"The saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, forever and ever." Daniel 7:18.
"Looming upon the horizon of every man, woman, and child in the world is this greatest event of all time, the return in majesty and power of Jesus Christ. It will be history's glorious climax, marking the end of the world as we know it now, with all its sin, suffering, and sorrow, and the beginning of a new era in which righteousness, peace, and happiness shall forever flourish. " —Your Bible and You, p. 425.
You can remain faithful in Jesus Christ! You can triumph with God's people! You can inherit eternal life!
The watchword among Adventist Christians is Onward! Ever onward! We sense the responsibility of the gospel commission to carry the good news of salvation to everyone everywhere. There is an urgency to complete our mission. Signs everywhere in the world indicate the nearness of our Lord's return. Soon the members of the church militant who have been faithful will become the church triumphant.
In this lesson you will discover—
THE FUTURE KINGDOM
1. For what great event did the apostle Paul yearn? 1 Timothy 4:6-8.
1 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV) If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7) Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Note: Paul's faithfulness challenged young Timothy of Paul's own time and continues to challenge all Christians. "I have kept the faith," he testified. Then he expressed a deep longing for the coming of the Lord. Our personal faithfulness springs from dependence upon and living in harmony with God's Word while waiting for the "blessed hope."
2. How should one live while waiting for Christ's coming? Titus 2:11-13.
Titus 2:11-13 (NIV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12) It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13) while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
3. What happens after God's last message is given? Revelation 14:14-16.
Revelation 14:14-16 (NIV) I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15) Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16) So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
4. Whose will the kingdom of this world then become? Revelation 11:15.
Revelation 11:15 (NIV) The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
5. What promise did Christ make to His followers? John 14:1-3.
John 14:1-3 (NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2) In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Note: "Long have we waited for our Saviour's return. But nonetheless sure is the promise. Soon we shall be in our promised home. There Jesus will lead us beside the living stream flowing from the throne of God and will explain to us the dark providences through which on this earth He brought us in order to perfect our characters. There we shall behold with undimmed vision the beauties of Eden restored."—Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 254.
6. How does God guarantee our inheritance assured? Ephesians 1:13, 14.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14) who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
7. What is this inheritance called in the Bible? Colossians 3:23, 24.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24) since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
8. What glorious change will come to God's people? Philippians 3:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.
Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV) But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21) who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NIV) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54) When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
9. What picture is given of the inheritance—the Holy City? Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-6.
Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2) I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Revelation 22:1-6 (NIV) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2) down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3) No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4) They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5) There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6) The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
Note: "A fear of making the future inheritance seem too material has led many to spiritualize away the very truths which lead us to look upon it as our home. Christ assured His disciples that He went to prepare mansions for them in the Father's house. Those who accept the teachings of God's word will not be wholly ignorant concerning the heavenly abode."—The Great Controversy, pp. 674, 675.
10. How should Christians encourage one another? Hebrews 10:23-25.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
11. How will Jesus welcome His followers into the kingdom? Matthew 25:34.
Matthew 25:34 (NIV) "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Note: "Better than all the friendship of the world is the friendship of Christ's redeemed. Better than a title to the noblest palace on earth is a title to the mansions our Lord has gone to prepare. And better than all the words of earthly praise will be the Saviour's words to His faithful servants, 'Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' "—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 374.
HERITAGE TIE
Some Adventist Literature
You will enjoy reading some of the inspiring and informative Adventist Christian literature. Two denominational publishing houses in North America—the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the Review and Herald Publishing Association—publish both books and periodicals. Here is a brief overview of this literature:
Adventist Review—the general church paper, published weekly.
https://www.adventistreview.org/
Liberty—a magazine of religious freedom, published bimonthly.
Signs—A monthly missionary journal for inexpensive, mass distribution.
Message—missionary journal for black readers.
https://www.messagemagazine.com/
Insight—a weekly magazine for high school and college age youth.
http://www.insightmagazine.org/
Guide—a weekly magazine for pre-teens and early teenagers.
Primary Treasure—published for boys and girls aged seven through nine.
http://www.primarytreasure.com/
Little Friend—published for children aged one through six.
http://www.ourlittlefriend.com/
Books—available from your Adventist Book Center.
https://www.adventistbookcenter.com/
Unless otherwise designated, scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.