THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOMORROW
What It Will Be Like
Chapter 4
by Herbert W. Armstrong
1966, 1973, 1979 edition
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
- Three World Views --
Only One Is Going to Happen!
Chapter 2
- One Last "Obituary" Look at
Today's World
Chapter 3
- The Cause of All World
Troubles
Chapter 4
- The New World Government
Chapter 5
- Education and Religion
Tomorrow
Chapter 6
- Now Picture Tomorrow's
World!
Chapter 7
- ... And All Speaking the
Same Language
CHAPTER 4
The New World Government
NOW NOTICE JUST HOW THE NEW World Government will function! It
will not be so-called Democracy. It will not be Socialism. It will
not be Communism or Fascism. It will not be human monarchy,
oligarchy, or plutocracy.
It will not be man's government over man. Man has proven his
utter incapability of ruling himself. It will be Divine Government-
-- the Government of God. It will not be government from the bottom
up. The people will have no votes. It will not be government of or
by the people -- but it will be government for the people. It will
be government from the top (God Almighty) down.
There will be no election campaigns. No campaign fund-raising
dinners. No dirty political campaigns, where each candidate
attempts to put himself forward in the most favorable light,
defaming, denouncing, discrediting his opponents. No time will be
wasted in mudslinging campaigns in the lust for power.
No human will be given any government office. All in
government service will then be Divine Spirit beings, in the
Kingdom of God -- the God Family.
All officials will be appointed -- and by the Divine Christ,
who reads and knows men's hearts, their inner character, and
abilities or lack of ability. You'll find a description of Christ's
supernatural insight into the very character of others in Isaiah
11:2-5.
Notice it: "And the spirit of the [Eternal] shall rest upon
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel
and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
[Eternal]; and shall make him of quick understanding ... and he shall
not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the
hearing of his ears [hearsay]: but with righteousness shall He
judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the
earth ..." (Isaiah 11:2-4).
Remember, God is the Supreme One who is love -- who gives -- who
rules with outgoing concern for the ruled. He will rule for the
highest good of the people. The most able, the most righteous,
those best fitted for office will be placed in all offices of
responsibility and power.
There will then be two kinds of beings on earth -- humans,
being ruled by those made divine.
Some resurrected saints will rule over ten cities, some over
five (Luke 19:17-19).
Think of it -- no money wasted on political campaigns. No
splits in political parties with quarreling and hatreds. No
political parties!
What Is the New Covenant?
In short, under the new Covenant which Christ is coming to
usher in, what we shall see on earth is happiness, peace,
abundance, and justice for all. Did you ever read just what this
New Covenant will consist of? Did you suppose it will do away with
God's Law? Exactly the opposite. "For this is the covenant [that
Christ is coming to establish, you'll read in Hebrews 8:10]; I will
put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts ...."
When God's Laws are in our hearts -- when we love God's ways,
and in our hearts want to live by them, human nature will be put
under subjection -- people will want to live the Way that is the
cause of peace, happiness, abundance, joyful well-being!
But remember, the humans remaining on the earth after Christ's
return -- ruled then by Christ and those resurrected or changed to
immortality -- will themselves still have human nature. They will be
still unconverted.
But Christ and the governing Kingdom of God, then set up as
the Governing Family, will bring about the coming utopia by two
basic courses of action.
Two Courses of Action
1) All crime, and organized rebellion will be put down by
force -- Divine supernatural force.
2) Christ will then set His hand to reeducate and to save or
spiritually convert the world.
Notice, first, how the social and religious customs will be
changed by Divine force.
Originally God gave seven annual Festivals and Holy Days He
commanded to be observed. They contained great and important
meaning. They pictured God's Master Plan for working out His
purpose for humanity. They were established forever. Jesus observed
them, setting us an example. The apostles observed them (Acts
18:21, 20:6, 16; I Cor. 5:8, 16:8). The Church -- including Gentile
converts -- kept them.
They were God's way -- God's customs for His people. But people
rejected God's ways and customs, and turned, instead, to the ways
and customs of the pagan religions. People did what seemed right to
themselves. These same wrong ways seem right to most people today!
We realize they seem right -- not wrong -- to most who will be
reading these words.
But can we realize that "there is a way which seemeth right
unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death?" (Proverbs
14:12). And if you turn to Proverbs 16:25 you will see the same
thing repeated: "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but
the end thereof are the ways of death."
God said through Moses: "Ye shall not do after all the things
that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own
eyes" (Deuteronomy 12:8). And again: "Take heed to thyself that
thou be not snared by following them [pagan religious
customs] ... and that thou enquire not after their gods saying, How
did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Thou shalt not do so unto the [Eternal] thy God: for every
abomination to the [Eternal], which he hateth, have they done unto
their gods ..." (Deuteronomy 12:30-31).
Today the professing Christian world rejects God's Holy Days;
holy to Him, but which a deceived "Christianity" hates. They
observe instead the pagan days -- Christmas, New Year's, Easter, and
others -- "which God hateth"! Many know and confess that these are
pagan -- but they argue, "We don't observe these in worshipping the
pagan gods, we use their customs in worshipping Christ and the true
God."
That is the way that "seemeth right" to people. They may not
mean any wrong. They are deceived. A deceived man doesn't know he
is wrong. He thinks he is right. He may be as sincere as those who
have found God's way and obey it. Yet God says He will not accept
that kind of observance or worship. It is an abomination to Him --
"which He hateth."
But it is those who have been deceived, whose eyes God will
open to His truth, when Christ returns to rule all nations of
mortals still left alive.
All Will Keep God's Festivals
People will no longer be blinded and deceived in regard to
God's commands and ways. Then He will enforce obedience to His
customs.
Go back to the 14th chapter of Zechariah:
"And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all
the nations which came against Jerusalem [that is, those who were
not in the armies supernaturally destroyed] shall even go up from
year to year to worship the King, the [Eternal] of hosts, and to
keep the feast of tabernacles" (verse 16).
This Feast of Tabernacles is one of the seven annual Festivals
God commanded His people to observe. But ancient Israel rebelled.
They rejected God's Festivals, and turned to pagan festivals. The
Jewish people, after Ezra and Nehemiah, observed them. But false
"Christian" ministers taught that God's Festivals were "part of the
old Mosaic system -- not for us today." The clergy deceived and
prejudiced the people. The people were deceived into believing that
Christmas, New Year's, Easter, etc., were days Christ ordained.
But now Christ is returning to earth to restore God's ways --
including God's Festivals. Those who rebelliously won't keep God's
Holy Days now -- who sneer at them in scathing contempt -- will
observe them when Christ returns. Notice what this scripture says:
"And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the
families of the earth [including Gentile nations] unto Jerusalem to
worship the King, the [Eternal] of hosts, even upon them shall be
no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that
have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the [Eternal]
will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the
punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:17-19).
These passages give us the method by which Christ will "rule
with a rod of iron" -- of how He will use supernatural force to
bring people of all nations to His right ways -- ways that are the
cause of real blessings.
The Perfect Government
Yes, Jesus Christ very soon is going to return to this earth.
He is coming in power and glory. He is coming to rule all nations!
But He is not going to do this ruling, supervising, all alone,
by Himself. He is coming to set up world government. It will be a
highly organized government. There will be many positions of
authority.
Right here, it is time we stop to explain the mechanics of
this perfect form of government.
First, it is the Government of God -- not human government. Man
won't acknowledge it yet, but man has demonstrated by 6,000 years
of inefficient, bungling, wasteful efforts of human government that
mortal man is utterly incapable of rightly governing himself.
As for man being qualified to rule and administer government,
God says of government officials today: "None calleth for justice,
nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity and speak lies;
they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity ....Their feet run
to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts
are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their
paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in
their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth
therein shall not know peace."
Then the people, under this human mis-government, say:
"Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake
us: we wait for light [solution of civil, personal, national, and
world problems], but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk
in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as
if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in
desolate places as dead men" (Isaiah 59:4, 7-10).
Then, in this chapter foretelling our time, the final solution
is given: "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion ..." (verse 20). And,
continuing: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of
the [Eternal] is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1).
The only hope of justice -- of peace -- of truth -- of right
solutions to all this world's problems, is the coming in power and
glory of Christ to set up world government. Right government. The
Government of God!
In this, and many other passages, God shows in His Word to
mankind how utterly helpless man is to govern himself and his
fellows. Now 6,000 years of human experience has brought mankind to
the very brink of world suicide. The world's leading scientists and
statesmen say the only hope, now, is world government. I attended
the San Francisco Conference in 1945, where world leaders attempted
to form a world organization of nations. They called it "The United
Nations." There I heard chiefs of state ring out the warning that
this was the world's last chance.
But it has failed. The United Nations has no power over the
nations. It has no power to settle disputes, stop wars, or prevent
wars. The so-called United Nations are not united. This effort has
degenerated into a sounding board for communist propaganda. Man has
failed his last chance!
Now God must step in -- or we perish!
Sir Winston Churchill, before the United States Congress said,
"There is a purpose being worked out here below." God Almighty had
great purpose in creating the human family and placing us here on
this earth. And He has a perfect master plan for accomplishing that
Purpose.
That Master Plan involves a duration of 7,000 years. The seven
literal days of Creation were a type. They set the pattern. The
first six were days of physical creation. The seventh day of that
first week began the spiritual creation, still going on. On that
day God created His Sabbath, setting it apart as holy, for
spiritual use. On that day God instructed the first man and woman
in His spiritual truth. On that day He preached the Gospel to them,
explaining about and offering them, freely, His wonderful gift of
eternal life -- symbolized by the "tree of life" in the Garden. He
also explained that the wages of sin -- rebellion against His
Government -- was death.
With God, "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand
years is as one day" (II Peter 3:8). So God allotted the first six
thousand years to physical man, to live his own way (deceived and
swayed by Satan), to prove by 6,000 years of suffering mountainous
evils, that only God's Way can bring desired blessings. That 6,000
years we may call "The Day of Man."
So, in other words, the first 6,000 years were allotted to
allow Satan to labor at his work of deceiving the world, followed
by 1,000 years (one millennial day) when Satan shall not be allowed
to do any of his "work" of deception. Put another way, God marked
out six millennial days to allow man to indulge in the spiritual
labor of sin, followed by a millennium of spiritual rest, under the
enforced Government of God.
Government Planned from Beginning
And now comes a wonderful truth.
Now we come to a revealed insight into the wonderful planning,
preparing, and organizing of the perfect Government of God.
There will be no incompetent and selfishly ambitious
politicians seeking to get their covetous hands on the throttle of
government power by the deceptive political methods of this world.
Today people are asked to vote into office men they know little
about -- men whose qualifications are largely misrepresented. In the
soon coming Government of God, every official placed in authority
shall have been tried and tested, trained, experienced and
qualified, by God's qualifications.
God has planned ahead, but not only for His government to rule
the earth. He had said to Adam, in effect, "Go, plan your own human
governments, create in your own imaginations your own gods and
religions; develop your own knowledge and educational structure,
plan your own social systems (in a word, organize your own human
civilization)."
But in sentencing man to 6,000 years of being cut off from
God, He reserved the prerogative of calling to special service and
contact with God such as He should choose for His purpose. During
this Day of Man, God has prepared for His own millennial
civilization, in all its phases -- governmental, educational,
religious -- His whole civilization.
It all began with Abraham.
In his day, there was only one man on earth who was at once a
man of strong character and at the same time meekly and wholly
submissive and obedient to God -- to God's Laws and His direction
and rule. That man was Abraham.
God began training men for top positions of authority in His
coming world, with Abraham. Abraham lived in the most "advanced"
civilization -- the most developed and, as people thought, most
desirable locality.
God said to Abraham (then named Abram), "Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a
land that I will shew thee" (Genesis 12:1).
There was no argument. Abraham didn't say, "But why? Why must
I give up all the pleasures of this civilization -- give up even my
relatives and friends?" Abraham didn't argue or delay.
It is written, simply, "So Abram departed"... (verse 4).
Abraham was put to severe tests. But, after he died, God said,
"Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my
statutes [of government], and my laws" (Genesis 26:5).
Abraham was being trained for high position in the Government
of God, now soon to rule the world. He believed in, was obedient
and loyal to, God's Government -- its statutes and laws.
Abraham received the promises on which the salvation of every
person, through Christ, is based. He is called the Father (humanly)
of the faithful (Galatians 3:7). To the Gentiles of Galatia, the
Apostle Paul wrote: "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye [Gentiles]
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians
3:29). In the 16th verse, he had said: "Now to Abraham and his seed
[descendant -- Christ] were the promises made ...."
God was starting to prepare for His Kingdom -- to train
topflight personnel for positions in God's civilization -- with
Abraham. When Abraham proved obedient, God blessed his labors and
allowed him to become wealthy. God gave him experience in the wise
handling of vast wealth, and in directing a great force of men
under him.
Isaac was reared by God-fearing, God-obeying Abraham, in God's
ways, obedient to God's Government. He became heir along with his
father Abraham. He too, was trained in obedience, and also in
directing and ruling over others.
Then Jacob, born with this rich heredity, was educated to
follow through on the same pattern Abraham and Isaac had learned.
Even though his father-in-law deceived him, and held him down,
Jacob also became wealthy. He was human -- as were Abraham and Isaac
and all humans. He made mistakes. But he overcame. He repented. He
prevailed with God. He never quit! He developed the qualities and
character of leadership. He became the father of the twelve
greatest nations-to-be in the soon-coming world tomorrow.
The Pattern of Government Organization
God has not told us, in so many words, precisely how His
coming world super government will be organized. Yet He has given
us the general pattern. He has told us specifically where 14 high
executives (including Christ) will fit in. And from them we may
deduce a great deal of the remaining governmental structure. Much
of the coming structure of government is at least strongly
indicated by what is plainly revealed. We know it will be the
Government of God. God Almighty -- the Father of Jesus Christ -- is
Supreme Lawgiver, and Head over Christ, and over all that is.
We know that Christ is to be King of kings, and Lord of lords --
over both state and church, united through Him. We know that King
David of ancient Israel (details later) will be king over the
twelve great nations composed of literal descendants of the twelve
tribes of Israel. We know the twelve apostles will each be a king,
sitting on a throne, over one of those great nations descended from
the tribes of Israel.
We know it will be government from the top down. There is to
be a definite chain of authority. No one will be elected by the
people. Mortal humans have proved they do not know how to judge
qualifications, and do not know the inner minds, hearts, intents,
and abilities, of men. All will be divinely appointed from above.
All, in positions of governmental authority, will be resurrected
immortals, born of God -- no longer flesh-and-blood humans.
With this in mind -- with the knowledge that Abraham is
(humanly) the father of all who are Christ's and heirs of
salvation -- it becomes plain that Abraham will be given a greater
position of authority in God's Kingdom than David -- and that he
will be over both Israelites and Gentiles. He is "father" of
Gentile converts as well as Israelites.
Then again, repeatedly the Bible uses the phrase, "Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob," grouping them together as a team, and calling
them, together, "The Fathers." For the promises were repromised,
also, to Isaac and Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.
What is plainly revealed indicates, then, that Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, will function as a topflight team, with Abraham as
chairman of the team, next under Christ in the coming world
Government of God. Jesus Himself said, definitely, that Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob shall be in that glorious and glorified Kingdom
(Luke 13:28).
Joseph qualified in a very special way, but we shall come back
to him a little later.
Both Church and State
Another principle is made clear in God's Word: Church and
State will be united under Christ. There will be one government,
over all nations. There will be one Church -- one God -- one
religion -- one educational system -- one social order. And, as in
God's original pattern in ancient Israel, they will be united.
Three men -- Peter, James and John, among the original twelve
disciples -- were privileged to see the Kingdom of God in a vision
(Matthew 17:9). In this vision, Jesus, who was actually with them
in person, became transfigured -- appearing as the glorified Christ.
His face became bright, shining as the sun, His clothing white as
light. Two others appeared with Him in this vision -- this glimpse
into the coming Kingdom -- and they were Moses and Elijah. These
two, in the vision, represented the offices of Church and State,
with and under Christ, as they will be in God's Kingdom. Both Moses
and Elijah qualified in their human lifetime for very high
positions in the Kingdom of God. Moses was the one through whom
Christ (yes, He was the God of the Old Testament, as many, many
scriptures prove) gave the laws and the statutes of government for
the nation Israel. Moses was trained as a son of a pharaoh (king of
Egypt). His training and experience was among Gentiles, as well as
the children of Israel.
Elijah, above all others, is represented in Scripture as the
prophet who restored the worship of the true God -- and obedience to
His Commandments. When Elijah ordered King Ahab to gather on Mount
Carmel "all Israel" (I Kings 18:19-21) and the prophets of Baal and
of Asherah (Easter), he said: "How long halt ye between two
opinions? if the [Eternal] be God, follow him: but if Baal, then
follow him ...." (verse 21). And when, at Elijah's 18-second prayer
(verses 36-37), the fire fell miraculously from heaven consuming
Elijah's sacrifice, the people fell on their faces, and said, "The
[Eternal], he is the God; the [Eternal], he is the God" (verse 39).
The vision of the Transfiguration (Matthew 16:27 through
17:9), gave the Apostles Peter, James, and John a preview of Christ
coming in His Kingdom -- as He shall come. The indication is thus
given that Moses and Elijah represented the heads, under Christ, of
state or national world government (under Moses), and church or
religious activity (under Elijah).
These two men, like the "fathers," Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
will then be resurrected immortal, in power and glory. Certainly
the indication is given us that, under Christ as King of kings, and
under Christ's top team -- the "fathers" -- will be Moses over all
organized national and international government; and Elijah, over
all organized church, religious and educational activity.
Actually, the Gospel and religious development is merely
spiritual education. And it is significant that Elijah had
organized and headed three schools or colleges (II Kings 2:3, 5;
4:38 -- at Bethel, Jericho, and Gilgal) teaching God's Truth in a
world corrupted by false pagan education.
On the National Level
Now we gain further insight into God's coming world government
organization.
On the purely national level, the nations descended from the
two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (descended from Joseph), will
become the two leading nations of the world (Jeremiah 30:16-18;
31:4-11, 18-20; Isaiah 14:1-2; Deuteronomy 28:13.
But, next to them will be the nations descended from the other
tribes of Israel. And, after them, but still prosperous and full of
abundant blessings, the Gentile nations.
King David, resurrected, immortal, in power and glory, will be
king, under Moses, over all twelve nations of Israel (Jeremiah
30:9; Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25). Each of the original twelve
apostles will be king, under David, over one of these then super-
prosperous nations (Matthew 19:28).
Under the apostles, each now king over a great nation, will be
the rulers over districts, states, shires, counties or provinces,
and over cities.
But, in every case, these kings and rulers will be resurrected
immortals, born into the Kingdom (Family) of God as Spirit beings --
-not flesh-and-blood mortals. And, in every case, they will be
those who qualified not only by conversion, but by overcoming,
spiritual character development, growth in Christ's knowledge --
training in being ruled by God's Law and Government, as well as
learning to rule.
The parables of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27) and talents
(Matthew 25:14-30) make this very clear. The one who multiplied his
spiritual abilities ten times over is pictured as ruling over ten
cities. The one who developed only half as much in God's character
and abilities is pictured as being given rule over five cities. The
parable of the talents shows the same thing, but also we are to be
judged by how well we do with what we have to do with. That is, one
of lesser ability will be judged according to motivation,
application, diligence, and persistence according to ability. To
whom much -- in natural ability, and spiritual gifts -- is inherited
and given, much will be required. The one of lesser ability stands
just as good a chance for reward in God's Kingdom as the one of
great ability -- if he tries as hard.
But what of all the Gentile nations? Who will be given top
positions of rule over them?
There is strong indication -- not a definite, specific
statement -- but indication, according to principles and specific
assignments that are revealed, that the Prophet Daniel will be made
king over them all, directly under Moses. What prophet -- what man
of God -- did God send to be trained at top-level government
authority, in the world's very first world empire? And what man
refused to follow pagan ways and customs, even while serving next
in authority to the king himself? What man proved loyal to God, and
the worship of God, and obedient to the laws of God -- even while
serving at the top in the first world empire?
Why, of course it was the Prophet Daniel.
At first thought, one might suppose Christ will put the
Apostle Paul at the head -- under Moses and under Christ -- of all
Gentile nations. And indeed Paul qualified for high position over
Gentiles.
But Daniel was thrown into almost daily contact with the king
in the world's first world government. And though that was human
government, Daniel proved completely loyal and obedient to God and
God's rule. He was used, to reveal to King Nebuchadnezzar, and
immediate successors, that it is God who rules over all kingdoms.
Daniel refused the king's rich food and delicacies -- including what
was unclean according to God's health laws. He prayed three times
a day to God, even though it meant being thrown into the den of
lions. He trusted God to protect and deliver him from the lions. He
gained knowledge and wisdom in the affairs and administration of
government over nations.
When God, through the Prophet Ezekiel, named three of the most
righteous men who ever lived, He named Daniel as one of them. The
other two were Noah and Job (Ezekiel 14:14, 20). And it is evident
that God will assign Noah and Job to offices of very great
magnitude. More of that, later.
God in His Word gave Daniel the assurance that he shall be in
the Kingdom of God, at the time of resurrection (Daniel 12:13).
It is an interesting possibility, in passing, to consider that
Daniel's three colleagues in this Chaldean Empire service --
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego -- might serve as a team directly
with and under Daniel, even as the three "fathers" very possibly
may serve as a team directly with and under Christ Himself. In fact
there are a number of such teams which appear to be possibilities.
But what about Paul? As the twelve original apostles were sent
to the "lost" House of Israel, Paul was the apostle to the
Gentiles. That is the key. Christ Himself said specifically that
each of the twelve shall be a king over one of the nations of
Israel. It is inconceivable that Paul would be over no more than
one Gentile nation. It might even be inferred that Paul rated a
little higher in ability and accomplishment than any one of the
Twelve Apostles. And, again, no Gentile nation will be as great as
one of the Israelite nations.
The indication, then, seems to be that Paul will be given
position over all Gentile nations, but under Daniel.
Of course there will be kings appointed by Christ over every
Gentile nation. And district rulers under them, and rulers over
cities. There is no indication as to the identity of any of these,
except that those apostles and evangelists who worked with and
directly under Paul -- Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Titus, Luke, Mark,
Philemon, etc. undoubtedly will be given offices of importance. And
what of other saints of that same time, in the first flush years of
the Church, when its membership at first multiplied in number of
converts? And what of many converted since, and down to our present
day?
We can mention, here, only what seems to be rather clearly
indicated from what God has already revealed.
The International Level
Beside these revealed and indicated assignments of government
over nations and groups of nations on the national level, there
will be positions of great magnitude on the international level in
the areas of scientific and social functions. And there are a few
indications of what some of those operations will be, and the
possible -- if not probable -- personnel.
Since Noah lived first, we now take a look at Noah. In Noah's
day, the chief cause of the violence and chaos of world conditions
was racial hatreds, interracial marriages, and racial violence
caused by man's efforts toward integration and amalgamation of
races, contrary to God's laws. God had set the boundary lines for
the nations and the races at the beginning (Deuteronomy 32:8-9;
Acts 17:26). But men had refused to remain in the lands to which
God had assigned them. That was the cause of the corruption and
violence that ended that world. For 120 years Noah had preached
God's ways to the people -- but they didn't heed.
At that time, even as today, that world faced a population
explosion. It was when men began to multiply on the face of the
earth" (Genesis 6:1). Jesus said, of our time, right now, "But as
the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall the coming of the Son of man
be" (Matthew 24:37) -- or, as in Luke 17:26, "And as it was in the
days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."
That is, the days just before Christ returns. Today race wars, race
hatreds, race riots, and race problems are among the world's
greatest social troubles.
Noah merely preached to people in his human lifetime. But
Noah, in the resurrection, immortal, in power and glory, will be
given the power to enforce God's ways in regard to race.
It seems evident that the resurrected Noah will head a vast
project of the relocation of the races and nations, within the
boundaries God has set, for their own best good, happiness, and
richest blessings. This will be a tremendous operation. It will
require great and vast organization, reinforced with power to move
whole nations and races. This time, peoples and nations will move
where God has planned for them, and no defiance will be tolerated.
What a paradox. People are going to be forced to be happy, to
have peace, to find abundant and joyful living!
Above, we said we would come back, later, to Joseph, son of
Israel and great-grandson of Abraham.
Joseph became food administrator of the greatest nation on
earth of that time -- Egypt. Joseph was synonymous with
"prosperity." "And the [Eternal] was with Joseph, and he was a
prosperous man; and ... the [Eternal] made all that he did to prosper
in his hand" (Genesis 39:2-3). He was made actual ruler for the
pharaoh of the world's greatest nation. But his specialty was
dealing with the economy -- with prosperity. And what he did, he did
God's way.
It seems evident, therefore, that Joseph will be made director
of the world's economy -- its agriculture, its industry, its
technology, and its commerce -- as well as its money and monetary
system. These systems will be on the international level, the same
in every nation.
Undoubtedly Joseph will develop a large and perfectly
efficient organization of immortals made perfect, with and under
him in this vast administration. This will be an administration
that will eliminate famine, starvation, poverty. There will be no
poverty-stricken slums. There will be universal prosperity!
Another tremendous project on the worldwide international
level will be that of rebuilding the waste places, and the
construction of whatever really great and large buildings or
structures Christ will require for the world He will create. "And
they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former
desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the
desolations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:4).
Job was the wealthiest and greatest man of the east (Job 1:3)
and a noted builder. (Compare Job 3:13-14 with God's challenge in
Job 38:4-6.) He was so upright and perfect, God even dared Satan to
find a flaw in his character. Actually, there was a terrible sin in
his life -- self-righteousness. But God brought him to repentance.
(See Job chapters 38-42.) Once this man, of such strength of self-
mastery that he could be so righteous in his own strength, was
humbled, brought to reliance on God, filled with God's Spirit --
well, surely no man who ever lived could equal him as an engineer
over vast stupendous world projects.
Indication is strong, therefore, that Job will be director of
worldwide urban renewal, rebuilding the waste places and the
destroyed cities, not as they are now, but according to God's
pattern; vast engineering projects, such as dams and power plants --
or whatever the ruling Christ shall decree.
At least one other man seems indicated as a top assistant in
this vast administration. That is Zerubbabel (Haggai, and Zechariah
4).
So much for the new world super-civilization on the national
and international level.
Now we come to the world tomorrow on the individual level --
the church -- the religion -- the educational system.