Chapter 1 - Three World Views --
Only One Is Going to Happen!
Chapter 2 - One Last "Obituary" Look at
Today's World Chapter 3 - The Cause of All World
Troubles
Chapter 4 - The New World
Government
Chapter 5 - Education and Religion Tomorrow
Chapter 6 - Now Picture Tomorrow's
World!
Chapter 7 - ... And All Speaking the
Same Language
WHEN JESUS CHRIST RETURNS to earth in the full supreme power
and glory of the Creator God, He is coming, this time, to save the
world, spiritually.
When He sits on the throne of His glory, in Jerusalem, all
nations composed of flesh-and-blood mortal humans will be there
before Him. He shall begin dividing "His sheep from the goats." To
the sheep, on His right hand, "Then shall the King say unto them on
his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).
Those converted, now, are heirs. We shall inherit the Kingdom
at Christ's coming. The dead in Christ shall be resurrected, rising
first -- changed to Spirit immortality. We which are then alive, in
Christ, shall be instantaneously changed to Spirit immortality, and
caught up with the resurrected ones, to meet the descending Christ
in the air.
We shall then be separated by immortality from the mortal
humans on earth.
Wherever Jesus is, from there, we shall be ever with Him.
Where, then, will He be? His feet shall stand that same day on the
Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).
It is after this that He separates the sheep (those who
repent, believe, and receive His Holy Spirit) from the goats (those
who rebel). This separation -- this educating converts for God's
Kingdom -- will continue throughout the entire thousand years of
Christ's reign on earth.
Christ will give to all nations a new and pure language: "For
then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all
call upon the name of the [Eternal], to serve him with one consent"
(Zephaniah 3:9).
The pure truth of God will be proclaimed to all people. No one
will be deceived any longer. But "the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the [Eternal], as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah
11:9).
Christ is the "root of Jesse," father of David. To Christ,
then, will the Gentiles seek (Isaiah 11:10). Christ will set His
hand to save all Israel (verse 11). (See also Romans 11:25-26.)
But all this work of world evangelism -- of spiritually saving
the world (as a whole, not necessarily every individual but surely
a majority) -- will require, simultaneously, reeducating the world.
Close to half of all people on earth today are illiterate.
They are so ignorant they simply could not be given even what might
be called bare "saving knowledge." A man in a country in the
interior of Central Africa had heard "The World Tomorrow" program
on Radio Elisabethville. He was a steady listener, and he received
The Plain Truth magazine. He wrote us letters. He wanted to
represent this Work of God, and raise up a church among his people.
We sent two ministers stationed in London to visit this man, get to
know him, and determine by personal contact what should be done.
They found he was the only man of any education among them. The
others were illiterate people. They were so ignorant, it was
impossible for them to comprehend anything about God, or Christ, or
salvation. Sadly, our ministers said such people would have to
receive at least elementary education before they could be reached
with the Gospel.
Reeducating the World
But now consider those in our more universally educated
affluent nations -- the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia,
Germany, France, and such nations.
We covered a section on this world's paganized, agnostic,
decadent education earlier in this book. The academic system was
founded by the pagan philosopher Plato. It has always remained
pagan. Injected into it, in more recent times, has been German
rationalism, and the atheistic theory of evolution.
Evolution, the atheist's explanation of a creation without a
Creator, is the basic concept on which modern education has been
built. Modern education is a mixture of truth and error, fact and
fable.
The educated of this world started, at birth, from scratch, so
far as knowledge goes. At the hour of birth, they knew nothing. The
process of education in this world is one of funneling knowledge
into minds. It is a process of memorizing. The student is taught
from texts. Textbooks are supposed to be true and authoritative.
The student must read, study, accept and memorize. In exams he is
graded on the accuracy of repeating what was "in the book." He is
not supposed to question, but to accept and believe.
Modern education has been based on a false, erroneous, untrue
foundation. The supposedly educated of this world -- even the great
minds -- have absorbed false knowledge. They have been trained in a
false approach to knowledge. Almost always, error is based on a
false assumed premise or hypothesis, taken for granted, never
questioned -- and, of course, unproved. The "educated" minds have
been filled with such false hypotheses. They have allowed a false
sense of values to flood their minds.
Truth appears to them to be fable. What is right may be to
them foolishness. That which may be utterly wrong appears to be
right. They come to view things through the false concept of
evolution.
This mis-education holds their minds captive.
It has been explained how the natural carnal mind, devoid of
revealed knowledge from God, is limited to knowledge of the
physical and material. The approach to all knowledge in the Western
world has been through the evolutionary hypothesis -- never through
God's revealed knowledge.
In God's millennial civilization, the basis of all knowledge
dissemination will be revelation. Light will replace darkness --
truth will replace error. Understanding will replace crass
materialism. True knowledge will replace intellectual ignorance.
Many years ago, I handed a comparatively brief paper,
disproving the evolutionary theory, to a scientist, asking for
comment. This was the approximate comment: "Mr. Armstrong, you
appear to have an uncanny knack of getting immediately to the trunk
of the tree, and its roots, avoiding all the little twiggy
propositions dependent on the trunk. You chop down the trunk, pull
out the roots, and all supporting equations come crashing down. I
have to admit you have chopped down the entire tree. Yet I have to
go on believing evolution. All my life has been devoted to science
and philosophy based on evolution. I have done graduate work and
post-doctorate work at some of our highest-rated universities. I
have been continually in contact with scientists, and have absorbed
that atmosphere completely. I am so steeped in it I would be
utterly unable to disbelieve in the evolutionary process, even
though you disprove it."
One of the great problems facing the returned glorified
Christ, will be that of reeducating the supposedly educated. These
minds -- and they are, indeed, the world's finest and best minds --
have become so perverted with false education that they will be
unable to accept truth until they first unlearn error. And it is at
least ten times more difficult to unlearn error, firmly imbedded in
the mind, than it is to start from "scratch" and learn new truth.
It may actually take them longer to come to a knowledge of
truth -- to become truly educated -- than the illiterate of this
world.
God's inspired Word, the Holy Bible, is the foundation of
knowledge. But they have been trained to hold this true foundation
in prejudiced contempt.
Yes, indeed, the educating and reeducating of the world will
be one of the most important tasks the Kingdom of God will face,
after Christ returns to rule. Today people follow the false and
deceptive values. Their entire thinking will require a
reorientation -- a change of direction.
A Headquarters Church
We have seen that the earth, after this thousand-year-period
begins, will be as full of the true knowledge of God as the oceans
are full of water (Isaiah 11:9). How will this be brought about?
The Prophet Micah gives part of the answer: "But in the last
days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the
[Eternal] shall be established in the top of the mountains, and
shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it"
(Micah 4:1).
Prophecy uses "mountain" as a symbol of a major nation, and
"hills" as a symbol of smaller nations. In other words, the Kingdom
of God, the Kingdom of resurrected immortals -- the ruling Kingdom --
-will be established in complete authority over the major nations
(of mortals) and exalted above the small nations -- and people will
flow to God's Kingdom. Now continue:
"And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up
to the mountain of the [Eternal], and to the house of the God of
Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his
paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion [the Church] and the Word
of the [Eternal] from Jerusalem. And he [Christ] shall judge among
many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall
beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more" (verses 2-3).
This knowledge -- this teaching -- and even knowledge of God's
Law -- shall go forth from the Church -- and from Jerusalem, the new
world capital.
We add another fact revealed in Acts 15. A misunderstanding
had arisen about certain doctrinal duties in the Church at Antioch.
This was in the early days of the New Testament Church of God. The
pattern is there revealed that there was a Headquarters Church at
Jerusalem. The Apostles Peter and James, and other top ranking
ministers were there. So the matter was taken to this Headquarters
Church for authoritative instruction.
Gathered there for this conference were the Headquarters
apostles, plus Paul, and the elders. Even so, there was sharp
contention and much disputing. Then Peter, chief apostle, rose and
gave God's inspired decision. The Church received its teachings
from the apostles. But in the Kingdom, Jesus Christ Himself will be
there to lead His Headquarters Church. At Jerusalem, James was
pastor. And as a matter of protocol to make Peter's decision
official, James approved it and wrote up the official authoritative
document.
This chapter discloses the pattern.
Christ, Himself, will be ruling from Jerusalem. Stationed
there with Christ, under immediate direction of Elijah, it is
indicated, will be those immortals chosen by Christ to constitute
the Headquarters Church. Revelation 3:12 indicates those of this
"Philadelphia" era will be pillars in that Headquarters Church.
Next, in this all-important Headquarters Church organization,
working with and directly under Elijah, it appears, will be the
resurrected John the Baptist. He came "in the power and spirit of
[Elijahi]" (Luke 1:17). Of him, Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you,
Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater
than John the Baptist ..." (Matthew 11:11). He was the Elijah
prophesied to come (Matthew 17:10-13; and 11:7-11).
Jesus said that no man who ever lived was greater than John
the Baptist. Yet, even the least in the resurrected Kingdom will be
greater (Matt. 11:11). It is evident that John the Baptist will be
placed in very high office. It seems logical that he should be
placed with, or immediately under, Elijah.
This Headquarters Church, at Christ's own world capital of
Jerusalem, then, undoubtedly will be given the administration of
the world's new system of education.
Also the indication is that the teaching of spiritual truth --
of the true gospel, the spiritual conversion of the world -- will be
directed, worldwide, from this Headquarters Church, under Elijah
and the overall direct supervision of Jesus Christ.
The principal purpose for which Christ is returning to earth
is to spiritually develop in humanity Godly character, and to save
the world. Most religious people, ministers, and evangelists
(fundamentalist), have supposed that this time, now, is the only
day of salvation. The verse of Scripture they rely on is a
mistranslation (II Corinthians 6:2). It should read "a day of
salvation," not "the" (quoted from Isaiah 49:8, where it is "a" not
"the"). If Christ had been trying to "save" the world, He would
have saved the world. It hasn't been "saved." God doesn't use a
babylon of confused, disagreeing religious organizations, divided
into hundreds of different concepts of theological doctrine, as His
instruments.
But the real world evangelism will be administered by this
Headquarters Church, composed of resurrected immortals, under
direct personal supervision of Christ Himself.
One thing there will not be in the millennial Headquarters
Church is a doctrinal committee of intellectual "scholars" to
decide whether Christ's teachings are true doctrines.
There was no such doctrinal committee in the first century
Headquarters Church at Jerusalem. All teaching came from Christ
through the apostles -- and a few times Christ communicated to
apostles via the prophets (of which there are none in God's Church
today) -- since the Bible for our time is complete. God's Church
today, as in the first century, receives its teachings from the
living Christ, through an apostle, just as in A.D. 31.
One other tremendous organizational function will be directed
from this Headquarters Church -- that of direction of all the
churches over the world. These churches will be composed of those
who become converted -- begotten of God by receiving His Holy
Spirit -- though still mortal.
Just as the converted Christian in this present age must
continue to live a life of overcoming, and of spiritual growth and
development (II Peter 3:18), so will they in the Millennium.
Happily they then will not have to overcome Satan. But they shall
have to overcome all evil impulses, habits, or temptations, innate
within themselves.
With only one Church -- one religion -- one faith -- there will
be many church congregations in every city, others scattered
through rural areas. There will be district superintendents over
areas, and pastors, elders, deacons and deaconesses in every local
church.
This, then, gives an insight into how the world will be
organized.
This shows how a super world government can, and will, be
established on earth.
Why Supernatural Force
World leaders today are virtually unanimous in concluding that
man's only hope of being saved alive for even another generation
lies in establishing an all-powerful super world government. Yet
all confess that nations are utterly unable to bring it about.
Sir Winston Churchill once said: "The creation of an
authoritative all-powerful world order is the ultimate aim toward
which we must strive. Unless some effective world super government
can be brought quickly into action, the proposals for peace and
human progress are dark and doubtful."
Clement Attlee, a former British Prime Minister, said: "The
world needs the consummation of our conception of world
organization through world law if civilization is to survive!"
Again he said, "We have not an awful lot of time. There is too much
dangerous stuff in the world, and there are too many fools about,
trigger-happy idiots and the like."
We could reproduce such quotes from world leaders, past and
present, for the next hundred pages. But all know that man is
utterly helpless and unable to bring about such a solution.
Would the United States say to the leaders of other nations,
"We are ready to relinquish all sovereignty over ourselves, and
place our great nation under the absolute rule of leaders from
Russia, China, France, Egypt, and other countries"? Would the
leaders in the Kremlin step down, and relinquish all Communist
sovereignty to a government headed by leaders from the United
States, and these other countries?
And, if men should undertake to establish a super world
government, wielding all the military power over all nations, what
form of government would the nations submit to? The men in the
Kremlin would never step down in submission unless this world
government would be Russian Communism -- and even then, these men in
the Kremlin would insist on having all the power. But the Chinese
communists would not submit to that -- they would demand that the
new world government be their brand of Communism.
Most nations would never accept democracy as the form of world
government, and the United States would accept nothing else.
Could anything be more impossible than for this world's
nations to get together, in a new world government of some form,
each surrendering all its power and sovereignty to it?
No, and even when Almighty God, the Creator and Ruler over the
entire universe, does supernaturally intervene to set up His world
government -- His perfect Government -- the nations will be angry.
The nations will fight. Men will say, "We don't want God to rule
over us!"
That's why Christ is coming in all the power and glory of
God's supernatural force. That's why He will rule with a rod of
iron. Man will never submit to the way of peace, prosperity,
happiness, and abundant well-being unless he is forced into it!
Purposed Long Ago
But God Almighty is working out a purpose here below.
And the Eternal God carefully planned every move toward the
accomplishment of that purpose.
His first promise of this happy state was made to Abraham. God
promised Abraham this whole earth as an everlasting inheritance for
him and his children. God promised that through Abraham all nations
of the earth would be blessed.
At the same time, God began insuring the efficiency and
perfection of His world-ruling government by causing Abraham,
Isaac, Israel and Joseph to be trained -- during a lifetime -- in
several basic essentials for top personnel in a government of
perfection.
First is right attitude. That is essential. God looks on the
heart -- the spirit -- the attitude. That is where He looked in
choosing David to be king over Israel (I Samuel 16:6-7, 11-12).
That is where He looks in you, and in me. These men were trained in
submission to God and those over them in authority. They were
trained in teamwork -- in harmoniously working together.
Secondly, they were trained in knowledge of the true values.
After that, they were trained in handling people, in wise
management of people, of wealth -- without letting it turn their
heads.
In the same way, King David was trained and developed.
All who, made immortal, will occupy important executive
offices in the coming world super government were trained in these
essentials. All realize fully not only the power, but the wisdom,
the love, the holiness and perfection of Almighty God. All know of
a certainty that His ways are the right ways -- His Laws, the right
and perfect Laws -- His Rule and His Government, the perfect
Government that will bring every blessing to those whom they
govern.
In this way, the Everliving God has prepared for His Kingdom.
He began, long ago, selecting men of outstanding ability who would
yield fully to Him, inculcating into their innermost being those
principles and characteristics that form the seven basic laws for
success in life:
1) The right goal -- to be born into God's Kingdom -- the goal
which inspires motivation and stimulates the ambition to achieve
that goal.
2) The right teaching or education. Every one of these men was
freed from the shackles of pagan teaching, tradition, erroneous
knowledge, false sense of values, and pagan customs. Every one was
trained in God's Way, based on God's Law, and the principles of
that Law. They were trained in the ways of righteousness. They
became skilled in applying the principles of God's Commandments,
laws, statutes and judgments.
3) They were trained in the development of good health --
avoiding the causes of sickness, disease, infirmities. They were
trained in keeping their minds sharp, clear, alert, balanced,
sound.
4) Every one was trained in developing drive -- constantly
putting a prod on self, not only to accomplish more, strive harder,
but to drive the self away from wrong desires, impulses, or
temptations, and into the right ways of God's Law. They were
trained to flee temptation. (They were all human. They all did sin-
-- sometimes seriously -- but they repented; they profited by
mistakes; they overcame these things.)
5) These men were schooled through a lifetime in
resourcefulness. God allowed multiple problems, hazards, obstacles
to confront them -- to try the mettle of these men. They learned how
to face up to and solve problems -- not to be defeated by them.
6) These men endured. They kept their eyes constantly on the
goal. When the going got so tough that even with their
resourcefulness they could not think their way through -- when it
appeared they were completely defeated, when it appeared hopeless
to try to carry on further, they did not give up -- they never quit!
They endured through thick and thin -- they endured to the end. They
endured by faith in God.
7) And, along with these traits, these men relied on the
guidance and the help of God. They walked with God. They talked to
God. They listened to God -- whether He spoke verbally and in
person, or through His Scriptures. They sought wisdom from God.
They relied on God for guidance, for protection, for every need.
They submitted to, and obeyed God.
Compare with Today's Politicians
And now -- finally. Consider!
Take outstanding, superior men, having undergone a human
lifetime of this attitude, this training in the ways of success and
perfection. But now change these men by a resurrection into the
perfection of immortality.
And consider that immortality will multiply their aptitudes,
abilities and powers perhaps a million times above what they
achieved as humans, by infusing into them the power and glory of
God.
That is what God is going to do!
And there you have the chief executive personnel, under
Christ, administering the new super world government.
Compare that to the scheming, compromising, selfishly
motivated politicians that head most of the governments of this
world today and other phases of civilization.
Feast your eyes for a while on the picture of the world
tomorrow which God's Government will produce -- as we shall now do --
and when you take your eyes from this book, and look again on this
drab, ugly, sin-sick world of corruption, violence and suffering --
it will make you sick at heart.
But doesn't it make you want to shout for joy, to realize what
a civilization -- what a world -- is actually coming?
Doesn't it make you want to really put your heart into your
prayers, praying earnestly, "Oh God! Thy kingdom come! Thy will be
done on earth, as it is in heaven!"
Just a few general afterthoughts before we leave the subject
of the personnel and organization of the coming Kingdom.
One may well ask: "What of such men as Abel, and Enoch?" You
read of them, in the faith chapter -- Hebrews 11 -- as men of faith
and righteousness (verses 4, 5). We answer: God has not revealed to
us where they will be placed. We have mentioned here only those few
where there appears to be real scriptural indication, based on what
is revealed, as to what posts they will fill in the Kingdom. This
same 11th chapter of Hebrews implies, certainly, that others such
as the harlot Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, and Samuel
will be in God's Kingdom. We cannot presume to decide what office
Christ has in store for them. And there are many, many others.
It is one of the joys of anticipation to realize that we shall
know where they shall be placed in the near future.
Someone may ask, "What about the women?" Yes, there were
outstanding women -- Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel. There were Miriam,
Deborah, and others. In the Kingdom, there will be no sex -- no male
and female (Matthew 22:30). Women, then, will be the same as men.
Sarah is called the mother of righteous women in the New
Testament (I Peter 3:6). Deborah actually judged, or ruled Israel
for a time. Their status in the Kingdom will be the same as men. We
would certainly suppose that women such as these will be given high
position and great honor in the Kingdom. But we do not presume, in
this present writing, to suggest what it shall be.