The future is a fascinating place which most people want to know about. There have always been claims through history made by individuals or groups who say they know what is coming next. But many of those who tell us about the future are only guessing. How many prophecies have been made which simply never came true and were then conveniently forgotten? How many predictions of the future are so vague, that you can link them to any number of events after they have happened?
I want to tell you four things that Jesus said about the future and uniquely amongst all the other people who claim to tell us the future, Jesus surely has the right to be listened to. As I've said in previous talks, he is the Son of God who came back from the dead. So what does he say to us?
Jesus said that the world would have the same characteristics in the future as in the past. It is a popular idea today to believe that the world can be sorted out and improved. The amazing leaps in technology and in medicine and in science have encouraged people to think this way. The theory of evolution has been taken up at a popular level to mean all things can progress and improve.
Well there was an occasion when Jesus's closest followers became very excited about the future. They thought that a dramatic time of immense change was coming and they wanted Jesus to fill them in on the details. But Jesus said this to them: "You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people."
Jesus warned his disciples about getting over-excited concerning when this or that would happen. The world was going to carry on just as it always had done. Nations would go to war with one another. Terrible disasters would continue to occur. People would believe all sorts of nonsense, or believe nothing at all. Treachery, betrayal and hatred would carry on. There would be one person after another who would stand up to tell the world that they have the answer, even claiming to speak for Jesus himself. "Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many."
Jesus was right. Many things in the world have improved and yet so much is the same. Irrationality, superstition, hatred, violence, criminality, misery remain as strong as ever. Vast numbers go hungry; vast numbers die young. So much is the same as it always was.
Secondly, from the paragraph above we can see that Jesus was saying that death will carry on. He even warned his own people that they wouldn't be afforded any special protection. Indeed the very opposite would be true. "you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death." There were other occasions when Jesus had to speak to his followers about the reality of their own deaths. He didn't shield it away from them and pretend that the future would be alright. So on one occasion he faced one of his closest friends, Peter, and said, "when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." And then the writer explains that "Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God."
So Jesus said the world would carry on being a place of death - it's the one thing the human race cannot escape.
Thirdly, Jesus said that the world would eventually come to an end with a day of judgement. This is way he described it on one occasion: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another."
Jesus said that he would return to this world and all people would be gathered before him - living and the dead. The people would come from everywhere - not just one country or one culture. And he said that he will judge every single person. Each life will be opened up for complete examination followed by a verdict: guilty or not guilty. The reason why there will only be two possible verdicts, is because of what will be tested on judgement day. The question will be: does this person live for God, or against God?
How will you stand on that day? Maybe you think of your life as fairly good or as religious - you've done your best. But this is God's judgement and nothing will be hidden from him: the assessment will be based on all the evidence. The warning of the Bible is that everyone will be found guilty. All are stained by the selfishness and shame of living in rebellion against God.
Imagine a court case in our country where four lads are brought before the jury. The accusation against them is one of gang-rape. Each one takes the witness box in turn. The evidence of the girl, and the forensic analysis, is that every one of them raped her. One of the lads makes no excuses: the girl was asking for what happened. Another says that he was worried that his mates would laugh at him if he didn't. Another explains that he had nothing to do with grabbing the girl or holding her down; he only took part later. The fourth lad tells of how he was worried afterwards and tried to help her get away.
Now you might think of one lad as less evil than another. But on the question of whether each one is a rapist the verdict is the same. They all chose to do something to that girl which should never have been done. All are guilty.
In God's courtroom on the day of judgement the question will be this: is this person guilty or not guilty of the crime of rejecting God? Yes the details of the crime may be different for each person. One person's life will be exposed as a murderer. Another is proud; another is selfish. But the question will then be asked: what do these things tell us about the person? Is he/she guilty of not wanting to honour and please God, but rather live as they choose? There is nobody in the entire human race who can plead not guilty to that crime.
But there is hope. God has made a way for the verdict to be changed. Here is what Jesus said, "Whoever believes in God's son is not condemned." God has opened up a way to be forgiven for the crime and saved from its consequences in the final courtroom. God gave his innocent son, Jesus Christ, into this world to stand in the place of the condemned. Everyone who believes in him escapes the condemnation of judgement day: they will be found not guilty.
So at the end of the judgement there will be two groups. One group who have been found guilty of their rejection of God. And another group who have been found not guilty, because God's Son has rescued them.
That brings us to the final thing I want to tell you that Jesus says concerning the future. He says that there are two places where we can end up. The guilty will go to a place called hell and the not guilty will go to be with God.
Now people can say what they like about this. They can make fun of Jesus's old-fashioned view of the world. But the question remains: are his words true? Because if they are then it is the most important thing in the world that a person makes sure they are ready to face the judgement.
Jesus's words about the future of the guilty are serious. He speaks of them going to a place of outer darkness; he speaks of them going to place of misery and suffering and frustration; he speaks of them going to a place which is a rubbish heap where fire constantly burns. These are his words, not mine. Some people picture hell as though it's just like this world but a bit more seedy. They won't mind being there because all their mates will be there, they joke. But Jesus says it is a rubbish heap. He says that it's a place where what is put there is empty and pointless and useless.
But what of the not guilty? Jesus says they will gain a kingdom prepared for them since the creation of the world. He says that God is making ready a home for those people where they will live happy, peaceful and contented lives for ever. A place where people will live with their God and God will share his own life with them - they will live forever enjoying the full richness of knowing God. Some people picture heaven as just a happy place with lots of nice things to enjoy or where old friends can meet up. But the great thing about heaven, as far as the Bible is concerned, is being with God. It is the restoration of the greatest and most satisfying and joyful relationship that any human being can have. That is the future for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ now. That is the only heaven which is on offer, says Jesus. And only those who truly want to be reconciled to God, will gain it.