Let us now transport ourselves to about the year 3150 AD say, and look back over that tiny slice of time when mankind inhabited the earth. Let us read our future history book.
[A few thousand years BC]
It all began when the earth was in darkness, and the face of the earth was without form, probably under water. God chose that point to create man, and God surrounded him with living creatures and a bountiful earth.
Man was different to all living things before him in that God put in him the spirit of man. In many ways man was like God, and man was given dominion over the earth.
Men ignored the instructions they had been given however, and the earth was filled with murder, lawlessness, and gross immorality.
[Say somewhere between about 3,000 BC to 2,000 years BC]
God allotted them another hundred and twenty years, and he sent a man named Noah to them with dire warnings. Noah was mocked and ridiculed.
The great flood came and went as Noah had told them, and from among men only Noah and his family were saved alive. For a second time humankind began to multiply and spread over the face of the earth.
Our future history book goes on ...
God's Plan Gradually Revealed
[Say somewhere between about 2,500 to 1,500 BC]
Wickedness and deceit had not departed from the hearts of men, and after a time God made an agreement with an elderly man - Abraham. If Abraham were to follow God's ways, then he, Abraham, would father kings and nations, and in addition a country was allotted to him and his descendants for ever - the land of Israel.
To the descendants of Abraham were given commandments and laws, but they were unable to observe them. By their own wilfulness and neglect they brought upon themselves humiliation, slavery, starvation and bloodshed.
The Founding of a New Government
[About 26 AD]
Then God sent a giant of a man (not a giant physically, but spiritually), strong of character, with an immovable dedication to a purpose. That was the man Jesus Christ. He called God his Father, and he came describing the government and kingdom to be set up in the land of Israel.
The government was to grow very large, and there were thousands of vacancies for kings, rulers, and teachers. The basis for admittance to these offices was, on the surface, fairly simple - believe that Jesus Christ was indeed the Son of God, that he was God, and then live in accordance with his teachings.
[About 30 AD]
But Jesus's own countrymen hated him and despised him. They mocked and ridiculed him even as Noah was mocked in his day. Rejecting his words and the wonderful miracles he did they tortured him to death.
After three days though he revived and later returned to heaven to his Father.
Then for those few who did believe, something happened that was new: they crossed over from death to life. Outwardly they may have looked the same, but the change happened deep within them. They had received the Holy Spirit.
The Government Grew
For about the next 2000 years or so men and women were chosen who believed the words of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus's own people disowned him he chose men and women out of all nations regardless of race, and out of all different religions.
And so the vacancies in God's government began to be allotted. God called those chosen "the elect". They were relatively few in number, and they also were detested even as Jesus was. Many died violent deaths.
(Dear reader, if you can understand and believe these things then God is calling you)
The End of The Age
[Say about 2010 to 2050 AD]
The end of this period of time arrived amidst unheard of wars, famines, and diseases. Just as mankind was on the brink of annihilation Jesus Christ returned. Together with the resurrected elect (the new government), (God's government), God began the job of cleaning up, rebuilding and re-educating.
Peace and Plenty
There followed a thousand years of peace and plenty. The new government emanated from Jerusalem and spread to all the nations of the earth.
Jesus dealt mercifully with the tribes of Israel for Abraham's sake. They had murdered Jesus but they were restored to peace and plenty, along with every other nation.
The End of the Thousand Years
[Say about 3050 to 3150 AD]
When the thousand years were finished, all the dead, billions, were given physical life once more. They had a period of time to choose - God's way which had just brought the earth great wealth and happiness, or the way of the destroyer of old.
Those who chose life were eventually judged, changed and joined the family of God.
Those who rejected life were eventually judged, punished, and destroyed - burned up.
[Say about 3150 AD]
It was at that point that the plan for mankind was finished, and it was time for God to begin his next creation with a new heaven and new earth.
God is merciful... you and I could be there.
And after all of this ... ? Who can tell what God will do !
Scripture References
For the Biblical references see future history references
For God's Plan foreshadowed by the ancient Israelite Holy Days see God's Plan in the Holy Days
Exact dates are not of paramount importance and the learned historians are not in agreement. Jesus did say, "Watch".
Updated (mainly the approximate dating) 30jul06
Added sub-heading Scripture References 4aug06
upd.1nov06 - link to God's Plan