The General Electric Company has had 200 scientists working in Santa Barbara, California, on a seven-million-dollar-a-year budget trying to find out what will happen in 2000 A.D. The Air Force has been spending fifteen million dollars a year on the same kind of project. The scientists study the past and the present, and then draw a line to the future. They also gather a consensus of the forecasts of many scientists.
Some think that in the 21st century man will do away with the wheel, getting around by hovercraft. Planes carrying 1000 people will cruise at speeds just below that of sound. Ballistics will transport you anywhere in the world in 40 minutes. Bacterial diseases will be eliminated. Energy for the United States will come from a dozen stations, one of which, if placed on Mt. Wilson, could raise Los Angeles' inversion layer to 19,000 feet and drive away its smog. Sea breezes could be sucked in, and rain make the desert a paradise all the way to Las Vegas. Just give us time, they say, and we'll make paradise on earth.
Only 10% of America's 330 million people will work as the other 90% will be paid the present equivalent of an annual dole of $30,000 to $40,000 just to keep idle. Harvard's Emmanuel Mesthene thinks man will by himself overcome his "original sin" and make his own godless heaven here on earth.
But some don't see this as too rosy a future. Herman Kahn foresees a pleasure-oriented society full of "wholesome degeneracy," a society run by a small elite with the rest existing as a mindless multitude on drugs, amused by circuses, half of them in prison. Some foresee the "have-not" nations warring against the super-rich U.S.
What does the Bible say about the future? We know this--what it says, we can trust!
1. Does the Bible say that modern man will solve our ecology-pollution problem and make this world beautiful and happy? See Revelation 11:15, 18.
ANSWER: Due to man's failure, "The kingdoms of this world are [will] become the __________ of our __________ and of his Christ. ..."... The nations were __________, and Thy __________ is come, ... and that Thou ... shouldest __________ __________ which destroy the earth."
2. What picture does God give us of what sin will do to the future of our planet? Isaiah 24:3-6.
ANSWER: "The land shall be __________ __________, and __________ __________. ... The earth also is __________ under the __________ thereof. ... The curse __________ the earth."
3. What better hope has Jesus promised His people? John 14:1-3.
ANSWER (verse 3): "I __________ __________ __________, and receive __________ unto Myself; that where __________ __________, there __________ __________ __________ __________."
4. What inheritance will come to those who respond to the love of Christ? 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
ANSWER: "The dead in Christ shall __________ __________: then we which are alive and remain __________ __________ __________ __________ together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be __________ the __________."
5. What 'will happen to those who choose to keep on fighting against God? Jeremiah 25:30-33.
ANSWER: "The __________ of the Lord shall be at that day from __________ __________ of the __________ even unto the other __________ of the __________. ..."
6. Some people appreciate the love of the Lord, and have given their hearts to Him in willing service. Where will they be taken when He returns? Revelation 20:4, 5.
ANSWER: "They lived and reigned with Christ a __________ __________.
7. Why will Satan be "bound" a thousand years? Read Revelation 20:1-3, 5, and see the note below.
YOUR ANSWER: "That he should deceive the nations __________ __________, till the thousand years should be fulfilled."
The "rest of the dead" are the lost people. The people who "live and reign with Christ" are the redeemed ones, taken to heaven when Christ returns. No one is left on earth alive. "The bottomless pit" is abyssos in the Greek, meaning a desolate, uninhabited place. (Read about it in the next question.)
8. What will the earth be like during these thousand years? Jeremiah 4:21-27.
ANSWER: "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was __________ __________, and __________." (This is the same expression as abyssos in Greek.)
Satan will have nothing to do but to wander up and down this ruined planet to look at the results of his war against God. In the meantime the saints will be busy in judgment with Christ (see Revelation 20:4-6 and 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3). The Father refuses to judge any of the lost without the full participation of the saints (see John 12:47-48).
What Happens at the End of The Thousand Years?
9. What wonderful city comes down from God out of heaven? Revelation 21:2.
ANSWER: "... The __________ __________. ..."
10. What did Jesus say about two resurrections? John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15.
ANSWER: There is the resurrection of the " __________" and the resurrection of the " __________." (These are the two resurrections which are one thousand years apart.) "There shall be a resurrection ... , both of the __________ and __________."
11. How does Satan deceive the lost into thinking they can do the impossible? Revelation 20:5, 7-9.
ANSWER: "Satan shall be __________ out of his __________. ... and __________ __________ __________ to __________ the nations. ... And they went up ... and compassed the __________ of the __________ about, and the beloved __________: and __________ came down from God out of __________ and devoured them."
12. After the fire ends the misery of the lost and cleanses this polluted, sin-cursed earth, what happens next? Ezekiel 28:18, 19; Malachi 4:1; Proverbs 11:31; Revelation 21:1, 3-5.
ANSWER: "And I saw a __________ heaven and a __________ earth. ..." "The tabernacle of God is with __________, and He will __________ __________ __________, and they shall be His __________, and __________ __________ shall be __________ __________, and be their God." "And __________ shall wipe away __________ __________ from their eyes; and there shall be __________ __________ __________. ... Behold, I make all things __________."
13. If you were God, could you think of a better way to bring an end to sin, and create a happy Kingdom? See Revelation 5:11-13. __________.
God has been patient with those who chose to rebel. At last, all will see that He has been both just and merciful. By his/her choice of lifestyle and character, each human being has cast a vote freely. The lost will judge themselves as unworthy of eternal life. The saved will ascribe all honor to their Saviour. Christ will win His kingdom by the overwhelming majority-vote of His universe.
In all ages God's people have been educated in the school of trial. They walked in narrow paths on earth; they were purified in the furnace of affliction. For Jesus' sake they endured opposition and hatred. They endured self-denial and experienced bitter disappointments. They learned the evil of sin, its power, its guilt, its woe. But now the days of pain are forever ended. The King of glory has wiped the tears from all faces; every cause of grief has been removed. They pour forth a song of praise, sweet and harmonious; every voice takes up the strain until the anthem swells through the vaults of heaven: "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." And all the inhabitants of heaven respond: "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever" (Revelation 7:10, 12).
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7 "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17