The churches think the Bible teaches final triumph of christian principles in the conversion of all nations; while we believe that the glories of that age will be ushered in by the personal and visible Advent of Jesus, the resurrection and change of his saints and the destruction of his enemies. Hence all admit our license to inquire and speak the nature of that age, and certainly we have liberty to learn what the scriptures say on the subject. Luke 20:34,35: "And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world [age] marry and are given in marriage; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world [age] and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage." "That world" is placed in contrast with "this world" - in "this" they marry and are given in marriage, in "that" they shall do neither; but are exempt from death and are like the angels.
Thus he teaches a future and peculiar age, to enjoy which we must also obtain the resurrection from the dead. It will be an age of rewards, "Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God." "Verily, I say unto you, That ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Our Father's Kingdom for which we now pray will then have come, when His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
It will be "the day of the Lord," "the day of judgment & perdition of ungodly men," "in which the heavens and earth which are now shall pass away and the promised New Heavens and earth appear. This identifies "the age to come" with "the times of restitution," " Apokalastasix , restoration of any thing to its former state, hence, the introduction of a new and better era: and "the times of refreshing" " Anapsuxis , refreshing coolness after heat, recreation, rest." The identity of "the times restitution" with "The Dispensation of the fullness of times" Eph. 1:10 is also apparent. As Peter in Ac. 3: presents the two cardinal points in the atonement, conversion present, and blotting out of sins future: So Paul in this Epistle, ch. 1:7, says, "In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." At the same time we receive the Holy Spirit of promise, the earnest of our inheritance, ver. 13,14, which makes known to us the mystery of his will, "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together all things [en, in, or by,] Christ, :" "Which is his body, the fulness of him filleth all in all." heaven and which are on earth." This gathering is the future object of hope the same as the redemption [ deliverance procured by the payment of a ransom] of the purchased possession.
Ver 14; The things to be gathered are in heaven and earth.