The Hebrew people had it wrong.

From their history, their culture, and their limited reality they awaited an earthly king. I suspect their interpretation of lions and lambs, babes and serpents, came more from anticipated peace of the Messianic King than from their understanding of a restored Garden of God.

In the beginning, Jesus’ chosen disciples thought His kingdom would trump Rome and be the recognized kingdom of the known world.

After Jesus’ intense prayer with Father God, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side, there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

Jesus’ haters arrive to arrest him. Peter reacts with a sword. He was ready to protect the next King. He missed the guy’s neck and took off his ear instead.

Peter still saw visions of earthly ruling halls.

After the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus, the Apostles of Jesus finally got it. They now had a handle on understanding the Garden restoration. Even the Apostle Peter figured it out.

He then spent his remaining life teaching about a new version of kingdom restoration.

Peter’s writing speaks of the events prior to God revealing His new garden. God will speak again and His voice will cause a meltdown of the heavens.

“…The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth—and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (Peter’s second letter to the churches)

Like purification of gold, only good survives. Because Jesus covered me with His blood, the death angel will leave me standing.

Through Jesus, God will see me as good.

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (Peter’s second letter to the churches)

The Apostle Paul describes the last meltdown in these words:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”  (Paul’s first letter addressed to Believers in the city of Thessalonica.)

Until then God continues to be patient with His creation. He is waiting until the very last nanosecond to act, because it is His final act; and He wants to maximize the number of those in His creation to be with Him once He shuts down the universe.

If I am alive at the time, I expect to be terrified by wonder and surprise. When Jesus draws man into God’s presence, He responds to man’s fear with a touch and the calming voice saying, “Don’t be afraid.”

If my encounter with Jesus is resurrection from death, I assume after the experience of having left earth, I will respond with awe and anticipation.

Are you ready for the meltdown?

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells