Faithful and True

The Kingdom of God is coming to earth - that's what the true Gospel is all about (see The Gospel of The Kingdom of God). It will begin on the day of Christ's return and grow for the next 1,000 years until all that Christ has been given to do by The Father has been completed. Then, God is coming to earth to reign over all the universe from the New Jerusalem.

Consider that the only Biblical mention of the famous "pearly gates" is that of them on earth:

"^21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. ^21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. ^21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

^21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. ^21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. ^21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. ^21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:21-27 KJV)

"Behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war"

The Kingdom of God will be established by Jesus Christ at His return (see Israelite Monarchy - The Messiah).

"^19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war [see Christ the Conqueror For Peace]. ^19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ^19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ^19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ^19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ^19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

^19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ^19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
^19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army [see The Coming World Dictator]. ^19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ^19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21 KJV)

Satan will be put away on the day of Christ's return. The resurrected (or changed if alive that day) people of God will then reign with Christ as the world is transformed.

"^20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ^20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, ^20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

^20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ^20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection [see Resurrections]. ^20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:1-6 KJV)

After the 1,000 years are completed, Satan's final judgment and condemnation will occur. The Great White Throne Judgment will complete the process of salvation for everyone who has lived through all of human history (see When Will You Be Judged?). The entire earth will then be purified with fire.

"^20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, ^20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ^20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city [see The City To Come]: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. ^20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

^20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ^20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ^20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ^20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [see Death's Obituary]. This is the second death. ^20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:7-15 KJV)

With salvation complete and the earth purified with fire, God will then come to earth.

"^21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ^21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ^21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ^21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

^21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

^21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Revelation 21:1-6 KJV)

Fact Finder: How is it that, to millions of people who have lived through the ages, it will seem that Christ has "immediately" returned?
See Could Christ Return Tonight?

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