What do you feel when you contemplate living in a new body in the world to come? I am of course assuming I am corresponding with Christians who will be resurrected or raptured to heaven. Have you even given it a thought? Prior to my conversion at 47, I had not given it a thought and to be honest gave it little thought in my early Christian years. When you get to my age, 85 this year, I think about it a lot more than I did previously. As well, my new calling of alerting the church to the escalating persecution that is before us, prior to Jesus second coming, has put my focus on Biblical end times prophecy and the ultimate fate of this world. Quickly, I came to the realisation that most of end times prophecy is all about Jesus returning to rescue His nation Israel from annihilation and to finally fulfill all the O.T. prophecies that Israel’s Messiah will rule the nations. Also, Scripture shows Jesus returning to earth to do battle at Armageddon with the saints. The saints are resurrected and raptured before the wrath of God is poured out on an unrepentant world with the trumpet and bowl judgements of Revelation 8.

Have you ever contemplated what it will be like to do battle with the Lord at the battle of Armageddon?

Did you know that before the White Throne judgement and a new heaven and new earth this Cosmos still has another 1000 years before it is eventually destroyed by fire?

In the not too distant future, Israel will finally realize her destiny as the head of the nations,

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:27-28

Jesus Millennial Kingdom is a necessary transition to the new heaven and the new earth. The saved and the unsaved alike will behold the Messiah’s rightful place as the divine sovereign of this universe. Resurrected saints, will hold high offices with responsibilities to match as they reign under King Jesus.

Hence, when I now contemplate living eternally in a wonderful new body I consider possible roles to which Jesus might assign me in His Millennial Kingdom. I also can’t help remembering that Jesus said, He and us will be ruling the nations with a rod of iron.

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:27

The offices of judge and counsellor will be reinstituted.

“I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Isaiah 1:26

“I will also make your officers peace, and your magistrates righteousness. Isaiah 60:17

“For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plough shares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against other nation,” Isaiah 2:3-4

“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.” Isaiah 60:12

Jerusalem will be the capital of the world on the highest summit.

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,” Isaiah 2:2 & Micah 4:1

JERUSALEM – A NEW CITY, A NEW NAME AND A NEW TEMPLE

“The city will be surrounded by open country and for the housing of all the tribes of Israel… and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezekiel 48:15–19,35

“She is to have twelve gates, three on each side, each named after a tribe of Israel.” (Ezekiel 48:30–34). “your gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day or night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, and their kings in procession.” Isaiah 60:11

“The kings and peoples of all the nations will bring gifts, including gold and frankincense, to set before King Jesus” Isaiah 60:6

“The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.” Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.’ Zechariah 8:21-22

There will be those eager to obey and worship the Lord Jesus, while others will be forced to obey. For me it is difficult to understand that despite Jesus and the saints ruling and reigning on this earth for 1000 years that when Satan is released from his chains in the Abyss he is still able to raise an enormous army to come against Jesus and the Saints.

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10

Will you now think more about the world to come? Will you think differently about your role in ruling and reigning with Jesus in the Millennium?

Next post I will contemplate living on the new earth with Jesus and our Heavenly Father after the White Throne Judgement.