2    The Bible and the Future of the World 

     Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in 

heaven, saying, `The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our 

Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.'  (Rev 11:15). 

    The three periods of time which the Church must pass through are also 

shown in other passages of Holy Scripture. The three kings of ancient Israel: 

Saul, David,  and Solomon, represent these three times. Recall that David 

was holier than Saul, and that Solomon was holier than David. Thus the 

Church will increase in holiness. But Solomon strayed from the Lord near 

the end of his life. So also, many members of the Church will stray away 

from Christ near the end of the third period of time. That is why there is so 

much suffering given to the Church at that time, as described in the book of 

Revelation. 

    These three periods of time are also referred to in Ezekiel. When Ezekiel 

wades into a river (in a vision), he goes three lengths of a thousand cubits 

(Ezekiel 47:3 6). 

     Going on eastward with a line in his hand, the man measured a 

thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankle deep. 

Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water; and it was 

knee deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water; 

and it was up to the loins.  (Ezekiel 47:3 4). 

    With each length, the river gets deeper. When Ezekiel wades a fourth 

length, the river is so deep he cannot stand, he can only swim. The river in 

Ezekiel's vision represents the Church; the lengths represent time; the depth 

of the river represents the depth of the Church's holiness. As the Church 

passes through time, it increases in holiness. 

    Notice that there is a fourth period of time. This is the time of great 

holiness on earth, the Millennium, when Christ and Christianity reign over 

all the earth. The world does not end at the time of great suffering described 

in the book of Revelation (the Apocalypse). Christ and His Church triumph 

over the world. The Church lives on after the sufferings of Revelation. 

The Wise Men (Mt 2:1 7) 

    Wise men came from the East to worship Jesus at His birth. They were 

not Jewish and probably not familiar with the Old Testament. Yet they 

knew that the king of the Jews had been born. And they knew how to find 

the land where He was born. 

    Even Herod, an evil man, was able to find out where Jesus was born. The 

chief priests and scribes knew from their understanding of the Holy 

Scriptures, where the Messiah would be born. So then, do not be surprised if