This year we have been devoted to understanding the coming kingdom of God and the many ways in which we are preparing the way for the Lord by building a highway. This highway has been under construction since the church was born on the day the Lord walked the earth and began calling those who would follow Him. To perceive this highway, we must have an expansive vision. Once we begin to see it, we will see it almost everywhere and will be astonished at how great and expansive it is. This is the heart cry of Psalm 90:16-17:
 

The Lord's plan is indeed perfect. There is no human genius that could ever compare to it. When we begin to perceive the work of His hands, we begin to see it in almost everything. Once we begin to see it, there are few things more important than seeing our work be a part of His work—we want to have a part in the building of the highway for our King, the "higher way."

The Lord said that "the harvest is the end of the age" (see Matthew 13:39). This is not only the great ingathering of souls, which has been taking place over the last two decades in unprecedented numbers, but the harvest is also the coming to maturity and reaping of everything that has been sown in man, both the good and the evil. Much of the popular eschatology only focuses on the reaping of the evil that has been sown in man, which is consummated in the antichrist. This is important to understand, but if we are going to really understand the time, we need to give much more attention to what God is doing than to what the devil is doing.

I realize that the way I teach eschatology is frustrating to many, especially in these times of everything being fast. Most want an eschatology that can be neatly taught in a couple of hours, with a tidy step-by-step chart of what is going to take place. I agree that this would be nice, but I have never seen such a study that was not in conflict with many other biblical prophecies which are conveniently overlooked, and they inevitably have an almost complete ignorance of or disregard for history. They also seem to inevitably distract believers from being useful in helping to prepare the way for the Lord by building a highway, and instead seem to get them ready to abandon ship.  

However, as I have previously warned, I do not have all of the answers. I have studied these things for more than thirty years, and the more I study, the more I realize that I only see in part and know in part. God and His plan are far bigger than my little mind. This does not discourage me, but rather thrills me. I am energized by what I do see, and I have to stand in awe more and more at how great He truly is. God has not been idle for the last two millennia, but I am certain the scope and brilliance of what He has been doing will be the marvel of the creation forever.

Even so, the biblical prophecies are clear that the end of this age will come with the greatest time of trouble the world has ever known and a full maturity of the antichrist spirit. Often overlooked is, at the same time, the nature of Christ is coming to full maturity in His people and will ultimately prevail over the antichrist spirit. God's plan will ultimately prevail over the antichrist's plan. The church will not abandon the world, but at the time of its greatest troubles and darkness, will be an even brighter light, becoming like a bride without spot or wrinkle. This will forever be a witness that God's truth is stronger than any lie and will always prevail against any opposition.

Satan has a boast by which he was even able to persuade a third of the angels to rebel with him. The boast was that man, God's crowning creation, which He had brought forth to be able to comprehend Him and therefore have fellowship with Him in a special way, even when put in a perfect environment, would choose to disobey God and obey him. However, before the end of this age, the bride of the last Adam, Christ, will live in the most difficult place and in the darkest of times, but she will chose to obey. This will forever be a witness to principalities and powers in the heavenly places that God and His truth will always prevail.

There is a church being prepared to stand fast in even the darkest of times, against even the most cruel and ruthless opposition. She will love the truth of God more than she even loves her own life. She will not compromise that truth and will not retreat before the enemies of the cross. She will challenge the greatest darkness of all time and she will prevail. There will be no retreat in the bride of Christ, and nothing in her will be inclined to abandon ship. She will be standing in victory when the King comes for her. She will then be caught up into the air to meet Him in the clouds, to join the triumphant of all generations who are returning with Him, and to take their authority over the earth to restore all things.

We have discussed how even aspects of different types of governments will be found to be a part of this highway being built to prepare the way for Him. We have also discussed how, at best, everything built during this present age is far from perfect and at best is His "in part." No government in this age will reflect His perfect government, but many will be found to be useful to a degree. Even doing things in part is worth the effort. We cannot build the New Jerusalem here, but it must come down out of heaven, and we can help to prepare the way for it to come.

In the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream in which he saw a statue that represented all of the empires of man. At the end, a little stone struck the feet of this statue of human empires and the statue crumbled. At the same time, the little stone became a mountain and then continued to grow until it filled the whole earth. Mountains in Scripture often represent governments, and this is the coming government of God. This statue is already tottering and will not stand much longer. The kingdom of God may still seem to be just a little stone, but it is about to grow dramatically. During the last few weeks of this year, we are going to discuss a few more aspects of this kingdom and how we can recognize it, as well as some very practical ways to not only get ready for it, but to be a part of it.