The Restoration of All Things

The “Lord’s Prayer” is the most repeated prayer among Protestants and is recited by Roman Catholics as well. I grew up with a Protestant background and well remember Sunday morning services where the military chaplain would say, “And now, as our Lord taught us to pray,” before we would all join with him in reciting what has been known as the Lord’s Prayer. But did we understand the words we were repeating? For the majority, the answer must be no.

This prayer—taken from the words of Matthew 6:9–13—was not meant to be repeatedly recited but was given by Jesus as an outline of how to pray in response to His disciples’ request for Him to “teach us to pray.” It was a “model” prayer, as many Bible versions even indicate in the header placed above it. Notice what Jesus actually said: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do…. In this manner, therefore, pray” (Matthew 6:7, 9). After acknowledging God’s greatness, we come to these words: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Why pray for God’s Kingdom to come? Why pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? What does that even mean?

Why Does God Allow Satan to Rule the World (for Now)?

The well-known hymn “This Is My Father’s World” may be comforting, but it is a mixture of truth and error. It is true that God created the rocks and trees, the skies and seas, and that He is the supreme Ruler over all things, but the sense of the hymn is that this entire world is under His direct guidance. Is our world today truly God’s world? Is it His will that is being done on the earth?

The Bible gives us an emphatic answer, as does observation: No, it is not! Scripture calls the ruler of this world the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” Yes, it is Satan the Devil who directs “the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:2). God does step in from time to time to affect His overall plan, but He has generally taken His hands off ruling the earth. Why?

The answer is found in God’s plan for mankind. His purpose is far greater than that which is being taught in mainstream “Christianity.” He has not given us life on earth to live out having as much fun as we possibly can, only to die and go to eternal retirement in heaven or eternal torment in hell.

Before the creation of man, God created the angelic host, among whom was the powerful cherub Lucifer. The angels shouted for joy when Earth was created, as this planet was to be their home, and over that home this cherub—a high-ranking angel—was given a throne (see Isaiah 14:12–13). He was to administer God’s government on earth—but he was not satisfied with that.

Lucifer thought he knew better than his Creator, so he tried to knock God off His throne (Isaiah 14:13–14) and influenced a third of the angels to join him in his rebellion (Revelation 12:3–4, 9). But his coup d’état failed, and Lucifer was cast back to the earth (Luke 10:18).

God’s government over the earth thus ceased, but He did not remove the Adversary. God has a high purpose for mankind, and He needs to know that we will be loyal to Him.

Our first parents chose to follow our Adversary rather than our Creator, and the result has been nothing but sorrow and heartache. Adam and Eve’s offspring have individually and collectively chosen to follow the way of the rebellious ruler who is directing the course of this world. God tells us we are male and female, but mankind declares that there are more than two genders. He tells us to remain faithful to our husband or wife, but other voices tell us that a little adultery is good for a marriage. He tells us the day of the week that He made holy, but most of mainstream “Christianity” would rather follow the flawed traditions of Emperor Constantine, who declared a different day as holy. God gives us seven annual Holy Days and Festivals that map out His master plan for humanity, but mainstream “Christianity” thinks pagan celebrations with Christ’s name attached to them are a better idea.

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30). And Paul explained that “even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose mindsthe god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4).

Why We Need to Pray “Your Kingdom Come” and “God’s Will Be Done”

So, we must ask: When people pray “Your kingdom come,” do they realize what they are praying? Further, when they add, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” do they realize that the will of God is not the rule of the day?

We are told that Satan has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). That includes the world’s approaches to government, healthcare, commerce and industry, entertainment, religion—and, yes, even mainstream “Christianity.” This should not come as a shock, as Jesus Himself warned that false Christianity would be a hallmark of our time. “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4–5).

Don’t misunderstand what Jesus meant when He said, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ.’” The context tells us not that these deceivers would claim that title for themselves, but that they would proclaim that Jesus is the Christ—the Anointed One or Messiah. In other words, they would merchandise off His name. They would claim His authority, say He is the Messiah, and deceive not the few, but the many.

Look around at the world of “Christianity.” Consider how different Catholicism and Protestantism are. Consider the differences between Evangelicals and Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Methodists. You may not know all the differences, but I think you know there are a great many of them. Do we really think God has left it up to each of us to decide how we are to worship Him? Can we not sense the frustration behind Jesus’ words in Luke 6:46? “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’” He asked, “and not do the things which I say?”

When I was growing up, I had no idea what I was repeating in prayer, and I seriously doubt that anyone else in the congregation understood, either. We were simply mouthing words we had memorized—sincerely, but in total ignorance. We knew about Adam giving in to the serpent’s temptation, but we did not know that Satan the Devil was and still is the god of this world. We did not know that we pray for God’s will to “be done on earth as it is in heaven” because the government of God is not on earth today—not yet!

What Is God’s Will?

The true good news, the real Gospel of Jesus Christ, can be summed up like this: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19–21). You can learn more by ordering our free resource What Is the Meaning of Life? from TomorrowsWorld.org or from the Regional Office nearest you.