“A Thousand Generations”
a biblical study about the future of humanity
By Pastor F. M. Riley
“The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
Psalm 119:130
A Thousand Generations
The first place in God’s Word where “perpetual generations” is mentioned is in Genesis 9:12, “And God said, this [rainbow] is the token [sign] of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations.” Could this be stated any more clearly? The occasion was when Noah came forth from the Ark after the flood. Almighty God right then made a covenant with mankind and with all the creatures that Noah had with him in the Ark, clearly stating that His covenant with them was to be for “perpetual generations.”
Now folks have two options here…. they can believe this statement made by Almighty God Himself, or they can call God a liar. There are no other options. I choose to believe what God said. All flesh [see 1 Corinthians 15:39] will continue to reproduce for “perpetual generations.”
The next place in God’s Word where “perpetual generations” are mentioned is found in Exodus 20:3-6, where the Lord gave the Covenant of the Law to Moses at Mt. Sinai.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.”
In verse 5 the word “generation” is in italics. This means that it is not in the Hebrew text, but that it was supplied by the translators because of the grammatical construction of the sentence. When the Lord explicitly states that He will visit “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth….,” it is obvious that He has “generations” in mind. So, the translators were right in supplying this word in order that the sentence would make logical sense.
Notice that verses 5 and 6 are one continuous sentence. Verse 6 is continuing the exact same line of thought began in verse 5. Therefore, when the Lord said, “And showing mercy unto thousands….,” it is obvious that He still had “generations” in mind; that is, thousands of generations.
I am not reading something into this Scripture that it really doesn’t say. The proof of this is found in Deuteronomy 7:9 where Moses, speaking to Israel by inspiration of God, refers to this very same Covenant of God’s Law with Israel and explicitly states, “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” In this verse the word “generations” was not supplied by the translators but is in the actual Hebrew text. Since both passages are speaking of the exact same Covenant of Law given at Mt. Sinai, then it is obvious that both passages speak of unending generations.
You will find this same truth set forth again in Psalm 105:6-12. Notice that in the context in this Psalm the Lord is explicitly referring to His Covenant of Law [verse 10] when the Scripture says, “He hath remembered His covenant forever, the Word which He commanded to a thousand generations,” Psa. 105:8.
All these passages, when taken at face value for what they literally and actually say, teach that people in their flesh and blood natural bodies will continue to reproduce for at least “a thousand generations.” A “generation” as defined by the Scriptures is a minimum of 33 years and a maximum of 40 years. I know this to be true because I have looked up every single verse in God’s Word where the word “generation” is used to find out exactly what “time element” is connected with a Biblical “generation.” If we use the maximum of 40 years to calculate, a “thousand generations” would then amount to 40,000 years. 40 x 1000 = 40,000. Using that Biblical standard for the measurement of a generation, it is obvious that in all of human history there have only been 150 generations of people that have lived on this earth. 6000 years divided by 40 = 150. So, we can then conclude that the process of reproduction by people living in their natural human bodies will continue for at least another 850 generations [34.000 years]. 850 x 40 = 34,000. But keep in mind that the Lord said in Genesis 9:12 that there would be “perpetual generations.” Glory!
But should these passages be taken literally? Absolutely! There are all kinds of Scriptural proof that there will be people who will continue to live in their flesh and blood natural bodies after the Tribulation period, through the Millennium, and right on into the eternal age. The sole and only reason this truth is denied is because of a lack of serious Bible study on the part of God’s people. It is not due to a lack of Scriptural proof, for there is an abundance of Scriptural proof of this truth to be found in God’s Word. Failure to seriously study the Word has resulted in all kinds of fool theories, ideas, opinions, fantasies, so-called “interpretations,” and “confusion” about this subject. See 1 Corinthians 14:33. What is even worse, is that such lax study deprives God’s people [true believers] of great spiritual truths that would be such an encouragement and blessing to them if they were made aware of these truths. Let’s just take a serious look at some of these overlooked prophecies……
An Ever Increasing Kingdom
In Isaiah 9:6-7 we read, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
The above Scripture passage is familiar to every serious student of God’s Word. Every true believer knows that these verses are a prophecy of the birth, person, and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet invariably the statement about the Lord’s government increasing forever is almost totally ignored. But doesn’t this Scripture say that the Lord’s kingdom will “increase” without any end? Well…??
In view of this inspired statement, the question then arises, “How can the government of Christ increase forever?” Brother, there are obviously only two ways this prophecy can be literally fulfilled.
It could be fulfilled if the Lord continued to “create” new subjects to dwell in His kingdom “forever.” That is one option. But do we find Scriptural support for such an option anywhere in His Word? Well…?? Think about it!
The other option is that a “redeemed” flesh and blood humanity will always continue to exist and reproduce throughout eternity, thereby ever increasing the population of our Lord’s kingdom. But do we find Scriptural support for this option anywhere in God’s Word? We sure do!
The Survivors
That people living in their natural flesh and blood bodies will survive the Tribulation period is absolutely beyond dispute if one believes what God’s Word actually and literally says and teaches.
When the Lord returns to the Mount of Olives as recorded in Zechariah 14, He comes to Jerusalem in the midst of a great battle. A remnant of the Jews who remained in Jerusalem instead of fleeing to Petra are backed up against the Mount of Olives fighting for their lives. It should be obvious to any reader that these Jews are people in their natural flesh and blood bodies who have escaped death throughout the seven years of the Tribulation. They are “survivors.” The Lord Himself said there would be such Jewish survivors, and that they would be “saved,” Matthew 24:13. As the Lord stands on that mountain, the Scripture tells us that the mountain will split in half creating a valley. Those embattled Jews will flee through that valley to safety while the Lord Himself defeats their enemies, filling the Kidron Valley [and other valleys] with the blood of their enemies “…even unto the horse bridles…,” Revelation 14:20.
This is the battle that men call the battle of “Armageddon,” Revelation 16:13-16. However, the Scriptures never confine this battle to Armageddon [the plain of Megiddo]. This is “…the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” Revelation 16:14. This battle will be fought all the way from Petra in the land of ancient Edom [southern Jordan today…..Ezekiel 20:33-38; Micah 2:12-13; Isaiah 63:1-6] up the east side of the Dead Sea through the valley of Hamon Gog [Ezekiel 39:11], then on into Jerusalem where the Kidron valley will be filled with the dead bodies of the wicked [Jeremiah 31:40], and then right on up through the valleys of Jezreel, Achor and Jehoshaphat all the way to Megiddo. There on the plains of Megiddo the battle will end, and men “…shall learn war no more,” Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3. Glory! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
What will then happen to those “survivors” of the Tribulation, both Jews and Gentiles?
The Judgment of the Gentiles
In Matthew 25:31-46 the Scriptures state that the Lord will gather before Him “all nations” [Gentiles; heathen…same word in the Greek text] who have survived the Tribulation, and will then separate them from one another “…as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats,” Matthew 25:32. It is obvious that these “nations” are people still living in their flesh and blood natural bodies. It is also obvious from the context that the Gentiles classified as “goats” are those who refused to receive Christ as their Savior during the Tribulation, and who refused to help the Lord’s “brethren,” the Jewish people, during that terrible time. The Gentile “survivors” classified as “sheep” are those who did receive the Lord as their Savior during the Tribulation, and who had ministered to the Jewish people during that terrible time. The Scriptures tell us that the Lord will then judge all of these “surviving” Gentiles. All these people, including the Lord’s “brethren,” [the Jews] are in their natural flesh and blood bodies.
The result of this “Judgment of the Gentiles” is that the “goat” Gentiles will be cast “into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” Mt. 25:41; 25:46. But the “sheep” Gentiles will “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” Mt. 25:34, and will enter “into life eternal,” Mt. 25:46.
Notice this last statement, for it is commonly overlooked or explained away. These “sheep” Gentiles who have survived the Tribulation are going to enter the Millennial Kingdom of our Lord and Savior in their flesh and blood natural bodies, but they will also enter “into life eternal.” Does this mean that at that time they will all then be given “glorified bodies” as some teach? NO! It absolutely does not mean any such thing. It means that they will be given “life eternal” in their natural flesh and blood bodies.
I can almost hear some of our readers screaming, “Not so! False teacher! Heretic! Lies! Ridiculous! The Old preacher has lost his mind!” I would advise my critics to reserve their scoffing and ridicule until they have finished reading this study, and have carefully checked out the prophetic Scriptures.
As the Days of a Tree….
In Isaiah 60:22, in the context of the Millennial Kingdom, it is explicitly stated that during the Kingdom Age, “A little one [young child] shall become a thousand, and a small one [infant; baby] a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.”
This passage explicitly states that during the Millennial Kingdom of our Lord a man who was once a young child will be able to look upon or count a thousand relatives who are his direct descendants. As more years pass those descendants will become “a strong nation.” Visualize, if you will, a whole nation of people who are the descendants of just one man and his wife. Impossible, you say? Why should it be considered impossible by those of God’s people who truly believe God’s Word? Well…??
In Psalm 92:5-15 we read,
“O Lord, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep.”
A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. v.6
When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed forever. [Does this give any insight into the very time in which we are living?]
But Thou, Lord, art most high forevermore.
For, lo, Thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, Thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
But my horn shalt Thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
To show that the Lord is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
Now look closely at both the statements made in the context and the words underlined. It is obvious that the word “flourish” in verse 7 literally means that “the wicked” and “the workers of iniquity” are multiplying exceedingly. This has been going on for the past fifty years. Billions of people have been born during this time, and most of them are not “Christians.” That “the wicked” are “flourishing” is indisputable. Have you ever heard of the “population explosion?” Well…??
Now notice that verses 12-13 speak of “the righteous….flourishing.” The word “flourish” in verse 7 which pertains to “the wicked,” and the word “flourish” in verses 12-13 which pertain to “the righteous” are different words in the Hebrew text, yet both words are very similar in meaning. Just as “the wicked” are presently multiplying by the hundreds of thousands each year, so in the Millennial Kingdom “the righteous” will multiply exceedingly just as Isaiah 60:22 explicitly states. In speaking of “the righteous” in verse 14 in this 92nd Psalm, the inspired Psalmist explicitly states, “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age…” In other words, during the Millennial Kingdom and right on into the eternal age, when a married couple wants a baby around the house, they will be able to produce children regardless of their age. Today we speak about women being past their “childbearing” age. Not so in the “ages to come,” Ephesians 2:7. In the Millennial Kingdom and even on into the eternal age, if a woman 200, 500, 900, years of age wants to have a baby she will be able do so, and do so without any pain, Revelation 21:4.
Oh yes! I am aware that some who read this will scream in unbelief and insist that I have lost my mind. Have I? Let’s again see what God’s Word says….
In Isaiah 65:17-25 the inspired Word says, “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die a hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the days of a tree are [will be]the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands,” 65:20-22.
During the Millennial Kingdom and right on into the eternal age, the “curse” that was once placed on the creation [Genesis 3:14; Romans 8:19-22], on mankind [Genesis 3:16], and on the earth [Genesis 3:17-19], will be removed, Galatians 3:13; Revelation 22:3. This portion of Scripture in Isaiah 65 explicitly states that God’s people [the redeemed] living in their flesh and blood natural bodies will live to be hundreds and hundreds of years of age; “as the days of a tree…” Folks, there are trees alive [living; growing; bearing] on this earth today which were already living and growing when the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth some 2,000 years ago. We can see such trees in the Redwoods and Sequoias of California, in the Eucalyptus trees in Australia, in the Olive trees in the Holy Land, and in various other trees scattered around the world. The Lord said in His Word, “…for as the days of a tree are [will be] the days of My people.” Amen! Glory to God! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! It is also obvious from this passage in Isaiah 65 that children will be born to believers living in their flesh and blood natural bodies during the Millennial Kingdom. At that time the “sin nature” will not yet have been removed, for some of the children born to believers will grow into adulthood still refusing to repent of sin and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. As previously pointed out, there is no indication that those who receive Christ as their Savior during that time will ever die. But the Scripture is explicit that the rebellious “sinner” will be given 100 years to repent and receive Christ. Those who refuse to do so within that 100-year period in which God’s grace and mercy are extended to them, will die physically and eternally. Read the explicit statement for yourself in Isaiah 65:20. I suggest using the Hebrew text.
A Highway, Rivers, and Trees
Why shouldn’t it be this way? We are told explicitly in Ezekiel 47:1-12 that “waters” will flow forth directly from under the Millennial Temple of the Lord during the Millennial Kingdom, 47:1, and that the waters shall become two great rivers, 47:2-6; 47:8-9; Zechariah 14:8. For more Scriptural insight about these rivers see Psalm 36:8-9, 46:4, 65:9, Isaiah 33:20-21, Joel 3:18, and Zechariah 13:1.
In Ezekiel 47:9 the Scripture explicitly states, “And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the [two] rivers shall come, shall live and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and everything shall live whither the river cometh.” There is no question that these waters are literal “living water.” They flow directly from under the throne of the Lord in the Millennial Temple. The Lord Himself is the very source of the “water of life,” John 4:10; 4:13-14; 7:37-38. All who drink of the water of those rivers will continue to live and never die. Praise the Lord!
Now who is going to be permitted to drink of those waters? It will be those “survivors” who come out of the Tribulation, and their children and children’s children, etc. who are living in their natural flesh and blood bodies, and who choose to receive Christ as their Savior during the Millennial Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Although the “glorified saints” may also drink of the waters, we will not drink because of necessity. We true believers who are going to receive “glorified bodies” at the resurrection and rapture already have eternal life, which was given to us when we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls, John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24. Therefore, while we may indeed drink of the waters of those rivers, our “eternal life” will not be dependent on those waters. But those Millennial Kingdom believers in their natural flesh and blood bodies will drink of those waters and live forever. Glory! Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! What an awesome God is our God!
But that isn’t all…. The inspired Word in Ezekiel 47:12 also tells us, “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat [food], whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat [food], and the leaf thereof for medicine [healing].” Wow! Talk about fascinating!
Obviously, these are the same “species” of “the tree of life” that was in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:9. These “trees of life” growing on each side of the rivers are for those living in their natural flesh and blood bodies during the Millennial Kingdom.
This is evident for two reasons….
First, God’s people with “glorified bodies” do not need to eat of such trees to sustain our eternal life. This is not to say that we are not going to eat, for eating and tasting various good foods is one of the pleasures that our gracious Lord has given us. This pleasure will not end when we receive our glorified bodies, Revelation 2:7; 22:14. But if we believe God’s Word, our eternal life does not depend on eating, but rather on our eternal Savior.
Second, God’s people with “glorified bodies” will not need to be healed. From the instant we receive our “glorified bodies” at the resurrection and rapture of God’s people, we will never know sickness or weakness or pain or bad health or old age or death again throughout all eternity, 1 Corinthians 15:35-44; 15:51-58. Glory to God!
But the “survivors” who come out of the Tribulation in their natural flesh and blood bodies will be SICK. Think about this…. The Tribulation period is filled with plagues, pestilences, and diseases of all kinds, especially the last half of the Tribulation, Revelation 15:8; 16:1-21. Many of these flesh and blood “survivors” will be contaminated with diseases, sicknesses, and perhaps even “radiation poisoning.” But in receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior, they will be permitted to walk on the “highway” leading up to the “mountain of the Lord’s house” [Isaiah 2:2-3; Micah 4:1-2; Isaiah 35:8-10], and as they go up that mountain they can drink of those “waters of life” and eat of those “trees of life” and be “healed” and live forever. In a very short time after our Lord has established His Millennial Kingdom upon the earth, all sickness will vanish from the face of the earth, Isaiah 33:24. Glory! Praise the Lord!
It is not just coincidence that in Ezekiel 47:12 the Hebrew word translated as “medicine” literally means “healing; to heal.” But in Revelation 22:2, in a very similar statement, the Greek word translated as “healing” literally means “health.” Look the meaning of these words up for yourself in your Concordance or Lexicon.
In order to make this clear to our readers….. When flesh and blood “survivors” come out of the Tribulation, they are going to need “healing.” The leaves of these “trees of life” will be used for that very purpose. But when flesh and blood people come out of the Millennial Kingdom and enter into the Eternal Age, they will already be “healthy.” All they will need to live forever is that their “health” be maintained and renewed, and the leaves of the “trees of life” will be used for that purpose. Glory to God!
Created to Live Forever
Any serious Bible student can easily see that when Almighty God created Adam and Eve, He intended for them to live forever in their natural flesh and blood bodies. Proof? Didn’t the Lord place them in the Garden of Eden with full access to “the tree of life” before their fall? He did not forbid them from eating of “the tree of life,” but rather the Lord’s prohibition was that they should not eat of “the tree of knowledge of good and evil,” Genesis 2:16-17. Now read Ecclesiastes 3:14 and believe it!
What happened was that Satan came, took one look at Adam and Eve, and knew that the Lord had not created them perfect, infallible, humans. I am aware that some who read this statement may faint and fall over, but I will stand by my statement. Adam and Eve were not created perfect, as some claim. Rather, they were created “sinless” or in a state of “purity” and “innocency.” Read Genesis 2:25 and Romans 8:20 and believe what the Word says! Satan immediately realized that Eve was the “weaker vessel,” of the two, and that in her created state of “innocence” and being subject to “vanity,” she was vulnerable and could be “flattered” and deceived. Because Satan hated the Lord, he took advantage of the opportunity he saw to corrupt and destroy the work of God. Your Bible tells you the rest of the story.
But now tell me….do you think Almighty God is going to let Satan destroy His original plan for mankind, and thereby force God Almighty to devise some other plan? I don’t! Rather, I know that once Satan has been disposed of forever in the lake of fire and brimstone [Revelation 20:10] the Lord is going to remove the “sin nature” from flesh and blood humanity and go right on with His original plan for the human race. The “sin nature” will be totally removed from humanity, and human beings will enter the Eternal Age in their natural flesh and blood bodies, just as I have been pointing out throughout this study. Proof? Gladly!
The Scripture explicitly states in Revelation 20:4, “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.” It doesn’t take much of a Bible student to know that “death” is the penalty for sin, Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:4; 18:20; Romans 6:23. But in this passage in Revelation 20:4 it is explicitly stated, “…and there shall be no more death…” Obviously then, at that specific time, there will be no more sin in God’s Kingdom. The “sin nature” will be removed from flesh and blood humanity, and mankind will be restored to the state of purity and innocence that Adam and Eve were in when God created them.
This passage in Revelation 20:4 is in perfect harmony with the statement made by the inspired Apostle in 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, “For He [Christ] must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Isn’t this exactly what we see occurring at the end of the Millennial reign in Revelation 20:7-15? Verse 14 explicitly states, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Death ceases right at that point, so it is obvious that sin also ceases at that point, for “…the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23. The “sin nature” will then be removed from flesh and blood mankind at that point, and people will continue to live for ever in their flesh and blood bodies. Glory to God!
A side note which lends credence to this Scriptural truth are the various articles by different Medical Researchers and Biologists which I have personally read at various times over the past 54 years, who explicitly stated in their articles, “If we [medical researchers] could just find what causes the “aging process” in the human body, and stop or control it, there is no reason why human beings could not live FOREVER, for the human body is obviously designed to renew itself constantly.” Glory! I thought this would be a good place to drop in this little “gem” of information. Now guess who knows the secret of, and is in control of, the “aging process?” Glory to our Lord!
Into the Heavens…….
But then what is going to happen? It is obvious from 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, Revelation 20:7-15, and 21:1-4 that after the Millennial Kingdom and the “Great White Throne Judgment,” there will be no more death. Flesh and blood humanity will enter into the Eternal Age without a “sin nature.” So what happens to humanity then?
It should be obvious that the population upon earth will increase dramatically. Birth control, as commonly practiced today, will be non-existent during the Eternal Age. When God created Adam and Eve, before they fell, He told them to “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth….,” Genesis 1:28. When Noah and his family came forth from the Ark after the flood, God told them, “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,” Genesis 9:1. The multiplication of the human race and the joy in bringing forth children was obviously God’s plan for mankind from the beginning.
During the Eternal Age, for the first time in human history, mankind without a “sin nature” will obey the Lord completely. Mankind will multiply upon the earth. Every baby born will be born without pain to either the mother or the baby, Revelation 21:4. Every baby born will be born healthy, totally without any sickness, disease, or defects. Every baby born will live and never die. Every baby born will be a blessing to their parents, to themselves, to their fellow human beings, and to Almighty God. Glory! Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
It is obvious that under such conditions the population of the earth will increase swiftly and abundantly. This is why the inspired Word explicitly states, “…..and there was no more sea,” Revelation 21:1. Seventy-five percent of the earth today is covered by water, and is therefore useless to mankind as far as food production and living space is concerned. During the renovation of the earth between the end of the Millennial Kingdom and the beginning of the Eternal Age much of the water upon the earth will once more be placed in the heavens above the earth as rings or a canopy, just as the waters were in Genesis 1:6-8. This will free up hundreds of millions of acres of new land for food production and living space for the ever-increasing population on the “new earth.” Glory!
Please note that the inspired Word explicitly says, “no more sea.” It does not say that there will be no water on the earth. The prophetic Scriptures indicate that there will be all kinds of rivers, streams, and lakes flowing with abundant water. All of these people who are so concerned about the sea creatures can stop their fretting and rest easy. If our Lord can adapt the bears and the lions to eat straw, the wolf to dwell and feed with the lambs, the leopards to lie down and sleep with the goats, and the snakes to eat soil like the earthworms, I am quite sure He can adapt the sea creatures to dwell in the fresh waters of lakes and rivers. See Isaiah 11:6-9 and 65:25. Some people just “borrow” things to worry and fret about. Relax! Our God has it all under control!
But it should also be obvious that with the vast increase in population, and no one dying, someday even the “new earth” will fill up with people. What happens then? I’m so glad you asked….
Many centuries ago King David lifted up his eyes and looked at the myriads of stars scattered across the night sky, and said,
“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained.
What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?
For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9.
Many of God’s people [true believers] have read these verses in Psalm 8 many times and yet have failed to notice the underlined statements. These two verses of Scripture just plainly state that the “heavens” are the work of the Lord’s “fingers,” and that the Lord has made “man….to have dominion over the works of Thy hands.” Now let me ask our readers….when did the Lord give Adam “dominion” over all the earth? Was it before he transgressed and fell, or after he fell? Read Genesis 1:28 and let the truth soak in on you.
In these verses in Psalm 8, even King David, by the words he was inspired to use in verses 7 – 8, limited man’s present “dominion” to this earth, although what he explicitly stated in verse 3 and verse 6 clearly suggest that man is not limited to the earth. But now let’s compare other Scriptures in God’s Word which will help shed light on this.
In Hebrews 1:10 the Scripture explicitly states, “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the works of Thy hands.” Could this have been more emphatically stated? This Scripture clearly and emphatically states that “the heavens” are the works of the Lord’s hands. Believe it!
Now let’s look carefully at Hebrews 2:5-9…..
“For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him?
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now [at the present time] we see not yet all things put under him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
Folks, here is a portion of Scripture that is almost identical to Psalm 8 and obviously quotes [or transliterates] from that Psalm. But this portion of Scripture moves beyond the limitations set on mankind in the Garden of Eden and in Psalm 8. These Scriptures in Hebrews 2 explicitly state that man has been placed over “all” the works of God’s hands, and that “nothing” which God has made has been omitted from this dominion given to man. Hebrews 1:10 explicitly states that “the heavens are the works of Thy hands.”
No! I am not reading something into this. I am taking the Scriptures at face value for what they actually and literally say. Period!
These Scriptures plainly state and teach that Almighty God has placed “man” over all the works of His hands, and this includes all the myriads of heavenly bodies stretching out into unfathomable space. Glory to God!
What will happen when the “new earth” fills up with people in their natural flesh and blood bodies sometime in the future during the Eternal Age? When that happens then men will begin to migrate into the heavens. Folks, if our Great God was able to create this planet upon which we live today and fit it with air and water and everything needed for life to survive, then He is most certainly able to do the same with other heavenly bodies “in the ages to come,” Ephesians 2:7. At such a time He will then place “colonists” on a new planet, and a “glorified saint” to rule over them, and “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end…,” Isaiah 9:7. Glory! Glory to God! Hallelujah! What a Creator! What a Savior! What a Great God we believers serve! Lift up your hearts and voices and give praise and glory to the Heavenly Father and to the Lamb.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God,” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
Folks, the best is yet ahead for the children of God. Glory! Praise the Lord!
The first place in God’s Word where “perpetual generations” is mentioned is in Genesis 9:12, “And God said, this [rainbow] is the token [sign] of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations.” Could this be stated any more clearly? The occasion was when Noah came forth from the Ark after the flood. Almighty God right then made a covenant with mankind and with all the creatures that Noah had with him in the Ark, clearly stating that His covenant with them was to be for “perpetual generations.”
Now folks have two options here…. they can believe this statement made by Almighty God Himself, or they can call God a liar. There are no other options. I choose to believe what God said. All flesh [see 1 Corinthians 15:39] will continue to reproduce for “perpetual generations.”
The next place in God’s Word where “perpetual generations” are mentioned is found in Exodus 20:3-6, where the Lord gave the Covenant of the Law to Moses at Mt. Sinai.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.”
In verse 5 the word “generation” is in italics. This means that it is not in the Hebrew text, but that it was supplied by the translators because of the grammatical construction of the sentence. When the Lord explicitly states that He will visit “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth….,” it is obvious that He has “generations” in mind. So, the translators were right in supplying this word in order that the sentence would make logical sense.
Notice that verses 5 and 6 are one continuous sentence. Verse 6 is continuing the exact same line of thought began in verse 5. Therefore, when the Lord said, “And showing mercy unto thousands….,” it is obvious that He still had “generations” in mind; that is, thousands of generations.
I am not reading something into this Scripture that it really doesn’t say. The proof of this is found in Deuteronomy 7:9 where Moses, speaking to Israel by inspiration of God, refers to this very same Covenant of God’s Law with Israel and explicitly states, “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” In this verse the word “generations” was not supplied by the translators but is in the actual Hebrew text. Since both passages are speaking of the exact same Covenant of Law given at Mt. Sinai, then it is obvious that both passages speak of unending generations.
You will find this same truth set forth again in Psalm 105:6-12. Notice that in the context in this Psalm the Lord is explicitly referring to His Covenant of Law [verse 10] when the Scripture says, “He hath remembered His covenant forever, the Word which He commanded to a thousand generations,” Psa. 105:8.
All these passages, when taken at face value for what they literally and actually say, teach that people in their flesh and blood natural bodies will continue to reproduce for at least “a thousand generations.” A “generation” as defined by the Scriptures is a minimum of 33 years and a maximum of 40 years. I know this to be true because I have looked up every single verse in God’s Word where the word “generation” is used to find out exactly what “time element” is connected with a Biblical “generation.” If we use the maximum of 40 years to calculate, a “thousand generations” would then amount to 40,000 years. 40 x 1000 = 40,000. Using that Biblical standard for the measurement of a generation, it is obvious that in all of human history there have only been 150 generations of people that have lived on this earth. 6000 years divided by 40 = 150. So, we can then conclude that the process of reproduction by people living in their natural human bodies will continue for at least another 850 generations [34.000 years]. 850 x 40 = 34,000. But keep in mind that the Lord said in Genesis 9:12 that there would be “perpetual generations.” Glory!
But should these passages be taken literally? Absolutely! There are all kinds of Scriptural proof that there will be people who will continue to live in their flesh and blood natural bodies after the Tribulation period, through the Millennium, and right on into the eternal age. The sole and only reason this truth is denied is because of a lack of serious Bible study on the part of God’s people. It is not due to a lack of Scriptural proof, for there is an abundance of Scriptural proof of this truth to be found in God’s Word. Failure to seriously study the Word has resulted in all kinds of fool theories, ideas, opinions, fantasies, so-called “interpretations,” and “confusion” about this subject. See 1 Corinthians 14:33. What is even worse, is that such lax study deprives God’s people [true believers] of great spiritual truths that would be such an encouragement and blessing to them if they were made aware of these truths. Let’s just take a serious look at some of these overlooked prophecies……
An Ever Increasing Kingdom
In Isaiah 9:6-7 we read, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
The above Scripture passage is familiar to every serious student of God’s Word. Every true believer knows that these verses are a prophecy of the birth, person, and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet invariably the statement about the Lord’s government increasing forever is almost totally ignored. But doesn’t this Scripture say that the Lord’s kingdom will “increase” without any end? Well…??
In view of this inspired statement, the question then arises, “How can the government of Christ increase forever?” Brother, there are obviously only two ways this prophecy can be literally fulfilled.
It could be fulfilled if the Lord continued to “create” new subjects to dwell in His kingdom “forever.” That is one option. But do we find Scriptural support for such an option anywhere in His Word? Well…?? Think about it!
The other option is that a “redeemed” flesh and blood humanity will always continue to exist and reproduce throughout eternity, thereby ever increasing the population of our Lord’s kingdom. But do we find Scriptural support for this option anywhere in God’s Word? We sure do!
The Survivors
That people living in their natural flesh and blood bodies will survive the Tribulation period is absolutely beyond dispute if one believes what God’s Word actually and literally says and teaches.
When the Lord returns to the Mount of Olives as recorded in Zechariah 14, He comes to Jerusalem in the midst of a great battle. A remnant of the Jews who remained in Jerusalem instead of fleeing to Petra are backed up against the Mount of Olives fighting for their lives. It should be obvious to any reader that these Jews are people in their natural flesh and blood bodies who have escaped death throughout the seven years of the Tribulation. They are “survivors.” The Lord Himself said there would be such Jewish survivors, and that they would be “saved,” Matthew 24:13. As the Lord stands on that mountain, the Scripture tells us that the mountain will split in half creating a valley. Those embattled Jews will flee through that valley to safety while the Lord Himself defeats their enemies, filling the Kidron Valley [and other valleys] with the blood of their enemies “…even unto the horse bridles…,” Revelation 14:20.
This is the battle that men call the battle of “Armageddon,” Revelation 16:13-16. However, the Scriptures never confine this battle to Armageddon [the plain of Megiddo]. This is “…the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” Revelation 16:14. This battle will be fought all the way from Petra in the land of ancient Edom [southern Jordan today…..Ezekiel 20:33-38; Micah 2:12-13; Isaiah 63:1-6] up the east side of the Dead Sea through the valley of Hamon Gog [Ezekiel 39:11], then on into Jerusalem where the Kidron valley will be filled with the dead bodies of the wicked [Jeremiah 31:40], and then right on up through the valleys of Jezreel, Achor and Jehoshaphat all the way to Megiddo. There on the plains of Megiddo the battle will end, and men “…shall learn war no more,” Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3. Glory! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
What will then happen to those “survivors” of the Tribulation, both Jews and Gentiles?
The Judgment of the Gentiles
In Matthew 25:31-46 the Scriptures state that the Lord will gather before Him “all nations” [Gentiles; heathen…same word in the Greek text] who have survived the Tribulation, and will then separate them from one another “…as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats,” Matthew 25:32. It is obvious that these “nations” are people still living in their flesh and blood natural bodies. It is also obvious from the context that the Gentiles classified as “goats” are those who refused to receive Christ as their Savior during the Tribulation, and who refused to help the Lord’s “brethren,” the Jewish people, during that terrible time. The Gentile “survivors” classified as “sheep” are those who did receive the Lord as their Savior during the Tribulation, and who had ministered to the Jewish people during that terrible time. The Scriptures tell us that the Lord will then judge all of these “surviving” Gentiles. All these people, including the Lord’s “brethren,” [the Jews] are in their natural flesh and blood bodies.
The result of this “Judgment of the Gentiles” is that the “goat” Gentiles will be cast “into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” Mt. 25:41; 25:46. But the “sheep” Gentiles will “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” Mt. 25:34, and will enter “into life eternal,” Mt. 25:46.
Notice this last statement, for it is commonly overlooked or explained away. These “sheep” Gentiles who have survived the Tribulation are going to enter the Millennial Kingdom of our Lord and Savior in their flesh and blood natural bodies, but they will also enter “into life eternal.” Does this mean that at that time they will all then be given “glorified bodies” as some teach? NO! It absolutely does not mean any such thing. It means that they will be given “life eternal” in their natural flesh and blood bodies.
I can almost hear some of our readers screaming, “Not so! False teacher! Heretic! Lies! Ridiculous! The Old preacher has lost his mind!” I would advise my critics to reserve their scoffing and ridicule until they have finished reading this study, and have carefully checked out the prophetic Scriptures.
As the Days of a Tree….
In Isaiah 60:22, in the context of the Millennial Kingdom, it is explicitly stated that during the Kingdom Age, “A little one [young child] shall become a thousand, and a small one [infant; baby] a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.”
This passage explicitly states that during the Millennial Kingdom of our Lord a man who was once a young child will be able to look upon or count a thousand relatives who are his direct descendants. As more years pass those descendants will become “a strong nation.” Visualize, if you will, a whole nation of people who are the descendants of just one man and his wife. Impossible, you say? Why should it be considered impossible by those of God’s people who truly believe God’s Word? Well…??
In Psalm 92:5-15 we read,
“O Lord, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep.”
A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. v.6
When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed forever. [Does this give any insight into the very time in which we are living?]
But Thou, Lord, art most high forevermore.
For, lo, Thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, Thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
But my horn shalt Thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
To show that the Lord is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
Now look closely at both the statements made in the context and the words underlined. It is obvious that the word “flourish” in verse 7 literally means that “the wicked” and “the workers of iniquity” are multiplying exceedingly. This has been going on for the past fifty years. Billions of people have been born during this time, and most of them are not “Christians.” That “the wicked” are “flourishing” is indisputable. Have you ever heard of the “population explosion?” Well…??
Now notice that verses 12-13 speak of “the righteous….flourishing.” The word “flourish” in verse 7 which pertains to “the wicked,” and the word “flourish” in verses 12-13 which pertain to “the righteous” are different words in the Hebrew text, yet both words are very similar in meaning. Just as “the wicked” are presently multiplying by the hundreds of thousands each year, so in the Millennial Kingdom “the righteous” will multiply exceedingly just as Isaiah 60:22 explicitly states. In speaking of “the righteous” in verse 14 in this 92nd Psalm, the inspired Psalmist explicitly states, “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age…” In other words, during the Millennial Kingdom and right on into the eternal age, when a married couple wants a baby around the house, they will be able to produce children regardless of their age. Today we speak about women being past their “childbearing” age. Not so in the “ages to come,” Ephesians 2:7. In the Millennial Kingdom and even on into the eternal age, if a woman 200, 500, 900, years of age wants to have a baby she will be able do so, and do so without any pain, Revelation 21:4.
Oh yes! I am aware that some who read this will scream in unbelief and insist that I have lost my mind. Have I? Let’s again see what God’s Word says….
In Isaiah 65:17-25 the inspired Word says, “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die a hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the days of a tree are [will be]the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands,” 65:20-22.
During the Millennial Kingdom and right on into the eternal age, the “curse” that was once placed on the creation [Genesis 3:14; Romans 8:19-22], on mankind [Genesis 3:16], and on the earth [Genesis 3:17-19], will be removed, Galatians 3:13; Revelation 22:3. This portion of Scripture in Isaiah 65 explicitly states that God’s people [the redeemed] living in their flesh and blood natural bodies will live to be hundreds and hundreds of years of age; “as the days of a tree…” Folks, there are trees alive [living; growing; bearing] on this earth today which were already living and growing when the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth some 2,000 years ago. We can see such trees in the Redwoods and Sequoias of California, in the Eucalyptus trees in Australia, in the Olive trees in the Holy Land, and in various other trees scattered around the world. The Lord said in His Word, “…for as the days of a tree are [will be] the days of My people.” Amen! Glory to God! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! It is also obvious from this passage in Isaiah 65 that children will be born to believers living in their flesh and blood natural bodies during the Millennial Kingdom. At that time the “sin nature” will not yet have been removed, for some of the children born to believers will grow into adulthood still refusing to repent of sin and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. As previously pointed out, there is no indication that those who receive Christ as their Savior during that time will ever die. But the Scripture is explicit that the rebellious “sinner” will be given 100 years to repent and receive Christ. Those who refuse to do so within that 100-year period in which God’s grace and mercy are extended to them, will die physically and eternally. Read the explicit statement for yourself in Isaiah 65:20. I suggest using the Hebrew text.
A Highway, Rivers, and Trees
Why shouldn’t it be this way? We are told explicitly in Ezekiel 47:1-12 that “waters” will flow forth directly from under the Millennial Temple of the Lord during the Millennial Kingdom, 47:1, and that the waters shall become two great rivers, 47:2-6; 47:8-9; Zechariah 14:8. For more Scriptural insight about these rivers see Psalm 36:8-9, 46:4, 65:9, Isaiah 33:20-21, Joel 3:18, and Zechariah 13:1.
In Ezekiel 47:9 the Scripture explicitly states, “And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the [two] rivers shall come, shall live and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and everything shall live whither the river cometh.” There is no question that these waters are literal “living water.” They flow directly from under the throne of the Lord in the Millennial Temple. The Lord Himself is the very source of the “water of life,” John 4:10; 4:13-14; 7:37-38. All who drink of the water of those rivers will continue to live and never die. Praise the Lord!
Now who is going to be permitted to drink of those waters? It will be those “survivors” who come out of the Tribulation, and their children and children’s children, etc. who are living in their natural flesh and blood bodies, and who choose to receive Christ as their Savior during the Millennial Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Although the “glorified saints” may also drink of the waters, we will not drink because of necessity. We true believers who are going to receive “glorified bodies” at the resurrection and rapture already have eternal life, which was given to us when we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls, John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24. Therefore, while we may indeed drink of the waters of those rivers, our “eternal life” will not be dependent on those waters. But those Millennial Kingdom believers in their natural flesh and blood bodies will drink of those waters and live forever. Glory! Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! What an awesome God is our God!
But that isn’t all…. The inspired Word in Ezekiel 47:12 also tells us, “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat [food], whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat [food], and the leaf thereof for medicine [healing].” Wow! Talk about fascinating!
Obviously, these are the same “species” of “the tree of life” that was in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:9. These “trees of life” growing on each side of the rivers are for those living in their natural flesh and blood bodies during the Millennial Kingdom.
This is evident for two reasons….
First, God’s people with “glorified bodies” do not need to eat of such trees to sustain our eternal life. This is not to say that we are not going to eat, for eating and tasting various good foods is one of the pleasures that our gracious Lord has given us. This pleasure will not end when we receive our glorified bodies, Revelation 2:7; 22:14. But if we believe God’s Word, our eternal life does not depend on eating, but rather on our eternal Savior.
Second, God’s people with “glorified bodies” will not need to be healed. From the instant we receive our “glorified bodies” at the resurrection and rapture of God’s people, we will never know sickness or weakness or pain or bad health or old age or death again throughout all eternity, 1 Corinthians 15:35-44; 15:51-58. Glory to God!
But the “survivors” who come out of the Tribulation in their natural flesh and blood bodies will be SICK. Think about this…. The Tribulation period is filled with plagues, pestilences, and diseases of all kinds, especially the last half of the Tribulation, Revelation 15:8; 16:1-21. Many of these flesh and blood “survivors” will be contaminated with diseases, sicknesses, and perhaps even “radiation poisoning.” But in receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior, they will be permitted to walk on the “highway” leading up to the “mountain of the Lord’s house” [Isaiah 2:2-3; Micah 4:1-2; Isaiah 35:8-10], and as they go up that mountain they can drink of those “waters of life” and eat of those “trees of life” and be “healed” and live forever. In a very short time after our Lord has established His Millennial Kingdom upon the earth, all sickness will vanish from the face of the earth, Isaiah 33:24. Glory! Praise the Lord!
It is not just coincidence that in Ezekiel 47:12 the Hebrew word translated as “medicine” literally means “healing; to heal.” But in Revelation 22:2, in a very similar statement, the Greek word translated as “healing” literally means “health.” Look the meaning of these words up for yourself in your Concordance or Lexicon.
In order to make this clear to our readers….. When flesh and blood “survivors” come out of the Tribulation, they are going to need “healing.” The leaves of these “trees of life” will be used for that very purpose. But when flesh and blood people come out of the Millennial Kingdom and enter into the Eternal Age, they will already be “healthy.” All they will need to live forever is that their “health” be maintained and renewed, and the leaves of the “trees of life” will be used for that purpose. Glory to God!
Created to Live Forever
Any serious Bible student can easily see that when Almighty God created Adam and Eve, He intended for them to live forever in their natural flesh and blood bodies. Proof? Didn’t the Lord place them in the Garden of Eden with full access to “the tree of life” before their fall? He did not forbid them from eating of “the tree of life,” but rather the Lord’s prohibition was that they should not eat of “the tree of knowledge of good and evil,” Genesis 2:16-17. Now read Ecclesiastes 3:14 and believe it!
What happened was that Satan came, took one look at Adam and Eve, and knew that the Lord had not created them perfect, infallible, humans. I am aware that some who read this statement may faint and fall over, but I will stand by my statement. Adam and Eve were not created perfect, as some claim. Rather, they were created “sinless” or in a state of “purity” and “innocency.” Read Genesis 2:25 and Romans 8:20 and believe what the Word says! Satan immediately realized that Eve was the “weaker vessel,” of the two, and that in her created state of “innocence” and being subject to “vanity,” she was vulnerable and could be “flattered” and deceived. Because Satan hated the Lord, he took advantage of the opportunity he saw to corrupt and destroy the work of God. Your Bible tells you the rest of the story.
But now tell me….do you think Almighty God is going to let Satan destroy His original plan for mankind, and thereby force God Almighty to devise some other plan? I don’t! Rather, I know that once Satan has been disposed of forever in the lake of fire and brimstone [Revelation 20:10] the Lord is going to remove the “sin nature” from flesh and blood humanity and go right on with His original plan for the human race. The “sin nature” will be totally removed from humanity, and human beings will enter the Eternal Age in their natural flesh and blood bodies, just as I have been pointing out throughout this study. Proof? Gladly!
The Scripture explicitly states in Revelation 20:4, “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.” It doesn’t take much of a Bible student to know that “death” is the penalty for sin, Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:4; 18:20; Romans 6:23. But in this passage in Revelation 20:4 it is explicitly stated, “…and there shall be no more death…” Obviously then, at that specific time, there will be no more sin in God’s Kingdom. The “sin nature” will be removed from flesh and blood humanity, and mankind will be restored to the state of purity and innocence that Adam and Eve were in when God created them.
This passage in Revelation 20:4 is in perfect harmony with the statement made by the inspired Apostle in 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, “For He [Christ] must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Isn’t this exactly what we see occurring at the end of the Millennial reign in Revelation 20:7-15? Verse 14 explicitly states, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Death ceases right at that point, so it is obvious that sin also ceases at that point, for “…the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23. The “sin nature” will then be removed from flesh and blood mankind at that point, and people will continue to live for ever in their flesh and blood bodies. Glory to God!
A side note which lends credence to this Scriptural truth are the various articles by different Medical Researchers and Biologists which I have personally read at various times over the past 54 years, who explicitly stated in their articles, “If we [medical researchers] could just find what causes the “aging process” in the human body, and stop or control it, there is no reason why human beings could not live FOREVER, for the human body is obviously designed to renew itself constantly.” Glory! I thought this would be a good place to drop in this little “gem” of information. Now guess who knows the secret of, and is in control of, the “aging process?” Glory to our Lord!
Into the Heavens…….
But then what is going to happen? It is obvious from 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, Revelation 20:7-15, and 21:1-4 that after the Millennial Kingdom and the “Great White Throne Judgment,” there will be no more death. Flesh and blood humanity will enter into the Eternal Age without a “sin nature.” So what happens to humanity then?
It should be obvious that the population upon earth will increase dramatically. Birth control, as commonly practiced today, will be non-existent during the Eternal Age. When God created Adam and Eve, before they fell, He told them to “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth….,” Genesis 1:28. When Noah and his family came forth from the Ark after the flood, God told them, “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,” Genesis 9:1. The multiplication of the human race and the joy in bringing forth children was obviously God’s plan for mankind from the beginning.
During the Eternal Age, for the first time in human history, mankind without a “sin nature” will obey the Lord completely. Mankind will multiply upon the earth. Every baby born will be born without pain to either the mother or the baby, Revelation 21:4. Every baby born will be born healthy, totally without any sickness, disease, or defects. Every baby born will live and never die. Every baby born will be a blessing to their parents, to themselves, to their fellow human beings, and to Almighty God. Glory! Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
It is obvious that under such conditions the population of the earth will increase swiftly and abundantly. This is why the inspired Word explicitly states, “…..and there was no more sea,” Revelation 21:1. Seventy-five percent of the earth today is covered by water, and is therefore useless to mankind as far as food production and living space is concerned. During the renovation of the earth between the end of the Millennial Kingdom and the beginning of the Eternal Age much of the water upon the earth will once more be placed in the heavens above the earth as rings or a canopy, just as the waters were in Genesis 1:6-8. This will free up hundreds of millions of acres of new land for food production and living space for the ever-increasing population on the “new earth.” Glory!
Please note that the inspired Word explicitly says, “no more sea.” It does not say that there will be no water on the earth. The prophetic Scriptures indicate that there will be all kinds of rivers, streams, and lakes flowing with abundant water. All of these people who are so concerned about the sea creatures can stop their fretting and rest easy. If our Lord can adapt the bears and the lions to eat straw, the wolf to dwell and feed with the lambs, the leopards to lie down and sleep with the goats, and the snakes to eat soil like the earthworms, I am quite sure He can adapt the sea creatures to dwell in the fresh waters of lakes and rivers. See Isaiah 11:6-9 and 65:25. Some people just “borrow” things to worry and fret about. Relax! Our God has it all under control!
But it should also be obvious that with the vast increase in population, and no one dying, someday even the “new earth” will fill up with people. What happens then? I’m so glad you asked….
Many centuries ago King David lifted up his eyes and looked at the myriads of stars scattered across the night sky, and said,
“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained.
What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?
For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9.
Many of God’s people [true believers] have read these verses in Psalm 8 many times and yet have failed to notice the underlined statements. These two verses of Scripture just plainly state that the “heavens” are the work of the Lord’s “fingers,” and that the Lord has made “man….to have dominion over the works of Thy hands.” Now let me ask our readers….when did the Lord give Adam “dominion” over all the earth? Was it before he transgressed and fell, or after he fell? Read Genesis 1:28 and let the truth soak in on you.
In these verses in Psalm 8, even King David, by the words he was inspired to use in verses 7 – 8, limited man’s present “dominion” to this earth, although what he explicitly stated in verse 3 and verse 6 clearly suggest that man is not limited to the earth. But now let’s compare other Scriptures in God’s Word which will help shed light on this.
In Hebrews 1:10 the Scripture explicitly states, “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the works of Thy hands.” Could this have been more emphatically stated? This Scripture clearly and emphatically states that “the heavens” are the works of the Lord’s hands. Believe it!
Now let’s look carefully at Hebrews 2:5-9…..
“For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him?
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now [at the present time] we see not yet all things put under him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
Folks, here is a portion of Scripture that is almost identical to Psalm 8 and obviously quotes [or transliterates] from that Psalm. But this portion of Scripture moves beyond the limitations set on mankind in the Garden of Eden and in Psalm 8. These Scriptures in Hebrews 2 explicitly state that man has been placed over “all” the works of God’s hands, and that “nothing” which God has made has been omitted from this dominion given to man. Hebrews 1:10 explicitly states that “the heavens are the works of Thy hands.”
No! I am not reading something into this. I am taking the Scriptures at face value for what they actually and literally say. Period!
These Scriptures plainly state and teach that Almighty God has placed “man” over all the works of His hands, and this includes all the myriads of heavenly bodies stretching out into unfathomable space. Glory to God!
What will happen when the “new earth” fills up with people in their natural flesh and blood bodies sometime in the future during the Eternal Age? When that happens then men will begin to migrate into the heavens. Folks, if our Great God was able to create this planet upon which we live today and fit it with air and water and everything needed for life to survive, then He is most certainly able to do the same with other heavenly bodies “in the ages to come,” Ephesians 2:7. At such a time He will then place “colonists” on a new planet, and a “glorified saint” to rule over them, and “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end…,” Isaiah 9:7. Glory! Glory to God! Hallelujah! What a Creator! What a Savior! What a Great God we believers serve! Lift up your hearts and voices and give praise and glory to the Heavenly Father and to the Lamb.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God,” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
Folks, the best is yet ahead for the children of God. Glory! Praise the Lord!
