by R. L. Morrison

Many sincere religious people today believe that God plans at some time in the near future to restore the earth to an Edenic paradise. They believe also that all world governments will be overthrown, and that Christ will rule the earth from a material throne. Then, there will be no more crime, poverty, hunger, sickness, sorrow or death. The earth will be transformed into a literal paradise. They expect to live on earth in a physical body forever and God will solve all problems for them.

Others share these views, but go beyond them in what they believe and teach. These people think the end of time is at hand or in the very near future. They are preparing themselves for that return of Christ, and to reign with him, not only on the earth but also in the universe. "If only these astronomers could understand that God fully intends for them to understand and study the universe, that God intends for them to some day be able to visit all these far off galaxies and super clusters; that He intends US, in fact, to further develop these galaxies! But that will occur only after mankind has qualified by developing godly character in this life, and then being born into God's Family." (The Philadelphia Trumpet. June 1995, page 7.)

So, "The Philadelphia Church of God, an off-shoot of "The World Wide Church of God", founded by Herbert W. Armstrong, teaches that "The Wonderful World of Tomorrow " will be the universe, developed by man. These people believe that H. W. Armstrong was not only a Prophet of God, but also an apostles of Jesus Christ. They believe that Mr. Armstrong was used by God to bring the church into existence, to reveal new truths concerning the church, worship and the final ending of time.

They also teach that God is reproducing Himself through mankind. The marriage and family relationship for mankind are meant to be a type of the God family. Those in the true church today are the only people in God's creation who have this God-plane relationship of love marriage and family. (The Philadelphia Trumpet. June 1995, page 7). So they actually teach that men become Deity or God. This is very near Mormonism, as they teach that God was once a man and that men can become Gods.

The purpose of this study is to discuss "The Wonderful World of Tomorrow" in the light of the scriptures. In other words, what does the Bible actually teach about the earth and the universe that God spoke into existence and sustains with the same power? What does the Bible teach about man, whom He made in His own image, and what God planned for him? Is what the Bible reveals in harmony with what these people teach? Or is theirs a false doctrine?

First let us consider some of the personal teaching of Jesus which they misapply, not really understanding what the Lord said. Matthew 24 is an example of this. In this chapter, Jesus told the disciples some things that would occur in their lifetime, or during the life of people who were living then. In discussing the temple in Jerusalem with those disciples, He said: "Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down." He then spoke of many things that would occur before that happened. He mentioned wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, rebellions. He also spoke of a "great tribulation" such as was not since the beginning of the world, no nor ever shall be." Then in Matthew 24:34 he said: "This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." In an effort to evade this statement, many explanations have been given to "this generation". But "this generation" simply referred to the people who were living then. He repeatedly said: "Ye shall see ..." This could not refer to people living after that time. Yet many teach that these prophecies, spoken by the Lord are YET to be fulfilled. They do not understand that Jesus spoke of the coming destruction of Jerusalem, which actually occurred in AD. 70. But beginning with Matthew 24:35, Jesus began to speak of the time of the end of the world. He said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour, knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Here, Jesus plainly states that God alone knows the day and hour when time shall be declared to be no more. Acts 17:31: "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." These scriptures are easily understood, but why men will disregard them, and try to set a date for the return of Christ is not easily understood. Especially so, since no "date-setter" has ever predicted the time of his return. This is apparent, for the end of time has not yet occurred.

In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul speaks of the end of time. "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (vs. 24-26). Paul says that Christ is now reigning and will continue to reign until death is destroyed. This can only be brought to pass by a resurrection from the dead. Jesus foretold this. "Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29).

But Paul had more to say about this resurrection. In 1 Cor. 15:44 he wrote: "It is sown (or buried) a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body." Some men teach that we shall be raised a natural or physical body, but the scriptures do not so teach. Hear Paul again: "Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die), but we shall be changed. In a moment; in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (vs. 51-53). Paul says that people will be living when Christ comes again. Some will not have suffered death. These, he says, will be changed: the dead will be raised incorruptible, that is, raised a spiritual body, and those living will be changed or will put on a spiritual or an incorruptible body. Just previously he said: "There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body." Natural or fleshly bodies will cease to exist at the time of the resurrection, and will become spiritual bodies. Physical bodies are corruptible, but not so spiritual bodies, they are eternal. These things are contrary to what some men teach, but they are what the scriptures teach about man's condition in eternity.

On one occasion the Sadducees tempted Jesus. They told him about a woman who had been married to seven brothers. The law required a woman to marry her husband's brother if her husband died childless. Such they said, had happened to seven brothers. They wanted to know whose wife she would be in the resurrection. (They did not believe there would be a resurrection.) Jesus replied: "Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven" (Mark 12:24-25). These statements of Jesus shows us our future condition (that is, the redeemed's future condition) for he said that we shall be as the angels, and that fleshly relationships shall not be maintained. Yet some continue to teach that life will continue on earth as it is at present, after the return of Christ.

In 1 Thess. 4:16-17, Paul described the end of time and the state or condition of the redeemed. "For the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord." There is no scripture that teaches the Lord will ever again be nearer the earth than this one. The redeemed of the earth, both living and dead, will be caught up to meet him in the air. There is no scripture that teaches that he will return to this sin cursed earth. I am aware that men say such is taught in Revelation 20:4; that it teaches he will return, set up his kingdom on earth and rule for 1000 years. Read the passage. There is not one word that refers to the earth. There is nothing in the passage that refers to US, that is people, other than those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the word of God. There is no one living today who falls into that category, nor does the passage say Christ returned to earth, or will return to earth.

The apostle Peter has written some things concerning the "end time", that is, the final end of all created things. In 2 Peter 3, we read the following: "But the heavens and the earth which are now by the same word kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:9-13).

Some say this simply means a cleansing or purifying from sin. Peter's language allows for no such explanation as this. Notice again what he said: "The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." The heavens shall pass away." "All these things shall be dissolved". The word "dissolved" means destroyed. These things will be cleansed, but by a total destruction. Man's wishes or "think so" cannot change it.

This world is not eternal. It consists of material things that are subject to change, decay and destruction. God spoke them into existence, and by the power of that same word they continue to exist or remain. But God has appointed a day in which they shall be destroyed. In that same day we shall be brought before the judgment seat of Christ and hear the pronouncement of our eternal destiny. It will be eternal life in God's rest (Matthew 25:34, Hebrews 4:3), or everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46, John 5:29). Where one finds himself in that day depends on HOW life has been lived; one's attitude toward God and his word, his acceptance of and obedience to the requirements of that word, and his zeal in obedience. So we each determine our eternal destiny by the manner of life we live here and now, for as death finds us, so will the judgment.

The question to be considered then is: HOW DO YOU LIVE???