FromNowUntilForeverBook8.5x5.5 REV.indd

environment created for God’s coming to the new earth to dwell among His people, at which point the Son hands the kingdom over to the Fa- ther (1 Corinthians 15:24). Everything in this book is building up to that point. Currently, we are living in that span of time between the resurrection and Second Coming of Jesus. It’s called the Spirit Age because the Holy Spirit is theTrinity’s present representa- tive on earth. Jesus is the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf. During the millennium, however, Christ will be present and reigning on the earth. When the 1000 years conclude, as we’ll examine more closely in a later chapter, God will come down from heaven “As a bride adorned for her husband . . . and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them” (Revelation 21:2-3). Before getting into the why, carefully note the following two points related to the millennium. It’s going to take time— 1000 years in fact! Don’t choose to take that number symbolically, as I was once tempt- ed to do. The deeper into the subject I get, the more I see the necessity for an extended period of transition. Of course, Jesus could wave His hand, snap His fingers and change mat- ters in the blink of an eye. Yet, it’s not going to work that way. Lost people, with their free will at work, will still populate the earth. As for the fortunate ones who get saved, it’s going to take time for them to be discipled into mature believers, just as it does presently. It’s going to involve resistance— If there’s one absoluteI’ve learned in nearly three decades as a pastor, people don’t like change –especially when it comes to changing behavior and submitting to authority. Many of the unconverted, espe- cially those in positon of premillennial power, won’t easily and

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