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God’s promises about the future are certain because it is under God’s control. Christians should live on the basis that these promises, which focus on the return of Jesus Christ, will be fulfilled.

God controls the future

God knows the future Ex 3:19-20 See also Dt 31:21; 2Sa 7:19 pp 1Ch 17:17; Ps 139:4; Isa 42:9; Isa 46:10; Da 2:28; Ac 2:23; Ac 3:18

God can reveal the future Da 2:45 See also Ge 15:13-16; Ge 41:25; 1Sa 9:15-16; 2Ki 8:10; Da 8:19; Da 10:14; Mt 2:13; Ac 18:9-10; Ac 27:22-24

The future is unknown to human beings

Ecc 8:7 See also Pr 27:1; Ecc 3:22; Ecc 7:14; Ecc 9:12; Ecc 10:14; Mt 24:42-43; Ac 20:22; Jas 4:14

There is a future hope for believers

It is based on God’s promise Jer 31:17 See also Ps 37:37; Pr 23:18; Pr 24:14; Isa 60:15

Future blessings are guaranteed Jer 29:11 See also Ge 17:7; Lev 26:3-5; Dt 6:2; Dt 30:9; Isa 30:23; Isa 65:23; Am 9:13

Future blessings are superior to present experiences Php 1:21-23 See also Ge 22:17-18; Mt 19:29 pp Mk 10:29-30 pp Lk 18:29-30; Ro 8:18-25; 1Pe 5:4; 1Jn 3:2

Key aspects of future hope

Believers will go to heaven 1Pe 1:4 See also Lk 16:22; Lk 23:43; Jn 14:2-3; 2Co 5:1; Col 1:5; 1Th 4:16-17

Jesus Christ will come again Ac 1:11 See also Da 7:13; Mt 24:30 pp Mk 13:26 pp Lk 21:27; Php 3:20; 1Th 4:16; 2Th 2:1; Heb 9:28; Jas 5:8

The dead will rise 1Co 15:52 See also Da 12:2; Jn 5:28-29; Jn 6:39-40; Ac 24:15; 2Co 4:14; Rev 20:4-5,12

Final judgment 2Co 5:10 See also Ps 62:12; Mt 16:27; Mt 25:31-32; Heb 9:27; 2Pe 3:7; 1Jn 4:17; Jude 14-15; Rev 20:13

The devil and evil will be destroyed Isa 25:7-8 See also 2Th 2:8; Heb 2:14; Rev 7:16; Rev 11:18; Rev 19:20-21; Rev 20:10

God’s kingdom will be fully established Rev 11:15 See also Isa 11:6-9; Zec 14:9; 1Co 15:24; Rev 21:1-5

Believers’responsibility towards future generations

Jos 4:6-7 The twelve stones taken from the bed of the river Jordan is one of several instances where God’s people are told to preserve memorials of present blessings for the sake of future generations. See also Ex 12:25-27; Ex 16:32-33; Dt 6:20-21; Jos 4:21-22; Jos 22:27; Ps 22:30; Ps 45:17

Proper attitudes towards the future

Looking forwards rather than backwards Php 3:13-14 See also Ge 19:17; Isa 43:18-19; Col 3:1-2; Heb 12:1-2

Having perseverance and faith 1Co 15:58 See also Gal 6:9; Heb 11:6-8,17-19; 1Pe 1:13; Rev 3:11

Avoiding occult predictions and false prophecies Jer 27:9 See also Isa 44:25-26; Jer 29:8; Eze 13:3-7; Zec 10:2; Ac 16:16-18

See also