TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Lesson 50: Christ's restoration of the earth after the great tribulation.
I In view of the Bible's description of a world unfit for
plant and animal life after two atomic wars, what will be
left for Christ to rule when He returns?
A The answer to this question lies in the fact that Jesus
Christ is God.
B Recall that in the beginning God spoke, and a world,
teeming with life, and men and women made in the image
of God, was created.
C In the same manner and with the same power and
authority, Jesus Christ will restore a burned-out,
radioactive planet, called Earth, to life and health.
II Ezekiel's vision of the restoration of the Earth's dead
waters and oceans provides insight into how God will heal
the earth.
1 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and
behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the
house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the
water was flowing down from under, from the right side of
the house, from south of the altar.
2 And he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me
around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate
that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the
south side.
3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in his
hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through
the water, water reaching the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the
water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a
thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the
loins.
5 Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I
could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to
swim in, a river that could not be forded (Ezek. 47:1-5, NASB).
A According to the text, from what type of terrain will this
river spring forth?
1 On flat ground, since Ezekiel waded out 4,000 cubits
before it was too deep to touch bottom with his feet.
2 A cubit is approximately eighteen inches, therefore
Ezekiel was more than a mile from shore before there was
enough water to swim in.
B What would be a good estimate of the distance across this
river?
1 Assuming the river will form on flat ground, the other
side of the river would probably slope gradually for
4,000 cubits before it would be too deep for Ezekiel to
wade further.
2 It would also be reasonable to assume that the deep part
of the river would be another 4,000 cubits distance.
3 Based on these assumptions the river will be about 12,000
cubits across, which is approximately three-and-one-half
miles wide.
6 And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then
he brought me back to the bank of the river.
7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river
there were very many trees on the one side and on the
other.
8 Then he said to me, "These waters go out toward the
eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go
toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the
waters of the sea become fresh.
9 "And it will come about that every living creature which
swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And
there will be very many fish, for these waters go there,
and the others become fresh; so everything will live where
the river goes (Ezek. 47:6-9, NASB).
A "And it will come about" that the living river of water
flowing out of Jerusalem will eventually restore life to
the world's oceans.
B This phenomenal restoration of the seas will serve to
remind the tribulation's survivors that this same Jesus,
who will be reigning at Jerusalem, is the source of all
life.
C Although the Bible does not state how the Earth's land
and air will be restored to health, it is clear that
Christ will clean up the land and air as well.
III The changes Christ will make during His reign of peace.
A Following the Battle of Armageddon, there will be a
wide-spread recognition of Christ as the promised Savior
of the world.
B Isaiah wrote about the survivors response to Christ's
message of salvation and truth.
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah
and Jerusalem.
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the
mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the
top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it.
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.
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 anymore (Isa. 2:1-4).
A Christ will teach the survivors "His ways" and the
survivors will be eager to learn and "walk in his paths."
B One of the first things Christ will teach the nations is
to "beat their swords into plowshares."
C The nations will also shut down their war colleges.
D Christ will not only usher in a thousand years of peace,
but will also restore the balance of nature to Garden of
Eden splendor.
6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard
will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.
7 Also the cow and the bear will graze; Their young will
lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra,
And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As
the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:6-9, NASB).
* Isaiah also recorded the far-reaching effect of Christ's
just reign in the following statement.
5 No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be
highly respected (Isa. 32:5, NIV).
A Christ will ban all "fools and scoundrels" from
positions of authority.
B This action will make it possible for all people to
prosper and live in peace.
IV Man's final effort to heal his wound unto death, suffered
when he rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, will
fail completely.
A The history of the fall of man is a tragedy.
B We once walked the majestic paths of the Garden of Eden
where we freely talked with the King of kings, God the
Almighty.
C Yet we carelessly turned our back on God's instruction
and parted company with Him and the paradise He created
for us.
D We were so certain we had a better way to run our lives
and the world--so emphatically sure--that we as a race
have repeatedly refused to heed His call to return to
His instruction.
1 "I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask
for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not
seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' to a nation which
did not call on My name.
2 "I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious
people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following
their own thoughts,
3 A people who continually provoke Me to My face"
(Isa. 65:1-3a, NASB).
A After the nations' fall, the remnant of the human race
will find themselves dying on the atomic ash heap of
what is left of planet Earth.
B They never got it right. They never managed to
establish lasting peace.
C The Bible shows the remnant of the human race waking up
after AWWII and reconsidering why they left the good
life God had originally provided for them, for the
complex confusion and death they installed in its place.
D The good news is that in spite of the collective
rebellion of the human race, God the Father is still
standing with outstretched hands all day long saying:
"here am I, here am I."
E God still continues to love the human race and wants
what is best for them, which is why God wrote His
technological prophecies to the Sebat generation long
ago.
F He is giving today's generation every chance to return
to Him by showing us what will be the result of the
nations' high-tech arms race and the cumulative sin of
the human race.
V Christians need to seize the time remaining and use God's
end-times prophecies to bring men to Christ.
A The nuclear age has arrived.
B The centuries old seal that locked the end-times
prophecies since Daniel's time, has been broken.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book,
even to the time of the end: (Dan. 12:4a).
A The words of the book are open to today's generation.
B The time of the end is upon us.
C The Sebat generation that will witness the most violent
days in the history of man is here.
D Today there is still time to warn the wicked of the
error of their way.
E The stakes are high. A man's soul is God-built to last
forever.
F It is important for all Christians to enter the fight
for the souls of men, for "faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17).
G Today is the day of salvation.
H Today there is still time for Christians to wake up and
become a factor in building Christ's Church.
I The Captain's marching orders need every Christians
thoughtful response.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: (Matt. 28:19).
20 Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age
(Matt. 28:20, RSV).