LET GODS KINGDOM COME District Convention 2011-2012 WHAT WILL GO WHEN GODS KINGDOM COMES?

When we pray for Gods Kingdom to come, were requesting massive worldwide changes. What will be eliminated from this planet? What will remain? We know you will have keen interest in this final talk of todays Program entitled What Will Go When Gods Kingdom Comes?. We are privileged to have Brother Harold Corcoran, who has been serving at Bethel for 40 years present this talk. Before beginning the talk, its my pleasure to convey to all of you assembled here in Fort Smith the warm love and greetings from the Governing Body, the United States Branch Committee, and the entire United States Bethel family. So to all of you warm love and greetings. [applause.]

By one estimate, there are some 37,000 religions that call themselves Christian claiming Jesus Christ as their leader. And vast numbers of them pray regularly what is often called the Our Father or The Lords Prayer. As Jesus taught, it begins this way: Our Father in the

heavens, let Your name be sanctified. Let Your Kingdom come. Let Your will take place as in heaven, also upon earth. Within Christendom, these words have been repeated for centuries. How about other religions? There is a well-known prayer of the Jewish faith that is commonly uttered during times of bereavement and the prayer asks the following: May He (God) establish His Kingdom in your lifetime, even speedily. Others of a non-Christian faith have found the idea of Gods Kingdom to be appealing. According to The Times of India, a prominent 19th century Indian religious leader was interested in bridging Hindu, Muslim and Christian faiths and he said the following: The true Kingdom of God will not be realized unless the East and the West are joined together. A principal of an Islamic college in Australia recently wrote in to a newspaper: Like all Muslims, I believe that Jesus will return and establish the true Kingdom of God.

However, if you were to ask any of these that weve made reference to millions, billions of people ask them, Well, what is Gods Kingdom? What would their answer be? I dont know. Or they give a very vague and uncertain answer. So the fact is that there are billions in todays world that pray regularly for Gods Kingdom to come without really knowing what they are praying for.

But youre different. Jehovahs people are in contrast to that because you know very much about the Kingdom. Like Jesus, when we preach, we preach the most exciting good news of all time the good news of Gods Kingdom! And Jehovahs organization has made that message simple, clear, and accessible to millions around the globe, producing literature about Gods Kingdom in over 500 languages, definitely fulfilling the prophecy at Matthew chapter 24, verse 14. Well the questions come up Are we finished with the work? Slowing down? On the contrary, for example, there are millions of people, many millions of people in the world today, that have limited reading abilities and they need to hear and understand that exciting news about Gods Kingdom too. It is a pleasure to announce at this Convention the release of two new brochures [applause.] Listen to God and Live Forever; and a simplified version called, Listen to God.

These beautifully illustrated brochures are to replace the brochure, Enjoy Life on

Earth Forever. And they are designed with the widest possible audience in many languages. And with Jehovahs blessings, they will soon become the most widely-translated publications that we have ever produced. Be sure to get your copies at the end of todays Program. And another request please remember to bring them back with you to the Program tomorrow; were

LET GODS KINGDOM COME District Convention 2011-2012 going to learn more about the new brochures and how to use them. And it is our hope and Im sure it is yours that these new publications will help many more to become subjects of Gods Kingdom and then they can unite with us in praying that Kingdom come and that they will understand what they are praying for like you do.

Well learning more about Gods Kingdom motivates us to be even more zealous in preaching it. So in our discussion this afternoon, were going to talk about two main points about the Kingdom Let us consider how the Kingdom comes; and We will discuss in detail what it will eliminate forever.

Lets take our first question How does the Kingdom come? When we pray for Gods Kingdom to come, what are we asking for? Are we asking for God to establish the Kingdom in heaven? No. That took place in 1914, an event that was a vital part of Gods will being done in heaven. But Jesus was on the earth when he told humans to pray for that Kingdom to come; clearly meaning the Kingdom to come here to the earth. The Kingdom is Gods way of accomplishing His will here on the earth. Well since full ruling authority was conferred to Jesus in 1914, in what way does the Kingdom need to come? Gods Kingdom comes when Jesus, the appointed King, leads the attack against this worldly system of things. It will wipe out all who oppose divine rulership. And thats very much in line isnt it? with Daniel chapter 2, verse 44, where Jehovah said that He would establish His Kingdom and what it would do? it would crush and put an end to all these kingdoms and it itself will stand to time indefinite. So it comes and removes these earthly governments, but theres another part 3

of what it means for the Kingdom to come. It means that it will fully extend its influence here on the earth. That reminds us very much doesnt it? of Isaiah chapter 9, verses 6 and 7, where the Prince of Peace has a rule that will bring peace until there will be no end all across this globe and he would do it by means of justice and by means of righteousness. And that is Jehovahs will. So Gods Kingdom comes with destruction, but what does it then do? It stays to build peace. Every trace of this wicked system and its affects will be removed.

So that leads us to that second question were going to talk about What will be eliminated when Gods Kingdom comes? And for our note-taking, were going to cover four main areas in this part of our discussion; four aspects of life as we know it now that will be gone.

What is the first one? 1. Bad people will be gone. Violent bullies; hateful bigots; vicious criminals how do those bad people affect us now? Well it could very well be that many in our audience have been directly affected by those bad people. Perhaps your young one in school have those who are bullies there? Or there might be someone in your neighborhood that is very violent? Or maybe you work with someone whose anger and attitudes are scary at times? And we shudder, whether weve been affected personally or not, when we read newspaper headlines and see TV reports detailing the acts of wickedness that seem more demonic than human. That reminds us doesnt it? of James chapter 3, verse 15, about the way people act, its animal, earthly, demonic. When we read about people doing to their own family members, to their little children, to their parents, its demonic. Well what will Jehovah do? Lets read about that. Please open your Bibles to Psalm 37, verses 10 and 11,

LET GODS KINGDOM COME District Convention 2011-2012 and notice what will be gone. Psalm 37:10 begins: And just a little while longer and the wicked one will be no more and you will certainly give attention to his place and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. Not one wicked person will be able to hide from Jehovah at the time of His judgment. Throughout the entire globe, you will not be able to find one wicked person. Job chapter 34, verses 21 and 22, says: For His eyes are upon the ways of man and all his steps He sees. But notice this point: There is no darkness, nor any deep shadow for those practicing what is hurtful to conceal themselves there. No escape. Jehovah will remove every one of them from the face of the earth. Who will replace all those bad people? Those who are loyal to Jehovah, who are loving Jehovah, they love peace, they love righteousness. In Psalm 37, verse 27 through 29, reference is made to loyal ones and to the righteous themselves that will possess the earth and they will reside forever upon it.

Well weve talked about the first of four aspects of life that will be gone when Gods Kingdom comes, and that was bad people. Whats the second one? 2. Bad organizations will be gone. What kind of organizations? Religious organizations that hide truth and mislead billions; governments that foment war, starve their people, and fail to protect them; wealthy corporations that thrive on greed, pollute the earth, and amass fortunes while people suffer in poverty how do those organizations affect us now? They blind people to the truth; they cause the deaths of millions; they ruin the environment that sustains us all; and what do they promote? Greed and misery. Bad organizations. What will Jehovah do? Lets read about it at Second Peter chapter 5

3, verse 10, keeping in mind bad organizations as we read this text. 2 Peter 3:10 says: Yet Jehovahs day will come as a thief in which the heavens will pass away with a hissing noise but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved and earth and the works in it will be discovered. Now in this context, what is earth referring to? Human society according to the way it carries on under this system of things. And what has this society produced? What does it show for itself as to works? It has many institutions, organizations, and those organizations, those works will be discovered. What does that mean? It means that Jehovah will show them to be what they really are totally against His qualities. They will be shown to be worthy of condemnation. They are corrupt through and through. They will be shown to be what they are, not what they present themselves to be now. Jehovah, as He did in the days of Noah, will see all of that badness and wipe out ungodly people and bad organizations. Well, what will replace those bad organizations? Jehovahs organization will ensure that all of our needs are filled. Remember Second Peter chapter 3, verse 13? But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to His promise and in these righteousness is to dwell. So whatever services that some of those organizations perform now that may still be needed then, whatever the needs of mankind will be, Jehovahs organization will be there to provide what is needed without all of the misery and the greed and the corruption that are so much a part of bad organizations today.

Well that was two points bad people; bad organizations. Whats the third aspect of life that will be gone when Gods Kingdom comes? What would you name? 3. Wrong activities will be gone. What kind of activities are we referring to? Rampant immorality; pervasive dishonesty;

LET GODS KINGDOM COME District Convention 2011-2012 degrading entertainment; and the pornography plague. Well how do those activities wrong as they are affect us now? Well their prevalence bombards people, including Gods people, with temptation appealing to the worst of thoughts and tendencies; pulling toward degradation; and no doubt you who are parents out there, often think and pray about, How am I going to shield my children from all of these sinful and wrong activities that permeate this system of things? Well what will Jehovah do? Hes very clear about that. This time we go back to Second Peter chapter 2, and well read verses 6 through 10. And as we read this, look at what Jehovah is going to do to bad activities. 2 Peter 2:6 begins: And by reducing the cities Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, He condemned them setting a pattern for ungodly persons of things to come. And He delivered righteous Lot who was greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct. For that righteous man by what he saw and heard while dwelling among them from day to day was tormenting his righteous soul by reason of their lawless deeds. Jehovah knows how to deliver people of Godly devotion out of trial. But to reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgment to be cut off, especially however those who go after flesh with a desire to defile it and who look down on lordship. Jehovah wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah because of its immoral activity, going after flesh in a perverted way and he was motivated in part to wipe out those cities for the sake of Lot, His righteous servant. Jehovah detests those wrongful activities and He loves people who are trying to do His will and He wants to protect them. So what will replace all those wrong and bad activities that weve just described immorality? Well the Kingdom will promote righteous education. Remember the words of Isaiah chapter 26, verse 9, where it says: When there are judgments from You for the earth thats referring to Jehovah, He gives His judgments for the earth righteousness is what the inhabitants of the productive land will certainly learn. So now, all those bad activities are gone. 7

Jehovah begins to train and give people good activities to do; righteous acts such as what? Building houses to live in; restoring the earth to Paradisaic conditions; planting crops; welcoming back resurrected ones and teaching them. Never before will it be that man will enjoy so much his work, his activity, because he will do things that are right in line with Jehovahs will. Isaiah chapter 65, verse 22 says: The work of their own hands My chosen ones will use to the full. We enjoy working now on good things, dont we? But, contemplate and meditate on being able to do work that will be so meaningful without all the other bad activities crowding in and ruining the perfect scene.

Whats our fourth area of life that will be gone when Gods Kingdom comes? 4. Bad conditions will be gone. What kind of bad conditions? warfare; poverty; racism; oppression; sickness; death. In Gods original purpose for this earth, He never intended for such conditions to afflict the human family. Well how do those conditions affect us now? Well Im sure if we were to talk to many of you in our audience this afternoon, there would be something here probably several that affect you. Some of you might be dealing with a serious illness right now or a family member; and weve all lost loved ones in death; economic woes; there might be some who have been the victim of racial prejudice, even racial hatred what do those things do to us now? Ecclesiastes chapter 7, verse 7 says: For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy. Its pressure. And a person may be dealing with this condition and then another family member has this or that happens or this other thing happens in their lives, and it affects a person. And then they can even start to say or react in ways that they wouldnt normally do so, simply because of the stress. And we have to fight daily to prevent world conditions from infecting us with hatred, nationalism,

LET GODS KINGDOM COME District Convention 2011-2012 bitterness, and despair. We have to work hard at making our minds over so that we dont start thinking like the world does who have no hope and then they really start saying and doing crazy things. Well what will Jehovah do to all those conditions? Well lets look at one of those and what He will do, but it applies to all of them. Lets go to Psalm 46, verses 8 and 9, and look at this condition of war and what happens. Psalm 46:8 begins: Come you people, behold the activities of Jehovah, how He has set astonishing events on the earth. He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow He breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces. The wagons He burns in the fire. Now thats talking about one of those conditions war. But Jehovah will wipe out every one of those bad conditions. Contemplate a world of peace, abundance, brotherhood, kindness, and health; a world where news of death is replaced by news of resurrection as billions are brought back to life! Now, related to that, notice what else will not be here when Gods Kingdom comes. No military organizations; no charities to feed the hungry or house the homeless; no legal institutions to fight injustice and prejudice; no hospitals, doctors, nurses, therapists; no cemeteries, mortuaries, insurance companies; no environmental agencies; no zoos to preserve animals threatened with extinction on account of human greed and destructiveness; no locksmiths; no lawyers; no bankers. [applause.] And for those of you in our audience who right now make a very good way of supporting yourselves by some of these no insult intended. [laughter.] This is today and we need some of those professions very much today, but when Gods Kingdom comes, youre out of work. [laughter.] So is it not encouraging to know that all of these bad things will be gone? Bad people; Bad organizations; Wrong activities; and 9

Bad conditions. Are you happy about that? [applause.] Yes, were very much encouraged by the words recorded for us at First John chapter 2, verses 15 through 17, and it sums up nicely what weve been talking about, very inclusive; it highlights what is going to be gone. 1 John 2:15 begins: Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of ones means of life does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever. Well what about us? Will we remain forever? We only need to do the will of God which benefits us even now.

And of all the things that you could think of that would be the will of God, what would come to your mind right now? Gods will, according to First Timothy chapter 2, verse 4, is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of the truth. So our focus should be on Kingdom activity, preaching the good news of the Kingdom the most exciting news ever. And were grateful that we have our new brochures that will assist us to help many, many more to come to appreciate what the Kingdom is. This Convention will help us to be even more firmly resolved to keep making the doing of Gods will our focus in life. Stay faithful that you may live to see how profoundly Gods Kingdom will change the earth! [end.]