Where do we go from here?
Y2K came and went. Then came September 11, 2001!
What does the new millennium have in store? What is next on
the world agenda? Will we be able to stamp out the threat of terror-
ism? What about poverty and hunger, cancer and AIDS? Can we look for-
ward to longer, happier lives? Will scientists develop “genetically enhanced”
human beings?
Technological development has exploded in the last few decades. So has our stress
level. New calamities follow before the dust of the previous ones has settled. Is our
world getting safer or better? As citizens in a rapidly changing and increasingly trou-
bled world, we need answers. Each of us needs something to look
forward to, goals to reach for, meaning and satisfaction
in life, a sense of belonging, and personal security.
Will the frequently-talked-about millennium of
world peace ever be realized? Let’s discover
what’s on …
God’s
Agenda
1. What reassurance did Je-
sus give His followers?
“Let not your heart be troubled.…
In My Father’s house are many man-
sions.… I go to prepare a place for
you. And … I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there
you may be also” (John 14:1-3).1 This is God’s agenda!
2. What events did Jesus say would precede His return?
“For then there will be great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21). Jesus predicted the
destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (which occurred in A.D. 70), war, famine,
pestilence, earthquakes, false prophets and christs, and a dreadfully long period
of persecution that would almost wipe out His true followers. The latter occurred
during the Middle Ages.
1
Bible verses are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless designated as the
King James Version (KJV). The remaining Bible versions used are referred to by their full
titles. All emphases and italics are ours.
1
3. What special signs in nature did Jesus say
lay between that great tribulation and His re-
turn?
“Immediately after the tribulation … the sun
will be darkened, and the moon will not give
its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens will be shaken.” “There
was a vast earthquake; and the sun became
dark like black cloth, and the moon was blood-
red. Then the stars of heaven appeared to be
falling to earth” (Matthew 24:29; Revelation
6:12-13 The Living Bible, Paraphrased). As per-
secution ceased in the middle of the 18th cen-
tury, the first of these four events occurred.
a) On November 1, 1755, the most extensive
earthquake known to man shook our planet.
The Lisbon earthquake–felt in Europe, Af-
rica, and North America–covered “at least
four million square miles” and took ap-
A building that survived the proximately 90,000 lives. Since then, many
Lisbon earthquake earthquakes smaller in extent but costlier in
lives have taken place.
b) At midmorning on May 19, 1780, New England became as dark as a night
without stars. Cows returned from the fields, birds stopped singing, and chick-
ens retired to their roosts. That evening the full moon was as red as blood.
Many feared it was the end of the world, but those who knew Jesus’ words
recognized the sign.
c) On the night of November 12-13, 1833, shooting stars, or meteors, bombarded
the sky over nearly the entire United States for several hours with an intensity
that has never been witnessed before or after.
d) “The powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29). This event is still
future.
2
4. And after that?
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear …
and they will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of heaven” (Matthew 24:30).
5. What current events and developments unmis-
takably show that Christ’s return is near?
“There will be … distress of nations, with perplex-
ity,… men’s hearts failing them from fear and the
expectation of those things which are coming”
(Luke 21:25-26).
• While populations increase, resources dwindle
Oil, the undisputed basis of our modern civiliza-
tion, has no viable substitute. Soon we will have to
admit, “the oil has run dry.”2
• Wars
World Wars I and II, in spite of great efforts for
peace, took more than 100 million lives. Nuclear
weapons cause much fear. On September 11,
2001, the global threat of terrorism dawned. As
oil supplies decrease, nations arm themselves for
Armageddon.3
• Environmental decay
a) Earth’s temperatures are rising worldwide,
causing great concern.4
b) The ozone layer, which protects life from
radiation, is shrinking.
c) Many living organisms–both plant and
animal–are rapidly becoming extinct.
d) Rivers, forests (suppliers of oxygen), and large ocean reefs are dying or
disappearing.5
2
Joel 1:10 Swedish translation.
3
Matthew 24:6; Revelation 16:12-16.
4
This disarray of nature will culminate in the coming seven last plagues.
See Revelation 16:8-9.
5
Psalm 107:33-34.
3
• Disease
Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and
AIDS are still widespread.6 SARS and
the West Nile Virus have taken their
toll. Each year 400,000 Americans
die of tobacco-related diseases.
That’s nine times the number of peo-
ple who die from traffic accidents.
• Social order is deteriorating world-
wide
Family breakups, school massacres,
corporate fraud, riots, and bombings
occur all over the world.7
• Personal hope is growing dim
In 2000, about 3 million American teens (13 percent) ages 14 to 17 thought se-
riously about or actually attempted suicide. As of 2004, an estimated 500,000
teenagers tried to kill themselves every year, and about 5,000 succeeded. That’s
right up there with cancer and homicide. Even five-year-olds kill themselves! Stud-
ies have shown that as much as 50 percent of the general public has seriously
considered suicide. All in all, 29,000 people kill themselves in the U.S. every year.
6. How many Biblical prophecies are yet to be fulfilled before Christ returns?
Besides that of Christ’s second coming, only one major prophecy remains unful-
filled. It’s found in Revelation 13. We will study it later, in Lesson 21.
7. How does Jesus want us to respond to these worsening world conditions?
They can be depressing. Yet Jesus said, “Now when these things begin to hap-
pen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke
21:28). Jesus promised to return to judge the world and deliver His people.
6
“And there will be … pestilences” (Matthew 24:7).
7
2 Timothy 3:1-5.
4
8. What positive sign did Jesus give to indicate His soon return?
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all
the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Modern transportation
and communication facilitate the spreading of God’s message of hope to the ends
of the world.
9. What future is everyone invited to enjoy?
Revelation 21
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (verse 1).
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and
He will dwell with them’” (verse 3).
“And he … showed me the great city, the holy
Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God. Her light was like a most
precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crys-
tal” (verses 10-11).
“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and 10. Meanwhile, are peace
the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foun- and happiness available
dations of the wall of the city were adorned with all in a world threatened by
kinds of precious stones” (verses 18-19). universal disaster?
“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each indi- Yes, “God is our refuge
vidual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the and strength, a very pres-
city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I ent help in trouble. There-
saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and fore we will not fear, even
the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of though the earth be re-
the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory moved.”
of God illuminated it” (verses 21-23).
“Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there “Peace I leave with you,
shall be no night there)” (verse 25). My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do
Revelation 22:1-3 I give to you. Let not your
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, heart be troubled, neither
clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of let it be afraid” (Psalm
God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, 46:1-2; John 14:27).
and on either side of the river, was the tree of life,
While our happiness can-
which bore twelve fruits.… And there shall be no
not be perfect as long as
more curse.”
this world is filled with
Christ will recreate our world and restore it to
sorrow, we may possess
its original perfection and beauty! Then our long-
inner peace even when
ing for a better world will be realized. Faith in Him
surrounded by trouble.
enables us to look forward to His return with joy-
ful anticipation. It’s our privilege to rest on God’s And there is great happi-
Word, the only sure thing this world knows. ness in doing what we can
to help others.
5
11. What was Christ’s parting promise?
“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20 KJV).
Still wondering about …
The World to Come?
• How eager is God to have us look forward to a better world?
The Old Testament foretold Christ’s first coming about 125 times, and He came at
the exact time and in the exact manner specified. There are about 2,500 Bible ref-
erences to His second coming, about 20 times more than to His first. Jesus said,
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away”
(Matthew 24:35).
• Are there requirements for admission to Christ’s everlasting kingdom?
Yes. Since we won’t feel comfortable there if we don’t know Him and don’t fit in,
God promises to change us and teach us how to live so we will blend naturally
into His kingdom of love and peace. In His Word, our great God gave us 90,000
promises to encourage us to get to know Him.
Lesson 2 will reassure you that Jesus is coming again in great glory, according to
“God’s Agenda.” He will wrap up this world’s history of sin, turn distress into joy and
hope into reality, and take His children home to heaven.
Any other questions?
If you have other questions, or comments, please feel free to write us. In some cases,
we may point you forward to upcoming lessons that will discuss the subject you are
asking about.
NEW HORIZONS BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
P.O. Box 245621 • Sacramento, CA 95824-5621, U.S.A.
6
Review Questions
Up to now we have asked questions that the Bible has answered for you. At the end
of each study, you will find some questions to check your learning. Please answer
them and send them to us so we can help you with any misunderstandings. Note that
multiple-choice questions may have more than one correct answer. Circle the letters
of all correct answers.
1. What is the greatest of all known
future events?
a) World peace before Christ returns.
b) Armageddon.
c) The return of Christ.
2. What four events in nature did Jesus say
would come after the tribulation, before He
returns?
a) _____________________________________
c) _____________________________________
b) _____________________________________
d) _____________________________________
3. How many of these natural events have already happened?
________________________________________
4. The Lisbon earthquake is the greatest earthquake ever in
terms of …
a) the number of fatalities.
b) the area it covered.
5. What developments show that Christ’s return is near?
a) War and immorality.
b) Dwindling resources and environmental decay.
c) All prophecies are fulfilled; the gospel has been
preached to the whole world.
d) People are sick and losing hope.
7
6. “Now when these things begin to happen, _____________ _________ and lift
up your heads, because your ____________________ draws ____________”
(Luke 21:28).
7. What does faith enable us to look forward to?
a) A beautiful new world, where Jesus will live with us.
b) Access to the golden city, where the gates will never close.
c) Access to both the tree of life and the river of life.
8. “While our happiness cannot be __________________ as long as this world is
filled with sorrow, we may possess inner _____________________ even when
surrounded by _________________. And there is great __________________
in doing what we can to ____________________ others.”
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