For lots of people heaven is a special place where there are things and events incredible to imagine.

Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as gods, angels, spirits, deified humans, the blessed dead, saints or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or live.

It is often conceived as an expanse that overarches the earth, stretching overhead like a canopy, dome, or vault and encompassing the sky and upper atmosphere; the Sun, Moon, and stars; and the transcendent realm beyond.

According to the beliefs of some religions, heavenly beings can descend to Earth or incarnate and earthly beings can ascend to Heaven in the afterlife or, in exceptional cases, enter Heaven alive.

For centuries, it has been commonly believed by most professing Christians that heaven is the abode of the righteous dead where they experience everlasting joy and happiness, and that hell is the eternal abiding place of the wicked who are subject to never-ending torment in its unquenchable fires.

In more recent times many have abandoned the idea of hell-and with it any real desire to investigate whether this is, in fact, a true reflection of what the Bible teaches. This abhorrence of eternal suffering (surely a right instinct) has caused men to cherish instead a vague hope of universal salvation - that all will enjoy eternal happiness irrespective of the works done during their mortal life. Yet that has now left people with a sense of unease, because they sense an injustice in assuming that there can be a reward for both good and bad alike.

Christadelphians do not share either the modern idea of 'heaven for everyone', or the more traditional ideas of 'blessings in heaven' and 'punishment in hell'.

The people in Christadelphia, who consider themselves 'Brothers and sisters in Christ' have read the Bible themselves and concluded that, although 'heaven' and 'hell' are mentioned many times, they are not the eternal abiding places where people hope (or fear) to go to at death.

A grievous error has been made in interpreting the Bible. But the error is not first of all concerned with heaven or hell.

Throughout the ages philosophical thoughts entered Christianity. Lots of people had difficulty with the idea that when they would die everything would stop. Therefore, they preferred to cling to the idea of an afterlife or even after an incarnation making it possible for them to come back to earth in another form or to have it better than in their present life.

The theory, that all men are born with what is called an 'immortal soul' has been and is still a very popular idea. This is variously described as a 'never dying entity', a 'divine spark'; and to it are attributed all the characteristics of what is termed 'the real man' - personality, conscience, reason and understanding, emotions and all the moral qualities of which man is capable. The 'body' is said to be mortal and corruptible, turning to dust and ashes after death, whereas the 'soul' is immortal and incorruptible and lives on in endless bliss or misery.

In our article: "Soul, Spirit, and Death" we shall go deeper into that matter.

There you'll find what the Bible says and means about those who die and if they would still be able to do something after they died.

Christadelphians believe what is written in the Bible and accept that we are limited fleshy elements who come to the same end as animals: humans die, animals die. We are all creatures of God and all breathe the same air. In fact, you could say that there’s really no advantage in being human. None. Everything’s smoke. We all end up in the same place — man created out of dust, shall end up as dust. Coming into a state that we can not do anything and not able to think any more, in death there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where we’re most certainly headed.

“19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (Ec 3:19-20 ASV)

“ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” (Ec 9:5 ASV)

“ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.” (Ec 9:10 ASV)

“ His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.” (Ps 146:4 ASV)

Heaven is where the Great Creator has His abode;for the inspired and wisest of kings repeatedly used the expression:

"Hear Thou in Heaven, Thy dwelling place" (1 Kings viii. 30, etc.);

and Job (xxxvii. 23) declared that

"touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out".

Elsewhere another Bible question has it:

"Canst thou by searching find out God?" (Job. xi. 7).

Wherever God's dwelling be, it is in the midst of

"light which no man can approach unto" (1 Tim. vi.16).

Where that spot is, no man knows. Apparently the whole system revolves around a centre; but the most powerful telescope yet invented gives not the slightest clue as to where or what that centre is.

The little upon the subject that is known is only seen through a glass, as it were, darkly. May it be our happy lot to survive that time when we

"shall know even as we are known" (1 Cor. xiii. 12).

"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matt. v. 3).

If the clerical interpretation of this statement of Christ were true, then it would mean that, where as the poor in spirit will go to heaven, the meek will have to stay on this earth (Matt. v. 5).

Christadelphians do not thus set one promise of Christ against another of his promises, but harmonise all his promises.

The Kingdom of Heaven will mean a Kingdom of the God of Heaven, established on the earth (Dan. ii. 44); and ruled over by the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts xvii. 31), who will at that time have returned from Heaven (1Thess. iv. 16).

F. G J.

“ And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Da 2:44 ASV)

Read "The Brixton Debate" on "Christ to Come or Heaven at Death".

"Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven" (Luke vi. 23).

Nothing more true.

But nowhere in the Bible are we told we have to die and go to heaven to get our reward. The Lord told his disciples,

"The Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matt. xvi. 27).

That is still future, and will not be until Jesus comes again. Even since he went away, he has written a letter in which he says,

"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me" (Rev.xxii. 12).

We may rely on his keeping his promise. Paul well refers to our reward, which is in heaven, when he says:

"Your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. iii. 3, 4).

F. G. J.

"Rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke x. 20).

Though this text is cited as support for the dogma of heaven-going at death, it affords no evidence thereof whatever. To have one's name written in heaven is a very different thing from going there.

The High Priest of old had the names of the Twelve Tribes inscribed on his Ephod when he went into the Holy Place (Exod.xxxix. 6), although the Twelve Tribes never went there-into. In the same way, our names are borne by our High Priest, the Lord Jesus, now in heaven; not that we shall ever go there, but for other reasons clearly stated in the Scriptures (Heb. vii. 25; Rom. viii. 84; 1John ii. 1).

F. G. J.

"Hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephes.ii. 6).

"Heavenly places" and "heaven" are very different things. According to our opponents, Paul ought to have said "will make us sit", but he uses the present tense — "hath raised us up", etc. Furthermore, if heavenly places mean heaven, then heaven is not the place our opponents say it is, for Paul speaks of "spiritual wickedness in heavenly places" (Ephes. vi. 12 margin). That statement of Paul's will hardly be to the liking of our heaven-going opponents, unless they disagree with what the Bible says about nothing "that defileth" can enter where God dwells (Rev. xxi. 27).

F. G. J.

"Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven"(Matt. xix. 14).

Elsewhere, we are informed where the Kingdom of heaven will be established by the God of heaven (Dan.ii. 44) on the earth (Dan. vii. 27). When the passage, however, is quoted to prove that little children, irrespective of knowledge and faith, will be saved, it is sufficient to point out that the passage goes beyond that, for it says:

"Of such is the Kingdom",

and therefore there is no room for any others. The meaning of Jesus is evident from what another Gospel recorder tells us, that Jesus also said upon the occasion referred to:

"Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein" (Luke xviii. 17).

F. G.J

“ And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Da 7:27 ASV)

"But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly" (Heb. xi. 16).

It is remarkable that some people cannot discern the difference between "a heavenly country" and heaven itself. The earth, which we are told is to be the eternal abode of the righteous (Prov. x. 30; Psalmxxxvii. 9; Matt. v. 5; Rev. v. 10), will truly be a heavenly country when the God of heaven, by means of His Son from Heaven, removes the curse now resting upon it (Gen. iii. 17; Psalm lxvii. 6; lxxxv. 12; Isa.xxxv. 1; Rev. xxii. 8). There is no doubt that such time will come, for it is God Himself who has said:

"As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord" (Num. xiv. 21; Isa. xi. 9; Hab. ii. 14;Psalm xlvi. 10).

F. G. J.

"To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1Pet. i. 4).

Our opponents would never adduce this text as evidence of heaven being the place of reward were they to study the context. In verse 7, for instance, Peter's meaning is made evident, for he says:

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ".

While Jesus is still at His Father's side, there will be our inheritance. Meanwhile he says:

"Hold fast till I come" (Rev. ii. 25).

F. G. J.

"And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings ii. 11).

"And this is one of the evidences that when good men die their immortal souls are taken by angels up to heaven!"

The passage teaches nothing of the sort. What is told us in this narrative is that Elijah — the real Elijah, who wore a mantle — was taken up to heaven "by a whirlwind" without dying, in "a chariot of fire, with horses of fire".

How hardly pressed for evidence the "reverends"must be to adduce this unique incident as supporting something quite different.

F. G. J.

"Desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven" (2 Cor. v. 2).

It passes our comprehension why this text is quoted as evidence for the belief that we possess immortal souls.

Look at it —

"Desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven"!

How can that desire be expressed by the person who believes that the death of the righteous means an immortal soul being unclothed, shuffling off its mortal clothing and winging its way to heaven?

F. G. J.

See 1 Cor. xv. 52-54.

“52 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 be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1Co 15:52-54 ASV)

"For our conversation ('citizenship', R.V.) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. iii. 20).

Unless we had such eye-opening experience of our religious opponents' ignorance of "What is written" we should have been inclined to charge them with dishonesty for omitting the latter part of the text which explains the meaning of the first part. The remainder of the text reads:

"From whence also we look for the Saviour· the Lord Jesus".

F.G. J.

"Provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not" (Luke xiL38).

Whenever this passage has been quoted in support of heaven-going at death being the reward of the righteous, we always say,

"Read on",

and thus we reach verse 86, which reads:

"And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return".

We again say,

"Read on"• Verse 87 says:

"Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching".

F. G. J.

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matt,vi. 20).

When this is quoted in support of the doctrine of heaven-going, those who do so evidently forget what is contained in the parallel record by Luke (chap. xii. 36,37).

See the comments elsewhere upon that record.

F. G. J.

“ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” (Mt 6:20 ASV)

“36 and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.” (Lu 12:36-37 ASV)

In view of the fact that Elijah was taken up into heaven as recorded in 2 Kings ii. 11, it must be assumed that when Jesus said,

"No man hath ascended into Heaven" (John iii. 13),

he had in mind the "heaven of heavens" (Deut. x. 14; 1 Kings viii. 27), which doubtless is the heaven referred to throughout the Scriptures as the dwelling place of God (1 Kings viii.30; Lukexi. 2).

The word heaven, apart from the context in which it is found, is very vague; it may mean simply the firmament above (Gen. i. 8); or, it may mean the dwelling place of the Great Eternal, in whose presence are the angels (Matt, xviii. 10).

F.G.J.

"Knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb. x. 34).

The Revised Version informs us that the word "heaven" is not in the original Scripture, so the passage is no help to those who preach heaven going as the reward of the righteous. But, even if the word heaven had been there, we could easily understand the meaning, seeing that "Christ, who is our life", is in heaven, "and that when he appears" then we shall participate in the "better and enduring substance" (Prov. x. 30; Psalm xxxvii. 9; Matt. v. 5; Rev. v. 10).

Any reward in store for those pleasing to God will no tbe until Jesus returns to the earth (Matt. xvi. 27; Rev.xxii. 12; 2 Tim. iv. 8).

F.G.J.

“ For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.” (Mt 16:27 ASV)

“ Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.” (Re 22:12 ASV)

“ henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.” (2Ti 4:8 ASV)

Only at the time when Jesus returns he is going to judge the living and the dead. There will not be people to be called back from a hell, purgatory or from heaven to judge them, and either to allow them to enter God's Kingdom or to send them (back?) to hell.

"The hope which is laid up for you in heaven" (Col. i. 5).

Paul's meaning here is made plain by Paul himself when he said he was

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus ii. 13).

F. G. J.

The curious statement of Christ that "The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. xi. 12), is one of the very many statements found in the Gospel records, which is made plain by another Gospel recorder.

Luke records the saying in question thus:

"The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the Kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it" (Luke xvi. 16).

That is really what happened, for both Matthew (iii. 5) and Mark (i. 5) record,

"All Judea and all the region round about Jordan" came to John "to be baptised, confessing their sins"·The people all regarded "John as a prophet" (Matt,xxi. 26), and crowded around him to hear his preaching, and to be baptised.

Lots of people think and say to their kids that those who died are in heaven and can be seen as a star in heaven. Many point to a star in heaven and say to their children it is grandpa (opa) or grandma (oma) who look down at them.

Many are convinced their parents, brothers and sisters and close friends who died are in heaven. Several Christians are convinced that all people are saved, no matter what they might do. Strangely enough often their denominations also try to frighten their flock with the possibility to be thrown in hell to be tormented there for ever. Such idea goes in again their own doctrine of Salvation, that Jesus died for all sinners and everybody falls under the Grace of Christ and has no works to do any more.

They do forget that Jesus gave his body as a ransom for all. He really died giving himself for all, good and bad people. By God accepting his ransom offering all people can receive that salvation. But it is up to each individual to accept the ransom offering of Christ Jesus, and to repent for what was done wrong, now taking steps to live according to the Will of God.

Nobody of those who die shall go to a heaven or hell before the Day of Judgement. It is at that Day of Jehovah that Jesus shall come to judge the living and the dead, not earlier.

“ And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.” (Ac 10:42 ASV)

“ I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:” (2Ti 4:1 ASV)

“ who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (1Pe 4:5 ASV)

“ For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;” (Joh 5:22 ASV)

“ inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Ac 17:31 ASV)

“ For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” (Ro 14:9 ASV)

“ For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Co 5:10 ASV)

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John xiv. 2).

Before this text can be used in support of the belief that heaven at death is our reward, it must be shown that Heaven is ever called "The Father's House"; but it is never so called in the Bible.

This is what Paul says:

"The House of God, which is the Church of the living God" (1 Tim. iii. 15).

Then, too, verse 3 militates against the popular doctrine, for Jesus there says:

"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself".

As to how Jesus is now preparing a place, see such texts as Hebrews vi. 20; ix. 24; x. 21-23.

F. G. J.

“ whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb 6:20 ASV)

“ For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:” (Heb 9:24 ASV)

“21 and having a great priest over the house of God; 22 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, 23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:” (Heb 10:21-23 ASV)

The Bible tells about an inheritance for man which is to be here on earth. The Book of books tells us that before long the crooks will be bankrupt and that God-investors will soon own the store, though there shall come hard times when down-to-earth people will move in and take over, relishing a huge bonanza. But those who love God may call themselves blessed when they shall be content with just who they are — no more, no less. That’s the moment they shall find themselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

At those end-times people shall come to know who belongs to the people of God. At that time the meek shall inherit the land and everybody shall see how the good shall be placed on good land and put down healthy roots.

“ For evil-doers shall be cut off; But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land.” (Ps 37:9 ASV)

“ But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” (Ps 37:11 ASV)

“ I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: Therefore shall the peoples give thee thanks for ever and ever.” (Ps 45:17 ASV)

“ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Mt 5:5 ASV)

“ And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God:” (Re 21:3 ASV)

“ For such as are blessed of him shall inherit the land; And they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.” (Ps 37:22 ASV)

“ The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever.” (Ps 37:29 ASV)

Yes, good people shall not be going to heaven but shall find heaven on earth, coming to live in a "Restored Paradise".

Jehovah God, the Divine Creator set before humankind the prospect of a Paradise of Pleasure all around this earthly globe, comfortably filled with the perfect offspring of the first human couple He had created, all of them living together as one big family in perfect peace, health and happiness and keeping the whole earth in a Paradise state. This was to continue on forever!

The Nazarene master teacher Jesus Christ when on earth, knew all that. He had read for himself all that the prophet Moses had written and all the rest of the inspired Scriptures that had been written in Hebrew and Aramaic. He also referred to the original Paradise of mankind and also told about what God wanted from mankind and what man could come to expect in the near future.

Jesus recognised that human life began in the Paradise of Pleasure, and not before that, and by the special creation of God, apart from the creation of any other kind of earthly living creature. He taught and believed in the one-time existence of mankind’s original home, the Paradise of Pleasure, the Royal Garden or Garden of Eden, and the expulsion of Adam and his wife from it for disobedience to God their Creator, and the destruction of that unexpanded Paradise in the global flood of Noah’s day.

Source from heaven

In many of his stories and parables Jesus wanted to shed a light on times to come when God would restore that Paradise and keep His promise of the Promised Land and Kingdom of God. He too, like many other Jews looked forward to the restoration of Paradise to mankind. Jesus also knew he would play a role in it. He also was convinced that his position would be given to him not by a worldly source but by The Source from heaven.

“33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (Joh 18:33-36 ASV)

When the Nazarene master teacher was talking about the meek who would inherit the Kingdom, he was talking about a kingdom here on earth of which he would be the king.

“ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Mt 5:5 ASV)

“ Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.” (Mt 6:10 ASV)

In the kingdom that would be on earth everything is going to run like God wants it to go. for years people all over the world prayed and aske God

"May thy kingdom arrive,"

That kingdom people are asking for is the kingdom of God which is opposed to all disorder (αταξια) and confusion. It shall be a theocratic system where everything will be according to the Wil and Plans of God. Already in the Hebrew Scriptures we are told about those Plans where the world shall be restored to the times of the Royal Garden were animals and man lived in unison and harmony with each other.

By the influences of God his Spirit, more and more people shall come to obey His justice, and would restore to order, by the gracious exercise of His power, all the disorder that exists in the world. Those being justified by Jesus shall be able to witness the change in the world, beginning with a thousand-year reign, whereafter an unending peaceful world will be given to all righteous people to enjoy.

‘The kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy.’

Paradise is no more a myth or legend than God and Jesus are. The proof of history is overwhelming that the one who would become king for ever was on earth as a perfect man 20 centuries ago. Eyewitnesses and personal companions of his have left us written testimony of what he said and did ​— his blameless life, his unjust, violent death and his miraculous resurrection from the dead.

God is unchangeable in His expressed purpose. He is undefeatable in His declared and recorded purpose. When He declared that it was His will for man to have in subjection “all the earth,” he meant for that to be fulfilled without fail.

From the onset Jehovah placed the human being on earth with a purpose. He foresaw the Garden of Eden (on soil already subdued) extended all around and over this earthly ball, a delightful thing to look at from the heavens and a praise to the Creator who had made man in His image and according to His likeness. It was man himself who rebelled against God. Jehovah showed patience to mankind and allowed them to find ways to find a good way to govern the world. But mankind did not succeed. In spite of all that the Great Theocrat has permitted to take place on earth for the past almost seven thousand years of human existence, His purpose, His grand objective is still to see a beautiful world of which He can say

"I see it, and I declare it to be good."

At the moment it is still not good, but we can still continue to make it better. This fact should be encouraging to all of us who are sickened at heart at seeing this earth, which has such wonderful possibilities, being ruined by selfish men, even being stained with human blood violently shed, being threatened with total depopulation by international nuclear and chemical warfare.

Christadelphians do have hope. They believe that we must be approaching the threshold of that thousand-year-long reign of Jesus Christ, which must be accompanied by Paradise according to what Jesus promised the sympathetic evildoer on the stake there at Mount Calvary.

Christadelphians do believe we are coming closer to particular times which are spoken of in several books of the Bible.

We put our trust in the Words of God, written down in that Book of books. For that reason we have enough reasons to prepare ourselves to be ready for the more difficult times to come. Even when we expect a Great Tribulation or Armageddon to come over mankind we have good hopes that after that, there will come a much better time.
Beauty just impossible for us to paint in mere words will then adorn the whole earth. Natural beauty will be attended by physical, mental and spiritual health for those who dwell amid such Paradise glory.

The loving Theocratic Restorer of the garden home of perfect man and woman gives us prophetic word pictures of what He can actually do for the eternal happiness of mankind when reconciled to Him. He uses as a sample illustration a small land not too distant from the original Paradise, a land that had lain desolate for seventy years during the exile of His disobedient people to Babylonia in the Mesopotamian valley. From that pagan land of false idolatrous worship he redeemed them, released them, to return to their long-desolate homeland and its holy Mount Zion. Telling them of the astonishing transformation that was to be brought about there under His blessing, the Great Theocrat said by His prophet Isaiah:

“1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water: in the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isa 35:1-10 ASV)

Since 1948 the State Israel has been restored and got people from all over the world coming to that place, as People of God finding unity with others of the Chosen People of God.

As a further encouragement to the ones repurchased and ransomed from exile and captivity in idolatrous Babylon to go forth and return to their homeland with the prospect of making it something like the Garden of Eden, the Creator of heaven and earth went on to say through the same prophet:

“11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isa 55:11-13 ASV)

The Words of God have never been for nothing, empty, of no value or void.They also shall never come out back empty-handed of God's Mouth. We all can witness how those Words in past as well in these tomes have done the work God sent them to do. We may be sure the Words of God shall complete the assignment He gave them.

The Word, Which created everything has continually gone forth from The Eternal Source Its Mouth in righteousness, being sure it will not be for nothing. The Unseen Divine Creator has always been sure that one day unto Him every knee would bow and people would praise Him with their mouth. That shall happen in times when He will back the word of His servant and shall confirm the counsel of His messengers, Jerusalem becoming inhabited by His People.

Jehovah God shall confirm His covenant with His Chosen People.

“ that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places thereof;” (Isa 44:26 ASV)

“ And as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith Jehovah: my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith Jehovah, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isa 59:21 ASV)

" 12 "So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. 13 No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines—Monuments to me, to GOD, living and lasting evidence of GOD."” (Isa 55:11-13 Message)

Man has proved to be unable to bring this earth up to a Paradise state free from drought, blight, plant pests, famine, deadly undernourishment and starvation. It is obvious that man cannot create his own paradise. All the previous governments, kingdoms and other reigns have proven man is not able to create a system where everybody can be happy.

For mankind, the Great Theocrat who drove out the first man and woman from that Paradise because they broke off their unselfish worship of Him, is the only solution.
Ancient history provides us with a real-life illustration of the truth of the principle that without the blessing of this worshipful Creator there can be no return of mankind to a Paradise home.

In the torture stake of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been impaled we can find the promised solution given in the garden of Eden at the beginning of our times. With that man of flesh and blood a "new creation" is something we can look forward to. And all those who will walk orderly by the given rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God. By the Nazarene his sacrifice sin can be done away and the curse of death ended.

All the prophets from Samuel to Malachi foretold the coming of the Day of Jehovah and the apostle Paul distinctly informs us that all these things were written in Scripture long ago, for the benefit of those who are living in the very time in which we now find ourselves. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever He will do next.

Christadelphians as regular readers of the Scriptures, trust those words of that assembly of books and through patience and comfort of the scriptures have hope for times to come.

“ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.” (Ro 15:4 ASV)

We can notice the particular times we are in, when wars, global warming and natural disasters and terrible diseases threaten our world, so that it might be shaken.

“ and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts.” (Hag 2:7 ASV)

All reason enough for us to believe we are witnessing times foretold by the divine Maker, which we should be taken seriously as a warning and as a preparation time to be ready to enter the small gate of that long ago promised Kingdom of God.

It is now (or never) that we should prepare ourselves to prepare ourselves to say goodbye to man's world and to "return to God's World", following the path Jesus prepared for us to enter the small gate to that fabulous Kingdom of God, a paradise restored, to live in peace and harmony.