" For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first ."

(the 2 prophets Rev11:12, followed by the other martyrs and brethren of times gone by) (1Thes4:16)

" 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 ." (1Cor15:52)

" But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets ." (Rev10:7)

" And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever ." (Rev11:15)

Throughout our studies we have seen how that after the rule of man's governments and that of the Anti-Christ, that there would be a second coming of Christ. Back in our study of Daniel the Lord spoke and said, " And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Daniel 2:44) The kingdom of God will not fade away, but will stand forever, putting to an end the kingdoms of this world and all their trickery, lies and deceit.

Some have even been so bold as to think that the puny armies of man will be able to withstand any kind of conflict, even one led by super powerful spiritual beings, which we will then be, having gone off with the Lord at the seventh trump and rejoiced at the marriage supper of the Lamb (see Rev chapter 19). It will then be time for the violent and destructive establishment of the Kingdom of God, led by Jesus Christ Himself. " Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy ." (Zeph 3:8) The eventual return and consequent establishment of the heavenly kingdom of God will not be a pacifictic occasion !

Upon the overthrow of the devil's kingdom, we will stand, with the Lord, to rule with a "rod of iron" (Rev 19:15). Could this "rod of iron" be the re-application of the Masaic law ??? Jesus did say that, " For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled ." (Mt 5:18) This is the reason for the Mosaic law, to show us the perfection of God and to bring us to repentance from sin by the blood of Christ. " Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith ." (Gal 3:24) In order to be justified by faith it first requires that there be submission to the will of God and that will will be imposed, rather than voluntary as it is today.

" For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God ." (Rom 14:11 & Isa 45:23) How much better to do it now when it is voluntary and for which you will reap the benefits, albeit there will be trials and tests, rather than wait and submit to the rule and demonic perversions of the Anti-Christ and still end up having to submit to the Lord in the end anyway, or maybe you will be amongst tghose who will not be with the Lord at all, but will take your place along side Satan and his followers in the eternal lake of fire. The ultimate decision is up to you.

" And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away ." (Rev 21:1-4)

" And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life ." (Rev 21:24-27)

And that is the picture for those who give their hearts and lives to the Lord. An eternal reward of happiness and peace, away from the former hates and pains of evil and selfish people. We not only get a new spiritual body, but also a whole new earth to live in ! We will be reunited with those we love and who love us and live with the Lord for all time. Thank you Jesus !

*** That concludes our lesson on the return of Christ and the subsequent setting up of His everlasting kingdom. ***