Feast of Trumpets—2014

God's Judgment: The Day of the LORD

Fred R. Coulter—September 25, 1914

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the Feast of Trumpets! As we can say every year, time marches on! What we're going to see is that the plan of God is greater, of a far more awesome scope than we have understood. So much of the Bible—the prophecies in the Bible—point to the return of Christ and all the things that will take place and happen at that time.

We find in Lev. 23 concerning this day. Isn't it interesting? Sometimes the most important day is started off with something that doesn't sound very significant. Just like one of the greatest days of God is the Last Great Day, the eighth day, after the Feast of Tabernacles; and it's just called theeighth day.

As you know, all during the year, we start out with the Passover and Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and now we are here at Trumpets. We know that every one of these Holy Days represents part of a framework on which the whole plan of God has been overlaid. We find in the Bible a little here, a little there, a little someplace else. We are to put it all together to understand what God is doing.

Remember a very important thing to understand: God promised that at the end-time the wise shall understand! None of the wicked will understand, because they will be in the grips of deception and under Satan the devil! What Satan is going to present is that this world, this society and Satan's plan is going to be greater and more awesome than we have ever understood.

We've understood up to a certain point, but God promises that we will understand progressively as we get down toward the end-time, even closer than we are now.

Let's see what God says concerning the Feast of Trumpets, Leviticus 23:23: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel saying, "In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath…"'" (vs 23-24).

Isn't it interesting that all the Holy Days are called aSabbath. The weekly Sabbath is called the Sabbath—'Shabbat'; 'ha Shabbat.' This is important to understand many things for the crucifixion week, the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ—a Sabbath!

"…a memorial of blowing of ram's horns… [trumpets] …a Holy convocation" (v 24). Trumpets and ram's horns were to be blown all day long.

God also says with this that we should make an offering to the Lord; v 25: "You shall do no servile work therein but you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD." Since we don't offer animal sacrifices today, we give of our substance and we give of what we have just like it says in Prov. 3

This is a tremendous thing that we have with understanding the Word of God. Let's realize that God will always help us, even in the most difficult times. God will provide when it looks like there is nothing.

This is the whole story concerning Jesus feeding the 4,000 and the 5,000 and all that was left over was more than they began with! If God multiplies this and increases it, then it's going to be far more productive. This is what we try to do with all the tithes and offerings that you send, so that we can accomplish what God wants us to, according to His Word:

• to feed the flock
• to shepherd His sheep
• to feed His lambs
• to preach the Gospel to the world

We're going to look at some important things today, and we are going to see how fantastic this Feast of Trumpets really, really is. Then a little later we will pick up where we left off from Pentecost, because Pentecost connects over to Trumpets. Even in the final fulfillment in the book of Revelation it does.

(pause for the offering)

What we need to realize is that this Feast of Trumpets expands out in its scope and meaning to include every nation: all countries, all peoples. Remember, the return of Jesus Christ is going to be the greatest event to happen on this earth in the history of mankind, from the beginning in Genesis to the end of Revelation.

Jesus gives us a hint of this in Matt. 24. We talked about preaching the Gospel to the world. We also know that to make sure that nobody misses the point that it is Jesus Christ Who is returning to this world. He will be viewed, and all the saints on the Sea of Glass will be viewed as aliens from outer space.

Therefore, this Gospel has to be preached in all the world! The two witnesses will put 'the frosting on the cake' so to speak!
Matthew 24:14: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come."

We're not only to proclaim it, but we are to proclaim repentance! Let's look and see what Jesus said in Mark 1 when He began to preach. This is what we need to do, and we are doing it through:

• Church at Home (churchathome.org)
• The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, Faithful Version online (afaithfulversion.org)
• the main website (cbcg.org)
• with CDs & DVDs
• all the things that we send out (printed material)

As we have noted many, many times, brethren, we need to pray that all the Churches of God

• will all come to God
• will all repent
• will all yield to God
• will all ask for an increase in God's Spirit:
  • to preach His Word
  • to overcome sin in our lives
  • to make ourselves ready for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus looks at the whole picture. That's why He's the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last. When He first began to preach, and this was after the imprisonment of John in Galilee, He came preaching, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Notice the essence of His message:

Mark 1:15: "And saying, 'The time has been fulfilled… [for Jesus to come; the Representative of the Kingdom, the King of the Kingdom] …and the Kingdom of God is near at hand…'" (v 15)—not only Himself personally being there as the Representative of the Kingdom of God, but that goes clear on down in preaching it; and this is what we must preach!

"…repent, and believe in the Gospel" (v 15). That translates into believing God the Father and Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God!

There are a lot of things that need to take place, as we see in Rev. 6, right at the next to the last Pentecost. It want you think in terms of this: Here is the last Pentecost, which is the resurrection. The next to the last Pentecost is the one where the heavens roll back as a scroll, and the earth is shaken! Then the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude are saved. They will be in the resurrection at the next Pentecost with all the saints.

Then think in terms of Trumpets. The next to the last Trumpets and then the one at the end. Notice that they overlap, and in each case between the next to the last Pentecost and the next to the last Trumpets is four and a half months! Likewise from the resurrection to the last Trumpets there is also four and a half months. These months are going to be occupied with a lot of things that are going to be taking place, as well as the year of the Feast of Trumpets.

Haggai—one of the minor prophets—talks about the Day of the Lord. It tells us about the Day of the Lord, the return of Christ and the things that are going to happen. It also tells us something very important, as well. Here's a very important part of the message of Haggai. It was at the time that they were beginning to build the second temple after returning from the Babylonian captivity. Of course, the people slacked off. They slacked off in doing the work to build the temple.

We can apply that spiritually to us. We are a temple of God! God is working in us to form His character and His righteousness within us through His Holy Spirit!

• many of us have slacked off
• many of us have not done what we need to do

If we repent and return to God, notice the message, Haggai 1:13: "Then Haggai, the LORD'S messenger, spoke the message of the LORD to the people, saying, '"I am with you," says the LORD.'"

• God is with us!
• God is for us!
• God loves us!
• God cares for us!

We need to understand that and respond to God as never before, and ask God to do this:

Verse 14: "And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God."

Let's understand something very important, because God also, through Paul, told Timothy to stir up the Spirit that was within him! How do you do that?

• through prayer
• through study
• through rededication

Listen, brethren! We are part of the greatest thing to ever happen to the whole earth! We live in the end-time! Whether we live to see the return of Christ or not is not relevant! But that we do all we can to help prepare to endure to the end, to grow in grace and knowledge.

Haggai 2:6: "For thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Once again—it is yet a little while—…'" Remember that Jesus said, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. The way God looks at time is entirely different than ours.

"…I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land" (v 6). That's what's going to happen with the heavens being rolled back like a scroll (Rev. 6).

Verse 7: "And I will shake all the nations…" That's why the Gospel is to be preached in all the world, to all the nations. And Mark 13:10 says, 'published,' as well. There are many things that we can do now, in a much more powerful way than has ever been able to be done in the past history of mankind and the history of the Church.

"'…and the desire of all nations shall come… [that's Christ] …and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of hosts: (v 7).

We have online, with video, audio and transcripts, The Millennial Temple #s 1 & 2. The Millennial temple is really going to be something! It's going to be quite different than what people have imagined. I can tell you hands down, no problem at all, Ezek. 40 talks about the second temple and then Ezek. 48 talks about preaching the Gospel to the world! That's started at the second temple!

Notice again, this is right after the Feast of Tabernacles, v 20: And a second time the Word of the LORD came to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 'Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, 'I will shake the heavens and the earth. And I will overthrow the throne of the kingdoms…'" (vs 20-22). That is the beast power!

"'…and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. And I will overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall come down, each one by the sword of his brother'" (v 22). That's what's going to happen; that's what we're going to see in the book of Revelation.

Zephaniah talks about the Day of the Lord; the great Day of the Lord, and this is what it's going to be. This is what the Feast of Trumpets pictures: The last year of the fighting between men and demons against God and the angels; all against each other (Rev. 8-9). Imagine! All these prophecies were prophesied well over 2500 years ago! Some of them later than that.

Zephaniah 1:14: The great Day of the LORD is near; it is near and comes swiftly, the sound of the Day of the LORD…. [Trumpets] …The mighty man shall cry bitterly there. That day isa day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the ram's horn and alarm against the fortified cities, and against the high towers. [God says]: 'And I will bring distress on men, so that they shall walk as the blind because they have sinned against the LORD. And their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung.'" (vs 14-17).

This is going to be a great slaughter. Everything that takes place during the Tribulation! Remember that Jesus said, 'For then there shall be Great Tribulation such as there was not since the beginning of the world to that time; no, nor ever shall be again!' Brethren, we are headed for some difficult times.

• we need to be strong in the Lord
• we need to serve God
• we need to love God
• we need to love each other
• we need to cry out to God for:
  • His strength
  • His Spirit
  • His protection

Verse 18: "Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole earth…" This comes clear around to the end when the whole earth is remade by destroying the present configuration of it with fire. You see how far out that these prophecies reach.

"…shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He shall make even a full end, yea, a terrible end of all who dwell upon the earth" (v 18)—unless they're in the Kingdom of God! This is pretty devastating, but remember: Whenever God says something that is pretty devastating, He always gives hope! He always gives a reason that we can believe in Him and trust in Him!

Zephaniah 2:1: Gather yourselves together; yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree is brought forth, and the day passes like the chaff; before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you. Seek the LORD… [that's what we need to do] …all you meek of the earth… [that's us] …who have executed His judgment; seek righteousness; seek meekness. It may be that you shall be hidden in the day of the LORD'S anger" (vs 1-3). That is a reference to those few who will go to a place of safety. There will be some there. It isn't going to be any rapture—that's a lying hoax of people speaking a false message!

There is not a Feast of Trumpets that we cannot go to Jer. 25, because it is all nations and the Day of the Lord, and see what Jeremiah was to do. He was given a cup and was told to go to all the nations. He never went there himself, but the message is going to them and all their descendants. Whatever the name of the nations are, these people who are listed here. It was even to go to King Sheshach who is the beast. He is to hear! He is to know! But he is defiant, and we know what the end result of that is going to be; just listen to these words and think about the golden cup that comes from Babylon the Great that is going to fight Jesus Christ:

Jeremiah 25:27: "'Therefore, you shall say to them, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Drink and be drunk, and vomit, and fall, and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you.'" And it shall come to pass if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'You shall certainly drink. For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city, which is called by My name…'" (vs 27-29).

You can just, with the other Scriptures, add to it: and the people called by My name—Israel, Judah and the Church, as well.

"'…and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished. For I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,' says the LORD of hosts" (v 29). I want you to gather the scope of the things that are going to happen. This is going to be astounding.

Verse 30: "'And prophesy against them all these words, and say to them, "The LORD shall roar from on high… [coming back, returning from heaven] …and utter His voice from His Holy habitation. He shall mightily roar over His dwelling place. He shall give a shout, like those who tread out grapes, against all the people of the earth."'"

That's why the Gospel has got to be preached in all the world to all nations as a witness, because of how great of an event this Feast of Trumpets pictures. We'll put that together with the book of Revelation later.

Verse 31: "'A noise shall come to the ends of the earth…'" Stop right there! What did Jesus tell the disciples when they wanted to know when the Kingdom was going to be, just before He ascended? 'You are My witnesses unto the ends of the earth!'

The Word of God, the written Word of God, and now the spoken Word of God—which is taken from the written Word of God—is going to theends of the earth!There will be no place on the face of this earth that the witness of the return of Jesus Christ will not have been heard before Christ returns! That's how important, fantastic, how great this Feast of Trumpets is!

"'…for the LORD has a controversy with the nations; He will plead with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword,' says the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be stirred up from the farthest corners of the earth'" (vs 31-32). That's probably a reference to the armies of 200-million (Rev. 9).

Verse 33: "And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth; they shall not be mourned, nor gathered, nor buried. They shall be as dung on the ground." That's how devastating it is going to be.

Brethren, that's why it's the Feast of Trumpets. When the trumpets are blowing, when the ram's horns are sounding, everybody hears it! Whether they will heed or not, we don't know. But what does God tell us to do? Lift up your voice like a trumpet and show My people their sins! And the house of Israel their transgressions! And the whole world their sins before God!

Verse 34: "Howl, you shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, you lords of the flock! For the days of your slaughter and of your scatterings are fulfilled; and you shall fall like a choice vessel"—and be smashed into pieces!

Verse 35: "And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the lords of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and a howling of the lords of the flock shall be heard; for the LORD has spoiled their pasture. And the peaceful pastures are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD" (vs 35-37). Are they not cut down? Yes, indeed! We'll see all the green grass is going to be burned up (Rev. 8). How's that for cutting it down?

Verse 38: "Like the lion…" Who is going to carry all of this out? Jesus Christ Who is the Lion of the tribe of David! See how Rev. connects with all of these things! Amazing, isn't it?

"…He has left His den; for their land is wasted because of the fierceness of the oppressing sword, and because of His fierce anger" (v 38).

Now then, we need to understand and realize how fantastic and great this is. We're going to be amazed how many Scriptures talk about all nations, and the things that are going to take place. This is why, brethren, it is so important that we all together—through prayer, through study—grow and overcome so that we have our heart fixed on God! That we also faithfully give whatever we can so that the message can go out! I pray that that will be the same with all the Churches of God. The more the witnesses the better it is!

Isaiah 34:1: "Come near, you nations, to hear; and, you people, hearken; let the earth hear, and its fullness; the world, and its offspring." That includes everything and everyone on the orb of the earth!

Verse 2: "For the anger of the LORD is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies…." This world is going to be armed to the teeth! There are going to be more armies, more soldiers, more weapons, more ability to kill and destroy other people than at any time in the history of the world! And God—when Christ returns—is going to destroy it all! Mankind—

• at his greatest pinnacle of technology
• at his greatest pinnacle of understanding
• at his greatest pinnacle with a world government, with a world religion

—right when they think that everything is going to work out—BANG!—God is going to intervene!

"…He has completely destroyed them, He has delivered them to the slaughter. Also, their dead shall be thrown out, and their stink shall come up out of their dead bodies, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood" (vs 2-3). Now you know why God is going to raise every valley and bring every mountain down. You've got to get rid of all of this—right? Yes, indeed!

Verse 4: "And all the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll… [Rev. 6] …and all their host shall fall down, as a leaf falls off from the vine, and as the falling fig from the fig tree… [God says]: …'For My sword is bathed in the heavens….'" (vs 4-5).

Guess what, brethren? We will be there on the Sea of Glass! We will come down with Christ and finish the fight! We'll see that; that's the end of the sermon.

"…Behold, it shall come down upon Edom, and upon the people of My curse for judgment. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood; it is made fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom'" (vs 5-6).

Verse 8: "For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, the year to repay for the fighting against Zion." Quite a thing—isn't it?

• let's see how that's going to work
• let's see what's going to happen
• let's see how the earth is going to be

This is why we don't desire the Day of the Lord! But it's going to come! Let's see some instructions from God. Here's what it's going to be like:

Amos 5:18: "Woe to those desiring the Day of the LORD!…. [we've seen what it's like ] …What is this for you?…." How many people have said, 'The Day of the Lord is coming!' When? Jesus said that that is in the hands of God the Father! We have to warn that it is coming, but to set dates other than to know the times and seasons—because of the Holy Days—that's God's prerogative!

After all the destruction going on in the heavens and the earth and shaking it around, everything concerning the exact date is all off course as far as men are concerned. That's why only the Father knows!

"…The Day of the LORD is darkness and not light; as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him. Shall not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?" (vs 18-20). Isn't it interesting that right after that God says of the holidays of this world:

Verse 21: "I hate, I despise your feast days…"—because they teach people nothing; only the days of God can do that.

Joel 1:14: "Sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the people of the land unto the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand, and it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty" (vs 14-15). When I see those things, and read those things, I think about the fantastic things of atomic energy—bombs, missiles, planes and things like that—but also He's going to shake the earth:

• think of the tsunamis that are going to take place
• think of the volcanoes that are going to be exploding

a lot of things going on!

Joel 2:1: "'Blow the ram's horn in Zion, and sound an alarm in My Holy mountain!' Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD comes, for it is near at hand— A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness. As the morning is spread across the mountains, socomes a great people and a mighty people… [coming from the east] …there has never been the like, nor shall there ever be again, even to the years of many generations. A fire devours before them… [fire proceeds out of their mouth] …and behind them a flame burns…." (vs 1-3).

This is going to be all destruction, to get rid of the enemy. This is going to be fiercest thing that is going to happen in the history of the world! That's why we shouldn't take any of this lightly!

"…The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness—and nothing shall escape them. Their appearance is as the appearance of horses; and as war horses, so they run. They shall leap with the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains, with the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a mighty people set in battle array. In their presence the people shall greatly tremble; all faces shall grow pale. They shall run like mighty men….: (vs 3-7).

Stop and think right here about all the movies that have come out lately with this kind of theme: destruction, death, supermen, robots, machines, evil people dedicated to these things. Satan knows what's coming, so he's telegraphing it to people. They're getting their minds conditioned to it. Also, Satan is beginning to condition the minds of even the 'great religious leaders' of the world. Even the Vatican wants to make contact with aliens; and perhaps aliens will save us. That's quite ironic, but that is literally a true statement, because:

• all the resurrected saints will be aliens
• Jesus Christ is an alien
• God the Father is an alien
• all the angels of God are aliens to them!

So, in their ironic futility, trying to seek demonic powers, and to be connected with aliens, that is literally—in the person of God, Jesus Christ, the saints of God, the angels of God—going to be what's going to happen to rescue this world from them—just like it says here:

"…They shall climb the wall like men of war, and they shall march each one in his path, and they shall not break their ranks" (v 7). However, when God deals with them, they're not going to stand a chance.

Verse 8: "And each one shall not crowd another; they go every one in his own path. And when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall; they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble. The sun and the moon shall grow dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. And the LORD shall utter His voice before His army; for His camp is exceedingly great; for powerful is He who executes His Word, for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can endure it?" (vs 8-11).

No one! No one! No one!Then there's a message and a call for repentance!

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Always remember that God always offers acceptance of repentance! Remember that we have the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude in Rev. 7. So, here is part of the message to them:

Verse 12: "'Therefore, even now,' says the LORD… [God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but that we turn, we repent] …'turn to Me with all your heart… [that's what God wants with us] …and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. Yes, rend your heart and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He repents of the evil'" (vs 12-13). So, God offers that to them.

Let's see God's judgment against this world and what is going to happen. It is going to be awesome.

This is called, Isaiah 13:1: "The burden of Babylon…" You can read the final fulfillment of it there in Rev. 18; the final judgment of Babylon. We are told to come out of her My people; that we are not partakers of her sins! Her sins have reached up into the heavens, and her reward is going to be double.

Verse 1: "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw: 'Lift up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice to them, wave the hand, so that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded My Holy ones, I have also called My mighty ones for My anger, even those who rejoice in My triumph.' The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; the LORD of hosts gathers an army for the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, the LORD and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole earth" (vs 1-5). They are going to fight to the very last man!
Verse 6: "Howl! For the Day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore, all hands shall be faint, and every man's heart shall melt; and they shall be afraid. Pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them. They shall be in pain like a woman who travails. They shall be amazed at one another, their faces are like blazing fire. Behold, the Day of the LORD comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation; and He shall destroy the sinners out of it, for the stars of the heavens and their constellations shall not give light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not reflect its light…. [God says]: …'And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity…'" (vs 6-11). The wages of sin is death, and it's coming!

"…and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants" (v 11)—those in the world's government who oppress all the people.

Verse 12: "I will make man more scarce than gold; even man more than the fine gold of Ophir. Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall move out of its place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger" (vs 12-13). God says, yes, He's going to do that!

All of these come together. We will see what's going to happen with the false prophet and the Catholic Church.

Isaiah 24:1: "Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants. And as it is with the people, so it shall be with the priest; as with the slave, so with the master; as with the handmaid, so it is with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor" (vs 1-2). Good news, all debts are wiped out!

Verse 3: "The earth shall be completely laid waste, and utterly stripped; for the LORD has spoken this word. The earth mourns and languishes…" (vs 3-4). Remember what it says: The earth groans together in pain waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God! That's what Paul wrote in Rom. 8.

Verse 5: "And the earth is defiled under its people; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and have broken the everlasting covenant."

Stop right here and think: Everyone dwelling on the earth, are they Israelites or Jews? No! Notice what it says: "…the earth is defiled under its people…"—all people everywhere—"…because they have transgressed the laws…" God's laws apply to everyone! "…changed the ordinance, and have broken the everlasting covenant."

Verse 6: "Therefore, the curse has devoured the earth, and they who dwell in it are desolate; therefore, the people of the earth are burned, and few men are left." That's going to be the condition of the earth. That's because of the beast and the world government.

Isaiah 47—here's a very interesting chapter, and this is a parallel with Rev. 17 & 18. It gives a little history here; everything that has taken place because these things are going to come upon that church. We have seen how all of the Protestants are coming back home to Rome, and all the other religions are going to associate with them. It's going to be:

• my, what a wonderful thing
• we won't talk about doctrine
• we won't talk about God's Word
• no, we'll just all have our own religions and get along, and be happy and nice together

Isn't going to work!

Isaiah 47:1: "'Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon… [that is a cynical sarcasm against the whore] …sit on the ground. There is no throne for you, O daughter of the Chaldeans, for you shall no more be called tender and delicate. Take the millstones and grind meal. Push back your veil, draw up your skirt, uncover your leg, pass over the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, your shame shall be seen; I will take vengeance and I will not meet you as a man' As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel. 'Sit silent, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the lady of kingdoms. I was angry with My people, I have polluted My inheritance, and given them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; you have very heavily laid your yoke upon the aged. And you said, "I shall be a lady forever"…'" (vs 1-7).

My, what a wonderful thing to have all of the daughters grown great to come back home to Rome. Oh, yes indeed, that's great! [sarcasm]

"…so you did not lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the latter end of it. Now then, hear this, O lover of pleasures, who sits securely; who says in her heart, 'I am… [taking the name of God] …and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children.' But these two things shall come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness for the multitude of your sorceries, and for the great abundance of your enchantments" (vs 7-9). At your highest zenith of power; and yes, all those who are deceived into that system. What a thing that's going to be.

Verse 10: "For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, 'No one sees me.' Your wisdom and your knowledge has perverted you; and you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else.' But evil shall come upon you; you shall not know how to conjure it away. And calamity shall fall upon you; you shall not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, before you know it. Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have wearied yourself since your youth. Perhaps you will be able to profit; perhaps you may prevail. You are exhausted by the multitude of your counsels; now let the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you from these things that shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; there shall not be a coal to warm them; nor fire, to sit before it. Thus shall they be to you with whom you have labored, even your merchants from your youth. Each one shall wander to his own quarter; none shall save you" (vs 10-15).

Quite a thing! Quite a message!

We'll just mention Rev. 6 again, about the shaking of the heavens and the earth. They know it's from God. Then we saw the great harvest of God in that next to the last Pentecost, the 144,000 of the children of Israel and the great innumerable multitude (Rev. 7).

Remember, there's a space of about four and a half months, from Pentecost to Trumpets. Think of all the devastation that has taken place from the shaking of the heavens and the earth. Well, they'll have four and half months to clean it up; four and a half months to get ready. Then the Feast of Trumpets comes, the next to the last Feast of Trumpets. Christ is going to set this off, because He is the One Who opens the seals. He was worthy! No man was worthy except the Lamb with the seven horns, who was also the Lion of the tribe of David.

Now, everything changes. After all this devastation, after seeing the sign of the Son of man in the heavens, everything on earth has changed. It is down to leading up to the final climatic battle. The two greatest battles yet, in the history of the world up to that time, are going to take place in Rev. 8 & 9. What it will be is the angels of God fighting against the demons of Satan the devil and men. Let's see how it starts out:

Revelation 8:1: "Now, when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar; and much incense was given to him, so that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that was before the throne" (vs 1-3).

Some of the saints are still alive. All the saints being the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude, are all praying to God. All these prayers are going up to God.

Verse 4: "And the smoke of the incense went up before God from the hand of the angel, ascending with the prayers of the saints. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar, and cast it into the earth… [eternal fire; yes, indeed] …and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake" (vs 4-5). Another earthquake!

Verse 6: "Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound their trumpets." The Feast of Trumpets pictures the last year from Trumpets to Trumpets. When the seventh trump is blown—during that last year from Trumpets to Trumpets—on the Feast of Pentecost, that's when the saints are raised.

Notice how powerful this is, v 7: "And the first angel sounded his trumpet; and there was hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was cast upon the earth; and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." Did we hear about fire back there in some of the other prophecies? Yes, indeed!

Verse 8: "Then the second angel sounded his trumpet; and there was cast into the sea as it were a great mountain burning with fire, and a third of the sea became blood." All the oceans of the world.

Verse 9: "And a third of the living creatures that were in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. And the third angel sounded his trumpet; and there fell out of heaven a great star, burning like a lamp; and it fell on a third of the rivers, and on the fountains of waters. Now, the name of the star is Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from drinking the waters because they were made bitter" (vs 9-11).

Notice that these come one, two, three, and then four. Five and six come a little differently. It's interesting, because these things are going to be something!

Verse 12: "Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet; and a third of the sun was smitten, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars; so that a third of them were darkened; and a third part of the day did not shine, and likewise a third part of the night." Everything is so mixed up that only God knows the correct day.

Verse 13: "And I looked; and I heard an angel flying in the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, 'Woe, woe, woe to those who are dwelling on the earth, because of the voices of the remaining trumpets of the three angels who are about to sound their trumpets.'" An amazing thing! This is going to be heard worldwide! Quite a thing—isn't it? Yes, indeed!

You would think that men would surrender, but they won't, because they view all of this as the invasion from outer space. They must do all they can to save mankind. They must save their power; they must save everything that they have. But God is going to destroy it! It will not be!

When things get real desperate, Satan calls upon all his reserves; all of the demons that are in the abyss that are locked up, they're all let out. This emboldens men; this gives them the courage to continue the fight. This is going to be self-deceiving again.

Revelation 9:1: "And the fifth angel sounded his trumpet; and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth, and there was given to him the key to the bottomless abyss. And he opened the bottomless abyss; and there went up smoke from the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit" (vs 1-2). All the demons are let out!

Verse 3: "Then locusts came onto the earth from the smoke; and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power." Yes, a secret weapon. Have you ever watched the things concerning the occult and Nazi technology? They were always seeking the demonic weapons! Now, finally, they're out.

Verse 4: "And it was said to them that they should not damage the grass of the earth… [because there was time for it to start growing back after it was all burned up] …or any green thing, or any tree, but… [this is a separation that God has given] …only the men who did not have the seal of God in their foreheads." Only the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude have the seal of God (Rev. 7).

Verse 5: "And it was given to them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death but will not find it…" (vs 5-6).

This section ties right in with Dan. 11 where the King of the North—who is down in the area of Jerusalem—puts himself in the temple saying that he is God, etc. Then he hears tidings out of the North and the East—Russia and China—all the Asian nations. This is what the first part of Rev. 8 is about; going to neutralize them, but they will recover after five months. So, we have a whole year from Trumpets to Trumpets.

Verse 6: "And in those days men will seek death but will not find it. and they will desire to die, but death will flee from them. And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for war; and on their heads were crowns like those of gold; and their faces were like the faces of men; and they had hair like women's hair; and their teeth were like those of lions. And they had breastplates like iron breastplates; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots drawn by many horses running to war; and they had tails like scorpions, and stingers; and they were given power to injure men with their tails for five months" (vs 6-10).

This is Satan's counterattack, v 11: "And they have over them a king, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but the name he has in Greek is Apollyon. The first woe is past. Behold, after these things two more woes are still to come" (vs 11-12).

Now then, the greatest collection of armies in the world is about ready to be unleashed. They will be strung from the River Euphrates all the way back into China, up into Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, India, Pakistan, and all of those countries will have armies—200-million! They are going to come after the Beast Power and they are going to seek to destroy him.

Remember, all the time that this is going on, that second sun—the sign of the Son of man—is in the heavens. It is there until right at the last Pentecost when it comes down as a great sea of glass.

Verse 13: "And the sixth angel sounded his trumpet; and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God; and it said to the sixth angel, who had the trumpet, 'Loose the four angels who are bound in the great River Euphrates'" (vs 13-14). It dries up! Then we will see again, when we come to the seven last plagues, it started to flow again after the armies came. Then it's dried up again!

Verse 15: "Then the four angels, who had been prepared… [Satan's demons] …for the hour and day and month and year, were loosed, so that they might kill a third of men; and the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred thousand thousand; and I heard the number of them" (vs 15-16). An amazing thing is going to take place!

Brethren, think how much has to be done in prophecy, yet, for all of these things to transpire and take place. They've got to build the armies; they've got to prepare the weapons. Of course, when they do that's going to bring along great economic prosperity while they're preparing. They won't even know what they are preparing for. Amazing—isn't it?

Verse 17: "And so, I saw the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, who had fiery breastplates, even like jacinth and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like heads of lions, and fire and smoke and brimstone shoot out of their mouths. By these three a third of men were killed: by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that shoot out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouths; for their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they inflict wounds" (vs 17-29).

Now, listen to these next two verses. This is something! Some have said, 'Maybe there's even going to be robots there.' Well, even if there are robots there, they're worthless without men to run them! Maybe these men will be enhanced with robotic powers. They're already working on that. They already have types of that right now.

Verse 20: "But the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands…" God offers repentance right up to the last minute; IF they would!

"…that they might not worship demons, and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which do not have the power to see, nor to hear, nor to walk. And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their thievery" (vs 20-21). Quite a thing, everything they were doing!

Rev. 10 has the seven thunders. No one knows what they are. No one knows because God told John, 'Don't write them!'

Rev. 11 has the two witnesses, and that brings us up to the point of the last trumpet. That's when the resurrection takes place. The seventh trumpet is the last trumpet. So, it has to be on Pentecost.

Remember, let's go right back to type/antitype. When Israel was brought to Mt. Sinai and received the Law on the Feast of Pentecost, was there a loud trumpet that sounded loud and long? Yes, indeed! Then God spoke! Likewise here, the seventh trumpet is going to sound.

Revelation 11:14: "The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming immediately. Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity.'" (vs 14-15). It pictures the resurrection, it tells us about it right here:

Verse 16: "And the twenty-four elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, 'We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; for You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and have reigned. For the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to all those who fear Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth.' And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the Ark of His Covenant was seen in His temple; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake and great hail" (vs 16-19).

Imagine that! That also tells us that there's going to be a sea of glass for all the saints being brought up by the angels to meet Christ in the air. It will be in the clouds, and every eye will have seen that sun from the Pentecost before, for a whole year! The sign of the Son of man is going to be there like a second sun, every day!

Then it's going to come down and become the Sea of Glass. That will be over Jerusalem. That's why all the armies are gathered there. God is not done, yet.

We saw the sickle for the resurrection, which was vs 14-18—the first resurrection. It also gives another harvest, because when the first resurrection takes place, that's going to prepare the way for the harvest of the saints, that's the harvest of Pentecost. Then there's going to be the harvest of the wicked. These are what you might call the grapes of wrath!
Revelation 14:19: "And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast its fruit into the great winepress of the wrath of God." This is a forecast of the seven last plagues, which is leading up to the Battle of Armageddon.

Verse 20: "And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood spewed out from the winepress as high as the horses' bridles, to the distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs." Then it talks about the saints on the Sea of Glass.

Then the seven last plagues are given. There's going to be some time; there's another four and a half months from Pentecost to Trumpets. We covered on the Day of Pentecost all the things that are going to happen while we're on the Sea of Glass.

We are going to see the vengeance of God while we're on the Sea of Glass with all the saints. Remember, God promised that vengeance is His, and He would execute it Himself!

Revelation 16:1: "Then I heard a loud voice from the temple say to the seven angels… [these had the plagues of God] …'Go and pour out the vials of the wrath of God onto the earth.' And the first angel went and poured out his vial onto the earth; and an evil and grievous sore fell upon the men who had the mark of the beast, and upon those who were worshiping his image. And the second angel wentand poured out his vial into the sea; and it became blood, like that of a dead man; and every living soul in the sea died. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers, and into the fountains of waters; and they became blood. Then I heard the angel of the waters say, 'You are righteous, O Lord, Who are, and Who was, even the Holy One, in that You have executed this judgment. For they have poured out the blood of saints and of prophets, and You have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy'" (vs 1-6).

Verse 7: "And I heard another voice from the altar say, 'Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.' And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given to it to scorch men with fire. Then men were scorched with great heat; and they blasphemed the name of God, Who has authority over these plagues, and did not repent to give Him glory" (vs 7-9)—even at that last minute!

Verse 10: "And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain." Just like God said in Isa. 34 & 47.

After that they have to have something to give them the impetus to come and fight even more. So, here it is, the final deception of Satan the devil:

Verse 12: "And the sixth angel poured out his vial into the great river Euphrates; and its waters were dried up, so that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared." Again, drying up the River Euphrates!

Verse 13: "Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet." Going out to convince everyone: 'Yes, we can do it, come! All we need is all your power. Bring all your weapons, bring everything you have. You don't want to suffer from this invasion from outer space. Come! Come! We need you.' So, they will come!

Verse 14: "For they are spirits of demons working miracles, going forth to the kings of the earth, even of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of the Almighty God." The Day of the Lord, and all nations! Here is a warning for us:

Verse 15: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is the one who is watching and is keeping his garments, so that he may not walk naked and they may not see his shame." Message to the Laodiceans: You read this and you better repent, like it says in Rev. 3, now, while there is time! Don't wait! Don't take your problems and say, 'When I get them squared around, I'll come to God.' NO! You can't get them squared around until:

• you come to God with your problems
• you come to God and confess your sins
• you come to God and repent of those things

Verse 16: "And he gathered them together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon…. [there they are] …Then the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, 'IT IS FINISHED'" (vs 16-17). I wonder who said that? God the Father? Either One Who is on the throne? Yes, indeed!

Verse 18: "And there were voices and thunders and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were on the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." Greater than when He shakes the heavens and the earth. This is astounding!

Think about this: This is why when we are on the Sea of Glass, raised on Pentecost, and we find out all the things we need to do and learn what we need to do, we need to understand what kind of world we are going to inherit. But we're going to have the power of God to make it all right. All the things physical; all the things spiritual! All the healings for human beings: the healings of a broken heart; the healings of lost limbs, etc.

Verse 19: "And the great city was divided into three parts; and the cities of the nations fell; and Babylon the Great was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. And every island disappeared, and no mountains were found" (vs 19-20). Nobody is going to escape! Sometimes you get so wrapped up in things and say, 'Oh, if I had an island out in the South Pacific where I could just be there in the sun and surf, and it's so nice and wonderful. Just a nice little island all my own.' POOF! It's gone!

Here's how God takes care of His enemies; how is this for a weapon. Maybe there will be some inside some of those tanks that will survive:

Verse 21: "And great hail, each stone the weight of a talent… [180 lbs] …fell down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for the plague was exceedingly great."

Rev. 19 is where it all comes together. All the things that we covered on Pentecost, the things to be done—our reward, new names, new garments, understanding what we are going to do, learning about our horses, learning how to play the lyres, understanding who is going to go where—Christ is in charge and now we all look down at the earth with that devastation of the Battle of Armageddon and the armies that survived. Some were way out here and now they're coming in; they're all coming in and no one is going to escape.

Here's what it's going to be on that last day of Trumpets, when that Trumpet shall sound. Again, on this day of Trumpets, there are going to be trumpets that the angels will be blowing and sounding. Here they are, and we are on the Sea of Glass and now we start pouring off the Sea of Glass on our white horses. That's going to be quite a thing coming down to the earth and Christ is leading all of us. There are all of the major saints, all of the major prophets: Moses, Samuel, Noah; all of them. Boy, what a fantastic thing that is going to be! All of the apostles, all of the saints small and great.

Revelation 19:11: "And I saw heaven open; and behold, a white horse; and He Who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war. And His eyes were like a flame of fire…" (vs 11-12). No one is going to escape this.
"…and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written that no one knows except Him. And He was clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is The Word of God. And the armies in heaven…" (vs 12-14). That will be us and the angels with us; the greatest invasion force that this world will have ever known. That is going to be a fantastic thing. Brethren, we have been called to this! I can hardly wait to get my horse! But we all need to get ready to go. Here we are:

"…were following Him on white horses; and they were clothed in fine linen, white and pure. And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations; and He shall shepherd them with an iron rod; and He treads the winepress of the fury and the wrath of the Almighty God. And on His garment and on His thigh He has a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, 'Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God'" (vs 14-17).

All of these men are going to have—just like Zech. 14 says: The weapon is going to be what Christ says when He speaks! All of their flesh is going to fall right off of them, and they're bones will collapse to the ground. Here's all that flesh and all that blood, and all that putrefaction that is coming with it all. The first thing that God does is clean it up with the birds of heaven. Amazing!

Verse 18: "'So that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of chief captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all, free and bond, and small and great.' And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies…" (vs 18-19). Yes, they were all there! This is the Battle of Armageddon!

"…gathered together to make war with Him Who sits on the horse, and with His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked miracles in his presence, by which he had deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Those two were cast alive into the Lake of Fire, which burns with brimstone" (vs 19-20). Yes, God's vengeance, judgment and justice, and the very first thing we are going to do is help carry that out!

• That's before we start bringing peace to the world!
• That's before all kingdoms submit to Christ!

Verse 21: "And the rest were killed by the sword of Him Who sits on the horse, even the sword that goes out of His mouth; and all the birds were filled with their flesh."

Can you imagine what that is like. Here we are coming down with Christ, all the vultures, eagles and egrets and all those flesh-eating birds are coming—hordes and flocks—and the sky is going to nearly be black with all of the birds. All the noise they are making:

• the sound of the trumpet
• the sound of us coming down from the Sea of Glass

to end Satan's way!

Then the next thing to happen is the Day of Atonement—see you then!

Scriptural References:

1. Leviticus 23:23-25
2. Matthew 24:14
3. Mark 1:15
4. Haggai 1:13-14
5. Haggai 2:6-7, 20-22
6. Zephaniah 1:14-18
7. Zephaniah 2:1-3
8. Jeremiah 25:27-38
9. Isaiah 34:1-6, 8
10. Amos 5:18-21
11. Joel 1:14-15
12. Joel 2:1-13
13. Isaiah 13:1-13
14. Isaiah 24:1-6
15. Isaiah 47:1-15
16. Revelation 8:1-13
17. Revelation 9:1-21
18. Revelation 11:14-19
19. Revelation 14:19-20
20. Revelation 16:1-10, 12-21
21. Revelation 19:11-21

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Proverbs 3
• Revelation 6
• Mark 13:10
• Ezekiel 40; 48
• Revelation 8; 9; 18
• Romans 8
• Revelation 17; 7
• Daniel 11
• Revelation 10
• Zechariah 14

Also referenced: Sermons:
            The Millennial Temple #s 1 & 2

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8-25-14

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