Thy Kingdom Come

I read in the news recently about a raid on a ranch in Texas belonging to a breakaway Mormon sect. I am sure most of you would have heard or seen this story in the media.

This event reminded me of another sect leader - Jim Jones. Jones's sect began in the United States but he eventually fled to the jungles of Guyana where he set up his own little community. It amazes me that these sect leaders withdraw from the rest of the world and set up their own little communities, mostly to hide illegal activities it would seem.

However, pain and suffering are all these people encounter when they follow these so-called religious leaders. I am glad that no-one was hurt, at least physically, from this latest episode.

Jesus did warn us about false prophets that would emerge in the end time.

And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. (Matthew 24:11).

Why not try to build a community patterned against the coming kingdom that Jesus Christ spoke about? Admittedly there are some things that we do not have control over, e.g. the weather, but if you are about God's work, He will intervene and do His part. People should be made to feel happy, comfortable and at peace. It is not hard as God himself told us that anything a man puts his mind to do he can do it.

The Bible tells us about a future Kingdom, one that will be peaceful and full of happiness for everyone. Jesus Christ himself will sit on the throne and rule with true justice and fairness.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us and the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this. (Isaiah 9:6-7). (New Living Translation).

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15). (NLT).

Faithful Christians will rule with Him.

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the word of God... they came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4).

To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations. (Revelation 2:26).

Then Peter said to Him, we've given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it? And Jesus replied, I assure you that when I, the Son of Man, sit upon my glorious throne in the Kingdom, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28).

War will be a thing of the past and humanity will live in peace and prosperity.

The Lord will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All war will stop and military training will come to an end. Everyone will live quietly in their own homes in peace and prosperity, for their will be nothing to fear. The Lord Almighty has promised this. (Micah 4:3-4)

Our disobedient and selfish attitudes will be replaced with a character of perfect discipline and virtue.

And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. (Ezekiel 36:26)

In this Kingdom, there will be no more global warming, no destruction of the rain forests, and no terminal illnesses. Even the wild animals would be tamed so you can actually have a lion or cobra as a pet.

I will cause my people and their homes around my holy hill to be a blessing and I will send showers, showers of blessings, which will come just when they are needed. The orchards and fields of my people will yield bumper crops and everyone will live in safety... (Ezekiel 34:26-27).

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will shout and sing!... (Isaiah 35:5-6).

In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace. Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions and a little child will lead them all. The cattle will graze among the bears. Cubs and calves will lie down together, and lions will eat grass as the livestock do. Babies will crawl safely among poisonous snakes. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes and pull it out unharmed. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain... (Isaiah 11:6-9)

God will establish His Kingdom in Jerusalem. Jerusalem has an exciting history and will play a major part in this end time.

So he took me in spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:10)

In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:1-3). (New International Version).

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east... (Zechariah 14:4). (NLT).

The Good News

Jesus specifically came to teach us about the good news (gospel) of His Kingdom. He told us not to worry about the cares of this life, but to seek God and His righteousness and all our needs will be taken care of.

So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing... Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. (Matthew 6:31-33).

He also told us to pray for his Kingdom to come soon. (Matthew 6:10).

There is no doubt that we are living in the time of the end. False prophets, war, food shortages and rising food prices, diseases, greed, selfishness, just to name a few. You can't ignore it. And this is just the beginning. (Matthew 24:8).

But, we can look forward to a new world. A world where everyone will live as one in absolutely perfect peace and harmony. Be a part of that world.