The Bible contains many prophecies of Jesus Christ's return, the time when He will intervene in the affairs of mankind in a way that this world has never before experienced.

For example, Revelation 11:15 tells us that He will return to reign over the entire earth: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (emphasis added throughout)

Zechariah 14:4 reveals that when He returns, "in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives," the mountain that looms over Jerusalem on the city's east side. Verse 9 shows that "the Lord shall be King over all the earth" after His return.

So how will He reign at that time? What will His rule be like? Let's focus on one aspect of His coming rule—the compassion, care and concern of the coming Christ.

Help to the poor and needy

In Amos 9:13 we read the promise that He is returning to end famine and hunger. "'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.'"

Countless people around the world go to bed every night hungry and thirsty. Often this famine and thirst is caused by other human beings. In many places resources such as food and water are available, but political corruption and greed prevent supplies from reaching the poor and hungry. Thus, millions have been treated as pawns in power struggles among the high and mighty.

When Jesus comes, the poor and needy of this world will finally be rescued! Indeed, "the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10).

In Psalm 9:9 we read that Jesus the Messiah will be "a refuge for the oppressed." Psalm 72:4 promises that "He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy." Yes, the rule of Jesus Christ will be characterized by care and compassion for every human being.

In Isaiah 9:6 we read of both the first and second comings of Christ. Some of His names and titles listed here are "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God." As Mighty God, He will assure that "of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (verse 7).

His coming will guarantee that the unavoidable cruelty associated with warfare will no longer exist. Under His reign mankind "shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Micah 4:3-4). The Bible promises that peace will flow "like a river" (Isaiah 66:12).

No longer will families and children suffer the consequences of war. The coming King "will reign in righteous-ness" (Isaiah 32:1). The result of this righteousness will be "peace . . . quietness and assurance forever" (verse 17).

Safety and peace for children

And regarding children, He promises, "Great shall be the peace of your children" (Isaiah 54:13). No longer will anyone be abducted, kidnapped and molested. Jesus is coming to assure their safety and protection. He will personally enforce peace and security (Revelation 2:27).

Families and young children will be able to camp "safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods" (Ezekiel 34:25). Families "shall be safe in their land" (verse 27). Today horrible crimes take place in the most beautiful and supposedly peaceful settings on the face of the earth. These crimes will cease after Jesus returns.

He will even tame the wild beasts (verse 25) so that they will never again attack and devour people. Safety and security will be commonplace in Christ's Kingdom.

God's Word draws the comparison of a loving and caring mother in describing the compassionate rule of Jesus Christ. When He reigns as King, He will comfort His subjects as a mother comforts her own children (Isaiah 66:13).

In fact, the entirety of Isaiah 66 is quite instructive. His compassionate rule will start in Jerusalem (verses 10, 13) before spreading to all nations of the earth (verse 18).

Compassion for the prisoners

Scripture also shows that Jesus Christ is coming to show compassion to prisoners. He is coming "to bring out prisoners from the prison," and "those who sit in darkness from the prison house" (Isaiah 42:7).

His coming will usher in the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy that He will "proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).

Christ will deal with several general classes of prisoners in the world today. One large group will be those whose nations will have been decimated by war in the horrible times leading up to Christ's return, with the defeated survivors having been imprisoned in slave-labor camps like those of World War II.

The largest group of prisoners is the human race as a whole—held captive under the rule of Satan and sin. Christ is coming to set the world free.

Another group is those who are unjustly incarcerated, having committed no crime yet suffering at the hands of an imperfect and often brutal system—as in the story of Joseph (see Genesis 39:19-23). Those who oppose the tyrannical governmental system that will exist at the time of the end will be persecuted, with many likely unjustly imprisoned.

Regardless of their circumstances, all will have the opportunity to build new lives in a new society governed by God's knowledge in which "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).

Righteous government at last

The world of today is characterized by decisions too often based on prejudice, racism, sexism and hearsay. Not so in Christ's Kingdom. "He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity [fairness] for the meek of the earth" (Isaiah 11:3-4). The day is coming when all the cares of the poor and needy will at last be addressed.

Righteousness will permeate all aspects of government. Jesus will stand as "our Judge," "our Lawgiver" and "our King" (Isaiah 33:22). This is the familiar three branches of government (judicial, legislative and executive) found in the United States and in other nations. All too often, human governments' service to their constituents is woefully inadequate.

The difference with Jesus Christ's government, this verse tells us, is that "He will save us." In other words, His government will not ignore or fail to address the needs of people, but it will consistently care for them and bring them to salvation.

God's Word uses the most picturesque of terms to describe the mission of Jesus Christ. He is described as the gentle Shepherd who gathers "the lambs with His arm," and who will "carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young" (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus the King will teach, exemplify and put into practice a tenderness that has never before been seen on a worldwide basis.

When Jesus came to the earth the first time, He came to fulfill the role of "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He came to die for the sins of humanity. When He returns, He will come as " King of kings and lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). His limitless powers will enforce 1,000 years of peace, joy, comfort and safety (Revelation 20:4).

As we pray to God "Your kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10), let us rejoice in the knowledge of the coming compassionate and caring rule of Jesus Christ! GN