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Biblical Reasons Why We Should
And Practical Suggestions on How We Can
Create Heaven on Earth
Is it our goal, our purpose, to create heaven on earth? Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.
And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
(Luke 11:2)Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:10)
The Westminster Larger Catechism explains this part of the Lord's Prayer in this way:
Question 190: What do we pray for in the first petition?
Answer: In the first petition (which is, Hallowed be thy name), acknowledging the
utter inability and indisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honor God aright,
we pray,
Question 191: What do we pray for in the second petition?
Answer: In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come),
• acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by
nature under the dominion of sin and Satan,
we pray,
Question 192: What do we pray for in the third petition?
Answer: In the third petition (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven),
we pray,
Let's look at the Biblical prooftexts appended to the answers by the Westminster Assembly. In some places the Westminster Assembly clearly supports our view that we should be working to create heaven on earth. In other places, some questions are raised. For each part of the answer and for each of the Scripture texts supplied by the authors, there are further questions we should be alert to answer.
| Q. 190. What do we pray for in the
first petition? A. In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed by thy name,[1]) |
[1] Matthew 6:9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. | |
| acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honor God aright,[2] | [2]
2 Corinthians 3:5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any
thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. Psalm 51:15. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. |
Is God's Grace more powerful than Man's depravity? To what degree? Will the Second Adam be able to reverse the damage done by the First Adam? To what degree? Will Christ be victorious in history, or will victory only be achieved when Jesus gives up and ends the game by saying "I'm going to take My ball and go home." |
| we pray, that God would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem him,[3] | [3] Psalm 67:2-3. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. | Will a neighbor's behavior be changed if he "highly esteems" God and the things God highly esteems? A neighborhood? A city? A state? A Nation? A world? Is it enough for people to "praise God" without changing their behavior? |
| his titles,[4] | [4] Psalm 83:18. That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. | What does it mean to "know" that God is "most high over all the earth." Does this imply a change of behavior compared with those who do not "know?" |
| attributes,[5] | [5] Psalm 86:10-13, 15. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.... But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. | If we come to know that God is "full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth," will that change the way we behave? If we behave the way God and the angels in heaven behave, will life on earth become more heavenly? |
| ordinances, Word,[6] | [6]
2 Thessalonians 3:1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the
Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. Psalm 147:19-20. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 138:1-3. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. |
America's "organic law" declares that "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." As a result, schools used to teach the Bible. This is no longer the case, and as a result, ignorance violence, drug addiction, and illegitimacy have all increased. If schools taught all children "His statutes and His judgments," would life in the next generation be more heavenly? Is it enough for us to pray that God's Name would be hallowed without taking some concrete action to bring about that result? What does God promise will happen if we observe His statutes and judgments? |
| works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by;[7] | [7]
Psalm 145. I will extol thee, my God, O king, etc. Psalm 8. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, etc. |
|
| and to glorify him in thought, word,[8] | [8]
Psalm 103:1. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
his holy name. Psalm 19:14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. |
Why did the Psalmist not pray, "Let my actions and behavior be acceptable in thy sight O LORD" ? |
| and deed:[9] | [9] Philippians 1:9, 11. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.... Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. | How does our love hallow the name of God? Is it enough to pray "Hallowed be Thy Name" without working to increase love? |
| that he would prevent and remove atheism,[10] | [10] Psalm 67:1-4. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. | |
| ignorance,[11] | [11] Ephesians 1:17-18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. | |
| idolatry,[12] | [12] Psalm 97:7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship Him, all ye gods. | |
| profaneness,[13] | [13] Psalm 74:18, 22-23. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.... Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually. | |
| and whatsoever is dishonorable to him;[14] | [14] 2 Kings 19:15-16. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. | |
| and, by his over-ruling providence, direct and dispose of all things to his own glory.[15] | [15]
2 Chronicles 20:6, 10-12. And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou
God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in
thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand
thee?... And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou
wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they
turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to
come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our
God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company
that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. Psalm 83. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, etc. Psalm 140:4, 8. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.... Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah. |
| Q. 191. What do we pray for in the
second petition? A. In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom come,[16]) |
[16] Matthew 6:10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. | |
| acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan,[17] | [17] Ephesians 2:2-3. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh 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. | |
| we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed,[18] | [18]
Psalm 68:1. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that
hate him flee before him.... Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity
captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the
LORD God might dwell among them. Revelation 12:10-11. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. |
|
| the gospel propagated throughout the world,[19] | [19] 2 Thessalonians 3:1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. | |
| the Jews called,[20] | [20] Romans 10:1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. | |
| the fullness of the Gentiles brought in;[21] | [21]
John 17:9, 20. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them
which thou hast given me; for they are thine.... Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. Romans 11:25-26. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Psalm 67. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. |
|
| the church furnished with all gospel-officers and ordinances,[22] | [22]
Matthew 9:38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send
forth labourers into his harvest. 2 Thessalonians 3:1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. |
|
| purged from corruption,[23] | [23]
Malachi 1:11. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of
the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense
shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great
among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. Zephaniah 3:9. 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. |
|
| countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate:[24] | [24] 1 Timothy 2:1-2. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. | |
| that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted:[25] | [25]
Acts 4:29-30. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy
servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth
thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy
child Jesus. Ephesians 6:18-20. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Romans 15:29-30, 32. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.... That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. |
|
| that Christ would rule in our hearts here,[26] | [26] Ephesians 3:14-20. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. | |
| and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever:[27] | [27] Revelation 22:20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. | |
| and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.[28] | [28]
Isaiah 64:1-2. Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest
come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence. As when the melting
fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine
adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! Revelation 4:8-11. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. |
| Q. 192. What do we pray for in the
third petition? A. In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,[29]) |
[29] Matthew 6:10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. | |
| acknowledging, that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and do the will of God,[30] | [30]
Romans 7:18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good
thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I
find not. Job 21:14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 1 Corinthians 2:14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. |
|
| but prone to rebel against his Word,[31] | [31] Romans 8:7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. | |
| to repine and murmur against his providence,[32] | [32]
Exodus 17:7. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah,
because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the
LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? Numbers 14:2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! |
|
| and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh, and of the devil:[33] | [33] Ephesians 2:2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. | |
| we pray, that God would by his Spirit take away from ourselves and others all blindness,[34] | [34] Ephesians 1:17-18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. | |
| weakness,[35] | [35] Ephesians 3:16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. | |
| indisposedness,[36] | [36] Matthew 26:40-41. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. | |
| and perverseness of heart;[37] | [37] Jeremiah 31:18-19. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. | |
| and by his grace make us able and willing to know, do, and submit to his will in all things,[38] | [38]
Psalm 119:1, 8, 35-36. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in
the law of the LORD.... I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly....
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline
my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Acts 21:14. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. |
|
| with the like humility,[39] | [39] Micah 6:8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? | |
| cheerfulness,[40] | [40]
Psalm 100:2. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with
singing. Job 1:21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 2 Samuel 15:25-26. And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. |
|
| faithfulness,[41] | [41] Isaiah 38:3. And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. | |
| diligence,[42] | [42] Psalm 119:4-5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! | |
| zeal,[43] | [43] Romans 12:11. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. | |
| sincerity,[44] | [44] Psalm 119:80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed. | |
| and constancy,[45] | [45] Psalm 119:112. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end. | |
| as the angels do in heaven.[46] | [46]
Isaiah 6:2-3. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with
twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he
did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of
hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Psalm 103:20-21. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Matthew 18:10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. |
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