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Teaching the People and Nations
Everything that God does is based upon His love; you cannot have eternal life without love, law, service and truth
Fred R. Coulter—October 20, 2016
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to day four of the Feast of Tabernacles! After today, we will be halfway through the Feast. During the Millennium, it will mark the 500 years of the reign of the Kingdom of God. This is why God has called us, this is why Jesus came the first time; so that He could prepare a way for all of those whom He would call to help Him rule and reign over all human beings when He returns in His second coming. What a glorious thing that is going to be.
In fact, this is one of the first things that the apostles preached right after the Day of Pentecost. This is why the early church thought that Christ was going to return in their lifetimes. Many of those who have come down through the years have thought that, yes, it’s going to happen in their lifetimes. We have thought that how many times?
Let’s see what Peter preached concerning the Millennium. In Acts 3 we find this account where Peter and John were going into the temple and here was a man who had been born lame. He had been there many years at the Gate Beautiful asking for alms. This is important because what is happening here is preparing the way for the witness to the leaders.
Let’s understand something in our day; there has to be a witness to the leaders of the world, and that is going to be accomplished mostly by the witnesses.
Acts 3:6: “But Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have, this I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, rise up and walk.’” So, he was healed, legs strengthened, got up and was jumping up and down praising God, walking into the temple. And all the people came together to see what this was.
Verse 12: “And when Peter saw it, he answered to the people, ‘Men, Israelites, why are you wondering at this? And why are you looking upon us so intently as if by our own power or Godliness we have made him to walk?’”
Notice where this comes back to, and everything concerning salvation comes back to Abraham. We are called ‘Abraham’s seed’ (Gal 3). We are called ‘the seed that will be as the stars of heaven.’
Verse 13: “The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus, Whom you delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, after he had judged to release Him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and requested that a man who was a murderer be granted to you” (vs 13-14).
Isn’t that the way that human nature is? I mean, just look at what has been going on in this election. Think about all the corruption, all the sins, all the bodies scattered behind those who run for office. You know particularly which ones I’m referring to.
That’s the way that human beings are, easily deceived! Where does the deception really start? Right here in the mind! This is why we are going to rule and reign with Christ and help bring countless millions of people into the Kingdom of God.
Verse 15: “And you killed the Author of life Whom God has raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.” They just saw Him some 50-plus days before for 40 days of that 50-plus days; they saw Him resurrected from the dead, and they knew! Think about the kind of conviction and think about the zeal and the strength that they had in preaching this. Remember the sermon that Peter gave on Pentecost.
Verse 16: “And through faith in His name, this man whom you see and know was made strong in His name; and the faith that is through Him gave this complete soundness to him in the presence of you all.”
this is what we also need to concentrate on
this is why we keep the Feasts of God
this is why we have the Sabbath every week
Every week we need to be refreshed spiritually! Spiritual things do not stay in a carnal mind. It has to be constantly nourished with the Word of God:
through prayer
through study
growing in grace and knowledge
This is how we develop the character so that through a lifetime we will be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. This is what we’re going to teach the people in the Millennium.
Verse 17: “And now, brethren, I realize that you acted in ignorance, as did your rulers also; but what God had before announced by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He has accordingly fulfilled. Therefore, repent and be converted…” (vs 17-19).
That’s going to be everything that we’re going to be teaching in the Millennium. Repentance, as we will see as we progress through the Feast, will be harder and harder for people to come by.
“…in order that your sins may be blotted out, so that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (v 19). That time of refreshing is when they receive the Holy Spirit.
Verse 20: “And that He may send Him Who was before proclaimed to you Jesus Christ.” They were expecting Christ to return at any time. This is a good message for us.
Verse 21: “Whom the heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God has spoken by the mouth of all His Holy prophets since the world began.”
That’s what we’re going to do today: look at the Prophets of God and see how it’s going to be restored, and see how God is going to fulfill His plan with human beings and bringing countless numbers of people into the Kingdom of God.
However, understand that it’s going to take each and every one of us, and all that God will call and convert that will be in the first resurrection between now and His return. This is a fantastic plan that God has, and a fantastic way of working it all out. It’s really quite a marvelous thing, indeed. The whole earth is going to be transformed.
Daniel said of the vision that Nebuchadnezzar had, that the stone was cut out of the mountain smashed the whole image on its feet (Dan. 2), and everything collapsed and it consumed everything. So, there’s going to be a complete redo of the whole world! It is going to be an absolutely fantastic, mammoth and wonderful thing indeed!
We will see very clearly that God has planned that He is going to use us to help complete and fulfill His plan. That’s why we’re the firstfruits, that’s why we’re in the first resurrection, which is called a superior resurrection, and we’ll be in a superior status through all eternity. So, this is why we need to be zealous and faithful, and loving and serving God, because this is exactly what we need to be teaching them.
Dan. 7 talks about the conflict that has been between the world, the government, the churches and the religion against the people of God. Go through the whole history of the Church, we are living right now in a fantastic and unusual age where the things of men are going to rise technologically to their highest pinnacle since the days of Noah.
But human nature has never changed. Satan is the ‘god of this world,’ and he is the one who is the one who behind all of this. This Beast Power at the end-time is empowered by Satan. People worship him as ‘god,’ and goes into the temple of God saying and proclaiming that he is ‘God.’ Here’s what he’s going to do:
Daniel 7:25: “And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change the set times and the laws….”
Of course, what is this system called? The Mystery of Lawlessness, everything against God, and setting up and establishing lawless laws. That’s the way that human nature is. So, brethren, we need to understand that as we’re dealing with people in the Millennium and we’ll be given spirit bodies, spirit minds and have insight in order to understand what they’re doing, how they’re thinking, and all of that.
However, we need to understand what human nature is like. Living in this world, this is how it is. As we have covered in some sermons, all the lawlessness starts with the religious leaders, then all of those who are the civil leaders. and look at the mess that the world has gotten itself into as a result of that.
“…And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and one-half time” (v 25). So, there’s persecution coming; it’s closer than ever before, just around the corner.
Verse 26: “But the judgment shall sit… [tie that in with Rev. 20] …and his dominion shall be taken away…” Yes, all the rule, when the judgment of the saints comes, all the dominion and all the rule “…shall be taken away…”
“…to be consumed and to be destroyed unto the end” (v 26). This is a prophecy clear to the end of this physical earth, right up to New Jerusalem and the new heavens and the new earth.
Notice this promise; think about what God has promised us and what He is going to give to the saints and what we are going to do. This is awesome, brethren! Think on this:
Verse 27: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High…” That is marvelous and fantastic to understand! We need to thank God that we have a part in it. We need to thank Him for His goodness, His Truth and His mercy, and that He is teaching and training us through His Word, through His Spirit, so that we can be prepared and assist Him in this great plan. Think about it!
God has created the heavens and the earth and all the heavens out there. What is that for? Well, as yet, we don’t know! But we will know when we’re raised from the dead and understand more of God’s plan.
Notice about this kingdom, “…Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And all kingdoms shall serve and obey Him” (v 27). What a fantastic time that is!
Let’s understand this concerning the plan of God: It is so great, it is so marvelous, that there cannot be any rebellion and lawlessness. We are all going to love and obey God, and that’s what we are going to teach the people. This is a marvelous and wonderful thing for us to understand.
Isa. 12 is a very interesting and very short chapter. What this does is it tells us what we are going to do, how we are going to reign over the people, what the condition of the people will be. This very short six verse chapter is really very interesting when you understand about the Millennium. This shows that there will be repentance, the people will repent, and this is talking about Israel and all of those who come into the Millennium.
Isaiah 12:1: “And in that day you shall say, ‘I will give thanks to You O LORD; though You were angry with me… [yes, went through the Tribulation and all those difficulties] …Your anger is turned away, and You do comfort me.’ That’s what the Millennium is called:
the comfort of God
the rest of God
the righteousness of God
We’ll see that!
Verse 2: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid…” Isn’t that what it says; everyone is going to be ‘sitting under his fig tree and vine, and no one is going to make him afraid.’ No one is going to declare war or have war anymore! That’s something!
Look at the world today, war everywhere! Fighting everywhere! Hate everywhere! Well, don’t let it get you down. When you start getting drugged out by the thoughts of some of those things, and seeing these things happening on the news, just think to yourself how much you need to grow and overcome. God has called you and me—all whom He has called—to solve this! That’s going to be something! There won’t be any election. No! We are already selected for that, and God is going to appoint us—each one of us—to a perfect job, a perfect life! Keep that in mind:
don’t get discouraged
don’t get down
don’t worry about what’s going to happen
don’t worry if Trump is going to make it into the Presidency
or
is Hillary-Billary going to be there
What is going to be like? We don’t know! So, what we have to do is trust in God and look forward to the future, what God has promised us.
“…for the LORD God is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation” (v 2). He’s going to bring salvation to the whole world.
Verse 3: “And with joy you shall draw water out of the wells of salvation.” This is an overflowing of the Holy Spirit of God. It will just like drawing water out of a well.
Sidebar: I saw a special some time ago on Petra. Petra has been said, in the past—and still may be true—may be ‘the place of safety.’ But what we haven’t realized is that all through the years the Bedouins have been excavating and finding caverns and rooms, and finding that there is a perpetual running spring of water in Petra! I’ll just let you think on that.
Verse 4: “And in that day you shall say, ‘Praise the LORD! Call upon His name; declare His doings among the people… [everything God is doing] …make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD; for He has done gloriously; this is known in all the earth” (vs 4-5)—because we will be teaching the people of the world. Christ is going to be reigning from Jerusalem.
I’m sure that He’s not going to just sit there on the throne. There is the whole earth to take care of. I wonder what it’s going to be like when Jesus, the King of the Earth, comes to visit this country, that country, or the other country and inspire the people? and teach them Himself? Think of that!
Verse 6: “Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst.” That’s in the temple, in the city of Zion.
Let’s see something really important, talking about Christ. Notice the foundations of everything that is going to be taught.
Isaiah 11:2: “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him… [on Christ and every one of us] …the spirit of wisdom and understanding…” How do we gain wisdom and understanding?
by studying the Bible
by living with God’s laws and commandments
by understanding how things work and function
That is according to the will of God! That’s the most important thing! Mechanical things, buildings, and things like that can all come later. We need wisdom and understanding. If you want to grow in wisdom and understanding, study the book of Proverbs; that is fantastic! That shows you how to get wisdom, how to seek these things.
“…the spirit of counsel and might…” (v 2)—will help people with their problems, help them with their emotions, help them to overcome, especially at the beginning of the Millennium. I mean, nearly everyone is going to be a ‘basket case.’
“…the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (v 2). Think of this: Since the Kingdom of God there is going to be no end, as far as we know is there an end of knowledge of God? No! Think what we’re going to be learning all during the Millennium. If you think that is great, I don’t know if we can even contemplate it. What is it going to be like to be growing in grace and knowledge for all eternity?
That just leaves me blank! I don’t know what to say about that! So, don’t worry. You might say, ‘I haven’t been educated.’ Well, in some ways you’re really blessed! A lot of those who have been education have had a false education, a false way, and they, in fact, have more to learn and overcome than you do.
Besides, when we’re spirit beings, everything is going to be changed. That’s going to be a fantastic thing for us.
Verse 3, talking about Jesus’ first coming: “And His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. And He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes, nor after the hearing of His ears. But with righteousness He shall judge…” (vs 3-4). We saw that in John 4. A lot of people think that that was an act of forgiveness. No! That was an act of judgment.
Sidebar: How can you catch a woman in adultery and you don’t catch the man? How can you have a judgment to stone her to death—as the Pharisees and the priests wanted Jesus to assure them that should happen to this woman—if you don’t bring the man? The Law of Moses says that both would be judged! Both would die! If Jesus would have done anything other than He had done, that would have been an unrighteous judgment.
Verse 4: “But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked”—get rid of them all.
What’s going to happen to the wicked? We’ll talk about that a little later! We covered it yesterday somewhat, but we’ll expand upon that and see many different things concerning the wicked. But you cannot have the wicked living among the righteous!
Verse 6: “Also the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the cub lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear…” (vs 6-7).
Verse 9: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” We need to think on that!
How deep is the ocean? There are certain places that go down 17,000 feet, even more some say, down to 5-7 miles! We don’t know!
How much water is there? Plenty! That’s in all the oceans and the seas!
Did you know that there’s a part beneath that where there is locked-in water?
Sidebar: Men have just discovered that and they don’t know what to think about it, nor what to do about it. That tells you: Where did God get all the water to flood the earth? It was here all the time, plus He caused it to rain!
Verse 10: “And in that day there shall be the Root of Jesse standing as a banner for the people; to Him the nations shall seek; and His rest shall be glorious.”
We’re going to see tomorrow that for Israel there were only two times when they had rest. Isn’t it interesting that the Millennium has more to do with all the physical people and nearly 80-90% of what we teach concerning the Kingdom of God and the Millennium is found in the Prophets of the Old Testament for physical people.
For the New Testament, that is for the training of those who will be the kings and priests and rulers. We find not very much concerning the physical aspects of the Kingdom of God there. Rather, we find the emphasis on:
spiritual training
spiritual teaching
spiritual understanding
growing in grace and knowledge
having a relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ
the Spirit of God the Father and Jesus dwelling in us
All of that is in the New Testament! In the Old Testament there are a few prophecies concerning that, but isn’t it interesting the way that God has designed the Bible.
Isaiah 25:6: “And in this mountain the LORD of hosts shall make a feast of fat things for all the people… [the best of everything] …a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering, which covers all people, and the veil that is woven over all nations” (vs 6-7).
Going to remove the worldwide deception of Satan the devil, who operates spiritual wickedness in high places, in the rulers of this world. That’s why God is training us and calling us. This is why we all need to maintain, as we covered before the Feast, our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ through prayer and study all the time. God is doing a wonderful and marvelous work to prepare us to rule with Christ and to be with God the Father, as well. What a wonderful thing that is!
Verse 8: “He will destroy death forever…” That has not yet come, nor will it come until the very end. What is the last death? The Lake of Fire! This is a prophecy. Down through all human history there will come a time when God will do that. For us, we die in Adam but are raised in Christ. Will He destroy death for us? Yes!
“…and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces. And He shall take away from all the earth the rebuke of His people, for the LORD has spoken it” (v 8).
What a glorious time that is. You compare that with what Jesus said in Luke 21 and Mark 13 about how the world is going to have the greatest Tribulation and upset, that if Jesus didn’t return there would be no flesh saved. But here He says that He is going to save them.
Verse 9: “And one shall say in that day, ‘Lo, this is our God. We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’ For the hand of the LORD shall rest in this mountain…” (vs 9-10). That’s going to be quite a thing. The mountain of the Lord spoken of there in Isa. 2 and Mal. 4.
In the Psalms there are good number of things concerning the Kingdom of God, being like God; we’re even called gods in Psa. 82. Here’s how it’s going to be:
Psalm 47:1: “Clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with the voice of triumph, for the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us… [a prophecy of ruling with Him. Think of that!] …and nations under our feet” (vs 1-3). That tells you that
we’re going to have a lot of authority
we’re going to have a tremendous job to do
Verse 4: “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah.” Think on that in relationship to the New Testament:
we are the spiritual seed of Abraham
we are the spiritual Israel of God
we are the spiritual Jacob of God
Isn’t that something? He’s going to do that; He’s going to make it possible.
When you read the different Psalms and the different prophecies, there’s going to be one thing that’s going on during the Millennium all the time. There’s going to be a lot of singing. That’s going to be something indeed to really contemplate and behold. And I hope at that time we all have good singing voices so that we don’t have to make any ‘joyful noises’ any longer.
Verse7: “For God is King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.” There’s going to be a whole different aspect of living, existence, love, joy and power. It’s going to be something! I don’t even think we’re going to recognize—viewing from today, looking toward that—what it’s going to be like for human beings then. I think they’re going to be so much greater than we are. Look at what they’re going to be taught, and what they’re going to be doing.
Verse 8: “God reigns over the nations; God sits upon the throne of His Holiness. The rulers of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham for the shields of the earth are God’s; He is greatly exalted” (vs 8-9).
That’s talking about our administration of running the world. That is going to be a tremendous and fantastic thing.
Isa. 14—what is interesting here is that many things that talk about the Millennium also relate back to the end of the Babylon the Great rulership of the world. And here it does at this particular point.
Isaiah 14:3: “And it shall come to pass in the day…” Whenever you see in that day and then it talks about the Millennium that’s talking about what we are going to do and the people that we are going to serve, etc.
“…that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow…” (v 3). Straighten out all lives, emotions and everything like that.
“…and from your fear, and from the hard bondage, which was imposed on you” (v 3). And we know from other prophecies that that is coming.
Verse 4: “You shall take up this song against the king of Babylon… [the power behind that was Satan the devil] …and say, ‘How the oppressor has ceased!….’” What’s going to happen? We’re going to be continually understanding where we have come from; look back and see that that’s not the way to do it and here’s God’s way and how to do it.
“…‘How the oppressor has ceased! How his fury has ceased!’” (v 4). Think about all of those who will be resurrected who had their head cut off. Isn’t it interesting what happened this past summer in France. There was a priest of Catholic Church that an ISIS terrorist went in and cut his head off.
Well, you read Rev. 20 and it says, ‘those who were beheaded for the witness of Christ.’ So, this would be a wonderful song to sing then: ‘Oh, you cut my head off, but look at what God has done for me.’ That will quite a song!
Verse 5: “The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers who struck people in wrath, with unceasing blows, ruling the nations in anger, with an unrelenting persecution” (vs 5-6). This tells us what it is going to be like just before the resurrection.
Then the Millennium is instituted and, v 7: “All the earth is at rest… [Isa. 11] …and is quiet; they break out into singing. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you have fallen, no woodcutter will come up against us.’” (vs 7-8). Isn’t that something? That’s talking about coming after people as though the are wood or trees, and cutting them down.
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This talks about Christ, about His throne Psalm 45[transcriber’s correction] 1: “My heart overflows with a goodly matter; I speak of my works to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” Isn’t that how we got the Gospels? Didn’t they have ready writers? Remember the sermon that I gave: Jesus’ Stenographers.
Verse 2: “You are more excellent than the children of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore, God has blessed You forever.”
Speaking of Christ, His first coming and second coming and what He’s going to be eternally, all contained in this one Psalm.
Verse 3: “Gird Your sword upon Your thigh… [that is what Christ is going to do when He returns] …O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty. And ride victoriously in Your majesty in behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness…” (vs 3-4). That’s quite a thing! That’s how it’s going to be during the Millennium: Truth, righteousness, meekness!
Amazing! The Word of God has so many things for us that it’s quite something! Think about all those poor atheists who don’t know anything, saying it’s full of lies. No! It’s full of Truth against all of their lies! That’s what’s in the Bible.
Verse 6: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of justice is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness…” (vs 6-7)—or iniquity (Heb. 1); this is a prophecy of Jesus, and in Heb. 1 He is called ‘O God.’ Here is a prophecy of Him and we know that He was God Who came in the flesh.
We’ve already covered that, but one of things that people are trying to do today is to take away the fact that Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh! There are also some people trying to say that the Holy Spirit was the father of Jesus. What comes around, goes around and all of these things… It’s just like it says in the book of Ecclesiastes, ‘that which has been is that which shall be.’ So, we’re faced with the same thing today.
“…therefore, God, Your God… [God and God the Father] …has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows” (v 7). And He’s going to be King of all the earth, as we have already seen.
Psalm 48:1: “Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised in the city of our God, in His Holy mountain.”
Isn’t that what it talks about? ‘The mountain of God shall be exalted above the mountains, and many nations shall flow to it. They shall say, come, let us go up to the house of God and learn of His ways and learn of His laws, for out of Zion shall go forth the Law.’ And those nations, which will not submit at first when the Millennium begins, will in time. God is going to make it happen as we have seen.
Verse 2: “Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of all the earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”
We know that when Christ comes back and puts His feet on the Mt. of Olives everything there geographically is going to change. So, Mt. Zion is actually going to be in a new location. The great tabernacle that is going to be over Jerusalem is going to be awesome, indeed! Then you read Rev. 7 and 14 about all of those who will be administrators right there in the headquarters of Jerusalem serving Christ. That’s something! Think about that!
Verse 3: “God in her palace has shown Himself to be a fortress, for lo, the kings assembled themselves; they advanced together” (vs 3-4). They’re going to be all in awe concerning God and what He does and how it’s going to be handled.
Verse 8: “As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.” That means stop and think on this.
Ask yourself: For the time being, it appears that people can sin and prosper and get away with things, but in the final analysis, can anyone truly go against God? No! Nor can they! Nor have they! Nor will they, ever succeed! We need to think about that in relationship to our lives, in relationship to how we are preparing to rule in the Kingdom of God.
Verse 9: “We have thought of Your loving kindness, O God, in the midst of Your temple. As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice! Let the daughters of Judah shout for joy because of Your judgments! Walk around Zion, and go all around her; count her towers” (vs 9-12). We don’t know what New Jerusalem is going to look like. We don’t know how fantastic that is going to be. But here it tells us to go look.
Verse 13: “Consider her ramparts, go through her palaces…” Won’t that be nice? We come into Jerusalem. Are we going to go their for seminars and lectures? Could be! We’re going to constantly learn, aren’t we? Yes, we are! So, we will go up to Jerusalem from time-to-time, meet Christ, talk to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, the 12 apostles who will be sitting 12 thrones. That will be something! Think about that!
“…so that you may tell it to the coming generation…” (v 13). We have to teach the people. We have to tell them of God, and we are going to be helping the parents really teach and train their children.
Verse 14: “For this God is our God forever and ever; He will guide us even unto death.” Guide us so that we’re resurrected and become like Him.
What I want you to do is think about this for just a minute:
What is going to be needed to run a city?
Think about how it’s not going to be run like the cities of this world all crowded together.
How would lay it out?
How would you administer it?
We’re also going to have people working with us and for us, so think about how that would be. It’s going to be something! We will look at the mainstay of what we’re going to be teaching, but here is what’s going to happen during the Millennium.
Psalm 85:10: “Mercy and Truth have met together…” Always going to be mercy and Truth, and we’re going to be able to help those who sin, because they will sin. Help them to repentance. Help them really learn and understand what they need to do.
“…righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (v 10). Think about this as the foundation of what is going to be taught throughout all the earth in every city, in every village and in every nation.
Verse 11: “Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield its increase. Righteousness shall go before Him and shall set us in the way of His steps” (vs 11-13). That last one tells that we’re going to be continually learning from God.
What is going to be basis for everything that we’re going to teach the people?
What is the greatest thing?
We are told in 1-Cor. 13 that there is faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love!
Matt. 22 is what we need to be doing so that we can attain to the Kingdom of God, and this is what we are going to be teaching the people to do. Nothing can be done in a right way without the love of God.
We heard this summer Donald Trump relating to us all how he’s the ‘law and order candidate.’ We’ll see if that’s going to happen. But here there’s always the argument:
Matthew 22:35: “And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned Him, tempting Him, and saying, ‘Master, which commandment is the great commandment in the Law?’” (vs 35-36). Which one is the greatest?
Verse 37: “And Jesus said to him…” This is very important because they rejected the commandments of God. How did they do it? With their own traditions! This is why we have changed the name of our website to truthofgod.org The Truth of God is based upon the love of God.
We saw in Psa. 85 how all of these things mix together, and what it’s going to be like teaching the people those things. It’s all going to be based on this. Didn’t God give this as a command to the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai? Yes, He did! And again just before they went into the ‘promised land? Yes, He did!
Here it is, and this is how we are going to attain to the Kingdom of God, mercy and Truth, love and righteousness all together.
“…‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…’” (v 37). We’re going to be able to teach and train people this way: We will be able to know their heart; the Bible talks about ‘trying the reins.’ Today it’s awfully hard to tell what is really in the mind of a person, what they’re really, really thinking. At that time, we will be able to know. “…all your heart…” means everything about your emotions and your learning.
“…and with all your soul…” is just merely the physical life that we have; everything that you do in your physical life you do for the love of God.
“…and with all your mind” (v 37). This is the key and the most important thing. There can be no conversion without the Spirit of God and loving God, and having the laws and commandments of God written in their hearts and minds. Today, we have to learn that so that we will be able to teach people to do that.
Let’s just be honest, too many Churches of God have become rulerships and fiefdoms of a minister, instead of the property of Christ!
How much love of God is there?
Can there be the love of God when we’re all fighting? No there can’t!
it’s true that we need to fight for Truth
it’s true that we need to stand for righteousness
Isn’t it a shame that the Churches of God, who are to be teaching and preaching this and will be teaching this during the Millennium, are themselves today not learning this lesson? And this is the greatest!
Verse 38: “This is the first… [Greek: ‘protos’—primary, most important] …and greatest commandment.”
The second one we’re going to enforce. There isn’t going to be any war during the Millennium, except at the end and we’ll cover that on Day 7.
Verse 39: “And the second one is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Verse 40 is perhaps the second most important verse in the Bible. The first most important are vs 37-39.
Verse 40: “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Everything that God does is based upon His love, even destroying the wicked, because you cannot have eternal life without love, law, service and Truth—all of these things together. That’s what’s so important concerning it.
Let’s see the parallel account, because there is just a little bit more added here to it:
Mark 12:28: “And one of the scribes who had come up to Him, after hearing them reasoning together and perceiving that He answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’” This is what we need to live by today, and this is what we—all of us who are teachers, minister and elders—need to teach the brethren.
Do you think that it’s remotely possible to enter into the Kingdom of God unless you do this? live this? teach this? Think about it?
Verse 29: “Then Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is, “Hear, O Israel….”—just put your name there. What is the most important thing you need to learn and hear from God? This will give you, by far, the most important thing that you need to enter into the Kingdom of God.
“…‘“Hear, O Israel Our one God is the Lord, the Lord. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. And the second is like this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these’” (vs 29-31).
At this point, talking of the Ten Commandments, that is true. But what is the greatest love of neighbor? Jesus said that you should ‘love each other as I have loved you!’ What did He say concerning that? By this all men—all men and women—will know that ‘you are My disciples.’
yes, we are to know the Truth of God
yes, we are to know the other laws of God
yes, we are to keep the Sabbath
yes, we are to keep the Holy Days
All of those are parts of the laws of God! All of it has to be because it’s hung from these two commandments; this has to be the motivation behind everything that we do. Think on that!
Verse 32: “Then the scribe said to Him, ‘Right, Master. You have spoken according to Truth that God is one, and there is not another besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices’” (vs 32-33).
Notice what Jesus said to him; it’s very interesting. I want you to use this as a guide. Think about this: Here’s a scribe who knew all the laws of God and also was sitting in Moses’ seat to make judgments when people came to give them out of the judgment out of the Word of God, so he knew it.
How much do you know? You may know quite a bit! You may understand a lot of the Bible! But remember that whatever understanding we have comes from God!
Here’s this scribe and he had all this understanding, and at this point Jesus hadn’t mentioned about the traditions. But notice what Jesus said:
Verse 34: “And Jesus, seeing that he answered with understanding, said to him…” Come on in, friend, it’s a great deal, enter into the Kingdom of God.’ NO!
He said, “…‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’….” (v 34). He was getting close. He had the formulation of it. Think about that in relationship to us. We are brought under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of God through baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit, and we are to grow in grace and knowledge. Everything that we do is based on these two commandments, plus the third one that I mentioned of loving each other as Jesus loved us. So that’s quite an important thing to understand.
Verse 38—He gives a warning: “And He said to them in His teaching…”—right after answering the question…
Let’s see what Jesus said in v 35: “And while teaching in the temple, Jesus answered and said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” Now then, if David himself called Him Lord, how can He be his Son?’….” (vs 35-37).
They have never understood that. Why? Because they didn’t love God with all their heart, mind, soul and being! What is possible for God is impossible for man, so they couldn’t answer it. To this very day there are those, even some who claim affiliation with the Churches of God who do not understand.
Verse 38: “…‘Beware of the scribes, who take pleasure in walking around in robes, and in salutations in the marketplaces.’” Yes, ‘Rabbi, O scribe, Pharisee, look at all of your phylacteries, my you have such broad lapels for your phylacteries, look at how many good deeds you have.’
Just like these generals who have all these ribbons affixed to their uniforms, and the more they have and the more stars they have, the more important they are. Well, God is not looking to the exterior, He’s looking to the interior.
They were not interested in Truth, love and righteousness, they were interesting in power, position and control.
Verse 39: “And in the chief seats in the synagogues and the chief places in the feasts; Who devour the houses of widows, and for a pretext make long prayers. These shall receive the greater condemnation” (vs 39-40). Quite a thing!
This is why we need to focus in on this as the foundational for what we are doing. Remember, we are in training to serve the people of the world when Christ returns! Any exaltation must come from God. But we are to learn, grow in grace in knowledge and have our lives put together and look forward to the coming Millennium.
Let’s see if we can get a real focus on where we’re going. It doesn’t matter how young you are, how old you are. It doesn’t matter if you have weakness of body or weakness of vision or even weakness of mind because of age. That’s because you’re progressing toward the resurrection! The current body is wearing out and you need the new one, which comes with the resurrection. Here’s what we need to do in our lives:
Psalm 85:10: “Mercy and Truth have met together… [always keep that] …righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” That’s quite a very poetic saying!
Verse 11: “Truth shall spring out of the earth… [we’re going to be the ones who will make it spring out of the earth] …and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield its increase” (vs 11-12)—as we have seen how God is going to make the world during the Millennium.
Verse 13: “Righteousness shall go before Him and shall set us in the way of His steps.” Walk in the footsteps of Christ! This is why we are here!
Tomorrow we’re going to begin to look at and answer the questions:
What is one of the greatest difficulties of human nature?
How will that affect people in the Millennium?
Scriptural References:
Acts 3:6, 12-21
Daniel 7:25-27
Isaiah 12:1-6
Isaiah 11:2-4, 6-7, 9
Isaiah 25:6:10
Psalm 47:1-4, 7-9
Isaiah 14:3-8
Psalm 45:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 48:1-4, 9-14
Psalm 85:10-13
Matthew 22:35-40
Mark 12:28-34, 38, 35-40
Psalm 85:10-13
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
Galatians 3
Daniel 2
Revelation 20
John 4
Luke 21
Mark 13
Isaiah 2
Malachi 4
Psalm 82
Hebrews 1
Revelation 7; 14
1 Corinthians 13
Also referenced: Sermon: Jesus’ Stenographers
