In the first sequel, the Holy Spirit expounded that truly, there is Paradise, and because God has got a paradise for the overcomers, it behooves us not to make this world our paradise. In this second sequel, we want to examine by God’s word whether or not there is an end to this present world, and what is the end for those who have no hope outside of this world.
TEXT: 1Corinthians 15:21-26, Luke23:42, Ecclesiastes 1:4, Ecclesiastes 2:17-23, Psalms 25:14, Revelation 21:1-5, Psalms 37:9-11, Psalms 48:1-8, Psalms 72:8, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:6
It is foolishness not to think of your end, a wise man, having understanding should think about his end. There is a final end for everyone, but there is an end before the final end, which is the end of individuals. Paul says to us that we shall not all die, this means that some will die. Whether by rapture or by death, your end will come. How wise are you? By this, I’m saying how prepared are you for your end.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 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. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 1Corinthians 15:21-28
You should not use today to spoil your end. Of course, God will take us to paradise by His grace, but grace does not mean disobeying the instructions that will take you to that paradise. You can’t be expecting rapture or preparing your end carelessly, you can’t be shabby with your life spiritually and expect to have a good end. People have embraced several things, and that has hindered them from prioritizing their end, but the wisest man gave us some insights about these labors in Ecclesiastes.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
If only in this world we have hope, we are of all men most miserable. The church is God’s ground and pillar of truth, where you go to learn true wisdom to know how to guard yourself for your end. Whether or not you believe it, there is an end to everything you are doing, including yourself.
Paradise is eternal while hell is everlasting. There is a common question: where will you spend your eternity? This question is not correct, because there is no other form of eternity except God, and God is life. If you have eternal life, you can’t spend it in hell. Thus, there is no option about where to spend eternity, you can only spend it with God.
Truly, there is an expectation of rapture for the living saints, the true bride of Jesus Christ (wise virgins), but that doesn’t mean this earth would then be rendered empty forever. The true hope of believers is not to live in heaven forever. In fact, the saints who would go in the rapture only have seven years to spend in heaven, before returning to earth. The earth was created to be inhabited. After God renews this earth, we would return to inhabit it.
For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens;
God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it,
he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited:
I am the Lord; and there is none else. Isaiah 45:18
Thy faithfulness is unto all generations:
thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. Psalms 119:90
The book of Revelation 21 gave us an understanding of this new heaven and earth. Jesus revealed that He went to prepare us a place, for in His Father’s domain are many dwellings.
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.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
His soul shall dwell at ease;
and his seed shall inherit the earth. Psalms 25:13
The truth is, no one can describe this eternity, it is a place of rest for the righteous. The stumbling block for people in believing in this Paradise is the way modern preachers are preaching it, they preach as though we are going to heaven and never coming back to earth, but it is not so. When the rapture takes place, the foolish virgins and the Jews would still be on earth. Moses and Elijah would preach the gospel to the Jews and seal one hundred and forty-four thousand manservants, for the first three and half years, the last three and half years is the Great Tribulation period, after which Jesus would descend to fight the Armageddon war, and claim the earth. Both the Millennium and eternity would be on the earth, but a renewed one. That is the new earth Revelation detailed.
Meanwhile, for the ungodly, who would not have Jesus rule over them now, let’s see what the Bible says about them.
For evildoers shall be cut off:
but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth;
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psalms 37:9-11
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. Luke 19:27
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;
and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. Psalms 37:22
Therefore, do not kill yourself because of any mundane thing, and don’t allow anything whatsoever to take you away from God. Everyone has an end, and it is your responsibility to make it good.