Third World Living

Genesis 1:31

I recently returned from a country in central Africa that would be considered a 'third world' country. Zambia was a country that is destitute. The government is corrupt, the people are suffering, and there is very little hope that anything will change.

We are somewhat familiar with the term 'third world'. It has come to mean a place where the people are in great need. It speaks of great poverty and sickness. A place we might visit, but we surely wouldn't want to live there.

It may surprise you to learn that we are living in a 'third world' system. It is a world where there is much poverty and sickness, and a world where the people are in great need. Right now you may be thinking that I have returned with jungle fever and I am talking nonsense, but let me explain what I am talking about this morning. We are living in the 'third world' system. When we look to the Scriptures, we find that there are five world systems explained in detail.

I. The "very good" world of Creation.

II. The "world that then was" the 'fallen' world. (Gen. 3-6; 2 Pet. 3:6a)

III. The "heavens and the earth, which are now" (2 Pet. 3:7)

IV. The fourth world will be the Millennial kingdom of Christ. (Rev. 20:4-6)

V. The fifth and final world will be the "new heavens and new earth". (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21: 22)