This Age and the Age to Come

Good evening. Tonight we're in lesson number 10 of our 20-part series of eschatology, and we'll be looking at this age and the age to come. Last week we looked at Christ being the fulfillment of all prophecy and we mentioned how Christ in His first advent ushered in the new creation. Whoever is in Christ is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Not only that, He's brought the New Jerusalem and Mount Zion to us, and He has brought the first fruits of the resurrection. But we know that those are just precursors to a future age. We have the now and the not yet. So we'll be looking at that tonight, how the Bible describes all of history being fulfilled in Christ and yet still another age to come in which Christ will have the consummation of all things.

Let's begin with Bible point number one. Scripture's storyline is centered on Jesus Christ. Scripture chiefly reveals what Christ the redeemer has done to save humanity and make us a new creation in Him. History reveals Christ in a saving purpose. God works all things according to the counsel of His will, Ephesians 1:11. History truly is His story. He is guiding and orchestrating all of history to accomplish His end. All things are done through Him. God works all things according to His will. God's throne is over all things — Psalms 103:19, Ephesians 1:20 through 23. We'll read these in a moment.

The nations are subject to Christ. You find that in 2 Chronicles 26, and also in the great messianic Psalm, Psalm 2, verses 8 through 9, and also in Revelation 1:5. God has determined the nations, their times and their places. Acts 17:26. Paul speaks to them on Mars Hill. He lets them know that the God who created this world has raised up every nation and has determined their people, their constituents, their times and their places. He makes nations rise and He casts them down in the same way. God is sovereign over nations to accomplish His saving purposes. There is a reference in Isaiah 10:5, 12, 24, and 27. Not going to read that, but it really is interesting when you get a chance to read that in Isaiah. God was going to punish the northern ten tribes through Assyria. He calls Assyria the rod of His wrath. He's using Assyria as an instrument to judge rebellious Israel. But then in the same chapter, He says, "I'm going to actually end up also scourging Assyria for being bad to my people." So He uses them as tools at His disposal to accomplish His redemption. He is sovereign over the nations for His redemption purposes.

God is sovereign over individuals to accomplish His saving purposes — Acts 4:24 through 28. We'll read those in a moment. History is directed for Christ's glory. We find that in Philippians 2:10 through 11. Every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And then we also find that in Romans 11:36, that all things are for Christ.

Let's read Psalm 103:19. "The Lord has established His throne in heaven and His kingdom rules over all." That's universal. There's no place where His kingdom does not rule. He sits on the throne of the universe. 2 Chronicles 20:5 through 6, speaking of His lordship over the nations. "Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court and said, 'O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? And in Your hand is there not power and might so that no one is able to withstand You?'"

No one can withstand God. His hand is almighty over the nations. Look at God's sovereignty over individuals. We all know the story of Joseph and his brothers, where his brothers sold him into slavery out of their jealousy and their hatred for him. But God had a purpose in that, right? Even though it would cost Joseph much to be away from his family, to be in prison, God was raising up Joseph to be a savior for not only Egypt, but also for his own family. And so years later, when they come to Egypt to buy grain in the drought, Joseph reveals himself to them.

And he says in verse 20, "But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring it about as it is this day to save many people alive." Joseph had the understanding that God was in control, not just over the nations, but over individual lives, and even bad things and bad situations and terrible things. Betrayals from your own family can work out for their salvation, and that's what was happening in Genesis. Look in Acts 4:24 through 28. This is where Peter and John had healed a crippled man, and the Sanhedrin and the priest told them not to say that this man was healed in the name of Jesus Christ. And they said, "Hey, you tell us if it's right to obey you or not. We can't help but speak of the things which we've seen and we've heard." And then they prayed, and this is what they prayed.

"So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said, 'Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said, "Why do the nations rage? Why do the people plot vain things?"'" He's quoting Psalm 2, the great messianic Psalm. Verse 26, "The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ. For truly against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined beforehand to be done."

In Pilate's trial of Christ, great injustice was done, but God had a plan. In Herod's hearing or trial of Christ, great injustice was done, but God had a plan. The Gentiles were just as guilty as the Jews in the crucifixion of Christ. Both groups are mentioned. They had ulterior motives. The Jews did it out of jealousy. The Gentiles did it out of hate.

Regardless, God had a plan, and His plan was to bring about the very salvation of the people who were wrongly trying Him and mocking Him and spitting upon Him, who were nailing Him to the cross as Christ cried out, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He was accomplishing their salvation.

Look at Romans 11:36. Speaking of Christ, everything is of Him and through Him and for Him and for His glory. He holds history for His glory. Ephesians 1:11 through 12 says, "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." He works all things according to His will, even in our lives, our salvation, that we should be to His praise, that we should bring Him glory. If it was us saving ourselves, He wouldn't get the glory. He is the Savior from Alpha to the Omega, from the beginning to the end.

The application for number one: how does God's sovereignty comfort those who trust Christ? How does God's sovereign control over both the nations and the individuals — He who works all things according to the counsel of His will — how does that bring you comfort?

The great Puritan John Flavel wrote a book called Behind a Frowning Providence. Sometimes when it seems as if God is against you because the circumstances are against you, you know that God is for you. He's for you in Christ, and He's working all things — Romans 8:28 — together for good for those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose. How about when we pray? When we pray, does it not give us great confidence? As Peter and John prayed, the God who created the earth and the sky and the sea, who has taken the kings and has taken the Gentiles and has taken the Jews and taken the crucifixion of Christ and worked it for His glory according to His plan — it gives us confidence when we pray. It gives us confidence in our faith that when we go through these trials, God is for us, that He is the Lord of history.

Bible point number two: scripture reveals Jesus Christ as the center point of history. The world even records its own history as centered on the birth of Christ. How do we keep time? It starts the new age, so to speak, with the incarnation of Christ — before His incarnation and then after His birth. That's how we divide time. And that's the way it's been done worldwide. So even though they may not want to recognize Him as King, and though they may rage against God, even their history bears witness that Christ is the center point of all things.

Christ is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. We looked at that in depth last week, how all the Old Testament was pointing to the Messiah and He has come. Christ's life, death, and resurrection is the defining event of history. Christ came into the world to reconcile fallen sinners to Himself, 2 Corinthians 5:19.

In Christ's death and resurrection, He defeated death. He defeated death in His death, burial, and resurrection and shares His resurrection with His people, 1 Corinthians 15:21 through 22. In Christ's death and resurrection, He defeated Satan — John 12:31 through 32, Hebrews 2:14, Colossians 2:15.

Christ's total dominance of history is seen in Revelation 5. It's one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. John has this vision of heaven and there is a scroll that is sealed up and no one can open it. And he begins to weep. But what does the angel say? Don't weep. Christ can unseal it. Not only does He interpret history, but He is the one who brings it into fruition. He is the Lord of history. So in Revelation 5, Christ alone is worthy not only to interpret history, but to execute its events. He is the one who brings all things to pass, who works all things according to the counsel of His will. Look at Revelation 5:5. "But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and loose its seven seals.'"

Look at Hebrews 2:14 through 15. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself," Christ, "likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death," that is the devil, "and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

Every single believer, before we met Christ, we were in bondage to death. And we were in bondage to Satan. But what does Christ do? He takes on flesh. He lives a perfect, spotless, sinless, worthy life for us, and He dies in our place, therefore defeating death and taking the devil out, destroying the works of the devil. The devil can no longer accuse you because you have the perfect righteousness of the Lord God Almighty in Christ Jesus. That's what He has done for us.

Application for number two: what is the center point of your life? If Christ is the center point of history, what is the center point of your life? Ask yourself, take inventory. What does my life revolve around?

Does it revolve around watching college football? There's nothing wrong with watching football, but is that all your talk and walk revolves around? What about shopping? Does your life revolve around what you're going to get next — material possessions? Does it revolve around the job? That's a noble thing, to be able to provide for your family, but it's not the main thing. Does it revolve around education or status or friends or social standing? Those are good — to be influential, to have family, to have friends — but that's not the main thing. If Christ is the center point of history, that would be the center point of our life. That would be Lord over every area.

Bible point number three. Scripture reveals that Christ's death and resurrection has inaugurated a new age that is moving toward the goal of the new heavens and a new earth. We're already in the new creation since we've become new creations in Christ, but there's coming a day when everything will be made new. The thorns will no longer be there. The curse will be reversed. In Christ's death and resurrection, He "delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love," Colossians 1:13. In His death, burial, and resurrection, you've been taken out of the kingdom of darkness and placed into the very kingdom of God. Christ brought the kingdom of God here in His life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection. And we are part of that kingdom because of what Christ did for us on the cross through faith in Him. Not that we deserve it, but we participate in His very glory and in His very reign because He is King of kings and Lord of lords and we are in Him.

In union with the resurrected Christ, we've all been made alive — alive together with Christ, raised together with Christ, and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ. These are part of the ten "togethers" that scripture talks about in our union with Christ, in our position in Christ. We not only are in His kingdom, but we are raised and we've been made alive and we sit with Him in the heavenly places, Ephesians 2:5-6.

These present realities will be fully consummated in the new heavens and the new earth. We're truly in His kingdom now. We've truly been made alive. We've truly been raised together with Him, seated with Him in the heavenly places. That's how we're blessed in Christ Jesus. All heavenly blessings come to us through Christ, but we're going to realize that in its fullness when we get the new heavens and the new earth. As Ephesians says, in the age to come He might shower His glory and His blessings on us to show us His grace.

The first coming of Christ is to be followed by a second, where Christ will raise the dead, judge the world, and renew the heavens and the earth. So we're already in the kingdom of God. We've already been made alive. We've already been raised with Him. We've already been made to sit in the heavenly places of Christ, but there's coming an even more glorious day where what we have now will be fully consummated and amplified beyond what you can even imagine.

Look at 2 Peter 3:13. "Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." How great that will be. In the new heavens and the new earth, there'll be no more evil, no more sorrow, no more death, no more darkness, no more decay, no more curse. It'll all be bliss with our Lord and Savior.

2 Peter 3:10 through 15. This is the quote in a larger frame. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Both the earth and the works that are in them will be burned up." Because the world has fallen, and the works of this earth fall short. "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we, according to the promise, look for the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found in Him in peace, without spot and blameless. And consider that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you." Saying, "Look forward to this day. Live as if it's a present reality now." And the only reason why it's delayed is because of the grace of God. That's why it's not here at this moment.

Application for number three: do you grasp the present realities of Christ's salvation?

One of the reasons I believe we have a long wait here on earth — and it seems like our life is a long time at times, though other times it goes fast — is that sometimes I believe it's because we need to realize the present realities of our salvation when we can't even comprehend the future realities. Do you realize the present realities of your salvation, that you are no longer in the kingdom of darkness, but you've been translated, transformed into the kingdom of light? That means sin shall not have dominion over you. You're not destined to be bound and defeated by your besetting sins. You can overcome them through the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit — Christ in you, the hope of glory. Do you realize that even right now you have been made alive? The Holy Spirit has been placed inside you in your regeneration. You have the down payment of glory within you. You have fellowship, communion with God now. So participate and enjoy that and realize it in its fullness now.

Even now we sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We often look in the mirror and we see our sin and we see our shortcomings. We think, how can we be blessed? But know that all the blessings, all the favor, all the love, all the tender mercies that the Father has for the Son are yours. So seize them, trust in them, claim them as yours because God has given them graciously to you in Christ Jesus. So the application again is, do you grasp the present realities of Christ's salvation?

Bible point number four: the New Testament authors taught that the pivot of history was centered on Christ. The New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of messianic prophecy. We'll see this in John 5 and Luke 24. In John 5, He speaks of Moses and He says, "Don't you know that Moses wrote about me? That's what the law was about." Luke 24 is the road to Emmaus. We read that last week where Jesus starts with the law and the prophets and He shows them all the things that were about His death, burial, and resurrection.

John the Baptist proclaimed that in Christ's coming, the messianic kingdom of God is at hand — Matthew 3:2, and also Mark 1:15. Means it's here. It's at hand.

Jesus said the messianic kingdom of God had come upon them. He says that if He casts out Satan, the kingdom of God has come upon them. "I have lordship over all the demons and over all the domain of darkness," He says. "My kingdom is here." Peter quoted Joel's prophecy to say that the last days — the messianic deliverance — has been ushered in by Christ the King. You can find that in Acts 2:16 and 17 and also 30 through 36.

Paul, likewise, uses the language of fulfillment, saying the end of the ages has come — 1 Corinthians 10:11. So too, the writer of Hebrews says Christ appeared at the end of the ages, Hebrews 9:26, to put an end to sin through His sacrifice.

John describes his day as the last hour, in the light of Christ's coming and establishing His kingdom. So we find all throughout the New Testament — John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, the writer of Hebrews — describing that the messianic age has come upon us. We are in the last days. The end of the ages has come. We are even in the last hour. Hebrews 10:10 says, "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all."

When Christ came, He once and for all made atonement for our sins, and in doing so, He ushered in the messianic age. That's what the Savior was to do — to bear our iniquities. Isaiah 53 talks about the suffering servant. Christ did that. He bore our sins once and for all and He's brought upon this earth a new messianic age. The Messiah has come.

Luke 18:31 through 33. "Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, 'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.'" He's bringing them back to the past. Every messianic prophecy in the Old Testament, He is bringing to fruition. "'For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him, and the third day He will rise again.'"

He knew what was coming, and it was the fulfillment of what had been prophesied.

Application for number four: has your sin been atoned for once and forever? Has it been atoned for once and forever? How so?

Do you have to, according to the old age, go and make sacrifice in the temple and bring lambs to be sacrificed on your behalf? Can't even do that anymore. The temple was wiped off the map in AD 70. The priesthood is gone, because we have a greater priest in the Messiah — a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, one who is both priest and king forever. So our sin was decisively handled by the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies.

Bible point number five: the New Testament authors taught that we are now living in the messianic age predicted by the prophets. This present age, inaugurated by the coming of Christ, will be followed by another age at His second coming. So we are in the age of Messiah right now. We're part of the new creation right now. The new Jerusalem and Mount Zion have come — we read that last week. Right now, we are receiving the benefits of Christ sitting on the throne. We have eternal life; we possess it even now. Even now, we have the first fruits of the resurrection, the down payment of glory, and the Holy Spirit. But there's coming a future age at His second coming.

While describing this present age as "the last days," "the last hour," and "the end of the ages" — we just read that in Bible point number four — the Gospels distinguish the age to come as "that age" (Luke 20:35), "the coming age" (Luke 18:30), and "the age to come" (Matthew 12:32).

Paul, likewise, makes this distinction in Ephesians 2:7. So too, the writer of Hebrews makes this distinction between the two ages — between this age and the age to come — in Hebrews 6:5.

Although this present age is characterized as "the last days," the singular form of the description — "the last day" — always refers to Christ's return when all the dead are resurrected and judged. We see that in John 6 multiple times, John 11, and John 12. We'll read those in just a moment. While we truly live in the last days now, we look forward to the last day in hope, the day of Christ's return. That final glorious age has not yet arrived.

Hebrews 9:28 says, "So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly await Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin for salvation." In His first coming, He atoned for our sins. In His second coming, He will come to rescue His people, put an end to evil and death, and bring about the new age. What a glorious day that will be.

I have several passages highlighted here in Bible point number five. I want to read them to you. I have underlined where it says "this age" and "that age," so you can see where Jesus is making this distinction between the present age that we live in and the age that is to come.

Luke 20:34 through 36. "Jesus answered and said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age,'" speaking of the age to come — so He's making a distinction between this age and the age to come — "'and the resurrection of the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage.'" So He's saying, "In the new age, the next age, there will be the resurrection. There will not be marrying or giving in marriage.

"'Nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.'" In that age, there'll be no more death. In that age, we'll be referred to as the sons of the resurrection. We will be made like Christ, glorified, made into His very image. He is the resurrection and the life. And here He says we'll be called the sons of the resurrection. How glorious that will be.

Luke 18:29 through 30. Jesus says, "So He said to them, 'Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, who should not receive many times more in this present time,'" speaking of this age, "'and in the age to come,'" speaking of when Christ comes, "eternal life." We are rewarded in this life for serving Christ, but even greater than any material blessing we can get in this life is eternal life. And that's what we will have in full realization in the new heavens and the new earth.

Matthew 12:31 through 32. Again, Jesus says, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him either in this age or in the age to come." So He makes a demarcation here between this age and the age to come. Now, we talked about this back when we did pneumatology, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And if you remember then, we basically defined it very simply as obstinately resisting the Holy Spirit, declaring the work of God to be of the devil, and never repenting. And that's unforgivable in this life, and it will not change in the next. If you die in that sin, you've rejected Christ. So there is no hope either in this age or in the age to come, except you repent. But again, He's comparing this age to the age to come.

Now look in John chapter 6, where Jesus speaks of that last day. Again, we're living in the last days now, but Jesus speaks of a certain day in the future called the last day. "This is the will of the Father who sent me, that all He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at that last day." Again, when He returns, there is a resurrection of the dead — both the just and the unjust — to stand before Christ Jesus the Judge.

"And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at that last day." We see Jesus referring to it again. Verse 44. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at that last day." Again, He's referring to His second coming. Verse 54. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life." That's a pictorial way of saying, "Whoever trusts in me, who's made one with me, who is united to me through faith — I will raise him up at that last day."

We see the same phrase "last day" spoken, but through Martha. When we see Lazarus's death in John 11:23 through 27, "Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.'" Martha was quite a theologian.

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world.'"

Also, John 12:48. Jesus says, "He who rejects me and does not receive my words has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him at that last day." Again, at the last day the dead are resurrected, being resurrected to judgment. He will judge at that last day.

So this distinction between "the last days" and "the last day," between this age and the age to come, is all throughout the New Testament. It's in the Gospels. It's in the Epistles. It is explicitly taught. Now, that doesn't mean that everybody believes that. Let me explain. In a few weeks, we're going to look at different views of the millennium, and we're also going to look at different interpretations of Revelation chapter 20. I bring that up here because we're going to give you two examples of different points of view that don't necessarily believe in this age and the age to come the way that I've been teaching it here.

First of all would be what's called the preterist position, which I'm not going to get into detail tonight, but we will discuss it when we get to how to interpret the book of Revelation. It's one view. Basically, the word "preterist" actually means "fulfilled" or "passed," and their view is that all the prophetic announcements of Christ coming in judgment and Christ's return were fulfilled in AD 70 when Jerusalem was judged.

I disagree with that. But what they would say is that "this age and the age to come" — the age to come — would be everything after Jerusalem was judged, that we would have a new creation and a new earth, speaking spiritually. And therefore, those who are full preterists deny a future bodily resurrection. They say that's a spiritual term — we're all resurrected in Christ Jesus. So they would hold to the now and the not yet, to this age and the age to come, but in a vastly different way.

Also, many — not all, but many — premillennialists don't necessarily agree with this two-age schema either. Some do. They say, "Yes, we admit that this is taught here. It's clearly taught by Christ. It's taught in the epistles as a two-age schema, this age and the age to come." But they would say, "Based upon our interpretation of Revelation 20, we think that that overrides that." In other words, that's later Revelation, as many would say. Some would also point — and I want to be fair — to 1 Corinthians 15. Some premillennialists will find a middle age between this age and Christ's second advent, which they would refer to as the millennium. They would find that in 1 Corinthians 15:20 through 25.

"But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order — Christ the firstfruits," so Christ being the first to be resurrected from the dead, "afterward those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end." Now the word "then" simply means that's the end — thereupon, when Christ comes, the dead in Christ and also the dead in Adam are all raised to the general judgment; they're raised before they can be judged. Well, with that, they would say, "No, this is indicating a period here of a thousand years." This is speaking of a space between Christ's first coming and what we refer to as the second coming, which they would call the Millennium Period.

I know that's a lot to digest. We're going to go over that in detail when we get to lesson 15 and also lesson 17. But I wanted to point that out in case you were wondering. That's that train of thought. But most premillennialists would agree that this two-age model is what is explicit, and what they're finding is implicit even in 1 Corinthians 15 rather than being explicit.

Application for number five: do you hope in the coming resurrection? 1 Corinthians 15:19 — Paul says there, "If there is no resurrection," what does he say? "We are of all men most pitiable, most miserable, if there is no resurrection." We look forward to a future age. This age is great — in this age we're blessed in Christ Jesus now — but we look forward to that coming age.

Bible point number six: this age and the age to come are not only successive — meaning coming immediately after one another — not only successive in nature, but they are also distinct in nature. In other words, there's a difference not only in time between this age and the age to come, but there's a qualitative distinction in their nature. This age is always used in reference to things that are temporal and perishing. Doesn't that mark the age we live in — temporal and perishing? And I brought the receipts here.

Matthew 12:32 — "In this age, there is no forgiveness for blaspheming the Holy Spirit." Matthew 24:3 — "In this age, the end will be preceded by signs." In other words, when it's coming to an end, there'll be signs, is what Jesus teaches. Matthew 28:20 — "In this age, Christ is present with us until the end." That's what He tells us in the Great Commission: "Lo, I am with you always, even till the end of the age." Mark 10:30 and Luke 18:30 — "In this age, we receive lands, houses, and families as blessings, but also with persecution," is what Mark says. We should expect there to be persecution in this age. Both good and bad — we get both blessings and also persecutions as part of God's providence for this age. In the next age, will there be persecutions? No.

Luke 20:34 — "In this age, there's marriage and giving in marriage." Romans 12:2 — "In this age, we are not to be conformed to it." You've probably memorized that: "Do not be conformed to this world." Really, that's translated "do not be conformed to this age" — this present age, this worldly age that is temporal and passing and full of vanity. 1 Corinthians 1:20 — "In this age, the wisdom of this world is foolish." The wisdom of this age is foolish. 1 Corinthians 2:6 — "In this age, the wisdom and rulers of the world come to nothing."

1 Corinthians 4:4 — "In this age, the minds of the perishing are blinded by the devil." They have blinders over their eyes. Galatians 1:4 — "In this age, this age is evil," is what Galatians says. It's wicked. Ephesians 1:20 and 3:21 — "In this age, Christ is exalted and reigns over all," despite there being persecutions, despite this being an evil world and a world that is vain — Christ is ruler over it.

"In this age," according to Ephesians 2:2, "men walk in disobedience." 1 Timothy 6:17 — "In this age, we are not to be proud or trust in riches." Every gift we have is from the Lord, whether it's a physical attribute or an intellectual attribute or a spiritual gift or a physical gift.

Titus 2:12 — "In this age, we are to live holy lives." The Bible has much to say about this age and how it's characterized, but the main thing we remember is that it is distinct from the coming age and it is temporal and perishing in nature.

Application for number six. We read this actually in our memory verses: "Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on the earth," Colossians 3:2. Because this age is perishing and it's temporal, don't set your mind on it. Don't set your heart on it. Yes, there are blessings and good things in this life, but set your mind on the giver of those good things, and on our hope in Him that does not perish or does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

Bible point number seven: the age to come is the age of the resurrection of the body. It is the end of evil and death. In the age to come, there is the resurrection. Evil and death are gone because what happens? Christ comes in judgment. And what does He do? He casts the evil into the lake of fire. What does He also throw into the lake of fire? Even death itself. It is the renewal of all things in and for Christ. He makes all the world new.

Matthew 12:32 — "In the age to come, there is no forgiveness for blaspheming the Spirit." That's one thing that's the same — in this age or in the age to come, if you resist the Holy Spirit and you don't submit to Christ, then there's no salvation. Christ alone is their salvation.

Matthew 13:40 — "In the age to come, the wicked are gathered and burned." That's the parable of the tares, right? Christ comes; He will gather the wheat from the chaff, and the wicked will be gathered and burned.

Matthew 13:37 through 43 — "In the age to come, the righteous will shine forth as the Son in the kingdom of their Father." Isn't that a beautiful expression? "We will shine forth as the Son in the kingdom of our Father." It's because His glory has become ours. We are glorified in the new age. How beautiful that is. Mark 10:30 and also Luke 18:30 — "In the age to come, eternal life is a reward." No more death; we'll have it abundantly. Ephesians 1:21 — "In the age to come, Christ reigns over all." He's been exalted to sit at the right hand of God and He reigns over everything in this age and in the age to come. That also does not change. Christ is Lord over all.

Application for number seven: "When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory" — Colossians 3:4. We are looking for His appearing. We're looking for His revelation. We're looking for His apocalypse — His epiphaneia — when His glory becomes ours. We will appear with Him in glory.

Bible point number eight: the demarcation line between this age and the age to come is clearly and undeniably set forth by our Lord Jesus Christ as His second coming. So the dividing line, the demarcation line between this age and the age to come, is clearly and uncontrovertibly set forth as His second coming. And let's look at that.

Jesus in Matthew 13:39 says, "The angels are sent to harvest men at the end of this age." The picture is the angels go and they scoop up all the men of this earth and separate the wheat from the chaff. That great division takes place at judgment day. Matthew 13:40 — "The wicked will be destroyed at the end of the age." Those tares, that chaff, will be thrown into the fire. And then Matthew 13:43 and 49 — "The righteous are gathered to God at the end of the age." So everyone is raised; they're all scooped up by the angels. There is a separation; the wicked are burned. What happens to the righteous? They are gathered into a storehouse. What is precious is what you put in your storehouse — the things that are precious, things that are valuable to you. He brings His people to Him.

When Christ comes, He will raise the dead — 1 Corinthians 15:52, John 5:28 through 29, and Acts 24:15. We've discussed this when we looked at the second coming of Christ, so you may want to review that lesson. But when Christ comes, it's contemporaneous — He raises the dead. He will judge all men — 2 Thessalonians 1:9. When He comes, He comes in judgment. He will tribulate those who are tribulating His church — Matthew 16:27. Matthew 25:31 through 32 — separating the sheep from the goats. Matthew 13:36 through 43 — we just looked at that, the wheat and the tares. Matthew 13:47 through 50. 2 Timothy 4:1. And He will renew the heavens and the earth. These three things happen at Christ's return: He raises the dead, He judges all men, and He ushers in the new heavens and the new earth.

Let's see this from Jesus' own words in Matthew 13:37 through 43 and 49. "Then He answered and said to them, 'He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.'" So it's an immediate move from this age to the next age. At the end of this age, there is a reaping — it's judgment day. "'Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom'" — see, His kingdom's already present, Christ brought His kingdom in His death, burial, and resurrection — "'He will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the Son in the kingdom of their Father.'" Now His kingdom reaches its full consummation, and we are glorified because we've been resurrected, transformed into His very image. "'He who has ears to hear, let him hear. So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth and separate the wicked from among the just.'"

The application is simply this, from Romans 16:20: "And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly." Satan's already defeated — we read that in Hebrews earlier. Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. But when He comes His second time, Satan is thrown, along with all the wicked, into the eternal lake of fire, to no more wreak havoc, no more work destruction, no more evil be. This whole world and earth will be recreated in righteousness. What a glorious day that will be.