Portland Oregon United Church of God Mini Study Index

The Future

Ever wonder what is going to happen in the future? Will mankind destroy this Earth? What does the future hold for both the world in general and you personally? These studies provide vision. Click on a title below...

Armageddon and Divine Intervention: In an age of ever-increasing violence and horrifying acts of terrorism, bewildered people ask: Where is God? Why did the Almighty not intervene and prevent the outrages of Sept.11? Those events were so unexpected, so awful, as to cause some people to even doubt God's existence. We talk about our Armageddon. What is the Biblical Armageddon all about?
Biblical Terms for the Coming End of Man: Some biblical terms have a considerably broader application than the 3 1/2-year time of crisis immediately preceding Jesus Christ's return. This can lead to some confusion should we try to force these terms into a strict end-time-only usage.
Chapter Outline of the Book of Revelation: The book of Revelation or the unveiling discribe future events in God's plan for humanity. Having an understanding of the major outline will assist you in having the proper perspective of the book.
Does the Bible Say When Jesus Christ Will Return?: Contrary to what many people believe or claim, the Bible does not say when Jesus Christ will return. On the contrary, it clearly says that we do not know.
From Where Will Christ Reign?: The scriptural record attests to the fact that Christ will return from heaven to this physical earth to reign for 1,000 years on this planet with the restored and renewed physical city of Jerusalem as its world capital.
God Reveals the Future: No human seer or prophet could have accurately predicted the remarkable rise and fall of nations, leaders and people foretold in the Bible. God counsels us all to "remember the former things of old [the things He has already accomplished], for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done."
God's Government Will Promote One Universal Faith: One of Christ's first acts in establishing a universal government will be to abolish the separation of church and state. It's not hard to understand why, since religious deception and division have always plagued humankind.
God's Government will be directed toward the Perfecting of Man: All governments need a singular guiding purpose to endure. For example, a goal of the U.S. government, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, is to enable its citizens to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a lofty, wonderful and inspiring purpose of government. However, such purposes are all too often thwarted because of the limitations of human nature expressed through human politicians with personal character flaws. And sadly, the pursuit of happiness now is often taken to mean merely the pursuit of materialistic pleasures, which the Bible labels as covetousness and lust.
Gods Awesome Purpose for Those in the First Resurrection: When Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, those in the first resurrection will serve as judges (Revelation 20:4) and priests (verse 6) and will "reign on earth" (Revelation 5:10). We will not go to heaven to live passively and idly. Those resurrected to immortality in the first resurrection will live and work at the highest possible level and environment.
Government Will Focus on the Family: In the future Kingdom of God all of Christ's policies will make the family the centerpiece of social, economic and educational organization. The family is the primary organizational structure God works through. Starting with Adam and Eve, God designed social relationships to flow from marriage and parents (who have authority over and responsibility for their children) into the extended family, community and nations.
Government will be based on God's Word: A principal role of government is to create a framework of knowledge for smooth and harmonious social development and material progress. Peace and prosperity depend in large part on a common foundation of knowledge.
How Is the Kingdom at Hand?: When Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God, he said it was "at hand" and commanded us to repent and believe the good news about the Kingdom (Mark 1:14, 15; Matthew 4:17). The Greek word translated "at hand" is engizo. It means to draw near to something. It does not imply that something has actually come, rather that it is close.
How Will God's Government on Earth Be Different?: To better understand the difference between ordinary human governments and Christ's government, let's notice what Bible prophecy reveals about that coming government. Christ Jesus will reign from Jerusalem as the divine, uncontested Sovereign. He will rule with perfect justice based on His divine laws and will not allow any political parties or politicians to misrule the people .
Jesus Christ in Prophecy: The introduction to the Jewish New Testament lists 52 prophecies fulfilled in Christ's birth, life and death as foretold in 81 passages in the Old Testament (pp. xxv-xxix). Although some prophecies were clear, many of the prophecies could not be understood at the time they were written, even by the prophets themselves (see Daniel 12:8-9). The came to be understood only in hindsight by the apostles and writers of the Gospels through the inspiration of God's Spirit.
Modern Conditions Were Foretold in Scripture Many Centuries Ago: Many Bible prophecies were made thousands of years prior to our modern civilizations. Some of these are realized or made possible only in modern times. This mini-study discusses a few of these. How did the prophets know?
Prophecies of a Different Government: The Bible contains hundreds of prophecies about God's Kingdom, which Jesus Christ will establish when He returns to earth. And what a kingdom it will be!
Prophesied: The Exact Year the Messiah Would Appear: An amazing prophecy in Daniel 9:25 gives the specific year the Messiah would appear. The angel Gabriel revealed this information to Daniel approximately 580 years before its fulfillment. Let's examine this remarkable prophecy and how it was fulfilled.
Salvation for All?: Is it true that we all can be saved? It is true, but sadly we all won?t?though most will be. The doctrine of absolute universal salvation is a false one. Nevertheless, God holds out great hope for all those who have never heard or really understood His message of salvation.
The Center of God's New Global Village: God's temple, in which Christ, the King of Kings, dwells, will stand in the center of God's global village in Jerusalem. This will provide a seat for a civilization philosophically centered on the universal principles and laws of Almighty God.
The Prophetic Perspective: The amazing scope of biblical prophecy can be properly appreciated only if we first understand the essential nature of its content. When the apostle Peter said, "For prophecy never came by the will of man" (2 Peter 1:21) he was not restricting the word prophecy to mean only predictions.
The Resurrection Connection: How did worship of an ancient god and goddess come to be associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Although the details are lost in time, a closer look at the ancient mythology surrounding their worship will help us understand how pagan practices have survived in popular Easter customs.
The Sabbath in the Age to Come: God created the Sabbath for mankind (Mark 2:27), and there will yet come a time when all mankind will keep God's Sabbath.
The Story Flow of the Book of Revelation: Some of the chapters and verses in the Book of Revelation are linked into a story flow. This study outlines that flow.
The Time of the End: The End of What?: The Bible speaks of "the time of the end." But exactly what will come to an end? Jesus Christ contrasted "this age" with "the age to come" (Matthew 12:32). The word translated "age" in this passage is the Greek word aion (from which we derive the English word eon), signifying "a period of indefinite duration marked by spiritual or moral characteristics" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, "Age"). Paul contrasted the age "which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21) with the world we know, which he called "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). Spiritually and morally, this age and the age to come are opposites.
The Warnings Are Loud and Clear?But Are You Listening?: Martin Gray was one of the few Warsaw Jews to escape the death camp at Treblinka. Captured in Warsaw in 1943, on arrival at the camp he was chosen for work details instead of being marched to the gas chambers immediately after exiting the boxcars. Read more about Martin's story.
This Generation Will Not Pass: Many are puzzled by Jesus Christ's words, "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34). Did He mean that generation of his disciples? Two biblical reasons eliminate this possibility.
Utopian Prophecies of the World to Come: There are many Bible prophecies about the future Kingdom of God. The list below are just a sample of the prophesied world conditions to come. They can give us hope for a better world - one with true peace, justice, freedom from war, and prosperity for all.
What Does the Bible Say About Armageddon?: The Greek work Armageddon comes from two Hebrew words: Har Megiddo, meaning the "hill of Megiddo." The common (but misleading) notion is that Armageddon will be the last, climactic battle to be fought on earth between the powers of good and evil. However, this is not quite right in several crucial respects.
What Does the Bible Tell Us About the Millennium?: Prophecies in the Bible foretell a future time of peace ruled by Christ and his people. Where are these prophecies and what do they predict?
What is the Fate of Those Who Refuse to Repent?: Although God will bountifully extend the opportunity for salvation to all those who have never known God, some will still refuse to repent, submit to God and receive His gift of eternal life. What is their fate? The Bible reveals that, rather than suffering forever in an ever-burning hell, they will simply cease to exist. It will be as though they had never been.
When Will These Things Happen?: When will the remaining prophecies of Matthew 24 be fulfilled? Only God knows the exact timing of these events. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Verse 36). They will take most of the world by surprise.
Why Can't We Know When Christ Will Return?: Jesus plainly stated that no one can know the day or hour He will return (Matthew 24:36, 44; 25:13; Acts 1:6-7). We may recognize the general period when conditions are right for Him to return (Matthew 24:32-33), but no person will be able to determine the day.


Navigation Home Page About Us Beliefs Mini Studies Publications Youth Interests Pastor's Notes Ask Us Search Now with expanded search capabilities! Enter a word or phrase (case sensitive) to search this category... Clear keyword box to view all studies in the category...	The Future Ever wonder what is going to happen in the future? Will mankind destroy this Earth? What does the future hold for both the world in general and you personally? These studies provide vision. Click on a title below... Armageddon and Divine Intervention In an age of ever-increasing violence and horrifying acts of terrorism, bewildered people ask: Where is God? Why did the Almighty not intervene and prevent the outrages of Sept.11? Those events were so unexpected, so awful, as to cause some people to even doubt God's existence. We talk about our Armageddon. What is the Biblical Armageddon all about? Biblical Terms for the Coming End of Man Some biblical terms have a considerably broader application than the 3 1/2-year time of crisis immediately preceding Jesus Christ's return. This can lead to some confusion should we try to force these terms into a strict end-time-only usage. Chapter Outline of the Book of Revelation The book of Revelation or the unveiling discribe future events in God's plan for humanity. Having an understanding of the major outline will assist you in having the proper perspective of the book. Does the Bible Say When Jesus Christ Will Return? Contrary to what many people believe or claim, the Bible does not say when Jesus Christ will return. On the contrary, it clearly says that we do not know. From Where Will Christ Reign? The scriptural record attests to the fact that Christ will return from heaven to this physical earth to reign for 1,000 years on this planet with the restored and renewed physical city of Jerusalem as its world capital. God Reveals the Future No human seer or prophet could have accurately predicted the remarkable rise and fall of nations, leaders and people foretold in the Bible. God counsels us all to "remember the former things of old [the things He has already accomplished], for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done." God's Government Will Promote One Universal Faith One of Christ's first acts in establishing a universal government will be to abolish the separation of church and state. It's not hard to understand why, since religious deception and division have always plagued humankind. God's Government will be directed toward the Perfecting of Man All governments need a singular guiding purpose to endure. For example, a goal of the U.S. government, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, is to enable its citizens to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a lofty, wonderful and inspiring purpose of government. However, such purposes are all too often thwarted because of the limitations of human nature expressed through human politicians with personal character flaws. And sadly, the pursuit of happiness now is often taken to mean merely the pursuit of materialistic pleasures, which the Bible labels as covetousness and lust. Gods Awesome Purpose for Those in the First Resurrection When Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, those in the first resurrection will serve as judges (Revelation 20:4) and priests (verse 6) and will "reign on earth" (Revelation 5:10). We will not go to heaven to live passively and idly. Those resurrected to immortality in the first resurrection will live and work at the highest possible level and environment. Government Will Focus on the Family In the future Kingdom of God all of Christ's policies will make the family the centerpiece of social, economic and educational organization. The family is the primary organizational structure God works through. Starting with Adam and Eve, God designed social relationships to flow from marriage and parents (who have authority over and responsibility for their children) into the extended family, community and nations. Government will be based on God's Word A principal role of government is to create a framework of knowledge for smooth and harmonious social development and material progress. Peace and prosperity depend in large part on a common foundation of knowledge. How Is the Kingdom at Hand? When Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God, he said it was "at hand" and commanded us to repent and believe the good news about the Kingdom (Mark 1:14, 15; Matthew 4:17). The Greek word translated "at hand" is engizo. It means to draw near to something. It does not imply that something has actually come, rather that it is close. How Will God's Government on Earth Be Different? To better understand the difference between ordinary human governments and Christ's government, let's notice what Bible prophecy reveals about that coming government. Christ Jesus will reign from Jerusalem as the divine, uncontested Sovereign. He will rule with perfect justice based on His divine laws and will not allow any political parties or politicians to misrule the people . Jesus Christ in Prophecy The introduction to the Jewish New Testament lists 52 prophecies fulfilled in Christ's birth, life and death as foretold in 81 passages in the Old Testament (pp. xxv-xxix). Although some prophecies were clear, many of the prophecies could not be understood at the time they were written, even by the prophets themselves (see Daniel 12:8-9). The came to be understood only in hindsight by the apostles and writers of the Gospels through the inspiration of God's Spirit. Modern Conditions Were Foretold in Scripture Many Centuries Ago Many Bible prophecies were made thousands of years prior to our modern civilizations. Some of these are realized or made possible only in modern times. This mini-study discusses a few of these. How did the prophets know? Prophecies of a Different Government The Bible contains hundreds of prophecies about God's Kingdom, which Jesus Christ will establish when He returns to earth. And what a kingdom it will be! Prophesied: The Exact Year the Messiah Would Appear An amazing prophecy in Daniel 9:25 gives the specific year the Messiah would appear. The angel Gabriel revealed this information to Daniel approximately 580 years before its fulfillment. Let's examine this remarkable prophecy and how it was fulfilled. Salvation for All? Is it true that we all can be saved? It is true, but sadly we all won?t?though most will be. The doctrine of absolute universal salvation is a false one. Nevertheless, God holds out great hope for all those who have never heard or really understood His message of salvation. The Center of God's New Global Village God's temple, in which Christ, the King of Kings, dwells, will stand in the center of God's global village in Jerusalem. This will provide a seat for a civilization philosophically centered on the universal principles and laws of Almighty God. The Prophetic Perspective The amazing scope of biblical prophecy can be properly appreciated only if we first understand the essential nature of its content. When the apostle Peter said, "For prophecy never came by the will of man" (2 Peter 1:21) he was not restricting the word prophecy to mean only predictions. The Resurrection Connection How did worship of an ancient god and goddess come to be associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Although the details are lost in time, a closer look at the ancient mythology surrounding their worship will help us understand how pagan practices have survived in popular Easter customs. The Sabbath in the Age to Come God created the Sabbath for mankind (Mark 2:27), and there will yet come a time when all mankind will keep God's Sabbath. The Story Flow of the Book of Revelation Some of the chapters and verses in the Book of Revelation are linked into a story flow. This study outlines that flow. The Time of the End: The End of What? The Bible speaks of "the time of the end." But exactly what will come to an end? Jesus Christ contrasted "this age" with "the age to come" (Matthew 12:32). The word translated "age" in this passage is the Greek word aion (from which we derive the English word eon), signifying "a period of indefinite duration marked by spiritual or moral characteristics" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, "Age"). Paul contrasted the age "which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21) with the world we know, which he called "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). Spiritually and morally, this age and the age to come are opposites. The Warnings Are Loud and Clear?But Are You Listening? Martin Gray was one of the few Warsaw Jews to escape the death camp at Treblinka. Captured in Warsaw in 1943, on arrival at the camp he was chosen for work details instead of being marched to the gas chambers immediately after exiting the boxcars. Read more about Martin's story. This Generation Will Not Pass Many are puzzled by Jesus Christ's words, "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34). Did He mean that generation of his disciples? Two biblical reasons eliminate this possibility. Utopian Prophecies of the World to Come There are many Bible prophecies about the future Kingdom of God. The list below are just a sample of the prophesied world conditions to come. They can give us hope for a better world - one with true peace, justice, freedom from war, and prosperity for all. What Does the Bible Say About Armageddon? The Greek work Armageddon comes from two Hebrew words: Har Megiddo, meaning the "hill of Megiddo." The common (but misleading) notion is that Armageddon will be the last, climactic battle to be fought on earth between the powers of good and evil. However, this is not quite right in several crucial respects. What Does the Bible Tell Us About the Millennium? Prophecies in the Bible foretell a future time of peace ruled by Christ and his people. Where are these prophecies and what do they predict? What is the Fate of Those Who Refuse to Repent? Although God will bountifully extend the opportunity for salvation to all those who have never known God, some will still refuse to repent, submit to God and receive His gift of eternal life. What is their fate? The Bible reveals that, rather than suffering forever in an ever-burning hell, they will simply cease to exist. It will be as though they had never been. When Will These Things Happen? When will the remaining prophecies of Matthew 24 be fulfilled? Only God knows the exact timing of these events. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Verse 36). They will take most of the world by surprise. Why Can't We Know When Christ Will Return? Jesus plainly stated that no one can know the day or hour He will return (Matthew 24:36, 44; 25:13; Acts 1:6-7). We may recognize the general period when conditions are right for Him to return (Matthew 24:32-33), but no person will be able to determine the day.
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