Your Bible question was:
> I want to know if you can help me to answer a question I have. What is the
> Bible tells us about the future? What would happen in the earth? What does
> the Book of Revelation means?
The Bible gives us some information about the future, but ultimately we are
told that future events will occur according to the Father's will and not
our own (cf. Acts 1:8). Everything the Bible has to say about the future is
intended to cause us to prepare ourselves for the Lord's return (Matt.
24:44; 25:13). Some of the things which will happen in the future include:
Here is an article I recently wrote on this subject which you may find
useful.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Joe R. Price
None of us are able to tell the future without fail or fault ("you do not
know what will happen tomorrow," Jas. 4:14). Still, most of us look to the
future and wonder.
A recent Bible question which was asked through our BIBLE ANSWERS web site
reflects this curiosity: "What does the Bible tells us about the future?
What will happen in the earth?"
The Bible does not tell us everything that will happen in the future. But
it does tell us enough to know that we must always be spiritually prepared
for it (Matt. 24:42-51; Jas. 4:13-15).
Jesus Christ Will Return
"This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in
like manner as you say Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
Jesus will return not to the earth to establish His kingdom and reign in
peace for 1,000 years. But when He returns He will:
-Judge mankind:
".He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness
by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by
raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:31)
-Deliver the kingdom to God the Father:
"Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father." (1
Cor. 15:24)
-Destroy the material world:
".the elements will melt with fervent heat: both the earth and the works
that are in it will be burned up." (2 Pet. 3:10, 11-12)
The Future Of All Men
The future of every person includes:
-Resurrection from the dead:
"Do not marvel at this; 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)
-Judgment for our deeds in this life:
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10)
-Reward or punishment:
"And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life." (Matt. 25:46)
"He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he
shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part
in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
(Rev. 21:7-8)
-The future of the sinner is bleak and fearful:
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you
cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
(Matt. 25:41; cf. 2 Thess. 1:7-9)
-The future of the Christian is full of glory:
"When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in
glory." (Col. 4:3; cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18)
Where Will You Spend Your Eternity?
The future is upon us. Every second of the clock brings us closer to
eternity. We ought to say "if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or
that." (Jas. 4:15)
Prepare for the future by becoming a Christian. Believe in Christ and
confess your faith, repent of your sins and be baptized for the remission of
our sins (Jno. 8:24; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 17:30; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38). Then,
your future will be bright. Your sins are forgiven. Remain prepared to
meet your God through faithful living (2 Cor. 5:7-10; Col. 3:1-4; Gal.
2:20).
As for the book of Revelation, it was a symbolic, figurative message of
things which would "shortly come to pass" (Rev. 1:1-3). In the face of
mounting persecutions, the book of Revelation assured Christians that if
they would remain faithful and true to Christ they would have victory in Him
(see Rev. 17:14, the "theme" of the book). So, the scenes and symbols of
the book of Revelation, for the most part, have been fulfilled (cf. 1:3).
Thank you for your questions.
Sincerely,
Joe Price
************************************
Joe R Price
joe@bibleanswer.com
Bible Answers
http://www.bibleanswer.com
Mt. Baker church of Christ
http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker
************************************