Millennium Superworld
Chapter 1: Looking Ahead
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For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. |
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—Isaiah 65:17 |
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But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation:ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. |
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—Isaiah 45:17-18 |
Today’s date is so ordinary. We write it on a letter, or a check, or a record, scarcely giving thought to its meaning.
But can you picture yourself writing other figures someday—like 2295, 2416, or 2977? Do such dates sound strange and unreal? these dates will be real one day. And they may be real to us—if we make the right use of today.
Time is a strange and changeable commodity. So much depends upon our viewpoint when we describe it. Time past is history. Time present is NOW. Time future is—?
We need to think more about time future. What do we see as we look a century ahead? A civilization destined to collapse under the weight of its own blunderings? an endless repetition of the cycle of birth, growth, decay and death while “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet. 3:4)—or what?
What do we see as we look ahead? What do you see as you look ahead?
A prominent statesman was once asked this question. Part of his answer was this very significant statement: “We are moving into a new world; we are adjusting to a new environment.”
Removing his words from their intended context and translating them into the vocabulary of divine prophecy, we have a tremendous thought: We are moving into a new world. We are adjusting to a new environment.
This very moment we are on the verge of stupendous events. All things do not continue as they have for centuries past. The Bible reveals that change is upon us, a change that will convulse the present system to its very foundations. The God of heaven has spoken: “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isa. 65:17). New heavens (new ruling powers) and a new earth (a new populace) will come into being in the near future. The righteous government of Jesus Christ shall displace the present inadequate and corrupt systems of the present world, and He and His co-rulers, all holy men and women of upright character, shall fill the earth with the glory of the Lord. The God of heaven has spoken; there’s a new age coming!
God has created this planet and populated it with a definite purpose in mind. He “created it not in vain,” according to His prophet Isaiah (45:17-18); “he formed it to be inhabited.” And as truly as He lives it shall be filled with His glory (Num. 14:21). As truly as He lives, “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (Isa. 52:10).
Our present age is rapidly moving toward this new world. That means that right here and now we as individuals need to be adjusting to a new environment; to be creating our lives to fit into the environment of the New Age that is just ahead. We must be now what we will have to be then, for God will not tolerate in His new world anyone who is morally inferior. All must reach His standard. Sin and evil will not be tolerated—and neither will any who have sin and evil still clinging to them. The promise is, “Thou shalt not see evil any more” (Zeph. 3:15).