The History of the Ages – Lesson 71
Before we look at the eternal earth, I want to stop and look back and mention just a few things I think mankind has had to have learned to this point in order to enter into this time that is the literal fulfillment of all that God has ever promised. There are two main factors to be considered here. The first is that during the Millennium, one of the characteristics of this time is the universal knowledge of the Lord. All the inhabitants of the earth will have learned who God is and what He requires. The second is that in recent history there will have been two graphic examples of what happens to those who rebel. The first is at the end of the tribulation period at Armageddon (Revelation 19:17-21) and the second at the end of the Millennium when Satan is loosed and goes out to deceive the nations ending in a great slaughter and the final confinement of all who opposed God (Revelation 20:7-9). Here’s the list:
- That God has always had a plan for man, which He has carried out in time through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9-11; Hebrews 1:2, 11:3, where “worlds” is an improper translation of aionon, which should be “ages” of time).
- That His eternal purpose is to have free moral agents (in both the spiritual realm, that is, angels and other living creatures, and the material realm, mankind) that have been tested and are now free of the possibility of rebellion, that He might give them all that He has purposed in all the ages to come (I Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-12, 3:9-11; Revelation 21-22).
- That all through the history of the ages as God revealed Himself to men in the Old Testament then in the New and as events in that history unfolded just as He had said they would (especially the recent history regarding the tribulation and Millennium as revealed in John’s Revelation), now those who have survived those times know that:
- God must be obeyed in all things. When God says, “Don’t do that”, He means it. Sin is never excused.
- His laws are righteous and just. Anything that has ever violated His character (Who He is) or nature (what He does) has been punished.
- His form of government is the only right one. Man was never able to govern himself. Only a loving submission to Him enables man to live a free and completely fulfilling life.
- God is gracious and forgiving to those who have been repentant and have learned obedience through their submission to Him.
- God is the only absolutely righteous and just Being and deserves unquestioned authority.
- All accusations against Him in the past by those who have followed evil have proven to be untrue.
- Everything He has done has been for the best good of His creation, leading to the time when He could bring everything and everyone into complete harmony with Him and give them all the benefits of His grace for all eternity.
- Those who have rebelled against Him will be punished forever as a monument to His anger towards sin and as an example of His righteous judgment for all generations throughout eternity.
- That all the redeemed and obedient are to be His eternal heirs and reign with Him as kings and priests forever, administering the affairs of the universe at His personal direction.
Then, there’s another way to look at this. What is the difference between the conditions present when Adam and Eve were in the garden and when the inhabitants of the earth are ready to enter into the eternal earth? And why are they different?
Let’s start with the last question, why are conditions different? If you remember back in the very early lessons I probably mentioned that Adam and Eve were created to resolve what I call the angelic conflict. Lucifer had decided he wanted to be equal with God. He carried on a universal campaign against God and managed to get one-third of the angels to follow him. God judged him for his rebellion and sentenced him to eternal punishment. Then Lucifer (who became Satan, meaning, adversary) appealed his sentence.
The result was that God then created mankind starting with Adam and Eve and determined that anyone who did what Lucifer had done would get the same punishment. Every succeeding generation of man was then born into a probationary life where they would be judged based on what they did with respect to God and His authority over their life. We were created to justify God’s righteous judgment of Lucifer and those who followed him. God’s character and nature will never excuse rebellion.
Satan was then permitted to deceive and tempt mankind into opposing God. Mankind fell into condemnation as a result of his fall with its resulting curse and God began to reveal His plan of redemption to rescue any who would repent and follow Him.
So, what is the difference between the conditions Adam, Eve and all succeeding generations faced and those enjoyed by the people who enter the eternal earth?
- Adam and Eve were tempted to oppose God by Satan and the generations that followed were enslaved by evil influence and the results of the curse. Satan will not tempt those who enter into the eternal earth, as he is forever confined to hell. And, as we will see in future lessons, all results of the curse have been removed. Man now lives in the best possible conditions, absent evil, in the visible presence of God.
- As a continual reminder, all eternal generations will be required to look down into hell at the punishment of those who did rebel – a sight so terrible they will never be tempted to oppose God in any way.
