There can be no greater source of hope and consolation for suffering humanity than that provided by Jesus Christ through the gospel of the kingdom of God. It is a fact that tyrants and dictators hardly on their own volition relinquish power or office even at the expiration of their tenures. They abolish constitutions and hold on to power against the wishes of their subjects. Such is the character of Satan the devil who will not give up his overlordship of the earth at the end of the time given him. In consequence God through Jesus Christ will declare war – the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty (the “Battle of Armageddon” as refer to by some Bible Scholars) not only to unseat him but also to bring him and all his forces and works to an end, and usher in the peaceful and righteous Millennial Reign of Christ.
Since the fall of man Satan has not rested on his oars in his efforts in getting man estranged from his maker God Almighty. God, in manifestation of His justice, has allowed the devil to run the full course of the time appointed him to have control over the earth without interruption. Since there is no place of repentance in him, he has continued unabatedly to abuse the privilege and opportunity. He is the author of all evils, crimes and calamities, in the world.
The plight of man was graphically described by Job in these words: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” (Job 14:1,2) And as regards vanity of man’s life, David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel, said: “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreath; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them”-Ps. 39:4-6.
Because of man’s estrangement from God there is no kind of evil he has not suffered. Man has also become a wolf to man. He drinks the water of bitterness every so often, and with all the devices science and technology have placed at man’s disposal, there is still no solution to the woes of man nor light at the end of the tunnel. Like as Jeremiah put it: “We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble.” (Jer. 8:15) Despite the increase of knowledge in all its ramifications at this end-time things are growing worse and worse. In the area of health, malaria is still taking its toll in millions in the world over every day. Heart disease and cancer remain hard nuts medical experts are unable to crack. And recently, the scourge of AIDS is said to be the greatest danger of all.
There is no land that is free from crimes. Killings of fellow human beings is so rampant that no one feels safe even in one’s home. Violent robberies and rapes are not only on the increase but also have become the order of the day to the extent that law enforcement agents often find themselves beaten hands down mostly by the speed and sophistication exhibited by the criminals. These all are signs of the times. And St. Paul rightly predicted: “…The final age of this world is to be a time of troubles. Men will love nothing but money and self; they will be arrogant, boastful, and abusive; with no respect for parents, no gratitude, no piety, no natural affection, they will be implacable in their hatreds, scandal mongers, intemperate and fierce, strangers to all goodness, traitors, adventurers, swollen with self importance.
They will be men who put pleasure in the place of God, men who preserve the outward form of religion, but are a standing denial of its reality. Keep clear of men like these-2 Tim 3:1-5. The New English Bible.
However, it is of tremendous importance to know that in Jesus Christ ALONE there is hope for suffering humanity. This hope he has instilled in man through the gospel of the kingdom of God. To his servants in this age in particular he gave this commission: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matt 24:14) The end is the total elimination of evil from the earth. The good news of the kingdom of God builds up the hope of mankind in a new and perfect order of things under Christ the king in the World to come, the world without end. As it is written “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end…” (Isa. 9:6,7) “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment-Isa 32:1.
The headquarters of the kingdom of God is Mount Zion in heaven where Jesus Christ with his associate kings numbering 144,000 will be seated to reign over the earth. (Rev. 14.1-5, 510) The associate kings are the Anointed Christians beginning from the early apostles whom Jesus Christ called to be saints. They make up the “Little Flock”, the first class of Christians, as distinguished from the “Other Sheep” or general disciples – men and women. To the apostles and those of their class, Jesus Christ made thus promise: “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”- Luke 22:28-30.
It has been shown in prophecy that the saints shall take possession of the kingdom of God, as it is written: “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Dan. 7:18) This promise Jesus confirmed to the apostles when he said: “Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32. Apart from the saints in heaven whose number is 144,000, all other true and faithful worshippers of God, from righteous Abel till this end-time, who will be saved will be in the Kingdom of God on earth, the New Earth, wherein righteousness will for ever dwell. (2 Pet. 3:13) All such ones are known as “the people of the saints” in prophecy, and Jesus Christ referred to his disciples who are not of the “little flock” as “other sheep”. (John 10:16) Their part or place of abode in God’s Kingdom is the earth; as it is written: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven (earth), shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him (Christ).”-Dan. 7:27, our parenthesis The kingdom of God otherwise known as “Holy Mountain” or “New Jerusalem” is for eternity a place of peace, joy and righteousness. In that world, “the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the calf and the young lion and fatling together, and a little child shall lead them….” (Isa. 11:6-9) The glories of the New World cannot be described enough in human words. It is a place of eternal peace, happiness and tranquility. No one would say, I am sick (Isa. 33:24) and as regards the reward of righteous, Paul the apostle stated with reference to the words of Isaiah the prophet, thus: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) Furthermore, God said: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind…” (Isa 65:17-25) John the apostle was priviledged to see a vision of the New World, and he said: “…And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” – Rev. 21:1-5.
The fact that we are now in the last days of this evil world, and that God’s kingdom of peace and righteousness, otherwise known as “Mountain” or “New Jerusalem”, promised long ago, has now been set up here on earth as a grain of mustard seed, (Isa. 2:2-4; Dan. 2:44; Matt. 13:31,32; 24:15,16: Rev. 3:12) is an assurance to mankind that the end of all sufferings is now in sight.