"And There Shall Be No More Curse..."

To better understand the wonderful fullness of the title, it will be helpful to review what the earth was like before the curse. Prior to the curse Adam and Eve walked in the very presence of God Himself, and in the midst of the Garden of Eden was the tree of life. When Satan introduced sin to the Garden and its occupants, God pronounced a curse on Satan, the woman, and Adam. The curse on Satan also announced the coming of Christ, the Seed of the woman, to destroy him.

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15

Christ’s mission was reaffirmed in the New Testament.

“…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” I John 3:8b

The curse on the woman included sorrow and pain.

“To the woman He said; ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children…’” Genesis 3:16

The words ‘sorrow’ and ‘pain’ are very close in meaning both in Hebrew and in the New Testament Greek. In Genesis they have the meanings of worrisome, labor, hard work, trouble, grievance, and birth pain.

The curse on Adam also involved hardship and toil.

“Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” Genesis 3:17

And then the worst aspect of the curse was pronounced. Both Adam and Eve were consigned to death and denied access to the tree of life.

“For dust you are, and to dust you shall return…Therefore the LORD God sent him out of the Garden of Eden…and He placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden…to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:19, 23-24

Just two chapters of the Bible describe conditions before the curse and just two chapters describe future conditions after the curse is removed, i.e. the renewed earth and New Jerusalem. In other words over 99% of the Bible describes the consequences of the curse and the plan of redemption.

Fast forward to the final two chapters of the Bible and we’ll see the future of ‘pain’ and ‘sorrow’ in the renewed earth and New Jerusalem. Recall that in the original Garden of Eden God dwelt with Adam and Eve, and so it will also be in the future.

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…and I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:2-4

The Greek meaning for ‘pain’ in the above passage means labor which demands the whole strength of man. The term also connotes suffering, mourning, grief, and sadness. Not only will God once again dwell with man, man will once again have access to the tree of life inasmuch as death will have been defeated.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14

Therefore, pain, sorrow, and death will be done away with, and in fact, not even remembered.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17

Therefore, the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples will be answered.

“…So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…’” Luke 11:2

And thus it will be forevermore.

The future of the redeemed is magnificent. It seems such a catastrophe that the majority of mankind will reject God’s plan and provision for redemption.

What Will Redeemed Man do in the Future?

The ‘future’ in the present title begins with the return of the redeemed with Christ after the tribulation period which marks the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign in Jerusalem.

One thing is certain, redeemed man in the future will not be idle. Many New Testament teachings describe ‘on the job training’ for the future.

There is little question that we presently live in a litigious society. Everyone is passionate about preserving his/her rights. Paul teaches that those chosen for the kingdom (Biblical saints) should be able to settle differences between themselves during the present age without resorting to the legal system for adjudication.

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? I Corinthians 6:1-3

The Bible also teaches that Jesus’ disciples would participate in the administration of Israel in the future.

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” Matthew 19:28

Paul summarized the concept of shared reign with Christ:

“If we endure, we shall also reign with him, if we deny Him, He also will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:12

Another significant aspect of the future is that there will be no marriage relationships.

“Jesus…said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore…’” Luke 20:34-36

Earlier in man’s odyssey God sanctioned marriage for several specific purposes including populating the earth and exercising dominion over it.

“So God created man in His own image… male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over…every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Genesis 1:27-28

In the renewed earth and New Jerusalem there will be a fixed number of occupants determined from the foundation of the world who will live forever so there will be no need for marriage and procreation.

During the millennial period there will be ample opportunities for those who enjoying fishing.

“…there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple… (Initially) the water came up to my ankles… (then) the water came up to my knees…(then) the water came up to my waist…(then) it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep…there will be a great multitude of fish…it shall be that fishermen will stand by it…they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many.” Ezekiel 47:1-10

The above scripture passages do not mean that there will be more fishermen in the millennial kingdom than lawyers. They do indicate, however, that there will be more opportunities for fishing than the need for legal services.

God never intended man to be idle either in this life or in the future. God created man to be productive. Such was true in the Garden of Eden before sin and there is no indication that redeemed man will be idle in the ages to come. Adam was very productive in the original Garden.

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend (cultivate) and keep it.” Genesis 2:15

The Hebrew ‘tend’ is synonymous with ‘dress’ meaning to serve, till, and/or plow while the Hebrew ‘keep’ likewise means to work or toil.

We’ll conclude this mini series of ‘the future’ next week by looking at what is meant by the words in the final chapter of the Bible, i.e. “…there shall be no more curse…”

Redeemed Man of the Future

When Jesus was resurrected, He was raised in His new glorified, immortal body. And recall Jesus was/is the firstfruits of the harvest. Therefore, all justified mankind, i.e. those redeemed from the curse pronounced in Genesis chapter 3, will be raised in like fashion as their Redeemer.

“…we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” Romans 8:16-17

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:2

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…” Philippians 3:20-21

“…In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I Corinthians 15:52-53

Not only will the redeemed be raised with immortal bodies, they will be granted extra-human wisdom and understanding.

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am known.” I Corinthians 13:12

The Bible further reveals that each individual will be different. Recall what the Apostle John said above…“it has not yet been revealed what we shall be…”

“But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain – perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.” I Corinthians 15:35-38

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God…Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:19, 23

The question has also been raised whether those living on the renewed earth and New Jerusalem will recognize each other as it is today. It may appear obvious to some but consider Mary Magdalene did not immediately recognize Jesus after His resurrection nor did His disciples.

“Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.” John 20:14

“But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” John 21:4

The future redeemed will also be given extra-human powers similar to the resurrected Christ. They will not be restricted to time and other physical dimensions and limitations.

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week. When the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst…” John 20:19

Jesus just appeared behind locked doors, and could likewise just vanish. Consider further that presently the space station is in an elliptical orbit ranging from 172 to 286 miles from the earth. At that distance man cannot breathe naturally. New Jerusalem, the future home of the redeemed, is approximately 1,400 miles in height and nowhere is it stated that it will be pressurized.

The inheritance of the redeemed is beyond description.

“…Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Corinthians 2:9

What a glorious future for those who take God at His word. The hope of the redeemed will be realized when faith in that which cannot be seen is seen.

Next week we’ll consider some of what the redeemed will be doing in future ages.

Everyone Has a Future

Everyone ever born is consigned to physical death.

“…for dust you are and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19b

“And as it is appointed for men to die once…” Hebrews 9:27a

However, everyone has a future because even though everyone has or will experience physical death, everyone will also be raised out of their grave. Exempted of course, are those who are alive when Christ removes His church prior to the tribulation.

“…for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5:28-29

‘Those who have done good’ in the above context means trusting in the redemptive work of Christ while ‘those who have done evil’ means to reject Him. Doing good deeds has nothing to do with obtaining salvation.

“…those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2

The future of those who reject God’s provision for redemption was discussed in the recent column entitled: Is Hell Real? The current discussion will focus on those who have or will accept God’s gracious provision. The latter are referred to as the ‘just’ inasmuch as they have been legally justified because of the vicarious death of Christ on the cross. The resurrection of the ‘just’ can only occur after the resurrection of Christ.

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (physically died)…even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order…” I Corinthians 15:20, 22b-23a

The initial contingent of those resurrected after the resurrection of Christ occurred almost immediately following the resurrection of Christ and was witnessed by many.

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:51-53

The remainder of the just will be raised in the future, some prior to the great tribulation and some after the tribulation. The description of the resurrection of the just preceding the tribulation is found in Paul’s writings.

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:15-17

The resurrection of the just who are martyred during the tribulation will be accomplished after the tribulation but prior to the millennial reign of Christ.

“…Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4

Note also that those resurrected prior to the tribulation will return to earth with Christ for that 1000 year period. The unjust will remain in their graves until after the millennium.

“…And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Revelation 19:14

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished…” Revelation 20:5

Just as Christ was/is the Passover Lamb, the Levitical feast of Firstfruits symbolized the future resurrection of Christ as a pledge of the complete harvest to follow.

Next we’ll look at several characteristics of the resurrected just.

Is Hell Real?

The following is a recent quote by Lawrence O’Donnell, the anchor of a weeknight MSNBC opinion and news program entitled: The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.

“The book of Revelation is a work of fiction describing how a truly vicious God would bring about the end of the world. Now, no half-smart religious person believes the book of Revelation anymore.”

O’Donnell’s assessment of the Bible is not altogether surprising; however, meet author and Pastor Rob Bell. Bell pastors a large church in Michigan. Bell recently authored the book, ‘Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person…’ This book was on the New York Times best selling list. Pastor Bell appears in Time magazines list of the world’s 100 most influential people. The magazine also ran a feature story entitled, ‘Is Hell Dead’ based on Bell’s book.

Bell’s book surprisingly contends that hell is incompatible with a loving God and that questions about hell are unanswerable. He states:

“Will everybody be saved, or will some perish apart from God forever because of their choices?” He goes on to state, “…We don’t need to resolve them (questions) or answer them because we can’t…”

While Pastor Bell might believe questions about the reality of hell are unanswerable, the Bible has explicit commentary on the subject.

“…it is a righteous thing with God to repay…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven…in flaming fire taking vengeance on those…who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…” 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9

To dismiss the reality of hell is to dismiss Jesus’ own teachings.

“…The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades (hell), he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off…Then he cried out and said… ‘I am tormented in this flame.’” Luke 16:22-24

Much more is said about hell and the everlasting Lake of Fire in the final book in the Bible, i.e. ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ.’ Recall this is the book that MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell said no half-smart religious person would believe.

According to the Bible, after the seven year tribulation period, both the anti-Christ and his cohort the false prophet are dealt with.

“Then the beast (anti-Christ) was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast… These two were cast alive into the lake of fire…” Revelation 19:20

Then after the millennial reign of Christ all people from all ages who have rejected God’s free gift of redemption will stand before the Great White Throne of God.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…and the dead were judged according to their works…Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them, and they were judged each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire…” Revelation 20:12-14

To deny these truths is to take away from the word of God. That has severe consequences according to the final verses of the Bible.

“…everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book…if anyone takes away from the words of this book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life…” Revelation 22:18-19

And the fate of those whose name is not written in the Book of Life?

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15

Thus the Bible clearly connects the dots, i.e. those who choose to reject the Biblical teachings relative to hell are said to take away from the word of God. Those who take away from the word of God will not be found in the Book of Life, and those not found in the Book of Life will end in the everlasting Lake of Fire, the very place which they denied.

And we, along with Lawrence O’Donnell and Pastor Bell have the freedom to believe what we will. Ultimately all will know if ‘hell is real’ and if Mr. O’Donnell really had the last word.