The Rise Of The New World
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INTRODUCTION
When Christians think about the end of the "world," as we discussed last week, we often limit our thinking to the physical and material realms. We imagine the "end of the world" to be the dramatic conclusion of human history. The end of the planet as we know it. We think about a tangible world that began in Eden, progressing along a timeline that will end at some point in the future when Jesus returns and ushers in the eternal state. Yet, this way of thinking, at least monolithically, was not how the Biblical writers viewed the word "world" or its ending.
To the Biblical writers, the word "world" could be applied to various things. You could talk about planet earth as "the world" (κόσμος, John 3:16), the civilized Roman Empire as "the world" (οἰκουμένη, Luke 2:1), the dirt or land you could pick up with your fingers as "the world" (γῆ, Matthew 5:5), or the sum total human rebellion against God as "the world" (κόσμος, 1 John 2:15-17). What we also saw last week is that the word "world" can also refer to the world of the Old Testament, where God interacted with humanity in a more limited way through the Law of Moses, and "the world" of the New Testament where God came in the flesh and set up a better, fuller, and more complete Kingdom that all of the old covenant forms was pointing to.
In this way, Biblical writers divided the world and redemptive history into two parts. There was the old world where you were saved by obedience to the Law and the new world where you were saved by grace through faith. The old world was where the Spirit dwelled in temples made with hands, and the new world was where the Spirit indwelled the hearts of God's people, in the old world, where purification was accomplished through animal sacrifices administered by a levitical priest and the new world, the once and for all sacrifice was offered at calvary by an eternal priest whose priesthood never ends. And on and on, we could compare and contrast these two worlds.
But what is most important for our purposes is that these two worlds exist in the minds of the Biblical writers and that these two worlds collided in the advent of Jesus Christ. He didn't just come to die on the cross to save sinners. He did that, but it is far grander and richer than that. He came into the capital city of that old world, Jerusalem, with all of its old covenant trappings, and through His death, burial, and resurrection, brought that world to a decisive end. And in its place, He inaugurated a new world, a new redemptive situation, a rival Kingdom that would exist alongside the Jewish age for forty tumultuous years before it emerged unscathed and unrivaled as the only way for men and women to know YHWH, God.
Think about it this way: two rival redemptive situations were in operation for forty years. There were two distinct pathways for humans to know the Father operating at the exact same time. The Jews were screaming that God must be known through the old way of sacrifices, through obedience, through Sabbath-keeping, and all of the Mosaic forms. At the same time, Christians were claiming that Jesus, because He had risen from the grave, had completed and closed down that old covenant path and had opened up a new way, the only way, so that if you did not approach the Father through Jesus, then you would be lost forever.
Instead of allowing these two competing visions of human redemption to exist side by side forever, God publicly and decisively removed the former and established the latter as the way, the truth, and the life so that no one could come to the Father by Judaism, but only ever by Jesus Christ. As we saw last week, this was not a random event but something prophesied throughout the pages of the Holy Scripture and something that the Jews of that tumultuous century ignored to their own peril.
For all who repented and turned to Jesus, life became everlasting, with unending joy and deep, abiding peace. For all who clung to the old world system, nothing but devastation, destruction, and ruin awaited them. It would be like refusing to get on the life raft and trusting the Titanic to save you. The Titanic was a grand old vessel; no one thought it would sink. But it did. In fact, on that chilly evening, the only way you would walk away alive was to leave the sinking colossus and climb into a small and floundering raft. For all Jews who left the titanic community and familiar covenant with Moses to jump into the new and fledgling assembly, called the Church, there was life and salvation. For all who refused Christ and clung instead to the types and shadows, there was nothing but death.
Last week, we covered that death, the death of the old world, and how the general epistles look forward to its imminent demise in the events of the first century. We saw how the punishment soon to come upon the Jews, the calamity about to befall the temple, and its replacement by Jesus were all spoken about in the books of Jude and James and the epistles of the apostles Peter and John. This week, we look at those same books to see what happened after the collapse of that old Jewish world. What would the new world of Christ and His Kingdom look like? What would it accomplish? And, spoiler alert, it will achieve everything that God has already said it would in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, the history, the Psalms, the Prophets, the Gospels, Acts, and Paul: That the world will be filled with worshippers, by Jesus, before the end has come.
Today, we look at Christ's success. He not only brought the old world of the Jews to a resounding end but will necessarily build His new world totally and entirely before He returns. So, with that, let us jump right in and see how the general epistles prove that grand and postmillennial vision.
PART 1: THE NEW WORLD IS BETTER THAN THE OLD
When we think about the new world, we must accept that it is unimaginably better than what it was replacing. God did not put away the old world of Judaism with an equal and opposite Gentile counterpart. He did not exchange one religious system for another. Instead, He put away an inferior era of redemption with a superior one. He put down what was extremely limited in favor of what would have no limits; He set aside an inglorious kingdom that had run its course for a glorious Kingdom that would complete God's grand and global vision! He took what was always meant to be a placeholder away in favor of what was always meant to replace it, something truer, better, purer, and more glorious that was coming. In Christ, that new and better world has come, which means we should expect to hear the New Testament writers speaking this way, and we should not be surprised when they actually do this. Let us look at a few examples here.
1. NEW WORLD TEMPLE
For instance, at the center of that old world was the temple, the house of God, known as one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world. This was where God had covenanted to dwell at the center of the nation of Israel. This was where Jewish males were commanded to pilgrimage for the high holy festivals. The temple was a symbol of how much God loved them, and it was a point of national pride for them. I believe it is safe to say that the people of God were entirely and Biblically temple-centric in their devotion to YHWH.
This means that if God was going to bring about a better system for knowing Him, He would not only need to put away the old temple He gave them to reduce confusion, but He would also need to bring about a better and more perfect temple for the people of God. This is precisely what Jesus has done and what the general epistles teach us has occurred.
For instance, instead of a physical temple constructed with Middle Eastern marble and granite, Jesus Himself has become the cornerstone and has filled His end-time temple with living stones, which are the people of God. This makes Jesus' temple immutable and indestructible, unlike the temple in Judea. It also makes His temple geographically independent, whereas the temple in Jerusalem had a physical address and could not easily be expanded. This is not the case for Jesus' temple, which is constantly being expanded to the very ends of the earth because He is the head of it, and His people are being formed into His body. Look at how 1 Peter 2:4-6 states this:
"Coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed." - 1 Peter 2:4-6
As gracious and wonderful as the Jerusalem temple was, it pales in comparison to what Jesus has ushered in. Instead of God's presence being confined to a physical, time, and space-bound structure, it now dwells timelessly within the hearts of His people across all generations of Church history. That people are ever expanding, and from generation to generation, filling more of the earth with His tabernacling glory. This lets us know that the world's future is not atheistic or secular but sacred. How do we know this? In the same way that Adam, as the first High Priest, was commissioned to extend His garden temple to the ends of the earth, Christ, according to 1 Peter 2:4-6 will. He will fill the world with His people, the living stones in His new temple, so that the world will become a temple and the dwelling place of God.
This new temple is clearly better and more expansive than its predecessor.
2. NEW WORLD SACRIFICE
Jesus not only entered a temple-centric world but also a sacrificially ritualistic world. In order to be purified from transgressions, you would need to offer up an animal sacrifice according to the manners and customs outlined in the Law of God. Without this sacrifice, you could not be cleansed from your sins. But with it, the Lord covenanted to pardon you, to forgive you, and to cover over your iniquities, extending you His grace. But, as gracious as this system was, it was undoubtedly inferior to the new covenant situation that Jesus brought through His death and resurrection.
In the old world, purification and atonement were achieved through repeated animal sacrifices administered by Levitical priests. However, unlike the blood of bulls and goats, which could never ultimately save anyone, Jesus' blood actually and effectively purified His people. Instead of having to offer animals and beasts in perpetuity, Christ offered Himself as the once-and-for-all sacrifice that permanently and perfectly dealt with the problem of sin. The author of Hebrews emphasizes this in chapter 7:26-27:
"26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself." - Hebrews 7:26-27
This perfect sacrifice fulfills and supersedes the old one, providing eternal redemption for the people of God. Jesus' sacrifice was both final and sufficient, accomplishing what the old sacrificial system could never achieve. His death on the cross paid the penalty for sin in full, making all future sacrifices wholly unnecessary and even sinful in light of what He has accomplished. As a result, believers are forgiven by Christ's single sacrifice and cleansed and made righteous in God's sight forever.
The new world sacrifice of Jesus was better than the old world types and shadows.
3. NEW WORLD FEASTING
In the old world, the festivals held significant meaning for the people of God. These celebrations, such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, were deeply rooted in the Jewish calendar and life. They were annual reminders of God's deliverance, provision, and future promises. The people would gather, recount their history, and look forward with a future oriented hope to fulfill God's redemptive plan. Notably, these festivals were attended primarily by Jewish males who had to travel to Jerusalem three times a year and observe from a distance, reflecting both physical and spiritual separation from God.
However, in the new world, Jesus has brought something infinitely better. Jesus has fulfilled those old feasts (Colossians 2:16-17) and expanded their concept by establishing the weekly Lord's Day gathering and weekly communion as the new covenant festal calendar. Unlike in the old world, where only males attended the festivals three times a year (and at a great distance), the entire family comes together every week in the new world. Every Lord's Day, believers gather to worship, and through weekly communion, they partake in the body and blood of Christ and are drawn into heaven's holy of holies. This 52-week participation brings the entire community into close and regular fellowship with God instead of the distant and infrequent fellowship of the old, removing both the physical and spiritual distance that existed in the old covenant.
4. NEW WORLD LAW
In the old world, purification and cleanliness were achieved through obedience to the Mosaic Law. The Law highlighted human sinfulness and the need for redemption, serving as a tutor to lead people to Christ. Yet, it was also a burden, as no one could perfectly keep the Law, and thus, it constantly reminded them of their shortcomings and need for atonement.
In the new world Jesus was bringing, He fulfilled the Law and brought grace and truth to God's people. John 1:17 says, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." This tells us that believers Christ has saved are no longer accosted by the threat of the Law but under God's grace. This grace, far from being a license to sin, empowers Christians to live in righteousness and freedom, which was impossible in the Law of Moses. This is because Jesus' perfect obedience and sacrifice satisfied the requirements of the Law on our behalf, liberating believers from its threatening bondage and opening the way for us to experience its blessings. Now, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we have been given the desire to live obediently to the Law of God and to live a life that is pleasing to God.
The situation and status Jesus brought us in the new world is better, more comprehensive, and more efficacious than anything in the old world.
5. NEW WORLD COVENANT SIGN
Circumcision was a crucial component of the old world system and a significant point of pride for the Jewish people. It served as the physical sign of the covenant with Abraham, distinctly marking the Jews as separate from all others. This ritual not only set Jewish men apart physically from their Gentile counterparts but also symbolized an inward relationship and intimate devotion to God. While this sign was precious to the Jews, Jesus brought something far superior.
Instead of a sign limited to men and involving cutting, bleeding, and pain, Jesus has given us baptism, a sign that is inclusive of every covenant member without physical pain. Like circumcision, baptism symbolizes the death of the flesh and the believer's union with God. However, baptism extends beyond circumcision by cleansing all people—men, women, and children—making it a more expansive covenant symbol for the people of God.
Baptism is also spoken of in more profound and transformative terms than circumcision, signifying our salvation in a way that circumcision could not. 1 Peter 3:21 highlights the significance of baptism: "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." This passage underscores baptism's powerful role in the new covenant, marking it as a more glorious and all-encompassing sign of our relationship with God.
6. NEW WORLD PRIESTHOOD
While the old world relied heavily on the Levitical priesthood to mediate between God and man, in the new world, Jesus is our eternal High Priest, who offered Himself and now intercedes for us forever. Hebrews 4:14-16 proclaims,
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." - Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus' priesthood is clearly superior. He is the perfect and eternal High priest, which means His mediation for us will never end as the Aaronic priesthood did. Also, He is the perfect and eternal sacrifice, which lets us know His mediation will always be effective (unlike the priesthood of Aaron). But it is even better than this. Jesus, being the High Priest, has installed us as His Levitical order, making every Christian on earth a Levitical Priest to serve everlastingly in His temple for His own glory! 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that He has made us into a Kingdom of priests, expanding the Levitical priestly role beyond Levite tribal genetics to all who are in Christ. This new priesthood is now more effective, personal, and accessible, allowing men, women, and children direct access to God through Jesus and the ability to serve God without fear because of Him. Further, instead of a small tribe amid a single nation, every Christian on earth is now a priest of YHWH, showing how significant Jesus' expansion is!
Overwhelmingly, the priesthood of Jesus is better, bigger, and more beautiful than its counterpart before.
7. NEW WORLD PEOPLE
Finally, the concept of the chosen people has been profoundly enriched in the new world of Jesus Christ. In the old world, God's covenant and promises were primarily given to the Jewish people, the physical descendants of Abraham. This unique relationship set the Jewish people apart as God's chosen nation, often becoming a source of sinful pride and ethnocentrism.
In the new world, Jesus has expanded the covenant to include all men, women, and children, regardless of ethnic background, gender, or geographical location. Galatians 3:28-29 powerfully declares, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." In Christ, distinctions based on ethnicity, gender, and social status are obliterated. All who belong to Him have become one under Him.
The Gospel message and the new covenant now extend to the ends of the earth, fulfilling the Great Commission to disciple all the nations (Matthew 28:19-20) and the original commission to fill the world with worshippers of every kind of people (Genesis 1:27-28). As James 1:18 says, "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." James tells us that in that first century, the believers were the first fruits of a new kind of people who would eventually fill the world with worshippers and transform the world back into Eden.
These newly chosen people (who have been grafted into the faithful old covenant people) are no longer limited by Jewish ancestry and genetic lineage and will expand until they include every person on earth. Jesus' new world is overwhelmingly better than the old world on every level. While more examples could be given, this has been enough to show that Jesus ushered in a world, a new epoch of redemption, that is comprehensively richer, better, and more expansive than its counterpart in the old. This is why Jesus put away that old world of types and shadows and ushered in His new.
PART 2: THE NEW WORLD EXPANDS
The old covenant Kingdom of Israel was designed to be a light to the Gentiles, a beacon of God's glory to all nations. Yet, despite its grand purpose, it fell fantastically short and, at its best, remained insular and inwardly focused. Apart from the glory of the Solomonic era, where all of the nations were streaming to Jerusalem to see the glory and majesty of God, the nation remained generally encumbered by ethnic prejudices, geographical limitations, and national boundaries. From its inception to its destruction, national Israel was a fledgling people amid a world of superpowers who constantly threatened their existence and survival. Instead of growing, spreading out, or advancing to the ends of the earth, Israel barely kept its head above the geopolitical waters of the ancient Levant, eventually collapsing totally at the hands of the Romans.
This is the Jewish world that Jesus entered, put away, and brought a new and better one. Instead of an unstable and perishable empire, Jesus brought a timeless Kingdom without borders, without walls, and without the possibility of being overrun, overturned, or conquered. Jesus did not bring a stagnant kingdom but one that necessarily grows and has been expanding for the last 2000 years. And, with 20 centuries of growth behind us, we have no reason to doubt that this Kingdom, led by Jesus as its King, will continue to grow and spread out until it has filled the entire world.
We know this is true because He has made us into a Kingdom that proclaims His excellencies to the nations (1 Peter 2:9-10). In this proclamation, we know that He does not wish that any would perish but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And one day, that desire will be fulfilled when the entire earth has become Christian, as 1 John 2:2 enumerates: "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). Jesus' sacrifice is sufficient for all with whom it is applied. The indication of Scripture is that it will be applied more and more liberally throughout church history until it has swallowed up and consumed everyone and everything like leaven that works its way through the entire lump.
The new world Jesus inaugurated is relentlessly advancing, unrestricted by the limitations of the old covenant. Each aspect of the old covenant has been expanded, fulfilled, and made more glorious in Christ. This new world is marked by a deeper, more personal relationship with God, available to all who believe, regardless of their background or circumstances. The general epistles testify to this unstoppable expansion, proving that the new world Kingdom of Christ is undeniably superior and eternally victorious.
PART 3: THE NEW WORLD’S TRIUMPH
The old world of Israel is a narrative of failure and collapse at every turn. It faltered in the wilderness when the people grumbled against God. It failed spectacularly at Sinai when they sacrificed a golden calf. In the conquest, it fell short as the Israelites refused to enter the promised land. During the period of the judges, the nation was led into all kinds of idolatry. The monarchy crumbled as the Kingdom fell apart at the end of David and Solomon's lives. The people ignored the prophets, leading to their conquest and exile. Ultimately, they failed most spectacularly when their covenant God came looking for them (Malachi 3-4), and they killed Him thinking they were serving the Father.
Contrast this with the Kingdom of Christ, which triumphs in every way that the old world failed. Unlike the kings, Jesus will succeed in building His Kingdom (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:28). Unlike the era of the judges, Jesus will lead His people out of idolatry and into proper worship (John 4:23-24). Unlike the failed conquest, Jesus will conquer the nations and make them obedient to His will (Matthew 28:18-20). Unlike the rebellion at Mount Sinai, Jesus climbed His mountain and made a perfect purification for the people of God (Hebrews 10:12-14). And unlike the grumbling Israelites who came out of the Exodus, Jesus has set us free and is leading us joyfully by His Spirit into the promised land (2 Corinthians 3:17; Hebrews 4:8-10). At every turn, Jesus will be successful until He has succeeded in accomplishing the Abrahamic promises of a world filled with worshippers (Genesis 12:1-3), the Judaic promise of the nations obeying Jesus (Genesis 49:10), and the cosmic transformation of this world back into a garden land (Genesis 1:28; Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-5).
Jesus' Kingdom will continue to triumph until it has accomplished everything He intends. Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:25, "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." This victory is not hypothetical but assured, relentless, and total.
This victory is also extended to believers, who triumph over trials (James 1:12) and are transformed by our trials. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says it like this:
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 1:6-7
Unlike the old covenant, where failure was expected and rampant, the new world is characterized by the resilience and triumph of the Church, which cannot fail. We know failure is impossible because of what God told us through Jude. Jude 24-25 says this:
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 24-25
We literally cannot fail because God Himself will keep us from stumbling. No matter how many miles it takes for the race to be finished or how long the war continues, victory is assured because He will keep us from stumbling. 1 John 4:4 assures us, "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them (the world), for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." This teaches us that our victory through faith will be continual and unstoppable. The world will not prevail over us; we will prevail over them.
How will this happen? By our faith in Christ! Notice what 1 John 5:4-5 says:
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" - 1 John 5:4-5
This new world is marked by a new kind of faith that conquers every obstacle. It will also happen by patient and faithful labor. Unlike the microwave mentality that is so common in the modern world, the Kingdom of Jesus will be built slowly, steadily, and over a long period. It will not be built in a single generation but over centuries and millennia, engendering long-term thinking, confidence, stability, and patience within the people of God. Hebrews 10:35-36 describes it this way:
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." - Hebrews 10:35-26
The writer of Hebrews tells us that we, the people of God, will receive what God has promised (which is a world filled with worshipers) when we remain confident, work hard, endure setbacks with hope, and extend His Kingdom to the ends of the earth. This is why Peter says:
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:10-11
To the Church that was suffering under Jewish persecutions, they were reminded that Christ would confirm, strengthen, and establish them. And when the Jewish nation was put away, when the temple was reduced to rubble, and when the Church of Jesus Christ was established as the only way to know God the Father, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, all Christians at all times would be reminded that our God will have dominion forever and ever. He puts away His enemies. He establishes His friends. He never fails to accomplish His purposes. So why would we ever believe that the Church will collapse in failure? It will not. Jesus will confirm, strengthen, and establish us for our mission, and He will have all dominion, all glory, and all honor forever and ever.
While the old covenant commonwealth of the Jews had an expiration date and bumbled along from one defeat after another, Jesus' empire is timeless. It will do nothing but expand in victory until nowhere is left for it to grow. This will happen more slowly than we are accustomed to but more certainly than we ever dare dream. Let us believe this and hope in this.
PART 4: THE NATURE OF THE NEW WORLD
The new world inaugurated by Jesus will fill the earth with worshipers, lift the nations out of the clutches of secularism, and transform the nations into the people of God. Jesus' Kingdom will transform the whole world into a glorious temple, lift humanity out of poverty, and free it from the wretched effects of the curse. Yet, this grand change is not the ultimate conclusion. The end will come when Christ defeats death (once and for all), gives us new eternal and imperishable bodies, casts death, sin, Satan, and all who reject Jesus into the lake of fire, and ushers in a perfect, eternal, immutable world where He reigns as King in our midst forever (1 Corinthians 15). In the meantime, however, we should not expect the world to languish in sin and misery. While we await the perfect fulfillment of these things, Jesus will use His Church and Kingdom to bring more life, flourishing, faith, and worshipers on this earth, as demonstrated throughout the Bible. As we close, we will examine how this is revealed in the general epistles.
2 Peter 3:13 promises, "But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." This promise was something Peter looked forward to in His immediate future. Still, it is something that came about with the advent of the Church, where righteousness has already been established by faith in Christ, in His people, who are called to spread Jesus' blessings to the ends of the earth. We are not waiting for righteousness to be established; this is a glorious gift in our justification by faith in Jesus. This means that the new heavens and earth are synonyms for the new world Jesus has already inaugurated and will continue bringing until everything is made new.
John echoes this vision in 1 John 2:8:
"At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining." - 1 John 2:8
The death of the old world darkness was in the immediate future of John and the other apostles. They were looking forward to the cataclysmic end of that old world that happened just a few years after these men penned their letters. Knowing this, we should not expect these promises to be inaugurated in our future since the true light of Christ is already shining in the Church and has been shining unabated and unrivaled since the downfall of old-world Judaism.
1 John 2:17 says,
"And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:17
This tells us explicitly that the old world of Judaism was passing away at the time of John's writing. Now that it has passed away at the destruction of Jerusalem, the ending of the priesthood, the dismantling of the temple, and the abrogation of the entire old covenant order, we can have confidence that this new era, where men and women by the power of the Spirit do the will of God, will abide forever. The Church will continue until it has accomplished everything God determined to accomplish.
Remember, Paul tells us this very thing in Corinthians,
"For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." - 1 Corinthians 15:25
When Paul says Jesus must reign, he communicates that Jesus' reign is necessary. When Paul says until he gives us an accurate timeline for how long this new world will last. And when Paul says "all His enemies," he means until all opposition, rebellion, and sin have been put firmly under Jesus' feet. This new world Jesus has brought will continue until the world has been made joyfully Christian, which is the logical conclusion of what Paul and the rest of the general epistles are saying.
CONCLUSION
Dear listeners, what a time to be alive! We've journeyed through the Scriptures, from the echoes of the old world to the resounding triumph of the new world in Christ. We've seen how Jesus' coming marked the decisive end of the old covenant and the glorious dawn of a new era. We've explored how His new world is infinitely better, more expansive, and unstoppable. But now, it's time to take this knowledge and turn it into action.
The call of Christ is not a passive one. He has not saved us to sit idly by, waiting for the world to end. No! The time for world endings happened 1954 years ago. Now is the time for world building. Now is the time for us to live in a kingdom that cannot be shaken and will keep advancing until all of the residue of old-world failure has been eliminated or transformed into new-world glory. He has called us to be active participants in His grand sweeping narrative, to be His hands and feet, to be the light in the darkness, and to be a part of building that universal temple that will fill the entire earth with the glory and praise of God. This is not the time for pessimism! This is the time for entrepreneurialism, building, claiming, retaking, and extending His dominion!
As we stand on the precipice of history, looking back at the faithfulness of our God and forward to the promises yet to be fulfilled, we must ask ourselves: Are we ready to take up the mantle? Are we prepared to repent of the Satanic lies that the enemy has been propagating through defeatism and dispensationalism? Are we prepared to become the first Christian generation in 75 years to advance instead of retreat? Are we ready to storm the gates of hell and watch them fall down, which includes building hell-proof men, women, and children, hell-proof marriages, hell-proof families, hell-proof businesses, hell-proof magistrates, en route to a hell-vanquished world!
We live in a world that is still groaning under the weight of sin and brokenness, but we are not without hope. We are the people of God! We are the ones who have been filled with His Spirit and equipped with His Word! We have been given the mission to disciple the nations and proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! We have not been given suggestions or well-wishes by Jesus, but a task that cannot fail because He will keep us from stumbling (Jude 24-25) and lead us into one victory after another (1 Corinthians 15:57)!
With that, let us be the kind of people who rise to the occasion with hearts full of courage and conviction. Let us be the men and women who labor tirelessly for the Kingdom, knowing that our work in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Because of that, let us be bold in our proclamation, steadfast in our discipleship, and unwavering in our hope. The world needs to see the glory of the risen Christ, and it is through our lives that His light will shine on them.
Remember, we are part of a far greater story than ourselves. We are in a story that began in Genesis and has continued down all the way to us, who are citizens of a Kingdom that will never be shaken, servants of a King who will never be dethroned, on a mission that will never fail because it is blessed, confirmed, and strengthened by Almighty God. Every declaration of the Gospel, every faithful Lord's Day service, every administration of the sacraments, every act of Christian love, every word of truth, every step of faith, every prayer, and every family worship is building towards the day when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. This is our mission. This is our calling. This is our destiny.
So, let us go and work to see that happen! Let us take hold of the promises of God and live in the light of His victory. Let us be the generation that brings the Gospel to every corner of the world. Together, in Christ, we will see His Kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
