Another of God’s prophets, in describing the times of restitution, declared that “the desire of all nations shall come.” (Hag. 2:7) All nations desire peace; they desire security against aggression; they desire prosperity for their people; and the Prophet David declares of earth’s new king, Christ Jesus, that “he shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.” — Ps. 72:4

In another restitution promise, the Prophet Isaiah declares that then — that is, during the reign of Christ and his church — “shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.” He also says that the “eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” (Isa. 35) This, doubtless has reference to those who are blind and deaf to the things of God. Of these there are millions, for the Apostle Paul tells us that the god of this present evil world, who is Satan the Devil, has blinded the eyes of all who believe not, and thus has prevented them from knowing and loving and praising the true God of love. -11 Cor. 4:4

Another of God’s prophets, describing the blessings of restitution from still another angle, says of that thousand years of Christ’s reign that then the knowledge of the glory of the LORD shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. (Hab. 2:14) No longer will the people worship a diversity of gods and sponsor conflicting religious beliefs. On this point another prophecy declares that God will “turn to the people a pure language [or message],” and that they will “call upon the name of the LORD to serve him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:9) Then the people will be free to worship and serve the true God of love with their whole heart and with true understanding.

In the Book of Revelation we have another wonderful promise of the blessings that will come to the people during the reign of Christ. It declares that then “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” — Rev. 21:4

It is difficult to imagine a world in which there is no death, but God has promised that it shall be so, and we believe it and take courage. If such a promise were made by one less powerful than God we might be justified in doubting. But the Creator is able to fulfill such promises, for he is the fountain-source of life. “In him we live, and move, and have our being,” declared the Apostle Paul. — Acts 17:28

We do not understand what makes us live, and what gives us strength to move, but God does, and he is abundantly able to give life everlasting to all who will obey the laws of Christ’s kingdom. And it is just this that he has promised to do. It is for this purpose that Christ returns and establishes his kingdom. The Scriptures state, however, that any who, under the favorable conditions of  that  time,  refuse to believe and obey will, as Peter puts it, “be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23) Everlasting life will be given only to those who qualify through belief and obedience.