Wednesday, March 4, 2009

"A Little Child Shall Lead Them"
Let's deal with that difficult question about little children leading wild animals around in Heaven, or in the New Earth, or, wherever the passages say it will happen. If there are going to be children, there'll be marriage, you'd think. However, Jesus said, "But they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither MARRY, nor are givin in MARRIAGE" (Lk.20:35)! So, are we absolutely certain as to what these, "little children" prophecies really mean? Let's look a little closer to see if there's more information.

Study Text # 1 - Isa.11:6
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them."
We'll show here that this promise COULD have been for the Jews in Old Testament times. First let's look at what God promised Israel IF they were faithful.

Study Text #2 - Isa.49:6
"I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth."
Throughout Israel's history, a glorious Kingdom was offered to them, but they refused. Instead of influencing other nations, they copied them, much as we do today. Could all of the above been theirs if Israel had truly wanted it so. If so, a multitude of unanswered questions would be taken care of.

The REAL Issue

 Study Text # 3 - Zech.8:23 "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: In those days it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt (garment) of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you."
There are dozens of similar Scriptures. Did Israel ever become a nation proclaiming His salvation to the world? Not even close. The miraculous things available to the Jews, if they'd done the things God planned, is beyond our comprehension. We'll never know it all till we get to Heaven. Anything we speculate now is only human interpretation. Jesus made statements that were absolute and non-debatable concerning who will be in His Kingdom and who will not. These statements from Jesus MUST BE our benchmarks. The following is based on much study, but still, this Author reserves the right to be wrong.
Whatever God had in mind for Israel, if they’d obeyed Him, would've been grand beyond their fondest dreams. Could miraculous changes in nature itself have been possible? If we look closer, we'll see that Obedience brings great things!

 

Animals Not Eating Each Other? Picture the response of other nations if Israel’s carnivorous beasts didn't kill other animals for food. Picture Jewish children playing with lions, bears, and leopards without fear of being harmed. Picture these animals eating grass like cows (Isa.11:6-7). Imagine tame snakes finding nourishment in some type of soil (Isa.65:25). Isaiah saw these things, thus this whole concept is not just a fantasy.
Little River of Life?  

Imagine a large river with miraculous healing water. Imagine this river flowing from under the Temple at Jerusalem (Ezk.47:1-11). Ezekiel said this could happen during the time when Israel was still offering animal sacrifices in the Temple, thus it would be before Jesus died.

Little Tree of Life?
What if this river had trees on either side bearing different fruit each month—fruit so plentiful it couldn’t be consumed (Vs.12)? Again Ezekiel saw this and again, before Jesus died.
Tree Leaves for Medicine?
And what if the leaves from this fruit tree could heal people (Vs.12)?
A Child a Hundred Years Old?
What if the fruit is so nutritious that a hundred year old person would be considered a mere child in Israel (Isa.65:20)?
Israel World's Most Powerful Nation? 
Imagine Israel so completely faithful to the Lord that He elevates them to be the most powerful nation on earth (Ex.23:27). Hornets Protecting Israel?
What if God promised Israel that any nation attacking them would be driven back by hornets, thus none of their soldiers would perish in battle (Ex.23:28)? Imagine what would happen when Israelites visited other countries. We don't have to imagine, Zechariah told us:
Grabbing an Israelite by His Garment!
"Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: In those days it shall come to past that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt (garment) of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you" (Zech.8:23). This is the real point of all that the prophets said or wrote about Heaven, the next age, children, ect. God wanted His people to be His evangelists to the rest of the world. that is what He wants from His Church NOW!
 So, Is There Marriage in Heaven?

At the beginning of this Website we quoted an, Absolute, Benchmark, Non-Debatable statement from Jesus. Every question concerning this subject must be judged by Christ's words. Let's look again at what He said: "But they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world (the next age), and the resurrection from the dead, NEITHER MARRY, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more; for they are equal with the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection" (Lk.20:35-36).
Speculation?
Notice Jesus said, "They who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world (age)... neither marry, nor are given in marriage."
Jesus is clearly saying that those in the next age do not marry. The next age is the Millennium. As to what happens in the age following the Millennium, the words of Jesus must still be our only standard.
Because of our human desire for the companionship, many of us have speculated that since God created man and woman to be married in Eden, then, maybe after the Millennium, God will repeat this. Speculation is interesting, but still we must go back to the words of Jesus. He said the saved will be "like the angels."
We know for sure that whatever happens, we'll enjoy happiness beyond our highest and wildest expectations."Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1 Cor.2:9). "Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart" (Jer.29:13). 

Conclusion
What is the most important thing we can learn from this study speculating about Children in the next AGE? It is simply this. God needs the present world to see the image of Jesus reflected in His people. The world WILL see this when Christ's Church understands its REAL Mission and seeks the help of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the purpose for which it exists. One of the most profound statements Jesus ever made is the following: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in ALL the World, for a WITNESS unto all nations, and then shall the END COME"  (Matt.24:14)! When the "END COMES," Jesus will take His people to the "Place He has Prepared for them" (See Jn.14:1-3)! 

 
Thank you SO much, Dear Reader, for your time and interest. Let's pray that Jesus will come soon so that all of our questions will be answered perfectly!
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr.

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Check Our Other Websites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr