What started as an enjoyable coffee break suddenly took a darker turn. One of my colleagues had recently had a baby boy. After the usual chat about the child and how she was enjoying the experience as a young mum, inevitably someone asked, “So, when will you have the next one?”
Our colleague burst into tears. We sat in an embarrassed silence. No one knew what to say, but eventually she sobbed the answer. “We were so happy when our baby was born, but then we looked around at the world and saw how much danger there is, how awful people are to each other, and the hopeless state of the world. We’re just not sure we should bring another child into this terrible place.”
This is a sad story, but true. And many people share her fear. It’s very personal, but it’s also global. Here’s an extract from the United Nations report 2024:
The past year has tested humanity in every way. Crises and challenges have placed the better future people want and need further out of reach. Conflicts, deepening poverty and inequality, hunger and poor economic prospects for developing countries made worse by widening geopolitical divides and mistrust. The climate emergency reached terrifying new heights, 2023 being the hottest on record. Human rights abuses, discrimination against minorities, women and girls, rising extremism and a surge of hate speech online and in the streets are sowing discord and mistrust across communities, countries and entire regions… Many developing countries are drowning in debt and lack the necessary resources to invest in a sustainable future for their people.*
A New World Coming
That’s enough depressing news, let’s get to the good news, the Glad Tidings. The world is in a terrible state, through war, unrest, climate change and the many other challenges we face. But God has promised a better time and a new world order in a renewed, flourishing earth.
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord , to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken (Micah 4:1–4).
The Bible calls this time the Kingdom of God. In this future world order, God’s laws will be followed on the earth, and He will rule the world through His appointed King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The result of this will be peace: peace between nations, peace amongst people, living in safety and removing even the ability to make war. It’s a wonderful prospect, and to read a full version please look at Psalm 72. Here you will read about justice for everyone, saving those in need, removing oppression, a worldwide kingdom with plenty of food for all, based around the true worship of God.
The prophet Isaiah describes how the world will be cleansed and rejuvenated, even the deserts turned into blossoming gardens and fruitful farms. Everyone will live healthy lives in a healthy world.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus… then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes (Isaiah 35:1, 6–7).
Big Changes Needed
It’s fair to say that a lot has to happen, to change today’s world into tomorrow’s Kingdom of God. The Bible describes the main stages involved:
Jesus Christ returns to the earth, at a time like ours, where people in the world are fearful and do not know which way to turn. He will come with the power of God to set right all that is wrong. So, whilst we are understandably worried about the state of our world, this is a sign that Jesus will come soon. Read Luke 21:25–31.
Jesus raises the dead. The people who belong to him, who followed him in their lives, and did their best to please God, will be made immortal. Jesus will rule until all opposition, all sin and death have been removed. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20–28.
Eventually death is eradicated and there is no more sorrow or mourning in this perfect world—where God eventually can live with men and women. Read Revelation 21:1–7.
What Should We Do About It?
The idea of living in a perfect world is attractive. But what’s the catch? Here’s more good news—there is no catch! God wants everyone to be there, although the many who ignore or reject Him will not be. He asks that we learn about His plan and what He is like by reading the Bible, believe what He says and be baptised to show it. Then we can live a life of purpose and hope, trying to please God and being forgiven when we fail.
This is summarised in the following verses. They are from the time between Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and his ascension to heaven six weeks later, as he gave his followers the great commission to go out and preach the Gospel.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19–20).
Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15–16).
Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:46–48).
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30–31).
What Will You Do?
God has always kept His promises, and the Bible is full of examples of Him doing so. The future is sure: God will intervene in world affairs and send Jesus to establish the Kingdom of God. This will be a perfect world where men and women will live for ever, ultimately with God Himself.
God offers us a place in His family now, and a place in His future Kingdom. He has told us what to do about it. But don’t let’s waste any time, for in Jesus’ last message we read:
Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done (Revelation 22:12).
Andrew Hale
* Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the United Nations in 2024.