Dear brethren, nearly all of us understand by now that this world and its governments are in a horrible mess! The American government is bringing our peoples into financial bondage for generations to come. The British government is in similar straits. Around the world, billions of people are being oppressed by their governments in various ways—dictatorships and autocracies in Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and in many nations on the African continent and in the Middle East. People’s basic "human rights" are being trampled. People are being tortured, raped, brutalized and often killed for opposing their governments. Increasing hundreds of millions are literally beginning to starve to death—often because of continuing wars, misappropriation of money and misguided government programs.
Though most around us do not understand, the very real answer is what Jesus commanded us to pray for: "Thy Kingdom come!"
In His inspired word, God reveals that He would "send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:20–21).
As the above scripture clearly indicates, this message—the real Gospel of Jesus Christ—was being proclaimed in one way or another by "all His holy prophets" since the world began. Now, at last, we are on the very verge of His actual return to this earth as King of kings! Even we in God’s Church may become lethargic, because many of us have had to "wait so long"! However, the time is drawing near, and we must not lose our zeal and our dedication in preparing for that very real government and for our part in ruling this earth under Jesus Christ.
Dear friends, this world will really need and quickly begin to appreciate our help in straightening out the world when Christ returns. I do not need to go into all the details here; most of you know that the Bible clearly describes how civilization will be shattered, and how people will be starving, diseased and in confusion and psychological trauma all over this world.
Yet, after Christ’s return, Satan the Devil will be out of the picture! He will no longer be deceiving the nations, for the living Jesus Christ will bind Satan "so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:3). Then, people’s eyes will at last be opened and they will be willing to learn the Truth. Describing the House of Israel, Jeremiah writes, "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn" (Jeremiah 31:9).
Later in the chapter, God tells us, "Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border" (vv. 16–17).
Yes, indeed, there is a magnificent hope for the future in the coming peaceful, prosperous, magnificent Government of God soon to be established on this earth under Jesus Christ! So, we in God’s Church need to grasp more fully the reality of what is soon coming upon us. For we will soon have the wonderful opportunity—and the responsibility—to assist Jesus Christ in this coming Government.
As God’s word tells Israel, "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land…. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:24, 26–27).
Learn God’s Approach to Governing
The Creator here clearly indicates that a completely new attitude will permeate the House of Israel, which is nearly always used as a "type"—a forerunner—of what will happen to all the nations. God will put His Spirit (v. 27) within the people, and cause them to walk in "His statutes." Therefore, we—now—must learn to study and meditate deeply on the commandments and the statutes of God, thoughtfully considering them to learn their full meaning and application in the coming Government of God. We must emulate King David’s approach and fill our minds with an understanding of God’s laws and statutes and how they should apply in the coming Government of Christ—amplified, of course, by the New Testament and the Spirit of God. As you study God’s statutes in Exodus 20–24 and in Deuteronomy 12–28, try to think through how the wisdom in the statutes applies to every facet of life. Think about how the statutes will apply to the carrying out of the administration of your city or nation if you truly overcome and receive what Christ promised the most zealous overcomers: "Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities" (Luke 19:17).
Brethren, we must all move forward with zeal and with faith to fulfill our responsibilities and our opportunity! Remember, through God’s Spirit, we will be given the extra help we need! Christ inspired the Apostle Paul to tell us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Since God has called you at this time, He will certainly be with you, strengthen you, encourage you and guide you as you sincerely try to walk with Him and prepare for your soon-coming responsibility in assisting Him in bringing genuine peace and well-being to this confused world.
Of course, we must do our very best to be genuine "overcomers" so as to be fit for this responsibility. For Jesus Christ stated, "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father" (Revelation 2:26–27). As Jesus proclaimed, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:21).
What will we face when our new responsibilities begin in Christ’s Government? First of all, Satan will be gone, as already mentioned. He will no longer be deceiving people and stirring them up against God and His ways. Also, having endured horrible sufferings in the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord, people will be genuinely humbled and will be willing to listen. Jeremiah 31 vividly describes the peoples of the twelve tribes of Israel then being gathered back to Israel "from the ends of the earth" (v. 8). Among them will be the blind and the lame. We read: "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them" (v. 9). And later, God reveals, "they shall sorrow no more at all" (v. 12). Then, God says, "They shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border" (vv. 16–17).
YOU Should Be Part of This Magnificent FUTURE!
Yes, dear brethren, millions and millions of people will eventually shed tears of joy as they realize that there is genuine deliverance at last! That there is a real God. That He is a God of love! That He is blessing them, guiding them, delivering them—and will give them "the desires of their heart" as they learn to walk with Him. For God’s word tells us, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:3–4).
Therefore, we all need to study deeply and genuinely the "statutes" of God, and to understand how they expand upon the Ten Commandments and apply the principles of God’s law to an entire civil nation. We need to come to understand God’s law and His statutes as they would apply under the New Covenant with the help of God’s Spirit. King David set us the example, for he stated, "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day…. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end" (Psalms 119:97, 112). As you genuinely study God’s statutes in Exodus 20–24 and Deuteronomy 12–28, try to think through carefully how these laws and principles would apply—under the New Covenant—as the basis of the entire society in Tomorrow’s World! Carefully read all of Psalm 119 to see how important God’s commands and statutes were to David—the future King over all Israel.
Beside studying all of these laws and statutes, each of us needs to learn to be the right kind of leader and governor through exercising God’s wisdom, balance, love and self-control in our own daily lives. Looking forward to your role in Christ’s government, try to learn to make the right decision every single time!
Study the book of Proverbs for wisdom.
Throughout the book of Proverbs, God tells us in many different ways, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her" (Proverbs 4:7–8).
Each of us must learn to seek for wisdom, pray for it and try to exercise it every single day of our lives. Learn to get all the facts before you make a decision, brethren! Do not "jump" to a quick conclusion without getting all the facts—thinking them through in the light of God’s word. Also, as we are reminded throughout the book of Proverbs, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14). We must learn to seek out a number of wise counselors—and learn to listen to their advice and, in most cases, heed it. Then we must learn to cry out to God for His guidance in making the correct decisions.
Dear brethren, if you learn to do all of these things and "walk with God" as best you can in every phase and facet of your lives, then God will be fashioning you, molding you and truly preparing you to rule with Christ in His coming Kingdom. That is why we are called now. That is the magnificent future we can look forward to—the opportunity to assist Christ in "wiping away every tear," healing the sick, delivering the troubled, releasing captives from prison and bringing joy to the entire earth. Again, as we saw in Jeremiah’s inspired prophecy: "There is hope in your future, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 31:17)! That hope—that magnificent opportunity to straighten out this earth and bring genuine peace and joy to millions—is what should motivate all of us to press toward the Kingdom of God with all of our hearts!