FAQ - WORLD
Have we any reason for anticipating the
World's conversion to Christianity before long?
<ANSWER>--We have every reason to expect the world's conversion to Christ
not many years hence, but perhaps this work will be brought about in an entirely different
way and manner than is usually supposed. The Scriptures clearly foretold that the world
would be far from being in harmony with the Lord and His righteous laws at the close of
this present age or evil world. (`Rev. 11:17,18`; `2 Tim. 1:5`; `Mat. 24:37-39`.) And that
it would not be until after our Lord's second advent that all the nations would be brought
to a knowledge of the truth, the way of salvation, and then converted to Christ and His
rule of love and kindness. Meantime an election is taking place which when completed will
result in the formation of a special class of the Lord's earnest devoted followers who
when glorified and united with their Lord in the spiritual or heavenly realms will
constitute the governing body, the Kings and Priests, under whose righteous
administration, the nations shall all be taught of God and learn righteousness. (`Isa.
26:9`; `Isa 54:13`.) It will require all of the thousand years of Messiah's reign to
subdue all unrighteousness and bring into subjection all evil and error. "For He must
reign until He has placed all enemies under His feet even death the last enemy shall be
destroyed." `1 Cor. 15:25,26`.
When will the world come to an end? (P.W.L.)
<ANSWER>--According to the Scriptures the term "world" signifies
age or dispensation. Three great worlds are outlined in the Divine Plan of the Ages, as
revealed in the Bible. (See `2 Pet. 3:5-13`.) The first "world" or dispensation
passed away at the time of the Flood. The second "world," or "present evil
world," is likewise to pass away, in a fiery time of trouble--not a literal
"fire," but a destructive season of lawlessness that will destroy the
"elements"--labor, capitalistic, etc., etc., that go to make up the present
social order. "The world to come wherein dwelleth righteousness" will never come
to end, but is to continue throughout eternity. The world that now is" (`Titus 2:12`)
is already being violently shaken, and is beginning to crumble away financially,
politically, socially, and ecclesiastically. The evidences about us, in the fulfillment of
the Scripture prophecies, are clear and strong that within the next decade, the new and
better order ("the world to come") will be established in the earth.
Is the world growing worse? If not, what does the Apostle Paul mean by the
words, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived"? (`2 Tim. 3:13`.)
<ANSWER>--In some respects the world was never better than it is today. We
know of no time in history when the public press so fearlessly and boldly exposed wrong
doing as now. Education has helped to bring about better moral conditions. Of course a
great deal of this morality is on the surface, as it was in the closing days of the Jewish
Age, when Jesus told the chief religionists that they were whited walls, outwardly
beautiful, but inwardly corrupt. The Apostle, in the Scripture to which you refer,
evidently had in mind the deceivers and leaders astray in the Church. These, in the end of
the Age, will become more bold; as foretold, their deceptions will become strong
delusions, following which many will believe a lie (`2 Thes 2:11`). "They shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (`1
Tim. 4:1`). Many theological teachers today are denying the Bible and advancing strong
arguments in favor of Higher Criticism, Evolution, etc., thus growing worse and worse in
repudiating the "faith once delivered to the saints" (`Jude 3,4`),
"deceiving and being themselves deceived."
"Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?"--`1 Cor. 6:2`.
Does this signify that the world is not now on trial for eternal life? (C.J.W.)
<ANSWER>--This Scripture is in conformity with the united testimony of the
teachings of all the Prophets and the Apostles to the effect that the world's judgment
day, or trial time, is not in this present Christian Era, but is yet future--"God
hath appointed a day (a thousand year day--`2 Pet. 3:8`) in the which He will judge the
world in righteousness." (`Acts 17:31`.) Those who, in association with Christ, shall
judge the world in mercy, justice and love, are now being qualified for that high office,
by having developed in them saintly, Christlike characters. These "saints," who
have learned to love their neighbors as themselves, and who even love their enemies, are
the ones who, in the future age, will offer every inducement to the world of mankind to
come into harmony with the gracious requirements of the Divine Law of love and justice and
receive eternal life. The fact that the followers of Christ are not judging now proves
conclusively that the world is not on trial for eternal life at the present time. The
judgment day, in place of being a time of terror, distress and sorrow, is represented in
the Scriptures as being a special time of joy and gladness for the world.--`Psa. 96.` _