A World at Peace
Today's Need, Tomorrow's Reality
“The meek shall inherit the earth; and
shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace”
Throughout history, every form of government has been tried,
every conceivable ideology has been implemented. But none of these
examples of human endeavour has provided lasting benefit for mankind.
All have failed! And brought their own measure of misery. Every system
of philosophy has been tested; every imaginable political stratagem
has been attempted. But to what end?
There is no doubt that throughout the ages there have been many men
of goodwill who have entered the arena of politics or who have
provided rulership either autocratic or democratic; men who have had
at heart the best interests of their people and of humanity at large.
But they have not achieved their intentions, and they have been
relatively few in number. If this were not so, the world would be in a
far better state than it is.
Eighteenth century British Statesman, Edmund Burke once said: “The
only thing needed for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.”
This may be a noble statement, but it is nullified by a major
deficiency. The flaw rests in defining “a good man.” Where is he
to be found? Even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, said: “Why callest
thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God” (Matthew
19:17). Apart from Almighty God, and His wisdom, mankind
continues to flounder in a sea of problems of their own making, and is
unable to achieve the happiness it so desperately needs.
Failure to Correctly and Wisely Govern
The history of humanity is a record of man’s inability to govern
himself and his fellow-man in a way that could lead to lasting peace
and wellbeing for the human race. Man has failed to correctly and
wisely govern; he has failed to adequately provide for the needs of
the destitute; he has failed to relieve the distressed and the
impoverished; he has failed to feed the hungry, clothe the needy and
house the homeless; he has failed to bring peace to the nations, to
establish justice and mercy in the place of tyranny and ruthless
temporal power. In all areas of authority and dominion, on social,
moral, political and religious issues, the history of mankind is one
of abject failure.
Such ineffective leadership and lack of sound direction have
resulted from one simple cause: Mankind’s consistent rebellion
against the supremacy and sovereignty of the Supreme Being, Almighty
God, who created all things “for His glory” (Psalm
72:19).
The prophet Jeremiah declared: “O LORD, I know that the way of
man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his
steps. O LORD, correct me…” (Jeremiah
10:23). These are the words of a man dedicated to the
service of his Creator. He confesses his awareness of the weakness and
limitations of human nature. Men and women, he says, are not capable
of directing their lives or those of their fellows, in ways of wisdom
and prudence for the wellbeing of the race. With a similar
understanding the Psalmist wrote: “The entrance of Thy Word
giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple ... Order
my steps in Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over
me ... All Thy commandments are truth” (Psalm
119:130, 133, 151). True wisdom and proper direction in
life can only come from a reading and understanding of God’s
inspired Word, the Bible. It is only when the principles of the
Scriptures are allowed to direct the heart and mind, that men and
women will find real pleasure and satisfaction. But, unfortunately,
very few are prepared to follow this principle.
God has always understood mankind’s inability to rule themselves.
The tragedy of human history is that men have not understood these
things. The results have been predictable and inevitable. Individuals,
families, communities, nations, lurch from one crisis to another. We
live in a civilization plagued with doubts, fears, heartache, violence
and lack of wise direction.
World out of Control
World leaders are faced with an explosive and paradoxical
situation. Whilst in modern times there have been unparalleled
advances in science, medicine, technology and in other fields, there
have also been extraordinary increases in the many forms of evil which
are undermining and destroying society. What is the answer? Is there
an answer?
Our world is being swept towards a holocaust of unpreceden-ted
magnitude, with corruption and depravity adding their blight to the
scene. It is afflicted with so many destructive problems that rulers
and politicians do not know where to begin in trying to solve the
issues facing humanity.
Virtually every country is touched by an ever spreading malaise.
Forty thousand children die daily from preventable diseases. Famine
and drought destroy millions. Diseases, in many terminal forms, are
spreading among the nations. Poverty and degradation are seen on every
hand. Population is out of control. The environment is continually
destroyed as species after species are annihilated.
And what of the moral pollution? In almost every city there is a
breakdown of law and order, with citizens fearing for their wellbeing
whilst vicious criminals receive greater consideration than their
victims. Young and old destroy themselves in unprecedented numbers
through drug and alcohol abuse. Every form of vice flourishes and the
HIV virus has made its deadly presence felt. The grossest forms of
immorality are openly accepted, and even encouraged. The breakdown of
family life is escalating on a scale never before witnessed. Violence
stalks the streets like a hideous monster, everywhere spreading fear
and terror.
Is this the kind of world in which you wish to live? Is this the
sort of society you wish to see your children and grandchildren
inherit?
Do not the facts show beyond doubt that mankind is in desperate
need of a New World Order? In recent times politicians have spoken of
such a concept, without the slightest evidence that such a utopian
state will be produced for the benefit of all nations. World leaders
are powerless to halt the decline of civilization or to offer any real
hope for the future.
They cannot stop the pollution that is affecting and destroying
many forms of life. Nor can they put into action a plan that will save
the environment from destruction.
Can world leaders prevent warfare and the ceaseless bloodshedding
that continues unabated? Or feed, house, and clothe the poor and needy
of the world?
Ordinary intelligent men and women know that world leaders are
powerless to stop the disintegration of society.
A New World Order is Needed
Is a New World Order an impossible dream?
The peoples of the world desperately need a Saviour, a Deliverer;
someone to appear on the world scene who has the power, the
dedication, the wisdom and the means, to right the wrongs which are
inexorably forcing the nations to the brink of devastation.
Is there a man, or group of men, anywhere on the face of the earth
with the necessary means of accomplishing all these things? To ask is
to answer. There is no one.
What, then, is the destiny of humanity — and, for that matter, of
all life upon earth? Are things to simply continue as at present,
until life becomes impossible and everything ends in a series of
unavoidable catastrophes?
The answer to these questions can only be found upon acceptance of
the fact that there is a God — a Supreme Being who created
all things in the beginning.
Belief in the reality of a Living God is not difficult to
concede, despite the views of the sceptics. After all, there is only
one alternative. If a Supreme Being did not create the earth and all
life upon it, everything we see upon the earth and in the seas is the
result of mere chance.
All the wonderful, beautiful and intricate organisation of nature
is held by evolutionists to have come about without any reason and by
mere caprice. And yet, no evidence can be given to support any such
theory. Instead there is a harmonious balance and remarkable
inter-dependence that requires a Master-Mind, a Creator to form and
control all we see about us.
It is our conviction, after nearly half a century of studying the
subject, that the account of creation as detailed in the first two
chapters of Genesis, and fully endorsed by Jesus Christ and his
disciples, is not only true, but is also logical and provable. In this
regard, we recommend that readers the message of another free
literature publication Creation
or Chance, which can be viewed online. In this booklet the
subject of the existence of God is dealt with at some length, setting
forth evidence which we believe to be sound and irrefutable.
To discover the purpose of creation and mankind’s ultimate
destiny, it is necessary to understand that “without faith it is
impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe
that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews
11:6), NIV.
God’s Kingdom on Earth — In the Past
In the days of Moses (about 1600 B.C.) God revealed that He would
establish a political kingdom upon the earth. After the Israelites had
been brought out of Egypt and had come to Mount Sinai in the
wilderness of Arabia, God told them: “Now therefore, if ye will obey
My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye
shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus
19:5-6). Hence, the nation of Israel became known as
“God’s chosen people” (Deuteronomy
14:1-2).
However, they were called to be a “holy” (meaning, to separate,
be cleansed, be sanctified) people; that they were to “obey”
God’s voice, and to honour their covenant with Him. These were the
terms upon which they would continue to be His “kingdom.”
After forty years’ wandering in the wilderness because of
disobedience, they were led into the Promised Land under the
leadership of Joshua (see God’s promise to Abraham in (Genesis
13:14-17; 15:18-20)).
Some 600 years after their entrance into the Land, a shepherd-boy
David became the second king over the nation. Almost at the hour of
his death, he spoke concerning his son, Solomon, who was divinely
ordained to replace him as king: “Of all my sons, (for the LORD hath
given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne
of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel” — after which
pronouncement the record states: “Then Solomon sat on the throne of
the LORD as king instead of David” (I
Chronicles 28:5; 29:23).
The kingdom of Israel was a theocratic kingdom; that is, a kingdom
over which it was God’s intention to preside as the true king, but
with a throne on which mortal men would reign upon the earth in His
name. This divine intention was doomed when the people of Israel
decided that they wanted all power and authority vested in a mortal
ruler whom they could see, thereby rejecting God’s reign over them (I
Samuel 8).
Thus the “kingdom of God” on earth failed, with disastrous
results. Certainly, God was not to blame. Although defined as “the
kingdom of the LORD,” it was administered by men who possessed all
the weaknesses and proneness to sin which are inherent elements of
human nature. This has been mankind’s state since sin entered the
world through Adam and Eve. As these tendencies asserted themselves,
so the influence of God and His Word waned. The people had been given
every opportunity to please God and walk in His ways. Hence God spoke
through the prophet Jeremiah: “As the girdle cleaveth to the loins
of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel
and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto
Me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but
they would not hear ... Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways,
and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we
will not walk therein” (Jeremiah
13:11; 6:16).
The Kingdom Overturned
Eventually the longsuffering of God came to an end. Understandably
so. Generation after generation, Israel had rebelled against His
authority. Engrossed in self-indulgence and self-gratification, they
followed their own goals and ambitions, refusing to remain submissive
to the wise guidance of their God. Under such circumstances, the
ultimate consequences were inevitable.
Having been warned consistently throughout their generations by
Moses and the prophets God had raised up for that purpose, judgment
eventually fell upon the kingdom of Israel. In the days when the
kingdom was crumbling into ruin, the prophet Ezekiel conveyed God’s
judgment to that generation: “Ye have not walked in My statutes,
neither executed My judgments, but have done after the manner of the
heathen that are around you.” Therefore, at that time, the glory
of the LORD which had dwelt within the temple at Jerusalem “went up
from the midst of the city” and departed (Ezekiel
11:12, 23). The glory, which was a sign of God’s presence
(though not His person) dwelling amongst His people, has not returned.
And it will not return until the second coming of the Messiah, who
will restore the divine glory to Jerusalem again (Ezekiel
43:1-2).
The break-away kingdom in the northern section of the Promised Land
comprising ten tribes was taken away captive by the Assyrians, and
their dominion destroyed (II
Kings 17:5-23). The remaining two tribes, Judah and
Benjamin, continued in the south for approximately another 134 years,
with Jerusalem, the “city of David,” as their capital. But as
their wickedness was little different from that of their brethren in
the north, their kingdom was ultimately overturned and destroyed by
the Babylonians (II
Kings 25:1-11) - about 590 B.C.
At this significant point in history, a most illuminating and
critical key to Bible understanding was revealed.
Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, God told Zedekiah, the last
king ever to sit upon the throne of David in Jerusalem: “Remove the
diadem, and take off the crown: this [the kingdom] shall not be the
same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will
overturn, overturn, overturn it [the throne of David]: and it shall be
no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him” (Ezekiel
21:26-27).
Who is this “one” who was to “come,” and “whose right”
it would be to restore both the throne and the kingdom?
This is a question of critical importance. And the answer to the
question is vital to a correct understanding of Bible truth.
Promises to Eve, Abraham, and David
The beginning of the answer will be found in God’s words spoken
in the Garden of Eden as recorded in Genesis 3:15. He promised that
One would come who would be the “seed of the woman” — that is,
descended from Eve the first woman — who would overcome the power of
sin, thus making eternal redemption possible for humankind.
The answer is further augmented in God’s promise to Abraham that
his “seed” — a singular descendant — would reign supreme over
all his enemies (Genesis
22:15-18; Galatians 3:16).
Further, God made a third promise, this time to David. He promised
David “a seed,” descended through the line of Eve and Abraham, who
would also be the Son of God. This descendant would re-establish the
“throne” and the “kingdom” of Israel (II
Samuel 7:12-14).
The identity of this One, whose coming with power and authority has
been promised by God, is obviously the key to understanding God’s
grand purpose.
Who is this personage who will provide redemption for humanity, and
restore the kingdom of God and the throne of Israel? Who is this one
who will bring blessings to “all families of the earth” (Genesis
12:1-3)?
Upon examining the passages of biblical evidence which we have set
before the reader, there should be little difficulty in recognising
that the one who is to accomplish all this, and reign as supreme
monarch over all the world, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
An abundance of evidence supports this claim. The opening words of
the New Testament direct immediate attention to this very question:
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham” (Matthew
1:1).
When tracing the Lord’s birthline back to Adam and Eve (Luke
3:23-38), the question may be asked: why, out of all the
Lord’s natural forebears, should the New Testament Bible begin with
direct references to David and Abraham? There can be only one answer:
because of the paramount significance of God’s promises made to
them, concerning the coming of the promised “seed.”
Jesus Christ — Earth’s Coming King
True sons and daughters of God are described in the Bible as the
“children of Abraham” (Galatians
3:26). Why? Because they believe the same promises as did
Abraham, and manifest the same faith (Galatians
3:6-7). Thus it is stated that, in these promises, God
“preached the gospel [the good news, the glad tidings of the coming
kingdom and the hope of salvation] to Abraham… So then, they which
be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians
3:8-9). It is then explicitly stated that the “seed”
through whom all God’s promises would be fulfilled was a singular
personage, none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians
3:16).
The apostle Paul refers directly to God’s promise to David (II
Samuel 7:10-16) in his letter to the Romans: “His
[God’s] Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of
David according to the flesh...” (Romans
1:3).
Peter leaves no room for doubt on this matter. On the Day of
Pentecost, after Christ’s resurrection from the grave and ascension
into heaven, thus fulfilling Psalm 110:1, Peter preached the gospel to
the Jews: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the
patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is
with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God
had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins,
according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his
throne; He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of
Christ ...” (Acts
2:29-31).
We have already referred to the prophecy of Ezekiel concerning the
“overturning” of the kingdom of Israel — also termed “the
kingdom of God” — in which it is foretold that it would remain in
a state of ruin, “until” the coming of the “one” whose
“right” it would be to re-establish the kingdom and to reign over
mankind (Ezekiel
21:25-27).
Restoration of the Throne and the Kingdom
The Gospel of Luke identifies this personage beyond doubt. In
announcing to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God, the
angel said: “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called
the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house
of Jacob for ever: and of his kingdom there shall be no end”
(Luke
1:30-33).
The apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ who had followed him
faithfully during the course of his ministry, understood that they
would be rewarded for their faithfulness. But in what way? Peter was
the one who put their question into words: “Behold, we have forsaken
all, and followed thee. What shall we have therefore?” The Lord gave
a clear and unequivocal answer: “Ye which have followed me, in
the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne
of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew
19:27-28).
The word rendered “regeneration” is most interesting. The
Greek, palingenesia, is derived from palin, meaning
“again,” and genesis, which means “birth” or “beginning.”
The word therefore speaks of the re-birth or reconstitution of the
kingdom of Israel, which is the kingdom of God, with Christ reigning
upon the throne of his father David (Luke
1:32-33).
A word with a similar meaning occurs in the book of Acts. Peter
speaks of “the times of refreshing” that “shall come from
the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ...
whom the heavens must receive (Psalm
110:1, Acts 2:32-33) until the times of
restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of
all His holy prophets” (Acts
3:19-21). The word “restitution” is from the Greek
apokatastasis, derived from apo, “back, again,” and kathistemi
“to set in order;” therefore, literally, “to set in order again,”
and thus to completely restore. Obviously, Peter was referring to
“the kingdom” which is to be re-established, with the throne in
“Jerusalem….. as in the days of old” (Malachi
3:4).
Christ is Coming Again
This concept of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, together
with the re-establishment of David’s throne, was a vital element of
the gospel preached by Christ. The early verses of Acts of the
Apostles contain a brief account of the Lord’s appearance among his
disciples after his resurrection. He “showed himself alive” as he
walked in their midst for “forty days” before his ascension to the
right hand of his Father (Psalm
110:1). During this time, the Lord Jesus spoke to his
disciples regarding “things pertaining to the kingdom of God”
(Acts
1:3). It may well be argued that if, after these
discussions — to say nothing of the three and one half years he had
spent teaching them before his crucifixion — they did not now fully
understand what the Lord meant by “the kingdom of God,” surely
they never would! Hence, in their final conversation, the question
they posed to him is very plain: “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore
again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts
1:6-7).
In replying, the Lord did not tell them they had failed to
understand his teaching on the subject of “the kingdom,” and that
“the kingdom of Israel” was long gone, never to be restored. On
the contrary, he said: “It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts
1:6-7). This is another way of saying: “You are not in
error in speaking of the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, but
only God knows when that time will come.”
On numerous occasions in the gospel narratives, Jesus spoke of his
return to earth and of his ascension to power. “They shall see the
Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,
and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of
his glory” (Matthew
24:30; 25:31). The key words in such passages stand out
clearly, their meaning obvious: “See the Son of man coming… with
power and great glory ... he shall sit upon the throne of his
glory.”
The Bible contains more than two hundred references to the second
coming of Christ. Most are plain, simple to understand and certainly
unambiguous: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven” (Acts
1:11).
Could anything be clearer?
Summary
The exposition presented thus far has shown that there is a clear
thread of uniformity and harmony in God’s purpose, as revealed in
the pages of His Word, the Bible. We have shown that it teaches:
- Human government has failed because human nature is weak and
sin-prone.
- God has always known this; but mankind declines to seek God’s
way by confessing a need for divine guidance in all matters.
- Mankind have tried to rule the world through human philosophy,
which will always corrupt God’s way.
- The world is now out of control, human rulers being unable to
either curb or solve the destructive issues of the times.
- There is an urgent need for a New World Order. Humanity has
neither the capacity nor the wisdom to provide such vast changes.
- God established a kingdom upon the earth some 3,500 years ago,
known as “the kingdom of the LORD” or “the kingdom of
Israel.”
- The kingdom was eventually overturned because the rulers and
people consistently failed to obey God.
- The kingdom was to remain in a state of disintegration until one
came who would have the right to re-establish both the throne and
the kingdom.
- God’s three great promises — to Eve, Abraham and David —
ensured divine intervention in human affairs. A promised
“Seed” would come who would be both Son of man and Son of God.
Through him, God would provide for the needs of the human race —
including individual eternal salvation and a worldwide government.
The first and second advents of Christ would provide for these
needs.
- The “seed” through whom these things would be achieved can
be clearly identified as the Lord Jesus Christ.
- He must return to the earth to re-establish the throne and
kingdom of David, which will constitute the kingdom of God upon
the earth.
Christ to Confront the Nations
When instructing his disciples in the principles of prayer, the
Lord Jesus taught them to pray to their heavenly Father: “Thy
kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven” (Matthew
6:10). The Lord Jesus did not believe that a kingdom of God
existed in his own times; he looked for a kingdom to “come” at
some time in the future.
Christ’s hope may be summarised in words God addressed to Moses:
“Truly, I live! All the earth shall be filled with the glory
of the LORD” (Numbers
14:21). It should be noted that, as with the “Lord’s
prayer,” the full emphasis of this declaration is that God will be
glorified in the earth, at a time in the future when His Word will be
respected and obeyed by mankind.
This is God’s purpose with the earth. He will surely bring it to
pass. Evil men, pursuing their own goals and ambitions, driven by
greed and a lust for power, will not be permitted to frustrate God’s
Great Master Plan for the earth.
Christ will confront the nations at his return. They will
acknowledge his presence, his power, and his authority.
At the same time he will “destroy them which destroy the earth”
(Revelation
11:18), thereby removing all human authority and opposing
power worldwide. The prophet Jeremiah foretold this coming conflict.
“The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy
habitation... He shall give a shout as they that tread the grapes, against
all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the
ends of the earth, for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations,
He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the
sword, saith the LORD...A great whirlwind shall be raised up from the
coasts of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day
from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth” (Jeremiah
25:30-33). This prophecy has never been fulfilled. Yet,
prophetic signs in the Word of God warn that the second coming of
Christ is near, and therefore the time for the fulfilment of these
prophecies is imminent.
Christ’s Coming Foretold in the Psalms
Psalm 2 eloquently describes the impending confrontation. The
nations will “rage” in their vain thoughts, when many powers
combine to attempt to withstand the authority of Christ in that day (Psalm
2:1-2). They will reject divine supremacy, but God will
maintain His power and His sovereignty (Psalm
2:3-5). Despite opposition from the nations, He will
establish Christ as King upon David’s throne in Jerusalem, giving
him the “uttermost parts of the earth” for his “possession” (Psalm
2:6-8). The power of the nations will be “broken” (Psalm
2:9). The heads of governments throughout the earth will be
warned to submit to the righteous reign of Christ, or “perish” (Psalm
2:10-12).
The message of this Psalm is not difficult to grasp so long as it
is understood that it has a clear application to the second coming of
Christ in the Book of Revelation (Revelation
2:26-27), where Psalm 2 is referred to in relation to the
return of the Lord Jesus Christ).
The prophet Isaiah uses terminology similar to that found in Psalm
2. He says: “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise
like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a
rushing like the rushing of mighty waters ... But God shall rebuke
them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of
the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the
whirlwind” (Isaiah
17:12-13).
The book of Psalms mentions these coming momentous events many
times, in language too clear to be misunderstood: “Arise, O God,
judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations... that men may
know that Thou, whose name alone is the LORD, art the Most High over
all the earth” (Psalms
82:8; 83:18).
One of the most beautiful and dramatic accounts of Christ’s
future reign on earth is to be found in Psalm 72. Turn to this Psalm
and read it carefully. The Psalm may be divided into six parts,
presenting:
- Vv. 1-4 . . . .A Reign of Righteousness
- Vv. 5-7 . . . .A Reign of Respect
- Vv. 8-11 . . . . .A Reign of Renown
- Vv. 12-14 . . . .A Reign of Relief
- Vv. 15-16 . . . .A Reign of Result and Replenishment
- Vv. 17-20 . . . .A Reign of Response
Now, look more closely at the wonderful message of this Psalm. Each
verse reveals a marvellous aspect of Christ’s coming reign on the
earth. Notice the sequence of events:
- v. 1. God’s royal king to receive his throne.
- v. 2. The wise judgments of the king.
- v. 3. His just and righteous government.
- v. 4. His concern for the needy; the destruction of tyrants.
- v. 5. The king to be held in reverence by all.
- v. 6. His reign will bring refreshment, fertility and
fruitfulness.
- v. 7. Righteousness will prevail, and lasting peace established.
- v. 8. He will have worldwide dominion.
- v. 9. His enemies will repent and respond to him.
- v. 10. Other rulers will bow to his authority and power.
- v. 11. All rulers will resign their offices in favour of his
government.
- v. 12. He will make provision for all the needy.
- v. 13. He will care for the underprivileged and dis-advantaged.
- v. 14. He will protect the weak.
- v. 15. He will be a King-priest and a Mediator.
- v. 16. The earth shall prosper; none will suffer hunger.
- v. 17. All nations will acknowledge him and praise him.
- v. 18. Praise will resound to God throughout the world.
- v. 19. God’s name and glory will be recognised and He will be
worshipped.
This remarkable, prophetic Psalm demonstrates quite clearly what is
to occur at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Great Reward For the Faithful
Although the Lord Jesus Christ will reign as Supreme Monarch over
all the earth, he will not reign alone. Matthew 19:28 records that the
Lord promised his twelve apostles that they would sit upon thrones,
each of them ruling over one of the reunited tribes of a restored and
rejuvenated Israel. The prophet Isaiah foretold: “A king shall reign
in righteousness and princes shall rule in judgment” (Isaiah
32:1). The Lord Jesus addressed words of comfort and hope
to all who would serve him “in spirit and in truth”; for in
quoting from Psalm 2 (referred to earlier), he told his faithful
servants: “He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to
him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron” (Revelation
2:26-27).
All who have learned the true message of God’s Word, and who
rejoice in the coming fulfilment of all He has promised, understand
that they have been offered positions of great honour in the coming
kingdom of God upon this earth, together with the priceless gift of
divine nature — the same deathless nature which God possesses! At
Christ’s return they will unite their voices in praise and
thanksgiving: “Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests,
and we shall reign on the earth!” (Revelation
5:10).
God constantly told the people of Israel what they should do to
receive His eternal blessing, a direction which they constantly
ignored: “This is the way, walk ye in it… Stand ye in the ways,
and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will
not walk therein” (Isaiah
30:21; Jeremiah 6:16). The human constitution is naturally
rebellious towards the will of God: “There is a way that seemeth
right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs
16:25).
Where is the logic in rejecting the Word of God? It has been
imparted for our wellbeing, as well as for His honour and glory. To
repudiate or exclude Him from our lives is to manifest a disposition
that will lead to eternal oblivion in the grave.
Is it not wiser to accept that true submission to God can lead to
receiving the gift of divine nature and a life that will never end? We
urge the reader to give these matters earnest consideration. After
all, it is a question of eternal life or eternal death in the grave.
If we are wise, it will not be too difficult to make the right
decision.