Paradise On Earth

1. Times of Restitution

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing...then the eyes of the blind shall be opened…the lame man shall leap…and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy...and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isa.35:1‑10 RSV)

This rhapsody of the prophet Isaiah, who saw in vision the world as it will be in the day of Christ’s kingdom on earth, is deservedly famous as one of the finest flights of imagery in the Bible. But it is no fantasy; Isaiah lived nearly three thousand years ago and he knew that the Golden Age would not come in his own lifetime nor yet for many generations after that; yet he died in the fixed conviction that it would surely come. He was not the only one; St. Peter, preaching a few days after the Day of Pentecost, declared that God would "send Jesus Christ...whom the heaven must receive until the Times of Restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:20‑21) True to his words references to and descriptions of this promised paradise on earth when, under the wise and just oversight of the Lord Christ and his followers, all the ills from which society now suffers will be done away, abound in the writings of nearly all the Bible writers. The inception of that Age of peace and righteousness, nowadays variously called the Messianic Age, the Millennial Age, or just the Millennium, is always associated in the Scriptures with the return of Christ to this earth, his Second Advent. That is the focal point when "the kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever." (Rev.11:15)

One may be led to wonder why the accepted Christian faith of today seems measurably to have lost sight of this promised eminently satisfactory climax to the increasing trouble and confusion of this at present very unsatisfactory world. There is a reason, and for that reason one has to go back to medieval times. Way back in the centuries before Jesus was born at Bethlehem the people to whom He then came had a very definite view of the Divine Plan for the future of this world. From the time that the nation of Israel was organised by Moses at the Exodus from Egypt, they were told by their spiritual leaders that in the fulness of time the Messiah would come from above to establish a righteous rule in the earth in which the dead as well as the living would share, and that Israel was to become a kind of missionary nation to be a light to the nations, to declare God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. (Isa.49:6) This was on the basis of the Divine promise to Abraham in ancient times "in thee and in thy seed shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Gen.12:3; 22:18) Singularly enough, little attention has been given to this basic promise in Christian teaching and yet it is the basis upon which the whole of God’s plans for the human race is founded. The coming of the Millennium is the realisation of that promise.

The early Christians took over this belief in the future Divine kingdom on earth from their predecessors and for five or six centuries they looked for the promised return of Christ to bring it about. Then came St. Augustine, considered the most influential theologian of the Age, who transformed the accepted Christian faith into a system of Heaven for the righteous and Hell for the unrighteous and the total destruction of planet earth at the Day of Judgment. That proved so useful a tool in the hands of the priests and ecclesiastics of the day for the purpose of keeping their people in submission that the doctrine of the Millennium with its glorious hope for all people was all but lost for a thousand years, only to surface again after the Reformation and particularly since the 18th century.

The present‑day view of the Millennial reign of Christ often falls short of the reality by visualising it as an extension of the present world order but under Divine sovereignty. Thus, it is suggested, life and death will go on much as at present except that the normal life span will be considerably increased; generation will follow generation in a world which is becoming progressively more god‑like until at the end will come the Day of Judgment when the dead will be raised and all earthly affairs wound up. In this view of the Millennium there is no place for those who are living today or for those already dead; one might be justified in asking why those born during that particular thousand years of earth’s history should be so favoured above the myriads of the present and past who have had to endure the sorrows and injustices of "this present evil world." (Gal.1:4) Unless the Millennium is to be for the benefit of all persons, back to the beginning, it has no logical purpose in the Divine plan of salvation in Christ and the blessing of all families of the earth.

It follows then, as a matter of basic principle, that the coming Age of righteousness is not an extension of the present world‑order at all; it is an entirely new start. The existing system, with all its shortcomings and imperfections, with the powers and practices which support the domination of evil over humankind, is to be brought to an end and a new and benevolent order of things instituted in its stead, supervised by the returned Christ, and administered on earth by upright and able men who will come to the front for that purpose. Because it is the final phase of the "Day of Grace," in the which the issue as to worthiness or unworthiness of eternal life for each individual is to be decided, all who have ever lived must have their place and share in its benefits. What St. Paul called "this present evil world" is to be brought to an end, with all its evil, at the Second Advent of Christ, and be superseded by a "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Pet.3:13) Jesus called that period "the regeneration" (Matt.19:28) meaning the giving of new life, and that is precisely what it will accomplish.

Christ returns, then, to establish a new order of society the administration of which will be in the hands of men and women who during their earthly life have come into heart‑harmony with him and his teachings and by reason of devotion to his service have become thoroughly conversant with every aspect of Divine Law. These are they to whom the educational and uplift work of that Age can safely be entrusted: such will have achieved a balance of judgment and clear apprehension of right and wrong which is lacking, and so sadly lacking, in many of even the most intellectual and able of today’s leaders. It is to be expected that by that time many of these leaders, disheartened by their failure to avert the obvious imminent collapse of the present world system, will be ready to give way to the new administration. That the sin and selfishness of man must inevitably culminate in the breakdown of all human forms of self‑government seems certain at the present time—and at no very distant date. The commercial and other institutions of the world which batten on the wants and weaknesses of humanity may be expected to put up a fight to preserve their interests, but the powers of Heaven will prove superior to their resistance and although a time of severe turmoil and stress may be expected when battle is joined, the issue is not left in doubt. The 19th chapter of Revelation affords a vivid picture of the evil forces of the world

gathered together to make war against the Son of God coming forth from heaven; they give way and from that moment the glories of the Millennium will begin.

There will then dawn a day when despairing humanity realises that a new power has taken control of earth’s affairs. The politicians and statesmen, weary and dispirited at the failure of all their efforts, may at the first pay little attention to the new voice which is raised. Certain Biblical allusions seem to indicate that the men to take immediate control will be certain stalwart heroes of old, men who have walked with God and understand those principles of Divine government which are so much discounted today. The histories of Moses the founder of a nation, Daniel the statesman of Babylon, Nehemiah the patriot, and others like them, are sufficient to carry assurance that if men like these were alive today, then peace upon an honourable basis would speedily come to this war‑wracked world.

The impact of this clarion call to righteousness and equity, resounding through the world, will awaken all men to a realisation of the new power that has taken control of earth’s affairs. Many there will undoubtedly be, men and women of goodwill, who will at once hail this proclamation with eagerness and range themselves upon the side of these new leaders. As Isaiah said (25:9) "It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Some there may be who will stand aloof, sullen, not willing that the searching light of Truth shall reveal the darkness of their lives. Those who have in the past become degraded and brutalised, have lost the finer instincts of humanity, may cry out that they want none of this new life; those whose lives have been spent in preying upon their fellows and gratifying their own pleasures and desires at the expense of others may fiercely oppose this threatened invasion of their vested interests. Yet this first reaction in favour of the new administration, even if confined to a proportion of earth’s millions only, will produce an effect such as no reformation or revolution in past history has ever approached.

The next development will be even more startling, for people will begin to discover that vice and abuse of right principles no longer escapes retribution; moreover that the very attempt to injure or destroy another will be frustrated at the outset. The psychological atmosphere created by the strangeness of such things, the missionary zeal of teachers who will be at work amongst the people and above all the evident operation of Divine power in a totally inexplicable manner will begin to render it literally true that "they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain." (Isa.65:25) The maliciously minded and the evil‑doer may injure themselves; others they cannot injure. When this realisation sinks into the minds of men, that dread enemy, fear, which today holds all men in thrall, will be swept away. "My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." (Isa.32:18) In such an atmosphere of confidence there will be possibilities of rapid development in the knowledge of the laws of God, and the writing of those laws in the hearts of men.

In proportion as men sympathise with and desire the accomplishment of God’s ultimate purpose, so will they come into harmony with his precepts. Each individual will become in turn a teacher, assisting less fortunate ones along the pathway on which they themselves are progressing. Opportunities for every form of Christian endeavour and social service will abound, and the sincerity of each man’s heart will be demonstrated by the eagerness with which he throws himself into the work of helping others. Under such conditions it is easy to comprehend that humankind will become one great family, men consulting with men for the wise and effective utilisation of the common blessings and for the undertaking of those enterprises which will be necessary for the continued welfare of the human race. The present evils of competitive enterprise and international antagonism will cease to be, and so will be fulfilled the word which declares that "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth."They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Psa.46:9; Isa.2:4). Social service will be the keynote, and the "Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of Man" will become reality in a sense greater by far than has ever been dreamed by the most ardent of political reformers. The order of the day will be reconstruction. No longer will the brevity of human life discourage or dissuade men from setting their hands to enterprises which may require centuries for their full accomplishment. The pulling down of all that is drab and ugly in the dwelling‑places of men and the painstaking erection of edifices beautiful to the eye and sumptuous in their amenities will provide occupation of the most pleasant kind. Agriculture will come into its own, for the earth itself is to be restored and made beautiful and bring forth in abundance. Great irrigation schemes will transform the world’s deserts into fertile plains; hitherto inaccessible regions will become the playground of men; in every possible sense of the word it shall be true that "then shall the earth yield her increase." (Psa.67:6)

Nor is the new social order to content itself with the external aids to man’s happiness. The arts and sciences, the pursuit of which is today so often restricted to the leisured classes among humanity, will then be open to all. Knowledge will be pursued for its own sake, and the fruits of scientific research applied to worthy objects for the increase of human comfort and happiness. The musical festivals and philosophical debates of that day will surpass by far the loftiest attainments of men in the present or the past.

So will the centuries pass, whilst the earth grows ever fairer and more beautiful and humanity attains to a better understanding of the message of Jesus Christ and the goodness of God. The days of evil will slip away into the background—never forgotten, always remaining an imperishable recollection of the terrible consequences of sin but no longer having the power to hurt or destroy. The song of the angels "peace on earth, goodwill among men" will have become an accomplished fact. Human beings will be fair of form and virile in body, magnificent examples of the creative power of God. With the consciousness of an eternity of supremely happy life before them they will rise at every dawn to pursue with unflurried minds the occupations and pursuits to which they have set themselves. The world’s work will go on—people will till the soil and reap the fruits of their labours, they will foregather together for the study and practice of arts and sciences which will always have something new to reveal, they will travel and rejoice in the varied glories of Nature and live their lives in absolute peace and harmony with each other and with God.

Many Christian thinkers and writers of the past two centuries have eulogised the glories of that coming Millennial Age where peace, prosperity and justice will prevail and all men enter into the inheritance God has provided. Perhaps the most noteworthy is the pen‑picture painted by Charles T. Russell in "The Divine Plan of the Ages" (1884 p.191‑192) picturing the calm splendour of that Age.

"Close your eyes for a moment to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow, that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word; love, welling up from every heart, meets a kindred response in every other heart, and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be no more; not an ache nor a pain, nor any evidence of decay—not even the fear of such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such will earth’s society be, and weeping bereaved ones will have their tears all wiped away, when thus they realise the resurrection work complete."

Of the everlasting years that lie beyond the end of the Millennial Age the Scriptures say little or nothing. That they will be years of continuing activity and increasing achievement in the interests of God’s creation there can be no doubt. Nothing is or can be static in God’s universe, and although it is true that at that point in time all who by then have become reconciled to God through Christ will have attained perfection and full communion with him, and all evil and evildoers will have vanished for ever, it must be that glories as yet unimagined await men in the great beyond. Of the triumphs of that progress into man’s destiny it is not possible to speak, only to say that they are the destined inheritance of every one who will have given himself to the Lord Jesus Christ and obtained life through him.

But coming back to the present, the obvious question in every mind must be that first posed by the disciples when Jesus told them about all this; "when shall these things be?" (Matt.24:3) The answer to that lies in a correct appraisal of the "signs of the times," which He at that time outlined to them. Sober Christian students and observers for nearly two centuries past have been getting progressively closer to the correlation of those signs with present‑day current events; it can be said now with reasonable conviction that we are at the eleventh hour. The dawn of that promised Millennial Day is at the point of breaking upon the world.

AOH