Cosmic Conflict

We live in a world where evil exists. Think of the barbaric atrocities of terrorist group ISIS as it seeks to expand its territory. Having established a caliphate, it insists that believers observe all sharia laws and in theory, those who don’t live in ISIS-controlled territory should emigrate there. Rejected by most Muslims, ISIS, in its interpretation of early Islam, is committed to purifying the world by killing any number of people. It views itself as a harbinger of the imminent apocalyptic end of the world and the day of judgement. It believes that it has an obligation to terrorise its enemies with beheadings, crucifixions and enslavement of women and 

1. How did God view His new creation when He made this world? Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” 

2. Who did God place in charge of this new creation? Genesis 1:26, 27 “God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule . . . over all the earth.’ . . . Male and female he created them.” He put them “in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). 

3. What rebellion took place in heaven? Revelation 12:7-9 "And there 

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6. What was accomplished by Jesus’ death? Hebrews 2:14 “By his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.” 

This world will not end and a new one begin through ISIS’s brutality. Jesus— God the Son—will come to earth again and take His followers to be with Him in heaven (John 14:1–3). A thousand years later He will make a new earth, where God will dwell with His people, and in that world there will be no evil, nor will there be “death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).