The Kingdoms of This World Cannot Compare With What is to Come

A person who has trusted in Jesus does not look upon the troubled world with closed eyes. He or she sees the confusion, violence, falsehood, fear, pride, and sorrow that makes up the human experience. The believer is also able to see the Kingdom of Heaven at work amidst it all. I am reminded of two Bible verses — John 18:36 and Matthew 6:10.

“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus.

John 18:36 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:10 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

If you have not felt the distaste for your sin and asked Jesus to show you His ways, you haven’t been able to conceive a fraction of this Kingdom of Heaven. If you are seeking answers, know this: this reality and world’s troubles do not reveal the final truth. The final truth is that Messiah Jesus is Lord, sin and death are defeated enemies, and God will make all things new.

The world may rage and nations may tremble. People may place their confidence in power, wealth, ideology, technology, or celebrated leaders. Yet none of these can save the soul — nor truly satisfy. None can forgive sin. None can raise the dead (think of Lazarus in the Bible, who was in a tomb for four days — see John 11:17). None can bring a guilty person into peace with a holy God.

Jesus can.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

The Bible teaches that, at their core, the battles we face are not ultimately between political parties, nations, races, classes, or personalities. People certainly are capable of — and do — incredibly evil things, and are accountable for them. Yet they are not the ultimate enemy.

“For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”

Ephesians 6:12 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

This refers to all the spiritual beings who rebelled against God — a rebellion led by Satan. This does not give believers a license to accept and dismiss evil things just because Satan is the source of fallenness. We cannot excuse cruelty and injustice. It does remind us that the brokenness of our visible world has spiritual depth. Sin has distorted the human heart. Satan deceives, accuses, tempts, and seeks to draw worship away from the living God.

Therefore, believers must not look at their neighbors as enemies to be despised. They are blinded by the enemy of our souls — just as we once were. Being deeply caught in the snare of lies, idolatry, and sin is their state. They have been created in God’s image and are not to be written off, beyond the reach of God’s mercy. Those of us who have received this mercy — this grace — should be the last to speak with pride, casting judgmental, self-righteous stones at others.

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the devil.”

Ephesians 6:10–11 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

Something to ponder — when you encounter evil or deception, do you become ruled by outrage, or do you become more devoted to truth, prayer, courage, and love?

Not every darkness announces itself as darkness. A thief does not ordinarily advertise its theft. A liar prefers something palatable, something that resembles the truth. In the same way, the Bible warns that Satan can appear in forms that seem admirable, reasonable, compelling, or even holy-ish.

“And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

2 Corinthians 11:14 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

In the above verse, Paul’s immediate concern was false teachers. They presented themselves as spiritual guides while corrupting the gospel. A message may sound wise, compassionate, modern, liberating, or spiritual, yet still lead a person away from the source of true wisdom, compassion, justice, mercy, and light — Jesus.

False light can speak of peace while making peace with sin. It can speak of unity while requiring the abandonment of truth. It can speak of freedom while imprisoning the conscience. It can speak of love while redefining love so that it no longer resembles the holy love of God. Jesus does not merely offer one opinion among many. He is the true Light, the only one in whom Life is found.

“That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.”

John 1:5 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

“Then Jesus spoke to them again: ‘I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.’”

John 8:12 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

Does a message look attractive? Maybe so — however the test is whether it leads to worship of God, submission to Christ, repentance from sin, and seeking to faithfully obey the Lord, which is helped by renewing the mind through reading His Word, the Bible.

Revelation, a book of the Bible, presents a fearful picture of rebellion against God in its final and most intense form. It describes a beast receiving authority from the dragon, who is identified as Satan. The beast gains the admiration of the world, and that admiration becomes worship.

“The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear’s, and his mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed. The whole world was amazed and followed the beast.”

Revelation 13:2–3 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

“They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?’”

Revelation 13:4 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

There is an awful irony here. The beast may appear to many as a deliverer. He may seem to offer direction in confusion, security in danger, unity in division, prosperity in scarcity, or confidence in a frightened time. He may be regarded as a bearer of light.

Yet the light is borrowed from darkness — the glow of a false promise. No warmth. No substance. No hope. The antichrist, as the Bible portrays him, is not the true savior, but a counterfeit. He does not reconcile sinners to God. He does not conquer death. He does not give eternal life. He leads people into idolatry, deception, and destruction.

Believers in Jesus should be alert to worldly developments that may make broad control, propaganda, economic coercion, and false worship easier. Digital systems, surveillance, financial networks, fear, and political instability can all be misused by sinful powers. We have to be careful to resist the urge to identify every new technology or current leader as the final fulfillment of prophecy. However, the end times are full of events that are referenced in the Bible as coming on like birth pains. Jesus speaks of this in the book of Matthew, and Paul rather sums it up in 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

“When they say, ‘Peace and security,’ then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

The Bible tells us to be watchful, not to have reckless certainty — which is not certainty at all.

“Then Jesus replied to them: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you.’”

Matthew 24:4 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

Revelation speaks of a mark connected with public life and commerce.

“And he requires everyone — small and great, rich and poor, free and slave — to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name.”

Revelation 13:16–17 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

This mark is not presented merely as an economic mechanism. It is bound to worship and ultimate allegiance. The central issue is not simply what a person possesses, uses, or receives. The issue is who a person worships.

“And a third angel followed them, shouting with a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of His anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.’”

Revelation 14:9–10 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

This is greatly contrasted by:

“They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

Revelation 22:4 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

This describes all believers in the New Jerusalem.

Every person must eventually answer the question of allegiance. Will I belong finally to God? Will I give my heart to some other substitute? Do wealth, status, comfort, political power, approval, self-rule, pleasure, safety, or even survival remain as idols — being placed above Jesus?

The beast offers temporary security. Jesus offers eternal life and security.
The beast may preserve access to this world’s economy. Jesus offers entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven — God’s eternal dwelling.
The beast may threaten those who refuse him. Jesus calls His people to remain faithful even when faithfulness is costly.

The gospel begins by removing every ground for human boasting. No person can rescue himself. We do not stand before God because we have managed to be somewhat better than someone else. We stand only by grace.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 3:23 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

A person may compare himself to others, thinking he’s better, but he still remains guilty before God. A cup of seemingly clean, clear water does not become drinkable because it contains less poison than another cup. It’s not about whether we have sinned less than another person, or think that we have “cleaned up our act” or “learned from our mistakes.” The real consideration is whether we are righteous before a holy God.

We are not.

God has not left sinful humanity without hope. The Messiah Jesus is the sinless Son of God who took upon Himself the judgement deserved by sinners, so that people who trust in Him could be reconciled to God.

“He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

This is the magnificence of the gospel. Christ Jesus receives our guilt, shame, rebellion, and condemnation. He gives forgiveness, righteousness, peace with God, and eternal life.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, I will exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a turban, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.”

Isaiah 61:10 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

God does not merely polish the surface of a person’s life. He changes the heart.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 36:26 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

A heart of stone is cold towards God. It is stubborn in sin, resistant to correction, and determined to rule itself. A heart of flesh is not a sinless heart, but it is a living heart. It begins to mourn sin instead of defend it. It learns to love what God loves. It seeks mercy, humility, truth, holiness, and obedience.

This work is gradual. The life of a believer is not one void of struggles. It is more about no longer being dead and at peace with sin. One is born again — with a new spirit, indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God. When a believer fails, falls into error, they return to Jesus. In weakness, they seek His strength. When the heart hardens, they ask God to make it tender again.

Good works do not earn salvation. They grow as fruit from a living tree.

“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

Believers are lights in an unbelieving world. We must be careful not to confuse the Biblical church with people who simply attend church. The Biblical church — or Body of Christ — is made up of people who have truly trusted in Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and King. Buildings, or churches, consist of people who belong to Jesus and people who do not. Some people who have trusted in Jesus may choose other fellowship — like home meetings — instead of attending a church.

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:9–10 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

Christ Jesus is the Head of the Body. His people are called to display something of His character in the world through truth, mercy, courage, holiness, service, and love.

The Body of Christ is also called the Bride of Christ. This gives the image of covenant love, purity, faithfulness, and the coming union of Jesus with His redeemed people. The Bible often describes humanity’s turning away from God as spiritual adultery. When we love created things more than the Creator, we give to idols the devotion that belongs to God.

God continues to call His people back to Himself. He seeks reconciliation with a repentant people. He has made this way home through Jesus — the Door of salvation.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’”

2 Corinthians 5:20 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

This is why believers are to be light in the world. They are not called to withdraw into fear, be silent, or to stand as though above others in self-righteous judgement. They are called to humble themselves and show mercy, as they have been shown mercy by God. They are called to speak the truth they have been given in a loving way. They are to invite others to know the Savior who has rescued them.

God is love. This doesn’t mean that God treats evil as harmless. Love that never confronts destruction is not love at all. God’s love is holy, truthful, patient, merciful, and costly.

“The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:8 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

“Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:10 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

Warnings about deception, judgement, false worship, and the eternal danger in rejecting Jesus should be given with tears, not triumph. Christians — ones who are true, believing, Holy-Spirit-filled members of the Body of Christ — truly do not wish the horror of separation from God on anyone. They warn people who do not believe because there is no delight to be had in anyone’s ruin. They warn because eternity is real (and a really long time — where life on this earth is merely a blip), sin is serious, Jesus is merciful, and the invitation of grace remains open during this short life.

The believer does not say, “I am better than you.” She says, “I, too, was lost, and Jesus has had mercy on me.”

The world’s troubles can easily capture our imaginations. News, anger, speculation, economic anxiety, cultural conflict, fear — and the list goes on — can become so inflated in the mind that God could seem not there, or uncaring. The Bible calls believers to lift their eyes to Him, above the mire of the world.

“So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on what is above, not on what is on earth.”

Colossians 3:1–2 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

To set the mind on things above is not to become indifferent to the suffering of people on earth. It is to see earthly things in their proper order. Jesus reigns. His kingdom cannot be shaken. His promises do not depend on the stability of markets, nations, technologies, or governments.

This heavenly-mindedness makes believers more useful — or it at least should. It frees them to serve without despair, to speak without cruelty, to suffer without surrender, and to love without fear.

What shapes your thoughts more deeply: the Word of God, or the anxiety of the moment?

Does your hope lie in a change of circumstances, or in the reign and return of Jesus?

What temporary things are you tempted to — or actually do — treat as though they are permanent?

The Bible certainly does not end with Satan on the throne, the beast victorious, or death having the final say. It ends with God’s judgement and the renewal of all things.

“The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:10 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist, grief, crying, and pain will no longer exist, because the previous things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4 (HCSB) · read on BibleGateway

The unbelieving have no hope. Just the expectation of terrible, fiery, ongoing torment, due to separation from the God they never knew, nor perhaps wanted to know.

The believer’s hope is not that the world will become safe by its own foolish “wisdom.” It is that the crucified and risen Jesus will complete His work. He will judge evil. He will raise His people. He will dwell with them. He will remove sin, death, sorrow, and darkness.

Until that day, we are called to trust Jesus. Hold fast to His Word, pray, resist the devil, seek the path of righteousness, repenting of falling to temptation, love our neighbors, ask God to open the eyes of those who don’t know Him, pray for endurance for ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ, serve humbly, and set our minds on the things above.