__________________________________________________________________
THE EARTHLY INHERITANCE SERIES of BIBLE SUBJECTS
__________________________________________________________________
Various Bible study guides in subjects pertaining to
New Earth prophecy, as taught by Paul Phelps.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD,
they shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:9
__________________________________________________________________
THE PERSPECTIVE OF END-TIME MINISTRY
God’s
priority in the Church age was always to make his saints perfect and
complete, and to finally take them home into glory. He calls them his
jewels,
or
his treasure (Mal. 3:16-17). We of the last-day generation have been
living at
the end of the Church age, witnessing the final act of perfecting and collecting
the saints. But God has another priority after the Church is in heaven.
For the
most part Bible prophecies are of earth and therefore apply
after
the
Church is in glory. Bible prophecy refers mainly to nations remaining in earth,
(not for the Church). As an example, prophecies about Israel pertain mainly to
Israel
in the flesh.
Last-day prophecies for the world’s nations likewise apply
to
earthly
humanity in the flesh:
those that continue living on earth after the Church
is taken up: the ones who were not in the Church call, who are earthly. But
they
could be Bible believers waiting in hope for God’s earthly kingdom. Prophecy
indicates this and
reveals God’s long-term purposes for earth and for humanity
living on earth.
Church
age Christians have been focused in evangelism, calling the people
chosen for heaven and fulfilling the great commission of Matt. 28:19-20. But
now in these last days, God is also dealing with nations (in an
earthly way) and
preparing them for his return and his kingdom on earth.
God’s
judgments in the earth are increasingly evident; he puts some nations
down and lifts up others according to his purposes (Dan. 2:21). Prophecies for
earth do not apply for the Church-age saints in a literal sense; but the
glorified
saints will rule over earth in the Messianic age. The
overcomers
amongst them
will be made rulers of earth together with Jesus during the thousand-year reign
(Luke 19:15-19). The Bible has important teaching on the future relationship of
heaven to earth and the time for this to be taught is now.
Prophecy
shows that God is preparing nations,
chiefly the
Asian nations,
to
acknowledge Jesus as King and enter his kingdom. The
Wisemen
from the east
that worshipped Jesus at his first advent foreshadow an even greater fulfilment
at his second advent. Even now the nations of the east are being blessed—and
are being prepared to worship Jesus at his return, as King of the Jews.
Jesus is
like
the sun of righteousness
at his
rising in the east
(Malachi 4:2).
The coming glory of the God of Israel will appear
from
the east
(Ezekiel 43:2).
The Asian nations are all situated eastward of Jerusalem, (consult a world
map).
Studies in Bible prophecy have resulted in many findings relating to the orient
for the last days and for the coming Kingdom. The discovery, from the Bible, of
oriental ancestral origins is opening doors of knowledge about prophecies that
otherwise might never be understood. This makes possible the recognition of
Asian people in Bible prophecy.
These
findings give answers to questions about the Millennial Kingdom that
were impossible to know until now. Apparent contradictions in Bible prophecy
in relation to the earth now make sense because of these findings. The call of
the Church and age of the great commission are now understandable in a more
perfect way—as fitting into the larger complete plan of God.