The following Bible presentation can be read as standing on its own, or, as a continuation of a series on sin and it’s consequences which can all be found immediately below the present one if you wish to read them before this one.

Introduction

We intend to tell you about things that in the light of conditions today could seem impossible – a fairy tale – even fantasy.  So, we will start with one that is sadly all too realistic, but happily can lead to infinitely better things.

One day towards the end of his ministry when Jesus was prophesying of times to come, he said …

⁹  But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. ¹⁰  Then said he unto them, earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.                                       Luke 21
Jesus went on to describe coming troubles at different times that would get worse and worse reaching their climax in the battle of Armageddon in the Middle East.  But this is not the time, nor do we have the space to look at the prophecies of wars at that terrible time when many nations will suffer greatly.  Our interest now is in how Jesus told the crowd before him those wars would conclude … …
²⁵ … … and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring^;26  Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.                                                                                    Luke 21
Jesus will then return from heaven to save his people from destruction
³⁰  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.      Matthew 24
This seeming digression from our main subject is necessary so that you appreciate the huge changes needed to bring the world the state God ultimately intends for the earth …
¹⁵  … the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.                                                Revelation 11
This long awaited part of God’s purpose will certainly happen.  The scriptures tell us these changes are huge!  But we have the assurance from His past actions that they will occur…
³⁷  For with God nothing shall be impossible.                                           Luke 1
After all, He did create the Universe and mankind upon Earth!
We can show from the scriptures how these essential great changes will be achieved. For this will necessitate the removal of power and influence from  wicked, godless world leaders, it being transferred to Jesus Christ, the son of God, who will rule over God’s Kingdom on earth. But this requires a separate presentation.  Let us know if you would like to see this, but for the time being the subject we wish to deal with is …   

The earth filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD

In this series of Bible presentations, (listed at the end of this one), we have seen that a loving God created the world, and men and women in it, who are like himself to the extent that they can communicate with Him intellectually and appreciate what He has done and is planning for them.  He reveals His great work of creation and the amazing benefits of being part of His plans for the future, there will be some who will grow to put their trust in Him and love Him^{October 2021} as a child does his father by appreciating what He is doing for them; choosing to obey Him because they want to contribute to making His plans a reality; believing in His mercy that they may have  part of the glorious new world that will, in due time be, “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD.”  So, let us now look at what God promises those who follow His Son faithfully to the best of their ability.
Clearly the first thing that needs to be changed for the Earth to be filled with “the knowledge of the glory of God,” is man himself.  We know, and have discussed in this series of presentations, the strong-willed nature God has given man to enable him to show the genuineness of his love for his Heavenly Father. But we also know that man is capable of great evil as well. We may remember that the apostle Paul describes his nature like this … …
¹⁸  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.   Romans 7 
God created the world for His own glory as our header quotation shows.  We have seen that believing men and women have an essential a part to play in that purpose. Clearly it will be necessary to remove from this world  sin and death.  The process begins with the selection of those who are to assist Jesus in establishing the Kingdom of God on the Earth.  Step one is a marvellous miracle.
²⁸ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹ And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.                                                                            John 5
Now many men and women will have responded to the call of God, in the Old Testament through the prophets, in the New Testament through Jesus and the apostles, and since their day through the reading of the Bible. But not all will have remained faithful so there will need to be a judgment of the faithful and unfaithful.
¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.                                       2 Corinthians 5 
The unworthy will be returned to the grave as God decides, but we are interested now in the future promised those judged worthy of the amazing blessings of eternal life.
²⁰  We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.      Philippians 3
We are promised the same everlasting body Jesus received  when resurrected to eternal life – a most remarkable and marvellous change.
¹⁶  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3
This means we are no longer subject to sin and death, pain, suffering and much more.
²⁹ He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  ³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: ³¹ But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.                                               Isaiah 40
Many are the practical benefits of all those for whom a merciful Jesus forgives weaknesses and failings. Additionally they will enjoy  the companionship of their fellow ‘Saints’ who are not chosen by the religious leaders of the day, but by our Heavenly Father.
⁵  Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.                                                                              Psalm 50
There are many scriptures describing the earth under the reign of Jesus Christ. The following is a good outline for our purposes in this article.
¹³  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Christ and his saints now resurrected with immortal life to work for God’s glory] came with the clouds of heaven,[with God’s angels a glorious host] and came to the Ancient of days, [Jesus fulfilling his Heavenly Father’s long promised plan] and they brought him near before him. ¹⁴  And there was given him dominion, [rule over the whole earth as his empire] and glory, and a kingdom [Israel, the Kingdom of God, centred in Jerusalem as capital of the world], that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.         Daniel 7

We will pause for a moment to consider the personal benefits of eternal life.
♦ Freedom from temptation, pain, suffering and death.
♦ No more anxiety, stress or worry.
♦ Never being lonely, having many loving, lovely companions.
♦ Being reunited with loved ones who have believed the Gospel.
♦ The ability to meet those remarkable characters we have read about in the Bible and grown to know and love.
♦ The ability to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of nature, the sunrise in the mountains, animals at play, dolphins leaping in the seas, bird song filling the air, the splendid colours and perfumes of flowers, shrubs and trees in a world free from pollution.
♦ Being able to teach an eager mortal population to know, reverence and worship, the one true and glorious God.
⁶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.            Revelation 14
[Note: the Greek word translated Angel actually means messenger and isn’t always an Angel from God. We anticipate from other scriptures that the Saints will assist in this work.]
♦ The honour of assisting Christ in the government of the world.
²⁶  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.                                                               Revelation 2

How will we be occupied in the Kingdom?
Bearing in mind that Jesus is to return to the world when Israel is under attack from the nations around her and she is about to be destroyed, his first task will be to conquer the enemies of Israel.  The way God has decided to carry that out is a long story which we must leave for another occasion, for the task of overcoming the many nations that will oppose him will be huge and too complicated to describe now but we are prepared to tell you on another occasion.  What is important is that the surviving mortal population will be those that accept Jesus and his rule. So the world will undergo drastic change.
³  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.                                             Isaiah 2
The honour and satisfaction of helping Jesus in the great works to be achieved will surely be great. Particularly because under the rule of Jesus, peace and harmony between peoples will be the key to life.
⁴ And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.                                                                         Isaiah 2

This means the removal from the world of …
♦ All the horrors of war.
♦ Every sort of armament and weapon.
♦ The heartache of caring for the victims and associated loss of life.
♦ A massive saving in resources and manpower.
And the conditions in the world will be changing as the peoples of the world set about clearing away all evidence of evil, wickedness and godlessness.

The following scriptures describe in lovely language some of the marvellous changes it will be a joy to experience throughout the world in the Kingdom Age.
¹ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. ² It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Isaiah 35
⁶ The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. ⁷ And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.               Isaiah 11