FBCD_FaithEssentials_June_FlipBook

Faith Essentials

Finally, the Holy City will be a place of unprecedented purity. God told John, “ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Revelation 21:27). Cities across our globe suffer the blight of moral decadence. Such will not be the case in the age to come. The Word also tells us that the entrance to the city will never be closed (Revelation 21:26). In ancient times, the gates of walled cities were secured at night to guard against enemy attack. I carefully lock and deadbolt our doors at night, and often during the day, to guard against possible intruders. Thankfully, this won’t be necessary when God establishes His Kingdom exclusively on this earth. This purity and security is a byproduct of a total peace that will engulf not only the Jerusalem to come, but the new heaven and new earth in their entirety. Currently, we can enjoy peace with God (Romans 5:1) and the peace of God (Philippians 4:7). Yet, a future peace that eludes us in this present age still awaits. I believe this end of time peace has sociological, biological, and geological ramifications. Rarely a week goes by without some mention of a truce between the Arabs and the Israelis, peace between warring factions in Africa and the Middle East, etc. I’m thrilled at such prospects, yet nothing permanent is going to happen until the Prince of Peace comes to establish His reign on earth. I read recently about a snake and rodent that became best friends at a Tokyo zoo. Gohan, the 3.5-inch dwarf hamster, was served to a four-foot rat snake named Aochan for dinner. Instead of becoming a meal for the snake, however, Gohan became its friend. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Gohan sometimes even climbs onto Aochan to take a nap on his back. Aochan seems to enjoy Gohan’s company very much,” said zookeeper Kazuya Yamamoto. 2 Although this makes a great human-interest story, it’s an aberration. Typically, the snake would devour the rodent. It’s the law of the old earth jungle. However, a time is coming when the rules will change. On the future earth: “ The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard

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