The Sound of the Trumpet:  To preserve, publish, proclaim, plant, protect, and propagate the Abrahamic
Faith.  A publication of the Carolina and Georgia Conferences of the Churches of God of the Abrahamic Faith.
      Of Shangri-Las and Utopias
                               Wally Winner

Ponce de Leon spent 18 years looking for the fabled "Fountain of Youth". He bathed in every waterfall and stream he came
across.

Four hundred years ago, Sir Thomas More wrote about a world where everything was perfect. He called that place UTOPIA.

Plato, the Greek philosopher, wrote about an ideal government. This government was perfect in organization and rulership. He
wrote about it in a book called "THE REPUBLIC".

James Hilton wrote in his book called "LOST HORIZON" about a land that had the very best included and the worst excluded.
He called the place "Shangri-La".

A place where everything is perfect has been the ultimate dream of people everywhere through all ages. I can't think of a
religion of the world that does not stress that there is something better than what we presently have. A place where we can pick
an apple and lay under the tree eating the fruit in the shade. And when we get tired of that we could get UP and stroll over to
the peach tree and go through the whole process again.

God has outlined a Kingdom in the Bible. It is one that takes the best of all the dreams.

Where Will This Kingdom Be?
Land...real land was promised to Abraham (Genesis 13:14-17; 17:7-8). The same promises were given to his son Isaac
(Genesis 16:1-3) and on to Jacob (Genesis 28:10-15). They never received the land, but knew they would someday (Hebrews
11:13).

The land is also reserved for the spiritual seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). That is why the scripture tells us such things as,
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5 See also Revelation 5:9, 10).

From the description of the reign of the Messiah in Psalm 2 to the Lord's prayer, we see the promise to make this earth our
habitation (Psalm 2:6, 8; 25:13; 37:3, 9, 11, 22, 29, 34; Proverbs 10:30; Isaiah 57:13; Zechariah 9:10; Matthew 6:10.

So God's kingdom will be on the earth.

What About The Kingdom Of Heaven?
Doesn't Matthew also say, "Blessed are the pure in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3)?

The "kingdom of heaven" and the "kingdom of God" are interchangeable terms. Matthew is the only writer to use the term
"kingdom of heaven." It is for a very good reason. He was writing to the Jewish people. It was forbidden for a Jew to utter the
name of God or write it. They would use the typogram or make a reference that was undoubtedly a replacement for God.

Matthew used the term kingdom of heaven then to refer to the kingdom of God. Matthew uses the term 32 times.

The term "Kingdom of God" is used five times in Matthew, 15 times in Mark, 33 times in Luke, two times in John and 16 times in
the rest of the New Testament.

Jerusalem Will Be The Central City
Jerusalem is God's capitol city (Zechariah 1:17; Psalm 48:1, 2; Micah 4:1, 2, 7). It will be the center of activity and worship

"For the Lord God shall dwell in Zion and we shall see him as He is,...face to face" (Joel 3:17; see Revelation. 22:4).

What Will the Kingdom Be Like?
There will be peace among people (Isaiah 2:4). There will be peace among animals. Peace between people and animals (Isaiah
11:6-9). I don't know if it is possible, but I will put this theory forth: women will no longer jump when they see a mouse (some of
you men, too). It will be a world completely at peace (Micah 4:3).

We won't have to worry about record low weather, frozen water pipes, cars that won't start and long underwear. Nor will we
have to worry about suffering through heat waves, sweating and high humidity.

All the disabilities of man will be healed.
God shall "strengthen the feeble arms, steady the tottering knees. Then shall the blind man's eyes be opened and the ears of
the deaf be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall shout aloud" (Isaiah
35:4-6).

There will be no more pain, sorrow or death (Isaiah 65:20; 1 Corinthians: 15:26, 54; Revelation 21:4).

Which Pursuit?
Oh, people will continue to chase after the dreams of Utopias and Shangri Las, but they could have the reality of the Kingdom
of God. Why will they fritter away their time on lost dreams of perfect worlds? Why will they spend time looking for the elusive
"Fountain of Youth"?

No other thought or pursuit is as important right now as the soon-coming Kingdom of God.