After The Smoke Clears

Geologists now well-understand that the Earth was very hot when it was created. The evidence of the Creation remains today; while the "crust" has cooled and hardened (thereby creating mountains, valleys and the geologic action of the tectonic plates that produced the continents and ocean basins), the core remains molten rock and metal.

The Holy Scriptures were the first to record that cooling from a very hot beginning - from which a new world was formed.

• The first day: "Let there be light: and there was light" (see also The First Act Of Faith). Sunlight penetrated to the earth's surface through the dense, hot primordial atmosphere (Genesis 1:3-5).

• The second day: The earth cooled further so that there was a definite separation between the atmosphere and the water-covered surface i.e. "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters" (Genesis 1:6-8).

• The third day: Dry ground and seas formed on the surface; plant life began (Genesis 1:9-13).

• The fourth day: With the atmosphere now transparent, the sun, moon and stars became visible, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Genesis 1:14-19). The heavens were to be used as the basis of the calendar, not for idolatry.

• The fifth day: Water creatures and birds began (Genesis 1:20-23).

• The sixth day: Land animals and humans (Genesis 1:24-31)

• The Seventh Day: the Creation of the seven-day week, the Seventh-Day Sabbath, and the true Church of God that observes the Seventh-Day Sabbath (see The Rock Of The Church).

Prophecy reveals to us that the Earth is going to experience another molten beginning, as a means to dispose of all who have chosen not to repent, after the time came when they were given sufficient understanding and opportunity to do so (see When And Where Your Eternal Life Will Begin, The Eighth Day: What Does It Mean? and the Fact Finder question below). The Flood, of water, in the time of Noah (see The Voyage To The New World), was an object-lesson prophecy of the inescapable flood of fire that is coming to purify the Earth, once and for all, of all who choose to be and do evil.

"^3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of [see Antichristians, Is Your Religion Your Religion? and Is Your Church A Cult?], that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: ^3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ^3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

^3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ^3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

^3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

^3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ^3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ^3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:5-13 KJV)

"Hell" (see also Hell Fire Of The Past And Future) is the fire that is coming to render all evil into ash.

"^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 [see Works Means Obedience]. ^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. 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 20:11-15 KJV)

"^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. ^21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ^21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:6-8 KJV)

"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"

The purpose of the Messiah is to prepare the Way for God's coming to Earth (see The True Gospel Of Christ and What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?), upon which "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."

"^21:1 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." (Revelation 21:1-4 KJV)

The Earth will then forever serve the purpose for which is was created (notice, as stated in verse 21 below, the only Biblical mention of the famous "pearly gates" is when they are on Earth).

"^21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ^21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; ^21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ^21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. ^21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

^21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. ^21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. ^21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. ^21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. ^21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; ^21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. ^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 21:10-27 KJV)

The line "the river that flows by the throne of God" in the famous Hymn "Shall We Gather At The River" by Robert Lowry matches a single line in the Holy Bible, "a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" (shown below) - that will be fulfilled, in the future, after the smoke clears.

"^22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. ^22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ^22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: ^22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. ^22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5 KJV)

Fact Finder: How do we make sure that we survive the Flood of fire, rather than be cast into it?

Holy Bible Reading Plan
The Way To Salvation: Step 1
The Way To Salvation: Step 2
The Way To Salvation: Step 3
The Way To Salvation: Step 4
The Way To Salvation: Step 5
The Way To Salvation: Step 6
The Way To Salvation: Step 7
The Way To Salvation: Step 8
The Way To Salvation: Step 9
The Way To Salvation: Step 10

This Day In History, January 13

888: Odo, Count of Paris became King of the Franks.

1559: Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey.

1610: Galileo Galilei discovered Calisto, the 4th moon of Jupiter (see also Parabolic Prophecies).

1691: George Fox, English founder of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, died at age 66. He left the Church of England (the "Anglican" Church) at age 23 and founded the Quaker movement in 1660 at age 36.

1733: James Oglethorpe, a Member of the British Parliament, and 130 others, arrived in North America to found a new colony. In honor of King George II, he named it Georgia.

1785: John Walter published the first issue of The London Times.

1842: During the Afghan Wars (in which history is being repeated again today), about 16,000 British and Indian troops were massacred in the Khyber Pass during an attempted retreat from Kabul.

1849: Vancouver Island was granted to the Hudson's Bay Company.

1849: British forces under Lord Gough defeated the Sikhs at the Battle of Chillianwallah, India.

1898: French author Emile Zola published his "J'Accuse" letter, accusing the French government of a cover-up in the Alfred Dreyfus treason case.

1900: To combat Czech nationalism, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary decreed that German would be the language of the imperial army.

1915: A massive earthquake killed over 30,000 people in Italy.

1915: South African troops under Louis Botha occupied Swakopmund in German South West Africa.

1923: Adolf Hitler denounced the Weimar Republic as 5,000 of his "storm troopers" strutted in the streets. Hitler subscribed to the self-destructive fantasy that "the more strong I am, the more right I am" (see Presidential Quotes On War, Terrorism, Religion).

1935: In a plebiscite, the Saar region voted for incorporation into Germany.

1942: During the Second World War (listen to our Sermon The European World Wars), Nazi U-boats began attacking ships off the coast of North America.

1942: During the Second World War, the first use of an aircraft ejection seat was done, by a German test pilot in a Heinkel He 280 jet fighter.

1945: At the end of the Second World War, Raoul Wallenberg was taken into custody by Soviet forces when they took Budapest. The 34 year old Swedish diplomat saved about 100,000 Hungarian Jews from the Nazi Holocaust before his arrest. He was never heard from again, despite diplomatic efforts by numerous nations for over 40 years after his arrest.

1976: Britain applied for credit of almost 1 billion Pounds from the International Monetary Fund.

1982: In Washington, D.C., Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River 73 seconds after takeoff. Of the 5 crew members and 74 passengers, only 6 people, 3 men and 3 women, survived the crash. The survivors waited in the frigid water for 22 minutes before a Park Service helicopter arrived to remove them from the river. A 46 year old bank executive was the first survivor to have a lifeline dropped to him from the helicopter, but he passed it to another survivor, as he repeatedly did for all of the other 5 people. When the helicopter returned the sixth time to finally rescue him, he was gone.

1993: Former East German leader Erich Honecker, under whom the Berlin Wall was built, left a Berlin prison for exile in Chile; a court freed him because he was dying.