"The Real Life" Then

In confirmation of the thrilling description of life on the future Paradise earth, God says: "Look! I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5) It is impossible for the human mind to grasp fully the marvelous works that God will perform for mankind. God will create a worldwide paradise, modeled after Eden. (Luke 23:43) As in Eden, beauty and pleasantness of color, sound and taste will be abundant. Poverty and food shortages will be no more, for regarding that time the Bible says: "The former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4; Psalm 72:16) No more will anyone say, "I am sick," as illness will be eliminated forever. (Isaiah 33:24) Yes, all causes of pain will disappear, including mankind's long-standing enemy, death. (1Corinthians 15:26) In an amazing vision of the "new earth," the new human society under Christ's rule, the apostle John heard a voice saying: "[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore." What could bring greater comfort and joy than the fulfillment of this divine promise?

In describing future life, the Bible particularly emphasizes conditions that will satisfy man's moral and spiritual aspirations. All the just ideals for which mankind has vainly struggled until now will be fully attained. (Matthew 6:10) Among these is the desire for justice, which has remained unfulfilled because man has often been afflicted by cruel oppressors who have dominated the weak. (Ecclesiastes 8:9) The psalmist wrote prophetically of conditions under Christ's rule: "In his days uprightness shall flourish, and peace in plenty." - Psalm 72:7, The New Jerusalem Bible.

Equality is another aspiration for which many have made sacrifices. In the "recreation," God will abolish discrimination. (Matthew 19:28) All will enjoy the same dignity. This will not be equality imposed by some harsh governmental regime. On the contrary, the causes of discrimination will be eliminated, including the greed and pride that lead men to seek domination over others or to amass huge amounts of goods. Isaiah prophesied: "They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating." - Isaiah 65:21,22.

How man has suffered because of bloodshed in both personal and collective warfare! This has continued from the murder of Abel down to the wars of the present time. How long humans have hoped and waited, seemingly in vain, for peace to be established! In the restored Paradise, all men will be peaceable and meek; they will "find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." - Psalm 37:11.

Isaiah 11:9 says: "The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea." Because of inherited imperfection, among other things, it is not possible for us today to understand fully the scope of those words. How perfect knowledge of God will unite us with him and how that will result in full joy, we may yet have to learn. But since the Scriptures inform us that Jehovah is a God marvelous in power, wisdom, justice and love, we can be certain that he will hear all prayers expressed by the inhabitants of the "new earth."

Next time: "The Real Life" Is A Certainty-Grasp It!

Watchtower, 1999