The alarm clock rings as John listens to birds singing through his open ground-floor window. What a wonderful way to live, he thinks. While preparing for work, he recalls the multiple locks on every door of his parents’ home, and smiles as he realizes the only ones his grandson will ever see are on display in a museum.

When John was a boy, his city was rife with crime and civil unrest. Homes were virtual fortresses against roving bands of criminals, and police were needed everywhere. Children were often kidnapped or raped. It seemed that no matter where one looked, the earth was corrupt and filled with violence.

Now all that has changed.

In his early 60s, John finally sees hope for humanity—and enjoys living peacefully side-by-side with his neighbors. He works as a building supervisor on new energy-efficient housing complexes in the center of what used to be the capital of a prominent, war-torn Middle East nation. The project is part of a major reconstruction initiative following widespread destruction caused by an earth-shattering battle, now only a distant memory. In fact, much of the equipment he uses on the job has been fashioned from the very weapons that once caused widespread terror.

Rather than hot, barren mountains and desolate desert, the area where John lives is now a fertile valley, yielding lush agricultural products. His beautiful, newly constructed village is filled with citizens who, like him, recently returned to the area after it was restored to a more arable state. The fields around his dwelling, once littered by radioactive debris resulting from nuclear war, are now covered with trees and fields of flowers. Each home also has land around it and gardens where people can comfortably sit in the shade of their own trees and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Unlike the broken down, scattered parks and recreation areas of his childhood, playgrounds are commonplace. Each is full of laughing boys and girls, enjoying activities—free of teasing or bullying. Even wild animals, which once violently competed with humans over dwindling food resources, now have plenty of space to roam and pose no threat.

Absent from his village—and villages everywhere—are hospitals, nursing homes, emergency care facilities and prisons. As everyone has access to clean water and healthful food, disease is non-existent and such institutions are no longer necessary.

This situation describes the world that man has attempted to bring about for millennia, but failed. Drastic change is necessary to make this happen. War will have to end. The environment will need to be cleaned up. This will ensure people are happy and productive, leading fulfilling, abundant lives.

Unlike the sad state of affairs and dire predictions outlined in Scenario I, you can expect a peaceful 2050! But how will such dramatic change occur?

Lesson of History

Look at the results of successive societies, governments and civilizations of man. Not one has survived the passing of time. The continual tragedies of countless wars, rampant pollution, ever-present unhappiness and scourges such as disease, slavery and corruption, should bring any person to ask, “Why?”

Examining this flawless track record of failure, one can surmise that mankind cannot solve its problems. But this begs the same question: “Why?”

To this, there is truly only one answer—one that most will never bring themselves to admit.

Consider an analogy. Suppose you bought a house that was in need of a new coat of paint, but during further inspection, you discovered it had a cracked and unsure foundation. Would you continue with plans to paint the house? Of course not!

You would fix the foundation, understanding that no matter how beautiful you made the outside of your home, a structure built on a faulty foundation would not last. If the damage was so severe that repair was impossible, the only solution would be to demolish the structure, lay a new foundation and start fresh.

Now look back to the history of mankind. Unknown to almost everyone, economies, governments, social structures and religions of man have been built on a wrong foundation. No matter how hard people try to change society, solutions of lasting value are never found.

It is this fact that lies behind the continuous failures of mankind. With every successive attempt, from monarchy to democracy, only different “coats of paint” are applied to the “structures” of society.

Nothing man alone can do will remove the bad effects plaguing the world. This should be the towering lesson of history. For him to survive, the foundation upon which he has built his ideas, attitudes, governments and religions—his very way of life—must change.

Vain Attempts

Examine nearly every plot of novels or Hollywood motion pictures. The core motivations of the characters in these fictional accounts are the same: vanity, jealousy, lust and greed. Sometimes, the protagonists in these stories want something better for themselves and others, but are hindered by these four characteristics.

The real world is no different. Vanity, jealousy, lust and greed are everyday evils, whether on the streets of New York City or the plains of Sudan. These inherent characteristics of human nature stop any real progress toward creating a better society.

There is an oft-quoted saying: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” This idea has long been found in the pages of the Bible: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12, New King James Version).

Mankind has tried the same solutions over and over again, with the same results—always missing the vital key to permanent change. With every attempt to remove evil from the world, man fails to realize that he is not merely trying to alter world conditions, but rather striving to change human nature itself.

This cannot be done on human steam alone! Here is why: the fundamental problems plaguing him are not physical. They are spiritual. Though he may be well-meaning, man is not equipped of and by himself to solve these problems. He is unable to see the true problem.

To stop this cycle of failure, man must first look long and hard at himself by examining the only spiritual source that truly explains human nature—the Bible: “There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways” (Rom. 3:10-16).

These facts must be accepted before any real change can occur.

Global Deception

Yet there is an even deeper problem that stands in the way of progress toward the positive society detailed above. This knowledge makes plain the faulty foundation man has relied on for thousands of years.

Read II Corinthians 4:4: “In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not…”

Ephesians further describes this being: “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:2-3).

Who is the “god of this world” and “prince of the power of the air” who blinds the minds of men? The answer is in Revelation 12:9: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world…”

Realize what you just read. Satan—the god of this world—has successfully deceived the entire world. In reality, human nature is actually Satan’s nature, as he influences the thoughts and actions of mankind. Blinded by this evil being, man has stumbled in darkness for thousands of years, trying every form of solution only to find that new coats of paint will not fix a faulty foundation. (Read our booklet Did God Create Human Nature?)

True Foundation

The concept of Satan’s power is illustrated through the well-known confrontation between Jesus and the devil. During a tremendous battle of wills, Satan took Christ to a high mountain and, in a vision, showed Him all the kingdoms and powers of the world (Luke 4:5). Satan then said to Him, “I will give You all their power and grandeur, for it has been made over to me and I can give it to anyone I choose” (vs. 6-7, Moffatt translation).

How did Christ respond? Did He dispute or deny the devil’s claim of possessing world-ruling authority? Did He say, “What are you talking about, Satan? You can’t give Me what doesn’t belong to you! God rules this world, not you”?

No. Jesus simply said, “Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matt. 4:10).

But there is more to the exchange between Satan and Christ than meets the eye. In overcoming Satan, Jesus qualified to replace him on the earth’s throne, which He will possess at His Return. It is at this time that He will remove the current ruler of the world, change human nature, and implement and enforce laws that will bring peace, happiness and contentment. This will allow true change to take place.

While one might think human beings will welcome Christ’s Return, the world will not immediately receive its new ruler with open arms. Notice verse 18 of Revelation 11 says at that time that “the nations were angry.”

God’s Word reveals that the nations of Earth will not be happy, because they will not be ready to accept, or understand, what is happening. Raw human nature will explode into the open. Enormous armies will actually try to attack and destroy Jesus Christ (Rev. 17:14). People will have been taught—even programmed to believe—that the real Christ is the antichrist! This will result in a final climactic battle near Jerusalem (Zech. 14:1-2). (To understand more about this misunderstood conflict, read our article What Is Armageddon?)

Christ’s Return is detailed in verse 3: “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle”—completely defeating them. Verse 4 states, “His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives…”

Yet, with Christ’s victory, the words of Revelation 11:15 will ring true: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.”

World to Come

When Jesus Christ returns to Earth, a total transformation will begin. He will bring with Him a restoration of God’s way of life. The peoples of all nations will sit before Christ on His throne. The government of God will be restored to Earth. Mankind will be in the process of rebuilding and learning how to apply God’s Law.

Early on, a new language will be taught around the world. “For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent” (Zeph. 3:9).

Imagine how this process might be reported in the media of tomorrow, as shown by The Worldwide News, one of the predecessors of The Real Truth: “Re-education and literacy made great strides this month, as thousands of additional schools continued instituting the [Pure Language] program, as directed by [Jesus Christ from Jerusalem,] the world capital.

“Rapidly dropping out of the vocabulary are myriad paganisms…”

“Since telling the absolute truth is held as the only standard for earth now, and no protestations, affirmations, assurances, repetitions or recapitulations are necessary, many other useless old expressions are passing into retirement. Among them: ‘You don’t say???’ (when he just did say it!), or ‘Is that so?’ (when he just said it was so), or ‘Is that right??’ (when he just said it was right), and ‘Really?,’ ‘Are you sure?’ and ‘no kidding?’”

World conditions today and the nightmare predictions for 2050 in the previous article are based on the continuation of Satan’s way of life—rebellion, strife, competition, jealousy, lust and greed. In contrast, with Christ ruling from the world headquarters in Jerusalem, mankind will live in a world under God’s Law.

All false gods will have been exposed for what they are, removed and destroyed. The entire world will worship the true God.

All wars will come to an end—along with every form of violence and hate.

Relationships will be happy for life, with adultery becoming nonexistent. All children will obey and honor their parents, who will teach them God’s Way from birth.

Every form of dishonesty will disappear. This means a world without locks, keys, security systems, and bank vaults—and where nothing ever needs to be kept in a safe. There will be no sickness or illness of any kind, and all people will enjoy perfect, robust health as they were intended (III John 2).

The landscape will be beautiful and clean, with no urban blight or slums. No portion of humanity will be degenerate or backward because of religious superstition, poor health conditions or illiteracy. Everyone will be concerned with giving instead of getting, which will ensure all people have more than enough for themselves.

Unlike the bleak picture previously painted about 2050 in Scenario I of this series, a bright new world is just ahead.

Sound too good to be true? It is as sure as the rising of tomorrow’s sun. Read David C. Pack’s book Tomorrow’s Wonderful World – An Inside View!