The common understanding of the Kingdom of God is that people either are sent to Hell or go to Heaven when they die. There assuredly is a fiery Hell and there assuredly is a wonderful Heaven.

However, the Word of God does not always emphasize such extremes. Speaking of the "swamps and marshes" the Word does not teach that they all shall be cast into Hell but that they "shall be given to salt."

Being "given to salt" suggests a dry, barren existence similar to the fate of Lot.

We find a parallel passage in the last chapter of the Book of Zechariah.

And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. (Zechariah 14:17)

The saved nations of the earth, during the thousand-year Kingdom Age and also during the new heaven and earth reign of Christ, will be commanded to observe the feast of Tabernacles by going to Jerusalem to worship the Lord Jesus.

If they will not do so they are not cast into Hell, rather rain (whether physical or spiritual) is withheld from them.

We see therefore that we are not approaching a new age of fantasy but a world similar to our own in which some people are very close to God, others not so close, still others remaining skeptical, fearing to trust God. Hopefully the wicked, and those who absolutely refuse the Lord Jesus and must be cast into fiery torment, will be relatively few in number.

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:12)

The "river" is the eternal Life of God, the Holy Spirit. The "trees" on this side and that are the saints who have become the throne of God. The "leaf" and the "fruit" are the Virtue of the Lord Jesus that has been imparted to the members of His Body as they have eaten His flesh and drunk His blood, and through them is now available to the nations of saved people.

The waters always issue from the "sanctuary," that is from the holy throne of the Lord God. Therefore the "water" flowing from the saints is always fresh, always full of life and power.

God loves the nations of the earth. If they will receive Him they can be sustained and healed by His eternal Life. The purpose of the Church is to be the Presence of God among the saved nations of the earth—to be Emmanuel, God with us.

To be continued.