The World To Come

"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 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. " (II Peter 3: 6, 7)

There are two major Greek words used in the New Testament for the word "world," at least in the King James Version translation, and which are not uniformly distinguished, as they are in many later translations. The Greek words "cosmos" and "aion" are those two major words, the first being generally recognized as best translated by the word "world" while the latter is best translated by the word "age."

According to the New Testament, and the words of Peter cited above, there have been two ages thus far in the history of the world. The first world (age) was what is called the "Antediluvian Age," the world before the Genesis Deluge, and the world (age) which is now. The New Testament also speaks in some detail about the "world (age) to come."

This present world and age will come to an end, fulfill its design and purpose, and then another age will follow. These two worlds (ages) are greatly contrasted in the scriptures. Jesus and the apostles spoke prophetically of both the end of this present age, and of the inauguration of the new world order.

"What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24: 3)

"As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world...So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just." (Matthew 13: 40, 49)

The "end of the world" will not mean the extinction of everything, but will be a epoch moment in the history of the race, much more so than was the world wide flood, wherein a new state of things will come to exist. That coming world is quite superior to every other age, even the age of innocence, in the Garden of Eden, certainly quite superior to this "present evil age." It is no matter of fiction either, but a certain coming reality for which all men ought to be prepared.

Those who are saved, by coming to faith in Christ, and by repenting of sin, are defined in regard to these two worlds; likewise are the wicked so defined. With the saved, this present world is viewed as evil, but the wicked view it as good. The saved have their highest hopes for the "world to come," a world and age quite different to the present. The wicked are called the "children of this world" (Luke 16: 8; 20: 34). The righteous, conversely, are "children of the world to come."

"But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage." (Luke 20: 35)

Those who obtain the coming glorious age will be immortals, death being forever a past memory. But, before that age come, this age must come to its completion. Jesus spoke of some of these things that must take place prior to the coming age of the kingdom of God on earth, such as the casting out of this evil world all evil spirits, including the chief evil one himself, things which his death on the cross cleared for complete fulfillment.

"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." (John 12: 31)

"Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." (John 14: 30)

"...the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 11)

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (II Corinthians 4: 4)

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." (I John 5: 19)

The present world is under the governance of Satan and his evil spirits. By the sufferance of Almighty God, for sovereign divine purposes, evil reigns in this world. The rejection of God's Son and Messiah, the Savior he provided for our fallen race, demonstrates clearly the evil of our world. It is because this world is evil and ruled over by Satan and evil spirits and corrupt men and women, that Christ and his gospel are rejected. Again, notice how the lost or saved state of individuals is related to how they view the present world.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (I John 2: 15-17)

The purpose of Christ coming and dying upon the cross for sin was in order that he might save sinners from this world to another and better one.

"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." (Galatians 1: 4)

This salvation from the present evil world is partially experienced now in the life of the Christian as he despises and rejects this world with all its evil lusts, but will be fully experienced in the world to come when there will be a world where there are no evil lusts nor evil spirits to tempt.

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought." (I Corinthians 2: 6)

"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (2: 8)

Yes, the rulers and princes of this evil age did not know the Lord, but not so in the world to come. All the rulers then will be wholly righteous, and full of wisdom and the Spirit of the Lord.

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." (Ephesians 2: 2)

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2: 11, 12)

The "course" of the present world ends in utter destruction. But, the Christian is not on that same course. His conduct is governed by the precepts of heavenly government, and ruled over by the Lord of the world to come. Jesus Christ is Lord of all worlds and ages, and when he ascended up to Heaven, it was "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that (world) which is to come." (Ephesians 1: 21)

Christ, together with all believers and disciples, will rule in the world to come.

"For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak." (Hebrews 2: 5)

"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (James 2: 5)

"...in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 7 NIV)

What glories await those who obtain the coming age! It is described as a time wherein God personally will show to each believer the "incomparable riches" of his grace and goodness!

Christ is truly "King of ages..." (I Timothy 1: 17) And, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3: 21 21st Century KJV)

Friend, I invite you to come and "taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come." (Hebrews 6: 5) If you come to Christ today and believe his word, I assure you that you will "receive manifold more in this present time (world), and in the world to come life everlasting." (Luke 18: 30)