Do You Have Plans to Reprint “The Omega Reunion” or Any Other Writings About the Eternal State?

Summary

Grace in Focus Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode: Do You Have Plans to Reprint “The Omega Reunion” or Any Other Writings About the Eternal State?
Date: March 25, 2026
Hosts: Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates
Runtime (content): Approx. 13 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the nature of the eternal state as imagined in fiction and theology—specifically focusing on the out-of-print novel The Omega Reunion by Frank Carmichael. Hosts Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates respond to listener Doug’s questions about republishing the book and discuss broader questions on what life might be like in the eternal state, drawing from both fanciful fiction and serious biblical speculation.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction to The Omega Reunion and its Legacy

[01:14–02:14]

• Listener Doug asks about The Omega Reunion, a 1990s fictional book by Frank Carmichael.
• The book is set 50,000 years after the millennium, in the eternal state on the new earth.
• Imaginative elements include interplanetary travel, spaceship traffic jams, and a grand banquet in the New Jerusalem to honor the children killed in Bethlehem at Christ’s birth.

Notable Moment:

• Bob recounts, “I think there’s a phrase and it says something like, ‘you died for me and I died for you’, or something like that. You know, you died when I was born and then I died for you to make eternal life.” (Bob Wilkin, 02:28)

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2. Speculations on the Eternal State

[02:15–06:47]

• Discussion about the potential for continuous population growth and expansion (citing Alexander Patterson’s 1898 book The Greater Life and Works of Jesus).
• Patterson and others speculate the Abrahamic promise of descendants as numerous as the stars and sand may be literally fulfilled in the eternal state.
• Ken Yates explains, referencing Patterson, that God may restore His original intent for humanity—fruitful multiplication extended to the entire universe.

Notable Quotes:

• “A lot of people say, well, that’s hyperbole. It just means there’s going to be a big number, and 30 million is a big number. But it’s real clear that on the millennial earth and the new Earth, that Israel is going to be the dominant country, and it’s going to probably have the largest population of any country on Earth. So we’ve not seen anything yet in terms of the size and scope of Israel.” (Ken Yates, 04:14)
• “[A] guy was speculating, how come we have billions or trillions of stars and billions or trillions of planets? ...the reason for all these planets is because eventually we will populate them.” (Ken Yates, 05:05)

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3. Publishing Rights and Reprinting Prospects for The Omega Reunion

[07:23–08:44]

• The Omega Reunion was originally printed by Zane Hodges’ ministry. Since his passing, GES purchased the copyright to these works.
• As of now, there are no immediate plans to reprint it, but that could change.
• Practical difficulties: No electronic copy, would require scanning and editing; prior positive response from Carmichael about possible republication, but would need current confirmation.

Memorable Exchange:

• “And in answer to Doug’s question, no, we don’t plan to republish it at this time, but that could change.” (Ken Yates, 07:59)

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4. Other Writings and Theological Speculation about the Eternal State

[08:44–12:43]

• Shortage of detailed fictional or non-fictional works on life in the eternal state; most theologically conservative content is brief or speculative.
• Mentioned works:
  • John Clay’s commentary on Revelation (esp. Revelation 21–22) touches on this topic.
  • GES producing new Bible study materials on Revelation and Hebrews (release by conference in May).
  • Blogs and at least one YouTube video by Bob Wilkin on what the eternal state will be like.
  • Articles and talks by Philippe Sterling, Bob Bryant, and others at GES conferences.
• The vision: The eternal state will involve meaningful activity—ruling, creativity, the arts, engineering, likely even interplanetary travel and technological innovation. The best of humanity may yet be to come, in paintings, music, science, and exploration.

Notable Quotes:

• “The greatest paintings have not yet been painted. The greatest sculptures have not yet been sculpted. The greatest plays have not yet been written... I expect that things are going to be glorious. And I expect we’re going to have engineers that design spaceships and that design new kinds of vehicles. You know, the kinds of things that science fiction speculates about.” (Bob Wilkin, 10:15)
• “A lot of it is speculation. But the bottom line is the Eternal State is going to be so much better than we can even imagine. And it's sad that so many within Christendom just see it as this boring place where we’re in a choir just singing forever.” (Ken Yates, 12:14)

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5. Practical Takeaways and Resources

[12:43–12:57]

• GES’s website offers a wealth of content (blogs, study guides, recorded conference talks) for those wanting to know more about the eternal state and Free Grace Theology.
• The team is open to future content and possibly reprinting The Omega Reunion depending on interest and feasibility.
• Listeners are encouraged to explore what GES already offers on the subject.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the novel’s depiction of eternal life:
  • “It is an attempt to explain, or what would we say, draw a picture of what it might be like in the eternal state where people are traveling.” (Bob Wilkin, 02:58)
• On traditional views vs. richer speculation:
  • “It’s sad that so many within Christendom just see it as this boring place where we’re in a choir just singing forever.” (Ken Yates, 12:14)
• On creativity’s future:
  • “The greatest songs have not been written. I expect... We’re going to have engineers that design spaceships... The kinds of things science fiction speculates about.” (Bob Wilkin, 10:15)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:14 – Introduction of Doug’s question and The Omega Reunion
• 03:36 – Discussion of Alexander Patterson’s book and the literal fulfillment of biblical promises
• 05:05 – Why does the universe have so many planets? Speculations on populating the cosmos
• 07:25 – Will The Omega Reunion be reprinted? Publishing rights and challenges
• 09:31 – Resources on the eternal state (commentaries, study guides, blogs)
• 10:15 – The promise of creative and technological advancement in the eternal state
• 12:14 – Clarifying that much of this discussion is speculation, but emphasizing the hope and richness of the eternal state

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Conclusion

Through listener interaction, the hosts offer a lively theological and imaginative exploration of what life could be like in the eternal state. They affirm both the limited current material on the subject and the possibility of future reprints or resources (including The Omega Reunion). Ultimately, they leave listeners with an expansive, hope-filled vision of eternity rooted in biblical promise and creative speculation.

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Transcript

[A]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.

[B]

Heaven or the eternal state? What is it going to be like? How will we be occupied? What abilities to travel will we have? Will we be able to see the universe using some sanctified imagination? Today, let's talk about it. And thank you friend for being here. This is Grace in Focus. We are a ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. Our website is faithalone.org we invite you there to to find out more about us. We have a free online seminary where you can earn an M. Div. Degree. We have a magazine that comes out six times per year. It's also called Grace in Focus. It is free as well. And right now we're inviting you to our national annual conference coming up May 18th through the 21st. Our theme will be Believe in Jesus for life. And the theme for kids in our VBS will be crowns and Rewards. Find out more. Get all the [e-mail] and now with today's question and answer discussion, here are Bob Wilken and Ken Yates.

[A]

Bob, we have a question from Doug. I like this question. I like all of our questions. But he says you mentioned something on the December 5th podcast that caught his attention when you referenced an old book. I don't remember what year I've read the book, but it's been the Omega Reunion. The Omega Reunion by Frank Carmichael.

[C]

I think, if I had to guess, it was around 90, early 90s.

[A]

Very early 90s. Yeah. And for those of you who don't know, the Omega Reunion was written by Frank Carmichael and it is a fictional book that talks about like 150,000 years.

[C]

Oh, it's 50,000 years after the millennium.

[A]

Right. It's in the eternal state.

[C]

Right. It's on the new ear.

[A]

Right.

[C]

Except there are people who have populated untold numbers of planets and they have spaceships and Jesus is having a banquet or a conference in the New Jerusalem and people are flying in from planets all over the universe and it is

[A]

for the babies who were killed at Bethlehem when he was born.

[C]

What is the conference?

[A]

That's what the banquet is for. Oh, the banquet is to honor them.

[C]

To honor them.

[A]

I think there's a phrase and it says something like, you died for me and I died for you, or something like that. You know, you died when I was born and then I died for you to make eternal life. Whatever.

[C]

What I remember is this. I think it was a husband and wife coming in and their spaceship gets caught up in a traffic jam. And even though these are people who are in the kingdom and sinless. Yet they're a little bit annoyed by the delay.

[A]

Right, right. Well, the book, as can tell as we're talking about, obviously a fictional account, but it is also an attempt to explain, or what would we say, draw a picture of what it might be like in the eternal state where people are traveling. This woman, by the way, who's traveling is a reporter.

[C]

Oh, that's right. It wasn't a couple, it was a woman.

[A]

Right.

[C]

And by the way, he has a footnote, Frank Carmichael. And I know Frank. He's a good guy. He was very good friends with Art Forstadt. He cites in a footnote Patterson, who in 1898 wrote a book called the Greater Life and Works of Jesus.

[A]

Alexander Patterson, is that right? Yes.

[C]

And Patterson argued that on the new Earth there will be children born, and this will go on forever. Part of it was, you know, in the Hallelujah chorus in Isaiah 9, it says, as to the increase of his government, there shall be no end. And also the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was they would have descendants like the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore. Well, they say there are hundreds of billions or trillions of stars. Israel today has like 30 million.

[A]

And how many grains of sand are there on that?

[C]

Trillions.

[A]

Right.

[C]

So as a result, that promise has not yet been fulfilled. Now, a lot of people say, well, that's hyperbole. It just means there's going to be a big number, and 30 million is a big number. But it's real clear that on the millennial earth and the new Earth, that Israel is going to be the dominant country, and it's going to probably have the largest population of any country on Earth. So we've not seen anything yet in terms of the size and scope of

[A]

Israel plus Alexander Patterson. It's been a while since I read that book, because that book was written in the late 1800s, if I remember right. And part of his argument as well is that God is going to restore his original purpose for creat, and his original purpose for creation in Adam and Eve before they fell was that they would be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. And fill the earth.

[C]

We haven't done that yet.

[A]

Right.

[C]

Let me throw one other thing out. I heard an ETS paper once, Evangelical Theological Society, and the guy was speculating how come we have billions or trillions of stars and billions or trillions of planets. Why all that redundancy? All we need is one planet and one star. We don't need billions. They Say that there are billions of planets that could sustain human life. Why all those planets? Well, this guy said it's because God loves beauty. It's all there because God loves beauty. Well, I think, and Patterson thought, by the way, Philippe Sterling has written on this, Bob Bryan has written on this, Bob Bryant has spoken on this at our conference. I believe Philippe has, that the reason for all these planets is because eventually we will populate them.

[A]

And Adam and Eve would have, if they hadn't sinned.

[C]

If they hadn't have sinned. And by the way, before they sinned, evidently there wouldn't have been things like asteroids. There wouldn't have been things like comets that were going to get in the way. There wouldn't have been things like planets that were dying and stars that were dying and things like that. It would have been a perfect universe. And probably every single planet, not just in the universe but in our solar system, would be inhabitable. We wouldn't have to say, well, we're going to go and terraform Mars so that we can live on Mars. Every galaxy would have had at least one inhabitable planet where we could breathe the oxygen, et cetera. I think that is the idea of what God intended.

[B]

It's coming. It'll be here before you know it. What am I talking about? Talking about the Grace Evangelical Society's National Conference 2026, May 18th through the 21st at Camp Kopas, an absolutely beautiful campground in North Texas, right on the lake with lots of recreation, great food, a great place to stay, wonderful fellowship and wonderful free Grace Bible teaching information and online registration [e-mail] events. First timers waive registration fees. Faithalone.org

[C]

Coming back, though, to the question,

[A]

Doug's question is twofold. Number one, is there any plans to reprint the Omega Reunion? The Omega Reunion and who printed it first?

[C]

I believe the Omega Reunion was printed by Zane Hodges Ministry, Redencio and Viva.

[A]

Right. And so he says now that Zane has gone to be with the Lord, who has the printing? Right. And has anybody thought about reprinting? And by the way, every now and then I get asked about this. Is there a copy of it around?

[C]

Well, I'm not sure, but I think we have the copyrights because we bought the copyrights to all the things which Krugma and Redancion Viva and Zane Hodges had. And so I believe we own the copyright to that. And in answer to Doug's question, no, we don't plan to republish it at this time, but that could change.

[A]

I'm kind of curious. What does that involve?

[C]

Well, first of all, we don't have an electronic copy of it, so we would have to scan it in and then clean up the scan. But secondly, we would need to get Frank Carmichael's permission, which I believe Frank has already given me permission. I think I contacted him several years ago, and he said, sure, I'd love to see it back in print, but that would be another thing. I just want to. Right before we went to consider going to that effort. I want to make sure he still is okay with us republishing it.

[A]

Okay, the next question is, are you aware of anyone? And we've kind of mentioned a little bit about Alexander Patterson and maybe Bob Bryant and some others who've talked about this. And Philippe, has anybody else, either fiction like Carmichael's book or nonfiction, who have looked at what the life on the new Earth will be like? And obviously this is talking from a dispensation, because a lot of people in Christendom think that the new Earth is just going to be us floating around in the clouds. So he's talking about, has anybody written anything that would go into detail? Just off the top of my head, I think, for example, John Clay's book on Revelation. I mean, there's going to be things in it, but that's not the purpose of that commentary.

[C]

And by the way, we just are coming out with Bible studies, both a student guide and a teacher guide, both for Revelation that John Cleese is doing, and for you for Hebrews. So we're going to have a study guide and a teacher's guide, and both of those should probably be ready for the conference in May. In fact, the Revelation study guide and teacher guide should be ready by March 1, so people should be able to order it when the next magazine comes out.

[A]

But my point is that, for example, in John's commentary on Revelation, if you look in Revelation 21 and 22, he'll

[C]

give you some ideas.

[A]

Yeah, they'll give you some ideas and some suggestions and what it's going to be like and some things that it says in there.

[C]

Okay. Now, I've done some blogs about what the eternal state will be like. And I believe I did a YouTube video on what. I'm not sure, but I think I have on what the eternal state will be like. And what I suggest is that we're going to be doing a lot of the kinds of things we do now. Like, we're going to work, we're going to have jobs that we do if we're rulers. One of our primary responsibilities is going to be to rule over a city or a county or a state or a country or eventually a planet. If the kingdom does go out like I think it will, and that'll be our main job. But it doesn't mean we're not going to have other things we do. You may be a ruler, but you may also have the gift at painting, or you may have a gift at singing, or you may have a gift at writing. And so you may do something else. And in my view, the greatest paintings have not yet been painted. The greatest sculptures have not yet been sculpted. The greatest plays have not yet been written, and the greatest performances of plays have not yet been given. The greatest songs have not been written. I expect that things are going to be glorious. And I expect we're going to have engineers that design spaceships and that design new kinds of vehicles. You know, the kinds of things that science fiction speculates about. I mean, I remember when I was a boy, Dick Tracy had a watch and he could talk on his watch. Well, we thought that was funny, but never gonna happen.

[A]

Well, you know, Maxwell Smart could talk in his shoe.

[C]

Yeah, I don't have a watch I can talk on, but lots of people do. You have one you can talk on?

[A]

I know a lot of people do, but I don't.

[C]

I don't either.

[A]

I'm an old fuddy duddy. Right. Me too. The point that Bob is making here, Doug, is that I don't know if we would say we have an actual book, but we do have that material out there that addresses some of this stuff. And as Bob mentioned, Bob Bryant has spoken at our conference. And has Phillipe spoken on our conference at this. Maybe in a breakout session. I can't remember.

[C]

Yeah, in a breakout he did. And he wrote a journal article on it.

[A]

Right. So there are things out there that do address some of these things. And some of it, admittedly, is specul. Well, a lot of it is speculation. But the bottom line is the Eternal State is going to be so much better than we can even imagine. And it's sad that so many within Christendom just see it as this boring place where we're in a choir just singing forever.

[C]

We're all harpists.

[A]

Right. So look up some stuff on the GES website, Doug.

[C]

Maybe we'll write something on it and maybe we'll even re release this Omega reunion. We'll see. Good idea, Doug.

[A]

Well, thanks for the question. And remember, everyone, keep Grace in focus.

[B]

Be sure to check out our daily [e-mail] they are short and full of great teaching, just like what you've heard today. Find [e-mail] resources blog. We would like to thank all of our financial partners who help us keep this show going. All gifts are tax deductible and very much appreciated. If you'd like to find out how you can be a financial partner, Visit [e-mail] on our next episode. When is the judgment of the sheep and the goats? Is it close to the start of the millennial kingdom? Before or after? Please join us. And until then, let's keep Grace in focus.

[A]

The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.