No one knows how much time there is left down here on this earth before the Lord comes and sets up his kingdom. We do know that since the sin of Adam, the world has been under a curse. A curse that not only affects humans, but all living creatures on this earth. From the time of Adam until the flood of Noah, there were no carnivorous creatures. Everything ate of the fruit of trees or herbs of the ground. All that changed after the flood. Most creatures live out their entire life being hungry, and fearful of another creature killing them. There is no rest or security for any thing. I believe that is why the Lord told us in Romans 8 how that the entire creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. Every bird, squirrel and rabbit is awaiting this manifestation, where the lion can lay down with the lamb.
Romans 8:19 – 23 19) For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
This is how I interpret these verses:
19 – the word creature comes from the Greek word “ktis’-is” means from the original formation. So verse 19 means the entire creation of God eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons of God.
20 – the word vanity comes from the Greek word “mat’-ah-yos” means empty, profitless. For the entire earthly creation of God was made empty and put under the curse, not because of anything it did, but because of Adams sin.
21 – all of Gods creation will be delivered from this curse into the glorious freedom of the children of God, as Adam was before he sinned.
22 – we know that the entire creation of God suffers in pain and fear from the flood until now.
23 – not only the fish, birds, animals, insects, reptiles and everything else with life suffers, we humans ourselves who have the Spirit of God living in us, wait to be given our new glorious eternal bodies and freedom from death, sin and temptations and tribulations. We await being adopted into the kingdom of God
For what is the manifestation of the sons of God? It’s when all those who believe in Christ that have died and are awaiting their new bodies, and God gives them their new eternal bodies, and creates a new heaven and a new earth, and these new sons of God take back the roll of Adam, in caring for the earth and taking care of all life on the earth and unto the utter most parts of all Gods creation including the heavenly places.
So this brings up the question, who are the sons of God? Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The apostle Paul gave us this word, and he was speaking to Gentiles and Jews alike that believed in Christ and lived by faith.
Ever wonder what God has in store for you after this life ends?
I Corinthians 2:9 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.
Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
God gave a promise to Abraham of two types of heirs. One was as the sands of the seas (earthly) the other as the stars of heaven (heavenly). It is my personal belief that the chosen race ( the Jews) are going to be the earthly and rule and reign over it, and the gentiles (body of Christ) will be the heavenly, and rule and reign in the heavens. But we can all read God’s word on these things and draw your own conclusions on the after life.
Genesis 13:14-16 14) And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15) For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16) And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. I feel this is Gods promise to the Jews. They shall rule with Christ over this earth.
Genesis 26 1-4 1) And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2) And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3) Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4) And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; This is a prophecy concerning the coming of Christ through the promised son Isaac.
All throughout the old Testament, the Jews are promised a coming kingdom. Where their Messiah and rule over all the earth, and all nations will seek out the Jew, because they know that God is with them. Zachariah 8:23. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
These are just a couple of the promises made to the Jews, about ruling with their Messiah on this earth. As far as us gentiles are concerned, Paul tells us that we also are children of promise. I believe that we will be heirs of Gods heavenly estate.
Galatians 4:27-31 27) For it is written, Rejouce, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children that she which hath an husband. 28) Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29) But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit, even so it is now. 30) Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bond-woman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman. 31) So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
As long as we have breathe and life in our bodies, we are free to choose what kind of a life we want to live while here on this earth. Once death comes to our bodies, whether through an accident, old age or disease our right to make choices end. We leave our dead bodies instantly, and there are only two destinations for us. We will end up in hell or in heaven. If you made Christ your Lord, you will go to heaven and await the time when God will give you a new eternal body. If you never made Christ your Lord, you will go to a place called hell, a place of torment until the dead are raised from hell and placed in front of God’s throne for the judgment. In the book of revelations it’s call the white throne judgment. Only the lost will be there, and they will be judged according to how they lived on this earth. There will be no new eternal bodies handed out to this group, but rather from the white throne, they are sent to the lake of fire for all eternity. It’s called the second death.
Revelation 20: 7-15 7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
If you have made Jesus the Lord of your life, then you have already put to death your old body, so you don’t have to worry about this second death. The life that you now live, you live by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave himself for you. Now is the time for salvation, when you still have the option to make that choice.
In closing, Romans 8 10 – 11 10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
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