The Future: God's Plan

Revelation 5:9–10 KJV 1900

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Introduction

Students create a sign promoting themselves for a political office. Their signs should include a campaign slogan. Students share and evaluate their campaign signs.

ASK: What do your campaign slogans reveal about you as a candidate? ASK: Which ones do you think would be most effective?

ASK: What might be a good slogan for Jesus to use if He were to run for an election? Jesus will one day rule the world, but not because anyone will vote for Him. He will claim the throne that rightfully belongs to Him. In this lesson we will learn more about His coming rule and our part in His Kingdom.

Rewards for the Royals

The reckoning

Christ will return to the sky, resurrect dead believers, rapture living believers, and return to Heaven with His completed church. Soon after arriving in Heaven, believers will stand before Jesus to receive rewards for their service.

2 Corinthians 5:9 KJV 1900

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Paul made it his aim to please God with his life because he knew one day he would stand before Christ to give an account for how he used his life. We ought to share Paul’s aim. ASK: What might characterize the life of someone who aimed to please God? The person desires to glorify God, serves God sacrificially, talks about God, and prays. Some believers aim to please themselves. Their thoughts, actions, and words are aimed at bringing themselves happiness or pleasure. They tend to complain about anything they find displeasing.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV 1900

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.

Christ will judge our works for Him to see whether they are good or bad. “Good” works are those we carried out in God’s power and for the His glory (1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 3:20, 21). Bad works are those we do in our own strength and for our own glory.

ASK: What might be some clues that we are serving God for our own glory? We want people to notice and praise us for our service; we see other believers as competitors rather than team members; we talk about how we are serving God so people will congratulate us.

When we serve God in His power and for His glory, we will want His name to be praised.

The rewards

In Jesus’ day, victorious athletes would get crowns made from laurel or olive branches. Our gold crowns from Jesus might be shaped like laurel or olive branch crowns.

The Bible mentions five specific crowns, though there might be others. Those who exercise self-control, saying not to sin by the Spirit’s power, will get the incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9:25). The crown of rejoicing is for those who witnessed to the lost (1 Thess. 2:19).

Jesus will give the crown of life to those who patiently endured persecution (James 1:12). Christ will award the crown of glory to faithful pastors (1 Pet. 5:4). Believers who finish their lives strong will earn the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:6–8).

ASK: How aware are you of the eternal consequences of your service for Christ?

Along with crowns, Christ will award believers positions of authority in His Kingdom. Church-age believers will rule and reign with Christ in His Kingdom (Rev. 20:4).

Retribution on the Rebels

In lessons 6 and 10 we covered the fact that God created Adam and Eve to have dominion over creation and subdue the earth (Gen. 1:27, 28). We have also covered Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God leading to their disqualification to exercise dominion and subdue the earth (Gen. 3:1–19).

Furthermore, we learned that Jesus came to earth as both the promised Seed and Savior (Gen. 3:14, 15; Matt. 1:18–21). He is the answer to humanity’s sin problem. When He returns to earth, He will restore human dominion over creation and subdue the earth.

Opening the title deed

Revelation 5 presents a still future heavenly scene. John saw God’s throne room and a scroll in God’s right hand. The meaning of the scroll isn’t explained. We know from John’s report it can’t be opened by any angelic or human beings. We also know that breaking the seals on the scroll unleashes the judgments and events of the Tribulation on earth.

Revelation 5:1–4 KJV 1900

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

The scroll is perhaps a title deed to earth. Title deeds in John’s day had a description of the property on the outside of the scroll. That matches the description in Revelation 5. Furthermore, breaking the seals will transfer earth’s kingdoms to Jesus. Near the end of the Tribulation, there will be an announcement in Heaven that the kingdoms of the world have been transferred to Christ.

Revelation 11:15 KJV 1900

And 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.

Before the opening of the scroll, John wept thinking no one was worthy to break the successive seals to unleash the events of the Tribulation that will lead to Jesus’ eventual rule on earth. He worried the earth would remain under Satan’s control. An announcement gave John hope.

Revelation 5:5 KJV 1900

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Root of David are both descriptions of Jesus. He will conquer earth as a fierce lion and as a descendant of Judah. Remember that Jacob blessed his son Judah, promising him the scepter would not depart from his tribe until the arrival of the One to Whom it belonged (Gen. 49:9, 10). Jesus will take Judah’s scepter and rule the earth. The name “Root of David” points to Jesus’ royal lineage. He will come to fulfill God’s promise to make David’s throne an everlasting throne. David’s throne and line have been dormant but not dead. Jesus, like a shoot coming out of a seemingly dead stump, will renew David’s rule on earth. DISPLAY: Resource 29-R7. ASK: What makes Jesus worthy to be the ruler on earth over the people of Israel? He became a man, took the punishment for humanity’s sin by dying on the cross, and rose again from the dead.

Revelation 5:6–7 KJV 1900

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Jesus appeared to John as the Lamb Who had been slain. The Lamb bore evidence of deadly blows, representing Jesus’ death on the cross. The four living creatures in the Lamb’s presence represent the attributes of God, all of which belong to the Lamb. The Lamb’s seven horns represent complete and perfect authority. The seven eyes most likely represent the Holy Spirit, Who empowered Christ. Both Jesus’ humanity and deity are symbolized by the Lamb.

Revelation 5:8–10 KJV 1900

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The church, represented by the twenty-four elders, will worship the Lamb for saving them and for appointing them to reign with Him on earth.

ASK: What might move you to spontaneously start singing?

ASK: Have you ever been moved to sing about reigning withChrist? Why should you be?

Unleashing terrible devastation

The joy and hope in Heaven in Revelation 5 contrast sharply with the breaking of the seals and the unfolding of the Tribulation. God’s tribulation judgments will devastate the earth and decimate its population. The seven-year Tribulation will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27). The Antichrist is Satan’s counterfeit Christ during the Tribulation. He will offer Israel peace for three and a half years before turning on them and proclaiming himself as ruler of the world. He will seek to annihilate Israel over the second half of the Tribulation.

The white horse seen with the breaking of the first seal represents the Antichrist’s world domination (Rev. 6:1, 2). The second seal reveals a red horse that stands for a series of wars during the last half of the Tribulation (6:3, 4). The third seal brings famine and the fourth brings death (6:5–8).

Revelation 6:7–8 KJV 1900

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

ASK: What word would you use to describe life during the last half of the Tribulation?

While God pours out His wrath on the world, the Antichrist will kill as many new believers as he can. The fifth seal reveals a great multitude of martyrs in Heaven (Rev. 6:9–11).

Revelation 6:12–17 KJV 1900

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

ASK: What point does God make with the cosmic disturbances He brings on the world? That no one can stand against Him. From the day Adam sinned, the universe has been under a curse that makes subduing it impossible. That will be abundantly clear in the last half of the Tribulation. Revelation 7 breaks from the seals to include a word about believers in the Tribulation. God will seal 144,000 Jews and protect them from the Antichrist. These Jews will survive the Tribulation and enter it in their physical bodies. They will inherit the Promised Land in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 15:18–21). Other Jews will turn to Christ for salvation in fulfillment of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31–34). Furthermore, people representing every nation will turn to Christ during the Tribulation (Rev. 7:9). Some of them will also enter the Millennium in their natural bodies. The breaking of the seventh seal brings seven trumpet judgments and then seven bowl judgments (Rev. 8; 9; 15; 16). God’s judgments come in rapid succession near the end of the Tribulation. Much of the earth and its population will be devastated.

Return with the Ruler

Christ’s inauguration

God’s judgments on the world will destroy the Antichrist’s government, referred to as “Babylon” and the “great harlot” (Rev. 18). Heaven will rejoice to see its demise.

Revelation 19:5–6 KJV 1900

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

As Heaven praises God for being the all-powerful ruler, Heaven will open for Christ’s second coming.

Revelation 19:11–16 KJV 1900

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Christ’s armies, made up of believers and possibly angels, will follow Jesus to earth. Jesus’ victory over the world’s armies will be so sure that His robe will already be splattered with their blood. With just the word of His mouth, He will wipe out the armies and the rest of the unbelievers (Rev. 19:21). The beast (Antichrist) and false prophet, the beast’s religious leader, will be captured and thrown into the Lake of Fire (19:19, 20). Christ will order Satan bound for a thousand years in a bottomless pit (20:1–3).

Revelation 20:4 KJV 1900

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Church-age believers and tribulation martyrs will reign with Christ for one thousand years. The subjects of the Kingdom will be the Jews and other believers who survived the Tribulation and enter the Millennium with natural bodies. Many generations of people will be born during Christ’s Kingdom so that the world is again filled with nations.

Creation’s restoration

After the Tribulation, Christ will reverse the curse on the earth and make dramatic changes to its climate and productivity. It will return to a Garden of Eden like state.

Isaiah 11:6–9 KJV 1900

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. And the cow and the bear shall feed; Their young ones shall lie down together: And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, And the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.

ASK: Of the changes Christ will make to the animal, which do you find most fascinating?

Amos 9:13–15 KJV 1900

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; And the mountains shall drop sweet wine, And all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, And they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; And they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, And they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, Saith the Lord thy God.

The earth will be so fertile that those who reap the harvest will be followed by those planting the next crop. No one will go hungry in Christ’s Kingdom. The reversed curse will also allow people to beautify the earth in unprecedented ways. Imagine planting flowers without having to worry about the effects of the curse. DISPLAY: Resource 29-R8.

ASK: What extra effort had to go into this garden scene to get it to look so good? Weeds had to be eliminated and controlled, the ground had to be fertilized, the flowers had to be protected from wildlife, trees had to be fed and protected from disease and harmful insects.

Christ and His fellow rulers will exercise dominion over the earth and subdue its creatures to the glory of God. Until that time, we should be diligent to serve God well so we might have opportunities to serve Him well in Christ’s Kingdom.

Conclusion

After Christ raptures living believers and resurrects dead Church-age believers, He will reward them for serving Him for God’s glory and in God’s power. Our rewards will include crowns and positions of authority in Christ’s earthly Kingdom. While we are in Heaven, God will pour out His wrath on the earth for a period of seven years. That period, called the Tribulation, will devastate the earth and decimate the world’s population. God will supernaturally protect Jews and others who trust in Jesus as their Savior during the Tribulation. Jesus will return with us to establish His rule and restore creation to an Eden-like state.