World Government Is Coming

The startling truth of Jesus' message has been buried long enough! You need to understand the reality of God's prophecies—and their special meaning for us today!

Governments all around the world are in chaos! No one seems to have the answer that would bring peace and prosperity to their peoples. What can we do?

Some look to a world government as the answer. Like the failed League of Nations before it, the United Nations was formed as a means to bring all nations together in harmony under a common law. But nearly everyone agrees: the United Nations has failed. Almost no one takes it seriously.

Can mankind's religions bring a world government? Thousands of Muslim extremists believe that through war and terrorism the whole world can eventually become the Dar-al-Islam—the "land of Islam." But even the religionists can agree on very little. There are dozens of competing Muslim sects, and hundreds upon hundreds of "Christian" groups with completely differing beliefs about "world unity." With so many competing messages, in our modern day, is it important which message we believe?

Today, many ministers say, "Just believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." What you believe about Christ and His message is not so important—they will often say—as it is to believe on and love Him and His person.

What about this? Is it important to believe the very message that Jesus Christ preached? Did He not preach any certain message? Was His message broad enough so we can get so many conflicting denominational ideas and traditions out of that message?

An Inspired WARNING

The inspired answer to that question is found in the first chapter of Paul's epistle to the Christians in Galatia. The apostle of Christ was alarmed that these people were already turning aside—not from Christ's person, but from His message! "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:6–7).

Notice that Paul is alarmed because people were perverting the truth about Christ's message—not about His person. He continued: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." Then Paul repeated this denunciation—made this a double curse: "As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (vv. 8–9). In the Apostle Paul's mind, there was only one true gospel—any other gospel was a counterfeit that demanded a curse by apostolic authority!

What was this true gospel that Paul was trying to keep in its pure state? What was the truth that God sent to this world by Jesus Christ His Son?

Christ Was a MESSENGER

Christ came with a message from God the Father that would solve the problems of this last generation on earth today!

Note the prophecy in Malachi regarding His first coming. "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 3:1).

Actually, here is Christ—as the Logos or Spokesman of the Old Testament—saying that He would send a messenger before His face who would prepare the way for Him. Christ was to be the Messenger of the Covenant.

In Acts 10 we find a description of that message as it was first preached to the Gentile Christians. The first part of the chapter shows how Cornelius was chosen as the first Gentile to receive the true gospel of Christ, and how Peter was sent to his house to bring the truth of God. We read, "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him'" (Acts 10:34–35). Here Peter acknowledges that now God is calling Gentiles to the same truth that had been opened to the Jews since the day of Pentecost.

He continues: "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached" (vv. 36–37). Directly inspired of God to reach this first Gentile Christian, Peter immediately refers to the truth as the word God sent by Christ, to Israel, beginning from Galilee, after John the Baptist's preaching.

Peter referred to this as the message for both Israel and the Gentiles. So this was God's message for all mankind!

The MESSAGE Jesus Brought

What was Christ's message, and how and where did He proclaim it? Notice: "Now after John was put in prison [this was to be the time], Jesus [here is the Messenger] came to Galilee [the place], preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel'" (Mark 1:14–15).

Here we find the true Messenger, the time and the place. And here we find the true message of God! It is the good news or gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Moffatt translation calls it the "reign" of God. It is the happy message of God's Kingdom—His rule—His government that will finally bring peace over this earth!

Notice that this true gospel is not man's gospel about the person of Christ. It is Christ's message. It is the message He brought, from God the Father, of the coming government of God, or Kingdom of God on this earth. It is vital that you believe and obey this message! For Jesus said, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). So Jesus said you will be judged by His word—His message!

Jesus Christ always taught about the Kingdom of God. Luke records: "Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him" (Luke 8:1).

Even Jesus' parables were all concerned with the Kingdom of God. "Then His disciples asked Him, saying, 'What does this parable mean?' And He said, 'To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that "Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand'''" (Luke 8:9–10).

Since Jesus Christ and all of the apostles and prophets spoke continually about the Kingdom of God, we need to understand what a kingdom is.

What Is a Kingdom?

Every kingdom has four elements. First, there is a king or ruling agent. Second, there is a territory over which the kingdom holds dominion. Third, there are subjects or citizens in every real kingdom. Fourth, every kingdom must have laws and a form of government.

This is how God's Kingdom is organized. Isaiah reveals who will be the king or ruling agent in the coming world government. "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him… He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes… But with righteousness He shall judge the poor… He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked" (Isaiah 11:1–4). Here is the well-known prophecy that Christ—coming from Jesse through David—will be the king over all the earth after His second coming.

Before Jesus' human birth, an angel gave this prophecy concerning His future rule: "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32–33). Christ is going to literally reign on the throne of David. That throne is on this earth today! And He shall reign over the house of Jacob, or Israel. These are human beings here on this earth! If you do not understand the national identity of modern Israel, then write immediately for our free booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.

Yes, world government is soon to come, with Jesus Christ as Divine Ruler! The Apostle John described one of the most tremendous events in all history: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15).

Christ will show us how to have peace on this earth! This is the only way we will ever have peace!

God's Government on This Earth

Having proved that Christ is King of God's soon-coming Kingdom, let us now see where that Kingdom will be located. Did you notice in the above scripture that "the kingdoms of this world" are to be ruled by Christ?

This is substantiated in Daniel 2:44, the conclusion of Daniel's prophecy about the four great world-ruling kingdoms that would dominate the Western world. As nearly all Bible scholars recognize, the fourth great kingdom is the Roman Empire, which—with its various revivals—will hold sway until the end of this age. "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." This clearly indicates that God's Kingdom will be on this earth—Christ the "Stone" (v. 45) having crushed the other kingdoms and set up God's government to bring peace.

Isaiah's description shows that Kingdom will be on this earth. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain [kingdom], for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).

You have probably noticed by this time that the subjects or citizens of God's Kingdom will be physical human beings still left alive on this earth! Isaiah 11:10 describes Christ as the "Root of Jesse" and says, that "the Gentiles shall seek Him." So here we find even the Gentile nations being ruled by Christ on this earth. Now continuing from verse 11: "It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt… and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."

This will be the time of the glorious regathering of the Israelite peoples, who will be brought back from captivity at the second coming of Christ. They will then learn to understand and appreciate God's rule, His laws, His government and His Way of life! What a wonderful world that will be!

The Laws of God's Kingdom

God alone knows the way to peace and happiness! He reveals this Way from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. It does not always agree with the way that "seems right" to a man, but it is the Way to real peace on this earth.

Throughout the prophecies, God shows that His Kingdom will be ruled by that Way, which is based on His law. Notice Isaiah's inspired description of God's Kingdom as it will be administered on this earth: "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3).

Yes, God's rule is according to His Law! The spiritual principles of God's Ten Commandments are the way to peace and happiness and everything this world really wants. But people today are running away from that Way as fast as they can!

When Christ first comes, He will need to chasten the nations of the world, to teach them to appreciate His Way and His law! "He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore"(v. 4). As King of kings, Christ will have to rebuke the nations and literally teach them the way to peace—and the laws of God, which will bring peace.

Many people today are under the false impression that the New Covenant does away with God's law! However, in describing these very events that are to take place when Christ returns and sets up God's Kingdom, the prophecies reveal that God's law is the very basis of the New Covenant, and of the agreement Christ made with physical Israel—and makes with individual Christians of all nations as they are converted. "After those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jeremiah 31:33).

Man cannot have peace until human nature is changed! God's law reveals the nature and character of God. After Christ returns to convert all nations, He will write God's law in the very minds and hearts of people. Thus, it will become part of their nature! Then they will know the way to peace!—and joy!—and happiness! Jesus Christ Himself revealed that God's law is the very basis of His Kingdom. He said: "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail" (Luke 16:16–17). Here we find Jesus' clear statement that the law of God is an integral part of the message of the Kingdom of God!

But was Jesus speaking of the law of the Ten Commandments? Yes, He was! For He continued in the very next breath: "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery" (v. 18). Here He showed that the law of which He was speaking included the command against divorce based on the Ten Commandments of God. Christ magnified that law, giving specific narrow guidelines for divorce (Matthew 19:9). For more on this topic, please request our free booklet, God's Plan for Happy Marriage.

That law is binding on us today! If we plan to be in God's Kingdom—a part of His government forever—we need to learn to keep and obey God's law here and now in this life!

How to Qualify for God's Kingdom

To help us understand this principle of obedience, let us turn to the very beginning of Jesus Christ's ministry and what He actually taught when He was here on this earth. When He was tempted by the Devil, He stated one of the most basic truths of all the ages: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"(Matthew 4:4).

Remember that the only written word of God at the time that Jesus said this was the Old Testament! This is the word that contains the law of God—the law so many ministers seem to hate today! Yet, Jesus said that we are to live by this inspired word!

After His temptation by Satan, Jesus began to preach the message of God's Government. "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (v. 17). Again, notice that it is always the message of God's Kingdom—or government—which Christ preached. He showed that men must repent of their ways and submit to that government.

The following three chapters in Matthew contain what is popularly called "The Sermon on the Mount." Few seem to realize it, but this entire sermon is filled with Jesus' exhortation to obey God's law!

Notice Matthew 5:17–19: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill"—that is to do or perform, setting us an example. "For assuredly, I say to you," Jesus continued, "till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled"—or be in effect, as the original Greek indicates.

Then, Jesus concludes: "Whoever therefore breaks [Notice this is future tense] one of the least of these commandments"—no matter which men might call the least—"and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus said that as long as heaven and earth stand, God's law will never be done away! And those who are to be rewarded in God's Kingdom shall both do and teach even the "least" of God's laws and commandments!

Is This the ONLY True Gospel?

Is this message of obedience to God's laws and preparation for His coming Kingdom—or world-ruling government—the only way of salvation? Or was some of this message just for the Jews of Jesus' day? Was there some other gospel introduced for Gentile Christians?

Here is what Jesus Christ commanded after His resurrection from the dead: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19–20). Here Christ commanded His apostles to go to all the world and preach exactly the same message of obedience to God's Kingdom and laws that He had taught them!

We must repent of our ways and sins, accept Christ as Savior and Ruler, and begin to let Him—through His Spirit—live a life of obedience in us to prepare us for eternal life in God's Kingdom and to be born as a member of His very family! This is the very gospel you must believe and obey in order to be saved!

Jesus told His apostles: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15–16).

You must believe the joyous message of God's soon-coming government that will bring peace through His ways, and His Law! And you should prepare for your part in that Kingdom here and now.

What should you do, then?

Showing the way to begin this life of obedience and surrender to God, Peter said: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

You must repent of sin. And God tells you in 1 John 3:4: "Sin is the transgression of the law" (KJV). The Bible says that sin is breaking God's law!

You must repent of this—and of your entire attitude of disobedience and hostility toward God's rule and authority over your life. You should become humble, as a little child, and let God guide you and teach you day-by-day through His word. You should be baptized—as an outward symbol of your willingness to bury your old self under the water, and to give your life literally to God to use as He sees fit.

Then God promises to place in you, His begotten son or daughter, His precious Holy Spirit, so that you may develop His very nature and His character.

Notice that even the Holy Spirit is received through obedience, because Peter describes "the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey Him" (Acts 5:32).

After repentance and baptism, a Christian can begin a life of overcoming and obedience to God's law and His Kingdom here and now. This is done through the Holy Spirit and its power within him. This was the message all of God's servants preached throughout the early inspired New Testament Church!

The Gospel Never Changes

Notice what Philip preached when he went down to the Gentile city of Samaria, "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized" (Acts 8:12).

The Apostle Paul preached this gospel to the Gentile Christians at Ephesus. He told them on his last visit: "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more" (Acts 20:25).

At the very end of his ministry, Paul continued to preach this same message! "Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him" (Acts 28:30–31).

The message of the soon-coming Kingdom of God was the only message of Jesus Christ! That message is the gospel of peace (Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15). It is the gospel of salvation (Ephesians 1:13). It was the only message His inspired Church and apostles taught the world! It has been the message of God's true Church through the ages!

Jesus Christ said His true Church would be preaching that very message as a last "witness" to all nations in our very day just before He returns again! "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14).

You are receiving that gospel this very instant! Through the Tomorrow's World telecast and magazine, this message of Christ is being taken to all nations as a last "witness" to the world, before Christ returns to establish His beneficent world government over all mankind. May God help you to understand and heed!