? Jesus said regarding the era that would experience the "beginning of pangs of distress" from 1914 onward: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:, 34-36) Thus, all the features of the last days must take place within the lifetime of one generation, the generation of 1914. So some people who were alive in 1914 will still be alive when this system comes to its end. that generation of people is now very advanced in years, indicating that there is not much time left before God brings this present system to an end.
Another prophecy showing that the end of this system is very near was given by the apostle Paul, who foretold: "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: "Peace and security!" Then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them........, and they will by no means escape." - 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3; see also Luke 21:34, 35.
Today the Cold War is over, and international war my no longer be a major threat. So the nations may feel that they are well on the way toward a new world order. But when they feel that their efforts are succeeding, it will mean the opposite of what they think, for that will be the final signal that this system's destruction by God is imminent. Remember, political negotiations and treaties are not making any real changes in people. They are not making people love one another. And world leaders are not putting a stop to crime, nor are they eliminating disease and death. So do not put your trust in any development of human peace and security and think that this world is on its way to solving problems. (Psalm 146:3) What such a cry will really mean is that this world is very near to being on its way out.
Continued-Next time: Preaching Good News
3.08.2005
God's Rule From Heaven
God will accomplish this cleansing of the earth by means of the best government that mankind could ever have. It is a government that reflects heavenly wisdom because it rules from heaven under God's direction. And that heavenly Kingdom will remove all forms of human rule from earth. Humans will never again have the option of trying to rule independent of God.
In this regard the prophecy at Daniel 2:44 states: " In the days of those kings [present day governments] the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom [in heaven]that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people [humans will never again be permitted to rule independent of God]. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [now existing], and it itself will stand to times indefinite." - See also Revelation 19:11-21; 20:4-6.
Thus mankind will never again have corrupt forms of rule, for after God brings this system to its end, human rule independent of him will never exist again. And the Kingdom ruling from heaven will not be corrupted, since God is its Originator and Preserver. Instead, it will operate in the best interests of its human subjects. God's will is then going to be done throuhout the earth as it is in heaven. That is why Jesus could teach his disciples to pray to God: "Let you kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." - Matthew 6:10.
Continued-Next time: How Close Are We?
God will accomplish this cleansing of the earth by means of the best government that mankind could ever have. It is a government that reflects heavenly wisdom because it rules from heaven under God's direction. And that heavenly Kingdom will remove all forms of human rule from earth. Humans will never again have the option of trying to rule independent of God.
In this regard the prophecy at Daniel 2:44 states: " In the days of those kings [present day governments] the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom [in heaven]that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people [humans will never again be permitted to rule independent of God]. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [now existing], and it itself will stand to times indefinite." - See also Revelation 19:11-21; 20:4-6.
Thus mankind will never again have corrupt forms of rule, for after God brings this system to its end, human rule independent of him will never exist again. And the Kingdom ruling from heaven will not be corrupted, since God is its Originator and Preserver. Instead, it will operate in the best interests of its human subjects. God's will is then going to be done throuhout the earth as it is in heaven. That is why Jesus could teach his disciples to pray to God: "Let you kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." - Matthew 6:10.
Continued-Next time: How Close Are We?
3.04.2005
God's Judgments
Note a few of the many Bible prophecies that state what God's intervention, that is, the results of his judgments, will soon mean for the human family:
The upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it." - Proverbs 2:21, 22.
Evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth. And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more... But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." - Psalm 37:9-11.
Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. when the wicked ones are cut off, you will see it. Watch the blameless one and keep the upright one in sight, for the future of that man will be peaceful. But the transgressors themselves will certainly be annihilated together; the future of wicked people will be indeed cut off." --Psalm 37:34, 37, 38.
Therefore, in view of the marvelous future that will come to those who recognize the almighty Creator's right to rule us, we are urged: My commandments may your heart observe, because the length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you." In fact, eternal life will be added to those who choose to do God's will! Thus, God's Word counsels us: "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him and he himself will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:1, 2, 5, 6.
Continued-Next time: God's Rule From Heaven
Note a few of the many Bible prophecies that state what God's intervention, that is, the results of his judgments, will soon mean for the human family:
The upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it." - Proverbs 2:21, 22.
Evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth. And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more... But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." - Psalm 37:9-11.
Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. when the wicked ones are cut off, you will see it. Watch the blameless one and keep the upright one in sight, for the future of that man will be peaceful. But the transgressors themselves will certainly be annihilated together; the future of wicked people will be indeed cut off." --Psalm 37:34, 37, 38.
Therefore, in view of the marvelous future that will come to those who recognize the almighty Creator's right to rule us, we are urged: My commandments may your heart observe, because the length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you." In fact, eternal life will be added to those who choose to do God's will! Thus, God's Word counsels us: "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him and he himself will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:1, 2, 5, 6.
Continued-Next time: God's Rule From Heaven
3.02.2005
God's Purpose Soon To Be Realized
Although God has permitted imperfection and suffering for a long time from the human viewpoint, he will not allow bad conditions to go on indefinitely. The Bible tells us that God has a specific time period for allowing these things to happen.
"For everything there is an appointed time." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) When God's allotted time for permitting wickedness and suffering comes to its conclusion, then he will intervene in human affairs. He will bring an end to wickedness and suffering and will fulfill his original purpose to have the earth filled with a perfect, happy human family enjoying total peace and economic security amid Paradise conditions.
Continue-Next time: God's Judgments
Although God has permitted imperfection and suffering for a long time from the human viewpoint, he will not allow bad conditions to go on indefinitely. The Bible tells us that God has a specific time period for allowing these things to happen.
"For everything there is an appointed time." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) When God's allotted time for permitting wickedness and suffering comes to its conclusion, then he will intervene in human affairs. He will bring an end to wickedness and suffering and will fulfill his original purpose to have the earth filled with a perfect, happy human family enjoying total peace and economic security amid Paradise conditions.
Continue-Next time: God's Judgments
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